Chapter 597: One Hundred Thousand Stones of Grain Was Scammed!
According to official statistics, at the end of Wanli, there were about three million people in the Central Plains. Since many people are not included in the statistics, the actual total population of the entire Central Plains should be around ten million. Without a population of tens of millions, Li Zicheng would not have
It is possible that more than hundreds of thousands of refugees could be attracted at every turn, thus forming a trend that sweeps the world.
After nearly thirty years of catastrophe, there are now less than three million people in the Central Plains. The total population has dropped by nearly 70%. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as ten rooms and nine empty rooms.
The most intuitive feeling brought about by the sharp decline in population is that both cities and villages are desolate and doomsday. When Song Quan and his party arrived in Zhengzhou City, this originally prosperous Central Plains city did not even have decent streets.
There are only a few restaurants in the area, and there are some pubs and restaurants near the former military camp area. There were originally a population of hundreds of thousands, but now there are not even 100,000 people. The most people wandering the streets are beggars, and
Judging from their clothing and appearance, most civilians are not much different from beggars. They are pretty and skinny, which is the state of most people in this city.
"The Governor has finally arrived! These days I have been looking forward to the stars, the moon, and waiting for you to come." Cao Ruohai specially led people to the gate of the city to welcome Song Quan and his entourage into the city.
"Commander, I'm afraid you are waiting for me to take care of the stall, right? What I saw along the way to the Central Plains is really not optimistic."
"The situation is indeed not good. If nothing else, it is difficult to provide food and fodder for my 50,000 to 60,000 troops in the Central Plains! This is the Central Plains. It was unimaginable before."
"Can't we provide military rations on the spot? What do the people in the city do for a living these days?"
"I can barely cope with my own surplus food. Every day I can see a large number of people going out of the city to dig wild vegetables. Without the support of wild vegetables, the people in the city would have been out of food."
"How did it end up like this? Gao Mingheng and King Zhou have been operating in the Central Plains for several years, why didn't they make the situation a little better? In the Central Plains now, there are only a few people in the land, so even with a little effort, it won't be a problem.
It’s like this!”
Chen Yongfu accompanied Cao Ruohai and others to welcome Song Quan into the city. Hearing Song Quan's complaining words, he couldn't help but blush. He also has a certain responsibility for the state of Zhengzhou City! Since re-entering Zhengzhou City, they still want to let the people in the city
People's livelihood has been restored to some extent. However, after several years of efforts, the results are not very great. Last year's drought made things worse. The situation that was still barely sustainable suddenly collapsed. This year, the entire Central Plains is really terrible.
That is to say, the current Central Plains really has no energy to make troubles. In addition, a large number of hungry people have fled to Shandong and Beizhili. Otherwise, I am afraid that the whole country would have started a prairie fire!
"Mr. Chen, did you collect grain again between last year and this year?" Looking around, Song Quan spotted the blushing Chen Yongfu in the crowd, and he quickly turned the conversation to the red-faced Guan Gong.
Song Quan had actually found out whether the grain levy had been done or not. Not only did these guys levy last year's grain, but they also levied an additional grain some time ago because they had to deal with the imperial troops. When asked about the purpose of this,
Song Quan actually wanted to ask where the food they collected went!
"Governor Gao issued an order to collect grain twice last year and this year. General Sin also followed the order and sent troops to assist them in collecting grain several times!"
"Send troops to assist? I'm afraid we will send troops to rob them openly, right? Where is the food you grabbed now?" There were some things that Cao Ruohai couldn't ask Chen Yongfu, but Song Quan could ask, so he came up with this trick as soon as they met.
"Invincibility starts with sacrificing the ancestor"
"The soldiers have always been a bit of a bastard in their conduct, and the guilty general is responsible for his crimes. Most of the levied grain was sent to Luoyang to support the expenses of the governor's office and the king of Zhou. The guilty general kept some here to support the army."
"Soldiers have a history of being bastards? How come I have never seen General Cao's troops do anything bastard? The military discipline is lax, they act like bandits, they bully the people and are incompetent against the enemy. Such soldiers are really worthy of the word "military"! Mr. Chen
The soldiers and their generals should reflect on themselves. Now that they have returned to the court, they should change their ways and not be as ignorant of law and discipline as before. Otherwise, don't blame the court for being ruthless. Most of them were sent to Luoyang? I'm afraid this is a lie! The Ming Dynasty's
The old army doesn't have this kind of awareness. It would be weird if you don't pull out the skin of anything that has passed through your hands. Tell me, how much food do you still have in your hands now, and where do you put it?"
Cao Ruohai can be polite to Chen Yongfu and others, but Song Quan is not used to their problems. The people in Zhengzhou City and the Guangfu District of the Central Plains are in urgent need of food. He definitely doesn't want to get it all from the capital. If he can solve some of it locally,
, in order to show one’s abilities.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. General Sin and the others have indeed left some food. Part of this food has been handed over to Commander Cao, and some of it has been stored in cellars. They were originally intended to prepare for emergencies. Now that your Excellency is asking, General Sin has this food."
Let someone bring it out so that it can be prepared by the Lord."
Chen Yongfu was hesitant during this time, but it didn’t mean he didn’t do anything. Hiding food and property was one of his main tasks!
"How much grain have you stored? As for my ugly words, you only have one chance to tell the truth. If you don't tell the truth this time, there will be no chance to tell the truth again. Those grains and things you have hidden, it is best to rot forever.
In the cellar, otherwise the wealth and wealth of General Bing and others will come to an end! The saint and the court are magnanimous, but they are not without bottom lines and principles. Don't provoke the court and you to fall out! If you change, you must show the appearance of changing.
It’s not like being around all day long.”
A capable person is a capable person. After welcoming Song Quan, Cao Ruohai admired the Governor-General. His methods were really incredible. After entering the city, he did it before even reaching the Governor-General's Mansion.
He bought more than 100,000 stones of grain and gold and silver worth nearly 200,000 taels of silver. With these things, the newly established Governor's Yamen suddenly came to life.
"50,000 dan of grain defrauded from Chen Yongfu and others will be used as work-for-work relief in Zhengzhou City, and the other 50,000 dan will be used as recovery funds for other Guangfu prefectures and counties. All the properties raised will be liquidated from the bank and used as farms for the Central Plains Animation Administration.
Special funds for resettlement of displaced soldiers! Chen Yongfu and others, as well as other prefectures, eliminated almost 20,000 soldiers. Including their families, there are more than 50,000 people. If one or two thousand people build a farm, they can build 20 or 30 farms.
"When these manpower is used, it will also be a boost to the restoration of the Central Plains." After arriving at the governor's office, Song Quan quickly explained to his subordinates how to use the fraudulent money and food!
"Sir, most of the soldiers who have been eliminated are old, weak and unruly soldiers. Can we build a farm with these people?" Liu Junhan, director of the Henan Household Affairs Bureau who followed Song Quan to take office, expressed his concerns. He said this