Openly sending trucks to transport grain into the city is definitely not an option.
But it's still possible to put away the chickens, ducks, and fish on the farm and harvest the vegetables in the fields.
So all the farmers got busy.
The refugees were initially waiting and hoping that these wealthy families would show them mercy and give them some food.
It doesn't need to be fancy, just enough to fill my stomach and keep me from starving.
As a result, seeing that the chickens, ducks, and geese had disappeared and the lush green vegetables were about to vanish, the refugees could no longer contain themselves.
At first, it was just a few impatient boys who walked along the edge of the village's vegetable garden and picked up a few half-withered leaves.
But the villagers, whether blinded by the sun or feeling superior, snatched back the vegetable leaves and cursed.
"Where did this brat come from! Get out of here and don't dirty our land!"
The refugee quickly pulled the boy back, pleading with a forced smile.
"Brother, please have pity on us! Let us pick up a few vegetable leaves to fill our stomachs and save our lives! We promise we won't touch the good vegetables, and we promise we won't cause any trouble!"
Unfortunately, the farmer was also a wicked man. He threw the vegetable leaves at his feet and crushed them repeatedly, cursing, "Get out of here! Stop dawdling with me! You stink and you're killing me! Don't dirty my land! You want vegetable leaves? I won't give you even the roots! I'll let you starve, you worthless wretches!"
"You should have just stayed home! Why did you have to come to Xindu and make me work under the scorching sun? I'm being lenient by not kicking you a few times!"
The refugees looked grim after being scolded, wanting to retaliate but not daring to.
But the boys were so hungry that while the farmer was cursing, they secretly tore off two vegetable leaves and tried to run away.
The farmer had sharp eyes and immediately noticed, so he swung his carrying pole heavily across the area!
The boy was so hungry that his legs were weak and he couldn't run fast. He was knocked to the ground and blood started flowing from his head.
The mother of the boy rushed over and started wailing at the top of her lungs.
"Someone's been killed! Someone's been killed! Erdan, Erdan, my God Erdan! Help!"
If the farmers were to back down at this point, they could simply offer some food and drink as compensation without even needing to call a doctor.
But he was still showing off and wasn't satisfied yet.
Even though he felt a little guilty, he still kept cursing.
"What, trying to extort money from me! It's just a little blood, no one's dead! Get lost, don't try to scare me!"
That's incredibly heartless!
The child's father finally lost his temper and slapped him across the face.
"I'll beat you to death, you foul-mouthed bastard! You hurt my son, and instead of apologizing, you insult us! We are refugees, we live by begging, but we are human beings too, not your children or grandchildren!"
The father was so angry that he kicked the farmer to the ground while he was talking.
The farmer was taken aback when the refugees dared to hit him.
He was a local resident, right under the emperor's nose, and his master was a nobleman, yet he was beaten by a refugee who barely had enough to eat!
He immediately wanted to jump up and fight back.
But the mother of the boy, who was only half a grown man, was still seething with anger. A mother who loves her child is almost as fierce as a tigress.
She pounced on him, pinned him down, and reached out. After a few strokes, the farmer's face was covered in blood.
The villagers screamed in agony, howling, "Help! The refugees have killed someone! The refugees have stolen our things! Quickly call someone, quickly report to the authorities, arrest them and hang them on the wall!"
The other villagers working nearby, having seen him entangled with the refugees for a while, were curious and guessed what had happened!
Upon hearing that there had been robbery and violence, the crowd instinctively grabbed picks, sickles, and other weapons and rushed forward.
The parents of the teenagers weren't stupid either; they immediately called out to their companions.
"These people are heartless and cruel; they don't want us to live! A few leaves of vegetables cost my son his life! Let's fight them! They say we can't steal vegetables, but we'll steal them!"
"Yes, we're starving to death, who cares about robbing or anything like that!"
"Since we're all going to die anyway, let's eat our fill first!"
"Rob his mother's!"
The other refugees were also angry, and of course, they were even more irritable and desperate from hunger.
This incident triggered an outburst from everyone.
In an instant, hundreds of people swarmed into the vegetable garden.
Whether it's a radish or a cabbage, just pull it up with your bare hands.
Some people put it directly into their mouths, some tucked it under their armpits, and some put it in their skirts.
The villagers were terrified, but after they came to their senses, they rushed forward to stop them.
"Put it down, put it all down!"
"Guards! Migrants are robbing us! Report to the authorities! Report to the authorities right now!"
Soon, the two sides clashed and started fighting.
There were already many refugees, and they were desperate to survive.
The peasants were only protecting the property of their master; how could they possibly risk their lives?
The result is quite obvious!
By the time the owner of the estate arrived after hearing the news, almost all the farmland had been destroyed.
Compared to the vegetables and other items stolen by the refugees, even more were trampled and ruined!
The potatoes and sweet potatoes buried underground couldn't be dug up in large quantities at once, and the vines were pulled out like bald chickens!
The villagers were all injured, some with bruises and swelling, others with arms and legs that they couldn't move!
This is outrageous! The refugees have rioted!
The owner of the estate quickly ordered his men to tidy up the estate and strengthen its defenses, then rushed back to the city to report to the authorities!
Similarly, the other villages also suffered.
After all, robbing one is still robbing, and robbing ten is just a matter of using your hands more.
The refugees had endured hunger and thirst for days, and finally arrived in the new capital, only to be stopped at the gate!
Being beaten, verbally abused, discriminated against, and driven away every day—no one can swallow that!
We are all subjects of Tianwu, so why do you enjoy fine silks and satins and have no worries about food and drink?
Are we like rats crossing the street, hated and chased by everyone?
The imperial court isn't doing anything, and the emperor isn't giving any orders, so let's just seize it and take it from him!
If the sky falls, everyone dies; no one will have an easy time!
Thousands, even tens of thousands, of refugees, transformed into locusts, swarmed into the fields outside the new capital.
They won't let anything edible go to waste!
If anyone tries to stop you, then fight!
More and more people went to the government office to file complaints, and the situation outside the city became increasingly chaotic.
The estate of the Marquis of Dingbei, Fu, suffered the greatest loss.
Although Lady Wen took back her dowry during the divorce, the Marquis of Dingbei suffered heavy losses and had little property left. He even had to marry a daughter of the Jiao family to secretly supplement his household income.
But over the years, the Marquis of Dingbei has made many plans and accumulated a considerable fortune.
Of all the villages outside the city, his family owned the largest and had the most land.
Moreover, he colluded with imperial merchants to monopolize the supply of vegetables to the imperial palace.
Don't underestimate a single vegetable. An ordinary family might only get a few coins for it, but for the royal family, it could cost at least one tael of silver.
Because royalty is so noble, how can cheap vegetables be worthy of such dignitaries!
More than 300 people lived on the estate of the Marquis of Dingbei. Their task was to take care of 30 mu of vegetables, watering them, catching insects, and making ridges. They were extremely meticulous in their work.
Unexpectedly, a peasant uprising suddenly broke out and razed the village to the ground.
The vegetables that were once reserved for the wealthy are now all ending up in the mouths of the displaced!
Marquis Dingbei was furious. He couldn't even wait until nightfall, so he pretended to have heatstroke and left the palace to go to the estate.
Today's update is here!
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