Chapter 238: How to resettle refugees?
Before leaving, Lin Xiaoyue did not forget to add water to the sprouted grape seeds, and then returned to the city gate with Zhan Hu. However, Lin Xiaoyue did not let Zhan Hu unload the food immediately. She needed to ask Chen Hu about the food and accommodation arrangements for the refugees first.
At this time, the city gate was already crowded with people, and all the people and shops in the city closed their doors, fearing that these refugees who had no food to eat would break into their houses and rob them.
Chen Hu was also afraid that the refugees would run around uncontrollably, so he led the Cheetah Army to surround all the refugees in a big circle, and Chen Hu stood outside the circle.
Lin Xiaoyue walked up to Chen Hu and asked, "Chen Hu, Brother Liang left in a hurry just now, and I didn't have time to ask about the resettlement of the refugees. What are your plans?"
Chen Hu saw the food cart behind Lin Xiaoyue. He knew that Lin Xiaoyue must have an idea in mind, so he asked, "No, these refugees came so suddenly that we were caught off guard! There is only one vacant temple in the city that can be used for living, but there are too many refugees. The temple simply can't accommodate so many people! Miss Lin, do you have any good ideas?"
Lin Xiaoyue thought for a moment and asked, "How many refugees are there here? Are there more young and middle-aged people, or are there more elderly, weak, women and children?"
Chen Hu made a rough estimate and said, "I think there are three to four hundred people, most of whom are young and strong. The elderly, the weak, women, and children may have died on the way to escape the famine."
Lin Xiaoyue nodded and said, "I think we can let the elderly, the weak, women and children live in the dilapidated temple, and then gather all the young and strong men, including our newly recruited soldiers, to compete. We will select half of the winners, and the remaining half will go to Yangmingshan to build houses. We will provide them with food, accommodation and wages."
Chen Hu felt something was amiss after hearing this and interrupted, "Are we going to give these refugees the houses we built for free? That's too cheap for them! I don't think the master will agree to that!"
Lin Xiaoyue explained, "Of course not! By the beginning of next spring, I plan to develop the entire Yangmingshan. These people will keep their own food rations, and the remaining harvest will belong to us. This will not only solve everyone's food and housing problems, but also firmly grasp the control of Yangmingshan in our hands. If they agree, I will sign them a ten-year contract."
Chen Hu thought this idea sounded good, but he still had a question in his mind!
"Miss Lin, the problem is that it will take time for so many people to compete. Where will everyone live before that? And you think it's so good now, but what if they don't want to build houses on the mountain? Are we going to provide them with food and shelter forever?"
Lin Xiaoyue replied, "Let's build more tents and let them live in them. After the competition, we can move these tents to the mountains. If they don't want to build houses, they will have to return home after winter. We can't watch them starve to death, but we can't support lazy people either!"
Chen Hu felt relieved after hearing what Lin Xiaoyue said.
At this moment, Liang Jingyao and Jiu Laoguai hurried over from the bamboo courtyard.
Liang Jingyao asked curiously, "What are you guys talking about so enthusiastically? Jiu Laoguai and I approached, but you didn't notice."
Lin Xiaoyue smiled and replied, "It's like this. Chen Hu and I discussed the resettlement method for the refugees, and now we have basically reached a consensus."
Liang Jingyao was now even more curious. He asked impatiently, "What is it? Tell me quickly. I've been thinking about it all the way!"
Lin Xiaoyue repeated the method she had just mentioned and added, "Actually, I think the vast majority of refugees would like to stay here. After all, it's close to the capital and has a good climate. Unlike Matou Town in the northwest, which is windy and sandy and prone to frequent attacks by foreigners. Furthermore, if they stay here, we can organize another wave of merchants to settle in Matou Town."
Liang Jingyao raised an eyebrow and asked, "It's full of wind and sand there. The yield is low in non-drought years, and when it dries up there's nothing to eat! Which businessman would want to go there? That's just courting death!"
Lin Xiaoyue shook her head and said, "Brother Liang, where there are many dangers, there are also many opportunities! You know, the foreigners always come to attack Matou Town, isn't it because they have few resources? We can barter with them, and let them exchange cattle, sheep, and horses for food and other things they want. We have almost no grassland in Dongsui Country, and we don't have as many cattle and sheep as the nomads, so we have no trouble selling the cattle and sheep we exchange! We can raise the horses we exchange, so we don't have to worry about running out of war horses."
Liang Jingyao felt that he was almost convinced by Lin Xiaoyue. As expected, Lin Xiaoyue's mind was so quick. She could always think of ideas that others could not think of!
"Actually, if we were just exchanging cattle, sheep, and horses, we wouldn't need merchants. I have so many shops, I can handle the barter myself. With more merchants, there will be more conflicts. I wonder if the officials there are honest?"
Lin Xiaoyue disagreed. She immediately offered her own idea, "Brother Liang, I don't believe we can be honest now that all these people have escaped! My plan is that we should not only develop barter trade along the border, but also organize the most powerful caravans to head west. They'll provide the money, and we'll provide the people to protect them. If we all work together to trade with more distant countries, not only will we make more money, but it will also significantly boost the economy of the entire Dongsui Kingdom!"
Liang Jingyao's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh and said, "Oh, why didn't I think of that! Then let's do as you say. Chen Hu, go and make the arrangements!"
Lin Xiaoyue asked Zhan Hu to transport the food to the tent where she had lived before. She planned to eat and live in the tent, and set up a tent outside to shelter from the rain and sun. She and Yunyun could cook for everyone under the tent.
It was very simple to set up the tent. Lin Xiaoyue didn't want to trouble others. She took Chen Yunyun to Yangmingshan to cut a few branches, set up the frame, and then bought a large piece of linen on the street. In order to prevent rain and snow from wetting the linen, Lin Xiaoyue brushed a layer of tung oil on it.
While drying the items, Lin Xiaoyue went to the street to buy a large iron pot, a large stove, pots and pans, etc. The shopkeepers were all very friendly. When they saw that Lin Xiaoyue bought a lot, they helped deliver the items to the city gate.
However, kitchenware is easy to buy, but vegetables, fish and meat are not so easy to buy!
Lin Xiaoyue went to several places, but no one was willing to sell to her. The reason was simple: with so many refugees suddenly arriving, the people in the city were panicking. How much food would so many refugees eat every day? So now the people in the city just wanted to store the food for themselves. After all, in the winter, the fields didn't grow vegetables or food, and it would be a long time before the next spring!
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