Chapter 9: Encountering Armed Bandits Deep in the Grassroots

Your concerns are quite justified, but at this moment, we cannot afford to consider so many factors. If such an incident occurs, we will execute a few of those responsible as a warning to others

I understand Wang Cheng'en's concerns about safety issues. Apart from the inner city, other areas in Beijing have already been overwhelmed by refugees. During these extraordinary times, the number of people taking risks has significantly increased, and one cannot expect social order to be very good.

Wang Jiazhen, upon hearing the edict of Emperor Chongzhen, was filled with deep concern and was unsure how to express his thoughts.

The informal inspection team, referred to as the Disaster Assessment Team, is led by Emperor Chongzhen. The members include Wang Jiazhen, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Zhang Weishu, the head of the Ministry of Works, as well as cabinet ministers Liu Hongxun and Qian Longxi, and the chief steward Wang Cheng'en. Serving in a security role are twenty members of the Jinyiwei, all dressed in plain clothes

I intend to travel incognito, with a dozen or so people by my side, so safety should not be an issue. Please make the necessary arrangements!" I immediately called out to Wang Cheng'en, who was turning to leave, "Get me a few sets of clothing that ordinary people wear; if I am to travel incognito, I must look the part.

Wang Jiazhen pondered for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, having the troops from the capital assist the common people in collecting the bodies is indeed a good idea, but... it is inevitable that conflicts may arise. The quality of those soldiers varies, and if they were to clash with the common people..." He felt that at this point, Emperor Chongzhen should be able to understand his meaning.

The villages and towns have largely been leveled to the ground, and from time to time, one encounters bereaved families handling funerals. Those families that have lost all their members are left unattended, with corpses exposed to the sun, a faint stench of decay wafting into the nostrils, causing waves of nausea.

Liu Hongxun, known for his integrity, pointed at the officer who had already stood up and said, "You have quite the audacity to act this way under the emperor's gaze. Do you not value your head?"

Do not ... ... Military Master ... ... Help me ... ... !

Emperor Chongzhen and his entourage had been walking all morning and were feeling quite hungry and thirsty. Upon seeing a village ahead with several standing houses, they decided to stop and rest for a while, hoping to eat something. However, as soon as they entered the village, they noticed a soldier chasing after a woman.

I contemplated for a moment and instructed Wang Cheng'en, "Convey my decree to Li Banghua, ordering him to mobilize all the troops from the capital garrison to assist in collecting the bodies. It would be best to dig a large pit for the centralized burial of the corpses."

He shifted his gaze to the burdens of Emperor Chongzhen and others, chuckling a few times and saying: "This is quite substantial. We have been wandering for a couple of days and have only just encountered a bit of profit. Brothers, let’s get to work." As soon as he finished speaking, two to three hundred people surged forward, heading straight for Emperor Chongzhen and the others

Why does this sound like the tone of a bandit? It seems these people usually do not engage in good deeds, and these soldiers appear to be from the Jingying troops. I really don't understand how Li Banghua is managing this; how can such scoundrels still be retained?

I deeply agree with Liu Hongxun's words, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. This matter will be entrusted to Liu Aiqing and Zhang Aiqing. Please specify the required manpower and financial resources, and I will make the necessary arrangements first."

I heard the conversation just now, and upon looking at the woman pinned to the ground, I found her quite attractive. The person standing in front of me bore a striking resemblance to the American soldiers who occupied Iraq, which was truly detestable.

It was somewhat better when passing through the outer city, as the damage to the houses was not as severe, and the lives of the common people remained relatively orderly. However, once I left Beijing, I truly experienced what it meant to see desolation everywhere.

Your Majesty, are you really going to leave the city? It is quite... outside right now. Wang Cheng'en intended to say that it is not peaceful outside, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that saying so would be tantamount to slapping Emperor Chongzhen in the face

I covered my mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and my discomfort slightly alleviated. I asked Wang Jiazhen, "How is this being handled? Did I not instruct you to take strict precautions against the plague? How can we prevent the plague if this continues?"

The officer was remarkably agile, and in no time he caught up with the woman and pinned her to the ground. After pinning her down, he realized that a group of people was standing in front of him, along with more than twenty horses, and he was momentarily stunned.

Due to the earthquake, the losses in Jingying are also quite severe. Li Banghua is currently busy with military affairs! However, it is clearly not the time for military matters; the immediate priority is to collect the bodies. Moreover, it is beneficial for those soldiers to see the dead, so they won't be paralyzed with fear when they encounter corpses on the battlefield. This is my first time seeing a dead body, and my legs have already gone weak, more so than any horror movie could convey.

Damn it, do I still need you to manage my head? Who the hell do you think you are? I'm in a good mood today, so don't make things difficult for yourselves, get lost! Although he didn't care, he also didn't want to cause trouble; he just needed to scare off these annoying and troublesome people in front of him.

The officer had already recovered from his initial astonishment. Although he could tell that the individuals before him were different and might have some background, he did not care much. He shouted a few words to those behind him, and soon after, two to three hundred soldiers emerged from within.

"Where did all these people come from? They look quite well-fed!" A soldier approached the officer from behind, his eyes fixed on the bundles that Emperor Chongzhen and others were using to carry provisions. He thought they were filled with silver!

Your Majesty, it is crucial to provide food and shelter for the disaster victims. The issue of food has already been addressed by Your Majesty, and I believe that even if there are difficulties, they will be overcome. As for housing, arrangements must be made promptly; in just one month, the weather will turn cold. The winters in the capital are notoriously harsh, and the common people will be unable to keep warm. It is feared that the number of those who perish from the cold may exceed those who died in the earthquake.

Little lady, why not yield to me? Your man is dead; from now on, follow me. I assure you, I will not treat you poorly. Come, let me give you a kiss...

Help! The woman cried out in pain, and then, inexplicably, she summoned the strength to overturn the officer and ran behind Emperor Chongzhen and the others, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Wang Jiazhen replied with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, it is truly overwhelming! The casualties are so numerous, with over 30,000 bodies accounted for, and some of them are only partially buried, making excavation very difficult. It is estimated that it will take at least another half month to complete the process, and this is already the fastest speed possible."

Zhang Weishu nodded in agreement, but felt quite pessimistic inside. September is just around the corner, and in another month, the weather will turn cold. How will these disaster victims be settled? Excluding the deceased, there are still seven to eight hundred thousand survivors, and just providing food and shelter is already a significant challenge. It is truly too difficult.

Liu Hongxun followed Emperor Chongzhen through several places, feeling a heavy heart. This was also his first time deeply entering a disaster area, and what he saw was shocking. Moreover, it reminded him of the civil unrest in Shaanxi; wasn't the situation in the capital similar? If these hundreds of thousands of people could not survive, they would resort to any means. At that time, it would undoubtedly threaten the safety and survival of the Ming Empire

After I finished speaking, I turned to Zhang Weishu and said: "Minister Zhang, you should pay more attention. As the Minister of Works, the responsibility for post-disaster reconstruction work falls largely on you, and it is crucial to have firsthand information."

"Does Wang Aiqing have anything to say?" I asked, noticing Wang Jiazhen's hesitance to speak.