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The cracked earth was filled with puffs of smoke and dust, and as far as the eye could see, there was not even a single tree, and the real red ground was thousands of miles.

Baizhou, where Yankentang is located, is the most drought-stricken place, and it has been plagued since last year, and most people are unable to survive because officials have not been able to provide disaster relief.

Since Yan Kentang arrived, many lives have indeed been saved because of the proper treatment, but the drought is still serious.

In the spring, Yan Kentang finally mobilized a lot of seeds for spring ploughing, lent them to the people for free, and said that they would return the full amount to the imperial court after the autumn harvest.

But after the seeds were planted, not a drop of rain fell throughout the spring. Except for some irrigated farmland, the seeds in other places were all carbonized and did not even sprout.

For this reason, Yan Kentang specially exempted these people from the grain tax, and the people were grateful for his kindness, so although they were hungry and poor, they were unwilling to leave here.

As a result, food has become increasingly scarce.

Yan Kentang tried his best to raise money in many ways, but he could only ensure that the local hungry people could have one porridge to drink every day.

And he himself eats no better than the hungry.

He came to Baizhou from the capital to take up a post with only one scholar, and this scholar served him since he was a child.

Now he is also hungry and yellow-skinned, just like the hungry people.

But the scholar didn't feel how pitiful he was, he looked at Yan Kentang, obviously darker and thinner than when he was in the capital. But his back is still so straight, his eyes are getting deeper and deeper, and his gestures are still so steady and elegant, even if he is only wearing coarse cloth clothes, he is still so noble that people dare not look directly.

"Lord Yan," the two subordinates ran over with dry mouths, and said to Yan Kentang, who was standing on the embankment and overlooking the distance, "The little ones have just gone to the post station to see it, and the batch of grain has not yet arrived." sent someone to investigate, saying that it was intercepted by Yuzhou. ”

This batch of grain was obtained by Yan Kentang through his father's relationship, and he was going to be transported to Baizhou to solve his urgent needs, but who would have thought that he would be detained on the way.

"They're too much, it's life-saving food! Isn't this a robbery? What's the difference with bandits?! The people listening were indignant.

"How long will there be enough food to last?" Yan Kentang didn't get angry, but turned his face to ask the master book next to him.

"It's only enough for two days." The master said with a sad face.

"I'll go there myself," Yan Kentang said, "Let's talk to the Yuzhou Thorn History, so that he can not only return the grain to us, but also release the river water upstream." ”

Yuzhou is in the upper reaches of Baizhou, because of the drought and the water level has dropped, coupled with the interception of Yuzhou in the upstream, the river water here in Baizhou is almost dry.

"My lord, it will take at least seven days to travel from us to Yuzhou." The person next to Yan Kentang reminded: "If it goes well, it's fine, if it doesn't go well, if it doesn't go well, if it's delayed for two more days, I don't know how many people will die here." ”

"I've taken this into account, so I'm going to take a trip to the Fort Goose Warehouse before I go." Yan Kentang said.

"My lord, what do you want to ......," the chief bookkeeper said with a look of surprise on his face, "The grain there cannot be moved without the Holy Decree." ”

Of course Yan Kentang knew this, if it weren't for this, he would have already given the grain here to the people, so how could he spend time and effort transferring grain from other places.

Baoyancang is one of the thirty Taicangs in the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was built in the time of Taizu. It is written in the law so plain that it must not be used lightly until it is absolutely necessary.

Yan Kentang brought a dozen entourages to the fort Yancang.

There is an army stationed here, and local officials have no authority over the people here.

The Taicang Commander here is named Zhang Wu, a military general in his early forties, who has been stationed here for ten years.

Seeing that Yan Kentang had arrived, he hurriedly greeted him, although he was nominally not under the control of Yan Kentang, but Yan Kentang was born in a prestigious family, and he was famous all over the world, and he was ordered to provide disaster relief, the origin was too big, how dare he not give face?

Originally, he wanted to say a few words to Yan Kentang, but he didn't expect the other party to get straight to the point.

"Lord Zhang, Yan came here to beg you to open Taicang to help the people." Yan Kentang said and slammed to the ground.

"Lord Yan, you really can't afford to make such a big gift." Zhang Wu said and hurriedly avoided the side: "It's just that you also know that this Taicang can't be opened easily, and you have to have a holy decree." The subordinate is only in charge of guarding, and as for the rest, he can't be the master. ”

"Lord Zhang, Yan also knows that Okura can't be taken lightly." Yan Kentang said sincerely: "The purpose of storing food is to deal with emergencies, and now that the hungry people are everywhere, how can you and I, as parents of the people, sit idly by?" ”

"Lord Yan has a sincere heart for the people, and Zhang admires it." Zhang Wu also said in his heart: "But human favor is human affection, and the law is the law, I can't know the law and break the law, and I will be charged with self-theft." ”

"What Master Zhang said is reasonable, Yan can understand, but today I have to open a warehouse to release grain." Yan Kentang stood there and said categorically: "Even if there is all the guilt, Yan is willing to bear it." ”

"Lord Yan, aren't you embarrassing me? If you take food from here today, and go away. If I turn around, I will have my head cut off, and if I don't get it right, I will have to punish the Nine Clans. Zhang Wu said with a sad face: "Have you forgotten what happened to Young Master Sheng before?" ”

Sheng Mubing's father, Sheng Lian, planted a heel here, and his reputation was ruined.

Although Yan Kentang came with a holy decree, and he had the support of the Zhudong Royal Mansion behind him, the local officials actually hated him to the core, so they just had to find an opportunity to bite him back.

And opening Taicang without permission is too easy to be charged.

"Master Zhang, don't worry, even if the emperor descends to the crime, there are a hundred deaths, and only one person Yan will carry them, and I will never affect you for half a point, I am still sure of this." Yan Kentang took a half step forward and said, "Master Zhang, you have been stationed here for ten years, and you have not been promoted or transferred, which shows that you are a person who does not like to drill camps. I don't think you can bear to watch the people starve to death, but it's just your duty, and you can't help yourself. ”

"It's good that Lord Yan understands my troubles." Zhang Wu listened to Yan Kentang's words, and his heart was a little moved: "Please think of another way, this Taicang can't be opened easily!" ”

"If Yan still has a way to go, how can he come here?" Yan Kentang smiled bitterly: "Far water can't quench the thirst of the near, and Lord Zhang has always heard the story of the carp." I can't paint bread for the people to satisfy their hunger, not to mention that as long as they don't eat for two days in a row, the people will definitely rebel, and they will definitely come here to grab food. ”

Zhang Wu was speechless, if that was the case, he would either die in battle or be imprisoned for poor protection, and he would eventually die.