You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 29 The Situation in the Four Northwest Prefectures

The land of the four prefectures in the northwest.

After seven days and nights of travel, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and his entourage finally entered Xi'an Prefecture.

Along the way, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong witnessed firsthand that, due to the drought, most of the people in the four northern prefectures were destitute and their lives were in dire straits.

Dozens of people fought fiercely over a single steamed bun.

Countless people lay dead in the wilderness, and starving corpses littered the land.

Wild grass and tree bark were all snatched up.

Especially upon entering the four northwestern prefectures, the scene of devastation was truly appalling.

People eat people, fathers eat their sons.

Wailing cries filled the air.

It was like hell on earth.

Selling one's children is a common sight.

Even Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, who was used to seeing life and death, couldn't help but shed tears for him.

These are all citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

What wrong have the common people done to deserve such misfortune?

The thought of this fueled Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's barely suppressed rage.

If the imperial court hadn't failed in its disaster relief efforts, such a human tragedy wouldn't have occurred here.

The two princes standing nearby, Prince Xiaoyao Zhou Qian and Prince Kang Zhou Qi, could not bear to look at the scene. Such a tragic sight had a profound impact on their hearts.

Zhou Qian and Zhou Qi had always lived in Luoyang, the capital city, and had never witnessed such a human tragedy.

Even if one learns of the suffering of the people in the disaster area from books or from the words of ministers in the imperial court, it remains merely a whisper in one's ears.

But now that they are experiencing it all firsthand, they realize that no matter how much they hear about it, it is far less impactful than experiencing it for themselves.

"Is this the current state of the people of my Great Zhou? How could it have come to this? How could it have come to this?" King Kang, Zhou Qi, had reddened eyes.

"The Grand Tutor deserves to die."

"Those officials who failed to provide adequate disaster relief deserve to die."

King Kang, Zhou Qi, couldn't help but speak harshly.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, King Kang, Zhou Qi, came to his senses, realized what was happening, and quickly shut his mouth, his face looking rather ugly.

Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, gave Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, a deep look, without saying much, remaining silent, his expression equally unpleasant.

A gaunt woman blocked the army's path, knelt before Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, and begged him to take her young child away.

The woman knew that once she starved to death, the child would surely be devoured by the starving crowd.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong could not bear to refuse, so he left a troop of soldiers and all the dry rations they had brought to distribute to the surrounding people.

then.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong raised his whip and lashed his warhorse, shouting, "Speed ​​up!"

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong wanted to arrive in the four northwestern prefectures as soon as possible to prevent the situation there from deteriorating.

Therefore, after leaving Luoyang, he took five thousand cavalrymen ahead of him.

Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, and Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, also rode alongside them.

Half a day later.

Xi'an Prefecture.

The governor of Xi'an Prefecture and many officials gathered outside the prefectural city to welcome Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and the two princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Greetings, Grand Tutor, greetings, Your Highnesses." The Prefect of Xi'an said respectfully. "Grand Tutor and Your Highnesses have had a long journey. Your Majesty, I have prepared a welcoming banquet for you. Please, Grand Tutor and Your Highnesses, take your seats..."

The prefect of Xi'an said with a look of unease.

I heard that the emperor in Luoyang Palace has imprisoned the Grand Tutor in the imperial prison because of his poor performance in disaster relief.

Who is the Grand Tutor?

That was a high-ranking minister appointed by the late emperor, one of the four most powerful ministers in the court. If such an important official was removed from office for his poor disaster relief efforts, then what will happen to the local officials below him who were also responsible for such a disastrous situation?

The Prefect of Xi'an thought to himself.

At this moment, the prefect of Xi'an only hoped that the Grand Tutor and the two princes had come to provide disaster relief and quell the rebellion, and not to punish them, the local officials.

"A welcoming banquet?" Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's face immediately darkened.

The people outside are already resorting to cannibalism, so why would these people be in the mood to hold a welcoming banquet?

"Hmph, the people are dying everywhere, and there are corpses floating in the water. What's the point of holding a welcoming banquet?"

"The welcoming banquet is cancelled. Everyone, come into the city with me, the Grand Tutor, and we will immediately discuss disaster relief measures."

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong snorted coldly, suppressing his anger, and directly led five thousand cavalrymen into the city.

If it weren't for the local people providing disaster relief, he would have captured and executed them all in one fell swoop.

Ineffective disaster relief and embezzlement of disaster relief funds led to widespread peasant uprisings, and their deaths were not a pity.

Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, and Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, also gave the officials a cold look before entering the city with Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

The governor of Xi'an and the group of officials exchanged glances, their expressions grim, and silently followed them into the city.

Government office.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong sat in the main seat, looking at the prefect of Xi'an with a serious expression, and asked, "What is the current situation of the four prefectures in the Northwest?"

"How far has the civil unrest developed? Can your Xi'an Prefecture open its granaries and provide full disaster relief?"

Tell me the specifics.

The prefect of Xi'an Prefecture was taken aback and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, the other three prefectures have all fallen, and even three of the county towns in my Xi'an Prefecture have been breached by the rebels."

“Rampaging people are now pouring into my Xi’an Prefecture. As for disaster relief, the disaster relief funds allocated by the imperial court have long been used up.”

The prefect of Xi'an said, avoiding the main point.

Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's face darkened considerably. "Are you saying that your Xi'an Prefecture is relying solely on the imperial court's disaster relief funds? Has the treasury of your Xi'an Prefecture been completely devoured by rats?"

"The rioters poured into Xi'an Prefecture and breached three county towns. As the prefect of Xi'an Prefecture, didn't you know to send troops to stop the rioters in advance?"

"What kind of job is this lord of the manor?"

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong could no longer contain his anger and roared at the Prefect of Xi'an.

"I don't care what methods you use, I'm only giving you one day to raise money and grain for disaster relief in Xi'an Prefecture."

"At the same time, I ordered all county towns to be fully armed to prevent rioters from attacking the cities. If anyone dares to abandon the city or lose the city, I, the Grand Tutor, will behead him."

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong said with a menacing expression.

Use heavy codes in troubled times.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong did not expect that, despite his best efforts, the situation in the four northwestern prefectures had still spread.

Previously, only two prefectures had fallen, but now, in less than ten days, another prefecture has fallen, along with three county towns in Xi'an Prefecture.

Fortunately, he led five thousand cavalrymen ahead of time.

If he had followed the main force and arrived a few days later, Xi'an Prefecture would probably have fallen as well.

Upon hearing Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's words, the Prefect of Xi'an turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

He wanted to say something, but seeing the fierce look in Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's eyes, he swallowed his words.

At this moment, he knew that if he dared to say another word, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong might really drag him out and behead him in a fit of anger.

"By order of the Grand Tutor, dispatch scouts to investigate the situation of the rebels in the other three prefectures."

"Notify all wealthy households and prominent families in the city to contribute money or grain as early as possible for disaster relief."

……

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong issued dozens of orders in succession.

One by one, all the officials present accepted their orders and left.

(End of this chapter)