Turbulent Times Chapter 320: Why did the disaster victims appear


Since ancient times, refugees have been the most pitiful, and at the same time, the most terrifying and uncontrollable. In history, there have been countless uprisings and countless times of regime change, all of which were caused by rioting people. What is the most fundamental reason? Hunger Yes, the victims are starving to death without enough to eat, and they can do anything.

Although he is a general, after closing the official letter, Wang Junlin had to cheer up.

Not to mention that he is the Ying Yang Lang general of Zhangye County, the rise and fall and stability of this place are directly related to him, just because of the conscience that has never been wiped out in his heart, today's special period cannot allow him to stay out of it and be indifferent.

When Xu Jingzong hurried in, Wang Junlin was staring at a huge sheepskin map with a serious face, his fingers kept drawing something on the map, shaking his head and sighing from time to time.

"Hou Ye, Mr. Wang Tongwang, the governor of the state government, sent someone to send an urgent document..." Xu Jingzong handed over the sealed official document, and Wang Junlin grabbed it with his hands.

Xu Jingzong asked anxiously: "Master Hou, I don't know about the snow disaster..."

Before he finished speaking, Wang Junlin handed the official document in his hand to Xu Jingzong. After the latter read it, his expression suddenly became solemn.

Wang Junlin said solemnly: "After King Bailan was destroyed in Xiping County, the Chief Manager was recalled to the capital by the emperor to report on his duties. General Changshi Liu Fang was injured by an arrow in the last battle in Xiping City. Soldiers. Now the snow disaster has affected three counties, and more than 400,000 people have been affected. The governor is worried that someone will take advantage of the chaos and make trouble, so he asked me to go to Jincheng to sit in charge."

The state capital of Jincheng was in a heap of hustle and bustle. For several days in a row, countless official letters rushed into Jincheng, and soon countless messengers left Jincheng.

In the face of sudden disasters, the pace of the government in Yongzhou from the state capital to the county and county levels was accelerated in vain. Not only were grain and grass allocated frequently, but even Wang Junlin, who was far away in Shifengzhai, was recruited to the general manager's mansion of Yongzhou. Instead of Yujuluo sits in charge.

When Yu Juluo was not around and Liu Fang was seriously injured, Wang Junlin knew why he was put in charge. From the standpoint of the government, when dealing with refugees, the first thing to do is to rescue them, first to control their stomachs, and there is no guarantee that they will be full, but they must not starve to death. Secondly, before the food and grass reach the disaster area in time, the soldiers and horses must first suppress the situation. Otherwise, if riots break out and cannot be suppressed, it will cause big trouble.

Everything started because of this snowstorm. From ancient times to the present, natural disasters have been very troublesome and terrible for the people and the court, because disasters are endlessly challenging human nature, and no one can expect it What will the refugees who have no food, clothing and livelihood do, and what kind of threats and turmoil they will cause to the court.

For thousands of years in China, the people at the bottom are actually the hardest-working, most patient, and most resigned group. I feel that there is nothing wrong with being ruled by others. Even if the officials are bad, they beat and scold them, or impose heavy taxes, or even rob and rape.

But there is a bottom line that must never be touched, and that is "hunger".

Yes, hunger is the bottom line of all the people. No matter how domineering officials are, no matter how harsh the taxes are, as long as they can eat half full and not starve to death, they will not have the courage to resist. However, if there is a disaster year, or when the harsh government makes them unable to guarantee even the most basic food and clothing, the people at that time are no longer ordinary people, but instantly become a group of wolves with green eyes, and they have no way out. Just like the overlord of Chu, he has lost his way anyway, so it is better to simply kill the officials and rebel, and find a way to survive.

When Wang Junlin set off from Shifengzhai, he only brought 3,000 people who came with him from Zhangye County. Zhou Hu and Shangguan Hu defeated Xue Yantuo's army under Wang Junlin's overall planning and leadership, and beheaded Xue Qi After Luo, they each led their troops back to Gaotai City and Shabang Pass to garrison.

In the evening, the team was walking in a place where there was no village in front or a store in the back, so Wang Junlin ordered to find a flat land near the water to set up a tent and bury the stove for cooking.

All the soldiers stopped in accordance with the order and began to set up camp in an orderly manner.

It has been two days since I left Shifengzhai. The team is not walking fast, and even a bit delayed. , the team can only advance cautiously like walking on thin ice.

On the third day, the team traveled to Xifeng County, the northernmost part of Zhangye County. Pull out camp and leave.

Passing Xifeng County and heading southeast, Wang Junlin always felt that the weather was getting colder. He could see heavy snow that had not melted everywhere along the way. It was obviously the beginning of spring, but the place was still full of desolation. , there is no splendid scenery of spring flowers blooming, no spring-like green trees and red flowers, not to mention the joyful scene of farmers sowing spring in groups full of joy, everything is bleak as far as the eye can see, the land is cold and hard, the fields are barren, and even the weeds are gone. One plant, looking around, there is no trace of vitality in the vast field.

When he got here, Wang Junlin's heart gradually sank, and even Xu Jingzong, who was cold by nature, couldn't see the smile on his face at this moment.

Out of Xifeng County and continuing to the southeast, Wang Junlin and his party slowly walked towards Jincheng.

This place already belongs to Jincheng County. Yongzhou is a relatively rich place. After all, it is the place where the state capital is located. With the state capital Jincheng as the center, many domestic merchants and Hu merchants from the Western Regions In pursuit of profit, they swarmed towards Jincheng full of goods and special products. Whether they were passing by or not trading on the spot, Jincheng was quite prosperous, and it was also the place where the people of Yongzhou were most densely populated.

However, the Sui Dynasty was still an era dominated by agriculture, and food crops determined people's livelihood, so the annual spring sowing and autumn harvest were the first-class events for the people of the Sui Dynasty.

Each year after the beginning of spring, Emperor Yang Jian would lead his officials to worship the heavens at the farm altar in the palace to pray for a year of good weather. The wheat grains left in the fields during the autumn harvest were picked up one by one to express the blessings of the people in the world. From the first year of Kaihuang, Empress Dugu personally presided over this ceremony, and it was like this every year until her death last year.

It can be seen how important farming is to the common people. The vast majority of the common people in the world are peasant households, and peasant households cannot ask for enough food and clothing. Therefore, the daily weather is a matter of life and death for peasant households.


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