Chapter 411: Emergency, Re-establishment of the Register
Chapter 411: Emergency, Re-establishment of the Register
Lu Yunyi and Li Jinglong, Duke of Cao, rode side by side,
With more than a hundred guards behind him, he walked along the official road towards the front army's Dragon and Tiger Guard.
The official road should have been a thoroughfare with busy merchants and the sound of horse hooves, but at this moment it was a desolate scene.
The sun was high in the sky, shining mercilessly, scorching the earth.
The yellow soil on both sides of the official road was dry and cracked, like a huge mouth of dry earth.
You can see some light brown clods of earth inside, and some disaster victims lying around.
On the official road, the victims swarmed like ants.
Dragging the whole family, they staggered forward.
The old people were leaning on their dry sticks, their hunched bodies swaying in the heat wave.
Every step took all my strength.
The children were too weak to cry, their tender faces were covered with dust.
The dirty little hands tightly grasped the corner of the adult's clothes, his steps were staggering, and his eyes were full of fear and confusion.
The refugees were in rags, with tattered clothes fluttering in the hot wind, and they were naked.
Many of them were skinny, with protruding ribs, and their skin was clinging to their bones, an unhealthy bluish-gray color.
Li Jinglong looked at everything in front of him in a daze.
There is no longer any passion for fighting in my heart, only a deep sense of guilt.
He saw a woman holding a baby in her arms.
The faint cry of the baby inside was barely audible.
The woman's eyes were empty, and she walked mechanically.
She only occasionally glanced down, as if the child in her arms was her last concern.
Li Jinglong waved his hands repeatedly, and a personal guard rushed forward.
He took a little food and water and gave it to the woman.
He then stood by vigilantly and waited until she finished eating before returning.
Along the way, such actions have become familiar to us.
The further east we went, the more people fell to the ground.
Some had been dead for a long time, their bodies were exposed to the scorching sun, emitting a foul stench, but no one collected them for burial.
Some were still breathing, their dry lips opening and closing weakly, murmuring for help.
But now, others are busy taking care of themselves.
How can I save him? I can only take a quick glance and turn away.
The creaking sounds of donkey carts carrying the remaining belongings, heavy breathing, and desperate cries were intertwined on the official road.
Occasionally a gust of hot wind blows by, bringing up dust that makes it impossible for people to open their eyes.
Lu Yunyi frowned, looking ferocious.
Li Jinglong also had a gloomy expression. The two looked at each other and saw seriousness in each other's eyes.
"We can't go on like this." Lu Yunyi said in a deep voice:
"Duke Cao, since the Beijing army has already encountered the victims, we cannot just stand by and watch.
Please also order the distribution of the supplies brought by the Beijing Army to the victims.
And they provided a certain amount of tents to house the victims.
Let them go on like this.
At night, the temperature dropped sharply, and we don’t know how many people will die.”
Li Jinglong showed hesitation. The supplies carried by the Beijing army were all limited.
In order to prevent corruption and waste, it has been recorded.
If it is used casually, there is no telling how many problems will arise.
"Yun Yi, the rear is Kunming Prefecture, the Dragon and Tiger Guards have already gone to report the news.
The provincial government and counties along the way will organize disaster relief efforts, so there's no need for us to meddle in their affairs.
There is a fixed amount of rations and supplies, so we can’t have less.”
Lu Yunyi knew his concerns.
In the Ming Dynasty court institutions, everyone has their own responsibilities, and the most taboo thing is to cross the line.
If it was just the Beijing Army, he would also obey the orders from his superiors.
But it’s different now. There is a duke in the army and we must cross the line.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi's face was firm:
"Duke Cao, Your Majesty has been governing the country with benevolence, and you cannot bear to see the people suffer.
You are the commander-in-chief of the Beijing army. You must make decisions based on your urgency. No one can say anything afterward."
Lu Yunyi moved closer and lowered his voice:
"If others don't do it, they can shirk it from their superiors.
But if Duke Cao doesn't do it, who can he blame?
Then you will certainly be accused of not helping someone in need, which will only cause more trouble."
Li Jinglong held his breath and suddenly understood something.
The situation is tense now and we cannot reveal any flaws!
He nodded again and again:
"Yes, yes, Yun Yi, you are right. What should we do now?"
Seeing that Li Jinglong had understood the urgency of the situation, Lu Yunyi's eyes suddenly turned stern.
He quickly looked around, his face thoughtful. After only three breaths, he suddenly raised his head and spoke quickly:
"Duke Cao, the most urgent task is to resettle these disaster victims in an orderly manner.
I thought that we should immediately dispatch our soldiers to disperse in units of small flags.
Each team is responsible for an area and gathers the disaster victims who are still able to move.
Men, women, old and young lined up separately to have their physical conditions checked one by one.
The wounded were gathered in one place, the dead in another.
The accompanying military doctor first diagnosed and treated him, applied a simple bandage to stop the bleeding and stabilize the injury."
As he spoke, Lu Yunyi looked at his personal soldier Feng Yunfang.
Seeing that he had taken out the booklet and was writing quickly, he nodded with satisfaction.
Li Jinglong was surprised when he saw this and looked at his personal soldiers.
Seeing that they were all standing there in a daze, he kicked them:
"What are you standing there for? Remember it!!"
Then, these personal soldiers began to write down the records in a hurry.
Lu Yunyi continued:
“There are only a limited number of Chinese medicine practitioners in the military, and the use of medicinal materials must be carefully calculated.
Some clever soldiers can be arranged to ride fast horses to the surrounding counties.
Holding the seal of the commander of the Beijing army, he ordered the local government to urgently prepare medicinal materials, food, manpower, and vehicles.
It must be made clear that this is a matter that concerns the lives of thousands and the reputation of the court. Those who delay will be severely punished."
Li Jinglong nodded repeatedly, and immediately took out the seal from his pocket and handed it to several capable followers.
Lu Yunyi gave another careful instruction:
"Remember, when you get there, you must be nice and not use your power to bully others.
We must explain it with reason and appeal to its emotions.
Also, take my seal.
If that doesn't work, then bring up Lord Mu's name and say that Lord Mu's two daughters are in the convoy."
"Yes, General Lu, please rest assured!"
Lu Yunyi nodded, called a personal soldier to follow him, and went together.
After they left, Lu Yunyi pointed to the long line of carriages on the roadside and spoke in a deep voice:
"Now, order all the troops,
The carriages should no longer be loaded with military supplies.
Half of the space should be used to house the seriously injured, the elderly, the weak, women and children, and sent to safe towns in the rear as soon as possible.
Each car is assigned a calm soldier to drive, and two careful soldiers to take care of it along the way to ensure that the victims are safe on the way. "
The soldiers received the order and acted quickly.
Lu Yunyi continued speaking and looked at a guard:
"Tell the fireman to light a fire and cook immediately.
Even if it's not that fast, we still have to light the fire.
Don't use a smokeless stove. The smoke should be as large as possible.
Let the victims see that those who can move will gather together on their own initiative.
Give hope to those who cannot move.
Also, tell Hong Yutian,
Set aside a large pot to boil water, add sugar, and distribute it to the victims. Don't be stingy.
I can't eat for now, but I can get through the day with a bowl of sugar water. Let's deal with this first, it's urgent."
"Yes!" The guards ran away quickly.
Lu Yunyi continued speaking:
"Send a message to Wu Fuliu's troops, and tell them to disperse into teams of 100 men.
Beware of spies or robbers among the refugees.
If anyone refuses to obey the instructions and makes trouble, they will be killed without mercy! "
"Order Ma Dake's troops to select a team of 300 elite soldiers to patrol and guard along the Beijing Army's territory.
If you find a suspicious person, arrest him immediately for questioning."
At this point, Lu Yunyi looked at Li Jinglong and spoke in a deep voice:
"Duke Cao, this arrangement,
The front army's Dragon and Tiger Guards will not participate, but will be on guard along the road to guard against the rebels' attack."
Li Jinglong nodded in astonishment.
However, within just half a cup of tea, everything was arranged in an orderly manner, which caught him off guard.
Before Li Jinglong could speak, Lu Yunyi looked at a guard and ordered:
"Go to the rear army and find Liu Heiying, and ask him to arrange food distribution and build temporary huts.
The hut should be far away from water sources and food distribution areas.
In addition, 3,000 civilians were dispatched from the rear army to clean up the corpses along the way.
Don't be stingy with lime powder and wood ash, spread them along the way.
Now, nearly 100,000 people have gathered on this official road.
If there is an epidemic, that would be a big problem!" The soldier rode away quickly.
Lu Yunyi let out a long sigh, and then said loudly:
"Inform all the generals that all military orders should be sent down to the flag officers.
Implement the responsibility system and keep all records.
Anyone who makes a mistake will be punished by military law! "
"Yes!!"
"Okay, let's go!"
As a result, the personal soldiers and messengers gathered on the side scattered and went in all directions.
After doing all this, Lu Yunyi's expression was still tense.
He turned to look at Li Jinglong who was a little stunned, and said quickly:
"Duke Cao, we have done what we should do.
Next comes the excitement.
Please put on gilded armor, patrol along the way, and order the soldiers to announce it everywhere, and shout loudly.
We need to let these people know that the Duke of Ming is here and will not ignore them, so that there will be less trouble."
Speaking of this, Lu Yunyi smiled:
"This move will also help Duke Cao gain more prestige among the people, which will be of great benefit to him in commanding the army in the future."
This time, Cao Guogong Li Jinglong did not hide his admiration and breathed a sigh of relief:
"Yun Yi, you really take everything into consideration!"
"This is what we, the ministers of the Ming Dynasty, should do.
We, the soldiers, join the army and fight to make the people of Ming Dynasty live a good life.
If there is danger, we will do whatever it takes!"
Lu Yunyi's words were so powerful that countless soldiers around him looked over with gleaming eyes.
The people present were both soldiers and civilians, and no general had ever said so.
When I heard it today, I inexplicably felt my blood boiling.
Duke Cao also found this very novel.
He had always heard military officers say that in the past, wars were fought for promotion and wealth, without considering anyone else.
Now, he suddenly felt that the Ming Dynasty had come to this point.
Perhaps the military's advocacy of promotion and wealth should change. It is too utilitarian and somewhat bad.
However, this is all later. Li Jinglong shook his head and collected his thoughts.
He quickly looked at the guards around him and waved his hands:
"Quick, quick, take out my armor.
Also, have the messengers carry the brass trumpets and shout everywhere! "
After finishing speaking, Li Jinglong looked at Lu Yunyi and nodded at him:
"Yun Yi, I leave this to you. I'm going to go first."
"Duke Cao, please go quickly. If you need any help, please find Liu Heiying. I want to go to the front to see what the situation is."
"Okay, then split up!"
Soon, two teams of black-armored soldiers rushed in from opposite directions.
The sound of horse hooves and the billowing of dust were breathtaking.
Yiling County is the easternmost city of Kunming Prefecture, Yunnan, adjacent to Qujing Prefecture.
At this time, inside the county government office, County Magistrate Luo Yuan was sitting in his room with a gloomy face.
He was in his fifties, skinny, with gray hair and a long beard. He was shaking slightly due to his rapid breathing.
On the long table in front of him were placed the decrees issued by the Provincial Administration Commissioner.
He looked left and right, sighed heavily from time to time, and embarrassment flashed in his eyes.
At this time, a forty-year-old lawyer came quickly from outside the yamen.
He is not tall and a little fat, and the fat on his face keeps shaking when he walks.
He walked quickly into the government office and saw the county magistrate who was bowing his head in deep thought.
He paused, slowed down his pace, walked over slowly, and spoke softly:
"Mingsir, Mr. Chen and Mr. Liu are here.
I am in the main hall right now. I must see you today no matter what."
Luo Yuan, with a gray beard, raised his head impatiently, annoyance flashed in his eyes, and he kept waving his hands:
"No, no, this is an order from the Provincial Administration Commissioner.
If they come to interrogate me, what will happen? "
The master pushed him aside, with a beard sticking out from the big mole at the corner of his mouth, his eyes rolling around, and he said softly:
"Mingsir, how about meeting him first?
Always have to make some excuses to save some face,
Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing to meet each other in the future.
Some government orders are difficult to implement.”
Luo Yuan simply threw away the document in his hand, leaned back, leaned his head on the chair, and sighed:
"That's it, I'll fight with them all day long,
This is not okay, that is not okay
When it comes to building a bridge or a road, they keep passing the buck. I don’t know what the point of being an official in this county is.”
"This"
The master looked embarrassed and wanted to persuade him again.
But the next moment, a loud laugh came from outside the yamen:
"Hahaha, Magistrate Luo, it seems your yamen doesn't welcome us."
His voice was full of energy, and although it was a laugh, one could hear a hint of sarcasm in it.
Luo Yuan, who had originally closed his eyes, suddenly stood up, opened his eyes, and looked towards the door.
A middle-aged figure in purple robe appeared at the door.
He was dressed in fine clothes, had a lazy demeanor, and was very handsome.
"Mr. Chen, how did you get in?"
Luo Yuan let out a sound of surprise, and before he could hide the helplessness on his face, he became serious again.
“How did you get in?
This government office was built on the land of my Liu family.
Magistrate Luo, I am going back to my own home, is it possible that I will never be able to come back?"
A slightly younger voice sounded,
A handsome young man under 30 years old walked in with a folding fan in hand and fluttering white clothes.
As he looked around, his eyes were full of contempt and there was a hint of sneer at the corners of his mouth.
Beside them, two older clerks stood there silently, and one of them spoke softly:
"Mr. County Magistrate, the two officials are determined to come in no matter what. We can't stop them."
"Yeah, yeah," another person said.
Luo Yuan looked at the four people, and was furious. He raised his fingers, which trembled slightly.
"You guys"
How could he not know that he couldn't be stopped? He was clearly leading the way!
At this time, Mr. Chen, who was dressed in purple robes, waved his hand.
The two men disappeared in a flash, and he said with a smile:
"My Lord County Magistrate, please do not embarrass me. If you want to blame someone, just blame Chen."
"Yes, yes, yes."
The same is true for the young Mr. Liu.
Without waiting for Luo Yuan to reply, the two men walked straight in and sat down on the chairs on both sides of the yamen without any courtesy.
Mr. Chen in purple robe looked at the master, his eyes stern:
"What are you standing there for? Serve the tea. It's rude."
The master's face froze, and he looked at the county magistrate.
But I found that he had slumped in the chair in frustration, waving his hands casually.
"Go! Go! Go."
The lawyer seemed to have been pardoned and ran out at an unprecedented speed.
He was even considerate enough to close the door.
The light in the originally bright government office suddenly dimmed.
Only a few beams of light came out from the window frames of varying sizes.
Luo Yuan sighed in frustration, turned his head, and looked dull:
"My two officials, it was the order of the Provincial Administration Office to collect the old land documents and recompile them.
It's no use for you to come to our county.
The county can only follow orders.”
Mr. Chen in purple robe had a smile on his face, looking very friendly. He spoke in a warm voice:
"Lo, Magistrate, we two understand your difficulties.
But an order is an order. In Yiliang County, your Highness the County Magistrate has the final say.
How to compile the documents for the new land is up to you."
Luo Yuan straightened up suddenly:
"Mr. Chen, you are wrong.
Although I am the magistrate of Yiliang County, Yiliang is still within Kunming Prefecture.
No matter how far it is, you can get here from Kunming City in one day by riding at full speed.
If the land register is not compiled correctly,
It was presented today, and the next day the governor came.
What will this county say then?
Let’s not mention what you said, Mr. Chen.
The roster must be redrawn and compiled this time no matter what, and no one can stop it."
As he spoke, Luo Yuan felt that his tone was a bit harsh, so he added:
"This county has already asked the two officials to find out.
This time, the order was issued by the newly appointed Senior Official Zhang from the Provincial Administration Office.
A new official has three things to do when he takes office. How dare this county dare to touch this brow?"
Hearing this, the younger Mr. Liu could no longer sit still.
He stood up suddenly, and walked to the table with a violent look on his face:
"Mr. Luo, my Liu family has settled in Yunnan for generations.
When the Ming Dynasty seized Yunnan, they kept saying that they would treat it with favors.
Our family's land is still ours.
Now, the county government office is built on my Liu family's land.
Now they are taking away the fertile land outside the city. How unreasonable!
Tell me, who is behind the newly appointed Zhang Xingzhi?
Who gave him the courage to re-create the list!!!"
(End of this chapter)