Prince Chongzhen

Chapter 76

Zhu Cilang originally wanted to understand why the refugees had reached the point of selling their children in just a few days, but he did not get any relevant information from Yue Qijie, and was instead severely lectured by the old guy.

It’s just that these high and mighty people can treat the common people as numbers, as ants, but Zhu Cilang, who was an ordinary citizen not long ago, cannot do that.

So after Lord Yue left satisfied, Zhu Cilang turned his eyes to Xiang Rensheng for help again.

"Please ask my eldest brother to ask about the situation."

"Your Highness, wait a moment."

As he spoke, Xiang Rensheng waved at those people. After a shove, a skinny-looking man came over timidly.

When Yue Qijie came over earlier, several people noticed something was wrong and seemed to be planning to leave, but Xiang Rensheng only glanced at them and they shrank back in place like little chickens, completely losing their previous attitude.

Just kidding, a red-robed official who answered questions respectfully, a thin young man, and the slightly famous Xiang Rensheng, who could not guess the approximate identities of these people.

"I have met you, my Lord."

"Stop knocking. Why did those people sell their children?"

"In reply to your words, we only accept girls, not boys."

"Answer me as I ask you. If you dare to talk nonsense again, watch out for your head!"

"Yes, the little one knows."

I don’t know if it was because Xiang Rensheng’s shout had worked, or if Zhu Cilang’s gradually furrowed brows were a little scary, but the skinny monkey finally got to the point with his next words.

Although the people would bring some food with them when they fled, it was only limited to food rations, so in the past few days some families had to rely on government relief to survive.

This is nothing, after all, Yue Qijie distributed food at a standard that would not starve people to death.

But the bad thing is that the Ming government has never allowed civilians to enter the city. The civilians trapped here can neither advance nor retreat. Over the past few days, the atmosphere in the camp has become increasingly gloomy. Those who want to send the child out of the camp can only do so.

After listening to the skinny monkey's story, Zhu Cilang was shocked.

He thought that people would resort to cannibalism when there was no food, but he never expected that when food was still sufficient, some people would sell their daughters to send them away from the refugee camp.

Does Yue Qijie know?

Zhu Cilang wasn't sure, but judging from previous situations, even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care.

"Your Highness, Lord Yue has done his best. I heard from merchants that when a city is besieged, the attackers will drive the people into the city, and the defenders will drive the people out. In this way, after two or three rounds, most of the people will die, and the food consumption will also decrease."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang, who was already extremely shocked, opened his mouth wide and could not utter a word.

"My dear, I have also heard of this young man whom I have mentioned to you."

"You've heard of it too?!"

"Yes, the specific situation is more complicated than what Mr. Xiang said."

At this moment, Zhu Cilang's mind was in a mess, and he felt weak all over. He didn't want to say even a word.

There are countless records of wars in China's thousands of years of history, but if we look at the details, the records of ordinary soldiers are probably only xxx injured, xxx killed, xxx beheaded, and there are only a few figures about the experiences of ordinary people.

After the battle that night, Zhu Cilang knew the tragedy and cruelty hidden behind the wounds, deaths and beheadings, and now he was more aware of what kind of human tragedy was contained in these few numbers.

"Brother Xiang, pass on my order. Select the strong and healthy among the refugees to enter the northern camp, and the old and weak to help in the craftsmen's camp. They will be given sufficient rations!"

"Yes."

Xiang Rensheng responded, but hesitated as if he had something to say.

"Speak directly if you have anything to say."

"Your Highness, it's Master Yue's place."

Yu Xiangren thought that since the first time Lord Yue showed up, he had been standing firmly beside His Royal Highness the Crown Prince together with Er Xu. His existence was of great significance to His Royal Highness.

If he were to become alienated from His Highness because of this, it would be a loss. But in Zhu Cilang's eyes, Yue Qijie and the two Xus were essentially different.

Whatever the reason, the two of them were more inclined to Zhu Cilang, while Yue Qijie seemed to be loyal to the Ming system.

Of course, from the current situation, there is not much difference between the two. After all, in Yingtian City, Zhu Cilang is the most authoritative representative of the Ming system.

Moreover, Zhu Cilang was confident that even if the Tartars withdrew one day and Yingtian established contact with various parties of the Southern Ming Dynasty, Yue Qijie would probably continue to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty he represented.

But what if one day Zhu Cilang comes into conflict with the Ming Dynasty he represents?
Will Yue Qijie still stand firmly on the side of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

Honestly speaking, Zhu Cilang could just pretend to be friendly with him, and when a conflict really arises he could just abandon Yue Qijie decisively.

But as a latecomer, he knew that Yue Qijie eventually died for the Ming Dynasty, not to mention that Yue Qijie stood firmly by his side when he was at his weakest. How could he be so cruel as to abandon such a person?

Having made up his mind, Zhu Cilang began to consider what to do next.

A person like Yue Qijie must have an extremely firm mind, and these little tricks of his should not be able to shake him in the slightest.

"Brother Xiang, please help me make this trip."

As he spoke, Zhu Cilang leaned over and whispered a few words into Xiang Rensheng's ear, then motioned for him to leave.

"Your Highness!"

"It doesn't matter, go ahead."

Although they had only been together for a few days, Xiang Rensheng always regarded the Crown Prince's words as golden rules. But now, he didn't know what Zhu Cilang whispered in his ear that made him hesitate to leave.

"It's okay, go ahead."

Just as he urged him again, he saw Xiang Rensheng suddenly kneeling on the ground.

"Your Highness, please send five, no, three hundred brothers from the guard camp to join me."

Before he could finish his words, Xiang Rensheng knocked his head to the ground, and then he kept shaking his shoulders as if he was sobbing.

"Brother Xiang, why is this happening?"

Zhu Cilang hurried to help him, but how could he lift up that man who was as strong as an iron tower?
Seeing this, he glanced at the skinny monkey, and the man ran away as if relieved.

"Brother Xiang, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't be like this."

"Your Highness, I have a way to raise more food. I just ask you not to have that idea again."

Raise food?

These four words aroused Zhu Cilang's curiosity.

God have mercy on him. He was in charge of so many soldiers and horses, but he couldn't even say he could raise more food. How could he not be curious about how Xiang Rensheng could be sure to raise the food with only 300 people?

For the next while, no matter how Zhu Cilang tried to persuade him or threaten him, Xiang Rensheng just kept his head pressed to the ground and said nothing.

In the end, Zhu Cilang was really helpless and could only test the situation with words.

"Are you planning to rob me, but are you afraid of getting me into trouble?"

"Your Highness, how did you know?!"

Xiang Rensheng's eyes widened into bells, obviously surprised that his thoughts could be seen through so easily by His Highness.

Then, realizing that there was no need to hide anything anymore, he presented to Zhu Cilang all the conclusions he had drawn based on his years of experience.

"How many do you estimate?"

"I can't say how much, but there are at least 100,000 or 200,000 shi."

(End of this chapter)