"Master Zhang, I see that you sincerely want to help the victims. You have also heard what Mr. Yi said just now. They don't want you to interfere in the city. You know... Yesterday's chaos has already caused Mr. Yi to be criticized. Hou Can you think of a way to provide relief to the victims outside the city? That is the most important thing to do now." Xu Gao said again in a deep voice.
Zhang Yanling nodded slowly, looked at Xu Gao and said: "Mr. Xu, you are right, the victims outside the city need people to save them most now. They are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty, how can there be any difference between the inside and the outside? Even if they cannot be let into the city, We cannot ignore them and let them freeze to death and starve to death."
Xu Gao said happily: "Did Lord Zhang agree? That's great. Xu Gao would like to thank Lord Zhang for his help on behalf of the victims."
Zhang Yanling waved his hand and said: "Why are you talking about this? There is no need for you to thank me. However, the number of victims outside the city seems to be quite large. Once the news is received, people outside the four cities will gather. And as time goes by, there will be more and more people More and more people are arriving. I am not strong enough on my own. I need help. In addition to a few young gentlemen, I also need help with supplies."
Xu Gao said: "Your Majesty will accompany Mr. Zhang out of the city. Mr. Zeng, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, has given me the right to do things conveniently. I also have some manpower and materials in my hands. Although it is not much, it is better than nothing. Also, last night I After thinking about it, I designed a simple shack to save materials and time. Although it is low, it only needs to allow people to shelter. We can build this kind of shack outside the city."
As Xu Gao spoke, he stretched out his thick black fingers and scratched the snow next to him a few times. Zhang Yanling could tell at a glance that it was a simple triangular hut with three bamboos intersecting and surrounded by a curtain or straw curtain. A kind of simple shack. It looks very unsightly, but it is indeed the most time-saving and labor-saving shelter.
"Master Xu, if you are determined, you should do this. It doesn't matter if you are crowded into a house or a house, as long as you can keep warm and survive, and maximize the use of materials. That's it." Zhang Yanling said happily.
When Xu Gao saw that Zhang Yanling agreed, his brows widened and a smile appeared on his thin, dark face.
While the two were talking, someone came over on horseback on Royal Street and shouted: "Master Zhang Hou, is Zhang Hou here?"
Huang Si hurriedly went to inquire, and soon a middle-aged man came.
"Master Zhang, I am Zhang Cheng, the steward of the British Duke's foreign residence. I have met the Marquis of Jianchang." The man saluted.
Zhang Yanling said: "You're welcome, Manager Zhang, where is your young father-in-law? We agreed to come in Chenshi, why didn't he come?"
"My young prince-in-law may not be able to come today. The imperial court has ordered that all soldiers and horses in the capital be on standby at any time today. My young prince-in-law and my old uncle went to the camp before dawn," Zhang Cheng said.
Zhang Yanling frowned and almost said a curse word.
"But my young master ordered me to come with manpower and supplies and wait for Mr. Zhang to send me," Zhang Cheng said.
Zhang Yanling said happily: "Oh? Where are the manpower? Where are the supplies?"
Zhang Cheng pointed to the way he came and said: "On the way here, I have forty-nine people in my house, plus three carts of rice and noodles, and eighteen carts of moso bamboo, tarpaulin, and firewood. I was afraid that the Marquis would be anxious, so he came first. Report."
Zhang Yanling said happily: "Okay, okay, if people don't come, it's okay. As long as the supplies are available, it will be fine. Manager Zhang, go escort the supplies and don't be stopped. When you get there, go directly to the city gate."
Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement, turned around and left.
Xu Gao said: "I'm afraid the manpower is not enough with such a small amount of supplies."
Zhang Yanling said: "Why are you so anxious? The two young princes from Chengguo Palace and Dingguo Palace have not arrived. It seems that they have encountered the same problem. They should also send people and supplies in the same way. In addition to what I raised,
We have at least two to three hundred men and hundreds of carts of supplies. We won’t wait for now. I’ll ask them to open the city gate.”
Xu Gao said: "I'm afraid Master Yi won't open the city gate."
Zhang Yanling sneered and said: "He dares not to look at who I am. If Zhong Zhong prevents me from going out to the city to provide relief, I will make him lose his black gauze hat today."
…
On top of the tall tower of Yongding Gate, Shan Zhong, the Minister of Household Affairs, was frowning as he looked at the noisy victims gathering on the other side of the moat under the city gate.
Because they were refused entry into the city and did not receive timely relief, the victims who came to the capital despite severe cold and heavy snow fell into despair and anger. Many frail women, children and elderly people could no longer support themselves, and they were still peaceful at first.
The people burst into great anger because five people died.
At this moment, they cut down trees and grass and lit a dozen fires in the snow on the other side of the moat. The young and strong men threw the burning branches towards the city gate from a distance.
Although the moat of the capital city is very wide, the section at the city gate is even more than ten feet wide. Logically speaking, people cannot throw burning branches at the city gate. However, the severe cold weather has caused ice to form on the edge of the moat.
Except for the middle section, which is still flowing water, you can already walk five or six feet on the moat on the ice, which greatly shortens the distance to the city gate.
In this case, the powerful people were able to throw the burning branches at the city gate. After continuous throwing, the direction of the city gate was full of burning firewood. Although the flames were not in vain, the smoke and dust were everywhere.
The ground is fire.
"Are these unruly people planning to rebel?" Zhong Zhong shouted angrily as he looked at the chaotic situation under the city gate.
"Sir, although the city gate will not be burned down because of their methods, it is not an option to make such a fuss. Just now someone saw that they were cutting down trees to build rafts. If the rafts really hit the water, they would rush to the city gate.
"Come on, I don't know what to do. Take action, they are just common people. If you don't take action, they will rush to the city gate and light a fire, which will threaten the city gate."
Guarding Yongding Gate was a soldier and horse from the Beijing Guard Station under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Army Dudu Mansion. The leader was a Qianhu named Feng Min. Seeing the situation in front of him, he was a little worried about the development of the situation.
"If they dare to cross the moat and harass the city gate, Feng Qianhu can directly order the soldiers to kill them with bows and arrows, so why should they hesitate?" Zhong Zhong shouted in a deep voice.
Feng Min frowned and said: "Sir, I don't dare to give this order. I don't dare to shoot civilians unless there is an order from above."
Zhong Zhong shouted: "What are you talking about? If you cross the river to attack the city gate, then you are not the people but the mob. Your duty is to guard the safety of the city gate. How can you let it go? Feng Qianhu, you are afraid of your reputation. This is terrible.
It won’t work.”
Feng Min said: "Master Shangshu, why don't you send people out to appease and provide relief? These people are just hungry and cold and can't enter the city, so they are making trouble. There is no need to intensify it to that point, right?"
Zhong Zhong frowned and glared at Feng Min: "Feng Qianhu is teaching me how to do things?"
Feng Min was stunned for a moment and said awkwardly: "I don't dare to do this because of my humble position."
Zhong Zhong shouted in a deep voice: "The mob dares to harass the city gate, Feng Qianhu must deal with it immediately. Otherwise, if the city gate is destroyed and the mob rushes into the city to cause chaos, your head, Feng Qianhu, will be moved. In order to prevent the gaffe from getting worse,
I suggest you shoot a few people on the ice of the moat to serve as a warning and to deter them."
Feng Min bowed and handed over his hands. Just as he was waiting for the promise, he heard someone shout loudly at the west entrance of the tower: "Bastard, those are common people, unarmed people of the Ming Dynasty, and they are disaster victims. What bastard said that he wanted to shoot arrows at them? Is there any humanity left?
Huh? Not as good as a beast."
Zhong Zhong's face turned red and he looked angrily. He saw Zhang Yanling followed by several people quickly entering the tower.