Lu Xiangsheng paced back and forth uneasily. He didn't know how to hand this piece of information to Zhu Youcong. When the Lushun battle report came in February, the young man was preparing to celebrate his twelfth birthday.
The general was so angry that he vomited blood and suffered a serious illness. After his health improved a little, he received news that there was a snowstorm in Yan'an Prefecture in March, and local officials were not able to provide disaster relief, and people died of starvation everywhere. After sending men to Shaanxi, the general
He collapsed. Can he still send the one he holds in his hand? He is a child of only twelve years old. Can his young body still hold on?
"What's going on with Jiandou? Why don't you go in?" Gu Xichou had just settled the refugees from Shaanxi and was about to ask Zhu Youcong for instructions on the next step. Unexpectedly, he saw a frowning Lu Xiangsheng as soon as he entered the door.
"Mr. Ruiping, hey... take a look first, this is just handed over." Lu Xiangsheng sighed and handed over the information in his hand.
"What?" The information that shocked Gu Xichou also contained only a dozen words, "Jinan is covered with flying locusts and the autumn crops are gone! This... this..."
Locust plague! A large-scale locust plague! There is no harvest wherever the migratory locusts pass. This will mean that there will definitely be a large-scale famine in Shandong this year. If it is not handled well, it is likely to lead to the tragic situation of refugees in Shandong and people eating each other.
Ah, how could we, the people of the Ming Dynasty, have failed! Although Luoyang has had good harvests of food every year in recent years, it has just accepted tens of thousands of refugees from Shaanxi. How can we accommodate tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of hungry refugees?
"Jiandou, report this news to the general immediately! I will arrange manpower right away to prepare to receive the people from Shandong!" Gu Xichou stuffed his documents and the information into Lu Xiangsheng's arms and hurried to
yamen.
Lu Xiangsheng looked at Gu Xichou's retreating back and shook his head with a wry smile. This old guy might not be able to sleep peacefully for a long time. Looking at the small building not far away, Lu Xiangsheng muttered silently: "God is going to give me a big responsibility, so...
A person must first work hard for his mind and body... Young general, you must persevere. I am still looking forward to the ten-year agreement between you and the emperor!"
"Mr. Jiutai, what's important?" From the moment Lu Xiangsheng walked into the door, Zhu Youcong felt that something big was about to happen. He forced his sick body to sit up, his sunken eyes filled with exhaustion.
Lu Xiangsheng handed over the information full of guilt and sighed, how miserable the Ming Dynasty is. The ministers in the court receive salaries and enjoy great reputations, but they do not think about loyalty to the emperor or care about the people. They only know how to engage in personal gain and abuse and criticize dissenters all day long.
But what a blessing it is for our Ming Dynasty that a child who is not yet old enough to dance a spoon is already carrying this heavy burden on his frail shoulders!
"Mr. Jiutai, look at Mr. Yu Shen's letter again!" Perhaps it was because of too many famines in various places in the past few years that Zhu Youcong felt numb. This time he did not get angry, but took out a piece of paper from under his pillow.
Secret message.
"National traitor!" Lu Xiangsheng was extremely angry when he saw the secret report sent by Zhang Guowei from Lingshan Guard, and couldn't help but curse.
Zhang Guowei's letter first described something that surprised Zhu Youcong. After the Tatars captured Lushun, they did not destroy the city of Lushun due to lack of troops and abandon the city as written in the history books. On the contrary, they
Two Niulu troops were sent to station down. What made Lu Xiangsheng angry was the later period. In early April, Shandong merchants left Denglai and sent a large amount of food and ironware to the Tatars along the coastal road; now the Jiangnan gentry is obviously jealous.
At the end of May, a small fleet was organized to pass by Lingshan Guard and headed for Liaodong. Their intention was unknown, but it was certain that they were not transporting supplies to Mao Wenlong, who insisted on fighting behind enemy lines.
"Mr. Jiutai, please deal with the matter at hand first and leave it to Chief Jun." Zhu Youcong still did not get angry, but he gave instructions to Lu Xiangsheng. "Go to the academy to inform that in three days, this general will summon all the people who are over sixteen years old."
students.”….
"Yes!" Lu Xiangsheng captured something keenly. Is it about to start? After dormant for so many years and stabilizing the surrounding area of Luoyang, the young general is finally starting to show his ambition? Why go to the academy to select soldiers?
Three days later, thousands of students stood quietly on the playground in Luoyang County School. The students looked gratefully at the boy who was younger than themselves on the stage. Over the years, the students in the academy knew that it was this boy who had changed.
The life of his father's generation has prevented them from starving; it is this young man who is changing his destiny, allowing him to enter and study here; more importantly, he always has a humble smile on his face, and never treats the common people
They are treated as untouchables who can be ravaged at will.
"Students!" Zhu Youcong prohibited anyone from kneeling to him in the academy. He cleared his throat: "General, I came here today only for one thing..."
"We are waiting for the general's dispatch!" Thousands of people responded in unison.
"A major event that will determine your life or death!" Zhu Youcong stretched out a finger: "This general wants to recruit soldiers among you! However, I give you the right to choose independently!" He raised his hand to stop the students in the audience.
In response, he continued: "What I want to say is that those who stay, you are not cowards. You will take on more important responsibilities, learn your knowledge well, and benefit the people of Ming Dynasty in the future. Those who are willing to go must obtain the consent of their parents.
, and you will face strict screening and receive cruel training. In the near future, you will have to go to the battlefield and face ferocious enemies! Now the general will give you seven days. You all should go back and think carefully with your families.
!”
Mr. Wu feels that he has been living and getting younger since he fled from Liaodong to Luoyang. The seeds given by our prince are good. Seeing that this year is another good harvest year, next year he can feed a few more big fat pigs. The old man is
The first half of my life was in vain. If only our sons could escape together. But just after returning from the fields, before he reached the door, he saw his grandson, "Zhengzi, you bastard ran away again."
What are you doing back here?"
"Grandpa!" Leftover quickly ran over and took the hoe from his grandfather's shoulder.
"You bastard, are you back to steal meat again? That's not okay. The bacon hanging on the stove is for our prince." Mr. Wu was very dissatisfied. Every time he went to deliver something good to the prince, he would
You have to put it secretly at the door, otherwise if you are discovered, you will have to stuff money into your arms.
"Tell me, you little brat, have you done anything bad with your classmates again?" Mr. Wu looked at his only grandson with a smile, his eyes full of doting.
"How can there be..." Leftover scratched his head and said, "The young prince came to the academy today!"
"Little prince? Is he feeling better?" That day, Mr. Wu and several elders in the village were going to celebrate Zhu Youcong's birthday. However, when they arrived at the palace, they learned that the young prince was sick. As soon as the news came out, people around Luoyang prayed for Buddha.
After worshiping the gods, the herbs collected were piled into a hill outside the palace.
"Much better, young prince today..." Shanzi slowly told the news that Zhu Youcong announced in the academy, carefully observing his grandfather's expression.
"Go! Why don't you go? Our life was given by the young prince. Without the young prince, we could live here in Luoyang? Without the young prince, we could live such a good life, and you can study in school? Now the young prince looks like
What else is there to think about when summoning us? If you don’t go, you bastard, you won’t be part of the old Wu family!” Mr. Wu decisively made his choice at the first opportunity.
"But... Grandpa, here at home..." The remaining son also wanted to join the army, but he couldn't bear to look at his old grandfather.
"Home? What's going on at home? Even though your grandfather is old, he can still do some work in the fields. Besides, don't you still have your brother at home?" Mr. Wu was even more happy when he mentioned his grandson. Last year
At first, our little grandson also entered the school! Now there is no one at home to help with work, but we are happy. I heard that the enlightenment book in that school is "The Analects of Confucius"! The old man doesn't know what it is, but he often listens to scholars
People say that half of the Analects of Confucius can rule the world! Listen, half of it can rule the world. By the time our two grandsons finish studying it, they won’t be able to bear it anymore!
"Okay! The grandson will report to you in seven days!" Zuozi thought about it. Don't you have a younger brother at home? "My grandson will be at home these days and will help you with more work!"
"Go away and rest." Mr. Wu pushed his grandson away and ordered: "Go and kill the two old hens at home and stew them. You can keep them at home these few days. If you can't choose
Just don’t enter this house!”
While the leftover son was busy killing chickens to make soup, the same scene was playing out in the homes of Luoyang people. The elders made the same choice, sending their son to serve as a soldier! They didn't know why King Fu suddenly recruited troops.
But they all firmly believe that the prince will not harm the common people.