Daming heir

At that time, the Yellow River channel collapsed, and the six prefectures in the Central Plains were in disaster. It had already happened for more than half a month.

The court's decree came quickly, and the local governments of the six prefectures first rescued themselves, relieved the disaster, rescued the people, stabilized the people's livelihood, and waited for the arrival of the court's food, grass and manpower.

This is also the usual procedure.

Even the grain and grass hoarded in Luoyang City were allocated and transported to Kaifeng Mansion and Guide Mansion.

It's just that the local manpower and material resources are limited, and most of the investment is in the prefectures and counties with a large population.

Chenliu County, Lanyang County (formerly Wenlankao County, revised county name, Lanyang County in Ming Dynasty), and Qi County form a three-legged situation, occupying the northeast of the entire Kaifeng Prefecture.

This time, Chenliu County was unfortunately dragged down by Lanyang County's stupidity.

The floodwaters of the Yellow River slanted down from the mouth of the breach, and after passing Lanyang County, it swept all the way to Chenliu County with the momentum and power of sweeping thousands of troops, and submerged the entire county without giving Chen a chance to react.

The rolled up debris directly blocked one side of the city wall of the county seat to the top of the city wall.

Outside the city wall facing Lanyang County, there are countless servants and people carrying away the debris washed by the flood under the city wall.

And beside him, all the people who saw Pei Benzhi put down their work, saluted and greeted the county venerable, and reminded him aloud.

Pei Benzhi could see clearly that, despite the truckloads of food Habayashi Wei brought this time, it was only enough for the army to be stationed in Chenliu County for a short period of time.

In the blink of an eye, Pei Benzhi has arrived here.

"It's because the county is not doing well enough. Pingtian and everyone missed this year's spring plowing, and now they can only work outside the city with work."

Pei Benzhi's face was gloomy, his brows were tightly locked, his eyes moved away from the clerks of the yamen, and he looked at several old people with a smile on his face: "Several old men, I said earlier that there is no need to carry burdens if you are over fifty. Don't be afraid, if these people act foolishly, I will punish them."

"County Honor, the big gentry households in this county...they are all related to Fucheng and Beijing..."

After a while, Pei Ben's eyebrows became more murderous: "Open the granary of the big gentry of Chenliu, and use it to store grain and help the people of this county!"

However, there was no smile on his face anymore.

"Your Majesty's pro-military guard Habayashi is here!"

Pei Benzhi looked slightly sideways, and looked at the county office household clerk beside him: "How much food is left in the warehouse?"

He went out of the city yesterday to inspect the disaster situation in the county, and Pei Benzhi, who hadn't returned all night, didn't rush back to the county until this time today, and continued to inspect the dredging work outside the city without entering the city.

This person was Pei Benzhi, then magistrate of Chenliu County, Kaifeng Prefecture.

Then he turned his head and looked at his lieutenants: "Here's an order that the whole army set up camp at a place outside Chenliu County, and everything should be arranged according to the order. Order the front, left, and right battalions to assist Chenliu in dealing with the disaster."

Pei Benzhi was thinking about the imperial court's relief, and how many days it would take to reach Chenliu County. With his feet in the mud under the city wall, he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with his official status.

The generals immediately took orders and each went to the army to deploy.

Tang Bicai burst into laughter: "Isn't Pei County afraid of losing his head? Borrowing and robbing are just a word difference. Pei County, as a government official, opened a private warehouse for a large gentry, and is he not afraid of impeachment?"

Then he looked at Pei Benzhi who didn't look like a county magistrate in front of him.

He stepped forward and lifted the clothes off the official's shoulders.

Pei Benzhi frowned and glanced at the crowd around him.

"Don't tell the county to find an opportunity!"

Pei Benzhi didn't care about it at all, and his eyes were already looking at the few houses not far from the city, which were the best preserved under the flood.

Following Pei Benzhi's encouragement, all the people cheered under the messy city wall.

Tang Bi smiled slightly, put his hands together, and bowed in the direction of Yingtian City: "I am ordered by the emperor to be stationed in Chenliu County, and my troops and horses will follow the order. I can help Chenliu County deal with the disaster."

The clerk looked around cautiously, all the people were working, cleaning up the houses and the road.

This is what I want!
Pei Ben's eyes turned immediately to look at the food Habayashi Wei brought this time.

The food and grass that the imperial court really provided relief to the local area had to be transported from other places.

"Xianzun, this is not their fault."

The banner of the emperor's pro-army almost occupied a large open space outside the city.

Tang Bi first raised his hand, signaling Pei Benzhi to be calm and impetuous.

Pei Benzhi turned his head to look at Tang Bi, wanting to see some falsehood in what the other party said.

Although Taisun had someone pass the message to him, Yubayashi's left and right guards were also under his own control after Yu Ma took office as the capital of Henan.

The cartloads of food and grass appeared in Pei Benzhi's sight under heavy guards.

Then, the depression in his heart could only be turned into a light sigh.

"The road here is slippery, the county official walks slowly."

I saw a few white-haired old men carrying baskets under the city wall to transport the silt and sundries silted under the city wall to the low-lying places outside the city.

The sun and moon flag, the star flag, and the beast flag cover the sky and the sun, fluttering in the wind.

Pei Benzhi sighed involuntarily, straightened up and looked at the crowd around him.

"My subordinate, Pei Benzhi, the magistrate of Chenliu County, has met all the generals. Are the generals sent by the imperial court to help the county's disaster?"

Tang Bi smiled: "What's Pei County's plan? I, the Habayashi Guard, are ordered by the emperor, so I just need to cooperate with the local government."

"Your majesty is back."

The easy-going secretary beside him immediately followed the gaze of the county lord.

He snorted coldly, looked around, but couldn't see the officials sent by the county government, and immediately said loudly: "Who asked these old men to carry the burden! My official said that day, old people over fifty don't have to pick Don't worry, let the young and strong do the heavy work, and the old ones just pick and choose the sundries!"

As an official, he wears official clothes in four seasons, has no worries in summer and winter, supports his family with his salary, and is supported by the people of the same place. He should devote himself to making a living for the people under his rule.

In Pei Benzhi's line of sight, several generals in armor rode majestically on war horses, surrounded by their own soldiers and iron cavalry, approaching him.

Tang Bi shook his head: "Because of my military errands, I haven't been out of Beijing for a long time, but I also know that I am going to the local government. If Chen Liu doesn't have Pei County, I probably won't be praised by this general."

The soldiers began to look for a high ground outside the city that had not been soaked by the flood for too long, and it seemed that they were going to set up camp in Chenliu County.

Then he said in a low voice: "Honorable County, if the government's food relief does not come, our Chenliu County can only last for five days at most."

Several elderly people who were carrying heavy baskets full of miscellaneous things immediately put down their burdens when they saw the county magistrate getting angry, and stood there with their heads bowed and hands tied.

He rubbed his hands and looked at Tang Bi who had dismounted from his horse: "General, the people in this county are now provided with daily rations by the county government, and the current disaster has lasted for more than half a month. The fields have been washed away by the flood, and the spring plowing has long been delayed. Ya granary..."

The document was completely uneasy, and became tense for no reason.

The clerk reminded in a low voice.

Pei Benzhi's eyes suddenly flashed a bright light.

Hearing Tang Bi's praise, Pei Benzhi smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and pointed to the busy people around him.

Pei Benzhi shook his head: "The Ming government has difficulties with the Ming government. Chenliu County is grateful to the Ming government for being able to send the first batch of grain. It's just that we should continue to send a document to ask for it. As for the county... two thousand dans of grain?"

Tang Bi paused, and also turned his head to observe Pei Benzhi carefully.

He raised his hands high and bowed to the people around him.

I thought that my county lord had forgotten what happened just now.

He just didn't expect that Chenliu County only had five days' rations left.

"The county venerable has been in our Chenliu County all these years. Who dares to say that the county lord is not good. The people in the yamen are also busy with the county lord for our Chenliu County all day long."

"County Honor."

The long follower coughed lightly, stepped forward lightly, and tentatively said: "Master, the grandson is already on the way with the relief from the court, and this disaster will always pass. Master, you have not returned to the Yamen for several days, or Let's go back and rest for a while. If something happens to you, Chenliu County will really be doomed."

"It's the imperial court... people from the imperial court are here!"

Pei Benzhi couldn't hide the joy in his heart, and hurriedly called the county government officers outside the city to come forward.

"Xian... Xianxian, this matter is not... not..."

Pei Benzhi knew that there would be such an answer a long time ago, and with a smile on his face, he signaled the surrounding officers and officials to retreat, while he walked lightly to Tang Bi.

Pei Benzhi snorted immediately.

At this moment, the commander who controlled the two guards on the left and right of Yulin was sitting on his horse and watching the busy scene under the city wall outside Chenliu County.

"Don't worry, everyone. This county is Chenliuzhi County for a day, and we will be with you all day. The court will never leave Chenliu County. Yesterday the court sent a letter, and the grandson has already brought food to our Kaifeng mansion. , The imperial court even sent the Son of Heaven's army to help us."

a while.

But without the scenery of sitting on a guard in a guard, Tang Bi still had some hard words in his heart.

The cavalry controlled their horses and spread out in all directions.

Pei Benzhi turned his head and looked over, only to see that there were already people rushing into the city outside the city gate.

Among the crowd, there was a sound of hurried footsteps coming from a distance.

Pei Benzhi always greeted fellow villagers with a smile on his face, even though he hadn't slept all night and was exhausted.

Pei Benzhi shook his head as usual.

At this time, Tang Bicai led Pei Benzhi, who was constantly thinking about it, to walk along the city wall.

Pei Benzhi, who had no guards from the third class to clear the way, led a servant and a clerk from the county government to walk among the busy crowd outside the city.

A few gray-haired old men over there finally couldn't stand it anymore, and they walked over with each other supporting each other.

Pei Benzhi coughed lightly, and looked at the official who was covered in mud and water: "Get up now, go home and have a hot meal, and come back after resting."

In the past few years, the gentry and big households in Chenliu County have been oppressed by the county lords for a long time. Almost every month, slander is sent to Fucheng, even to Yingtian.

After a while, I saw a clay figurine that could no longer knock out its original shape, stumbling from behind the crowd, running and crawling in front of the county lord.

The surrounding people also stopped their work and turned their heads to look at this place because of the county lord's anger.

The clerk hastily tugged on the sleeve of the county elder's suit, and gestured with his eyes.

Pei Benzhi didn't come forward to do something like inserting chopsticks into the porridge to test whether it won't pour.

Pei Benzhi just went up to meet the people rushing to the city, when he heard these people shouting with joy.

Tang Bi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Only work hard but not pay.

It's just that Henan Province and other six prefectures were flooded, and Tang Bi began to rejoice that he was not appointed as the capital of Henan at that time.

This is Tang Bi's subtext.

The clerk's expression turned a little ugly, and he shook his head: "Master Xian, it can't be any tighter, if it is reduced, the people will have no strength to work.

"The reason why the county is not worried by the imperial court under the catastrophe is that the people of the county are working hard, and all the people are of one mind. That's what the general said."

"I heard that this disaster in the six prefectures involved dozens of counties in the six prefectures. Only Chenliu County, under the governance of Pei County, has the least disaster and the most stable people."

Several old people couldn't help sighing, and looked at Pei Benzhi with gratitude in their eyes.

"We are all at work, you don't have to worry about the magistrate."

After entering the city, the porridge shops on both sides of the street have never stopped since the flood.

Pei Benzhi's brows almost collided: "Can't you tighten it up more? What about Kaifeng Mansion? What about the food in the mansion's warehouse? What about the food stored in the houses of the big gentry in the county?"

The emperor's army is here!

Tang Bi looked at the magistrate of Chenliu County indifferently, and smiled slightly: "Pei County, I, the Habayashi Guard, will definitely support Chenliu strongly this time according to the order."

This is the principle that Pei Benzhi has been taught by his elders since he was a teenager, and it is also the life principle he has followed so far.

Pei Benzzhi smiled and waved his hand, then turned around and walked towards the city with his long and easy-going documents.

Pei Benzhi sneered.

This is something that happened.

The clerk looked up at the county lord, and he smelled something wrong.

Tang Bi asked again: "Isn't the food from Kaifeng Prefecture not going to be shipped? How much food is still in the hands of Pei County to stabilize the hearts of the people?"

When the army is outside, the first consideration for a general is the morale of the army.There is a lack of food in the army, so how can the army's spirit come from?

The document quietly moved closer to Pei Ben.

"The county lord is sympathetic to us useless old people."

The big gentry in our county have donated in the past few days.The county magistrate personally brought people from door to door to ask for it, and he got about 2000 dans of grain so far. "

"This time, it's us people. Seeing that everyone is busy, their shoulders are all scratched. They are all children of our own family. The old men can't bear it."

The secretary's heart tightened, and Chang Sui's face was also tense.

The government office returned the official document, saying that the Lankao County should be relieved first, and that the disaster was the most serious because of the direct breach.It is also necessary to support the officers and soldiers of the guards, and this part is also indispensable.Therefore, apart from the first batch of grain in our Chenliu County, there will be no more grain in the future.

The county government officials in charge of dredging the city wall stuttered.

After walking dozens of steps just now, Pei Benzhi frowned, the smile on his face finally subsided, and he couldn't help showing a trace of anger.

The county magistrate of Chenliu, from the first sight he saw, was different from other county magistrates or magistrates in Daming.

"W... three days!" Pei Benzhi hurriedly changed his mouth and reported the food rations for three days.

This is also why my county venerable, who has been doing well in Chenliu County, has not moved his nest for almost eight years.

Just when the document was worried about the future of his county's officialdom, there was a sudden noise outside the city gate.

After leaving the city, Pei Benzhi looked at the open space outside the city, a long team was gathering from behind.

Chang Sui nodded silently.

The official wearing the seven-rank green robe, the hem of the clothes was rolled up and pressed under the belt, and the two sleeves were also rolled up high.

Pei Benzhi immediately stepped forward, his body swaying because of the mud under his feet.

Pei Benzhi frowned even tighter.

"No return."

But I didn't want Pei Benzhi's tone to turn cold suddenly: "The imperial court has issued repeated orders and repeated applications, and the grandson has been implementing the stipulation of sharing the land into the mu this year. The purpose is to make the world peaceful and let the rich take care of the poor. In such a disaster, the county Those big gentry families, do you want the county to take the disaster victims to live in their homes!"

Because in Chenliu County, such a thing would not happen.

"Stay persistent, everyone, and we'll get through this flood together."

Pei Benzhi replied in a calm tone, and then looked at the collapsed houses around him, his eyes full of vicissitudes: "This county has received the grace of the country, and has been able to read and write since childhood. Chenliu, the official magistrate of the county, will guard Chenliu for the emperor, and the disaster will not subside for a day, and the county will not return home for a day."

After a long time.

He immediately picked up his robe, spread his legs and ran out of the city.

Pei Xianzun's words were the iron law in Chenliu County, a never-compromising promise.

He didn't suspect that it was the servants of the yamen who were oppressing these people, but things had to be confirmed.

The official didn't want to get up, but still knelt on the ground, lowering his head: "Xian Zun, the little ones don't go home. County Zun, you haven't been home since the water was distributed, and you worked so hard for our Chenliu County. The little ones do it." I don’t care about major events such as the county venerable, but I am willing to stay here and help Chenliu County get rid of the flood as soon as possible.”

Become an official for the country, and serve as an official for the people.

Tang Bi, the commander of the Habayashi Zuowei Commander of the Shangzhi Army who did not get the position of the commander of the Henan Daodu Commander, was depressed for several days in Yingtian.

Pei Ben's heart sank. Even though he knew that the county government had been tightening the supply of food these days, so many people in Chenliu County had to eat. No matter how tight they were, there would always be a day when they would be empty.

The shoulders of the officials who have been in the yamen all year round and do not do production have already been worn out, and the blood seeping out is mixed with sweat and mud, and it has become pitch black.

Even before the flood in the six prefectures this time, there were faint rumors in Fucheng that they wanted to take away their own county officials and get them to be officials in Guanzhong or even in the northwest.

"County Zun! County Zun!"

The blue-bottomed and blue-faced boots were already covered with mud at this time, and the undershirt and trousers, which were supposed to be clean, were also tightly attached to the legs because they were covered with mud.

Pei Benzhi immediately turned around and walked out of the city with the documents and long entourage.

Immediately snorted.

Pei Benzhi snorted twice, and looked at Tang Bi from the outside: "Maybe the general doesn't know that this county has been an official in Chenliu for nearly eight years. Although he didn't contribute an inch of merit to His Majesty, he won the title of iron neck. Guarding a county for the emperor Li Min, this county has no fear!"

Tang Bi applauded immediately.

At this moment, his eyes were shining, and he reached out to pat Pei Benzhi's shoulder.

"it is good!"

"I want to see how tough you are, Chenliu County Iron Neck!"