Su Zhiming and Zhang Zhidong set off towards the northwest.

We've already walked most of the way.

When they arrived in Qicheng, traces of drought could already be seen, the faces of the people were withered, and the seedlings in the fields were yellow.

Su Zhiming was worried.

It was almost dusk, and the person who was exploring the way in front came back and said: "Two adults, there is the Qicheng Post House in front, it will be late, the two adults will go to the front to rest first." ”

Su Zhiming discussed with Zhang Zhidong, "Brother Zhang will go first, I want to go around on the road and inquire about the situation of the people." ”

Su Zhiming wants disaster relief, and it is necessary to understand the livelihood of the people.

It is said that Zhang Zhidong's task is only to find groundwater, and he has not yet reached the location, so he can be idle. But since he came together, he still decided to accompany Su Zhiming to go together, "Let the big team settle down in the post house, and I'll go with Brother Su." ”

The two rode horses, each with only two retinues, and went to the village.

When the villagers saw them on tall horses and dressed in bright clothes, they knew that they were not locals, and they all pointed at them curiously.

Su Zhiming had already prepared, turned over from the horse, and asked Sui Hu to take out the pastries brought from the capital, "Hello, old man." We are from the capital, and we are here to rest. Let's try the sweets we brought from the capital! ”

As soon as he opened the oil paper in the baggage, the beautiful snacks quickly attracted the attention of the people.

The villagers who were chatting at the head of the village all had snacks to eat.

Such a glamorous person, such a beautiful dim sum, it can't be poisonous, right?

Don't eat for nothing, don't eat.

Su Zhiming lifted his robe and squatted on the dirt slope like them, startling Zhang Zhidong.

Then he came to his senses, and squatted beside the villagers like Su Zhiming and talked to them.

Su Zhiming also took a piece of dim sum to eat, "Old man, what is our village called?" ”

"It's called Liujia Village, and all of us are surnamed Liu."

The old man was eating snacks and talking at the same time, his voice was vague, Su Zhiming listened to it several times before he heard it, he was talking about "Niujia Village".

The old man glanced at him, "You are an official from the capital, right?" ”

Su Zhiming said: "It's not an official, it's just that he came out with his brother to do some small business." Old man, I heard that there is a serious drought here, is it true? ”

When it came to the drought, the surrounding villagers looked at it.

The old man pointed to the large area of land behind the village, "Well, you can see for yourself." The seedlings are going to die without water to drink, and they are about to be harvested this year. It's spring and we have last year's surplus food, but if it's autumn, it's hard to say......"

Another younger man said, "If a few officials want to do business, don't go west." We can still do business in the towns here, but I heard that if you go further west, it is called a drought, and people are killed by drought. Who is there who is willing to spend money on your stuff? ”

As he spoke, he looked at Su Zhiming and their horses, "What kind of business are the officials doing?" ”

Su Zhiming was stunned for a moment, and Zhang Zhidong immediately said: "Oh, we're not here to sell things, just to take a look." If the situation is good, we will immediately let the delivery be delivered to the family, and if the situation is not good, we will go home and sell it elsewhere. ”

"I see."

The villagers ate their cakes and enthusiastically thought about them, "A few officials should go back, I am afraid that this year's drought will be more serious, and it will not be easy to sell anything." Unless you sell water and grain, it is impossible to sell water, and it is difficult to transport grain from high mountains and long distances. What do you say? ”

Hearing this, Su Zhiming sighed.

Naturally, private businessmen would not travel thousands of miles to transport grain here to sell, and the transfer of grain from the south of the Yangtze River to the northwest has always been a major project of the imperial court.

Only the imperial court has this manpower and material resources, if it is an ordinary businessman, it is this heart, and it may be robbed by mountain bandits halfway.

Zhang Zhidong said: "I heard that the northwest is a drought for many years, so how was the drought dealt with in previous years?" ”

"What else can be done? However, the government gave some money and food. ”

When it comes to this, the villagers are very dissatisfied, "It's just that there is too little, those who are more honest can survive it, and if there are many children in poor people, a few will starve to death." The poorest also had their families and villages starving to death. ”

"Yes, in our Niujia Village, there was no harvest in the drought ten years ago, and many people in the village starved to death."

Su Zhiming sighed secretly, "The imperial court's disaster relief, no matter what, must be implemented to every household. It is not permissible for people to starve to death, but for the poor should be given more food, and the rich should be given less. ”

"Hey, you are the son from the capital."

The villagers suddenly laughed, "How does the emperor know which of us is poorer and who is richer?" It's the local squire bunker who knows, but who do they care if we live or die? ”

"Yes, if the drought is really serious, tighten your belt and watch the destiny of heaven, it is a great luck to survive......"

It wasn't until the moon and stars were scarce that Su Zhiming and the others left Niujia Village and returned to the post house, and the two talked for a long time at night.

"Brother Zhang, can you find out? I used to think that in a place like the northwest where there is a drought every year, the government and the people should suffer together, but now it seems that it is completely the opposite. The more the drought and the more the court allocated relief money, the more profitable it was for those officials. ”

"yes."

Zhang Zhidong also sighed, "This is exactly the poor land to raise rich officials, according to those villagers, not to mention the local petty officials, even the squires in the village are embezzling from it." This trend must be killed, otherwise all the people's life-saving money will go to them. ”

Su Zhiming looked up at him, with candlelight in his eyes.

Both fell silent at the same time.

How easy is it to kill a long-established trend?

Both of them used to live in relatively affluent places, and they didn't know much about arid places like the northwest, and Su Zhiming felt pressured.

He pondered for a moment, "Since ancient times, reform cannot be immovable without blood. Tonight, I will immediately repair the book and send it back to Beijing, asking the Queen Mother and the Emperor for permission. ”

"Allowed?"

"Allow me to go as a last resort - first cut and then play!"

Zhang Zhidong was taken aback, but he didn't expect Su Zhiming, who had always been gentle and elegant, to have murderous intentions, which surprised and frightened him.

But immediately thinking about it, his murderous intention was out of love for the people, so he admired it more and more, "I think if the Queen Mother and the Emperor knew Brother Su's thoughts, they would definitely agree." Write it, Brother Su. I'm here to polish my ink with you, and I can help you think about the words, what do you think? ”

When Su Zhiming heard this, he knew that Zhang Zhidong was going to share this responsibility with him, so he got up and saluted solemnly, "Thank you Brother Zhang for your help, if this disaster relief goes well, I will definitely not forget Brother Zhang's feelings!" ”