After hearing what the county magistrate said, Confucius' face became even more ugly.
If this city really cannot hold on, doesn't it mean that these people may starve to death or die of thirst?
"Where is the food provided for disaster relief in Chaotang now?"
The county magistrate shook his head.
Anyway, all the information that I should send has been submitted to the superior.
No one knows when the food will be delivered to the court and how much food will be delivered to this place.
Everyone can only take one step at a time.
I saw that the food in the hands of the people outside was becoming increasingly scarce.
The government officials in the city were indeed short of food, and the faces of Confucius and his entourage also became ugly because of it.
"Sir, are there any grain merchants in this city?"
"Is there any silver left in the government office?"
The county magistrate sighed helplessly.
"Master, you don't know something. The grain merchants in our city are all controlled by the big families.
Since the great disaster in the Tang Dynasty, they have closed all their stores.
Naturally, they are not short of food. We also wanted to ask them to donate some, but they were unwilling to donate.
If someone doesn’t agree, we can’t go to someone’s yard and grab grain, right?”
As he said this, his whole person revealed a special feeling of helplessness.
I saw the master thinking for a moment.
"Okay, since they have food, I will go and borrow some in person."
The county magistrate was overjoyed when he heard this.
"If that's the case, then there's Mr. Lao!"
"let's go."
Not to mention, Confucius took their group and personally went to each family to borrow some food.
The big families in the city saw that Confucius himself came to lend food to the people.
Everyone donated their own food to help the people.
Although I borrowed it once, the food I prepared was not particularly large.
But after such preparations and a few vehicles, we were able to survive for a while.
Actually, these big families love face most.
Of course, the face here also requires you to be worthy of other people's face. If an ordinary common person comes to borrow food, will he give you a common person's face? It's really a habit.
Even if the county magistrate borrows food, everyone just says there is insufficient food.
But this Confucius, they understand that people can afford this face.
Especially since we all belong to the same Shandong Province, we can never see each other without looking up, and what is the identity of the Kong family?
If someone comes to collect food in person, even if you give them a little bit, you can't refute their face.
When the county magistrate saw that the master was taking action, he really succeeded immediately.
Although the food prepared is only a few carts, it can still help the people solve their hardships for a few days. Maybe the food will come later.
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master."
"Your Excellency, County Magistrate, I can only prepare so much food.
But don't worry, I will go to Chang'an City in person right now. After arriving in Chang'an City, I will meet the current Holy Emperor as soon as possible.
At that time, I will talk to the current Holy Father personally about this matter.
This will make the current Holy Father step up his efforts to send people to rescue the victims."
The master spoke so loudly that the county magistrate saluted.
"In this case, I will thank you, Master, on behalf of the victims like me."
Rested in the city for one night and left the city the next day.
I passed through several cities in this way, and officials in basically every city adopted this method to provide relief to the victims.
If he was full of anger before, there was no need for him now, because he already knew the difficulties of the local government.
Although I say I am angry, it does not mean that I am stupid.
Although he also wanted to help them, the help he provided was insignificant.
I would meet with local officials and personally inquire about local food matters.
It's just that every government gave the same answer to themselves.
Food shortage, very food shortage.
It's not that they don't want to take care of these people, it's just that they want to take care of them, but they have the intention but not the power.
After hearing what they all said, Master and the others felt very uncomfortable, but they were helpless.
As a last resort, he could only show his old face. Every time he visited a city, he would go to the local clan's home and ask for food in person.
Fortunately, these big families saw that it was a member of the Kong family who personally took action, and everyone gave the Kong family more or less face.
Not only that, their group was going to Chang'an City and they were short of food on the way, so the big families made good arrangements for them.
In the evening, he greeted them with a smile and invited them to have a meal at his home.
But when they saw the food they were eating, the group found it hard to swallow.
The people outside the city all ate bran-thick vegetables, but big families like theirs only ate polished rice and other vegetables. Many of their grains had already rotted in the granaries, but they never thought of helping those people.
After eating this meal, we left the city the next day and continued towards Chang'an City.
Soon, the group left Shandong and continued on their way.
"Master, is there another city in front of you?"
"Park and go into town."
"This is Master. We have been delayed for a long time along the way. Besides, we have already passed Shandong. Are we?"
The students who followed the Master to Chang'an knew these things very clearly.
If I helped those people in Shandong before, because everyone was in the same place.
But now that they have left Shandong, is it necessary to continue to meddle in other people's business?
"Huh, have you forgotten all the things I told you?
Now that there is a big disaster, do we still need to distinguish where we are from?
These people are all from our Tang Dynasty and have entered the city."
"What's going on? Where's the food? Where's the food?
Why haven’t the food supplies for the victims been arranged yet?”
"Sir, our granary is empty, empty."
"What? The granary is empty. Has the food been transported over to the court?"
"grown ups,
The food from the court has not been delivered yet."
"Ah, no food has been delivered.
What should we do?"
"Sir, let's think of a solution quickly. The group of disaster victims outside may really be unable to survive."
Think of ways and means, and consider yourself a good official.
They treat these people very well. It's all because of this damn drought that these innocent people have become like this.
"Sir, Confucius from Shandong is here."
"What are they doing here?"
"Replying to your Majesty's words, I heard from Confucius and others that they are going to Chang'an.
Every time he passed through a city, he would use his own strength to help these people.
Today I passed by our county and wanted to help us."
When he heard that someone came to help him, the county magistrate smiled directly.
"Why don't you quickly invite Master to come to your house?"
When the two met at the house, Confucius got straight to the point, asked about food, and went directly to the houses of major clans to borrow food.
Even though Confucius has left Shandong, his reputation is well known.
Just like other big families in Shandong, when they saw the Master and his family opening their mouths, they all showed their love.
Not only that, in order to show his love, he donated more food than all the major families in Shandong.
After more than ten cartloads of food were arranged, I made a rough estimate, which would at least allow these people to eat for many more days.
Nowadays, this situation can be alleviated one day at a time.
After chatting with the county magistrate for a while in this city, the master and his party continued to move forward without any further delay.
The group of people left this place and continued moving in the direction of Chang'an.
After walking for a day, I looked up and saw a team of people pulling a large amount of food towards them.
These grains were heavily guarded by soldiers. I counted several hundred carts of them.
And looking at the bags containing grains, I can see that they are actually refined grains.
Seeing this scene, everyone smiled. It seemed that the county town they passed before was saved.
Otherwise, this group of disaster victims would really be doomed.
I just walked for two more days and saw the fleeing victims. Why was my heart so entangled?
After thinking for a moment, he asked someone to turn the carriage around and prepare to return the same way.
"Master us?"
"Go back to Shandong quickly."
"It's Master."
There are many corrupt officials nowadays. Who knows if they will cause trouble under such circumstances?
If all this life-saving food is embezzled, won't the people really die?
He drove the carriage to turn around and move forward quickly.
"Where's the food?"
Where is the food supported by Chang'an City now?
"Sir, we have not sent any news."
Some time ago, the Master came to their city and took some things from the hands of those clans.
But these grains are of no use at all.
"We are running out of food again, what should we do?"
"Sir, I do have a way to solve the urgent need, but, just!"
"Just what?
Now that the time has come, don’t just stop.”
When the official expressed his thoughts, the official's face suddenly turned ugly.
Is this method really good?
"Sir, there is no other way now. We don't want to do this, but the people outside can't wait any longer."
"This? That's fine. Let's make arrangements. If anything happens, I'll take care of it."
"It's my lord."
The official sent people to replace all the remaining grain into wheat bran.
He also used a large amount of money to make purchases with those rich people and clans.
The price of this wheat bran is very cheap, and it is usually used to feed livestock.
When the county magistrate purchased it, they also gave it face and were very willing to sell it.
With a large amount of wheat bran, we immediately arranged manpower to provide it to the people, so that all the people could have enough to eat this time. This chapter has been completed!