Chapter 204 The capital is in chaos
Back in his yard, Ao Guangchun met another woman with red eyes, who was his personal maid Hongye.
Ao Guangchun couldn't help but think of the bowl of soothing soup before leaving...
His thoughts faded a little.
"Hongye, your young master is back..."
Hongye pursed her lips and boldly stepped forward to hug Ao Guangchun, crying into a ball: "Master, I'm so afraid that you won't come back..."
Ao Guangchun relented: Actually, it’s not her fault...
Seeing Ao Guangchun, who was all dark and lean, Hongye felt so distressed that he shed tears again.
After washing up, Hongye brought a set of fine cotton pajamas for him to change into.
Ao Guangchun naturally asked: "Where is my outer robe?"
Hongye's reddish face turned pale, and she hurriedly brought in the robe that Ao Guangchun had just worn.
While waiting for Ao Guangchun to dress, Hongye asked seemingly casually: "Master, are you going out again?"
Normally, if Ao Guangchun saw red leaves after not seeing each other for a while, he would have to hang out for a long time and call for water twice.
Hongye just got it wrong.
Ao Guangchun was thinking about the task assigned by Fu Chenan: to find out the current situation in the capital.
"I have something to do when I go out. You should go to bed early and warm up the bed for me."
Hongye's face turned red again, and her heart calmed down slightly: It's not just that the young master is tired of herself.
Walking on the familiar streets of Beijing again, Ao Guangchun could hardly believe his eyes.
The capital is very depressed!
On several once prosperous streets,
Newly built houses and old ruins intersect with each other, showing the tragic scene of being burned by the Tatar cavalry everywhere.
There were only a few shops open to sell food, and there was little business.
Many shops that Ao Guangchun was once familiar with are gone.
There are few pedestrians and they are all in a hurry.
Some people were arguing in the street, but the patrolling soldiers turned a blind eye.
He stopped and looked around, and was suddenly blocked by an old man.
"Is this Mr. Ao?"
Ao Guangchun was startled: "Who is my father-in-law?"
He was sure he didn't know the man.
The old man bowed to Ao Guangchun and said, "It's really Mr. Ao who is back... Many thanks to Mr. Ao for his righteousness!"
Ao Guangchun was so frightened that he jumped away: "Huh?!"
"Thanks to Mr. Ao for lending us the money, we can calm down and rebuild our house..."
"Otherwise, my family would have left the capital long ago and gone begging for food!"
Several months in the army gave Ao Guangchun more composure.
Even though he was confused, he still supported the other party: "My father, you are too polite... I have something urgent to do, so I need to go first!"
But the people around him gathered around.
"Master Ao? Is this Mr. Ao from Ningyuan Hou Mansion?"
"I heard that Mr. Ao went to the countryside to farm? He is tanned and tired..."
"Mr. Ao, this is the pine sugar candy made by my family. Take it back and try it!"
"This is my bun! It contains meat! Try it..."
Before Ao Guangchun could react, countless pairs of big hands shoved things into his arms, and he instinctively caught them.
After a while, I received a lot of strange food and gadgets...
No matter how stupid Ao Guangchun was, he still knew something was wrong.
How can I find out the news?
Ao Guangchun turned around and went home.
As soon as he arrived home, Ao Guangchun ran into his sister-in-law who happened to be coming out of his mother's room.
Ao Guangchun hurriedly saluted respectfully: "Sister-in-law!"
Mrs. Shizi was extremely surprised to see Ao Guangchun's arms full of food and gadgets.
"Where did my uncle come from? Did he bring so many delicious and fun things to my mother?"
Ao Guangchun remembered that his sister-in-law had a very good relationship with his mother, so he must know something, so he hurriedly told the story.
"Sister-in-law, I went out today and encountered a strange thing... Why are they all stuffing things into my arms? Are they all thanking me?" Mrs. Shizi covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled: "I'd better ask my mother personally for the specific situation. Bar."
After hearing Ao Guangchun tell the whole story, Mrs. Lao Hou looked calm and told Ao Guangchun something.
"I used your name to put some usury money in the capital..."
Ao Guangchun was shocked!
"Mom, according to what you said, our family actually has dozens of pieces of land for shops and yards facing the streets in Beijing?!"
As long as it is built, it can be sold for a lot of money!
This is just a dead deed, not including the part that is waiting to be redeemed after it is bought back.
Mrs. Hou gave him a sideways glance: He really doesn't care about reputation...
Mrs. Hou didn't know whether to be happy or depressed: "What? Do you think mother did something wrong?"
Ao Guangchun seemed to be dreaming: "I'm not...I...our Ao family is now the richest person in the capital?"
As soon as the words came out, before Mrs. Hou could scold him, Ao Guangchun slapped himself: "No, no, the emperor is the richest man..."
Mrs. Hou rolled her eyes.
Ao Guangchun slapped himself in the mouth again.
"No, the emperor is so poor now that he can't pay the military pay. Even the concubine's jewelry is used as military pay..."
"I'm afraid I'm even poorer than our family..."
Mrs. Hou - has nothing to say.
It was the grandmother next to her who couldn't help laughing and stepped forward to interrupt: "Young master, the old lady asked people to search around and found eighteen pieces of fabric. See if there is enough..."
Ao Guangchun took a closer look at the fabrics. They were indeed made of fine silk and satin, some embroidered and some not.
What is surprising is that there is actually a piece of tapestry material inside.
This thing can't be bought in ordinary stores, most of it is supplied in-house!
"How did this come about?" Ao Guangchun asked in surprise.
Madam Lao Hou pursed her lips: "It was leaked from the second prince's maternal grandfather's family."
Ao Guangchun instantly understood: The capital has been in chaos recently, everyone's income has been lost, and their expenses have become even greater.
Wanting to maintain their former dignity, some noble people pawned their valuables...
Normally I wouldn't take the gift given by the emperor, but now that the war is in chaos, no one is taking care of it.
Ao Guangchun was extremely satisfied. He touched the tapestry material and nodded repeatedly: "If you still have any good girls, just take them. No matter how much money you need, the general will be willing to give them up."
Mrs. Lao Hou glared at Ao Guangchun: "It's just a few pieces of material, how much money do you need?!"
"He can help your mud up the wall. My old lady can just give him the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion!"
Lanni Ao Guangchun: "Mom, I am your biological son..."
As soon as I went out to inquire about the situation, I was frightened back by the enthusiasm of the people.
He could only ask his mother directly about the current situation in the capital.
The nanny next to the old Houfu was in charge of affairs and often dealt with the outside world. She quickly explained the current situation in Beijing clearly.
It turns out that only five out of ten residents in the capital today survive. Many families left the capital and returned to their hometowns as soon as their houses were burned down.
Some people also left the capital after hearing that King Dongshan had rebelled.
Even the officials and officials sent their family members, wealth and silk out of the capital early.
I heard from outside that the prefects and guards of some cities did not even resist and took the initiative to open the city gates to King Dongshan because they were afraid of harming the people (disappointment with the emperor).
This shows that the people are disloyal and the country is about to perish!
When the people in the capital saw it, they ran faster.
Nowadays, prices in Beijing are soaring, but house prices and land prices are much cheaper than before.
Thefts and robberies occurred from time to time, and the government offices were overwhelmed.
The emperor doesn't care either.
He doesn't know what he's thinking now, and he doesn't seem to care anymore.
Ao Guangchun was shocked when he heard this.
The emperor... still doesn't have enough control over the capital, let alone other places far away from the capital.
You talk about water, I will listen to you.
So the first thing I do when I get up every morning is "delete".
The original chapter of 2,500 words was deleted to just over 2,000 words.
My dears, I have squeezed out as much water as possible!
No matter how much you squeeze, all that’s left is the “summary of the story”…
(End of this chapter)