Chapter 203 Hetao Plain
"How is this possible!"
Handan has a population of 300,000, which is 200,000 more than their Yiyang. Even if Handan is really rich and has enough food for the people in the city, order will not be restored so quickly.
Besides, Handan’s richness does not mean that the people of Handan are rich. There is only a small group of people who are rich. So how did these ordinary people get their lives back together so quickly?
Mao Chang called a few passers-by, gave them some money, and asked them about what had happened in Handan City recently.
"Our princess treats us so well! Not only does she give us food, but if we work hard, we can also get paid."
"I heard that the princess personally went to the wealthy merchants in the city to raise the food and money!"
"In a few days, our house will be rebuilt."
Mao Chang frowned. "What princess? Where did this princess come from?"
He seldom went to the market and spent most of his time organizing books for his uncle. He had no way of knowing such gossip.
"Huh? You're from outsiders, right? No wonder you didn't know. The Queen Mother of Qin is actually a princess of our Zhao State. Several princes of Zhao State have come forward to acknowledge this!"
"Poor princess, you've suffered so much in my Zhao land over the years! Those who bullied her deserve it! If they were still alive, we brothers would teach them a lesson."
In less than a month, the world had become something Mao Chang did not recognize.
Only then did he realize the meaning of his uncle's words, and he even felt that Queen Mother Zhao was too scary!
Now in Handan City, the people only remember the Queen Mother of Qin, but have forgotten the King of Zhao who was imprisoned in Xianyang, and are even grateful to the Queen Mother.
"Let's go! What are you still waiting for?" Mao Heng sighed and urged.
Mao Chang shook his head and nodded, "I'm coming."
Zhao Yuanxi in the palace ordered someone to bring the map of Zhao State. Although it was not as clear as modern maps, the general meaning could still be understood.
Zhao Yuanxi's sight fell on the big words on the Yellow River. That was the former Yunzhong County, the future famous Hetao Plain.
The Hetao Plain has always been the key to the struggle between the Central Plains and the Xiongnu.
At the beginning, King Wuling of Zhao promoted the Hu clothing and horse riding, destroyed the Linhu, Loufan and other countries, occupied this area, and built the Great Wall of Zhao along the Yinshan Mountains.
The Hetao area has not been fully developed yet, and only a small number of nomadic tribes live on this land, but Zhao Yuanxi understands the value of this land.
The Yellow River has a hundred harms, but only one benefit: as long as water conservancy projects are built, this land can immediately be transformed into millions of acres of fertile farmland, becoming a true Jiangnan on the Great Wall.
Zhao Yuanxi circled a few areas and said, "This is it!"
Since the predecessors have already paved the way, why should she go to the trouble of taking people to reclaim the barren mountains? She could just vigorously develop these areas.
"Jang Geum, help me find Li Mu and Meng Tian."
There are hundreds of thousands of refugees who need to be resettled, and there are not many people living in these areas. There is simply no place more suitable than here.
Meng Tian and Li Mu arrived quickly.
Zhao Yuanxi saw them walk in one after another, smiled and raised his hand to greet them, "Generals, come here quickly."
Li Mu saw her looking at a map of Zhao State, where Yunzhong County was clearly marked. "What is the Queen Mother doing?"
"General Li once garrisoned Yanmen County. I wonder if he knows anything about Yunzhong County?"
Yanmen County and Yunzhong County are connected and also belong to the south of the Great Wall of Zhao. Li Mu was once the chief general guarding the border, so he must have been to Yunzhong County.
"This place is located south of the Yin Mountains, with the Yellow River flowing through it. The terrain is flat, with abundant grass and water, making it suitable for raising horses. King Wuling of Zhao once established a horse farm here."
"It does appear to be fertile land. What do you think if I move some of the Zhao people to settle here?"
"Since the Queen Mother has made the decision, why does she need to ask me again?" Li Mu said helplessly.
She left such a big mark there, obviously she had made up her mind. How could he possibly disagree?
Zhao Yuanxi smiled innocently, "General Li was once the commander there. If you say no, I will naturally reconsider this matter!"
She is not someone who doesn't listen to advice.
"Yes, it is indeed suitable for living there." Li Mu gave an affirmative answer.
Half of Zhao State's horses came from this land, which was very suitable for planting. The border garrisons of Zhao State once cultivated land here. The annual grain output was enough to feed the garrisons, and the yield per mu was even higher than that in Handan.
"But that place is close to the Xiongnu, so we have to be careful of the Xiongnu coming south to plunder."
"It's okay. If they dare to come, just beat them up."
Now is the time when Qin State has the most abundant military power, and the Xiongnu cannot become a big force. At least in the past thirty years, this place has been safe.
Li Mu felt helpless about Queen Dowager Zhao's confidence, but Queen Dowager Zhao was not blindly confident. Qin did have the ability to stop the Huns.
Zhao Yuanxi continued, "I plan to relocate the refugees near Handan to Yunzhong County, cultivate fertile fields, dig ditches, and turn this land into a large granary."
"But we'll have to ask General Meng to borrow some soldiers."
Zhao Yuanxi looked at Meng Tian expectantly.
If we want to successfully relocate hundreds of thousands of refugees to Yunzhong County without the supervision of the King of Qin, chaos is bound to arise.
"I can send someone to take these people over."
"Thank you." Zhao Yuanxi smiled slightly.
Meng Tian immediately said, "No, I dare not. This is my duty. Before leaving, the king instructed me to obey the queen mother's orders."
However, the order left by the king was that as long as the queen mother did not act recklessly, she could do whatever she wanted.
It shouldn't be considered as a mess if we just move some of the Zhao people to settle in the border areas!
"I see." Zhao Yuanxi smiled and turned to Li Mu. "Since General Li is familiar with that place, why not accompany me?"
"You want to go in person?" Li Mu asked in surprise.
"Can't I go?"
Meng Tian also stood up to object, "It's very dangerous over there. You really shouldn't take the risk yourself. I can do it for you."
"Then can you farm?" Zhao Yuanxi asked back.
Meng Tian was so anxious that his face turned red and he was speechless for a long time.
"I won't do anything rash. Although this is a fertile land, it needs to be planned out. I'm worried if I don't go there myself. If that doesn't work, you can send someone to follow me every day."
"But if the Xiongnu suddenly attack, I would be really worried."
The Huns often went south to plunder. Even with the Zhao Great Wall blocking the way, it was possible that some cavalry would break in. Meng Tian really didn't dare to take such a risk.
Li Mu said, "Although the Xiongnu are ferocious, they are not that powerful. Even if some stragglers do break in, the defenders will be able to find them in time."
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