Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 83 Isn't this too extreme?

Zhang Xianzhong was always a man of action.

Therefore, when he saw a group of Shaanxi officials coming to Yan'an Prefecture to provide disaster relief, he keenly sensed that something was amiss.

So after making inquiries along the way, they learned that it was actually the emperor himself who had come to Shaanxi.

When Zhang Xianzhong first heard this rumor, he did not believe it at all, thinking it was just something that was being spread casually among refugees.

But as he traversed more and more prefectures and counties, Zhang Xianzhong fell into silence.

Because it wasn't just Yan'an Prefecture that saw officials taking the initiative to provide disaster relief.

Instead, officials were present at every government office along their route to oversee disaster relief efforts, and the scale of this operation was extremely exaggerated.

He was strong and healthy; he didn't look like a refugee at all.

He was dragged away and interrogated by those officials several times.

"Fellow villager, are you hungry? Have a bowl of porridge! The porridge in Luochuan County is much thicker than in other counties! Have a bowl! Just say a good word for us after you drink it!"

"Fellow villager, where are you from? Why are you still fleeing famine? Are you short of food? No problem, no problem, Ganquan County will send you some! Just take the food and help spread the word for us!"

"Fellow villager"

Such an experience.

This completely stumped Zhang Xianzhong, who always prided himself on his exceptional mental fortitude.

He even felt that the world had become unreal overnight.

After stabbing himself several times with the dagger he carried with him, Zhang Xianzhong finally realized that he was not living in a dream.

The emperor's visit to Shaanxi had such a significant impact?!

Did they really change those beastly officials' nature in an instant?!

Driven by this immense curiosity, Zhang Xianzhong gradually moved closer to the center of the rumors.

After walking some distance.

Zhang Xianzhong now understood why those officials had changed their minds so quickly.

Oh, so it turns out that county officials who don't properly provide disaster relief will all be killed by the emperor, and the emperor has already done this in Xi'an Prefecture.

Nine out of ten counties can survive, and no one wants to be the one to be slaughtered, which is why they work so hard.

Zhang Xianzhong nodded. In that case, everything made sense. The newly enthroned emperor was indeed ruthless, which suited his taste perfectly!
He then continued to move closer to the center of the vortex.

"Hey, fellow villager, let me ask you something. Do you know which counties were targeted when the emperor came and ordered the 'kill one out of ten' policy?"

"Huh?! What do you mean I misheard?!"

"What do you mean he's one in ten counties that can survive?!"

Upon hearing this rumor, Zhang Xianzhong, who had only been awake for two days, became confused again.

This is getting more and more outrageous!
Zhang Xianzhong gave himself a prick and continued forward.

Once he actually entered the territory of Xi'an Prefecture.

When Zhang Xianzhong saw countless heads hanging outside the city gates of several counties, he could no longer be described as bewildered; instead, he fell into deep self-doubt.

Honestly.

Zhang Xianzhong also fantasized about the day he would succeed in his rebellion and slaughter all the officials in Shaanxi.

But looking at the current situation, Zhang Xianzhong realized that he seemed to have been too naive.
With such a benevolent and ruthless new emperor, who the hell would dare to rebel?!
But then again.

Was the emperor's action a bit too extreme?!

The phrase "killing nine out of ten counties" seemed too abstract to Zhang Xianzhong, who was only in his early twenties at the time.

He just couldn't understand it.

but.

I don't understand it.

Due to a variety of reasons.

Zhang Xianzhong inquired along the way and finally arrived at Xi'an Prefecture, where His Majesty was located.

He was so eager to see the emperor, who had only recently ascended the throne, that he didn't even notice the numerous blisters that formed on his feet over the next few days.

After arriving in the prefectural city.

Zhang Xianzhong thought that he had heard too many legends in the past few days, so he wouldn't be too surprised even if he actually saw the emperor.

But to his surprise, he immediately witnessed the crowd storming the Qin Prince's Mansion.

Then the people rushed to sign up for the army, hoping to become His Majesty's guards and go with him to the most dangerous Yan'an Prefecture.

He was truly fearless and undaunted.

These surreal scenes once again dealt a severe blow to Zhang Xianzhong's still immature mind. The emperor would even kill the Prince of Qin for the sake of his people?!
Countless shocks.

Zhang Xianzhong was now walking dejectedly through the deserted streets of the city.

But he hadn't taken more than a few steps forward.

Something in Zhang Xianzhong's mind seemed to shatter suddenly, causing him to stop in his tracks, stunned.

at this moment.

Zhang Xianzhong felt as if the blood in his body was suddenly burning.

Memories of striving in his youth kept lingering in his mind.

Zhang Xianzhong's chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath.

All previous thoughts of rebellion vanished at this moment.

At this moment, only one thought remained in my mind—to dedicate myself to the emperor and achieve great deeds!

Zhang Xianzhong turned to look at the bustling crowd, veins bulging on his forehead.

But he did not turn back immediately.

His outlaw nature and arrogant personality led him to decide to take a big gamble.

Zhang Xianzhong knew that the imperial carriage was about to head to Yan'an Prefecture.

My own extensive knowledge of Yan'an Prefecture and my experience as a military officer in Yansui Garrison are all extremely useful information to Your Majesty.

He wanted to fight for a chance to meet the emperor.

Most importantly, although His Majesty is cruel, he has not taken the initiative to wield the sword against the people.

This gave Zhang Xianzhong some courage to do so.

Otherwise, he would never dare to even entertain such a thought.

Zhang Xianzhong found a stone step and sat down quietly, waiting for the crowd in front of the government office to disperse.

at the same time.

Within the government office.

After recruiting soldiers, Sun Chuanting also came before Zhu Youjian, bowed, and reported:

"Your Majesty, I have carefully selected six hundred brave and loyal young men to accompany Your Majesty to Yan'an Prefecture."

Zhu Youjian nodded and called Xiao Hongzi over: "Give them a quick training session, and let them rest for two days before setting off."

"This servant obeys the decree!"

Xiao Hongzi left.

Zhu Youjian looked at Sun Chuanting and asked, "Chuanting, you have been to Yan'an Prefecture. Tell me about the situation there."

Sun Chuanting pondered calmly for a moment.

Since His Majesty has inquired about the situation in Yan'an Prefecture, we certainly can't keep spouting nonsense about the people's suffering. We must explain the seriousness of what we've seen and heard.

After a pause, Sun Chuanting said, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, governing Yan'an Prefecture is several times more difficult than governing Xi'an Prefecture."

"Yan'an Prefecture has suffered from drought for years and has no harvest. Even if His Majesty kills all the officials, gentry and members of the royal family there, the remaining grain will not be enough to sustain the people of the prefecture until the spring of next year."

And most importantly

"The border areas of Yan'an Prefecture and Yansui Military Town are in a state of disarray, and it is common for foreign tribes to invade the border."

"To my knowledge alone, there have been six or seven raids by various Mongol tribes this year alone."

“Each invasion not only loots a large amount of food, but also takes away a group of able-bodied men.”

"Therefore, even if all the land within the prefecture were divided equally, the current population of Yan'an Prefecture would probably not be able to cultivate it all."

"Therefore, these measures and methods within Xi'an Prefecture alone are absolutely insufficient to save Yan'an Prefecture!"

After Sun Chuanting finished speaking, he also fell silent.

What will happen to Yan'an Prefecture? Only God knows.

In any case, he couldn't figure out how to proceed, so he could only rely on His Majesty's own power.

Fortunately, His Majesty remained calm and composed after hearing all this, seemingly not finding it too troublesome.
Just in time.

A eunuch bowed and entered, saying, "Your Majesty."

“There is a man outside named Zhang Xianzhong who wants to see me.”

"The Imperial Guards on duty saw that he was tall and had an extraordinary appearance, so they reported him up through the ranks."

He said he was from Yan'an Prefecture and had served in the army in the Yansui military garrison.

(End of this chapter)