The whole camp was silent, and the tense and oppressive atmosphere was really breathless. Out of nowhere, a child began to choke - like a plague, it spread quickly to all corners of the camp.

The children's cries came and went, and the mothers hurriedly comforted their children, as if they were afraid that the cry would become a spark to ignite the conflict.

Song Jingxiu didn't seem to want the atmosphere to be so tense all the time.

"You're supposed to be the leader, right?" He said to Chen Qingzhi, who was looking directly at him, "Let's not scare the children, let's sit down and talk." ”

"Song Zhuangshi, you haven't answered yet, why did you bring us here?" Chen Qingzhi ignored it and continued to ask.

"It's my instinct, I always think you can be reasonable." Song Jingxiu sat down and looked at Chen Qingzhi with a smile, "I still trust my instincts. ”

Chen Qingzhi also sat down slowly, "In this case, let's talk about your reasoning, and listen to you." ”

"Yes, I robbed you of your rations." Song Jingxiu said proudly, "I did accidentally meet this group of people, they are hungry and cold, and they are really pitiful. You may think that these are northerners, and you don't care if they live or die. But in my opinion, the northerners and southerners are not all Han people, and Song really can't turn a blind eye to their suffering! ”

"So you robbed us of our rations?"

"Although this Panlongling has a vast woodland, after all, it is a place where the avenue passes, and there are many merchants and goods, but Song can't do it to ordinary traders and ordinary people; It just so happened that your food convoy passed by, and I only took one cart, which is not a big loss for you, but for these people, it is life-saving food. ”

"Even if you solve a temporary emergency, what about after this bit of food is eaten? What's next? ”

“…………”

"Moreover, do you think that if you have been robbed of food, the barracks will not ask?"

"I expected that there would be trouble, so I thought that a team would come to investigate, but I didn't expect that only a few of you would come."

"As I said before, the reason why only a few people came here was to find out the reason."

"Now you should figure out why, the robbers have found it." Song Jingxiu looked at Chen Qingzhi, "What are you going to do?" ”

Chen Qingzhi smiled and didn't answer directly, but asked the three people who were traveling with him, "You guys also talk about it, what should I do?" ”

"Brother Chen, let's just forget it." Xu Jin said tentatively, "These people are indeed pitiful, I am also a northerner who fled to the south, I can feel their pain." If I were to be subjected to this kind of thing, I guess I would do the same. ”

"The little monk also thinks so, in fact, Brother Song did this out of compassion."

"But robbing the army rations is not a trivial matter after all, although there is a reason for it, but the late life believes that it must not be tolerated......" Ma Funian looked around and swallowed the rest of the words back into his stomach.

"The two little brothers are quite sensible." Song Jingxiu praised with a smile.

"Actually, you all have a point." Chen Qingzhi said slowly, "Putting aside the position, Song Zhuangshi's behavior can indeed be regarded as a righteous act, and I admire it below." But what if something like this happens in the future if it is not in accordance with the law? ”

"One person does things and one person does! This matter is done by me alone, it has nothing to do with them, if I can let them go, Song is willing to go back with you, if you want to kill or chop, listen to it! ”

"It can't be like this, Brother Chen!" Xu Jin anxiously wanted to persuade Chen Qingzhi, but Hui Ze also agreed.

A voice in the crowd came out with anger, "Engong, anyway, the matter has already been done, how can we let Engong take it on our behalf." Just kill them, as long as Engong says a word, even if we want to be a rogue, we will follow Engong! ”

The offer was instantly met with a camp response, "Kill them!" Kill them! The sound was louder and louder.

Ma Buddha was a scholar, where had he ever seen such a scene, curled up beside Chen Qingzhi, his eyes were frightened, and he trembled like chaff; Xu Jin and Hui Ze stood on their backs, ready for battle.

"It seems that it's not just Xia who has to make a choice," Chen Qingzhi's tone was still calm and calm, "Song Zhuangshi, you also have to make a choice." ”

Song Jingxiu stood up and shouted, "Stop arguing!" ”

The camp fell silent. Song Jingxiu looked around at the group of poor people who cast expectant eyes at him, "How can you be a rogue?" If Song really wants to take everyone to the grass, why bring these people here. ”

"To be honest, I was really relieved to see that there were only a few of you who came looking for food." Song Jingxiu said to Chen Qingzhi, "If it is really the army that comes to sweep in the forest, I will not be able to protect everyone's thoughtfulness at all." ”

At this moment, the smile on Song Jingxiu's face was gone, replaced by a melancholy mixed with anxiety.

"The reason why I didn't leave was because I kept thinking about how I could give them a way to live. They are just ordinary people, driven to the point of desperation, even so, they can't be allowed to degenerate into thieves! ”

"Have you thought of a way to do that?" Chen Qingzhi asked lightly.

Song Jingxiu sighed, "Song is a wanderer, where is there any way to make them settle down." ”

"There's a suggestion at the bottom."

"Oh? Please advise. ”

"Let them come back to Yixing with us." Chen Qingzhi said in an affirmative tone, "In the next meeting, I will negotiate with the local officials in Yixing to divide a piece of wasteland and let them open it up for farming." This would increase the number of fields and taxes on the population, so why not do it for local officials? ”

"Can you guarantee that those officials will agree?" Song Jingxiu was a little hesitant.

"This is the book of the court!" Ma Funian was no longer as frightened as before at this moment, straightened up, and said quite proudly, "Just inform those local officials, they dare to say half a word?" ”

"Wencai, don't talk nonsense!" Chen Qingzhi didn't like Ma Funian's tone, "I don't want to suppress people with an official position, but to know the benefits." For the locality, this is beneficial and harmless; And for these people, with land, they can really settle down. ”

"Hehe, I really never expected that you are actually a big official of the imperial court!" Song Jingxiu regained his relaxed tone, "You actually want to go into this wilderness and forest in person, which really impresses Song!" ”

"Song Zhuangshi, what do you think of the proposal?"

"Guys, what do you think?" Song Jingxiu asked in a loud voice to the people in the camp.

"If we can really open up the wasteland and farm, then there is really a way to live!" Many responded happily.

But there were also different voices, "Could it be their trap?" Trick us into the past, so that we can catch them all. ”

Such concerns obviously resonated with everyone - the atmosphere that had just become cheerful was once again overshadowed by a haze.

Song Jingxiu suddenly let out a burst of laughter, interrupting people's exchanges and whispering.

"It's all come to this, I really don't know what else you have to worry about." Song Jingxiu slowly suppressed his smile, "In this case, Song is a good person to the end, and I will accompany you to Yixing." I will follow this official closely, not leaving an inch, if it is really a trap, my saber will definitely cut off his head! ”

"You are not related to them, but you can do it for them, Song Zhuangshi is indeed chivalrous, and I admire it." Chen Qingzhi's words changed sharply, "But what if you fulfill what you say?" ”

"If you can really fulfill it, my Song Jingxiu's life is yours, and you can dispose of it!"

"Good! If there is a strong man in the Song Dynasty, this head is also up to you. Let's gentleman—"

"It's hard to chase a horse!"

Chen Qingzhi appeared outside the Yixing military camp with a group of people, and Yu Tianshu was at a loss, "Ziyun, what's your situation?" ”

Chen Qingzhi explained the situation to Yu Tianchou, and then ordered, "Order some military tents to come out for the old and weak women and children to live temporarily; allocate some rations for them; Order the whole army, strictly abide by military discipline, do not harass them, and violators will be dealt with by military law! ”

Then, Chen Qingzhi wrote a letter at the desk, and explained to Ma Fannian as he wrote, "You will send my handwritten letter to the local officials, so that they can set aside the land as soon as possible; Remember, you can't oppress people in official positions, you must make them understand the benefits of doing so, and let them accept these people willingly. ”

"Don't worry, the main book will be done."

After arranging everything, Chen Qingzhi said to Song Jingxiu with a smile, "Song Zhuangshi, let's wait for the news with peace of mind." ”

The next day, the Mafmann returned.

He came with him, as well as the magistrate of Yixing.

Seeing Chen Qingzhi, the magistrate hurriedly kowtowed, "The main book is merciful and saves the suffering; It can also benefit the township, and it is really a model for us! The lower officials' admiration for the main book is like a surging river, endless......"

"Oh, how can you do such a great gift!" Chen Qingzhi hurriedly stepped forward to help the magistrate, "I am grateful that you can sympathize with the suffering of the people and accept these displaced people!" ”

"The main book is serious, and the lower officials are also anxious about the main book, thinking about what the main book thinks; In addition, it can also increase the tax of the population, thank you so much! ”

"You can understand the benefits of this matter, that's the best, although I have a higher official position, I have no intention of forcing it."

"Where the book of the Lord says, don't force it, don't force it! If there are any more homeless people in the future, even if they are arranged here by the lower officials. The magistrate immediately put on a flattering smile, "Lord Shu, I hope that you will have a few kind words for the lower officials in front of Xu Shangshu in the annual review." ”

"This is natural, such a kind act of compassion and love for the people, and can prosper the place, I will definitely show it to Xu Shangshu."

"Oh, that's really thank you Lord, thank you Lord!" The magistrate knelt down again and kowtowed.

Chen Qingzhi hurriedly helped him up again, "So, I don't know where you are going to let these people go?" ”

"In fact, the area around this military camp is flat, so they can cut down forests and burn land here, open up wasteland and build houses; When they settle down, the lower officials will send someone to ascend the throne and register the acres. ”

"It's so good, it's really good for you!" Chen Qingzhi thanked the magistrate.