Early in the morning, Zhang Yanling took everyone in his family to Yongding Gate. What he was most worried about now was how the victims had lived last night. While walking on the road, looking at the heavy snow that had covered the streets again overnight, Zhang Yanling became even more worried.
Worried.
The snow last night obviously caused a greater disaster. Big trees on both sides of the street broke and collapsed, and many houses that were still intact yesterday also collapsed. It can be imagined that the disaster was serious, and the number of victims must have increased a lot.
The number of soldiers and horses on the streets has obviously increased. There are soldiers and horses setting up checkpoints at every street intersection, and the number of soldiers patrolling has also increased a lot. Obviously, this is a security measure to prevent the increase in victims from causing chaos. But in fact, in
According to Zhang Yanling, what they should strengthen is disaster relief efforts.
The square inside Yongding Gate was crowded with victims. A large number of victims were crowded in the shacks built last night and under the straw sheds proposed. There were victims of yesterday's disasters, and there were new victims added today. The scene was crowded, noisy and chaotic.
Zhang Yanling actually saw the figures of the Minister of Household Affairs, Zhong Zhong, and a group of relief officials. They had already arrived before the hour arrived, which was a good sign. This showed that they really paid attention to the disaster.
However, Zhang Yanling soon received bad news. Dozens of people suffered frostbite in Yongdingmen Square last night. Heavy snow collapsed a straw hut, and more than 200 people stayed up all night relying on bonfires in the ice and snow. Now they have fallen ill.
A lot.
"Let's make the fire and make the porridge first. Let's also make the ginger soup." Axiu ordered, she knew what the people needed most now.
Everyone in the Zhang family acted quickly. When the fire in the porridge shed was lit, Zhong Zhong rushed over with a group of people.
"Master Zhang, you are polite." Zhong Zhong said with a cold expression.
"Sir, you are polite," Zhang Yanling said.
"Master Zhang participated in the relief effort and helped us a lot. If it had not been for Master Zhang's help yesterday, the consequences would have been disastrous. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the court and the people." Zhong Zhong said solemnly.
"You're welcome. When faced with a natural disaster, everyone should lend a helping hand to help the people." Zhang Yanling said with a smile. Zhang Yanling was a little uncomfortable with Ji Zhong's sudden politeness.
Zhong Zhong nodded and said: "That's right. Everyone has a responsibility for rescue and relief. However, Mr. Zhang no longer has to work hard today. The court has increased the intensity of relief. As you can see, we have sent more manpower, a large number of
Materials and food will soon arrive. Relief in the city is about to be fully launched. At this time, Mr. Zhang no longer has to work hard. The square is so big, and there is not enough space. The location of your porridge shack has been designated as a site for resettling shanties.
.So, Mr. Zhang must leave with your people."
Zhang Yanling said with a sigh: "Okay, that's good. Of course, we have to obey the overall arrangement. May I ask where the porridge shed is located? I will just move the guy to the designated area."
Zhong Zhong frowned and said, "Don't Mr. Zhang understand what I mean? What I mean is that all relief matters will be taken over by the imperial court, and there is no need for individuals to get involved."
Zhang Yanling was stunned, looking at the chaotic scene and said: "Sir, it is always good to have more strength. I see that you have not set up a porridge shed. The people are still hungry. Your supplies and food have not been transported yet.
Come here, I'll make porridge and rice for the victims to warm up first."
Zhong Zhong frowned and said in a low voice: "Master Zhang, you want to use this opportunity to achieve some goals, I know it in my heart. Your goal has been achieved, so don't make any more show. Relief is the top priority of the court at the moment.
I hope you won’t get in the way and cause chaos. If it delays the relief work, you can’t bear the responsibility.”
Zhang Yanling stared at Ji Zhong, suddenly burst into laughter, nodded and said: "Master Ji, are you going to slap me first? I came to participate in the relief work, but instead I just added to the chaos and made a show? This is really a joke. Who on earth put me here?"
Don't you think the relief thing is simple? I think it's you, Sir. That's all, I won't argue with you, lest you come back and say I'm delaying important things. If you want space, I'll give it to you. I'll take mine
If people go to the royal road and set up porridge shacks along the street, that's okay."
Zhong Zhong said solemnly: "No."
Zhang Yanling put away her smile and was waiting for a rebuttal when she suddenly heard Huang Si next to him shouting: "The city gate is on fire and there is smoke."
Zhang Yanling turned around and saw black smoke rising into the sky outside the Yongding Gate, accompanied by bursts of shouts.
"What's going on?" Zhang Yanling asked in surprise.
Ji Zhong's face turned livid, and he turned around and left. Zhang Yanling pulled up his heels and wanted to see what was going on. After a few steps, someone grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.
"Master Zhang, please take a moment to speak." The man said.
Zhang Yanling turned around in surprise, and that person was Xu Gao, a foreign minister from the Ministry of Works whom he met yesterday.
"Master Xu? What happened outside?" Zhang Yanling asked hurriedly.
Xu Gao took a few steps to the side, and Zhang Yanling hurriedly followed. Xu Gao frowned and said, "Don't worry, it was the victims outside the city who threw burning branches across the moat at the city gate to vent their dissatisfaction."
Zhang Yanling was even more surprised and said: "Are there disaster victims outside the city?"
Xu Gao whispered: "Not only are there outside the Yongding Gate, but also outside the Nine Gates in the four cities. They are all victims of the disaster who fled to the capital from surrounding counties and towns last night."
Zhang Yanling said in surprise: "Then why don't you open the city gate and let them in?"
Xu Gao stared at Zhang Yanling without saying a word. Zhang Yanling understood instantly and said in a deep voice: "They don't let the victims enter the city, are they afraid of chaos? The victims in the city cannot be rescued and resettled, and they cannot cope with the large number of victims entering the city.
Isn’t it?”
Xu Gao sighed and said: "Master Zhang, more than thirty people froze to death in Baizhifang last night."
Zhang Yanling was shocked and angry: "How could this happen?"
"Yesterday, Baizhifang only had more than fifty shelters and three porridge sheds. There was no room for them and no supply. There was a shortage of food and firewood. One night, more than thirty people who were exposed to the snow froze to death.
People." Xu Gao said in a deep voice.
Baizhifang is another resettlement place. I only provided relief here at Yongding Gate, but I did not go to Baizhifang. It is said that thousands of victims there were gathered on the side of the city wall and resettled by the court. Yesterday until evening, inside Yongding Gate,
Not a large amount of materials and manpower from the imperial court had arrived. Zhang Yanling thought it was Ji Zhong who transferred the materials and manpower to Baizhifang. Since he and several young princes were at Yongding Gate to provide relief, they did not come.
Now it seems that this is not the case at all. They did not do much at all. They did not take the matter to heart at all.
"Master Zhang, the relief in the city will be in place soon. All yamen have fully launched relief, and there will be a large amount of supplies and manpower soon. But the victims outside the city will be in trouble. The current principle is to settle the victims in the city first, and then
Then we will take care of the victims outside the city. If we do not take adequate measures, it is impossible for the victims outside the city to be let in. However, if this happens, many people outside the city will freeze to death and starve to death." Xu Gao frowned.
said in a deep voice.
Zhang Yanling frowned. In fact, he was caught off guard when he learned that the victims had already gathered outside the city. He originally thought that the gathering of the refugees would not take place until at least this afternoon. After all, it took time from the time of heavy snowfall to the time when the refugees gathered in the capital.
Today, he originally hoped to settle the victims in the city and prepare for the arrival of the victims as soon as possible. But he didn't expect them to arrive so quickly. These people should have been rushing to the capital overnight to seek relief. Who would have expected that they would be turned away from the city.