Chapter 163: Taking in refugees
The soldier ran away immediately.
There was a lot of noise below and a lot of wailing above. Xu Zhenying couldn't even hear what others were saying. She had previously ordered the craftsmen to make an iron loudspeaker to be used during the meeting, but she didn't expect it to come in handy so soon.
She passed the crowd and walked quickly to Jiang Yongkang. The two of them whispered, "Jiang Yongkang, good job, bringing so many people with me!"
Jiang Yongkang laughed awkwardly, "There seem to be too many people..."
"It's okay. More people means more." Xu Zhenying glanced at the floating heads below and said, "Although these are all refugees, there are differences between refugees. These people have been able to survive in the mountains for so long. I'm afraid they have killed people. You follow me and I will act accordingly."
The soldier ran all the way to get the loudspeaker and handed it to Xu Zhenying personally.
Xu Zhenying patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Well done, thank you for your hard work."
The soldier was obviously excited.
That was the city lord, he actually smiled at him and praised him!
Xu Zhenying held up the loudspeaker, and the people behind him followed one after another.
Soon, the refugees below saw that all the people on the city wall had put away their weapons, revealing a round, fluffy head. The person was not tall, and someone beside her respectfully brought her a stone to step on, and two people helped her stand.
She was holding a strange iron object in her hand, which looked like an iron morning glory.
Then someone in the team shouted, "Is the county magistrate here?"
"Bullshit, that county magistrate is so young? Open your eyes and see, he's just a brat!"
"But I see that everyone around him is very respectful to him. If he's not a county magistrate, then what could he be?"
"I know, it's the county magistrate's son!"
Everyone started talking about it.
Then they heard the man speak.
They didn't know why, but they felt that although the person was standing very far away, his voice was very clear as if it was ringing in their ears.
"Everyone! You have come a long way, trekking through mountains and rivers. You must have endured hunger and starvation all the way here. Logically, I shouldn't refuse you entry into the city. But——"
The little bit of expectation that had just ignited in the crowd was completely extinguished, and everyone looked at the thin figure on the city wall, as if that person was their only hope.
"But you should also know that our Lan County is a small city, and we have already accepted a group of refugees. To be honest, we simply don't have the capacity to accept another 30,000 or 40,000 people!"
There was a burst of crying and cursing in the crowd, and Xu Zhenying could hear it clearly even from a distance.
"Didn't they say there's porridge in Lan County? We've been hungry for days, eating tree bark and grass roots all the way here. If we hadn't thought you guys in Lan County would give out porridge, why would we have come all this way?"
"Oh my God, God wants to kill me..."
"I told you that food was so scarce in Jinzhou this year, how could Lan County still have its gates open? But you didn't believe me and insisted on trying your luck. Now look what happens, we're all going to starve to death!"
"Die? We've come all this way here, not to die! Even if we do, I'll take a few people with me. If I were you, how about we just capture this city? Wouldn't all the food inside belong to us?"
Xu Zhenying spoke again. The refugees below cried miserably, but still listened attentively.
"So! Although we have our difficulties, we are willing to do our best to help everyone! Please give us half an hour. I will immediately gather the people in the city to discuss how to help everyone overcome the difficulties. Please be patient. During this time, please elect ten representatives. After we have finished our discussion, please invite these ten representatives into the city to discuss with us."
Someone immediately shouted from below: "What if you kill them?"
Xu Zhenying stared at the person who was speaking and said with a smile, "I put on such a big show just to kill a few refugees?"
"Since you won't kill us, why don't you just let us into the city?"
"Big Brother, Lan County isn't very big. How are we going to solve the problem of food, drink, and toilet for tens of thousands of you entering the city? To put it bluntly, if one of you eats a mouthful of food, you can bankrupt Lan County. If one of you takes a shit, you can flood the entire county. How are we going to accommodate so many people? How are we going to get into the city? How are we going to distribute porridge? You have to give us some time to arrange it, right?"
The refugees below were silent, but some of them already showed hope on their faces.
The leading men said, "Okay, we'll give you half an hour. If you don't let us into the city, I'll lead my men to capture your city. Once I'm in, I'll kill you first as a sacrifice!"
Before Xu Zhenying could say anything, Jiang Yongkang beside him suddenly pulled the bow and shot an arrow!
All I heard was a "whoosh" sound.
There was a flash of lightning in the air, and an arrow, with lightning speed, pierced straight into the straw sandals of the person who was speaking, an inch in front of them.
What a fast arrow!
Because of this sudden change, the twenty archers led by Jiang Yongkang instantly drew their bows and aimed at the people below, and protected Xu Zhenying behind them.
They were dressed in uniform, their movements were smooth, uniform, and disciplined, their eyes were sharp, and they were unstoppable!
It feels like one man standing alone against ten thousand men!
At first glance, this is much more powerful than the regular army of the Zhou Dynasty!
"If you want to kill our city lord, you can try it!" Jiang Yongkang's voice was so deafening that it scared the leader so much that he took several steps back.
The refugees were terrified.
It was as quiet as a grave beneath the city wall.
They seemed to have been caught off guard by the fact that Lan County might not look large, but the soldiers defending it were all elite. They were all strong and muscular, with powerful bodies and even a glint of blood in their eyes. They were completely different from the soldiers in the cities they had passed before!
Xu Zhenying is still very satisfied with this team.
As for the equipment problem, it can be solved slowly.
Only the military appearance can show the strength of a unit.
Xu Zhenying ignored the tense atmosphere on the field and said to Jiang Yongkang, "Watch them. If they make any unusual moves, we'll act accordingly!"
Jiang Yongkang naturally understood.
Since this group of refugees have come here through so much hardship, they are naturally Xu Zhenying's people.
They will have to rely on them to open up wasteland and cultivate the land in the future. These people are ready-made labor. Xu Zhenying's seizing of opportunities is a hint that he should leave a few more people for her.
Jiang Yongkang naturally understood and immediately instructed the archers not to shoot arrows at will.
Xu Zhenying immediately called everyone to a brief meeting on the city wall. "Without further delay, everyone, please share your thoughts. Oh, no, those who agree with them entering the city should stand on my left, and those who disagree should stand on my right."
Everyone looked at each other in confusion at first, and then began to take sides.
Naturally, all the aunts and uncles stood on the right. Fang Xun, Fang Ningmo and others thought for a moment and then stood on the right as well.
Only Xu Yinxi, Qian Zhenniang and Ming Xiaoshuang agreed to let the refugees enter the city.
Xu Zhenying took this opportunity to secretly observe everyone.
Ming Xiaoshuang and Qian Zhenniang never liked to think before doing anything. They always did whatever she said and followed her lead. Now the two of them probably guessed what she was thinking, so they stood on the left.
She was somewhat surprised that Xu Yinxi also supported the refugees entering the city.
This fourth sister is a promising talent worth cultivating. She has high emotional intelligence, is good at dealing with people, always likes to think before doing things, and loves to learn and summarize. She is the fastest growing among all the people who follow her.
Sun Qingchen wanted to speak several times, but held back.
He wanted to see how the situation changed and what choice Xu Zhenying would make if he were in his original position.
Xu Degui was Xu Zhenying's father, so naturally he was the first to speak. "City Lord, our Lan County cannot accommodate these 30,000 or 40,000 people. It's not a question of whether we want to or not, but a question of whether we can. The city currently has 15,000 people living in it, which is already full. Once they come in, where will they live? What will they eat? How will we manage so many people?"
Miao had been managing logistics for so long, so naturally, her words and actions weren't as refined as before. She simply presented data and facts. "If we really want to take in these 30,000 or 40,000 refugees, the food in our warehouses will only last for about 20 days at most. Jinzhou Prefecture was severely damaged by last year's floods, and this year's situation is likely to be even more difficult. With so many people and so many mouths to feed, where are we going to find the food?"
Lian also nodded. "City Lord, these 40,000 to 50,000 people are different from us back then. The fact that they've been able to hold out for so long without food proves they're no ordinary refugees. This group of people has definitely killed and seen blood. Taking them in will only lead to endless trouble!"
Fang Xun also expressed his opinion: "City Lord, if these 40,000 to 50,000 people enter the city, the safety of our people inside cannot be guaranteed. Currently, half of our soldiers have gone to Ye County to distribute land. At the moment, there are less than 300 soldiers available in the city, and there are also thousands of elderly and weak people. If they really enter the city and something happens, we will not be able to resist them at all."
Xu Zhenying raised her hand, signaling those who disagreed to stop speaking. She looked at the people on her left. Qian Zhenniang and the others naturally knew that it was their turn to speak, but Ming Xiaoshuang always followed Xu Zhenying's lead, and he insisted on letting him speak. He really couldn't find any support for his opinion at this moment.
He couldn't say that he realized Xu Zhenying wanted to take them in.
He had no choice but to say, "Things change. We know the feeling of starvation better than anyone. Think about how miserable we were last year... They're already considering us as their last straw... If we refuse, these refugees will probably have no way out."
Qian Zhenniang thought about it and finally hit on a crucial point. "Those down there are a bunch of starving refugees. They've come here through untold hardships and they definitely won't leave empty-handed. And there are 30,000 to 40,000 refugees. If they want to storm in, they can certainly force their way in. Rather than fighting to the point of mutual destruction, why not use food to keep them in check and then slowly take our course?"
Xu Zhenying looked at Qian Zhenniang and nodded with a smile.
She thought mischievously: The leeks have grown!
Look at the chives she planted, they are shiny and slippery. They will definitely help her do big things in the future!
Xu Zhenying felt very relieved.
Xu Yinxi said, "Since we're all family, I'll tell you the truth. If we want to have the power to protect ourselves in troubled times, then expanding the population is necessary. They're already here, so why not? Food can be bought, robbed, and stolen! By bringing these people in, our Lan County will become even stronger. Besides, there are large tracts of wasteland in Lan and Ye counties. Let them reclaim it. As long as we can survive the difficult first few months, the benefits of a large population will become apparent later. And with the city lord's abilities, getting food isn't difficult."
Xu Zhenying was still quite shocked by Xu Yinxi's words.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yinxi could see her real purpose of clearing wasteland between Ye County and Lan County.
She had originally planned to absorb refugees from nearby areas to strengthen herself. As for the fields, there were so many fields near Ye County and Lan County. Wouldn't it be better to reclaim them and make compost?
But it is really commendable that Xu Yinxi can see this.
Fang Xun, Ming Xiaoshuang and others were shocked. Firstly, they were surprised by Xu Yinxi's keen observation skills, and secondly, they were surprised by Xu Yinxi's hidden ambition.
Some of them who were quick to react subconsciously looked at Xu Zhenying's expression.
Sure enough, Xu Zhenying seemed very satisfied with Xu Yinxi's answer.
From this, it can be seen that Xu Zhenying had already planned to absorb refugees, otherwise he would not have measured a large amount of land between Lan County and Ye County under the pretext of distributing land to soldiers.
Is this going to expand the territory of Lan County?
Some were secretly astonished, some were very excited, and some were terrified.
Xu Zhenying took everyone's expressions into consideration, but she had already thought about who would stand on her side if she showed her ambition to conquer the world at this moment.
Xu Yinxi, Ming Xiaoshuang, Fang Xun, Fang Ningmo, and perhaps the always obedient Qian Zhenniang?
Very good, already 20% of the people, this proportion is already very high.
There will be only subtle changes afterwards. Maybe one day, even if she doesn't say it, everyone will be able to guess what she is going to do.
Xu Zhenying said, "Fourth sister, what you said makes a lot of sense. Coincidentally, the land between Ye County and Lan County is already being measured. If we're talking about dividing the land, this group of people will just be able to catch the first wave. As for food... if we tighten the military budget and supply only gruel for now, it should barely last a month or two. We'll find a solution within that month or two."
Fang Ningmo was also worried about other issues. "City Lord, even if food isn't a problem, we can't let these people into the city. The city is full of the elderly and weak, and the elite have been sent to divide the land. Even if we want to take in the refugees, we have to proceed slowly."
Xu Zhenying smiled. "Of course. I hadn't planned to let them into the city. It would be difficult to manage them there, and it would also be destabilizing for the people's safety. We'll just set up some tents outside and give them some porridge for the first few days, while also calming them down. We'll have to work out the details over the next two days."
Everyone in the Xu family wanted to argue a few more times, but they also knew that no one could change the decision made by Xu Zhenying. What's more, what Qian Zhenniang said was very right. Whether they were willing to let them in or not, these refugees below were numerous and powerful, and would eventually choose to attack.
Instead of fighting to the point of mutual destruction, it is better to use food to keep them tied up, so that at least the two sides will not start fighting.
Thinking of this, everyone's faces looked a little ugly.
No one wants to feed so many people when food is so scarce.
But... there's no way.
Xu Zhenying smiled, "There's no need to be so worried. As long as we unite as one, nothing is insurmountable. As for the food problem, give me a month and I'll find a solution."
Sun Qingchen, who was standing behind him, looked at the figure and suddenly felt uncomfortable.
He thought that there were 10,000 people in Lan County at that time, but less than 200 elite soldiers, so he did not dare to accept the 5,000 refugees.
And they are in the same situation now, and Xu Zhenying actually dared to take in 30,000 to 40,000 people.
Sun Qingchen was shocked, but also on guard.
He had already heard Xu Yinxi's ambition from her words just now. If Xu Zhenying's subordinates dared to think so, what about Xu Zhenying himself?
As a woman, does she really have the ambition to dominate the world?
Sun Qingchen's heart was in turmoil, and his mind was full of the letter he had sent.
He just hoped that it would go faster, faster. If Xu Zhenying continued to grow and develop like this, who knows what Lan County would be like next year!
Xu Zhenying made the final decision, "Alright, if that's the case, let's first let their refugee representatives come into the city to discuss the details. Everyone, please keep your temper in check, but don't be shy when it's time to flex your muscles, or they might think we're easy to bully and start taking over."
Sun Qingchen was disgusted by her words. Is this a cuckoo taking over the magpie's nest?
Oh, it’s still hard to say who is the dove and who is the magpie.
Isn’t that how he lost Lan County?
At this moment, the 30,000 to 40,000 refugees below were also talking about it.
According to Xu Zhenying, ten refugee representatives must be selected to enter the city.
In fact, there is no need to choose. These tens of thousands of people are divided into several waves. The leader of the largest group of refugees is called Ma Qiang, also known as Brother Qiang. He has 20,000 troops under his command. They rob wherever they go and survive by robbing. Therefore, his team is full of banditry and has seen blood, so they are the most difficult to mess with.
Naturally, Ma Qiang, as the leader of the team, had to enter the city.
The rest were several waves of small refugees, including Liu Erwa, Xiang Jinquan, Wang Xingye and others.
There was a meeting going on on the city wall and also on the ground floor.
Ma Qiang gathered the remaining nine people for an emergency meeting. "I've just observed that Lan County seems to be easier to defend than other cities. Although they are not numerous, they are all elite soldiers and generals. Did you see those archers? They are tall and strong. It's obvious that there is food in Lan County!"
Liu Erwa said, "Everyone, be prepared. I don't think they will let us into the city."
"Why?"
"Why else?" Liu Erwa seemed to look down on the remaining people. They had originally met in Lan County, so although there were many people, they were not united. In addition, several teams had fought over food issues before, so the representatives also disliked each other. "During the famine, you were reluctant to offer food to your relatives, not to mention that your relatives are staying with their families and won't leave? Besides, we are not relatives to the people in Lan County, but enemies!"
Someone else asked, "Why are they enemies?"
"There's only so much food. Either they eat it or we eat it. If they're not enemies, what are they?"
Everyone nodded frequently after hearing this.
"Do you think that pretty boy who tricked us into coming into the city will kill us to silence us?"
"How dare he! My thirty or forty thousand troops are no joke!"
The young man named Wang Xingye just shook his head slightly.
Thirty to forty thousand troops?
They were just a mob of 30,000 or 40,000 people without any fighting ability.
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