Leaving Suzhou, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou and Huai'an along the way, basically with the atmosphere of the south of the Yangtze River, most of them are the euphemism of small bridges and flowing water, these places are generally rich, especially Yangzhou, there was a post-break saying: waist wrapped around 100,000 guan, riding a crane down Yangzhou, illustrating the wealth of Yangzhou, it can be said that in a certain Cheng dù above the comparison, Yangzhou is even faintly stronger than Suzhou.

However, in comparison, the situation in Huai'an is worse.

Along the way, all Yang He made arrangements, from Suzhou to Changzhou, two hundred miles, it took a day, tired Yang Yi and Gu Menglin were almost speechless, from Changzhou to Zhenjiang, one hundred and twenty miles, three hours to arrive, as for from Zhenjiang to Yangzhou, more than seventy miles, about an hour to arrive, the hardest is Yangzhou to Huai'an, three hundred miles, it is also a day to arrive.

With the increase in the number of attacks, Zheng Xunrui began to adapt obviously, Yang Tingshu adapted faster, Yang Yi and Gu Menglin gritted their teeth and insisted, in terms of age, the speed of the two of them was much slower, but since everyone was like this, they could only follow, and they were embarrassed to say that they couldn't bear it. Fortunately, the two of them are also equipped with Uzhumuqin horses, which have super endurance, and although they are not regular war horses, they can also adapt to fast attacks.

Huai'an is four hundred and fifty miles away from Xuzhou, and it is impossible to arrive in one day, the key is that the mount cannot bear it.

The Arabian horses ridden by Zheng Xunrui and Zheng Jinhong were fed by Yang He and Zheng Jinhong on weekdays, and Yang He conducted proper training for the two Arabian horses in accordance with the requirements of the war horse, but in about a month, the advantages of the two Arabian horses were fully displayed, and their docile personalities were tame, especially in terms of sudden speed-up, which was stronger than the Uzhumuqin horse, but the problem was also zài, that is, in terms of endurance and endurance, it was slightly inferior to the Uzhumuqin horse.

Zheng Jinhong's literacy is also improving rapidly, Yang He intends to do more Zheng Jinhong has carried out some training, such as observing the shape of the surroundings, what preparations should be made during the march, and after arriving at the destination, the first thing is to observe the terrain, etc., Zheng Jinhong's receptivity is very strong, even Yang He was surprised, he originally thought that Zheng Jinhong followed Zheng Xunrui's side, although it was the identity of a subordinate, but he still did not suffer anything, only after training did he know that many times Zheng Jinhong's ability to endure hardships, Even surpass him.

When he met a good apprentice, the master was so happy that Yang He later shifted his main energy to Zheng Jinhong, but paid little attention to Yang Tingshu and Zheng Xunrui.

Yang Yi's table along the way confirmed Zheng Xunrui's conjecture, and for a long time, Yang Yi talked about the affairs of Donglin Academy, mentioned the late founder of Donglin Academy, Gu Xiancheng, and admired Gu Xiancheng's couplet: The sound of wind and rain, the sound of reading, family affairs, national affairs, and everything in the world are concerned.

Zheng Xunrui coped with things all the way, after all, everyone traveled together, it is impossible to make the relationship very stiff, and the couplet made by Gu Xiancheng has a very good meaning, requiring readers to participate in national affairs and always consider the big things of the rise and fall of the country, which is also what it should be.

The keen Yang Tingshu saw the clue from it, secretly admired Zheng Xunrui's judgment, and gradually dealt with Yang Yi in the form of shì, and felt that Yang Yi followed the trip this time, which actually had a purpose, which was very boring.

Gu Menglin was a lot calmer, he carefully observed Zheng Xunrui along the way, rarely spoke, never showed anything knowledgeable, on the contrary, for some of the people's livelihood questions raised by Zheng Xunrui, he tried his best to answer, from these conversations, Gu Menglin felt that Zheng Xunrui's mind was probably not in the knowledge and poetry, most of the people along the way were concerned about firewood, rice, oil and salt, and even in Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou and Huainan Fucheng, they also asked about this matter many times.

After entering the place under the jurisdiction of Xuzhou Mansion, Zheng Xunrui's feeling was completely different, even Yang Tingshu, Yang Yi and Gu Menglin and others also saw that although it was said that it was the end of the year, it was the time of the winter moon, but the people and farmers here were still living in hardship, and there were many people who saw tattered clothes and vegetables along the way, and they were struggling on the death line, and what shocked everyone even more was that they actually saw the homeless people.

What is a homeless person, there is a war in the country, the common people are forced to run around in order to avoid the war, this is the homeless, the so-called homeland is difficult to leave, if it is not helpless, no one is willing to leave the homeland, the Song Dynasty poet Chao Buzhi once had a poem, specifically talking about the homeless: the life is not back to the old mulberry field, the tile kettle Jingnan stop the roadside. Sunset Yuyuan picks up green pods, pitiful countless Shen Lang money.

Zheng Xunrui's expression began to become solemn, this is Xuzhou, which is under the jurisdiction of Nanzhili, and there are actually displaced people, which shows that the shape of the Ming Dynasty has begun to deteriorate sharply.

The government's attitude towards the displaced people is very clear, that is, the displaced people are not allowed to enter the city, no matter how much pain the displaced people encounter, some of the government can come up with some food relief, even if it is good, more officials ignore it, and even drive and massacre, which is also one of the reasons why the peasant uprising at the end of the Ming Dynasty has sufficient soldiers, a large number of displaced people in the helpless situation, joined the rebel army, in order to be able to live, to have a bite to eat.

It is impossible to imagine why there are a small number of displaced people in Xuzhou, and there are displaced people in Nanzhili.

Yang Tingshu, Yang Yi and Gu Menglin and others don't understand, but Zheng Xunrui knows some reasons, Xuzhou's topography is very special, the north is next to Shandong, the west is next to Henan, and the south is Fengyang Mansion, it should be said that the situation between Shandong and Henan has a direct impact on Xuzhou, and Xuzhou has suffered a lot of disasters for two consecutive years, especially the disaster caused by the bursting of the Yellow River, which is even more devastating, and Xuzhou is close to the north, and the climate is obviously different from Suzhou and Yangzhou, on the one hand, it is the impact of war in Shandong, Henan and other places, On the one hand, there are frequent natural disasters, and it is not particularly surprising that there is a situation of poverty here.

At the end of the second year of Chongzhen, the Shaanxi peasant uprising had begun to affect Shanxi and Henan, and as for Shandong and other places, they had already suffered from the ravages of the Houjin small-scale cavalry.

It is almost impossible to recover from the trauma caused in a short period of time.

The hearts of the people began to become heavy, relying on their strength, there is no way to save these displaced people, nor can they eliminate the poverty and pain of the common people and peasant households, they can only watch this qiē, meet those who are dying, they can give some food, but after eating these food, the displaced people still have no way out.

When entering the territory of Xuzhou, you must find villages and towns on the side of the official road to rest for the night.

Entering such a place, safety is the first issue, Yang He and Zheng Jinhong have long been highly vigilant, since there are displaced people, then there is a possibility of banditry, if it is robbed by bandits, the consequences are unimaginable, so Yang He put forward a clear request, no one is allowed to leave the official road, can not take any small road, even if it is to walk more roads, but also along the official road, in addition to the road must not be delayed, everyone riding is a horse, as long as the speed is fast enough, Even if you meet bandits, the other party is beyond their reach.

At the same time, Yang He began to pay attention to the surrounding situation, and used the rules of the army to demand everyone, at this time, Yang He would not be polite, everyone really had a problem, that was his responsibility.

At three o'clock, everyone stopped hurrying and found a village and town very close to the official road to rest.

Everyone's mood is not very good, and it is impossible to forget the scenes you see during the day.

It's still early, after dinner, Zheng Xunrui didn't choose to go out for a walk, after all, there may be dangers everywhere here, if you go out for a walk and are targeted by others, it will be troublesome, Yang He is very careful, all the horses are hidden in the yard, the purpose is not to let more people find out. There can be no stables in the countryside, and horses can only endure it.

Yang Tingshu and Zheng Xunrui have a room, Yang Yi and Gu Menglin have a room, Yang He, Zheng Jinhong and Yang Zhong are on the one hand, the villages and towns do not have such good conditions, the family they stayed in is the local Lizheng, seeing that everyone is extraordinary, and learning that they are all famous scholars, they hurriedly vacated three rooms for everyone to stay.

"Qingyang, why do you say that there are displaced people in Xuzhou, they are still from Shandong and Henan, I don't seem to have heard of any war between the two places."

"Brother Huaidou, you asked me, I don't know, but this homeless person has really appeared, so it won't be said that these farmers voluntarily abandoned their homes, if there is no way to live, who wants to leave their homes."

"Also, the imperial court still attaches great importance to Nanzhili, and whatever happens here, the imperial court will soon be able to know, can it be said that there are displaced people in Xuzhou, and the imperial court will ignore it."

Yang Tingshu muttered a little, this question did not expect Zheng Xunrui to be able to answer, if he wanted to say some things in the court, he also knew, but he didn't understand why, in comparison, Zheng Xunrui is no matter how powerful he is, it is impossible to know the things in the court, if that's the case, there is really a monster.

Zheng Xunrui knew the reason for this, but he would never say it, nor could he say it, he couldn't explain how he knew about these things, but what he saw in Xuzhou made him start to worry, the preparations he made, is it too busy, it will be too late, if you wait until the real chaos in the world, the cost you need to pay at that time is extremely high, but act in advance, the risk is also huge, and both have their pros and cons.

Zheng Xunrui didn't know how to make a decision for a while, and fell into hard thought.