Staying in Qihuai County is certainly good; guarding one's own little plot of land, one won't encounter any trouble.
No one dislikes this kind of life.
But when Tang Huan saw those people in the southern district of the capital, he would think of the Seven Locust Counties back then, where the people were in even worse shape.
Qihuai County has its own people, but what about the people in the Southern District?
Is it just about the occasional handouts from the rich?
Since the Empress is too busy to attend to it, then I'll do it myself.
Tang Huan had no ambition to conquer the world, but he hoped for lasting peace.
Otherwise, what's the point of making so much money and striving to improve your quality of life?
"It's about time, let's go."
Outside Qihuai County, Tang Huan, still on horseback, reluctantly turned his gaze away.
Beside him was his maid, Xue'e, who looked meaningfully at the city and said softly, "I don't know when I'll be able to come back next time."
"It's not like you're not coming back, don't be so sentimental," Tang Huan reassured her, then spurred the horse forward.
Xue'e followed closely behind.
As for the group of mercenaries that Tang Huan needed, they would transport a batch of valuables to the capital under the guise of a mission after them.
They eventually reunited in the capital, using this method to cover up the fact that Tang Huan had left again.
Qihuai County is not too far from the capital. It takes about half a day to travel there by fast horse, and a little longer by carriage.
This time, only Tang Huan and Xue'e were present, and the time it took them to enter the capital last time was not much different from the time they last entered the capital.
They set off in the morning and arrived at the capital city in the evening.
Xue'e and Li Daikui hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they chatted for quite a while.
Qin Yu finally had someone to talk to. She held Xue'e's hand tightly, having had enough of living with Tang Huan and Li Daikui, two rough men.
"My lord, are you the only one going to the capital with Xue'e?" Li Daikui asked from the side.
"They'll be a little slower transporting the goods, but at most half a day later. Once they arrive in the capital tonight and rest for the night, they'll head to the southern district to start work tomorrow."
Before the city gates closed for the night curfew, several caravans entered the capital separately, heading straight for the southern district.
The dozen or so guesthouses that don't usually have many guests were fully booked, which made the owners quite happy.
The next day, Tang Huan woke up early and made some preparations before leading his subordinates to the southern district to meet up with the mercenaries who were nominally merchant caravans but were actually from Qihuai County.
Knowing in advance what they were to do, the mercenaries didn't hesitate and immediately got to work in the southern district.
Tang Huan contacted the former leader of the Beggars' Sect, who had been preparing for many days and immediately contacted the people in the Southern District.
The southern district suddenly became incredibly lively.
A table was set up in a large open space.
"What's your name? How old are you...?"
Behind the table, Xue'e asked questions one by one and wrote them down in detail. One person after another stepped forward to ascend the throne, and many people had nervousness and unease on their faces.
"Is the Poet Immortal really going to give us a job?"
In the corner, two poor people who had already registered were squatting down. One of them spoke up suspiciously.
Another person looked up at the long queue that had formed in the open space in front of them and said, "I guess so."
Otherwise, how will we handle attracting so many people?
"The only thing I'm curious about now is the wages. I wonder how much the Poet Immortal will pay us. I heard that he provides three meals a day. I just hope he can give me twenty coins a day!"
I can eat every day and save money on wages. Maybe I can save up enough to buy a small house.
"Twenty coins? With three meals a day included, ten coins is a lot."
The two of them imagined it with expectant looks on their faces.
The Prime Minister's Residence.
After playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) with Zhang Da and some other servants for a while, Cui Yuanzhao got bored and dismissed the other servants.
In the past few days, he has been distributing porridge in the southern district, just like Tang Huan. In the first couple of times, Cui Yuanzhao was very enthusiastic and happy to be flattered and warmed by the people.
But over time, he became somewhat weary.
After learning that Tang Huan had left Beijing, he lost even the slightest interest.
Suddenly, a servant rushed in from outside the mansion and excitedly told Cui Yuanzhao, "Young Master, Lord Tang is back. He went to the South District again early this morning."
"Really? He went to distribute porridge and food again?"
The servant shook his head and said, "No, he was doing something with a lot of people in a large open space in the south district. I didn't see it clearly."
Cui Yuanzhao didn't ask any more questions and simply pushed his subordinate away, saying, "Never mind, I'll go and take a look myself."
After saying that, he left the Prime Minister's residence with Zhang Da.
At the same time, Cui Renshi also received this message.
Inside the study, besides Cui Renshi, there were several other people sitting there. If Tang Huan were here, he would definitely recognize all of them.
Apart from Minister of Personnel Lei Ding, he had seen the rest of them at the morning court session in the Golden Palace.
"Tang Huan distributed porridge and grain in the southern district a few days ago, which earned him praise and love from the people. The news has spread throughout the capital in the past few days. I wonder what he's up to in the southern district today. Are we just going to let him do whatever he wants?"
Reading, with his fiery temper, asked directly.
Minister of Works Liu Danqing pondered for a moment before speaking, “He has only been in the Hanlin Academy for a few days, yet he is already making such a big show of things in the Southern District. Although it is a good thing, in the long run, it is not good news for us.”
If a young official starts doing charity work as soon as he arrives, it only makes it seem like the older officials have done nothing.
Behind their backs, countless people will criticize them.
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