The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

At the beginning of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, in previous years at this time, the fields of Xuzhou Prefecture were filled with golden rice, heavy and emitting an intoxicating fragrance.

Countless shacks were built in the deserted fields, and the victims were everywhere. Some were lying quietly in the shacks, some were sitting quietly outside the shacks, and some were picking wild vegetables in the ditches along the fields.

There were dozens of porridge stalls not far from the shack, about ten feet apart, and in each stall there were two large pots boiling porridge over a big fire. Some children were running around with bowls in their hands between the porridge stalls, and there were guards patrolling everywhere with swords in their arms.

Li Hu put down the telescope and took another look at Xuzhou City in the distance. In both wars, the city gates were opened by insiders, so Xuzhou City did not suffer much damage.

Wang Yaozu pointed the telescope towards the shack and said, "There are many young and strong people among the disaster victims. I estimate that we can gather 10,000 people in three to five days."

At this moment, a bell rang from the porridge shed, and the victims in the shacks rushed out and ran towards the porridge sheds.

Li Hu dismounted and said, "You guys let the horses eat some grass and water here. Da Niu and I will go over to take a look." After saying that, he led Wang Daniu towards the shacks.

There were still many women picking wild vegetables in the ditches and fields. Li Hu glanced around and walked towards an old woman who was groping there to pick wild vegetables.

"Old lady, the porridge is ready. Why don't you go and get it?" Li Hu squatted down beside the old woman.

The old woman raised her head, as if she could tell from Li Hu's angular and imposing face that he was someone of extraordinary origin. She glanced at the sword on Wang Daniu's waist, lowered her head to pick wild vegetables, and replied, "Two bowls of porridge a day. The government will distribute the porridge vouchers in advance. My bowl of porridge was collected by my grandson."

Li Hu nodded: "Who is at home?"

Old woman: "Two sons, two grandsons, and a little granddaughter"

Wang Daniu smiled and said, "You are so lucky, you have so many children and grandchildren!"

The old woman paused while picking wild vegetables, and then continued, "The eldest son died in battle defending the city for the government, the second son worked as a porter at the dock, and the eldest son's wife was a sickly woman, so she hanged herself to avoid being a burden to the family."

Li Hu glared at Wang Daniu and asked, "The government is providing disaster relief and porridge, why are you still here digging wild vegetables?"

The old woman said: "There is no way. The porridge is too watery. I picked some wild vegetables to make up for it. We old people don't care. We don't care if we live one day more or one day less. But the children can't do that."

Too thin?
Li Hu frowned: "What do you mean?"

The old woman said: "It's not that bad actually. I can't eat enough, but I won't starve to death either. Just bear it slowly. When the imperial court wins the war, maybe everything will be fine."

Wang Daniu was furious: "How dare these bastards embezzle the disaster relief grain!"

Li Hu stood up and said, "Let's go to the porridge shed." Then he strode towards the porridge shed.

Many victims who had received porridge came back. Looking at the bowls of porridge that were so thin that you could see your reflection in them, Li Hu suddenly became angry. He walked through some shacks and all the way to the outside of the porridge shed.

An officer stopped them with his sword drawn, shouting, "Who are you? How dare you barge in!"

With a "slap", Wang Daniu slapped the officer in the face!
The officer stumbled and fell to the ground, screaming, "Rebellion! Someone, come! There are rebellious people~"

Wang Daniu stepped forward and said angrily: "Shut up! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll smash your mouth!"

The officer quickly shut his mouth.

An official came running over with a team of guards.

The official had also seen a lot of things. When he saw the power emanating from Li Hu, he knew that he was someone important. He quickly stepped forward, raised his hand to Li Hu, and asked, "Who are you?"

Li Hu ignored him and walked straight to a big pot. He took the spoon from the cook, stirred the pot, and scooped up a big spoonful of porridge.

At this time, many officials and servants rushed over, but no one dared to speak.

Li Hu looked at the clear porridge in the spoon and said, "Have the officials from the Ministry of Revenue in charge of disaster relief arrived?"

An official in a blue robe came forward and asked cautiously, "Who are you?"

Li Hu did not answer, but directly handed the spoonful of porridge to him and asked, "Is this the porridge you cooked? A big pot of watery porridge? Where did the relief grain allocated by the court go?"

The official from the Ministry of Revenue swallowed his saliva and asked: "Where do you work?"

Li Hu: "Don't ask who I am, answer my question first."

With a swish, Wang Daniu drew the sword from his waist!

Seeing Wang Daniu draw his knife, the officials were even more unsure, and the hands of the officers who were tightly gripping the knife handles also softened. The sound of horse hooves came from behind the crowd, and many people turned around to look.

Wang Yaozu had been keeping an eye on Li Hu, and now he led his personal soldiers and sentry battalion to rush over.

Wang Yaozu jumped off his horse and said, "Put down all their swords, it seems."

A group of scouts jumped off their horses and took off the swords of the officers.

Wang Yaozu had already rushed to Li Hu and knelt on one knee: "I am late in protecting you, please punish me, Marshal!"

"Please punish me, Marshal!" All the personal soldiers and scouts knelt down in a rush.

The official document from the court had arrived long ago, and the official from the Ministry of Revenue also reacted. His legs softened and he knelt down: "Humble, humble servant, I pay my respects to the Marquis!"

All the officials followed suit and knelt down.

Seeing that the officials had all knelt, the victims dared not stand anymore and all knelt down as well.

Li Hu stared at the official from the Ministry of Revenue: "Where is the relief grain from the imperial court?"

The official from the Ministry of Revenue had cold sweat running down his forehead. "In reply to your question, my Lord, it's in the granary."

Li Hu: “Tell the truth.”

The Ministry of Revenue official said: "I have not embezzled a single grain of disaster relief grain."

Li Hu didn't say anything, and Wang Daniu walked up with a knife in hand.

The Ministry of Revenue official became anxious: "My lord, I really did not embezzle a single grain of the disaster relief grain. The imperial court only has so much disaster relief grain, but the disaster victims in Henan and Anhui are all running here. The White Lotus rebels robbed a granary of our army not long ago and burned 3,000 dan of grain. Prince Zhongshun sent people to take away 5,000 dan of grain. I, a good cook, cannot cook without rice. Please understand my lord!" As he spoke, he actually burst into tears.

The officials shouted, "Please, Lord, please give us your opinion!"

King Zhongshun was defeated again?

Li Hu's eyes flashed, "Then why don't you report it to the court?"

The official of the Ministry of Revenue said: "I am just a small official of the Ministry of Revenue. How dare I offend the prince? Besides, Prince Zhongshun has written an IOU, saying that the military rations have arrived. If I don't pay it back, I can't do that. Otherwise, if I delay the military affairs, I will lose my head."

Li Hu glanced at him, turned around and walked out of the porridge shed.

The Ministry of Revenue official was stunned for a moment, then got up and followed him out.

As Li Hu walked, he asked, "How long can the food last? When will the next batch of disaster relief food arrive?"

The Ministry of Revenue official said: "The 5,000 dan of grain has just been delivered. The next batch of grain will not arrive until the end of the month at the earliest. There is nothing I can do."

Li Hu stopped and asked: "Can we continue distributing porridge according to the disaster relief standards for half a month?"

The Ministry of Revenue official said: "No, the disaster victims from Henan and Anhui are all running here. If we add some rice, maybe we can hold out for half a month."

Li Hu: "No, just distribute porridge and food according to the disaster relief standards and I will find a way."

The official from the Ministry of Revenue was stunned at first, then he knelt down and said, "I kowtow to the Marquis on behalf of the millions of victims!" As he said this, he kowtowed three times.

Li Hu was silent for a moment: "You may be a good official, but the court has laws, and you have committed a capital crime. However, I will report your case to the palace, and the emperor and the prince will decide whether you live or die."

The official knew that his life was saved, and he couldn't help but kowtow and said excitedly: "Thank you, Lord!"

Li Hu waved his hand and said, "Get up. Arrange people to cook porridge for the people immediately. Also, tell the victims that I will select 3,000 young and strong men from them to join the army. They will be paid the frontier army salary and receive 30 taels of silver every year."

The Ministry of Revenue official: “Yes.”

After the official from the Ministry of Revenue walked away, Wang Daniu asked in a low voice, "Isn't it ten thousand?"

Li Hu: "It was obtained too easily and cheaply."

Behind him, there were shouts of "Lord, may the Lord live forever." (End of this chapter)