"Your Majesty, why are the crops so sparse? What kind of harvest can there be? This is the first time for my father to see crops. Shouldn't they be green?"

Today is the first time Chongzhen has left the capital, and it is also the first time he has seen farmland and crops. He does not even know wheat.

He thought that the village should be very dense, especially in the Kinki area close to the capital. He did not expect it to be so sparse. It was not similar to what he imagined.

Zhu Cixiang did not look out the window. He had been fighting against Jiannu in Gyeonggi for many days, and he knew the situation here well. When he heard his father's questions, Zhu Cixi knew that it would not be a bad thing to take his father on a tour.

"Father, you are right. The crops should be luxuriant. However, there has been almost no rain this year and the Ming Dynasty is very dry. Otherwise, how could there be so many refugees.

Their crops had failed and they had no food to eat, so they left their homes and begged all the way. With good health and good luck, they finally arrived in the capital, and now they survive by providing porridge from the court.

Those refugees who were in poor health almost starved to death on the way to beg and passed away forever. People in the hardest-hit areas were even more miserable. It was said that all the grass roots and bark of trees had been eaten away.

There are also some places where people really can't stand hunger. In order to keep more people in their families alive, they even trade with others for food. It is precisely because of this that so many people join the bandits in order not to starve to death..."

Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cixiang in disbelief. He was completely shocked by the emperor's words:

"No way. Since the imperial mausoleum was burned down, my father refused to eat meat. I thought I was the worst sufferer. It turns out that the people even ate all the roots and bark of trees. I really can't believe it!"

Zhu Cixiang:

"Father, the people all depend on the weather. If it doesn't rain, the harvest will be greatly reduced or even eliminated. The three rings and various exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes make it impossible for the people to survive. Reform and disaster relief are urgent."

Zhu Cixiang's words made Chongzhen feel incredible. He decided to see with his own eyes what the people in the disaster area were like, so he avoided the topic and kept asking questions like a child when he saw something new.

For example, why are there no pedestrians on the road, why are there no crops in some fields, why are the rivers drying up, why are there no water in the wells...

Zhu Cixiang couldn't bear to answer the emperor's questions. He knew that the emperor had never seen the world and didn't understand many things. It was very rare to be able to ask questions without shame.

As Emperor Chongzhen asked questions one after another, the carriage left Tongzhou and entered Zhending Prefecture. The crops in Zhending Prefecture were similar to those in the Gyeonggi area, but the number of pedestrians on the road and people working in the fields began to increase.

Chongzhen was not in good health. Although the carriage had rubber tires, the road conditions were so bad that Zhu Cixiang felt uncomfortable due to the bumps. He thought that the emperor would not be able to bear it.

But Zhu Cixiang finally realized that he was wrong. Chongzhen felt that everything outside was very fresh. He looked at everything outside the window curiously, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling, but he never complained of being tired.

As the carriage entered Zhaozhou County, Chongzhen's stomach began to growl. He looked at Zhu Cihong who closed his eyes to rest and said:

"My son, father is hungry. How about finding a restaurant for dinner?"

My son and father were called Chongzhen's father when they were on the road. Zhou Yuji and other soldiers were called Master Chongzhen, and Master Zhu Cixang. His son Zhu Chong was called Chongzhen's father, and Chongzhen was called Zhu Chongzhen my son.

Zhu Cixiang originally wanted to order to set up camp and light a fire to cook on the spot, but after hearing what the emperor said, he decided to fulfill his father's wish and let the Ming Emperor have a taste of human fireworks, so he called Zhou Yuji:

"Lao Zhou, let the brothers make a fire and cook on the spot, and we and father will find a restaurant to eat!"

"OK!"

Zhou Yuji agreed and immediately arranged for his subordinates to find an open space to rest and cook. He took two personal guards to accompany Chongzhen and the Crown Prince to a restaurant for dinner.

Since they were all visiting in casual clothes, it was impossible to bring many personal guards with them for meals. Zhu Cixiang only brought Yue Yang and six Dong Palace guards who were good at martial arts and had good marksmanship, and accompanied the emperor to a tavern not far away.

Since it was a disaster year and the tavern was not located in a prosperous area, there were not many guests dining. When the shopkeeper saw the ten people arriving, he immediately beamed and came out to welcome them.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, please come in!"

Chongzhen nodded and followed the shopkeeper into the tavern. Seeing that there were not many people around, he sat down at a window seat.

Zhu Cixiang wanted to have a meal in a private room, but when he saw the emperor sitting in the lobby, he didn't say anything and immediately sat down next to Chongzhen.

Zhou Yuji and Wang Chengen did not dare to sit at the same table with the emperor, so they stood beside Chongzhen on the left and right.

Zhu Cihong waved to Zhou Yuji and Lao Wang and said:

“As the Romans do, come and sit with us!”

"This... is good!"

The two of them were stunned for a moment, then Lao Wang sat next to the emperor, and Zhou Yuji took a seat next to Zhu Cixiang.

Zhu Cihong made a gesture to several other guards, and they immediately sat down at Zhu Cihong's dining table.

Since it was a private visit, there was no obvious distinction between them, and there was no need to eat by themselves while the guards stood aside.

At this time, the shopkeeper came over personally with the menu. Just when he was about to ask Zhu Cixiang and the others to order, Zhu Cixiang smiled slightly and said:

"No need to order, just serve eight of the best dishes from your shop, and the two tables will be the same. Each table will have a bottle of the best wine in the tavern, go ahead!"

"Okay, please wait a moment, sir!"

It's been a long time since I had a big business. The shopkeeper laughed and went to prepare the food and drinks.

Chongzhen looked curiously at the tavern and the street outside the tavern, and gradually frowned again.

He saw many refugees in ragged clothes on the street. They were all sallow and skinny and walked unsteadily.

"There are many refugees outside, why are they walking staggeringly?"

Zhou Yuji and Lao Wang looked at each other. They didn't dare to answer. Zhu Cixiang sighed:

"Father, the gangsters beg on the street. They may only be able to eat one meal in two days. They are still hungry when they walk unsteadily. As long as it can provide them with food and clothing..."

Zhu Cixiang said this and whispered in Chongzhen's ear:

"Father, if you can provide food and clothing for the refugees in the world, you will be a holy king, and your dynasty will be the prosperous era of Chongzhen!"

When Chongzhen heard this, his blood suddenly boiled. He was so eager for the prosperous Ming Dynasty.

I wanted to immediately send a decree to feed all the refugees in the world, but I soon thought that there were tens of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty. Where did the money come from?

Chongzhen sighed softly and said to Wang Chengen:

"Old Wang, give the shopkeeper some money and ask him to find someone to buy more steamed buns and distribute them to the homeless people outside!"

"Sir, you are such a kind person, I will do it right away!"

Lao Wang was not short of money, so he immediately took out a one hundred tael silver note and gave it to the shopkeeper:

"Shopkeeper, my master saw that there are many hungry refugees outside, please buy them some steamed buns for relief. This is one hundred taels of silver, until it is used up!"

The shopkeeper took the banknote and smiled:

"You sir are really good people, but there are so many refugees that they only have enough food for a few days..."

Lao Wang sighed:

"You can eat it for as many days as you can, thank you shopkeeper!"

After Lao Wang left, the shopkeeper called a waiter and said:

"Take ten taels of silver to buy steamed buns for the refugees outside. Ten taels of silver every day for ten consecutive days. Go ahead!"
Chapter completed!