Chapter 103: Refugees, Donating Grain!

"Man-made disaster?" Liang Qu frowned. "Explain in detail."

"I don't know either, it's all hearsay, hearsay." Lin Songbao lowered his voice. "You know about that mountain ghost last time? Many of those ghost things suddenly appeared in the towns and water villages where they lived, and many people died!"

Ghost Mother Sect!

Liang Qu connected the cause and effect.

That dog thing really wasn't just raising Great Elixirs in Pingyang Town!

Liang Qu and his senior brothers had guessed early on that the Ghost Mother Sect's reappearance wouldn't just be plotting against one place, but should be proceeding in multiple places simultaneously.

Regarding this, they had reported the news early on, but looking at it now, it was still too late.

The blood sacrifice in Pingyang Town was such a big deal that it certainly couldn't be hidden.

Huang Zejun chose to act in advance, clearly believing that even if the news spread, other places wouldn't have time to react.

The Great Shun had no telephones and a vast territory. Using carrier pigeons for news transmission was still slow, let alone the need to verify the authenticity of the news in between.

Huang Zejun was stupid—stupid because he hadn't been in contact with society since he was young, his brain wasn't flexible, and he was easily fooled—but he had the basic logic of doing things.

The more people there were, the slower the travel speed, especially when the proportion of widows and orphans was high.

Right now, the refugees had only just arrived today, but they might have set off five or six days ago, traveling over mountains and through water all the way.

"In a large township, nearly thirty percent of the people died! And it was mostly strong men who died. The rest didn't dare to stay, so they all fled!

With so many people, the local county officials didn't dare to force them to stay, fearing that things would get even bigger, so they let them all go, letting people lead them to walk to surrounding towns and townships.

I've asked, there are people from everywhere, Huazhu County, Fengbu County, the surrounding area seems to have had trouble, only our Chaojiang County is fine. Water Brother, you say, won't something happen to us too?"

"Don't worry, the matter here has been resolved."

Liang Qu patted Lin Songbao on the shoulder.

Lin Songbao looked confused.

"Resolved? When did that happen?"

Liang Qu left the fishing pier and walked on the street.

A foul smell permeated the air.

The number of refugees was extremely large. Just in Yixing City, there were nearly two hundred people, dragging their families along, and more were arriving one after another.

Minor officials stood in the crowd, trying hard to maintain order so that the team wouldn't be chaotic.

Several people with disheveled hair were crazy and insane, shouting "ghost, the ghost is coming," and were whipped to the ground by the minor officials before they stopped shouting.

A thirty percent mortality rate was an extremely exaggerated proportion, enough to cause social order to collapse.

And it was the method of being disemboweled and having eggs laid by mountain ghosts. No one dared to live in the original place, even if they risked being punished, they had to flee the ghost territory.

With the first birds fleeing, the rest followed one after another, migrating by the township.

The tide of people was surging, and the County Magistrate didn't dare to stop them.

Not stopping them was just a rebellion, and it was still the remnants of the previous dynasty that even Duke Xu couldn't completely sweep away.

If Duke Xu couldn't do it, a small county magistrate like him certainly couldn't, which was understandable, at most losing his hat.

But if he did it too absolutely and incited a civil uprising, what he would lose wouldn't be his hat, but his head.

Blocking is not as good as dredging; reporting to the prefecture as refugees and leading them to nearby towns and townships for temporary appeasement was already the best way.

Liang Qu walked on the side of the team, looking at the refugees, and the refugees were also looking at him.

They guessed that Liang Qu was a son of a powerful family in the town, and even several women winked hard, but unfortunately, they were winking at a blind man.

"Water Brother, Water Brother, finally found you!" Chen Tongmin ran to Liang Qu, holding his waist with his hand, out of breath. "My grandfather asked me to go to Pingyang Town to find you, but I didn't find you. Finally, I saw you here. Come with me to the Council Hall quickly."

"What does Chen Lilao want with me?"

"It's related to the refugees." Chen Tongmin lowered his voice. "The old man in the county wants every household in our township to donate grain and then distribute it to the refugees!"

"Township elders, this official is ordered by the County Magistrate to collect grain from you to provide disaster relief for the refugees fleeing from neighboring counties. This is the order of the County Magistrate, representing the will of the imperial court. I hope you can actively cooperate."

A lean, middle-aged man in long robes and official uniform sat at the head of the Council Hall, bowing to the township elders.

Chen Zhaoan looked at the other elders and said helplessly, "I don't know how much grain Inspector Bian wants to collect this time?"

"One dou of rice per strong man."

"One dou of rice? This, isn't this too much?" Chen Zhaoan frowned. "Right now, it's the cold winter season. Not to mention the farmers in the township have no income, the fishermen don't either.

The fish caught every day can't be sold for ten wen, and I've also checked the grain price. With this disaster, the price has risen to twenty-six wen per jin, more than three times, and one dou of rice will cost four or five silver taels."

"I have no choice either; it's all ordered by the County Magistrate." Inspector Bian spread his hands. "You also know that this time, several surrounding counties have suffered disasters, and a large number of refugees have poured into Chaojiang County.

Chen Lilao hasn't been to the county town to see; there are even more refugees there, and the reserve grain is completely insufficient. Calling on the big families is also not enough, so we can only take this desperate measure."

Inspectors are already officials, not minor officials. They are imperial officials like the County Magistrate, registered in the Ministry of Personnel, wearing official robes and hats.

Their main duty is to lead their subordinates to maintain local public security and investigate crimes such as theft and treachery.

Their power range is very wide, belonging to officials with real power, who cannot be easily offended, otherwise, there are plenty of ways to play tricks.

Chen Zhaoan had no choice and was about to go out to summon the villagers to pay grain.

"Inspector, the township is naturally willing to provide grain for disaster relief, but why don't we change the method? There's no need to go through the county for distribution. It's such a long road, it's so troublesome to go back and forth. We can directly set up porridge sheds in the township to help the refugees. First, it saves you trouble, and second, the speed will be faster."

A rather young male voice came from outside the Council Hall.

Inspector Bian frowned.

How can it not go through the County Government?

What will he and his subordinates eat and drink?

He was about to sternly ask who the newcomer was who was disregarding the law, but his peripheral vision caught several township elders showing joy, and he immediately held back his words.

The situation is wrong!

"What does Inspector Bian think?"

Liang Qu crossed the threshold and came to the Council Hall, his voice calm.

The young man was tall and extraordinary, wearing a belt engraved with cloud and thunder patterns, with ape arms and a wasp waist, fierce like a leopard.

Although his clothes were a bit damp, he seemed not to feel the cold at all, and even opened half of his lapel to expose his right arm to dissipate heat.

That exposed right arm had clear lines, was unusually sturdy, and his fingers with distinct tendons rested on the dagger hanging at his waist, seemingly convenient for drawing the knife at any time.

A martial artist!

A martial artist of no low rank!

Inspector Bian felt the aura on Liang Qu for the first time. Furthermore, what kind of child from an ordinary family could have such a tall stature?

Realizing the extraordinary, he turned his head to look at Chen Zhaoan on the side: "Chen Lilao, this is..."

Chen Zhaoan smiled: "Let me introduce, this is our Yixing City talent, the ninth personal disciple of Master Yang of Pingyang Town—Liang Qu."

Pingyang Town, Master Yang, who else could it be?

Yang Dongxiong!

With so many people watching, how could a group of township elders dare to deceive an imperial official, especially with such easily verifiable news?

Inspector Bian's eyes changed, and his tone shifted: "Truly a hero among youths. Since the surrounding counties suffered disasters, the manpower in the county has never been enough, and I've been so busy that my feet haven't touched the ground. I haven't been home to sleep for three days.

After careful consideration, Liang Young Master's words are extremely reasonable, but is it too much trouble for the government office to do what it should do? I am truly ashamed, let our minor officials do it."

Liang Qu shook his head, his fingers pulling and closing, as if it were an unconscious action: "It's not troublesome. The villagers have no work to do in the winter, and the county lacks manpower. It's just the right time for us to do our part to help."

Inspector Bian's mouth twitched. The cold light reflected by the blade was almost shooting into his face. He didn't dare to insist anymore: "Liang Young Master's method is excellent, then I will trouble the villagers a lot."

"It's no trouble, it's no trouble, Inspector Bian is truly too polite."

Chen Zhaoan and others waved their hands repeatedly, indicating that this was what they should do; everyone is a subject of the Great Shun and should be united and help each other.

Inspector Bian was unhappy in his heart but had to pinch his nose and accept it. He had seen with his own eyes how Yang Dongxiong had displayed his power before the New Year.

Afterward, he knew it was the Ghost Mother Sect's deliberate diversionary behavior. In any case, it was the remnants of the previous dynasty, and one had to avoid Great Martial Artists. The weight could be imagined, and even the County Magistrate had to be three points humble.

Although Liang Qu was only a disciple, he was not a County Magistrate, so he could not be offended.

"It's getting late, I still have to rush to other townships to settle the refugees before the sun sets, so I won't stay any longer."

Having asked for nothing and gained nothing, Inspector Bian was listless. Ignoring the township elders' request to stay for a meal, he left a sentence and said goodbye.

The township elders hurriedly stood up and shook Liang Qu's hand one after another.

"Ah Shui, you've helped a lot, Ah Shui."

One dou of rice was not a big problem for the township elders.

But township elders are elders of the township, and people must recognize which stool their buttocks are sitting on.

If they do whatever the superiors say, they will eventually be alienated from the villagers, and then one dou of rice will become a problem.

"It should be done, elders don't have to be polite."

Liang Qu bowed, not taking credit.

There are so many officials and minor officials in the county town. After going through their hands, what could be done with half a dou of rice becomes needing one dou.

Even what is finally distributed is half a dou of brown rice.

Avoiding this, it is good for the villagers and good for the refugees.

"Since it doesn't go through the County Government, we must settle the refugees well, otherwise it will be ugly for both sides."

"That is natural, Ah Shui, don't worry about this, I have experience in handling this kind of thing."

Chen Zhaoan guaranteed by patting his chest.

He is over seventy years old. Since the founding of the Great Shun in his youth, he has encountered countless natural and man-made disasters.

Wars, plagues, floods, he has experienced them all, and he knows best how to settle refugees, with rich experience.

Management talent is very rare. Township elders are not all goods who rely on their age to sell their age; at least some have real skills.

"Chen Lilao has his own ideas, so I won't interfere." Liang Qu nodded, knowing Chen Zhaoan's ability.

The sound of horse hooves stepped on the bluestone slabs, from far to near.

Is it a warhorse?

Liang Qu walked out of the Council Hall.

The running sound of warhorses and packhorses is completely different. He had only heard such powerful hoof beats on a few horses in the Yang Mansion.

A silhouette of a black horse approached extremely fast along the bluestone street, the horse hooves shaking up dust, leaping into the center of Yixing City.

"Where is Liang Qu of Yixing City?" ===== CHAPTER 104 =====