When the people heard the words, some young and strong minds came alive. Rebuilding a home after a disaster is a long process. If you stay at home, when will you be able to restore your self-sufficiency
They are all men in their rightful years. In today's famine, it is like "one person eats enough for the whole family to starve". They can't remember how long they have not eaten a full meal. , maybe you can still make achievements and give your family a chance to turn over, why not do it
Those who lost their relatives due to the famine, "one person can eat enough and the whole family is not hungry", even more hope to follow Pang Xiao, stay here, farming for a lifetime can be considered a stable life, but natural disasters and man-made disasters do not know when they will come, it is better to follow the prince. Take a break. Wang Ye is a kind person, and will not use their lives to claim credit for himself. Following such a person has a good chance of winning, and safety is guaranteed.
Many men immediately signed up with Pang Xiao, hoping to join the army.
There are also some who still have family members, and they also go back to discuss with their families with heavy hearts.
Qin Yining listened clearly to what was being said outside through a layer of tent, and couldn't help but smile. It seems that doing good deeds for others is still beneficial. I don’t know when, the good things you did before will have a good impact.
If someone can join the army now, then they all follow Pang Xiao sincerely. Such people are better than those who come reluctantly. And when the armaments and supplies are in short supply and the war is tense, the battle is the number of people.
While Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were taking people to rest outside the city, in addition to many people in Jiuhe County thinking of following Pang Xiao, there was a rumor spreading like wildfire.
"What? The Holy One wants to punish us?"
In the main hall of Xie's family room, Mrs. Xie brought together the elders and the middle-aged people of the clan and announced the "inside information" that he had just obtained.
Several people were already stunned. The impatient one has already said loudly: "Why, why should we be punished? Where did we do something wrong!"
Grandpa Xie frowned, shook his head and said, "What did you do wrong? The sage wants to liquidate, who can question it? Who can ask why? The prince's disaster relief went well, but the Holy Lord couldn't support the army, so the Tartars' long drive is almost complete. You say, as long as the Holy Lord can breathe this breath, he will not settle accounts with all those who sold food to Prince Zhongshun at a high price ?"
Everyone was silent for a while.
Don't look at their wealthy family, but they are ordinary people, how can they guess what they like? But if you stand at that angle, when the foreign enemy invades, the imperial court wants to feed the war-fighting Tiger Ben army, and wants to "requisition" food and grass, but staring at it but unable to collect it, because these merchants sold the food to a man who he has always feared. people.
If it was them, I'm afraid I can't wait to pick the heads of these people!
"How good is this!"
"Yeah, how can we be good! Since these words reach our ears, it must be that the sage is really angry. Maybe he has punished some people nearby. We can't bear the anger of the emperor!"
The crowd was gloomy.
Some people even stood up and complained: "I said at the beginning not to sell grain, and it would be done by giving it directly to the army. In such a big famine, the people starved to death so much, but we are holding grain and selling it at a high price. Isn't it difficult to make money for the country? Let's see how it goes, just follow what I say, and the trouble will come!"
"What's the use of you talking about this now! How can we escape the wrath of the Sage right now! We have already sold the grain to Prince Zhongshun, so we can't ask for the grain back!"
Someone with a more open mind immediately thought of a way: "It's impossible to get the food back, the food has already been eaten. However, we can return the money!"
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Grandpa Xie said: "This is reasonable. If we are not selling food, but subsidizing Prince Zhongshun's disaster relief, we are a family of benevolence and righteousness. No matter how angry the saint is, he can't treat us like this. This money is hot, we can't keep it."
They sold so much grain and really got a lot of money. At this moment, Rang took out the silver, and everyone was a little resistant, but when they thought that under the wrath of the emperor, their entire clan might be destroyed, and the silver was nothing.
Thinking of this, everyone gathered together to discuss, and finally decided that Mrs. Xie would personally go outside the city to meet Pang Xiao with food and money.
Here in Pang Xiao, Hu Zi and others who had gone to the city to spread the news had already returned. After hearing about the situation in the city, Pang Xiao ordered Hu Zi to arrange for someone to continue the arrangement according to the address of the big households who had sold their food on the account book.
Early the next morning, Qin Yining woke up in Pang Xiao's arms. As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard footsteps outside the tent.
Qin Yining was completely awake, and looked up at Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao smiled and said, "Are you awake?"
"Yeah." Qin Yining nodded, half propped up her body, her long smooth hair was scattered behind her, and looked outside suspiciously, "Is there anyone outside?"
"Perhaps someone from the Xie family has come." Pang Xiao sat up and draped the cloak over Qin Yining's shoulders, "They came early in the morning before dawn."
"Then why don't you go out and meet?" Qin Yining tightened her neckline, "What if they are impatient?"
"No, since they are on fire, they really believe that the sage will liquidate them. Compared with money, the life of the whole family is more important now." A big hand stroked Qin Yining's cheek, "You have to treat yourself. Have confidence, when will the strategy you come up with fail to work?"
Qin Yining laughed at his teasing, shook his head and said, "You will coax me, I feel that my brain is out of dexterity recently. When Brother Huaizhao and Brother Han were children, I didn't think they would become so stupid. Sometimes I'm afraid I'll give you the wrong move."
Pang Xiao laughed, touched Qin Yining's fair face again, and said with a smile, "If you are willing to be a little stupid, maybe other women in the world will feel better, at least they won't feel inferior."
"Pleasant words." Qin Yining reprimanded lightly.
Pang Xiao smiled and called Bingtang and Jiyun to serve Qin Yining, got up, and went outside by himself.
The old lady of the Xie family came with food before dawn. He never thought that Pang Xiao would immediately agree to see him, but since it was for the whole family to survive, he had to show sincerity and never let the prince feel unhappy at all.
Finally, when the sky was over, the rest of the tents in the camp were walking around, but Mr. Xie was a little anxious when he didn't see the prince coming out.
The lord must have known that he had brought people but avoided seeing him. Could it be that the sage gave the lord an imperial decree and wanted their lives with all his heart
The more Mr. Xie thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
Just when he couldn't be more nervous, someone finally came to send a message, "Mr. Xie, the lord has a request."
Grandpa Xie let out a long sigh of relief, and went to the tent where Pang Xiao was with a straight face. When he met, he was not as big as when Pang Xiao came to buy food. He saluted respectfully, "Caomin sees the prince."
"Mr. Xie," Pang Xiao smiled, "I don't know if the old gentleman is here this time, but what advice do you have?"
"Don't dare, don't dare." The old man Xie remembered the arrogance in his words last time, and his bowels were almost regretful, and his attitude became more and more humble and respectful, "I heard that the prince led the army to the king of Beijing, and the old man specially prepared some food and silver taels. , please be sure to take care of your lord."
"Oh?" Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows, "What does Mr. Xie mean?"
Grandpa Xie said righteously and sternly: "As a commoner of the Great Zhou Dynasty, when the country is at the forefront, you should do your best. Wangye, please don't dislike it."
As he spoke, he took out a stack of silver notes from his arms and offered them with both hands, even his fingers were shaking.
Pang Xiao took over the bank note with a solemn expression, and said solemnly, "Mr. Xie is really kind-hearted, and he is worried about the country and the people. This king really admires it. The Xie family is really a benevolent family!"
Old Master Xie repeatedly said, "I don't dare to do it." Then he said, "Your Highness has gone to the capital, where the mountains are high and the road is far away. Please cherish your Highness. You are the god of war in the Zhou Dynasty. If you are tired and fall ill, how can you resist the Tartars? "
This kind of compliment is very simple, Pang Xiao smiled, and gossips with Mrs. Xie, as if unintentional: "If Mr. Xie is a great and kind person who cares about the people's family and country, this king will definitely report to the sage. It will be rewarded in the future.”
Grandpa Xie was overjoyed in his heart, but his expression was still as usual, and he dared not let Pang Xiao see his pride and excitement, only said: "This is what this old man should do."
Mr. Xie left a few carts of grain and grass, and left with the servants.
Pang Xiao returned to Qin Yining, counted the bank note, and said with a smile, "I remember what was written on the palm, and these are exactly what he accepted from us at the beginning. Sister Yi, you are really a female Zhuge! It really depends on you. As said, these people have come to 'repay the money' for the sake of their families' lives."
"It's possible to spread rumors and cause trouble, it's not very bright after all."
Pang Xiao smiled and said: "In order to achieve their goals, they will do anything to achieve their goals. These people who made it hard to make money did not know how many people they had harmed before, but now it is a small punishment and a big admonishment. Besides, I feel that you have understood the saint's heart very thoroughly. Knowing the sage, his vengeful and jealous temperament will definitely be liquidated in the future for those who sold the money to us but refused to donate it to him. If you let people say this outside, you can say that it is right in his heart. ."
Qin Yining nodded slowly, patted his cheek and said, "You're right, this time is a matter of life and death, not a time for women's benevolence."
Pang Xiao felt that Qin Yining had become sentimental again since she became pregnant, and her mind became more sensitive, he hugged the person and shook it, "You're very good, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't know how to feed 100,000 people. With the treasures they returned, I can buy food. The Pingnan army can only fight the Tartars when they are full. Only when the Tartars are driven out can the people live a stable life. So your approach is not wrong, you help most people."
Qin Yining leaned into Pang Xiao's arms and sighed, then nodded lightly.