Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 39 Mao Wenlong frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

"From the moment I entered Shaanxi, I saw large areas of starving refugees and disaster-stricken fields."

"Not only that, but those wealthy families in the city also took this opportunity to collude with the government to hoard and speculate, and drastically raise the price of grain, forcing the people of our Great Ming to become homeless."

"When I entered Yan'an Prefecture, the hardest-hit area, I witnessed firsthand the horrific scene of people resorting to cannibalism! Even we servants were almost captured and eaten!"

"If it weren't for the fact that we servants are more agile than the starving people, we wouldn't be able to come back to see the Emperor!"

Finally, the eunuch, his voice choked with emotion, paused, as if making some kind of decision:
"Your Majesty, if this drags on any longer, a large-scale peasant uprising may break out in Shaanxi!"

After listening to their stories, Zhu Youjian nodded expressionlessly.

These reports were pretty much what he had imagined.

Given the productivity of that era, a famine would inevitably lead to large-scale cannibalism.

How to properly address the plight of a province's massive number of disaster victims is indeed a relatively thorny issue.

Transporting grain, seizing grain, and providing disaster relief.
These measures can only provide temporary relief.

Moreover, Shaanxi had been suffering from disasters for several years, and Zhu Youjian did not know that such a famine would continue for several more years to come.

We must wait until he arrives in person after some time before we can truly consider a solution to the current predicament.

Zhu Youjian looked at the several secret agents and took out some personal items from his person:

"The situation is critical recently, and I cannot openly reward you with anything, otherwise someone might try to harm you. Take these things for now."

Upon hearing this, the men hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "We are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace and will serve you to the death!"

Although they did not know the specifics of what had happened in the court recently, since the emperor had said so, the matter must be serious.

Moreover, anything that the emperor could carry close to his body was already a tremendous favor, even disregarding its monetary value.

Moved by their experience, the group felt that all the suffering they had endured over the past few days had been worthwhile.

Then Zhu Youjian looked at Wang Chengen and said, "Go to the imperial treasury and give each of them a thousand taels of silver. Keep them by your side during this time and do not let any outsiders get close."

"This slave takes the order."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, and Wang Chengen then led the others out of the room.

In a room where only one person remains.

Zhu Youjian found maps and official registers of various prefectures and counties in Shaanxi from a pile of documents and began to carefully examine them.

Within the capital.

It was still in that inconspicuous courtyard.

Huang Lijie looked at his colleagues and spoke first: "Have you all heard about the Emperor's decision to exempt the area around the capital from the Liaodong tax?"

Everyone nodded.

"Since the Emperor does not want to tax the people, then this money will eventually fall on us. Considering the Emperor's recent actions, the fact that he will be going on an inspection tour is undeniable."

"The secret letter I sent home should arrive soon."

Shi Fenglai chimed in, "Zhejiang is a bit farther than Hebei, but the letters I send will arrive in about two days."

An official from Jiangnan interjected, asking, "Is there anyone in mind to be the new emperor?"

Huang Lijie frowned slightly and immediately shouted, "The matter is not resolved yet, why say such useless things?!"

The official gave a sullen smile and said no more.

After a moment, Huang Liji softened his tone and said, "In short, after the matter is accomplished, no matter what the cost, we must choose a young and weak ruler to inherit the throne. At that time, we will need to work together."

Everyone nodded silently in agreement.

This seventeen-year-old young emperor has truly given them psychological trauma.

Therefore, there is a precedent to learn from.

After the emperor's sudden death, they insisted on replacing him with an illiterate child.

Although this move will encounter considerable resistance, it is not a difficult task if everyone works together.

After all, the current emperor is different from the previous one; he did not designate an heir before his death, so the process would be much easier. Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but sigh.

If they had known things would turn out this way, they should have tried to fight back a month ago.

At this moment, Li Guopu, who was not fond of speaking, spoke up: "With the intelligence and methods of that person in the palace, he will probably take the opportunity to purge the Beijing garrison before leaving."

"What does Grand Secretary Li mean?"

Li Guopu took a sip of tea: "After a few years, these people from the Beijing Garrison seem to have become somewhat disobedient, so why not take this opportunity to replace them?"

"Haha, Grand Secretary Li is indeed insightful. In this way, His Majesty can travel with peace of mind when leaving the palace."

Because of this pun-filled joke, everyone in the room couldn't help but smile slightly.

Meanwhile, outside the capital city.

After traversing mountains and rivers, a caravan finally arrived outside the gates of the capital.

This procession was led by Mao Wenlong, who was traveling to Beijing to report on his official duties.

Along the way, the eunuchs who came to deliver the imperial decree chatted with him, telling him how wise and powerful the newly enthroned young emperor was.

However, Mao Wenlong did not pay any attention to this.

Eunuchs were inherently biased towards the imperial power, so their words were not worth considering.

He would only know what the newly enthroned young emperor was like after seeing it with his own eyes.

After entering the city.

The group of people changed into an inconspicuous sedan chair, and after arriving at a post station belonging to the palace, Mao Wenlong was put down.

The accompanying eunuch bowed to him and said, "Lord Mao, please rest here for now. We will return to the palace to report."

Mao Wenlong nodded slightly and, with his two attendants, checked into the post station.

soon.

The eunuchs who had gone to Dongjiang Town to deliver the imperial edict were brought before Zhu Youjian:

"Your Majesty, Lord Mao Wenlong has been brought to the capital. We have settled him in the post station and are awaiting Your Majesty's summons."

Zhu Youjian put down the book in his hand and nodded.

Unexpectedly, Mao Wenlong was indeed a typical anti-Jin fighter.

He likes this kind of person very much.

Moreover, regardless of his motives for coming to the capital, Mao Wenlong has proven his loyalty to some extent.

However, Zhu Youjian did not immediately have someone bring him into the palace. Instead, he instructed, "Let him stay at the post station first, and bring him into the palace tomorrow night."

"This slave takes the order."

On the one hand, Zhu Youjian still has many things to deal with.

on the other hand.

To truly win over someone like Mao Wenlong, it's essential to maximize his initiative.

Then we should let him see the changes in the capital for himself.

At the palace's post stations.

When Mao Wenlong heard the reply that he would be taken to the palace the next day, he was somewhat surprised.

He looked at the eunuch who had delivered the decree and asked again, "Are you sure His Majesty wants me to enter the palace tomorrow night, and not to have an audience with him at the morning court session tomorrow?"

The eunuch nodded vigorously: "Confirmed! This is His Majesty's decree, I dare not convey even a single word incorrectly."

Listen to this answer.

Mao Wenlong frowned, sensing that something seemed amiss.

(End of this chapter)