285: The poor become poorer [seeking a monthly ticket]
Winter in Ha Yin begins with the first snow.
The snow came earlier this year than in previous years. The north wind howled, making you feel cold all over just listening to the sound. Fortunately, the snow was not too heavy. But there is a saying in a chemistry exam question - it doesn't snow. Chilling snow cold.
People carry limited amounts of warm clothing.
There is plenty of food in the valley, but it is not suitable for winter. Therefore, knowing that it is not a good time yet, Shen Tang and Qi Shan prepare to lead their troops and enter Heyin in advance after some discussions.
After nearly twenty days of covert raids, recruitment, and training, plus the original troops, the force barely increased to 2,000. Adding in the friendly help of Zhao Feng, 1,000, the scale of 3,000 is not too small, barely. Can see.
Preliminary completion of expected indicators.
Heyin official road...
On this day, there was fine snow falling in the sky.
Near noon, thousands of people appeared on the official road.
There's something strange about these people.
The outermost circle of people formed a unified formation, mostly young and strong in uniform or similar clothing. Occasionally, a light flashed through their eyes, and there was a faint evil look on their brows. They were riding or walking, and they were wearing old and new cloth. Armor, holding various weapons.
Always be on guard against possible surprises from the outside world.
The people in the middle circle were thin, haggard, old, frail, women and children, and the clothes they wore had been mended countless times.
The entire team was like a slowly crawling insect, moving slowly along the official road. Apart from the sound of footsteps and horse hooves, there were only occasional whispers in the entire team. It was barely orderly. Perhaps they were about to arrive at their destination and saw hope. , the faces of this group of people gradually showed a little joy, and even the heavy and tired steps became brisk...
However, this is not the strangest thing.
There was clearly a little bit of fine snow floating, but none fell on everyone's shoulders; there was clearly a cold north wind blowing, but even the infant babies in the team couldn't feel much coldness... The snow and wind were all covered by a layer of coldness. Invisible forces resist outside.
Not to mention that the ice and snow were destructive, even the wind blowing on them was carrying traces of lazy warmth.
"Hehe, Yanling is really useful."
The front of the team.
Shen Tang took out a few candies from the money bag at his waist and threw them into the air. He raised his neck and opened his mouth, then swallowed them.
She popped one into her mouth.
He generously shared it with Lin Feng and Tu Rong.
"Come, have a taste."
Chu Yao: "Eating too much can easily damage your teeth."
Wulang would feed the two children caramels when he had nothing to do. Which child can resist the temptation of sweets? Even if he wipes his teeth with a toothpick twice a day in the morning and evening, his teeth will be easily damaged. Shen Tang doesn't think that these two children are suffering from filial piety. If you have to avoid food, then you have to avoid food. It doesn’t matter if you eat two more caramels to relieve your craving.
Even if the tooth is broken——
Maybe there is a magic spirit in the world that can cure toothache.
All things are possible.
The focus of praying for good is not "bad teeth".
“Yan Ling is easy to use, but it’s not meant to be used like this.”
He found that any word spirit would be "abnormal" in the hands of Shen Xiaolangjun. For example, now, he actually proposed to let several literati take turns to use the word spirit to maintain the temperature of the marching environment.
Although in order to relieve the pressure on literary scholars, the team has been tightened as much as possible and the area has been reduced. However, the number of soldiers plus civilians is still over 6,000! No matter how small it is, it is still quite impressive.
If Zhao Feng hadn't been "unbearable" when he saw this, and took the initiative to suggest that the thousand men under his account were good at keeping out the cold, it would have been really embarrassing.
Shen Tang touched his nose.
I also feel guilty that I "squeezed" myself too hard.
But there was nothing she could do.
Firstly, she was poor and did not have the financial means to buy thick enough winter clothing; secondly, the old, weak, women and children who followed them did not carry much warm clothing. If this method was not used to maintain the temperature, just marching in the snow would drag them to death. people.
Shen Tang spoke eloquently.
"It doesn't matter whether it is a literary spirit or a brave spirit. As long as it can effectively solve the problem, it is a good speech spirit. Who stipulates that a word spirit like 'The sun is warm and the wind is gentle' cannot be used in this way?"
It's useless to say "How can I say that I have no clothes, and I wear the same robe as my son?" That's fine.
Such as "The warm rain and clear wind have just broken through the frost, willow eyes and plum blossom cheeks, I feel the heartbeat of spring", "The country is beautiful late in the day, and the spring breeze is fragrant." These words are not impossible. Spending some literary energy can save a lot of money on keeping out the cold. , very cost-effective.
Qishan: "..."
He had known Shen Tang's temper and was used to certain things, but Shen Xiaolangjun could always play tricks on Yan Ling.
Qi Shan knows that this will not be the last time.
Haha, his guess is right.
Heyin has poor mountains and rivers, and there is no one available in Shentang. We don't expect capable and capable literary scholars and courageous warriors to work hard. How can we expect those common people who are plagued by hunger and poverty, and who have not even realized the freedom of farming to work? Son?
Shen Tang had already planned how to use Zhao Feng and the others, but she didn't say it, and neither did Gu Chi.
Heyin is not large in area.
Although it is said to be a county, it is actually a little larger than a county.
The treatment is in a small place called "Fu Gu".
Shen Tang had already sent someone with his own seal to notify Fu Gu. As soon as he entered Fu Gu, the few officials in Fu Gu had been waiting for a long time. Compared with Shen Tang and others' leisurely mood, these officials were in a state of confusion. The drums were played on the upper and lower floors.
Ha Yin's news is blocked.
They don't know much about Shen Tang.
At first sight, several people were in trouble.
Looking at the young scholars beside Shen Tang, he wondered in his mind, which one of them is the new county governor Shen Youli?
They all have different temperaments, and they all seem to look alike.
Until Shen Tang came out and revealed his identity.
Several people: "..."
Shen Tang didn't know what everyone was thinking, so he said: "No need to be polite, let's find a place to settle the people in my tent first."
She looked at the starched and white official uniforms of several people, with patches of similar colors on their clothes, and she murmured in her heart - Heyin is a poor place, the place is poor and small, and the evil people are rich and many, but the officials are so poor. Isn't it not very scientific?
Several people looked at each other.
Shen Tang looked troubled when he saw them.
Then he asked: "Is there any problem?"
One person was heartbroken and the other was horizontal, saying: "Mr. Shen doesn't know something. Fu Gu's treasury is empty. I'm afraid, I'm afraid I won't be able to accommodate so many people."
Shen Tang said: "I brought food and grass."
I thought it was a big deal.
Several people breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.
In fact, Fu Gu is even poorer than they say. It is not enough to feed just a few hundred people, not to mention a few thousand people.
On the road, Gu Chi and Shen Tang whispered.
He smiled and asked: "Master, do you know how poor Fu Gu is?"
Shen Tang rolled her eyes inwardly. There were a lot of shabby houses on the street. There were not many people living there. There were only a dozen shabby patches per capita. She relied on trembling and faith to keep out the cold... She was somewhat prepared for how poor she was. Unexpectedly, Gu Chi said : "It's more than that."
oh?
More than that?
Isn't this poor enough?
Shen Tang had done some homework. She learned a lot about the situation under He Yin's administration from Bai Su, especially the Fugu in the administration. But when Gu Chi said this, she was heartbroken.
Gu Chi: "These officials will get sick in a few days."
The so-called "shifting illness" means asking for leave due to illness.
Of course, this is a polite way of saying resignation.
Shen Tang: "???"
Gu Chi sighed and said: "Three of them have not received a single stipend for thirteen months..."
The rest are miserable.
The family is too poor to open the pot.
I still stay at my job only because I have a little sense of responsibility.
The treasury is so poor that even rats don't want to visit it.
Some of the petty officials below have already fled.
These officials planned to make some insinuations to see if Shen Tang was willing to help pay off the arrears of monthly salary out of his own pocket. No matter how much it was, he could still live through the New Year if he went home. As for the "transfer disease", they were too poor and wanted to find someone else. means of livelihood.
In addition, Shen Tang leads many people, so someone should take over the work when they "move the disease", and the idea becomes more firm.
Shen Tang: "..."
This is too miserable...
But wait until she sees the place she is about to move into.
Only then did she realize that she had thought too early.
"Ahem, cough, cough - how long has it been since this was cleaned?" Shen Tang casually wiped a handful of dust on it, good guy, it's a thick layer.
Look up at the beams again——
"Isn't this considered a dilapidated house?"
Shen Tang is poor, and the place he governs is poor.
When these two people meet together, they become even poorer.
She suspected that if she kicked a pillar, the whole house would collapse and bury them all alive. Shen Tang felt that the top priority was not to solve the survival crisis, but to find some people and wood to strengthen the broken house.
Otherwise, she won't be able to sleep well at night.
The officials looked at it and were heartbroken.
I was afraid that Shen Tang would be unhappy because of this.
"You're really...poor and useless..." Shen Tang put his sleeves over his mouth and nose to breathe. Then he felt a little better. He turned around and asked several officials who followed him, "Do you usually handle the government affairs of the office? Do you have a file account?" Where is the key to the treasury?"
If it is a wealthy place, Shen Tang, a new official, will "seize power" as soon as he comes up. The original team members will be somewhat unhappy and will not cooperate in actions. But Heyin is really too poor, and these officials are anxious. Trying to escape.
When Shen Tang mentioned it, they handed it over happily.
Then--
Gu Chi heard Shen Tang holding his head and screaming in his heart.
【Holy shit, shit, shit, shit——】
He subconsciously raised his hands to cover his ears.
However, it's of no use.
Gu Chi said: "Lord!"
Shen Tang's whole body was about to fade.
He said listlessly: "Leave me alone???."
She just wants to be quiet now.
Good guy, several rooms were filled with unfinished government affairs. Various files and bamboo slips were almost piled up to the beams. There was almost no room for anyone to step down. For a moment, she didn't know whether to be grateful that the beams collapsed and couldn't crush her, or she was grateful. Lamenting his foreseeable career as a social animal...
She might as well be a bandit.
???
I feel sorry for myself and hold myself tight.
Several officials looked at Shen Tang's complexion, which suddenly turned blue and white, and their hearts beat more and more fiercely. They were worried that Shen Tang would get into trouble because of this and throw a label of "dereliction of duty" to build up his prestige. They didn't want to either, but He Yin Public security is extremely chaotic, and various things happen every day. The police station has fewer and fewer manpower, and they are unable to solve it even if they want to.
It can only be piled up day by day.
Then--
The more they pile up, the more they pile up.
At present, these are still the result of the severe cold in winter and no charcoal fire to burn, so he secretly took some of it as firewood to keep warm, otherwise it would only be more. Shen Tang just sighed, that sigh was heavy and sad, with a heartbreaking complexity.
"Let's go see the treasury again."
She never gives up.
Maybe even mice don't care about it, it's an exaggeration.
However, when she saw the dusty treasury and the rotten stench that had not been seen for a long time in the air, she was completely in despair.
this--
A complete mess.
Shen Tang put his hand on his forehead.
She felt that she had thought too much before, and there was no need to go to Heyin to collect the bandits first, because poverty was the biggest survival crisis. Heyin was so poor, and as the governor of Heyin, she would not be feared by those aristocratic families at all.
"Shen Jun, the account books have been moved."
Bang bang bang bang, several baskets.
Shen Tang knew that the deficit was a figure that she could not imagine without looking at it, but she still took a look at it without giving up - she endured the headache and looked at the complicated records that she was not used to, and quickly made rough calculations in her mind - and then her heart became even more desperate. .
Even the pacemaker doesn't work.
Looking at Shen Xiaolangjun with a despairing look on his face, Qishan comforted him: "Everything is difficult at the beginning, even though I am a little poor..."
Shen Tang corrected his wording.
"It's not 'poor'."
Not only was he poor, he was also in debt.
Qi Shan: "——But looking at the bright side, it is precisely because we are so poor and have no way out that it is more suitable for us to use it."
The only advantage of a place that is so poor is that there are fewer people to hinder you and you can bring more people. After taking up the post, all the government orders can be carried out without any obstacles. If you take over a county where there are old people dictating things, it will be worse. trouble.
Shen Tang could only comfort himself in this way.
Anyway, it's not her part to enjoy happiness.
Under the leadership of several officials, Shen Tang walked around the small Fu Kou City. As he walked around, he silently recorded in his mind what needed to be repaired and where it needed to be demolished and rebuilt. After a while, the general idea of the new Fu Kou City came to mind.
The city wall of Fugu is not high, and parts of the wall have collapsed and peeled off, and the gaps are covered with dead vines and moss. There are only a few gray-haired old soldiers standing guard at the city gate. The wind is very cold, and the clothes on them cannot keep out the cold, so they can only hide under the dilapidated door. Then he stomped his feet to keep warm.
When they saw Shen Tang and his party, they were so frightened that their faces turned blue.
Shen Tang looked at him and didn't speak as harshly as he imagined. Instead, he waved his hand and motioned for him to do his own thing. Seeing this, the official believed that Shen Tang was a good-tempered person, but he also felt sorry for her. Too young.
Ha Yin's problem is not just as simple as poverty.
If they were just poor, they officials, although they say they are mediocre, would not dare to say they were rich in governance, but they would never be so poor. After all, everyone was born in poverty and understood the suffering of the common people. They could not bring benefits to the common people, but they would not Do evil.
"Shen Jun, watch your step."
The steps of the city wall are of different heights.
The masonry is still loose in some places.
If you step on it with one foot, it is very easy to lose your center of gravity.
Shen Tang, however, walked on level ground and climbed to the highest point with ease. Looking at the entire Fugu City that exuded a sense of poverty, he soon noticed that there was something strange about the buildings in the city.
If Fugu City is centered on the central axis and divided into nine criss-crossing blocks, the northeastern area is close to the core of the building complex, with neat and thick tile eaves and elegant door layouts.
The promenade is winding and winding, with rockeries and flowing water.
A touch of luxury in a low-key manner.
But beyond that, it’s scattered and messy.
They are clearly two completely different worlds.
Shen Tang had a guess in his mind and still raised his hand.
"Where is that?"
Several officials' expressions changed drastically and they hesitated.
Shen Tang said: "There is nothing that cannot be said."
They thought that sooner or later Shen Tang would know everything in Fugu City, and even Shen Jun would know if they didn't tell them.
They all confessed.
However, they don't want to offend local snakes.
Worry about provoking retaliation.
Each one put it politely.
It is only said that those households are all wealthy households in Fugu City.
