Chapter 40

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As the snowflakes began to fall like goose feathers, at first one by one, but soon like torn cotton, in large clumps.

Zhao Chen stood in fear, his mouth agape, watching the snow that quickly blurred his vision, his back involuntarily growing cold.

It's too late, really too late!

If he delays any longer, it will truly be a matter of looking up to the sky in despair. Over a thousand people! He couldn't just watch them freeze to death in the icy snow. It was one thing if he couldn't help, but he had a way to save them and was hesitating, unwilling to lend a hand.

Old Qin was right, but there was no time to worry about that anymore. Sun Simiao had been doing this for many years. What was his motive?

Thinking of this, Zhao Chen ran madly towards the East Market. He fell several times in the snow, not bothering to shake it off, and stumbled towards the gate of the East Market.

Far away, Qin Shubao stood at the entrance of his own坊 (neighborhood), watching this scene, his face turning green with anger. He had known the boy would ignore his words. Look, just as he had predicted!

However, seeing Zhao Chen stumble towards the East Market, Qin Shubao felt a bit of relief. How many people in this world would go to such lengths to help a group of poor people living at the bottom of society?

"Go to Cheng's residence immediately and tell General Cheng that it's my wish. Each of our families will send a hundred retainers to Yongping坊 to help that rascal build houses!" Qin Shubao watched Zhao Chen's figure enter the East Market, took a deep breath, and suddenly turned to his bodyguard and ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The bodyguard bowed slightly to Qin Shubao and then ran towards Cheng Yaojin's residence in Dexin坊.

Four hundred guan! Not a single coin more. The merchant, Konas, was very firm, and no matter how much Zhao Chen pleaded, it was to no avail. Although the music box made Konas drool, he could see that the young lord of Tang was in a hurry for money, otherwise he wouldn't have brought such a treasure to exchange for money.

That's what merchants are like! Zhao Chen was so angry that he trembled all over, but time was running out. This was the third jewelry shop he had run to, and these foreign merchants were more ruthless than the last.

Four hundred guan it is! Zhao Chen didn't want to waste more words. He slapped the table and made the deal, asking Konas to convert the copper coins into silver ingots. Otherwise, four hundred guan of copper coins, weighing over a thousand pounds, would be impossible to carry back.

Leaving the shop with the silver ingots, Zhao Chen saw the ugly face of the merchant and swore that once this matter was over, he would ruin the bastard, or he would change his name to Wangba.

He had only been delayed for a moment in the jewelry shop, but when he stepped outside, he found that the snow was already half a foot deep, and it showed no signs of stopping. It seemed it wouldn't stop anytime soon.

As he was about to leave the East Market, a 'crack' sound came from a house on the left. Just as Zhao Chen turned to look, the house collapsed with a 'thud.'

Trouble was coming. If the snow continued like this, more people would suffer!

Zhao Chen stood there, staring at the collapsed house, his body trembling slightly, half from the cold and half from fear of the snow disaster.

He sighed inwardly, not daring to waste a moment. As he stepped out of the East Market, he saw Cheng Chumu standing in the snow, grinning foolishly, followed by over a hundred retainers, each carrying tools like shovels.

A bit further away, the retainers from the Qin family were also there, each holding tools, standing silently in the snow, covered in snow, like snow sculptures. Seeing this scene, Zhao Chen was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood.

Old Qin must not have left!

His nose suddenly felt a bit stuffy. What had he done to deserve such a seasoned general who always protected him!

"Xiao Chen, are we still brothers? Why didn't you tell me about this?" As he approached, Cheng Chumu pulled a face, complaining to Zhao Chen.

"You're here, so what's the point of complaining?" Zhao Chen rolled his eyes and replied without hesitation. Cheng Chumu was his brother, so he didn't need to be polite.

"Brothers, today, on behalf of those poor people, Zhao Chen thanks you all for your help!" After speaking to Cheng Chumu, he turned to the retainers from the Cheng and Qin families, clasped his hands, and said loudly.

"Little Lord, you're too kind. It's our honor to follow you in such a noble cause!" The retainers from the Qin and Cheng families bowed to Zhao Chen and replied heartily.

The heads of the Qin and Cheng families treated Zhao Chen like a nephew, so their retainers naturally addressed him the same way as Cheng Chumu.

"Let's go then!" Zhao Chen waved his hand and said loudly. The more time wasted, the more suffering for those people. He didn't want to waste a single moment.

A group of over two hundred people set off from Chang'an County, heading towards Yongping坊 in Wannian County. As they crossed Zhuque Street, they suddenly saw several fast riders galloping out of the palace, heading out of Chang'an City.

It seemed that the first heavy snow of Wude 9 not only frightened Zhao Chen but also made Emperor Li Er feel a sense of crisis!

Crossing Zhuque Street and entering Wannian County, the scene before them was shocking. Many houses had been crushed by the snow, and the streets were in chaos, filled with the cries of women and children.

The situation worsened as they approached Yongping坊. The group of over two hundred people walked along, seeing the collapsed houses on both sides, especially the people kneeling in the snow, helplessly looking at their collapsed homes, their hearts heavy.

Compared to the prosperity of Chang'an County, Wannian County was more like a slum. Most of the residents here lived at the bottom of Tang society, and their houses were mostly thatched huts.

This sudden heavy snow had destroyed their homes. As they walked, Zhao Chen saw hundreds of houses destroyed, and this was just in Wannian County. What about the surrounding areas of Chang'an?

A disaster had occurred! The first heavy snow of Wude 9 had finally turned into a snow disaster. Only time would tell how many people would suffer.

As they approached Yongping坊, they saw several people anxiously waiting at the entrance, constantly looking in their direction. Seeing Zhao Chen with over two hundred people, they breathed a sigh of relief.

These people were Sun Simiao, Hu Lu, the headman of Yongping坊, and several坊丁 (neighborhood guards).

"Master, how about the food?" Without any formalities, Zhao Chen looked at Sun Simiao, who was covered in snow, and asked directly.

Sun Simiao's face darkened as he shook his head. "I just went to the Ministry of Revenue and met the Minister, Changsun Wujie. There's no hope for the food. The heavy snow has blocked the roads, and the grain from Luoyang and other places has been stopped outside Lantian County. The court is trying to find a way to transport it in!"

Hearing this, Zhao Chen was speechless, his mouth agape. When the Turks invaded Chang'an, they took everything from the treasury. Li Er had ordered an emergency requisition of grain from Luoyang and Hubei, but who would have thought that a heavy snow would block all the roads to Chang'an.

Without this grain, the current stock would never be enough for so many people in Chang'an.

I hope this grain can be transported to Chang'an smoothly!

After listening to Sun Simiao, Zhao Chen sighed and turned to Hu Lu, his expression serious. "Brother Hu, take this money and go to the West Market to buy the materials needed. With so many houses collapsed, the prices will likely rise. Buy as much as you can before the merchants react, even if the price is a bit higher, it doesn't matter!"

Hu Lu had been staying at the College of Natural Philosophy and had just met Sun Simiao in the palace, hearing about the situation here, and came with Sun Simiao.

"Alright!" Hu Lu nodded, took the money from Zhao Chen, and replied solemnly.

"Chumu, take a dozen brothers with you to the West Market. If you encounter greedy merchants, don't be polite!" After instructing Hu Lu, Zhao Chen turned to Cheng Chumu, his eyes filled with determination.

Cheng Chumu nodded, turned around, and selected a dozen brothers from the hundred retainers.

After instructing Cheng Chumu, Zhao Chen turned to the headman of Yongping坊, his tone serious. "Headman Su, no matter what, you must quickly settle all the women, children, and elderly. Also, select fifty able-bodied men to help Brother Hu transport the materials from the West Market!"

Headman Su's eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure. Clearly, being ordered by a young man like Zhao Chen in front of his subordinates was a bit embarrassing. However, seeing the over a hundred retainers behind Zhao Chen, he hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Time is of the essence, everyone, let's get to work!" As soon as Headman Su nodded, Zhao Chen clasped his hands and said loudly to everyone.