The evil forces roaming the heavens

Chapter 1771 Zhang Cheng: "Scattering beans to create soldiers!"

In the middle and lower reaches of the Huai River, boats pass through inspection.
On both sides of the river, there were mostly refugees fleeing famine.
Looking at Zhang Cheng with unease, Shi Qian said, "Brother, has this land been hit by a disaster?"

Upon hearing Shi Qian's words, Zhang Cheng solemnly replied, "Most likely!"

Looking at the listless eyes of the people, and the many women and children with their large bellies, Zhang Cheng felt a sense of helplessness. This place was a completely different world from the bustling city of Bianliang.

"Let's disembark up ahead!"

Speaking to Shi Qian beside him, Zhang Cheng raised his long sword and hung it at his waist.

Upon hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Shi Qian couldn't help but say, "Brother, chaos is sure to break out here. If we disembark, we might lose our lives!"

"So we should just pretend we didn't see anything?"

Looking at Shi Qian beside him, Zhang Cheng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Some things, once you see them, you can't pretend they never happened!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng's tall and straight figure, Shi Qian didn't know what to say for a moment, but still nodded and said, "Okay, big brother!"

After disembarking, the two walked along the main road, where they saw crowds of people fleeing famine on both sides.
Looking at the bare leaves and the people digging up grass roots around him, a sentence gradually came to Zhang Cheng's mind: "In times of great famine, people eat each other!"
"Wow!"

As flags waved, cavalrymen approached from afar.

Ignoring the people on the road, the cavalry galloped away without any intention of stopping.
Standing by the roadside, Shi Qian said, "Brother, I'm afraid there might be a war going on ahead!"

"This is none of our business. Let's go into town and find a porridge shop first!"

Speaking to Shi Qian beside him, Zhang Cheng calculated that the silver he had should be enough to save many people.

If he really ran out of money, Zhang Cheng had his own ways to "borrow" it!
In Shexian County, the rioters on the streets were being driven away like frightened rats.
Looking at the pitiful people, Zhang Cheng went to the rice shop and asked, "Boss, how much is one shi of grain?"

"See for yourself!"

The waiter addressed Zhang Cheng, then stuck the sign into the rice.
Upon seeing the price, Shi Qian immediately cursed, "You bastard! Are you selling gold? It's so expensive!"

"Hey, you piece of trash, buy it or don't, get lost, stop trying to act tough with me!"

As soon as the waiter finished speaking to Shi Qian, a group of burly men stepped forward.
"Big brother?"

Seeing the other party's domineering attitude, Shi Qian quickly hid behind Zhang Cheng.
After glancing at the price of rice, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Young man, don't be angry with my brother. He's always been outspoken. I just wanted to ask, is the price of grain the same throughout the city?"

Even though Zhang Cheng appeared amiable when speaking to the waiter, his aura was far more intimidating than Shi Qian's.

Looking at Zhang Cheng, who exuded an air of officialdom, the waiter said, "Sir, the price of grain in Shexian County is like this. You don't know, but half a month ago, someone rebelled. The imperial court sent people to suppress it, but the fighting only got fiercer. Grain is almost impossible to get in."

Hearing the waiter's explanation, Zhang Cheng didn't say anything, but simply took out the silver in his hand and said, "If I buy it, could you please deliver it to the outskirts of the city for me?"

"this?"

Staring at Zhang Cheng in astonishment, the waiter looked at Zhang Cheng, then couldn't help but glance at the shopkeeper.

Upon hearing Zhang Cheng's words, the shopkeeper stepped forward with a broad smile and said, "Sir, if this were inside the city, we would certainly help you, but outside the city, that would be troublesome."

"Shi Qian, go rent a room!"

As Zhang Cheng spoke to Shi Qian beside him, his eyes began to flicker. That afternoon, standing inside the house where the grain was stored, Shi Qian asked worriedly, "Brother, buying so much grain, you're not really planning to do disaster relief, are you?"

A real man has principles; he knows what to do and what not to do.

Clenching his fist, Zhang Cheng turned his head and said, "Find out who's behind the grain store. I want this money back!"

Upon hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Shi Qian immediately replied happily, "Yes, brother!"

Watching Shi Qian happily run out, Zhang Cheng's eyes sharpened.

Because the price of grain had generally remained at 100 coins per dou (a unit of dry measure) and 12 kilograms per dou (another unit of dry measure),
But in Shexian County, the price had already reached 200 coins, more than doubling, and some of the grain was even old grain.
To this kind of person, Zhang Cheng could only say, "You've offended me, you'll get your comeuppance sooner or later!"

Among the refugees, Zhang Cheng found many men with families, while he hauled grain to the outskirts of the city.
Seeing the large pot and the rice being cooked, many refugees gathered around.
However, when Zhang Cheng drew his knife, many people stepped back.
Having lived through the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Zhang Cheng knew what it meant for people to be so hungry that they would eat anything and become extremely ruthless. Therefore, rules were essential.
Just as Zhang Cheng was distributing porridge, a somewhat refined-looking man came to his side and said, "You can't keep this up for more than a few days!"

Turning to look at the other person, Zhang Cheng didn't say anything, but instead said, "Since we saw you, we can't just pretend we didn't!"

"Sprinkle this on! Otherwise, the magistrate won't let you off the hook!"

The man took out a talisman, burned it, and threw it into the pot.

Looking at the other person in surprise, Zhang Cheng asked in astonishment, "May I ask who you are, sir?"

"I'm just a stonemason who happened to have studied for two years!"

He cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang Cheng, who then turned and walked away into the distance.

When Dang Qian saw the other person leave, he immediately said, "Brother, is this person brainless? Why would he throw a burning talisman into rice porridge?"

"You're the one who's brainless!"

Zhang Cheng patted Shi Qian on the head and laughed, because he had become interested in this man.
It should be understood that privately rescuing the people is an extremely destabilizing factor for the imperial court.

If Zhang Cheng dares to do this, the higher-ups will see that he clearly has "rebellious intentions"!

But if you sprinkle talismans on it, it's a different story, because nobody knows whether it's porridge or talisman water!

Why were the Taiping Celestial Masters able to stir up the Yellow Dragon Calamity with just a bowl of talismanic water? Even to the point of collapsing the last vestiges of the Han Dynasty's destiny!

That's because there were real beans in his talisman water that could save lives!
The meaning of "scattering beans to create soldiers" is not to summon heavenly soldiers with a wave of the hand, but rather that you give me beans, and I will fight desperately for you.
Imagine you're about to starve to death, and a kind-looking Taoist priest offers you the chance to live, even wanting all the people in the world to survive. What would you do?
Even those uneducated common people know that he was risking his life for himself. Do you, from later generations, not understand the significance of the thousands of times the wheat was counted and the first "Long Live the People"?
After distributing porridge for several days, many kind-hearted people in the city came to help.
The county magistrate must have known about what was happening here, but he did nothing about it.
Arriving at the stonemason's house, Zhang Cheng knocked on the door and said, "I am Zhang Cheng from Qinghe County!"

"Wang Yin from Shexian! May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with curiosity, Wang Yin, covered in dust, asked in surprise, because he didn't understand why the other party had come to see him.
I want you to fight alongside me to conquer the world!

With a broad smile, Zhang Cheng stood with his back to the sun, his radiance as intense as the blazing sun itself, making him impossible to look directly at.

"what?"

Staring at Zhang Cheng in shock, Wang Yin's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had heard something outrageous.

Standing behind Zhang Cheng, Shi Qian was also stunned, because his elder brother was so ambitious?
(End of this chapter)