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"Wasn't Bei Zhenting's gunpowder very powerful and killed many people? How come it can't even last a month?"

"Your Highness, it's said that the amount of gunpowder is limited! After the Beijing troops started fighting, they suffered heavy casualties. The rebels split into two waves. Nearly 20,000 soldiers fought the Red Guards who came to support them at the Jingzhou border, and more than 20,000 rebels attacked the city.

The capital, plus those who retreated from Linguan County, barely had 20,000 men. Now that the battle has lasted so long, the gunpowder has been used up, and the food and fodder that the capital had saved for half a month is gone. The capital really can't hold on any longer."

Bei Zhenqing uttered a "tsk!" and said, "Call back the soldiers from all over the mountains. Let's search in the direction of the capital, and then return to the city for support as we go!"

That night, the soldiers turned around and headed towards the capital.

Early the next morning, the emperor, who had been missing for several months, suddenly appeared in the hall, causing an uproar among the officials.

Bei Zhenqing, who had been searching the mountains and plains for someone since dawn, got the news at noon and rushed back to the capital with his troops.

The news of the emperor's return to the capital boosted the morale of the Dacheng soldiers and also angered the rebels.

That night, the 20,000 rebels who attacked the Red Guards withdrew, 10,000 of them attacked the city, 10,000 delayed the Red Guards' support, and more than 30,000 fought against the Beijing army of less than 20,000. Bei Zhenting led his troops to fight, and Jiang Zecheng led his troops to defend the city.

In fact, Bei Zhenming took control of the government through the empress dowager half a month ago.

Within half a month, the Empress Dowager only notified them to do many things. The Empress Dowager, who was previously at a loss, became independent and aroused the suspicion of many people. Bei Zhenting, Jiang Zecheng and a few sharp-eyed ministers had already noticed that the emperor had returned to Beijing.

It was precisely because he realized that His Majesty had returned to Beijing that Bei Zhenting dared to replace Jiang Zecheng and personally lead his troops out of the city to fight.

What made Bei Zhenming appear were two memorials sent from Khanzhou.

Ever since the rebels arrived in Linguan County, the capital had become a sealed sack. No one knew how this memorial had gotten in. It had been circulating for nearly two months, passing through countless hands. It was now tattered and half stained with blood.

The two memorials were filled with details about the disaster relief in Hanzhou: most of the relief grain from the imperial court did not cross the Anxi River. There were many artificial reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Anxi River, and all the grain ships crossing the river were submerged by the flood and sank in the river. Very few people in Hanzhou received relief, and many victims crossed the river and appeared in Yuanzhou and Zhezhou.

Bei Zhenming saw the memorial and appeared in the palace that night, summoning Bei Zhenting and Jiang Zecheng for questioning.

Although this memorial did not mention the civil explosion, the situation described was very serious.

This year, there was drought in the north throughout the summer and autumn. The imperial court gradually transferred grain from various places for disaster relief. The disaster relief began in late summer, but we did not expect to receive the actual situation of the disaster relief until winter.

The disaster relief efforts reported from the north had received a good response. If what this memorial said is true, then it means that there is something wrong with the disaster relief officials, who are deceiving their subordinates and concealing the truth from their superiors, and are very likely to be colluding with the rebels!

With no news coming from the capital, Bei Zhenming even suspected that a civil explosion had already occurred in Yuanzhou or Zhezhou. After all, judging by the date of the memorial, victims had already crossed the river two months ago, so a civil explosion had definitely occurred!

The situation was serious. All the injured soldiers were being treated in the palace, and officials were discussing and making decisions in the hall all day.

In the past few days, several officials have been missing. In fact, they are running away because they see that Dacheng is about to lose the country.

At this moment, the capital city was about to be breached, and a group of people were making reports while their legs were shaking with fear.

Bei Zhenming had a splitting headache. He didn't realize the situation was so serious.

After receiving the memorial last night, he sent people to Yuanzhou and Zhejiangzhou to verify the situation. He also sent several letters to Zhejiangzhou and Yuanzhou, but he didn't know whether they could be delivered. He just hoped that the news would be transmitted back quickly.

At this critical moment, Bei Zhenming thought of Xiao Bi.

It would be nice if Bi'er was here. Maybe Bi'er knew about the situation in Yuanzhou and Zhezhou... But Bi'er hasn't appeared since she left...

In Khanzhou, all the county towns adopted Luo Yao's method to attract investment. Many businessmen went to the county towns of Khanzhou to open workshops and factories, and the counties were also gradually implementing it.

In the past month or so, many factories that were prepared quickly have started operations.

A snowfall turned the entire Khan Province into a blanket of white.

The canals were dug in sections, and water was available to nearby counties. The people were excited to see the canals connected according to the preset routes and the water flowing.

Hearing that water had been connected to the neighboring counties of Luo County and the county seat, and as Lin County was one of the first to start digging, the people also wanted to clear the canal as soon as possible.

They have been digging for nearly two months, and today only about fifty meters are connected to the Luoxian Canal. If nothing goes wrong, they will be able to open the canal today and tomorrow if they work hard!

Thinking that the canal would be cleared soon and that the young master who was doing disaster relief had come to inspect their county, the people of Mumu Village in Helin County were full of enthusiasm. They started digging before dawn and without having breakfast. Many people from several nearby villages also came to help.

It was the coldest time of the year, with biting winds, but the men were still digging canals in the fields. When it snowed, more people stepped on the snow, and the snow in the fields melted.

If nothing unexpected happens, the first canal in the county will be open in the next two days. Luo Yao will of course come to witness such a "first" thing, and the governor of Luo County and the county magistrates of the two counties will also accompany him.

Luo Yao woke up early in the morning in the blue brick and tile house of the village chief of Mumu Village and found that it was snowing outside.

The first snow of winter is really beautiful. It is the first time I see snow in this world. The snow is not thick, just reaching my ankles.

This time, except for Lu Hong who was going to Yuanzhou to deliver grain, Luo Yao's whole family came.

Luo Xinchen wore a warm inner garment made in the sweater factory, and after putting on his outer coat, the little ball turned directly into a ball. The little penguin usually stepped on the snow in the yard of the village chief's house, and fell five times after playing for a while.

After falling four times, the little girl didn't cry. She got up and continued to play. After falling for the fifth time, Luo Xinchen couldn't get up after crawling for a long time and finally pouted and cried.

The people who watched the whole thing burst into laughter. Luo Yao was also amused. He went up to his brother and picked him up. He wrapped the little scarf he had knitted himself around his brother and touched his little head. "Chenchen, does it hurt?"

Luo Xinchen shook his head with tears in his eyes.

The village chief came to ask them to go to the canteen for breakfast. Ah Shi picked up Luo Xinchen, and the group went out to the canteen for breakfast. They simply had some stomach-warming porridge, and a few of them stayed in the spacious canteen to warm themselves by the fire.

The inspection had to wait until the Luo County Magistrate, Luo County Magistrate and Lin County Magistrate arrived together in the afternoon, so there was no rush.

The dining room was warm. After two hours of roasting a fire, a group of children were clamoring to go out and play in the snow, so Luo Yao followed them out.

Outside the dining hall, several children were making a snowman. Lin Mo had rolled a large snowball, and several other children were squatting beside it, smoothing the snow.

Li Xian wanted to play in the snow several times but was stopped by Lu Heng, who kept cursing at her.

Luo Yao is afraid of the cold, so his contribution to the snowman was to find two stones to serve as eyes for the snowman.

After building the snowman, several children spontaneously started a snowball fight, and Luo Yao retreated to the dining room.

Li Xian was so excited about having a snowball fight that she ignored Lu Heng's words and started to abuse the child.

He was so strong that even after he reduced his strength it still hurt. Several children were chased and beaten by him and ran away in panic with their heads in their hands.

Zhang Xiaoxiao ran slowly and was hit by several snowballs. He looked aggrieved and his eyes were red. Lin Mo helped him block several of them.

After playing for a long time, seeing that the kids couldn't beat him at all, Lu Heng went up and grabbed Li Xian's wrist, "Xian, stop hitting the kids. If you want to play, just hit Brother Lu Shi, Lin Mo, and me."

Lin Mo and Ah Shi cast death stares at Lu Heng. Why shouldn't he hit the kids? Li Xian's pig strength really hurts.

Li Xian: "You said that the little master is going to hit you!"

Lu Heng: “Yeah.”