The prefect of Datong, together with all the important officials of the city, stood at the gate of the city, waiting for someone.
People were coming and going at the city gate, and countless people were entering and leaving the city. This scene was naturally seen by others.
"What's going on? Why did the Master personally go out of the city to wait for someone? Is there any important person coming?"
A person next to him said mysteriously: "Nonsense, isn't this obvious? Just look at this posture. All the high officials in Datong are here. This means that the people who come are definitely not simple."
Seeing how he seemed to know something, everyone couldn't help but pricked up their ears.
I want to hear what this guy knows.
"Who on earth is here? He can disturb so many high officials."
The man chuckled: "Of course..."
He paused deliberately as he spoke. Just when everyone was sick and this guy could tell you what earth-shattering mission he could do, he suddenly said: "A high-ranking official bigger than our Datong prefect."
The people around him were speechless at the same time.
"If you don't know, you don't know. What are you pretending to be? It will delay my going to the city to buy food."
"I don't know what the court thinks. For four taels of silver and one stone of grain, these grains of rice are worth more than gold."
"If it weren't for the famine, I wouldn't have bought such expensive food even if I starved to death."
But among the common people, there are some who think deeply about it.
"Be content. Although food is expensive now, you can still buy food."
"A few days ago, the government restricted the price of grain to prevent profiteers from selling grain at high prices. What was the result? We couldn't buy grain at all."
"Those shady grain shops all said they had no grain and only sold a little every day. If they arrived late, they would not be able to buy grain."
Another person also gritted his teeth and said: "There is no food in the grain shop, but the grain on the black market has been bought for three taels of silver. It is better to be like now, at least we can buy food in the grain shop."
This remark also caused dissatisfaction among many people.
"You are really interesting. The government has raised the price of grain to the sky, and you still speak for the government."
"This is the first time I have heard of the government raising food prices during the famine years. Our Ming Dynasty has created a new atmosphere."
This was a bit too much to say, and many people around him suddenly changed their expressions.
The people who were originally huddled together and chattering away suddenly dispersed.
The drought in Datong was still continuing at this time, and the sun was so fierce that it was like a direct fire.
After waiting for more than half an hour, the person I was waiting for still didn't show up.
Wu Zhen was already sweating profusely, and the government officials were almost washed by his sweat.
An official next to him swallowed hard: "Master Fu, why hasn't His Royal Highness come yet?"
That's right, the person who could make all the high-ranking officials in Datong put aside what they were doing and come to greet him was none other than King Zhu Han of England.
"It should be there soon, just wait."
Wu Zhen wiped the sweat from his face and said calmly.
It seemed that he was respectful and polite, but in fact Wu Zhen complained countless times in his heart.
Zhu Han used his identity as a prince to force them to raise the price of grain in Datong to four taels of silver and one stone.
This incident has already caused an uproar throughout Datong.
What Wu Zhen never expected was that Zhu Han was not only in Yanjing but also dictating Datong.
This restless guy even came to Datong in person.
Wu Zhen even wanted to ask.
"His Royal Highness, do you think it is not enough to harm our Datong in Yanjing, but you must come here personally and turn the whole Datong upside down?"
Naturally, he did not dare to express his inner thoughts, so Wu Zhen could only put on a show of official authority and restrain the officials below him over and over again.
But this is no trouble at all.
The one who came this time was His Royal Highness the King of Ming Dynasty. No one in Datong dared not give face to the King of England.
They all had been staring at it for more than an hour before the King of England's chariot arrived belatedly.
The extremely gorgeous carriage stopped in front of all the officials of Datong Mansion.
King Zhu Han of England pulled back the curtain on the carriage door, and Shi Shiran stepped out of the carriage.
Seeing Zhu Han come down, Wu Zhen took the lead and knelt down and said loudly: "I have been sent to Wu Zhen, the magistrate of Datong, and I have met His Royal Highness. The King of England is a thousand years old."
Other officials in Datong also knelt down and shouted at the same time.
"His Royal Highness, you are a thousand years old, a thousand years old."
Zhu Han used to hate this kind of thing, but he also knew that these scenes were necessary in this era.
Normally he doesn't have to care, but as the prince of Ming Dynasty, he must uphold these rules in formal occasions.
"Everyone, get up." Zhu Han said calmly.
After Wu Zhen stood up, he quickly and respectfully said: "Your Majesty, I have already arranged a residence for you. Your Majesty, you can go and take a rest first."
"Moreover, the lower official has also asked people to prepare a banquet to welcome the prince."
Zhu Han waved his hand: "Now that the disaster in Datong is urgent, these scenes will be dispensed with."
"Now I need to know immediately the specific disaster situation in Datong."
"By the way, in order to cope with the disaster, my students also made a special artifact that can alleviate part of the drought. At least, it can save a large part of the bankers."
"Immediately summon all the blacksmiths in Datong who are skilled in craftsmanship. At the same time, you can find out that although Datong is affected by the disaster, there are still some crops that can be harvested. At this time, what you can do is just a little bit."
Zhu Han's vigorous and resolute style made Wu Zhen a little confused.
What's going on?
Why does the King of England in front of him seem different from the one he remembers?
Before arriving in Datong, they forcibly ordered the price of food to increase.
Wu Zhen always thought that His Royal Highness the King of England was a greedy scumbag who wanted to enrich the country while it was difficult for him to do so.
Although Zhu Han had a good reputation in the past, Wu Zhen, as a high-ranking official at the level of Datong magistrate, knew very well the truth of knowing people but not knowing their faces.
Some people are like this. They can stick to their duties when they are poor, but once they become prosperous, their true nature begins to show.
Perhaps this was the case with King Zhu Han of England. When he was conquering the country in the past, Zhu Han was able to restrain his greed.
Now the Ming Dynasty has conquered the Central Plains, and its army has almost conquered the whole world.
At this time, Zhu Han may feel that his great work has been accomplished and no longer restrain his true thoughts.
But what happens now?
In front of him, the British King Zhu Han, who seemed to serve the country and the people, and was devoted to public affairs, was a bit too different from his impression, right?
No matter how you look at it, this person doesn't look like the kind of person who doesn't care about the life and death of the people just for money?
It seems that this is not the case. Although he appears to be very concerned about the disaster, the words of His Royal Highness are indeed quite unreliable.
He said that his students brought something that could alleviate the drought, so that he could summon all the blacksmiths in Datong.
Calling a blacksmith, that means this thing should be a tool, right?
But the problem is that what Datong lacks now is not tools at all, but water!
No matter how exquisite the things you, His Royal Highness's student, make, it is impossible to make water out of anything made of iron, right?
It's related to the blacksmith, and it's something that can only be made.
The only thing Wu Zhen could think of was whether King Zhu Han of England was planning to make a batch of Buddha statues or something to bring autumn rain to heaven?
No matter what, after meeting him for the first time, Wu Zhen felt that the King of England in front of him was unreliable in every way.'
The reason why he is so concerned about the disaster is probably just an act.
As for Zhu Han, a dignified prince, why would he pretend to be so concerned about the disaster-stricken people in Datong...
Wu Zhen felt that it was probably because of the high price of food.
His Royal Highness, the King of England, probably feels that his reputation has been damaged, so he wants to improve his reputation.
I don’t know whether His Royal Highness the King understands that what he did is simply a blind man’s wasted light.
As long as the price of this grain does not drop, there will be no one in Datong who will not secretly curse all the ancestors of this prince and himself.
Even if the price of grain drops, people will not forget that King Zhu Han of England once took the initiative to raise the price of grain to four taels of silver and one stone.
Over the past few years, Wu Zhen's mind has been turbulent, and he suddenly lost his composure.
Zhu Han didn't know that the Datong magistrate in front of him was slandering him in his heart.
Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
Since setting this price, Zhu Han has been mentally prepared for his reputation.
Seeing Wu Zhen stunned, Zhu Han exchanged words with him angrily: "Wu Zhifu, Wu Zhifu?"
Zhu Han shouted several times in succession, and Wu Zhen finally came back to his senses.
He found that he had lost his composure in front of the King of England.
Wu Zhen, who was already sweating, suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
He hurriedly made up for it: "Your Majesty, who has so many things to do, actually cares so much about the people of Datong. He is so precious to Datong that he comes to Datong in person to share joys and sorrows with the people of Datong. He will be an official... he will be an official..."
As he talked, Wu Zhen actually started crying excitedly.
Moreover, this guy blinked his eyes and actually squeezed out a few tears.
Zhu Han was amazed and couldn't help but complain in his heart: "My acting skills are a bit exaggerated. I'd better practice more in the future."
The reason why he pretended to cry was actually because Wu Zhen was still a bit embarrassed.
Based on Zhu Han's performance just now, Wu Zhen really couldn't find any words to flatter Zhu Han.
I can only say nothing, just cry.
"Prefect Wu, I understand how you feel. As the prince of the Ming Dynasty, the people of the Ming Dynasty are just like my children."
"Isn't it natural for parents to care about their children?"
"Your Majesty is wise." Wu Zhen was truly speechless.
I have seen shameless people, but I have never seen such shameless people.
What did you do that you forgot all about so quickly?
In my heart, I wanted to slap Zhu Han a few times before he would give in.
Zhu Han was too lazy to continue arguing with Wu Zhenxu.
Although no one in Datong believes in Zhu Han now.
However, Zhu Han did come to provide disaster relief.
Moreover, Zhu Han had already made preparations before arriving in Datong.
The price of food at four taels of silver and one stone was one of them, and the other was naturally something that his student had researched.
To be honest, when the student put the things he got out in front of Zhu Han.
Zhu Han was startled and even doubted whether this guy was also a time traveler.
"Palace Yuye Liquor?"
"Odd changes to even and doesn't change?"
"Egg-laying rooster?"
After answering a series of questions, Zhu Han was finally able to confirm that this guy was indeed not a time traveler.
He is a student in Huangzhuang who doesn't play much.
Although this guy is not young, he is one of the last students to enter Huangzhuang.
This person's surname is Fang, with the four characters Yunlong, Fenghu and the last name.
His full name is Fang Hubin.
This person was average among all the students in Huangzhuang, and he was the kind of person that even Zhu Han didn't have much impression of.
But even Zhu Han didn't expect that such a person would bring him a huge surprise this time.
The full name of what Fang Hubin made is called a lever water press.
Older rural children have generally seen this thing.
As long as you press the lever above, the water will be pumped up from the ground very quickly.
For future generations, this is almost obsolete.
But if this thing were placed in the Ming Dynasty, it would be high-tech.
Although Wu Zhen felt that Zhu Han was very unreliable.
However, he did not dare to disobey Zhu Han's order.
If you dare to go against His Royal Highness the King of England, do you not want to be involved in official circles in the future?
Zhu Han refused the so-called reception banquet and immediately devoted himself to disaster relief work.
Although before arriving in Datong, Zhu Han had already understood some of the situation in Datong through Wu Zhen's memorial and Jin Yiwei's investigation.
However, after fully understanding the situation in Datong, Zhu Han's heart was still extremely heavy.
The disaster this time was really too serious.
Zhu Han can be 100% sure that Datong has never suffered such a severe drought in history.
The only good thing is because of the high price strategy he formulated before.
Almost all grain stores in Datong now sell grain openly without restricting the sale of grain.
After all, such a high price is like stealing money, and those who don't sell are fools.
And even with such high grain prices, those grain stores are still doing booming business.
The ten businessmen selected by Zhu Han before also started to exert their efforts.
They used all their strength to transport food to Datong.
Among them, the Liu family, where Liu Ping'an lives, was the first to benefit as a local snake.
After all, apart from local grain merchants, grain merchants from other places who want to enter Datong can only go through them.
The Liu family doesn't even need to do anything more. They can directly purchase grain at the border of Datong and sell it to grain merchants in Datong, and they can make a lot of money.
Grains from other Yanjing grain merchants can arrive in Datong in two or three days at most.
When drought occurs, the most troublesome food problem has now been solved.
Without a food crisis, the rest would be much easier to handle.
Zhu Han waved his hand directly: "Recruiting people."
Although the railway construction in Datong has begun, due to various reasons, the progress has not been very fast.