Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 96 It's hard for me too, so everyone just does it reluctantly
"It's unfair, it's unfair, sir!"

Wang Zhong and the other twenty-one people never expected to be beheaded suddenly. Wan An watched coldly, then suddenly waved his hand, and the soldiers' swords flashed and fell.

scold! scold! scold!
Twenty-one heads fell to the ground in an instant, and the pungent smell of blood filled the air. The victims around were horrified and all looked at Yang Guifang. They had just heard clearly that this person was the imperial envoy.

"Wan'an, send someone quickly to order the city gate of Xiangfu County to be opened and let the victims enter the city." Yang Guifang gave the order decisively.

Wan'an's face turned pale, and he bowed and said, "Sir, with tens of thousands of disaster victims pouring in, I'm afraid it will cause chaos."

Yang Guifang shouted angrily: "Are we going to watch them starve to death or get soaked to death in this heavy rain?"

Wan An seemed very embarrassed: "But even if we go into the city, there is not enough space to accommodate so many people."

"Then where do you live?" Yang Guifang asked coldly.

Wan An hesitated, thinking that this imperial envoy was too immature. Yang Guifang glanced at him and decisively ordered: "All county offices, government offices, temples, Taoist temples, etc. in the city should be opened to the disaster victims."

"This..." Wan'an was still confused.

"This is the order of this imperial envoy." Yang Guifang waved her hand and said firmly.

He strode forward, his eyes swept over the victims, and said in a deep voice: "Fellow villagers, my name is Yang Guifang, and I am the imperial envoy sent by His Majesty to provide disaster relief. I will open the county government office, various government offices, as well as temples and Taoist temples in the county town, and you can live there without worry. I will also order the establishment of a porridge factory, and provide porridge twice a day."

After hearing this, the victims were all delighted.

Yang Guifang's voice suddenly turned cold: "But, I have three rules for you. After entering the city, you are not allowed to rob, break into private houses, or steal. Otherwise, look at the twenty-one corpses on the ground. I will recognize you by then, but my knife will not recognize you."

After hearing this, the victims knelt down one after another and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy."

They just want a roof over their heads and food to eat.

Wan'an looked at the young imperial envoy in front of him and was secretly shocked. This man was so young, but he was able to appease the victims by using both kindness and force.

……

late at night.

In the backyard of the county government office, Yang Guifang saw Wan'an off. He came to a simple room where Zhu Qizhen and Zhang Lun were lying on a wooden bed discussing something.

"Have all the victims been settled?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

"We all have a place to live. Although the conditions are simple and can only be considered a shelter, it is better than sleeping outside the city." Yang Guifang frowned and responded, "This is all we can do for now."

Zhu Qizhen nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Doesn't Wan'an live in this county government office?"

Yang Guifang spread his hands and smiled, explaining, "He said he had an old friend in the city, so he went to live with his old friend. Besides, this county government office is already crowded with people. Your Majesty, I'm sorry that you have to squeeze into such a shabby room with us."

"I'm not that delicate." Zhu Qizhen frowned and turned to deep thought, "We should think about what to do next. I heard that the county government's disaster relief grain is only enough for three days?"

Yang Guifang nodded and confirmed: "If it's all the kind of thin porridge that won't fall over when you stick chopsticks in it, it will only be enough for three days."

Zhang Lun, who was standing by, became anxious when he heard this: "What should we do? It will probably take some time for the relief grain from the imperial court to arrive."

Zhu Qizhen frowned and said in a deep voice: "Then there is only one way."

Yang Guifang and Zhang Lun looked at him curiously, wondering what else could they do in this situation?
"We will look for whoever has food." Zhu Qizhen said with his hands spread out.

"The rich have grain." Yang Guifang smiled bitterly, "But we can't just collect it by force, right?"

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and denied it: "No, we have to let them donate voluntarily."

……

Capital city, Prince Qing’s Palace.

Zhu Qiyu was drinking tea with Tung Xingdao in the back garden. The aroma of tea filled the air, and they looked very happy. Zhu Qiyu put down his teacup and asked, "Mr. Tung, I received a secret report today that His Majesty left the dragon boat with Yang Guifang and Zhang Lun and went incognito."

Tung Xingdao frowned slightly, then nodded slowly: "It seems that Your Majesty wants to see the real disaster area."

Zhu Qizhen came closer and lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Tung, there is no one to protect His Majesty. It is normal for an accident to happen, right?"

Tung Xingdao's expression changed slightly, and he pondered for a long time before saying:

"If His Majesty is in an accident, it would be a good opportunity for you, Your Highness. However, this is not easy to handle. First, His Majesty and Zhang Lun are both martial arts masters, and it is not so easy for them to die. If they fail, and His Majesty finds out something, it will not be worth the loss. Secondly, if His Majesty is really gone, the Ming Dynasty will be shaken immediately. Not only will there be chaos internally, but Mobei will also take the opportunity to move south. I am afraid that the Ming Dynasty will be robbed again."

"That's right, sir." Zhu Qiyu nodded.

He didn't take it seriously in his heart, and after a few pleasantries, he left the palace. Not long after, he came to a courtyard in the north of the city. After entering the door, more than a hundred people lined up and stood there.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." They all bowed to Zhu Qiyu.

"Everyone, stand up." Zhu Qizhen glanced at them, "Gentlemen, after ten years, our chance has finally come. When I started training you, our lives were tied together, and we shared life and death together. If you win one day, I will repay you generously for saving my life."

The hundreds of people bowed together: "We will follow the prince, even if it means death!"

It turned out that they were the death squads raised by King Qing.

……

Xiangfu County.

Zhu Qizhen woke up early in the morning and saw porridge being cooked outside the county government office. This time it was the kind of porridge that would not fall over if you put chopsticks in it. Like the disaster victims, he drank a bowl of porridge for breakfast.

When he returned to the backyard, he saw Yang Guifang and Zhang Lun looking at a pile of books on the table. He waved his hand and said, "The porridge is out there. Go have a bowl and we'll get back to work."

"Your Majesty, we just had some sesame cakes." Zhang Lun chuckled, "I bought them on my way out for inspection this morning."

Zhu Qizhen was annoyed when he heard this: "You two are eating alone behind my back."

Yang Guifang looked extremely worried and sighed, "Your Majesty, let's get down to business. You asked me to get a list of the rich families and some big business owners in the county. They are all here. Your Majesty, you are not going to rob them, are you?"

Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "No! You should send them an invitation in the name of the imperial envoy and invite them to dinner."

"Hongmen Banquet?" Yang Guifang understood immediately, "But we can't force them to donate money and grain."

Zhu Qizhen waved his hands and said, "How can we force them? We have to reason with them. I will talk to you properly."

He sat down and told him his plan in detail.

Zhang Lun listened and frowned, "Your Majesty, this... is this a lie?"

"I'm not lying." Yang Guifang's eyes lit up, "Let's do it this way."

Zhu Qizhen smiled slyly: "In this situation, I know it is difficult for them and for me, so let's just do it reluctantly."...

The day after tomorrow, at Taibai Tower in the city.

This is the best restaurant in Xiangfu County. Yang Guifang entered the restaurant and looked around. There were endless laughter and joy in the restaurant. The table was filled with fine wine and delicious food. The aroma was fragrant, and the sound of stringed instruments lingered in the air. The wealthy merchants dressed in silk and satin were chatting and laughing, or drinking happily.

But on the street just across the wall, a completely different scene appeared. The disaster victims were in ragged clothes, with haggard faces and hunched backs, staggering through the dusty streets.

Their eyes were empty and desperate, searching everywhere for even the slightest bit of food to fill their stomachs. Hunger was like an invisible yoke, tightly locking their throats. The cries of children mixed with the sighs of the elderly echoed in the cold air.

"Master Yang." Wan'an greeted Yang Guifang warmly.

"Master Wan." Yang Guifang stepped into the private room and smiled slightly, "This Xiangfu County is more prosperous than I imagined."

"Since it is close to the Yellow River, the land is fertile, and it is also a transit port to Kaifeng, Xiangfu County is not bad." Wan An said with a smile, "Lord Yang, today I will specially welcome you."

Yang Guifang looked at the table full of delicacies, spread her hands and smiled: "Then let Master Wan pay for it."

Wan An was secretly delighted when he heard this. He was worried that Yang Guifang would refuse, but he didn't expect that Yang Guifang would sit down, pick up her chopsticks and start eating.

"I wish you a toast, Mr. Yang." He raised his glass.

"You're welcome." Yang Guifang drank the glass in one gulp, and the aroma of wine filled the air.

After three cups of wine, the atmosphere became more harmonious. Yang Guifang asked thoughtfully, "I remember that you were recommended by Duke Cheng to be the governor of Henan, right?"

"So Lord Yang knew about this." Wan An nodded. "I used to listen to Duke Cheng telling you about the legendary stories of your father, Lord Yang. I really admire him."

After hearing this, Yang Guifang curled up the corner of her mouth into a half-smile.

……

He wiped his mouth, took a sip of tea and said, "Now that we are full, let's talk business. Lord Wan, please summon the local officials, gentry and wealthy merchants tomorrow in the name of the governor."

Wan An was shocked: "What are you going to do, sir?"

"Thank them." Yang Guifang spread her hands. "Didn't you say that they all donated money actively? Then the government should thank them. After all, they are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty."

Wan An nodded quickly: "Okay, I will arrange to notify them later."

He was not sure whether Yang Guifang's intention was to express gratitude in name only but actually to accept the gift? Or was there some other intention?
The so-called donation was made by Wang Zhong before, and there was not much money at all. Moreover, only a small part of the money was used for disaster relief, and most of it was divided among them.

"Master Wan, there is no need to worry too much." Yang Guifang smiled and said, "Although I am an imperial envoy, as an official, I should be humble and modest."

"I understand." Wan'an clasped his fists and smiled to show that he understood.

Yang Guifang waved her hand and said, "That's good. Tomorrow evening, we will be at Taibai Tower and I will host you."

After saying this, he left with a smile. Wan An stared at his back, frowning, and after thinking for a moment, he hurried downstairs and boarded a carriage.

The carriage passed through several streets and finally stopped in front of a magnificent house. This house was the residence of his old friend Qian Mao, and the soldiers of the provincial governor who came with him were also stationed here.

"Sir." The leading soldier Sun Xiao saluted him.

"Sun Xiao, I will write a letter immediately. You need to deliver it to the capital in person and hand it over to Duke Chengguo." Wan'an said as he walked into the house.

After entering the study, he quickly wrote a letter and handed it to Sun Xiao, giving him a few instructions and ordering him to set off immediately for the capital.

Sun Xiao got on a horse and left the city immediately.

After leaving the city, he got on the official road and galloped on his horse. Suddenly, a man jumped down from a big tree nearby and swept him off the horse with one leg.

……

County government office, backyard.

Yang Guifang came back and saw the emperor practicing with a sword. The sword gleamed, and with a loud snap, a large tree in the courtyard snapped. Zhu Qizhen sheathed his sword, spread his hands, and said calmly, "It's just right. Pull this wood out to make a fire for the victims to keep warm."

Yang Guifang witnessed this scene with a look of admiration on his face, and exclaimed: "Your Majesty is an extraordinary martial artist. If you go to the battlefield in the future, you will surely be invincible and become a match for ten thousand men."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen picked up a ladle beside him, scooped up a full scoop of water from the water tank, raised his head and drank it, then said, "Don't flatter me, how are things going?"

Yang Guifang answered confidently: "Everything is going well on my end. Now I am just waiting for news from Zhang Lun."

Zhu Qizhen nodded slowly, as if thinking about something, and raised his eyes to ask again: "Our governor's friend, Qian Mao, is said to be the richest man in Xiangfu, right?"

"That's right!" Yang Guifang snorted coldly, "I have already checked. Qian Mao has been occupying the people's land through various means over the years and has become richer and richer."

Zhu Qizhen sneered: "This time we will make him spit out the money first, and then kill him."

When Yang Guifang heard this, her expression looked a little strange.

He thought, if His Majesty wants to kill someone, then just kill him, why go through so much trouble? Killing someone and confiscating their property is the normal procedure.

At this moment, Zhang Lun's voice came. He strode into the backyard, waving a letter in his hand, and said excitedly: "I'm back. This is a secret letter from Wan'an to Duke Cheng. With this, he will have to listen to us."

Zhu Qizhen took the letter and glanced over it, with murderous intent in his eyes.

……

The next day, evening.

Yang Guifang came to Taibai Tower, and Zhu Qizhen and Zhang Lun played his subordinates. Yang Guifang should be nervous about the emperor playing the role of a subordinate, but he seemed to be very happy.

When they entered the hall, they saw that the officials, gentry and wealthy merchants from Xiangfu County had all arrived. They all bowed to Yang Guifang and said, "Your Highness, the Imperial Envoy."

Yang Guifang smiled and waved: "Everyone, you are welcome, please take a seat."

Wan An, who was standing in front of the crowd, waved his hand and said, "The Imperial Envoy is giving us a great honor by hosting a banquet for us. Let's all sit down."

After everyone was seated, Yang Guifang glanced over and said, "Today's banquet is to thank you. Thank you for your concern for the disaster victims and the worries of the court. But I still can't be happy, because all your previous donations have been used up, and the number of disaster victims is increasing."

The people sitting below all realized that today's banquet was probably not a good one, and it might even be a Hongmen Banquet. However, they were not nervous.

Because, before coming here, Wan Anjiu had already found them and told them not to donate any more money and to stand up in front of the imperial envoy. He is the imperial envoy, but he can't force them to donate, right?
"Your Excellency." Wan An bowed, "I donated one month's salary. I know it is a drop in the bucket, but I have no choice. My salary is only so much."

Others echoed.

(End of this chapter)