Qin Yining couldn't help but laugh when he saw him like this. Sure enough, no matter how old a man was, he had a child-like side to him. Even Pang Xiao, who had a calm and meticulous personality, was no exception.
The procession slowly approached Shuannan City, and the scene before them was even more miserable than when they were at Golden Harbor. The closer they got to the old capital of Dayan, the more serious the disaster became.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were no longer in the mood to chat, and each of them looked out of the window at the densely packed areas of the disaster victims.
They found that there were less than one out of ten middle-aged and elderly people left, and there were also very few children. Most of the survivors were young and strong men, and only a small number of women were left.
In the face of a natural disaster, a strong man had more ability to survive than a weak woman. As for the elderly and children, if they didn't have a family to take care of them, they wouldn't be able to withstand such a disaster.
Qin Yining's expression was heavy.
When the disaster victims saw Pang Xiao's relief team arrive, their numb faces turned to look at them. When they saw the guards of the Prince's Mansion transporting the fully loaded carriages, the disaster victims all stood up. Their eyes were filled with desire.
It was unknown who shouted, "It's Wang Ye who has come to provide relief!"
The originally lifeless disaster victims suddenly seemed to have been injected with vitality, and like flowing water, they rushed over to the city gate where the convoy was located.
Pang Xiao hurriedly got off the carriage and ordered Jinghu Wei to surround the convoy. He walked side by side with Mu Jinghu to where the Wang Fu guards were at the outermost periphery of the encirclement. He cupped his hands and said to the disaster victims surrounding them, "Everyone, please calm down. This King will immediately order people to set up a porridge stall, and you will be able to eat hot porridge soon!"
Originally, the disaster victims didn't believe the rumors in the North. In their impression, the imperial court had always been slow in providing relief. Otherwise, in such a long time, when they rushed from various places to the big city, who knew how many of their family members and fellow villagers had starved to death on the way. If there was an official who was willing to be so straightforward, so many people wouldn't have died for nothing.
Now, seeing Prince Zhongshun being so straightforward, and the bodyguards who came with him were happily unloading food from the carriages, everyone became excited.
The rumors were true!
Looking at the food, the disaster victims in the front row could no longer hold back.
Pang Xiao had seen a lot of looting victims along the way. With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards of the Prince's Mansion immediately took a step forward and raised their weapons horizontally, keeping the commoners outside the encirclement.
Pang Xiao said in a clear voice, "Don't worry, everyone. This King has brought enough food for everyone to eat! If someone disobeyed the order now, they would be delaying the relief. If everyone fought over the food, when would the porridge be ready? Smart people will help set up the stoves and carry the rations, not cause trouble! "
The disaster victims, whose eyes had turned red after seeing the food, were still unable to control themselves. However, they were afraid of the swords in the hands of the Prince's Mansion's personal guards, so they did not dare to act rashly.
There were also some people who heard Pang Xiao's words and their rationality prevailed. They spontaneously told the people around them to maintain order. There were also a few young people who stood out and volunteered to help.
Pang Xiao nodded with satisfaction. His men organized the disaster victims to find a place to set up a stove.
With someone leading the way, there were disaster victims who could still work who stood out to help. The order outside the city gate was immediately restored.
Pang Xiao returned to the carriage. Qin Yining was looking out of the window. When he saw Pang Xiao coming over, he gave him a thumbs up, causing Pang Xiao to laugh uncontrollably.
When they arrived at the city gate, Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi led people to post a notice. Qin Yining was very curious. He got off the carriage to take a look, only to see a list of "sponsors" on the notice.
The wording was simple. It praised the rich merchants who sold the food to Pang Xiao along the way. However, it did not say that they sold the food, but "sponsored" the food.
By changing the words, even the meaning had changed. In the blink of an eye, the people who profited from the national disaster became great philanthropists.
Qin Yining turned to look at Pang Xiao and could not help but laugh. "This is the idea that Mr. Xie came up with, right?"
"That's right." Pang Xiao smiled and nodded.
Qin Yining praised, "Mr. Xie is really quick-witted. He understands people's hearts very well. In this way, won't those merchants take the initiative to contact Wang Ye? They won't take less money, and they can also gain a good reputation as a family of good deeds. "Qin Yining did not say another thing in front of everyone.
This method would also hide how much money Pang Xiao used. If people asked, they could say that someone sponsored the food.
In any case, in front of Li Qitian, no matter how much kindness and loyalty Pang Xiao had, he would be misunderstood. He would be accused even if he did not have any crimes. Right now, he just needed to stop people from talking.
And this excuse could not only distract people's attention, but it could also arouse their enthusiasm. Why not?
Pang Xiao's group had just entered the city when Huzi, who had been sent to purchase the food, came over with his men.
"Wang Ye, the food is being transported here. This is the account book." He said as he presented a blue booklet with both hands.
Pang Xiao did not even look at it, "Keep it. Don't lose it."
Huzi knew that Pang Xiao trusted him. This account book could be said to be the evidence that Pang Xiao used the treasure. The total amount of food and supplies purchased in the book added up to a huge amount.
Huzi smiled and nodded. He put the account book into his pocket. He smiled mischievously, but his eyes were very serious, "Don't worry, Mr. Xie. I would rather lose my head than lose this account book."
Pang Xiao slapped his forehead, "Nonsense."
Huzi rubbed his forehead. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bing Tang behind Qin Yining. He laughed even more foolishly. Even the tips of his ears turned red. The Bing Tang also blushed and lowered his head.
Qin Yining could not help laughing when he saw this. He followed Pang Xiao to see the local county magistrate.
Pang Xiao found a way to gather food and supplies. The disaster relief went very smoothly. As they traveled in the direction of the old capital, the disaster victims were all very grateful to Pang Xiao. Prince Zhongshun's reputation among the people was unparalleled.
When the disaster relief arrived at the old capital of Dayan, it was already the first month of the ninth year of Shengchang. The caravan came through the snow. Before they even reached the city gates, there were already disaster victims waiting to greet them.
"Prince Zhongshun is here!"
"Wang Ye brought food to save us!"
"Thank you, Wang Ye. Thank you, Princess!"
"Wang Ye is our benefactor. Back then, when the earthquake happened, it was Wang Ye who came to save us. Now that there is a disaster, it is Wang Ye who came to save us!"
"You don't know this, but Princess Consort had already arranged for people to come and save us. When the flood started last year, the shopkeepers under Princess Consort had already saved many people and brought them to her farmstead. There were even people who specially taught them how to cultivate terraced fields. Otherwise, we would have lost even more people this year! "
"Wang Ye and Princess Consort are really good people!"
…
The common people discussed with each other, their gratitude evident in their words. It was unknown who shouted first, but soon, someone in the crowd shouted, "Long live the king! Long live Wang Ye! "
This shout of 'long live' really shocked the Elite Tiger Guards and strategists who came along with him.
Only the Son of Heaven could say 'long live'. If this spread to the capital, Pang Xiao would not be able to escape the label of "treason."
But other than the shock, those who sincerely followed Pang Xiao also felt proud.
This was the wise ruler they followed!
He had sacrificed a lot, but he had also received the love and respect of the people!
These words came from the hearts of the people. No one had taught them to say it.
At this moment, even the followers who had been hungry all along the way and had to gather food were satisfied. They felt that everything was worth it.
The strategists, led by Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, had mixed feelings.
"Brother Xu, Brother Xie, if we had not listened to your suggestions back then, I'm afraid we would have made a big mistake."
"That's right. Although we were also thinking for Wang Ye, our knowledge was limited. The decision we made almost caused Wang Ye to miss a good opportunity. Looking at this scene now, I'm really afraid. "
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi said, "You flatter us, we don't dare."
Xu Weizhi said again, "Actually, everything came from Wang Ye's heart. At the beginning of the disaster relief, Wang Ye was wholeheartedly thinking for the people. He decided to take from the people and use for the people. If Wang Ye's heart was not for the people, even if you and I tried our best to persuade him, Wang Ye would not listen."
Xie Yue also nodded and pointed to the sky, "Isn't that person an example?"
When everyone thought of the Son of Heaven, they could not help but sigh.
"As the Emperor, he can really be ruthless and not care about the lives of the people."
"Along the way, all the food was paid for by Wang Ye. The Son of Heaven actually gave eight carriages to Wang Ye at the beginning and even set a trap for him. In these few months, Wang Ye saved so many people, but the Son of Heaven did not react at all. He did not give any money or food for the disaster relief!"
The strategists were furious when they thought of Li Qitian's actions.
However, Xie Yue laughed heartily and pointed to the cheering people outside the carriage, "Is this what it means to reap what you sow?"
When the strategists heard this, they also laughed heartily.
Qin Yining wrapped herself in a large fur cloak and hugged the hand warmer that was already a bit cold. She was also a bit worried when she heard the cheers outside.
"This is a big city, so Li Qitian's spies must be here. Moreover, the magistrate of the city has just been appointed. Everyone we know has already been punished because of the disaster. We still don't know which side he is on. It won't be good if you are impeached by the Emperor."
Pang Xiao patted Qin Yining's shoulder and pinched her cold face, "Alright, don't worry. I'll go out and say a few words. No matter what the people think, my stance must be clear."
"That's right." Qin Yining nodded.
Pang Xiao grabbed a large cloak and put it on, then ordered the carriage to stop outside.
When the welcoming people saw the procession slowly come to a stop, they couldn't help but stop cheering. They saw a tall, imposing, and handsome man dressed in a black fur cloak disembark from the carriage.
Pang Xiao stood in the open space and cupped his hands to the people around him, "Fellow villagers and elders. What virtue and ability does this prince have to bear the burden of receiving everyone's welcome in the snow? "
The people cheered when they heard this.
The people of the old capital still remembered the days when they were under the rule of the Yan dynasty's Yuchi family. At that time, Prince Zhongshun had led his troops to attack them. They were extremely terrified because of Wang Ye's fierce reputation. When people mentioned him, it was as if they had seen a demon. It was as if he could eat human flesh and drink human blood at any time.
However, many years had passed. When they looked back, this Wang Ye had never massacred civilians during the war between the two countries. There were also people who had survived in Liang City and other places who tried to clear Wang Ye's name. There was no evidence to say that he had massacred the entire city. In order not to massacre the entire city, he had even defied the imperial edict and had his military power removed by the current emperor. He had to return to the capital to "report on his work."
When the two countries were at war, the Yuchi family naturally wouldn't speak well of the enemy. However, the eyes of the people were clear. When he attacked the city, he didn't massacre the poor. He even sent food to solve the famine after the drought in the old capital.
Later, when the earthquake happened, he and the princess consort came to provide disaster relief.
Before the flood, the princess consort had already ordered people to make preparations. Now, it was Wang Ye and the princess consort who came to provide disaster relief.
It could be said that many years ago, Prince Zhongshun's reputation as a "demon embryo" had been gradually erased. Now, his bravery, good fighting skills, benevolence, and love for the people had been widely spread.
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