Jing Xi and her group traveled on and off for more than a month. The further west they went, the more desolate the place became and the more severe the disaster became. The road was full of emaciated refugees, the land was parched and even cracked in some places, and the scorching sun baked the earth. The crops in the fields had all died, creating a desolate scene.
After arriving in Yunzhou, Jing Xi and the others rented an inn. Traveling westward, water was scarce, and their bodies ached from sweating. They quickly took out the water from the carriage and washed themselves. In Yunzhou these days, even taking a bath was a luxury.
"Jingxi, what should we do next?" Jiang Bai asked with a headache, looking at the refugees outside eyeing their grain with covetous eyes. In all his years of traveling around the country, he had never seen such a desolate scene.
"Huang Zhong, have your men take out their weapons and guard the grain tonight. You guard the first half of the night, and I'll lead the team to guard the second half," Jing Xi said calmly.
The people outside looked at them like tigers eyeing meat; tonight looked like it was going to be a tough battle.
Jiang Bai had clearly seen it too. It seemed that the situation in the Northwest was far worse than he had imagined. He would write to his father tonight to see if he could persuade the merchants from Jiangnan to come to the Northwest ahead of time, otherwise the grain they brought would be a drop in the ocean.
At this moment, Ji Mosheng also came downstairs and said gently, "If Miss Jing and Young Master Jiang don't mind, they can come with me to stay at the government office."
Jing Xi and Jiang Bai exchanged a glance and politely declined, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, but we are really worried about leaving our food here, so we'd better stay and guard it ourselves."
The Crown Prince couldn't force the issue, so he simply told Ye Xiao to leave some guards at the inn to protect the two of them before leaving. The prefect of Yunzhou County was still waiting for him; he was eager to behead that corrupt official.
As soon as Ji Mosheng stepped out of the inn, someone outside must have leaked the news, because a group of people suddenly knelt down, crying and shouting, "Your Highness, please save us!"
"Yes, Your Highness, are you abandoning us?"
"Your Highness, why hasn't the imperial court sent anyone yet? Please help us!"
"Your Highness, please give me some water, I beg you."
A group of ragged refugees pleaded desperately. Seeing the people of Da Yin suffering, Ji Mosheng felt a pang of sadness. All living beings suffer, and once disaster strikes, it is always the common people who suffer.
Ji Mosheng said solemnly, "Fellow villagers, please rest assured that the imperial court will not abandon you. I will stand with you through thick and thin."
After hearing the Crown Prince's words, the refugees began to whisper among themselves. They thought the Crown Prince's words were probably credible. At this moment, two middle-aged men stood up and shouted, "Why should we believe you? What if you see the disaster is serious and run away, abandoning us?"
"Yeah, what if they just abandon us?"
The public resentment that had just subsided was reignited, and the crowd shouted angrily again. At this point, Ji Mosheng was certain that the disturbance caused by these disaster victims was deliberate, and someone wanted to give him a warning!
Jing Xi also watched the scene unfold with a cold eye. She pulled Jiang Bai along openly to watch the spectacle, wanting to see how this popular crown prince would handle this show of force.
Ji Mosheng waved his hand, and two bodyguards behind him instantly grabbed the two middle-aged men who had just incited the people and brought them in front of Ji Mosheng.
Ji Mosheng said coldly, "Speak, who sent you?"
One of the middle-aged men, with his neck stiffened, said, "Could it be that we guessed Your Highness's thoughts, so you want to kill us to silence us?"
"Heh, you do have some backbone. I do want to kill you to silence you, but not because you guessed my thoughts, but because you followed the wrong person." Ji Mosheng said sarcastically, and with a gentle lift of his hand, the man in front of him breathed his last.
The crowd instantly stirred. Ji Mosheng glanced over and fell silent. Jing Xi looked at Ji Mosheng with admiration. It seemed that this Crown Prince was not an indecisive person. He was brave and resourceful, and was a good heir apparent.
Jiang Bai, seeing Jing Xi staring intently at Ji Mosheng, felt a surge of displeasure and tried to attract Jing Xi's attention by asking, "Jing Xi, where do you think we should open the shop?"
Jingxi's attention was indeed drawn to it. She pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go out and take a look tomorrow. If it doesn't work out, we'll choose a spot next to the government office."
"Okay, Jingxi, you're in charge," Jiang Bai said obsequiously, secretly pleased with himself.
Ji Mosheng clearly noticed their subtle actions and frowned as he watched the two chatting and laughing, but he didn't have time to fight them now.
Ji Mosheng then looked up at the other person kneeling before him, trembling, and said in a deep voice, "What? Are you also planning to be like him? I hope you think it through before answering my question."
The middle-aged man trembled as if he had Parkinson's disease, too weak to speak. But Ji Mosheng didn't have time to play along. He slowly raised his hand, ready to end his life.
The middle-aged man suddenly prostrated himself on the ground, pleading, "Your Highness, I'll talk, I'll talk, it's..."
"Whoosh!" An arrow flew from afar, instantly ending the man's life. With a glance from Ji Mosheng, the guards behind him and the hidden guards in the shadows gave chase.
Just then, shouts came from afar. Looking up, a chubby man led a group of people running towards them. "Your Highness, Your Highness's sudden visit has caused me great dismay. I hope Your Highness will forgive me for not welcoming you properly."
"Oh? Is this Lord Miao?" the Crown Prince asked, looking at the Yunzhou Prefect, who was smiling obsequiously.
"It is indeed your humble servant, it is indeed your humble servant," Prefect Miao said with a smile, surprised that His Highness the Crown Prince would know of a mere border prefect like himself.
"Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you rest at my humble abode?" Prefect Miao suggested from the side. He happened to have two daughters, and if one of them gained the Crown Prince's favor, wouldn't his career rise to great heights?
Ji Mosheng looked coldly at Prefect Miao and said, "I will stay at the prefectural office."
"Your Highness, the government office is simple and humble. My humble residence has prepared fine wine and food to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey. Why don't you do me the honor of visiting my humble residence?" Prefect Miao said sincerely. His advisor had said that if he said this, His Highness would definitely think more highly of him and might even promote him from this harsh and cold place to the capital.
Ji Mosheng simply couldn't understand how a prefect could be so foolish! The people were displaced and suffering from the elements, while he was treated to fine wine and food. Wasn't he just handing over a handle to be used against them?
Since he sent it, how can I turn a blind eye? Otherwise, I might hurt his loyalty.
Ji Mosheng said gently, "The people are in such a miserable state now, I never expected that Prefect Miao would still have such fine wine and food hidden away. If that's the case, I will investigate whether Prefect Miao is oppressing the people. Guards, take Prefect Miao to jail."
Prefect Miao looked at the Crown Prince with a face full of despair. How could his 37-degree mouth utter such cold words?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com