This is the third day that Lu Zhen has been in Xingze County, and in the past few days, he has only been concerned with discussing with the county government how to set up disaster relief porridge sheds inside and outside the county, and he is busy putting the plan into action, so he has no extra time to investigate the destruction of the Yellow River embankment outside the city.

Because he knows very well that the truth of the flood is important, but after all, it is a thing of the past, and the most urgent problem to be solved is the current disaster victims who are waiting to be fed. With his single-minded efforts, a porridge shed was really opened inside and outside the county, and many victims finally had a hope, although only two meals of porridge were served every day, and the porridge soup did not look thick, at most it made people starve to death, but this was the best effort that he and the local government could do.

I used to watch film and television dramas, and there were always people who talked about the rice grains in the thin porridge for disaster relief, saying that the porridge soup was so clear that it could see the shadow of people, and it was obvious that they were fooling the people. It wasn't until he really came into contact with disaster relief that Lu Zhen knew that there was no way to do it, after all, the food on hand was limited, and he had to think about the long term, otherwise he would be full today, but he would have to continue to be hungry tomorrow. Even if he had sent someone to deliver a letter to Lu Renjia in Shandong on the second day after he came to Xingze, even if the other party immediately started to handle the purchase of grain after receiving the letter, he would not be able to deliver grain in March or April.

What does it mean to be a family member to know that firewood and rice are expensive, Lu Zhen has experienced it firsthand this time. Looking at the victims who came to the porridge shed to receive a bowl of porridge with great gratitude, squatted on the side and drank it carefully, and finally could lick the bowl clean, he felt more and more uncomfortable. They are also the people of the Ming Dynasty, but they can't enjoy the benefits brought by the opening of the sea at all, but live a miserable life with no food and clothing.

At this time, Han Wutong walked to his side with a serious expression and reported in a low voice: "Master, the little one has carefully calculated it again just now, according to the amount of relief food we have distributed in the past two days, the little food we brought can last for about a month at most." Even if you add the food provided by Yin Gongzi, it will only be a month and a half. ”

When Lu Zhen heard this, his expression suddenly became serious: "Can it only last for such a little time?" ”

"There are too many victims, and it is said that because I heard that relief food is being distributed here, many people from other places are already rushing to Xingze, so I am afraid that the demand for food will be even greater in two days. If only we could save some money on the road. ”

Lu Zhen shook his head: "The food used on the road is also to help the victims, and for these people now, it is still only a drop in the bucket, so there is no need to mention it." Now the top priority is to think of where to get more food, otherwise in a month and a half, things will not be cleaned up. ”

"When we came from the capital, we had already bought all the food we could buy there, but it was too difficult to get food. Unless it is to go to Zhili or other state capitals in Henan to seek - to buy grain. However, judging from the current situation of disasters everywhere in Henan, this grain is not easy to buy. Han Wutong was also quite concerned about this matter, but the answer he gave was really discouraged.

Just when Lu Zhen frowned again and again, but he was helpless, a yacha on the side suddenly spoke: "Master Zheng, in fact, there is still a lot of food in my Xingze County." It is only because those grain merchants have lost their conscience and want to hoard that this situation has appeared. ”

When Lu Zhen heard this, he found that it was Zhang Xiaoyi, who had been ordered by the county government to help them with Zhang Luo's errands, so he changed color slightly and said, "Is this true?" At the same time, I also remembered the words I heard from the victims of the disaster when I first arrived in the county two days ago. At that time, they mentioned that some people did not take out the grain because they wanted to make a good profit. At that time, he thought that this was just made up to stir up the emotions of the victims, but now it seems that there is really such a thing?

Zhang Xiaoyi looked around, and then whispered: "Master Zheng, several adults are not allowed to talk nonsense about this matter, but since you asked, the little ones have to tell the truth." In fact, there are two big grain merchants in our county, and they have enough grain in their hands to eat for the people of the county for more than half a year, and even if they suffer a disaster this time, their losses are not too great. ”

"In that case, why don't they take this opportunity to sell their grain?" When Lu Zhen heard this, he suddenly became interested.

"Because they don't want money at all, they want land." Zhang Xiaoyi said with some hatred: "In fact, as early as after the flood last year, the county government had approached them, hoping to use the disaster relief silver allocated by the imperial court to buy all their food. As a result, they rejected on the grounds that the food had long been washed away by the water. But as everyone knows, their food was transported to high places early in the morning, and they did not suffer any losses at all......"

After a pause, he continued, "Moreover, some time ago, someone bought a sum of grain from them, but not for money, but for the title deeds of the fields! ”

Lu Zhen snorted: "Is there still such a businessman who wants to make a fortune from the disaster?" Your county government just watched them harm the local people and did nothing? ”

"If the eldest lord is here, he may be able to deal with them. Can ...... now Several adults didn't dare to go against those two businessmen at all, and they heard that the other party had big backers in Kaifeng, and it was not something that a small official in a small county like us could offend. For this reason, several adults told me early in the morning that the previous things must not be easily leaked. ”

Lu Zhen patted the other party's shoulder clearly: "I understand, you can tell me this, you already have a heart." It seems that if you want food, you have to start with the two grain merchants: "By the way, what are the names of those two merchants, and where are they now?" ”

"One of them is called Zhu Xuan, the other is called Gong Chen, the house is in Xicheng, as long as you ask, you can find it." Zhang Xiaoyi said, and glanced at Lu Zhen again: "Master Zheng really plans to buy grain with them?" ”

"Now we don't have enough food on hand, so we have to try everything. Moreover, since they are merchants, all they ask for is money, and if I give them a high enough price, they will always be tempted to promise to sell me some of the grain. Lu Jin replied casually.

Zhang Xiaoyi didn't say anything more, just looked at his face, but obviously didn't have much confidence in it.

At this time, Lu Zhen suddenly remembered a little again, and asked casually: "Did you just say that if the eldest master is here, do you mean the original county order?" What kind of person is he? ”

Hearing Lu Zhen ask about the deceased county magistrate, Zhang Xiaoyi's eyes turned red, and he was obviously a little emotional: "The county lord is a good official." In the past few years, how many good things have been done in our Xingze County, not only to let the people live a good life, but also to deliberately strengthen the river embankment outside the city, and there have been conflicts with the prefect before...... It's a pity that God has no eyes, and he actually let the county lord die in this big water......"

Liang Rong actually has this reputation? Lu Zhen couldn't help but be slightly stunned, looking at the other party's appearance, it was obvious that it didn't seem to be fake, but from the bottom of his heart, and he really respected and thanked Liang Xianling. This is very different from Lu Jin's earlier conjecture, originally he thought that it was Liang Rong, the local official headed by the county magistrate, who had filled his own pockets in the matter of repairing the embankment, and caused this disaster with shoddy quality. But now it seems that this is not the case.

After carefully thinking about the words and deeds of the county officials who have been in contact with him in the past few days, Lu Zhen has become more and more sure of his own opinion - from the county to the bottom, all the officials in the yamen are very diligent, and they are indeed very concerned about the situation of the victims. This kind of mind is easy to show from the usual behavior, and the other party is not lying in front of himself as an ordinary businessman at all.

However, if this is the case, the fact that the Yellow River embankment broke here is even more incredible, and he can only ask casually: "By the way, how did the Liang County Commander die in this big water?" ”

"This specific situation is not very clear, but I only know that when the water suddenly broke through the embankment, the county lord was leading people to inspect the embankment. As a result, it ......" Zhang Xiaoyi didn't have any concealment, and directly told everything he knew.

And this made the doubts in Lu Jin's heart more and more intense: "This is not right." If the local government had been so concerned, the embankment would not have been destroyed anyway. No, I'll have to find a day to go to the ruined embankment and take a closer look. ”

With an idea in his heart and a lot of inside stories, Lu Zhen finally refocused his attention on the disaster relief porridge shed. It turned out that after only a few moments, the bags full of rice were almost bottoming out, and the number of victims waiting in line to receive porridge was still very large. From this point of view, the previous statement that Han Wutong gave enough food for a month and a half was a bit too optimistic.

"For now, I have to talk to the two profiteers first, hoping that they will make concessions and sell me some of the grain, even if it is at a high price." Lu Zhen secretly made up his mind in his heart. In the past few years, through the maritime trade with Lu Renjia, our Uncle Lu has gained a lot, and even though he is not a rich country now, he will not feel pain if he takes out more than 100,000 taels of silver to relieve the affected people. As the saying goes, what is taken from the people is for the people.

It wasn't until night that the people in the porridge shed retreated, and Zhang Xiaoyi also returned to his residence with tired steps.

As soon as he entered, he found that there was already a man sitting there waiting for him in the dark. As soon as he saw him, he asked, "How is it, have you told the person surnamed Zheng the news?" ”

"Don't worry, today I have already borrowed a word to tell him what Zhu Xuan and the two of them did." Zhang Xiaoyi grinned, which was very different from the previous cautiousness......