after being kidnapped by the general

The reduction in the number of porridge handouts has made the refugees faintly aware that there is not enough food.

The fear of starving to death made them restless. There were several incidents of attacking soldiers and robbing the porridge food.

Before the tragedy of changing children to eat, Ouyang Ting led his soldiers to intensify inspections and punishments, killed many people who took the lead in rioting and spreading panic, and severely suppressed the signs of change.

Heavy codes are used in troubled times, and Ouyang Ting is also a famous Confucian general who has led soldiers, so he naturally knows what to do.But the people cannot be oppressed by force, because when they are starving to death, the people will go crazy in order to survive, and a carelessness can cause riots.

After beheading another group of displaced refugees, Ouyang Ting looked at the trembling refugees and knew that it would be impossible not to say something to stabilize the hearts of the people.

He took a deep breath and said loudly: "I won't hide it from you, Xuzhou really doesn't have much food. But don't be afraid, I have found someone to send the food. As long as you persist until the relief food arrives, you can eat it." Meal! I promise you that as long as I, Ouyang Ting, eat a mouthful of food, you will never be hungry! Everyone, trust me once, and wait for the relief food with me in peace!"

The people were so hungry that they sat in the corner and listened to him.

The woman looked over carefully with the child in her arms, and the refugee who was lying on the ground, unable to move, turned his head with difficulty.They looked at Ouyang Ting, their faces were dirty, and they were all skinny, but the numbness in their eyes disappeared slowly with Ouyang Ting's words, and they were alive.

They asked cautiously, "Will someone really come to deliver food?"

"My lord, when will the food arrive? Is it really for us?"

Ouyang Ting replied one by one, every sentence was affirmative.The people who received his words also had the hope of persevering. They helped each other sit up, looked at Ouyang Ting earnestly, and looked forward to the relief food he said would arrive soon.

Ouyang Ting knew that the people would at least be able to persevere before they ran out of food.

Even the soldiers who had been panicking were relieved and no longer worried about running out of food.

Everyone was relieved, only Ouyang Ting was full of worries.He sighed in his heart, but he didn't tell anyone about his worries.

After returning to the mansion, Ouyang Ting hesitated for a long time, but still gritted his teeth, and prepared to ask the powerful gentry for food again with the cheek.

He was not sure when Yuanli would arrive, and how much surplus food he could provide to help him, Ouyang Ting had to make a retreat.

Although he knew that the powerful gentry would probably not lend it to him, he still had to try again.

Having made up his mind, Ouyang Ting left the Governor's Mansion in a hurry.

Twenty days later, Yuanli arrived at the east bank of Xuzhou.

A full twenty ships of food and medicinal materials were moved down and formed a long convoy.The soldiers guard the front, back, left, and right, and firmly protect the food and medicinal materials in the middle.

There is still some distance away from Xiapi, the Xuzhou prefecture. After ensuring that everyone was in good condition after landing, Chu Hechao and Yuanli began to rush day and night.

So many of their big ships docked on the east coast, but no one came to check.It is conceivable how chaotic the territory of Xuzhou has become. The officials in these counties and towns near the shore may have fled.

Yuanli was ready to face a devastated Xuzhou, but when he entered Xuzhou, he found that the situation was more serious than he imagined.

They met Cai Renshi.

Vegetable people are people who are forced to go to the market to sell themselves as meat during times of war and famine. Such people are called "vegetable people". *

When Yuanli and the others broke into the vegetable market, they saw many human arms and thighs hanging above the butcher's shop, and three vegetable men tied to wooden sticks and having their meat peeled.They are surrounded by people who sell meat for money. These buyers are choosing whose meat is better, and the shopkeepers are cutting the meat off them with knives.The cooks wanted to ensure the freshness of the meat. The three of them bowed their heads half dead, but none of them died.

The darkest scene in the troubled times is exposed in front of Yuan Li's nose. No matter how many books he has read, no matter how many things the people in the troubled times will experience, seeing this scene with his own eyes will bring The shock still makes one's heart tremble, and nothing can be said.

Yuan Li was breathing heavily, his gaze scanned the crowd, and he saw that there were men, women, and young children serving as meat.

Seeing their sudden intrusion, the crowd ran in panic, hid and looked at them in fear, but when they saw the carts of grain, their eyes became greedy again.

Yuan Li gripped the rein tightly.

Chu Hechao's face was also ugly, and he reached out and patted his hand comfortingly.

Others also looked solemn, Jia Qing frowned and asked for instructions: "My lord?"

"Destroy," Yuan Li opened his mouth and said in a hoarse voice, "destroy this place."

Jia Qing asked: "Then the people here?"

"Both buyers and sellers have been killed," Chu Hechao took over the conversation, and said indifferently, "In troubled times, use heavy codes. We must stop the signs of the vegetable market, so that both buyers and sellers will have scruples and dare not do this again .”

Jia Qing thought so too, he looked at Yuan Li, who could no longer see any emotion in Yuan Li, nodded coldly and said, "Let's do it like this."

Jia Qing immediately took people out, destroying the vegetable market in an instant.

After finishing this, they did not delay and continued to speed up their journey.

In Xiapi County, Ouyang Ting was borrowing food from the Liu family, one of the local powerful gentry.

Seeing that the food was running out, Yuan Li didn't know when he would come back.These days, Ouyang Ting found one family after another of powerful noble families. He borrowed some food, but it was very little, just a drop in the bucket.

In the end, several merchants who had done business with Yuanli relied on him to secretly send some grain to the governor's mansion, and told Ouyang Ting implicitly that the reason why no one lent Ouyang Ting grain was because of the largest family in Xuzhou, Liu. Shi opened his mouth and warned them not to lend food to Ouyang Ting.

This Xuzhou Liu family is a family that has surrendered to King Chen. It has a strong family background and powerful influence. The previous governor of Xuzhou was almost turned into a puppet governor by them.After the previous governor left office, Chen Wang originally agreed to let this Liu family member be the governor of Xuzhou so that he could take charge of Xuzhou for him, but who knew that under Chu Mingfeng's operation, Ouyang Ting was airborne in Xuzhou and won the title of governor of Xuzhou. bit.

Therefore, Mrs. Liu was extremely dissatisfied with Ouyang Ting.However, Ouyang Ting is a stubborn character who doesn't eat hard and soft, neither cares about Liu's targeting, nor pays attention to Liu's flattery.And after realizing that the Liu family's power is overwhelming, he has been trying to suppress the Liu family, regaining the control of Xuzhou from the family and returning it to the governor.

Coupled with the fact that Ouyang Ting disliked Chen Wang's faction very much, this was even more enmity.Adding all these things together, how could Mrs. Liu not bear grudges against Ouyang Ting.

Hearing that it was the Xuzhou Liu family who avenged their personal revenge, Ouyang Ting only thought it was ridiculous, "This is a critical moment, and he still thinks about personal revenge? This is not the hatred between me. If there is no food, the people of Xuzhou will really be desperate." Save one..."

The businessman didn't dare to say more, and left after delivering the food.

Only Ouyang Ting was left alone in the courtyard, for a moment, he didn't know what to think and what to do.

Ridiculous, too ridiculous.

Ouyang Ting thought so, but he couldn't laugh, and even felt extremely sad.

Just because of personal enmity, because of the wrong political position, everyone was not allowed to lend food to Ouyang Ting, and watched the people of Xuzhou die.

The Liu family in Xuzhou didn't care about how many people were killed or injured, they only cared about how to teach Ouyang Ting a lesson, and whether they could take advantage of this opportunity to take Xuzhou into their pocket.Because no matter how many people are killed or injured, new people can always be born, and there will never be fewer.

If the Liu family in Xuzhou is like this, how can King Chen be any better?

Who in the world can really put the people in their hearts?

Ouyang Ting suddenly became confused.

He couldn't figure it out, and he couldn't figure it out, but the top priority was food.Now that he knows who the culprit is, Ouyang Ting is not going to turn a blind eye.

Didn't Mrs. Liu want him to be subdued?Then he just takes it.It's fine even if it's for Mrs. Liu to watch a joke and ridicule him, as long as Mrs. Liu is willing to borrow money, Ouyang Ting is willing to say anything.Even if he gave up his old face, he could still do it with gritted teeth.

Therefore, Ouyang Ting went to Liu's door in person.

Sure enough, as Ouyang Ting expected, upon seeing Ouyang Ting, although the head of the Liu clan had a smile on his face, he ridiculed Ouyang Ting several times like a needle hidden in his words.The other disciples of the Liu family in the hall laughed from time to time, looking at Ouyang Ting with mocking expressions.

Ouyang Ting pursed his lips tightly and held back his anger, "Xuzhou is at a critical juncture. As a local family in Xuzhou, the Liu family should also do their best for Xuzhou. I will not take your food for nothing. I will wait for the autumn harvest in Xuzhou next year." , I will return all the food borrowed this time to you."

The patriarch of the Liu family smiled and said: "My lord, this is serious. It's just that there are disasters all over Xuzhou, and the harvest of our manor fields is even more serious. It's not that we refuse to borrow food, but that we really have no food. Lord Ouyang , you are the governor of a state, you can't force us to take out the food for our lives to help the refugees, right?"

Of course, these are all lies. I don't know how many good fields in Xuzhou have been hidden by the Liu family, and they produce a lot of grain for the Liu family every year.These aristocratic families that have survived for many years have never been short of food reserves, but they would rather the food rot in the warehouse and be eaten by rats than take it out to help the people.

Ouyang Ting swallowed the word "ridiculous" that he wanted to scold, and said calmly: "If other people say that there is no food, I may still believe it, but you Liu have no food, you and I both know how false it is. Patriarch Liu, I already know that you do not allow other people to borrow my food. If I have offended you in the past, I am here to apologize to you. I only hope that you will look at the refugees who are also from Xuzhou outside , you can let go of your enmity with me, and save them with food. If you have any conditions, feel free to ask me. I, Ouyang Ting, can do anything, and I will never refuse."

The patriarch of the Liu family took a deep look at him, and said calmly: "The Ouyang governor is for the country and the people, and is highly regarded... Well, since you say so, it is not impossible for our Liu family to borrow food."

Ouyang Ting's heart tightened, knowing that it was coming.

"I will point out two ways to Lord Inspector," the patriarch of the Liu clan stroked his long beard, and said slowly, "First, you surrender to King Chen, and you will be King Chen's subordinate in the future, and manage Xuzhou well for King Chen. Second, if Mr. Ouyang doesn’t want to surrender to King Chen, you can just hand over the seal of the governor of Xuzhou in your hand to me, and then kowtow to me here to apologize and admit your mistake, and I will agree to lend you food, Mr. Ouyang What do you think?"

Ouyang Ting was furious, his hands trembling with anger, "You are deceiving people too much!"

The patriarch of the Liu clan patted the armrest heavily, and snorted coldly: "Master Ouyang, it is you who are begging me, not me! I have pointed out the way for you, and it is up to you to decide whether to do it or not! But Mr. Ouyang, let me Let me remind you of the last sentence, you are desperate now, no one in the surrounding states is willing to lend you food, and no one in the state dares to take the risk of offending Mrs. Liu to help you. This is the last chance, can you Think about it."

Ouyang Ting understood the metaphor in his words in an instant, and was very shocked. He pointed at him and dared not say anything: "Could it be that the reason why no one in the surrounding states lend me food is also the order of King Chen?!"

The patriarch of the Liu clan smiled meaningfully and did not speak, which was the default.

"Absurd, really absurd," Ouyang Ting murmured, "If you want Xuzhou, you resort to such means. It's useless to waste your reputation all over the world, all of you carry the name of benevolence and righteousness, loyalty to the emperor, and say that you are the king and the king." The people, worry about the world, but in fact they are wolf-hearted, and never take the people seriously... King Chen? Hahahaha, King Chen! What kind of king does he deserve to be!"

He clenched his hands into fists, smashed the table violently, and shouted: "Even if I, Ouyang Ting, die, I will never be with such a person!"

The patriarch of the Liu family was shocked by the way he slapped the table, and then he said angrily: "You dare to offend King Chen, Ouyang Ting, you are so brave! Do you think that besides King Chen, there is anyone else who can save you from water and fire? Are you still counting on your disciple Yuan Le Jun? It’s ridiculous! Chen Wang now has three states in his hands, Xuzhou is in the power of Chen Wang, and Yuan Le Jun is far away in the desolate place in the north. Don’t think that he is Wen Gongbian I can support you! Lord Yuan Le is afraid of King Chen, otherwise he would not propose a Luoshui covenant with King Chen. King Chen refuses to allow others to save Xuzhou. You, Lord Yuan Le, dare to travel thousands of miles and take the risk of angering King Chen Do you want to go deep into Xuzhou to deliver food to you? Ouyang Ting, not everyone in this world is as dull as you!"

The patriarch of the Liu clan was sure that Yuanli would not support Xuzhou.

Since Yuanli proposed the Luoshui Covenant and promised not to send troops against King Chen within five years, he was naturally afraid of King Chen's power and intended to form an alliance with King Chen.

Over the years, Yuanli would pay tribute to the emperor every year when he got good things to please the emperor. Isn't this trying to please the king of Chen?Even if Yuanli was really courageous, most of the south now belongs to King Chen, and Xuzhou is on the north side of Yangzhou. Even if Yuanli was concerned about his own safety, he would not come to Xuzhou in person and let himself fall into the influence of King Chen.

It is precisely because he is confident that Yuanli will not come, that the patriarch of the Liu clan dares not to show Ouyang Ting face.After that, even if Yuanli sent things, as long as Wen Gong did not come in person, the Liu family would dare to withhold all the things he sent, leaving Ouyang Ting alone and helpless, with King Chen as his backer.

Ouyang Ting was so angry that his beard trembled and his breathing became heavy.

The patriarch of the Liu clan looked at him, and felt extremely happy in his heart.

A disciple of the Liu family sneered at the side, and said: "Since the governor loves the people of Xuzhou so much, he probably won't let the people starve to death and refuse to save them. Now that you have the opportunity to save the people, if the governor really wants to save people, Then hand over the seal of the Xuzhou governor, and just kowtow again. It's not difficult, right? If you can't even do this, then the governor's desire to save people is too perfunctory, presumably those words before It's hypocrisy."

Ouyang Ting's complexion suddenly became ten years old, showing a haggard old look, and his energy was gone.He closed his eyes, and laughed bitterly after a while, "Okay, this is King Chen, and this is your Xuzhou Liu family... Really good means, good means!"

The patriarch of the Liu clan snorted coldly: "It's just God helping me."

God help?

Yes, God help.

If it weren't for this flood, how could King Chen take Xuzhou so easily.

But God, open your eyes, why do you want to help such a person?

Ouyang Ting's mouth was full of bitterness, he sighed, and slowly stood up.

As a celebrity who is famous all over the world, Ouyang Ting is also a famous general, he has his own pride.But such arrogance is like duckweed and ants in front of the life and death of thousands of refugees, which is nothing at all.

If this position of governor and this humiliating kneeling can keep Xuzhou refugees alive, why would Ouyang Ting not do it.

He seemed to be carrying a heavy burden, his hands arched stiffly, his spine was bent and his knees were down.

The head of the Liu clan looked at him with a cheerful smile on his face, and felt that the governor of Xuzhou was waving at him.

Just when Ouyang Ting was about to kneel on the ground, there was a surprise shout from outside, "Lord Inspector, Wen Gong and the relief food have arrived!!!"

"Mr. Wen is here—!"

"What?!" The patriarch of the Liu clan had a stiff smile on his face, then he stood up suddenly, his eyes widened in horror, and panic invaded his whole body in an instant, "Who is here? How could it be Wen Gong, no, this is impossible! "

How could Duke Wen come to Xuzhou in person!

But the call was still coming from outside, and the call became more and more urgent, "Lord Inspector! Duke Wen has already left the city!"

"Lord Inspector, the Great General has also come together!"

The patriarch of the Liu clan shook his body and murmured "impossible".The rest of the descendants of the Liu family showed panic and looked at each other uneasily.

Ouyang Ting only felt that the depression in his heart suddenly disappeared. He straightened up slowly, looked at the pale faces of Liu's family, suddenly laughed out loud, flung his sleeves and strode away, and said loudly: "It seems that this There are still people in the world who are as stupid as I am, and this person is my disciple Wen Gong, thanks to the Liu family of Xuzhou, it will be a good story to spread the name of our stupidity as master and apprentice!"

His energy came back all of a sudden, Ouyang Ting's face was flushed, his waist was straight, he just felt the boulder falling from his heart, and he was extremely happy.He strode out of Liu's mansion, and hurried to the city gate with the soldiers, feeling more anxious and joyful as he walked.

Seeing Lord Inspector's eager and joyful expression, many refugees seemed to realize something, and rushed to catch up and asked, "Master, are you going to the city gate? Is there something good?"

The soldiers who followed Ouyang Ting couldn't help their hearts. When they saw someone asking, they immediately raised their eyebrows and said: "Master Governor's disciple Wen Gong has brought relief food, and he is waiting outside the city gate at this time. You have food to eat." Already!"

The refugee reacted for a while before cheering, tears wet his clothes, and followed Ouyang Ting to the outside of the city.

Along the way, more and more refugees followed. Many people didn't know why, but they also quickly fell behind when they heard the cheers of "food is coming!" from the crowd.

The city gate was tightly closed, and the soldiers guarding the city saw Ouyang Ting approaching, and hurriedly came over to ask for instructions: "Lord Inspector, can you open the city gate?"

In order to facilitate the management of the victims and prevent other forces from taking the opportunity to attack the city, the gates of the city are tightly closed every day, and can only be opened under the order of Ouyang Ting.At this time, without Ouyang Ting's order, the soldiers guarding the city did not dare to open it in private.

Ouyang Ting was so excited that his heart was beating wildly, he took a deep breath, and immediately said: "Quickly open the city gate!"

A moment later, the gates of the city burst open.

Yuan Li, Chu Hechao and others had already got off their horses. After seeing Ouyang Ting who had lost a lot of weight, Yuan Li couldn't help calling "Teacher", and took a step forward to hug Ouyang Ting.

Ouyang Ting's eyes instantly turned red.

He patted Yuan Li on the back, said "yes" several times, his eyes swept across Chu Hechao, Jia Qing and the others, and saw the continuous, seemingly endless motorcade behind him.

Bags of grain were piled neatly on the convoy, and the bags were bulging like they were about to overflow.

One cart after another, Ouyang Ting's eyes blurred, he couldn't count how many carts of grain there were.

That's a lot, Ouyang Ting thought, he felt full just by looking at it, as if he had never seen so much food in his life.

Heart is extremely sour, but also extremely ecstatic.Ouyang Ting's hot tears fell on his disciple's shoulders. Just as his old face felt embarrassed, he heard loud sobbing and bitter crying behind him.

He separated from Yuanli, and everyone looked behind them together.

The refugees who followed Lord Inspector were hugging each other in twos and threes and weeping bitterly, but this cry was not the cry of despair and panic that Ouyang Ting often heard in the past, but weeping with joy.They knew that the food had arrived and they saw the hope of living, so they cried happily for the rest of their lives.

They know they are saved.