After all the disaster victims had gone inside the city gate, Zhu Yunwen led the group into the county town. Once inside, Zhu Yunwen headed straight for the county government office.
When they arrived at the county government office, there were already quite a few disaster victims there.
Inside the county government office, the magistrate, upon learning that many disaster victims had entered the city, angrily smashed the cup in his hand.
He then questioned his subordinates:
"What's going on? Didn't I order the city gates closed? How come refugees are getting in?"
The subordinate, looking completely bewildered, said:
"This humble servant is not clear either, only that many disaster victims have entered the city. Most of them have gathered outside the county government office, requesting that the county government provide porridge."
The county magistrate was somewhat plump, with fair and delicate features. He slammed his hand forcefully on the table laden with delicacies and roared:
"Give out porridge? Where would our county government get any grain? What porridge are we giving out? Go tell them that Qingshui County doesn't have any surplus grain either."
As he spoke, he sat down again, accompanied by two beautiful concubines, and continued to feast on the dozen or so delicacies laid out on the table.
After the subordinate left, he went to the entrance of the county government office and relayed the magistrate's words to the disaster victims.
But how could the disaster victims be willing to leave just like that?
They had been hungry for many days and just wanted a bowl of porridge.
If they could beg for food in this county town, and if the government could give them a bowl of porridge, they could live a little longer.
But if you turn around and leave, and go somewhere else, it will take one or two days to walk to the next county town.
The chances of starving to death on the road are too high.
Zhu Yunwen heard the soldier's words and stepped forward from the crowd.
Ten Imperial Guards followed closely behind him.
As soon as he stepped forward, the officer raised his hand to stop him:
Who are you? What do you want?
Zhu Yunwen did not speak, but a member of the Imperial Guard behind him suddenly drew a long sword and held it to the soldier's neck.
The soldier was so frightened that he took two steps back, while Zhu Yunwen swaggered into the county government office.
The surrounding soldiers wanted to step forward to stop him, but the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard took out his token and said:
"With the Embroidered Uniform Guard here, who dares to act recklessly?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the dozen or so officers and soldiers present all changed. They retreated, sheathed their knives, and lowered their heads.
They didn't even have the courage to look the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the eye.
This is the majesty of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Even officials in the imperial court would give way to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but for ordinary soldiers, the mere mention of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was like hearing the name of a demon, and they would never dare to confront them head-on.
And so Zhu Yunwen swaggered into the county government office.
The main hall of the county government office was empty, so he entered the back hall from the side. The back hall was basically the county magistrate's private living area, but as soon as he entered, he heard a conversation that made him extremely angry.
In the back hall, the fat magistrate sat there, eating fish that his concubine fed him, holding a chicken leg, and with his other arm around another concubine.
He laughed and said, "These damned disaster victims, instead of going somewhere else, they actually came to me for food? Why don't they just die?"
"Hmph, want a sip of porridge? Dream on! If there were grain, wouldn't I keep a few more pets? Feed them? What a waste of food!"
A concubine standing nearby smiled and said:
"Sir, what should we do with these disaster victims?"
The fat magistrate said fiercely:
"If they want to wait at the yamen gate, then let them wait. Send the word down. Tell the county officials and soldiers to prepare to collect their bodies. I hope they die soon. That will end it all."
The two young ladies chuckled, while the chubby magistrate continued to devour his meat.
He casually tossed the chicken leg in his hand onto the ground and fed it to his pet dog.
At this moment, another concubine said:
"My lord, if you don't provide relief to these disaster victims, what if the imperial court finds out..."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate sneered disdainfully and said:
"The imperial court? The imperial court is very far from here. If the imperial court sends officials to provide disaster relief, I will just go through the motions."
What's so difficult about that? If it's really troublesome, it's just a matter of spending some money on disaster relief officials. These days, who really cares about disaster victims?
After saying that, the magistrate laughed again.
However, at that moment, a cold, sinister voice slowly rang out:
"I care."
The portly magistrate was taken aback. He looked around and then turned to the gate, where Zhu Yunwen, with a sullen face, slowly walked over with ten Imperial Guards and Zhao Qingzhu.
The portly magistrate frowned and said, "Boy, who are you? What are you doing here? Get out of here..."
The moment he finished speaking, a member of the Imperial Guard suddenly drew his long sword and threw it forcefully.
The long sword spun a few times in the air before slamming into the table in front of the fat magistrate with a loud bang.
In that instant, the fat magistrate and his two concubines were so frightened that they fell backward to the ground, looking extremely disheveled.
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