Qin Yining was standing behind Pang Xiao with his men. When he heard the tragic situation clearly, he felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.
Last winter, the troops of the surrendered officials split into several groups and left the old capital for Da Zhou's capital. They left the city riddled with holes and starving people to the common people.
Although she had tried her best to take in many people and had land in the surrounding counties, taking in those people to work for her in exchange for food, no matter how rich she was, she couldn't save everyone.
Moreover, it was impossible for Pang Xiao's shops on the streets and her fields in the distant countryside to remain untouched by the Earth Dragon's sudden change of fortune.
Their losses were already so great. The harm that the common people suffered was even more unpredictable.
Perhaps it was just like what they saw with Sister Liu when they first entered the city. Many people would rather end their suffering in such a resolute way and reunite with their deceased family members.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere in the room, Gong You continued, "Wang Ye, the imperial court did not send any relief rice. The famine last year had already emptied the old capital. Although more than half of the common people died, the remaining people still need to eat every day.
"The location of this place is also special because it was once the capital of the Dayan Dynasty. Many of the wealthy families living here were once high-ranking officials of the Yan dynasty. Some of those officials were unwilling to become officials in Da Zhou's imperial court. There were also some who were truly old and retired from their posts at home.
"Wang Ye, I can confidently say that there are more than ten of these wealthy families in the old capital and the surrounding counties. The amount of grain in their hands accounts for 70% of the grain in the old capital!"
Gong You clenched his fingers and said angrily, "These wealthy families each took up so much of the grain. When I went to buy from them, they actually raised the price. The coarse rice that originally cost nine maces of silver per picul was now sold for eight taels of silver per picul! Tell me, aren't they profiting from a national disaster?! "
When Pang Xiao heard this, her face darkened, "Did Lord Gong go to those wealthy families?"
"They all went." Gong You shook his head with a bitter face, "They seem to have colluded with each other. If they want to sell rice, they will sell it for eight taels of silver per dan. The commoners will not buy it at all. You said that when the earth dragon flipped over, the unlucky ones were the common people. Although those rich families were also affected, they had people. They quickly cleaned up their houses and made them impregnable. I wanted to climb over the wall, but I couldn't! "
Everyone's expression turned ugly.
It turned out that it wasn't that there wasn't any food in the capital city. Instead, the food had been hoarded in the hands of the wealthy families. However, the wealthy families had banded together and refused to give in.
"Have you ever thought about transporting grain to other surrounding areas?"
"Wang Ye." Gong You's expression turned even uglier. "This time, there were two big ones and countless small ones. More than twenty cities and towns were affected. There are only a few roads leading to the south that are still in good condition. Even when I went to the neighboring counties to discuss and buy food, I had to walk and climb rocks to get there. Even if we can buy food, transporting it will be a problem. "
Pang Xiao finally understood. "Lord Gong. "Lord Gong, it must have been hard on you."
He patted the short and frail scholar's shoulder with his large hand, "Your Majesty has always been concerned about this place. Unfortunately, you have to deal with someone like the County King of Yan. I'm sure that even if This King doesn't say it, Lord Gong is well aware that the state treasury is empty after years of war. Your Majesty can't cook without rice!"
"I understand what Wang Ye is saying." Gong You sighed. Then, he stood up and said in high spirits, "It is precisely during these difficult times that we, as subjects, need to work hard. You don't have to put it in a good way. Don't mention anything about sharing Your Majesty's burdens. I pity the common people!"
Turning around abruptly, Gong You looked at Pang Xiao and smiled bitterly, "Wang Ye didn't see it. The common people in this city have suffered too much! After being seized by that bunch of bastards from the Yuchi Family, we were exploited for so many years. There was a drought and a famine. Just as things were turning for the better, we were struck by an earthquake. Tell me … this lowly official saw it with my own eyes. Even this lowly official couldn't bear to see those miserable conditions!
"Unfortunately, I don't have the ability. At this juncture, I don't have money or food. I don't have the ability either … To put it bluntly, even if I had money, I might not be able to buy food."
At this point, Gong You's face was full of tears. He lay on the table and cried. The bailiffs and constables around him also wiped their tears. Even the men from the Dragon Stallion Army that Pang Xiao brought with him lowered their heads sadly.
Qin Yining pursed his lips. Seeing all this, he secretly made a decision.
Pang Xiao let Gong You cry for a while before sighing, "Official Gong, you don't have to be sad. What we need to do now is to look forward. We can't do anything for the common people who have died. What we need to do now is to let the common people who have survived live. "
"Wang Ye." Hearing this, Gong You looked at Pang Xiao emotionally. "Good! With Wang Ye's words, I am willing to follow Wang Ye and do my best! "
"We are all doing this for the common people. What's there to follow? I believe that if the two of us work together, we will be able to see a turning point! "Pang Xiao said with a smile.
Only then did Gong You realize that Pang Xiao's achievements were so great that his words of "follow" and "do my best" could be easily misunderstood.
However, he did not regret saying those words. This was because this War God Wang Ye looked like a reliable person. He was not like those people who only fished for fame. In his heart, he truly cared about the common people's lives.
After the official business came to an end, Pang Xiao called Qin Yining over and introduced her to Gong You, "Official Gong, this is my wife."
Gong You had already seen Qin Yining. After all, she was such a great beauty. As long as one's eyes were not impaired, one would be able to see her at first glance. At first, when she came in with Pang Xiao, Gong You had some doubts in his heart. He thought that she was a concubine brought by Pang Xiao.
Who knew that she was actually the Princess Consort!
"So it's the Princess Consort. Sorry for the disrespect." Gong You bowed.
Qin Yining curtsied in return.
Gong You quickly moved to the side to avoid her, "Princess Consort, this is not appropriate."
"It is appropriate. Official Gong has been guarding the old capital. Although the situation of the disaster victims is bleak, everything has been handled in an orderly manner. We came late. This place is all thanks to Official Gong's support. He was able to prevent the common people from getting infected and spreading the plague. Official Gong has worked hard and contributed greatly! This concubine is just a woman and can't help with official matters. Official Gong is a meritorious official. How can you not accept this concubine's bow? "
Qin Yining curtsied again as she spoke.
Gong You helplessly avoided her again. However, his heart was warm.
It seemed that the rumors could not be completely trusted. Prince Zhongshun and the Princess Consort were not unreliable people like the rumors said. Prince Zhongshun was not cruel, and the Princess Consort was not seductive. They were both people who were very considerate of the common people.
"Wang Ye, you can stay in the back office for the next few days. This subordinate will let my wife arrange your accommodation. "
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