Rebirth of the eldest daughter

Chapter 1223: You have to hold your head high and grow up well

at the same time.

Bai Mingwei and Liu Yao rested in Luquan City for a few days, and the wounds on their bodies had almost healed.

It's just that Liu Yao's back was torn. Although the wound was scabbed, he couldn't make any big movements to avoid disturbing the wound and causing the old injury to relapse.

Bai Yu has led the garrison to leave Luquan first and go to various places to eliminate bandits and appease the people.

It wasn't until the army set out that the people temporarily settled under Luquan City realized that the garrison was actually around them.

This incident made them feel the kindness of His Highness the Ninth Prince, and they respected Liu Yao even more.

As for Cheng Bi, after a few days of nursing, his face finally had some color.

The group planned to rest for two more days before continuing their journey.

While the guards were nervously preparing to leave, Bai Mingwei also received news from various places.

Her expression remained unchanged, but there seemed to be a little less sadness between her brows.

Yu Jianling saw this and asked, "The general looks relaxed. Could it be that he has received some good news?"

Bai Mingwei looked at Liu Yao who was taking medicine at the side: "Your Highness, according to reports from various places, the disaster relief strategy has been implemented. All eighteen counties have opened warehouses to release grain to meet the urgent needs of the people."

"Seven of the counties have successfully built commune warehouses to continue to provide food, clothing, and medicines to prevent epidemics. They have recorded the old and young who have no one to take care of them and carefully arranged their lives."

Liu Yao heard this and drank the bitter concoction in one gulp.

He was overjoyed: "This is rare good news."

Bai Ming slightly looked at the sky outside: "That's not the only good news. The dark clouds covering Jiangbei have finally cleared up and we can see the sun!"

The joy on Liu Yao's face could not be concealed: "Now as long as the flood problem is solved and the floods recede, post-disaster reconstruction can be arranged. Jiangbei finally has hope."

Yu Jianling was also happy: "After going through so many things, it doesn't matter whether we are rewarded or not. What is important is that the disaster in Jiangbei has been resolved."

Liu Yao glanced at him and said: "If everyone has your awareness, Dongling will definitely have officials governing the Qingming Dynasty, the people will live in peace, and the prosperous age will be peaceful."

Yu Jianling enjoyed it very much and couldn't help but laugh.

Bai Mingwei watched both of them immersed in joy, and took back the words that came to his lips.

It was their first time doing disaster relief and they had no experience in this matter.

However, she knew the seriousness of the disaster from her grandfather's past official duties.

Famine, epidemic.

hard to prevent.

Even if anti-epidemic medicines are prepared, the victims are displaced, hungry, and their bodies have long been empty from fleeing the famine.

It may not be able to withstand the invasion of epidemics.

Corruption and perversion of the law.

Endlessly.

If there is a warehouse full of rats, there must be rats.

Although there are disaster relief strategies, it is difficult to prevent officials from controlling themselves when it is profitable.

So they have a long way to go.

But seeing His Highness the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince so happy, Bai Mingwei did not say these words to dampen their spirits.

When she spoke, it turned into something else: "Mr. Meng's side went well too. The sluice was opened in time, relieving the pressure on the dam."

"The news is that if Mr. Meng and the others were delayed by one day, the dam would burst and spread to the surrounding area, creating another disaster."

Hearing this, Liu Yao breathed a long sigh of relief: "This is also good news. What about Master Cheng? Is he worthy of the important task?"

Bai Mingwei replied in accordance with the words: "Your Highness, Master Cheng can be the acting county magistrate of Luquan City."

She checked and found that Master Cheng's past background was very clean.

Liu Yao had no doubts about Bai Mingwei's words: "The king immediately drafted an official document and appointed Chief Secretary Cheng as the acting county magistrate of Luquan."

As soon as he finished speaking, an official's voice sounded outside: "Your Highness, Magistrate Cao's funeral procession is preparing to leave the city."

Liu Yao instantly suppressed the joy on his face.

He stood up and his confidants immediately put a cloak on him.

He said: "County Magistrate Cao has devoted himself to the people. Today is the big day for his funeral. It is my duty to go and see him off."

After saying that, he walked out.

Bai Mingwei and Yu Jianling followed closely behind.

Compared with Liu Yao and Yu Jianling, Bai Mingwei looked particularly calm.

She had experienced too much death.

Nowadays, there are very few things that can cause waves on her calm face.

The clouds had cleared, and a few rays of sunlight filtered down, illuminating the earth.

At this time, on the streets of Luquan City, paper money shaped like copper coins was floating in the air.

The funeral procession walked out of the city on paper money.

The person holding the bowl is just a child of seven or eight years old.

Magistrate Cao had a son in his old age, but before the child grew up, his father died in the cold and lonely mountains and forests for a bag of rice.

The child was not big. He held the bowl through gritted teeth and led the funeral procession forward slowly.

When Magistrate Cao's body was brought back, there was only a simple carriage.

But on the day of his funeral, his people were kneeling on both sides of the long street.

There was no great sadness on the faces of the people who had just experienced a major disaster.

But there were more and more people watching Magistrate Cao's coffin go away and slowly kneeling down.

There are countless dead people, and the living people cannot play any sad music.

The long silent street echoed with the shrill sound of the suona.

The city gate opened with a bang, and Magistrate Cao's youngest son, dressed in plain clothes, was the first to appear in front of everyone.

Someone poked his head out of the simple shed.

Immediately afterwards, more and more refugees came out of the tents.

They watched Magistrate Cao's coffin pass by, and then knelt down to see him off. When Magistrate Cao's coffin was about to leave the place where the refugees were placed, low sobs finally broke out from the silent crowd.

"Master Cao...have a good journey..."

When General Zhenbei held up the rice bag in the rain that day, hatred and anger had already taken over their minds.

No trace of blood could be seen on the rice bag which was gradually washed away by water.

When Magistrate Cao's body was brought back, they could not see the hungry magistrate who was only skin and bones.

Later, they had porridge to warm their stomachs and fill their bellies. They knew that among the countless grains of rice, there was rice that County Magistrate Cao had paid for with his life.

Only then did they realize that Luquan City was really at the end of its rope, but their parents had saved whatever food they could and sent it to them.

And at this moment, I watched the little child holding a big bowl to see his father off.

Their hearts, which had been heated by porridge and food, were finally softened into pieces.

"Master Cao, have a safe journey..."

Someone else said this.

Standing on the high wall, Liu Yao experienced seeing off the martyrs of Northern Xinjiang.

He thought that what would follow would be another overwhelming sadness.

But those few weak choked sobs were soon lost in the desolate and sad autumn colors and the harsh sound of the suona.

He thought that the farewell would end just like that.

But then, someone followed.

One.

two.

three...

numerous.

All the refugees followed the funeral procession silently.

And the people in the city also came out one after another.

More and more people followed, and the funeral procession stretched for miles and seemed to have no end.

The old housekeeper looked back and told Magistrate Cao's youngest son with choked sobs: "Young Master, you see, the common people have come to see you off."

The boy who was silent at first suddenly flattened his mouth, his nose became sore, and tears rolled down his eyes.

But he did not cry out, still holding the bowl, and walked step by step towards the place where Magistrate Cao was laid to rest.

There was a long queue, but there was no sound.

They sent Magistrate Cao on his way and watched Magistrate Cao being buried with their own eyes.

Until the pit was filled with loess bit by bit.

Until a new tomb was erected under the green pine.

Until the little boy knelt down and burst into tears.

"Son, send it to your father!"

"Have a good trip, Dad!"

The old butler sprinkled a handful of paper money, and a desolate elegy came from his hoarse and choking voice.

"The wild grass is vast, and the poplars are also swaying."

No one answered, because these illiterate people could not sing the sad lyrics.

Cries were heard everywhere, one after another.

In the autumn wilderness, under the still green pines.

The old housekeeper's voice sounded desolate and tragic again.

"Send me out of the suburbs in the middle of September."

"There is no one living on all sides, and the high tombs are in ruins."

"The horse is cheering for the sky, and the wind is depressed."

When I sang this, the old housekeeper burst into tears.

He sprinkled another handful of paper money.

The old figures, the helpless children beside them, the paper money flying in the sky, and the low sobs of the people.

This is the most tragic scene in this wilderness.

"Once the secluded chamber is closed, it will never be seen again for a thousand years."

It was Liu Yao's voice.

He came slowly wearing a plain robe and a light-colored cloak.

He took over the old butler's elegy and sang it softly.

"Without a dynasty for a thousand years, there is nothing a wise man can do!"

"We always give people away and return each to his own home."

"If relatives are still sad, others have also sung."

"What's the point of dying? It's like holding your body up to the same mountain."

……

"What's the point of dying? It's like holding your body in the same mountain!"

He concluded the song.

I also send my thoughts to Magistrate Cao for his rest in peace.

Finally, he walked up to the young child and squatted down slowly: "Kid, don't cry. Your father is a good man who deserves admiration."

"He served the people all his life, but in the end his blood ran cold under this green pine. Anecdotes about his life are filled with tombstones."

"In the land of Luquan, his story will be passed down and he will be admired by future generations."

"You are the child of Magistrate Cao. You are a loyal minister and the son of a good minister. You should hold your head high and grow up well."

(End of this chapter)