Chapter five hundred and ninety-two rotten Qingzhou
Liu Mingzhi stood up and was startled for a moment when he looked at the wild vegetable pancakes and a bowl of obscure porridge on the table.
He glanced at the two people who were staring at him and didn't hesitate to grab the pancakes and porridge and wolfed them down. Well, apart from being a little bland, the taste was pretty good.
The reason why Liu Mingzhi felt that the food tasted good was because he was used to eating big fish and meat. Occasionally eating a meal of grains would naturally feel novel and delicious. If he did this every day, his eyes would turn green.
Just look at the victims outside and you will know that they have sallow faces, thin muscles, and dull eyes. Wild vegetables can fill the stomach, but they are still not as nutritious as grains. If you eat too much, your physical strength will not be able to keep up, and you will become more and more emaciated.
Zhao Qi looked at Liu Mingzhi who was devouring the food with a satisfied expression. The pancakes had no flour, the porridge had no salt, and the edible ones were devoured without the slightest trace of color, which meant that Liu Mingzhi was really hungry and not just showing off.
After burping, Liu Mingzhi put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands: "Thank you, Brother Zhao, for enjoying the meal. If you have any instructions, I will definitely be there to help you."
Zhao Qi put away the bowls and chopsticks and went back. Brother He thought for a while and looked at Liu Mingzhi who was wiping his mouth: "Brother Liu, how many people were guarding the city gate when you entered the city?"
"There are more than 20 people. It's quite relaxed and not strict at all."
Brother He stood up and looked at the sky outside with his hands behind his back and sighed: "It's loose on the outside and tight on the inside. There are still five thousand guardsmen hiding on top of the city. If you want to leave the city without a token from the officials of Qingzhou Prefecture, I'm afraid they won't have it."
It’s possible.”
"Brother, we are back. All the four city gates seem to be loose, but in fact they are full of dangers. Trying to send Mr. Qiao out is tantamount to throwing yourself into a trap. Tong and Gu have no intention of letting us leave the city at all.
"
"That's right, brother. Seeing that food is getting less and less day by day, one porridge a day can only last about half a month. Once you enter the refugee camp, you can't get out at all. Three bowls of clear soup a day. Even these idiots can do it. The government
The 200,000 shi of food in the storehouse have all gone away? It’s not an option to continue spending it like this.”
While they were talking, two more men walked in, wearing rough linen but bright and lively clothes.
Brother He raised his hand to indicate with a sigh: "Just wait a little longer, there will always be a chance. Besides, there is no airtight wall in the world. I don't believe what happened in Qingzhou Mansion can't be spread. Nearly three people died of starvation."
With tens of thousands of people, how can they block this hole?"
"Thirty thousand? If this trend continues, it will be more than 100,000. Bodies are transported out of the refugee camp in the west of the city and buried outside the city every day. Qingzhou Prefecture is like this even if it is a prefecture. Pizhou, Chrome Prefecture, Shengzhou and so on
The situation of the state can be imagined, even the state city is like this, let alone the states and counties."
"Let me just listen to what my elder brother says. On the contrary, the emperor is sitting on the dragon throne but does not know the sufferings of the people. Is he planning to give up on the people of Qingzhou Prefecture? Qingzhou Prefecture only has 10,000 soldiers, and the most among the states and counties
There are 15,000 people, but there are nearly 100,000 refugees in Qingzhou. If you don't give the people a way to survive, you are rebelling against your mother. It's not that we are disloyal, but that the emperor is unrighteous and went to the capital to show the emperor.
See how the officials under his rule eat corpses and treat human lives with indifference."
"Lu Shan, Mr. Qiao said that this should not be done unless it is absolutely necessary. The emperor will not see the officials of Qingzhou Prefecture acting so recklessly. Let's wait a little longer."
Lu Shan glanced at the person admonishing him angrily: "Zuo Yi, are you afraid? Anyway, I listen to my elder brother, and I will do whatever my elder brother says."
Brother He frowned and looked at the two people arguing: "Okay, listen to the master. Talking about rebellion is just a temporary anger. If the emperor is a truly wise king, how can he really rebel."
"Brother, look at the people outside. How many days can they survive? The adults are a little better. There are hundreds of children. Can you bear to watch them starve to death? The youngest is only about three years old!"
"Rebel, rebel, rebel, why don't you use your brains? Thousands of people in our courtyard agree. What do you think will happen? Even if all the people in Qingzhou Prefecture are forced to rebel, what will happen? Do you know that you are fighting against the imperial court?
I know what you are saying is angry, but you must not continue to say these words, cough cough cough cough cough, you should find a way to get out of the city!"
Liu Mingzhi, who was stunned as he listened to Brother He and the others talking, suddenly heard a vicissitudes of voice coming from behind. His tone was a bit lacking in confidence, and he turned around curiously.
A pale-faced man of about forty or fifty years old stood behind him and was being supported by Zhao Qi. At first glance, he seemed to be suffering from a cold that had not been treated in time and was due to malnutrition.
He was wearing shabby clothes and a long coat that could no longer be seen. Although he was walking with difficulty, he had a distinctive momentum.
Liu Mingzhi thought for a moment and could directly conclude that this person had official duties. Brother He and the others had different auras from ordinary people. Liu Mingzhi had a vague guess, but he could not be sure.
Brother He directly greeted him: "Mr. Qiao, why are you getting up before your body has recovered? Go back and lie down quickly."
Mr. Qiao sighed slightly, walked to the stool and sat down: "I can't lie down. There are tens of thousands of people in Qingshan County who don't know what's going on. How can I lie down?"
"What a surprise!"
"Master, tell me, little one, listen!"
"Try to get as much food for the children as possible. They are growing up. If the root cause of the disease is found, this life will be over. We old people can only eat one meal if they don't. Children can't do it. Let's get more."
Brother He looked at Master Qiao in embarrassment: "Master, it's not because of your cruelty that these children are starving. There is really not much food. If we can't get out of the city, we will have to go to the refugee camp to drink three meals a day of clear soup."
Master Qiao trembled and looked at Brother He: "Why, if it doesn't work, just hand me over. They want me. You can use me to pretend to submit to them, wait for the opportunity to leave the city and go to Beijing to complain, and report the situation in Qingzhou Mansion to His Majesty.
Listen, hundreds of thousands of people in Qingzhou Prefecture will be saved."
Brother He resolutely shook his head: "No, let's not mention that the master is so kind to He Qi that even an ordinary person cannot be handed over at will. The master of Changshan County has been executed on the charge of treason, and even the body collector has been executed.
There are no people, why can't I watch you die in vain, sir? These guys are already crazy for the chair under their butts, sir, just wait for two more days!"
"well."
Mr. Qiao plopped down on his knees and banged his head three times against the setting sun: "God, open your eyes, save Qingzhou Prefecture, and save the people of Qingzhou Prefecture."
"Master, get up quickly, how can your body and bones be so tormented?"
Liu Mingzhi stood aside and looked at Mr. Qiao who was kneeling on the ground. No, it should be said that Qingshan County Magistrate Qiao Changjing's eyes were a little sore.
How bad is Qingzhou Mansion? How big of a mess does the emperor ask himself to clean up?
"Hmm, Brother He, Master Qiao, and my younger brother heard that the capital seemed to have sent an imperial envoy to Qingzhou Prefecture when they were traveling in Xiangzhou. I think he should be arriving soon."
Qiao Changjing and others hurriedly looked up at Liu Mingzhi who was standing in the corner and looked surprised: "Seriously?"