Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 266

Later generations have read many tragedies of cannibalism in the years of catastrophe. Even in this era, merchants traveling from south to north heard from someone that the famine in a certain place is okay, and the people have to change their children to eat. Song Qingshu had also heard of it a lot, but it was the first time he saw it with his own eyes.

Moreover, it is indeed ironic enough to see it in Datong, which is named after the highest Confucian philosophy of governing the country.

This group of kids who don't know how to get together didn't steal my things last night. After figuring out what happened, Song Qingshu didn't bother to look for it. The situation is probably the same, but Xing Hongniang, looking at these sallow, emaciated, suffering orphans, It seemed that he remembered the days when he was wandering and starving with Old Man Xing in the rivers and lakes, so he couldn't help but took out all the food in the package and divided it among the ten or so children.

After all, human hearts are made of meat, but many people in this world have been numb to the familiar famine and death. Fortunately, the begging army has not yet been numb to that extent. Seeing Xing Hongniang helping these children, Zhou Yuji and others He also took out the dry food silently, but the thick man was not good at expressing his feelings, so he just threw the package aside and went to other places to be vigilant.

Seeing the head left, the mother who didn't know it was the starving child was really panicked. Song Qingshu asked Xiaoluobu to bury the remaining bones and the horrible meat. At that time, the sun rose high, and several riders rushed over anxiously on the road. It turned out that Song Qingshu and the others had been going for too long, and the large team was a little worried.

"Let's go, Hong'er!"

There were a lot of things to do on this trip, and Song Qingshu didn't want to delay too long, so he had no choice but to urge him to follow those children and muttered something, but Xing Hongniang took a while before standing up. With a hesitant expression, he felt a little nervous, and ran to Song Qingshu's side cautiously.

"Fool, these little dolls are quite pitiful. They have no father or mother. You have seen it. If you don't care, they may be caught and eaten by others at any time, or..."

"Shall we take them away?"

Hongniang Xing was a little star with hopeful eyes, but Song Qingshu hurriedly shook his head when he heard it.

"Hong'er! Let's go to the Mongolian grassland and take these wild children with us. Do you think it's appropriate?"

"Also, can we also let them help feed the horses! Anyway, we need to recruit men."

"no!"

It’s rare for Hongniang Xing to ask herself, but this matter is too difficult to handle. This time, what kind of situation might I encounter when I go to the grassland? , cruelly, Song Qingshu still shook his head.

Xing Hongniang was also in a hurry, stomping her feet and pointing back angrily: "Then just watch these ten or so little dolls die here?"

These days, there are so many orphans like this, and the emperor can't take care of them. How can Song Qingshu have so much energy?But seeing that Hongniang Xing was in a hurry, he couldn't hold on to it all the time. In desperation, Song Qingshu simply took out a jade pendant from his bosom.

The jade pendant is not big, and its quality can only be said to be average. I don’t know which merchant gave a set when they came and went. Song Qingshu looked good, so he gave a piece to Sun Chuanting and the others. Holding the jade pendant, Song Qingshu walked helplessly. Huddled among the orphans like a nest of little mice, he casually threw it to the little black guy who just bit him.

"That's good, you take this jade and go south, go to Dai County, find Jiaduobao, and tell me that someone from Song asked you to go, and let them find you a job to eat! Carrot, that little dry food Leave them all, let's go to the head office now!"

The last sentence was to Xing Hongniang, seeing Song Qingshu compromised, this girl could be regarded as showing a smile.

"You still have some conscience!"

After the matter was dealt with, there was really no time to delay with them. He said hello, packed up the horses, and signaled to the big guy that the horse team was going back. The boy who gave him a sip suddenly ran over quickly and pushed behind Song Qingshu's horse.

"Why? Like biting me?"

The moment just now was painful enough, Song Qingshu immediately pulled the horse's legs vigilantly around the back, who knows that the boy froze for a few times, then suddenly plopped down on the ground and kowtowed his head.

"Thank you Engong!"

It was really a surprise, and after a moment of silence, Song Qingshu suddenly smiled, and waved his hands with a smile.

"You don't need to thank me, just live well!"

After finishing speaking, Song Qingshu was the first to run out, kicking the horse, followed closely by the knights who followed him at full speed. In a blink of an eye, there was only a pile of dust left on the spot, watching Song Qingshu leave. The black boy held the jade but didn't get up for a long time.

"Live well?"

…………

After going through such an episode, Song Qingshu woke up and went forward to join two other caravans going to Datong. It was a bit slower, but it was much more stable than before. On the third day after leaving Hengshan, I encountered a small group of rebels and was chased away by the guards, but there was no danger.

After walking for five days, stopping and going, he finally arrived in Datong safely. The whole town of Datong can be regarded as Jiang Xiang's territory. Song Qingshu had to say hello to him when he was going to go out for business.

As the fiefdom of the acting king, Datongwei is really well-prepared. The green brick city wall is more than ten meters high, and there are archery towers every less than a hundred meters.

Compared with the Datong that Song Qingshu passed by later generations, it is naturally incomparable. However, for many days in a row, everywhere is deserted. The prosperity of Datong really makes Song Qingshu feel like he is in a big city. Far away, the streets are full of traffic and people, and there are many wealthy families in thin clothes. There are shops and vendors everywhere on both sides of the street.

The bustling here is like seeing the scene of cannibalism a few days ago, which belongs to two worlds!
Now Jiaduobao’s influence is really big enough. There are also shops and restaurants in Datong. The goods are first pulled to the warehouses of shops outside the city for storage. Those who save the city have to pay a tax when entering the city gate. Most of the guards also After being thrown outside the city, Song Qingshu led Xing Hongniang and a dozen or so others into the city, and went straight to his own restaurant.

The place where Jiaduobao Restaurant opened is really expensive. It is just on the street in front of Daiwangfu, which is the place where the entire rich people gather in Datong Town. Song Qingshu's hotel strategy is that people can order food when they come, unlike other restaurants. Reservations have to be made to take over the table. This is the time for dinner at noon, and the whole restaurant is full. If Song Qingshu is not the owner, there is almost no room.

After booking a table and settling down, Song Qingshu sent Xiaoluobo to the General Military Mansion to invite Jiang Xing with an invitation. If someone else's behavior was presumptuous, they would come to say hello temporarily, but Song Qingshu was different. The interest relationship between him and Jiang Xing It can be regarded as quite strict, as many as two layers of shares in Jiaduobao Store belong to Jiang Xiang, and he can get at least one hundred thousand taels of silver in dividends every year, and the military strength of begging for the county also makes Jiang Xiang scruples, Song Qingshu invited him here, but it was not considered a face.

While waiting for others, Song Qingshu was not very respectful. When he was hungry, he first made some dried meat and wine to fill his stomach. Zhou Yuji gathered together and drank sorghum wine, while Song Qingshu was alone. He leaned against the window alone and thought for himself.

The kumiss that others are not used to, Song Qingshu is surprisingly good at this sip. This thing has a yogurt flavor from the supermarket. Compared with the kumiss sent by his classmates in Inner Mongolia in later generations, the essence is much purer. Anyway, it’s boring. Song Qingshu was leaning against the window while tasting the wine, while throwing dried meat into his mouth, he looked out of the window with nothing to do, looking out of the window, unexpectedly, his eyes suddenly became straight.

In the bustling market, suddenly a dozen bodyguards and mercenaries with knives and guns walked over in a grand manner, with a long rope in front of them, leading a large group of people in rags like they were leading animals. Each of them was tied with a rope and walked forward with difficulty.

Especially in this group of people, Song Qingshu is not so easy to forget the thin boy who was the third last.

Shouldn't they be heading south?So he was caught and went north?
Just when Song Qingshu was about to go down to ask the truth, there was a warm greeting from the door.

"Oh, Song Dong's family, I'm so sorry!"

"Recently, the Tartar side is really not peaceful. Our Chief Soldier didn't have a photo. He went to work with Xuan Da Governor Xuanfu. He is not in Datong, so he can't come here. I come here to accuse the Chief Soldier!"

The ones here are also acquaintances. When ambush Ma Ke, Jiang Guerrilla was invited, but now, this Jiang Guerrilla is no longer arrogant. The warrior is talking about strength, and he returned to Datong to suppress the rebellion. He was frightened by how many family members there were, and now he really needs to be more polite and polite.

"Oh? Jiang Guerrilla is serious!" I had no choice but to put aside the matter of biting the kid, and stood up to greet him. After all, Jiang Guerrilla is also a representative of the Jiang family. After the greeting, he went out of the window to visit, and the people outside had already disappeared. up.

"Master Jiang, Mr. Song saw more than a dozen strongmen tying more than 100 children with ropes just now. Does the Datong government care?"

Still unable to restrain his curiosity, after drinking a few glasses of wine, Song Qingshu took the time to ask questions, who knew that Jiang Guerzilla smiled indifferently when he heard it.

"You came to Datong for the first time after seeing Song Dong's house. This happens every year. The traffickers from the south of the Yangtze River say that they are looking for some Yangzhou skinny horses. Every year in June and July, when they are green and yellow, they come here to buy girls. , you said, it should be them!"

"Even Governor Xuanda is said to have a part in it. Why, Song Dong's family also wants to intervene?"

Hearing this, Song Qingshu quickly shook his head, joking, he is not interested in the business of cutting off children and grandchildren, and he has an added level of contempt for Xuanda Governor Zhang Zongheng. Not to mention giving relief, but even sending money to other people's children.

Song Qingshu was also a star fan in the past, but now, seeing this Yizi eating each other and leaving his flesh and blood, Song Qingshu suddenly felt that it was right for the Ming Dynasty to die!
"Song Dong's family?"

Suddenly, looking over, Jiang Guerez looked at him a little strangely, Song Qingshu quickly put on a smile and shook his head.

"Song has lost his mind, come, punish yourself with a drink!"

(End of this chapter)