Chapter 5: The Emperor personally leads the expedition
Looking at Chen Shi's physique again, at such a young age he is already quite robust and sturdy. After a few years of training in the military, he might even become a formidable general
Ye let out a quiet sigh, tightening his grip, pouring more and thicker contents into the beggar's bowl
On the contrary, reporting to the court not only allows one to achieve merit and receive rewards, but it may also lead to an immediate rise to prominence!
Are you planning to rebel
Wei Zuizi simply wanted to laugh out loud at the sky
Suddenly
Only these two characters remain to describe Ye Hua
The court kills, I can kill too! I want to join the army!
The number of beggars is increasing, and when they gather together, the smell emanating from them is enough to make one frown. Not to mention the lice and fleas that may jump onto one, biting and sucking blood.
... ...
What is this for
You will definitely have the opportunity, and it will come soon, trust me
The more he thought about Wei Zuizi, the more suspicious he became; there must be something wrong. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, "Great, still willing to do good deeds, I also want a bowl of porridge!" He stepped forward into the crowd, with the yamen runners following behind.
As soon as these words were spoken, the starving beggars, their eyes red with hunger, rushed forward with their bowls, pushing Wei Zui to the side, leaving him furious and helpless against this crowd
Moreover, Liu Chengyou took away his henchmen and the Imperial Guards, which at least allows for a bit of peace in Kaifeng, and can be considered a good thing. Ye Hua yawned and said: "Just keep sleeping!"
Chen Shi shook his head violently and spat, "Even if I die, I will not serve as a lackey for a tyrant!" He resolutely stated, "I want to follow General Guo and serve in his army. Now that the city gates are closed, I cannot get out, and I do not know if there will be any opportunity..."
Ye Hua's lips curled upwards as he continued to shout at the top of his lungs, "Everyone come and get your porridge, there's plenty more if you drink it all!"
Could it be that this Ye Hua, who is even younger than himself, possesses the ability to perceive the secrets of the universe? Otherwise, how could he be so certain? Chen Shi was perceptive and did not ask further; anyone with talent tends to have some peculiarities, so it is better not to speak too much
Xiuyun's elder brother's surname is Wei. Due to his eloquence, he often assists others in negotiating matters and attracting business, earning him the nickname Wei Zuizi. Over time, his original name has become unknown to most people.
Congee House
"It is not a rebellion, it is making rice!" There is an elderly beggar, grinning with yellowed teeth, who chuckles, "A kind-hearted person has offered porridge, let us all come over to drink porridge!"
After searching many places without success, a large crowd suddenly appeared before me, seemingly numbering nearly one hundred people
This individual can write and calculate, yet his skills are rather lacking. He once worked as an accountant for a few days, but made numerous mistakes and was subsequently dismissed. He remains completely oblivious to the need for self-reflection, always believing that others lack vision. He feels that he is underappreciated and that, given the opportunity, he could also hold a high position, ride a fine horse, and stand out among others.
He spoke of ideals, but Ye Hua had no reaction; this was quite normal.
Chen Shi stepped forward and said, "I will go out and take a look!"
Chen Shi believed that this statement would suffice to deal with Wei Zuizi. However, little did he know that although Wei Zuizi's character was not commendable, he was well-informed and possessed a keen mind.
As the third day approached, he roughly sketched a circle of the route that Xiuyun had taken, and then began searching from house to house. Although the method was rudimentary, he firmly believed that he would be able to find her.
Chen Shi smiled helplessly and said, "Madam, it is better to catch people at night. If we wait until daytime and there is any commotion, everyone will run away. Where will we find people and food then?"
Ye Hua was very tired, but he could not fall asleep and sat with his knees hugged. Chen Shi, equally burdened with thoughts, came over and continued the topic from the day.
Exercise greater caution
Chen Shi was watching closely from the side. He felt that Ye Hua possessed a certain aura, reminiscent of his own master. His master often gazed at the starry sky in this manner, calculating the fates of the current officials, and even the emperor. The old man had also mentioned that he would become a great general, commanding great respect, achieving remarkable military feats, and securing titles for his wife and children, ensuring prosperity for his descendants for generations to come. Just thinking about it brings joy!
Chen Shi did not know where his confidence came from, and Ye Hua did not want to say much. He stood up and gazed out the window; the night was slightly cool, the sky was high and the stars were dense, vast and profound.
Ye Hua accompanied with a smile and said: "It is my esteemed matron. A few years ago, she made a vow to the Buddha, stating that if our family could enjoy four generations under one roof, she would rebuild the temple and provide assistance to those in need. As it turns out, this year she has indeed been blessed with a great-grandson, and she has come to fulfill her vow!"
When he saw his younger sister returning with a child, he pondered that since his sister was not married, this child, apart from being from the Guo family, could only belong to someone else.
The change of dynasties is truly within reach
Another conscription has been initiated
In times of turmoil, even a fool knows that joining the military is one of the few paths available; it is only the inept uncle who dares not go to the front lines to achieve merit and is looked down upon.
This shout proved to be quite effective, and Ye immediately reacted, flustered as she said: "Alright, come and have some porridge!"
Ye Hua silently calculated in his mind that the Guo family was already dead, and the next step would be Liu Chengyou leading his troops out of the city to face defeat, returning in disarray. As a result, the civil and military officials within the city would betray, the emperor would meet a tragic end in the army, and the new ruler would enter the city... Furthermore, that shameless chancellor Feng Dao, who had served eight emperors, would add another line to his resume. He could proudly declare that he had caused the demise of yet another dynasty! Then he would fill in several prominent official titles on the screen and boast extravagantly!
Since yesterday, I have not been able to sleep well, feeling anxious and restless. After being busy for most of the day, Ye has already turned seventy, and her bones seem to be falling apart. She barely managed to hold onto Young Master Guo, drank a bowl of rice milk, and both the old and the young fell asleep.
I do not believe it, bring the person who made the porridge here
After a while, Chen Shi returned with a frown, looking quite angry
The porridge continued until the afternoon before it finally stopped. Not only was a bag of rice consumed, but Chen Shi also bought three more bags, which barely sufficed. It is quite interesting that the money given by the Chai family to the Ye family was actually used in this manner on the Guo family.
What a joke, in this day and age when food is so precious, apart from the Guo family, who else has ever shared porridge? It is clearly a lie!
What? What is being summoned late at night? Ye was perplexed.
Even if one is fulfilling a vow by offering porridge, it cannot be done without an adult present. Is there no concern for unforeseen circumstances?
Crazy!
The court intends to annihilate the entire Guo Wei family; harboring the descendants of the Guo family is a capital offense
In the future, you must pay attention to this young man; he definitely has the potential to become a bad person
It seems that the common people of Kaifeng have all learned to engage in guerrilla warfare against the government. Chen Shi continued, "The foolish monarch wants to lead the troops personally, and the imperial army must be mobilized; they cannot be without provisions. All restaurants, inns, and tea houses in the capital are required to contribute money and supplies! The minimum contribution must be 80 jin of steamed buns, 2 shi of japonica rice, and 5 guan of cash!"
Ye Hua's expression changed dramatically, and the sleeping Ye family member turned over and woke up, panicked. The other beggars, like startled birds, looked outside in fear, their hearts racing.
"What do I care if they have good or bad intentions?" Tan was furious, roaring, "We are looking for Guo Wei's son. Have you ever seen a fugitive who dares to come out and share porridge? Are you tired of living?"
The beggars all sprang into action at the news, fearing they might miss out. Even after receiving their porridge, they quickly drank it down in just a few sips, turning around to queue up again. They formed a solid wall of people, blocking those from Wei Zai Zi outside.
He was shouting loudly, and Ye Hua hurried over.
Who would not hide far away upon seeing them? Tan Tou covered his nose, pulling Wei Zui Zi out. Wei Zui Zi was still unwilling, saying, "In this day and age, who can afford to part with porridge? They must have ill intentions!"
The bells and drums sound, and people shout while horses neigh
After Ye Hua finished speaking, he hurriedly supported his grandmother and held onto Young Master Guo, making their way to the base of the wall of the dilapidated temple. On the other side of a wall was a drainage ditch. Kaifeng City is adjacent to the Yellow River and suffers from severe waterlogging, thus its drainage system is quite developed. Although it is far less dense than during the Northern Song Dynasty, it is still quite considerable. Ye Hua regarded the drainage ditch as his last refuge; with no other options, he crawled underground. Of course, this was a choice made out of necessity, as the smell of the sewer is quite unpleasant. Ye Hua regarded the drainage ditch as his last refuge; with no other options, he crawled underground. Of course, this was a choice made out of necessity, as the smell of the sewer is quite unpleasant
The small item is inside the temple; if it is discovered and its origins cannot be clarified, it would be quite troublesome
Ye Hua blinked, exuding an air of confidence as if he had everything under control
Where is it about drinking porridge, it is clearly about causing a disturbance
"Young man, is it you who is giving away the porridge?"
As if the heavens were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart
Finally escaped a calamity
What this person said is indeed reasonable, Wei Zuizi was left speechless, and Tan Tou grabbed him by the neck and ran away in a flash
Very well, after all, there are recruitment notices everywhere. When we were walking on the street, did we not see the recruitment announcements?
Ye Hua remained calm, silently calculating every event that was about to unfold. He was particularly focused, his pair of eyes seemingly capable of seeing through the profound night sky
Ye Hua was as thin as a bamboo pole, and his clothes were tattered, quite unlike the others who had come out
To extract the marrow and strip the flesh without restraint, before even setting out for battle, they have already lost the hearts of the people in the capital. It would be a miracle if they could achieve victory!
Ye Hua, in a state of urgency with sweat on his forehead, suddenly had a brilliant idea and quickly called out, "Madam, is the porridge ready? Everyone is hungry!"
Ye Hua disguised himself as a servant, nodding and bowing, and he truly looked the part. Chen Shi secretly gave a thumbs up from behind, impressed by how quickly he adapted, lying without even batting an eye
Wei Zuizi is all in, and even upon seeing his sister's corpse, he shows no regret; instead, he searches with even greater determination