Chapter 386 Liu Xie Goes to the Countryside for a Secret Visit

Although the order to send troops to conquer Ma Chao has been issued, it will probably take about a month to complete all the mobilization and reorganization.

This speed is not slow. After all, sending troops is not a casual matter, and it will be more advantageous for the Han army to wait until the weather turns cold and enters winter.

During this period, in addition to handling government affairs in the palace every day, Liu Xie would also take time to inspect villages and towns around Yecheng and conduct private visits incognito.

The main purpose of doing this is to inspect the implementation of the decree.

The long-term war has been a heavy burden on the people, so since Zhuge Liang took charge of the people's livelihood, he has adopted various policies to cultivate their health.

Liu Xie also supported Zhuge Liang's approach. After all, war hurts the people the most, and self-cultivation is essential.

Every time Liu Xie went out for inspection, he only took Zhao Yun and a few guards with him, and never made any fanfare. But this time he came to a village at the foot of a mountain dozens of miles away from Yecheng.

It's almost evening now, and most of the houses in the village are filled with smoke rising into the air.

The entire village is divided into two parts by a ribbon-like river, and a waterwheel rotates leisurely on the river, irrigating the fields.

With the village as the center, the fields spread out, and the vast expanse of fertile fields can be seen, reflecting the golden light in the sun.

An old man wearing a raincoat, a scalper walking on a small road, a child running around in an old linen garment with a runny nose, and a Guizhou farmer wearing a linen shirt and trousers, wearing a futou, wearing straw sandals, and carrying a hoe... …

A peaceful and tranquil scene.

Liu Xie stopped the carriage outside the village, and then walked towards the village with Zhao Yun, while looking at the specific situation around the village.

Occasionally passing villagers noticed this noble-looking young man with a gentle smile, and cast curious glances.

Liu Xie walked all the way, but couldn't help but sigh slightly.

When Zhao Yun saw the emperor sighing suddenly, he asked with a little doubt: "Master, what's wrong with you?"

Outside, he always calls Liu Xie Young Master instead of His Majesty, so as not to reveal his identity.

Liu Xie shook his head and said, "Zilong, didn't you notice? Most of the people I met along the way were women or old people, and not many young people were seen."

Zhao Yun's expression froze slightly when he heard this.

He naturally understood why he couldn't see Qingzhuang.

Because of successive wars, many young men in the Han Kingdom joined the army, and some even died on the battlefield.

This also shows the current situation of the Han Dynasty. He obviously needs a long time to cultivate and recuperate, but he has to continue to wage war. .

"Young Master, there is no need to worry about it. Only by unifying the Han people can the common people live in peace."

"I believe that after the world is unified, as long as I take a good rest for a few decades, I will definitely be able to regain my strength and return to the prosperous times of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xiaojing."

Zhao Yun spoke firmly and authentically. He always believed that the emperor could lead the Han Dynasty to prosperity and create a prosperous age. .

Liu Xie didn't say anything and just continued walking towards the village, intending to have a deeper understanding of the villagers' living conditions.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a bunch of bundled branches walking past him, which made him startled.

How can branches walk?

After Liu Xie took a closer look, he discovered that it was not the branches that were walking, but a little girl of eight or nine years old who was struggling to move forward carrying the pile of branches.

Because the branch she was carrying was too high, even her small body was covered, so Liu Xie got it wrong.

"Little sister, wait a minute."

Upon seeing this, Liu Xie couldn't help shouting, and took two steps forward to stop the little girl.

The little girl stopped when she heard someone calling her.

Then she looked up and saw Liu Xie's handsome face full of gentleness, and couldn't help but be slightly startled.

But when she saw Liu Xie's clean and tidy brocade robe, she couldn't help but subconsciously take a step back, her eyes timidly said: "Master...what can I do for you?"

Although she didn't know who Liu Xie was.

But Liu Xie's clothes were much more elegant than the official she saw on the road last time, and he was so good-looking, so he must be a nobleman in the city.

So she felt very nervous.

Liu Xie knew that he had scared the little girl in front of him, so he quietly gestured to Zhao Yun to keep him away. Then he smiled gently at the little girl and said, "Don't be afraid, little sister, where is your home? I'll take you back."

"Here, let me help you carry this firewood."

As he spoke, he reached out and took the firewood from her body.

Liu Xie's affinity was still very strong, and the little girl lowered her guard against him, but when she heard that Liu Xie wanted to help her carry firewood, she stepped back and shook her head.

"No, no need, I can just carry it myself."

"Sir, the clothes you are wearing are so beautiful. They must be very expensive. The firewood will scratch your clothes."

After she nervously refused, she moved on.

Liu Xie had no choice but to follow her all the way, while quietly reaching out to help her carry firewood to relieve the pressure.

Zhao Yun followed from a distance.

While walking with the little girl on the field ridge, Liu Xie chatted with her and asked some simple questions.

"How old are you this year, little sister?"

"Seven years old."

"Only seven years old? Why did you go out to collect firewood alone? Where are the adults in your family?"

Liu Xie was surprised when he heard this. He didn't expect that the little girl in front of him was only seven years old. She ran to the mountains to collect firewood at such a young age.

The little girl replied in a low voice: "My grandma is sick. Her legs and feet are bad and she can't walk."

"What about your parents?"

Liu Xie sighed in his heart and then asked.

The little girl's eyes dimmed suddenly, and she pursed her lips and said, "My father died on the battlefield, and my mother-in-law also died of illness last year."

"Grandma and I are the only two people left at home."

Liu Xie fell silent after hearing this. After a while, he asked again: "In which battle did your father die?"

"Fight the rebels and consolidate the state!"

The little girl's eyes suddenly lit up, she spoke proudly with her chest raised, and her voice was also full of pride.

"Your father is a great hero."

A softness flashed deep in Liu Xie's eyes.

He touched the little girl's head and asked, "Where do you live and what is your name?"

I don’t know why, but the little girl feels very fond of this strange young man who appears out of nowhere.

So when faced with Liu Xie's question, she squinted and replied with a smile: "It's just down the slope ahead! What's your name, sir?"

Hearing this, Liu Xie smiled softly and said, "Of course you have to tell my brother your name first, and then he can tell you. He also has a child at home."

"My name is Zhaodi. Daddy named me this because he always wanted to give me another brother."

"Zhao Di..."

"What about you, big brother? What's your name?"

"My elder brother's surname is Liu, and his name is Bohe."

"Liu Bohe? Young Master, your name is really nice, but why do you have the same surname as the current emperor?"

"It happens."

"Young Master, you are so good-looking."

"You look good too."

…

Two figures, one large and one small, were walking on the field ridge talking and laughing, their backs stretched extremely long by the setting sun.

Liu Xie followed Zhao Di all the way back home.

Zhaodi's home was very simple, just a thatched house built with mud. It was obvious at first glance that she was very poor.

Liu Xie frowned deeply when he saw this scene.

Zhaodi's father was a soldier who died in the war. According to the pension standards, he could receive a lot of pensions. He could also receive some supplies from the government every month, which was definitely enough for the grandparents and grandchildren.

But Zhaodi's family is so poor that it doesn't look like they have successfully received the pension.

"Could it be that the pension has been withheld?"

Liu Xie couldn't help but think that at the moment he could only think of this possibility, and he was extremely disgusted with the deduction of pensions for soldiers who died in battle.

Although he didn't show anything on the surface at this time, he had already made up his mind to go back and conduct a thorough investigation.

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"Who is outside..."

Perhaps hearing the sound, a gray-haired old woman walked out shakily on crutches.

After seeing this old woman, Zhaodi put down the firewood, threw herself into her arms, and sweetly shouted: "Grandma!"

"Why!"

The old woman hugged Zhao Di and smiled kindly, then looked up at Liu Xie, who was dressed in extraordinary clothes, and said slightly uneasily: "Master, you are..."

"Grandma, this young master sent me back."

"Young Master is from the city."

Zhaodi raised her head and said to the old woman.

The old woman breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, touched Zhao Di's head and said, "It seems that our Zhao Di has met a noble person."

Zhaodi smiled and rubbed the old woman's palm.

"Auntie, I came to Xiacun from Yecheng to check the implementation of military pensions. I heard from Zhaodi that your son died on the battlefield, so I came here to take a look."

"Please forgive me if I have disturbed you."

Liu Xie said after saluting the old woman, his attitude was sincere and there was no discomfort at all.

When the old woman heard that it was an official from the city, she quickly said: "If you are looking for a distinguished person, please come to the house immediately."

"Someone from the government came to check once before, but I didn't expect people from the city to come as well. The court is really kind to us people."

As he said this, he was about to welcome Liu Xie into the house.

Liu Xie did not refuse and entered the house directly.

The house was very shabby.

Except for a few tables, chairs and benches, there was nothing else. Liu Xie could see the furnishings inside at a glance.

What attracted Liu Xie's attention the most was what was placed on a table to the north, which was a spiritual tablet.

Seeing this spiritual tablet, Liu Xie stepped forward and bowed solemnly to it, bowing his head deeply to the ground.

The old woman and Zhao Di looked at the scene in front of them.

Zhao Di looked up curiously and asked the old woman: "Grandma, is Mr. Liu a friend of daddy? He looks so sad."

"I don't know, how could your father have such a noble friend? Wait... what did you say his last name was?"

The old woman was shocked when she heard this and looked at Zhao Di.

Zhaodi didn't know why grandma had such a big reaction, so she said cautiously: "His surname is Liu..."

The old woman suddenly raised her head and looked at Liu Xie who straightened up, with a look of disbelief in her eyes.

Although she is old, she is not confused.

The surname Liu is an imperial surname. Anyone with the surname Liu must be a descendant of the royal family. The noble prince in front of him is definitely not an ordinary official.

And she had heard some rumors recently, saying that the emperor occasionally went to the countryside for private visits in private to express sympathy for the people. Could it be that the person in front of her...

"You, are you...?"

Liu Xie saw that the old woman might have guessed his identity, so he whispered: "It's me."

When she heard the word "I", the old woman's eye circles turned red instantly, and she had all kinds of words in her heart, but they were all blocked in her throat.

Subconsciously, I wanted to kneel down and salute.

But Liu Xie supported her and said, "Old man, you are old and have inconvenient legs and feet, so there is no need to be polite."

The old woman nodded hurriedly, extremely excited.

Then she tremblingly came to her son's memorial tablet, stretched out her hand to caress the memorial tablet, and said with tears in her eyes: "Son... His Majesty has come to see you, it's Your Majesty!"

"My mother always blamed you for leaving the orphans and widowers at home to join the army. Now I don't blame you anymore. I don't blame you anymore."

Zhaodi didn't know why grandma was crying.

But she vaguely heard the words "Your Majesty", so she looked at Liu Xie with some fear and curiosity, and asked: "Sir, are you the wise and mighty Emperor that Grandma often talks about?"

At such a young age, she did not understand the weight of the emperor.

All I know is that he is a very, very big official.

Liu Xie knelt down and said softly: "I am not very powerful, let alone a wise man."

"The really powerful people are people like your father. They are the real heroes, my heroes."

When Zhao Di heard the words, she seemed to understand but not understand.

Then Liu Xie asked the old woman seriously: "Old man, has your son's pension been embezzled?"

"If there is such a thing, you might as well tell me, and I will definitely investigate it thoroughly!"

Zhaodi was young and ignorant, so he asked the old woman directly what was going on.

"Deduction?"

The old woman was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then said: "To report back to Your Majesty, no one has taken advantage of my son's pension, and the grassroots people have received the food distributed by the government every month on time."

"No one has embezzled pension funds? Then..."

Liu Xie was startled, and subconsciously looked at the dilapidated house and residence where the old woman lived, feeling even more confused.

If no one is corrupt, why is the living environment so bad?

The old woman said softly: "The imperial court called for donations before, but I took it upon myself to donate most of the money to help the refugees."

The old woman touched Zhao Di's hair next to her and said with a kind expression: "I and my granddaughter don't need to live in a good house, this is enough."

"And my granddaughter will need a dowry when she grows up. I have saved all the money for her. If I die in the future, she will be able to live a better life with this money."

Zhaodi burst into tears after hearing this. She hugged the old woman's body and cried, "Grandma! I won't let you die..."

After listening to this, Liu Xie was completely silent.

The old woman tremblingly bowed to Liu Xie and said: "Your Majesty, you have increased the pensions for the military families and reduced the corvee and taxes for the people. You are a truly wise king."

"Cao Min has never thought that a noble person like you would condescend to visit Cao Min in this shabby house."

"We are lucky to have an emperor like you. The common people believe that your majesty will be able to kill all the rebels and let the people of the world live in peace."