In one day's work, the fierce Yuan army actually worked conscientiously and diligently... The common people did not understand the reason.
I just thought that the new Zhu Jiajun was so amazing. If it weren't for the blessing of the gods, he would never be able to do this. Then he heard that food was going to be distributed to everyone. Almost instantly, people calmed down and everyone was looking forward to it.
, as long as nothing unexpected happens and everyone can be given a ration and a hot meal, Zhu Yuanzhang will have a firm foothold in Yangzhou.
Zhang Ximeng calculated that there should be no accidents with such a simple matter, but he did not dare to relax. He personally led people to explore and inquire everywhere, and when encountering problems, he solved them on the spot.
The two generals Heng Ha who usually followed Zhang Ximeng were gone, and Li Wenzhong was busy with his father Li Zhen. This boy was very independent, and it was true that he studied with Zhang Ximeng, but that was all. Li Wenzhong was more interested in leading troops.
So he often looked for those generals and learned their skills from them.
Everyone has his own ambitions, and Zhang Ximeng would not interfere with Li Wenzhong's choice. On the contrary, he was very encouraging.
As for Lan Yu, this kid didn't show any tendency to be civil or military, but he showed a lustful nature... Ever since he accompanied Xiao Ju on a trip to Yangzhou, he had been following Xiao Ju all day long, chatting together whenever he had free time.
I have to sigh, this guy has enlightened himself really early.
Xiaoju didn't have such thoughts. Apart from waiting for Zhou Huiniang and Uncle Jiang to come back, she just wanted to do something, at least when facing the girl. Especially after sneaking into Yangzhou once, this girl became bolder.
She took the initiative to take over the job of a food distribution point. Because she understood the Yangzhou dialect, had a sweet tongue, and had a good attitude, it went very well.
"Listen up, everyone. We are helping the urgent, not the poor. There is no shortage of food for the higher-ups, and it is being shipped. At the moment, each family can only receive ten kilograms first, which is not much, but it is enough for the big guys to eat for a few days. But just in case.
If someone repeatedly pretends to claim, and takes two or three rations, someone will starve. So, please keep an eye on it carefully. If anyone takes too much, please report it. The extra rations will be divided in half.
Anyone who reported this...please listen carefully, don't lose all your dignity just for this little food."
Xiaoju said, and specifically warned a few old ladies.
At this time, Lan Yu had already prepared a bucket full of ten kilograms of grain, and those who came to receive the grain were waiting with their bags, one for each family, each weighing ten kilograms.
And everyone who receives food must report their name and register in a register.
Obviously, there are loopholes in doing this, and it will inevitably be repeated. But at least we can establish basic data, how many people, how many households, and how they are distributed. This will greatly help with the subsequent governance.
Zhang Ximeng was inspecting every place and happened to come over. He found that the queue of people was very long, but basically it was in good order, and Lan Yu's command was also good.
Putting aside the boy's intentions, he did a pretty good job.
At this time, there was a skinny and short figure in the crowd, stooped and carrying a bag. Lan Yu felt sorry for her, so she packed it high and poured a bucket of rice into the bag. The woman's body swayed and she could hardly hold it.
.
Xiao Ju next to her hurriedly reached out her hand to help her, but the woman seemed to be scared and hurriedly avoided her. She mumbled a thank you, turned around and was about to run away.
The soldier in charge of registration said hurriedly: "Stop, you haven't registered yet, why are you leaving so fast?"
The woman was called back again. Facing the questioning, she lowered her head and remained silent at first, but he did not speak and was stuck here. The people behind her stopped doing anything and started making noises one after another.
The woman had no choice but to say in a rough voice: "Wang, Mrs. Wang Liu."
Her voice had changed as much as possible, but it still caught Xiao Ju's attention. In fact, from the moment she appeared, Xiao Ju felt familiar.
This opening confirmed his identity!
"It's you!"
The woman also realized that something was wrong and quickly turned around and ran away. However, she was weak and was carrying food on her back. She fell to the ground within a few steps.
Zhang Ximeng urged his horse to come over and blocked the way. At this time, Xiao Ju also rushed over, grabbed the woman and asked her to raise her face.
"It's you! It's you!"
Xiaoju was so excited that her voice changed. Suddenly, she raised her palm and was about to hit someone.
Zhang Ximeng coughed lightly, "What are you doing? Are there any more rules?"
Xiao Ju was startled, then raised her head and complained to Zhang Ximeng: "Sir, she is the owner of Hua Fang. This old woman has no hearts. She runs a brothel and forces good girls to do that kind of thing... I, I am very young.
She bought it!"
It turns out that this Wang Liu family is Zhou Huiniang's boss... It stands to reason that she is also a well-known figure in the brothel and has a rich family. How did she end up in this situation?
I have to say this, there is really no good end for those in this business!
Zhou Huiniang saw Zhang Shicheng's men robbing women, so she decided to run away. After she left, Zhang Shicheng's men robbed the boat.
Several of Wang Liu's money trees are gone.
But at this point, Mrs. Wang Liu need not be afraid. She still has so much savings, including countless gold and silver, which is enough to become a rich man.
But she ignored that she was in an unethical industry and should be punished! No, when she saw that she had lost power, the thugs ran away first, taking away a lot of money before running away.
Then the robbers came to the house and stole the property.
Ms. Wang Liu and her husband tried their best to drive them away, but they were not afraid at all.
"You have done so many bad things and all you have earned is ill-gotten wealth. We will help you spend some of it to alleviate your sins. Don't be ignorant of good and evil!"
"Even so, you still want to sue the officials? Look, which yamen will pay attention to you? Hahaha!"
These thieves are getting more and more rampant. At first they stole, but later they took it openly. At first, they took small items, but even tables, chairs, benches, and large beds made of thousands of pieces of work were not spared.
Mrs. Wang Liu and her husband were unable to stop him and were beaten severely.
They had no choice but to take their last possessions and try to escape. But before they left the city, they were targeted by beggars in the city, who robbed them of all their money and severely injured Wang Liu's husband.
Some said he was beaten to death, others said he was cooked alive by beggars. Anyway, he ended up very miserable.
Wang Liu had a chance to escape, but she could only hide in Yangzhou City for half a month. She didn't eat anything serious for half a month. She lost weight and her back became bent. She was always worried about being caught and eaten.
Now, my hair has turned gray.
"Girl! This is retribution! It's my retribution! Girl, because I have raised you for so many years, just leave me alone and let me fend for myself!"
Mrs. Wang Liu cried bitterly and begged Xiao Ju.
Xiaoju didn't expect that she would be so miserable, but Xiaoju bit her lip tightly and was unwilling to let go.
"No, you have to tell me, where are my parents? Where are they?"
Mrs. Wang Liu was stunned and cried: "Girl, this is the rule in this business. Let alone you, even if there are so many brothels and boats in Yangzhou City, no one will tell the whereabouts of the girls who buy them? Just you
Don't force me to break the rules, I won't live for a few days, so why let someone poke my spine!"
Xiaoju was so angry that she yelled angrily: "You fart! That year our family suffered a disaster. My parents took me out and begged for food all the way to Yangzhou. You paid me a hundred dollars and bought me. Mom and Dad."
They just took the money and left, where did they go? You don’t know? Tell me?”
The unscrupulous industry of buying and selling people has been around since ancient times. Ironically, they have also formed a rule because most children are abducted and trafficked when they are very young.
When this child grows up, he wants to know who his parents are and where his hometown is, but all the people involved will refuse to tell them.
Once you sell it, it's over. Keep your word and you can't go back on it.
At this time, Mrs. Wang Liu was still unwilling to say anything, and she was still afraid of being poked in the back. Who would poke her in the back? She wasn’t a colleague from Yangzhou City!
I didn’t expect this person to be quite dedicated!
Snapped!
A loud slap made Wang Liu's mouth bleed. Lan Yu grabbed her and said, "Say, you say!"
Wang Liu raised her eyes and looked at Lan Yu, and turned her head to the side, as if she was waiting for a blow with her eyes closed. Lan Yu was furious and wanted to beat her.
Zhang Ximeng stretched out his hand to stop him, and turned to look at the people present.
"Folks, we all know that this brothel is a hell that harms people, and these people are evil ghosts who cannibalize people. How many families have been ruined, wives and children separated, and they have suffered from them. Do you have any news?
Come out and help make your family whole, your merits are immeasurable!"
Zhang Ximeng said this several times in succession. At this time, an old man stood up tremblingly in the crowd.
"Sir, although I don't know the whereabouts of this girl's parents, I know that these beasts have evil intentions. They gave money and bought the child, and then they went back to find thugs.
Beating people to death. Firstly, there is a sum of money left over, and secondly, I am afraid that they will find it back in the future and disrupt the business. Many, many girls in the brothel don't know about it and think that their family members are still alive!"
Xiaoju was dumbfounded. When she heard this, the child couldn't bear it and burst into tears. She knelt on the ground, heartbroken. She had been looking forward to it for so many years, just to see her parents one day, even just once, and she would be satisfied.
.
But how did she know that maybe her father and mother were beaten to death on the night of separation, and they would be separated forever? She had been looking forward to it for so many years!
"Dad! Mom!"
Xiao Ju cried bitterly, and Lan Yu gritted her teeth. He took out his saber and wanted to kill Wang Liu to vent his anger. At this time, Zhang Ximeng stretched out his hand and stopped him.
"Killing a dead person is not considered a hero." Zhang Ximeng turned around and said: "Folks, things are like this. I want to ask you something and ask you a question... Those people in the brothel, are they qualified to receive food here?
Can you stand side by side with the big guys under the sun?"
The people of Yangzhou didn't know what Zhang Ximeng meant, but they were also angry and said in unison: "No! We can't let these black-hearted maggots stand with others, they are not worthy!"
Zhang Ximeng nodded sincerely, "The folks said well, then let me ask you guys again, if I give an order to arrest all the owners of brothels and boats, and then thoroughly investigate their crimes and punish them properly, you guys
What do you think?"
The people were stunned for a moment, and someone immediately shouted: "Okay! What a great thing! The great master is virtuous!"
Zhang Ximeng remained calm and asked again: "Folks, I would like to ask one more question, if our Zhu Jiajun ordered that all the brothels and boats in Yangzhou City be sealed off and no longer allowed to engage in this kind of business, what would you think?"
After Zhang Ximeng's question, the common people fell into a long silence... It's nothing else, can it really be banned? Throughout the ages, dynasties have changed, isn't it always like this, brothels and boats, talented men and beauties, endless romances, endless romances
, how can it be banned?
There was silence for a while, and suddenly someone fell to his knees.
"Master Qingtian! Master Qingtian!"
Someone took the lead, and in an instant the people fell to their knees, kowtowed, shed tears, and begged for a ban on brothel painting and boating. This is a harmful thing.
Behind those beautiful and talented people is the romance of the rich and the nightmare of the poor!
As long as they can survive, who is willing to do this? It’s not like they are desperate and at the end of their rope. There are simply countless people like Xiao Ju.
In a year of great calamity, the family cannot survive and has no choice but to let the business ravage them. A good life is almost over before it even begins.
The people of Yangzhou clearly see that these brothels and boats are just using the daughters of their poor families to please the powerful and powerful. If they are really allowed to choose, they will naturally not be willing to do so.
But the question is can it be done?
Would anyone really ban brothels?
"Send an order to seal all the brothels. No one will be spared!" Lao Zhu said lightly and issued a crucial order without any hesitation.