Chapter 195: Robbing the Rich to Help the Poor (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
"But are we going to let all these people go?" Qiang Wei was unwilling.
Zhao Yuanxi: "I asked you to register them so that we can find them easily in the future. The next time we meet them, they will be Qin people. At that time, at most we can ask them to do some more labor, and this matter will be over. Don't be so stingy."
We are all here to fight, so why should we make things difficult for each other?
Qiang Wei was speechless. He was stingy? Why was he stingy?
That's how it was settled.
Zhao Yuanxi and Li Mu met the Zhao troops who were about to be released.
"I am letting you go home today because your families are still waiting for you to return and rescue them. As the Queen Mother of Qin, I promise you that as long as you live a good life after returning, you will never face retaliation from the Qin army. However, if you choose to flee Zhao State privately, you will be treated as deserters."
Deserters will be beheaded!
The crowd began to whisper to each other, unable to believe what they heard.
"Really? You really want to let us go home?"
Zhao Yuanxi's expression softened a bit. "Of course. Each of you will go get five days' worth of food and two days' worth of water, and then we'll set off."
"Don't drink raw water on the way back. After a major disaster, there will be a major epidemic. The water sources on the road are not safe. If you must drink it, boil it before drinking."
"You must remember this for yourselves, and also inform your family and friends. Take care, everyone!"
The Zhao army was stunned by this unexpected surprise. The Queen Mother of Qin not only wanted to release them, but also wanted to send them food and water.
When they got the food and water, they were sure that they were not dreaming.
Those Zhao soldiers who were not allowed to leave looked at their comrades with envy. They were also surrendered soldiers. It was really uncomfortable that they were not allowed to go back just because they did not live near Handan City.
"The Queen Mother wants to see you." Finally, the Queen Mother summoned them again. Those surrendered soldiers who were originally from Handan were secretly delighted and no longer thought about rioting again.
"From today on, you will be part of the Qin Army and will obey the orders of the squad leaders. If you achieve military merit in the future, you will be granted titles and rewards like the other Qin soldiers."
Instead of letting them go home, they were conscripted into the Qin army.
"Why don't you let us go back? Our home is here too. We want to go back!" someone suddenly shouted.
"We are from Zhao. How can we risk our lives for the Qin people?"
The crowd was a little restless.
Not all the surrendered soldiers living in Handan City were poor people. Some of them were descendants of Zhao nobles. These people were most angry about Qin occupying Zhao and dividing up the nobles' property.
Most of the Zhao army who would rather die than surrender to Qin had died in a bloody battle with the Qin army on the day Handan City was captured. Those who remained were unwilling to surrender but still surrendered. They were this group of decadent old aristocrats, and they were also the culprits of the riots in the past two days.
"Those who don't want to join the Qin army can stay." Zhao Yuanxi glanced at the most noisy group of people with a cold expression. She didn't intend to waste time on these people. If they didn't want to cooperate, then they could stay.
Anyway, we still need a lot of people to build city walls and dig ditches.
Of the more than 30,000 Zhao troops, only a few dozen were unwilling to join the Qin army.
Zhao Yuanxi sneered in his heart and said to Qiang Wei beside him, "Take these people back and lock them up. As for those who just wanted to cause trouble but still chose to join the Qin army, have the squad leaders and others keep a close eye on them."
After dealing with these people, the remaining 120,000 people were divided into two groups according to the plan. Half were taken away by Li Mu, and the other half were assigned various tasks, such as lighting the stove, cooking, chopping firewood, fetching water, and pounding rice.
Most of the people Li Mu brought with him were his former subordinates.
Seeing Li Mu, the old generals burst into tears, "General, we never thought that one day we would see you again."
Li Mu felt sad. Who could have thought that they would meet again under such circumstances?
Li Mu: "Handan City was struck by an earthquake, and the people inside suffered greatly. I am here today to lead you out, to rescue those people! The Qin army can only send a few people to rescue, so we have to rely on ourselves."
"The Queen Mother promised that as long as you help rebuild Handan, you will be exempted from future prison sentences. It is up to you to decide whether to stay or go."
Someone said: "The people of Zhao don't need the help of the Qin people. We will help them!"
"Yes, we will go and help right away. There is no need for the Qin people to pretend to be kind. Maybe they were the ones who caused the earth dragon to turn over."
Although everyone was indignant, they reached a consensus that saving people was the first priority.
Someone quietly reached out and whispered, "General, after Handan City is rebuilt, can we really decide for ourselves whether to stay or go?"
"Of course!" Zhao Yuanxi came out from behind. "When the time comes, whether you want to stay and join the Qin army or choose to return home, no one will stop you."
The people of Zhao did not know Zhao Yuanxi, but they could tell from her dress that she was from Qin. Thinking of what General Li had just said, they immediately confirmed her identity.
"The Queen Mother of Qin? Why is she here?"
"Why are you helping us?"
Zhao Yuanxi looked around at their resolute faces and said solemnly, "I am also from Zhao. Seeing the people of my homeland displaced, my heart aches. You are all from Zhao, and you have protected the people of Zhao for many years at Yanmen Pass. You should understand my feelings."
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Yes! The Queen Mother of Qin was once from Zhao!
No matter what happened between Qin and Zhao, she was definitely thinking of her homeland! Now the people of her homeland were living in dire straits, how could she sit still and relax?
People often only need one reason to convince themselves, and everything else will fall into place.
The addition of more than 60,000 Zhao surrendered soldiers accelerated the rescue.
Everyone was divided into groups of five, led by a sergeant, and began searching and rescuing people throughout the city.
The pressure on the Qin army was suddenly reduced, and they only needed to send a part of the Qin army to maintain order in the city, prevent the Zhao people from escaping privately, and various bandits and robbers from doing evil.
There are indeed enough people, but there are still many problems. The food and drink for so many people cannot be provided by relying on what is rescued from the ruins.
The people in Handan City were in a difficult situation of lack of clothing, food and medicine.
Zhao Yuanxi used all the medicines seized from the Zhao army, but there were too many injured people and the medicines were not enough.
Among the more than 300,000 civilians, at least 50,000 to 60,000 were seriously injured, tens of thousands died, and some were trapped under houses and their whereabouts are still unknown.
However, the Qin army could not use its food and medicine, so it had to find other ways to find enough supplies.
"General Li, have you ever been a bandit? Do you want to rob the rich and give to the poor?" Zhao Yuanxi stood on the city wall at the junction of Dabei City and Xiaobei City, looking at Dongcheng and Xiaobei City in the distance, with a hint of excitement in his eyes that could not be concealed.
Handan City is mainly divided into four parts, namely Zhaowang Palace, East City, Small North City, and Big North City.
As the name suggests, the Zhao Palace is the palace where the King of Zhao lived, and it is now occupied by Ying Zheng.
Dongcheng was where the royal family, princes and ministers of Zhao State lived. Zhao Ji and Zichu also lived there.
Xiaobei City was the residence of the wealthy merchants and nobles of Zhao State and was the most affluent area in Handan City.
As for Dabei City, it is the residence of civilians and the area most severely affected by the disaster.
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