While everyone was busy with their tasks, Xuan Yuanzhan ordered Ye Yun to lead the soldiers to imprison the bandits who had no grievances to appeal and no intention of surrendering.
After settling all the bandits, Ye Yun returned and reported, "Your Highness, there are too many people. The prison is full. Should we move some of them to prisons in other cities?"
Xuan Yuanzhan thought for a moment and said, "Here's what we'll do: the people from Silver Tiger Stronghold and Flowing Eagle Stronghold will stay in Beian City, the people from Black Panther Stronghold will be taken to Beiming City, and the people from Wolf Fang Stronghold will be taken to Beifeng City. We'll make a big show of it all the way there, so the people know that all the bandits have been captured. Then we'll verbally inform the people that if they have any grievances, they can come to Beian City to file a complaint. We'll also post notices in several cities explaining the situation regarding exposing officials, reporting bandits, appealing grievances, and the establishment of porridge and grain distribution points in each city, to reassure the people."
"Yes." Ye Yun immediately responded, and with 50,000 soldiers and dozens of carts of grain, he led the bandits to other cities in a grand procession.
Meanwhile, in Beian City, Xuan Yuanzhan directed his soldiers to quickly set up a porridge and food distribution site. Since the area next to the execution platform was unsuitable, they chose the area in front of the Beian City government office.
Before the porridge was even cooked, the refugees had already formed a long queue.
Looking at the endless queue, Xuanyuan Zhan announced loudly, "In the five cities of the North, each city will have a porridge and food distribution point. Everyone can return to their own city to queue. Of course, if you are willing to wait in this long queue, you can stay in the North and queue up. You can return to your own city after you have finished your porridge. However, I have brought a limited amount of food this time. If you want to enjoy the benefits of government-provided porridge and food distribution for a long time, please be considerate after you have had your porridge and food and do not go to get it a second time. Our disaster relief work in the North may have to be carried out for a long time."
Upon hearing that Xuanyuan Zhan planned to provide long-term disaster relief in the North, the people were all relieved and deeply grateful, remembering Xuanyuan Zhan's words.
They only need enough food to survive; they don't need to be full.
As long as the prince doesn't abandon their northern lands, they won't have to dig for grass and eat dirt everywhere, or wander around fleeing for their lives. That's enough!
Soon, steam rose from the steamer basket for steaming the buns, and a rich aroma wafted from the large pot of porridge next to it.
The people were somewhat obsessed with the smell.
They don't even need to actually eat the food; just smelling its aroma is enough for them to get through the day.
After the soldiers worked for an hour, they finally opened the pot lid.
"Line up, everyone. We're about to start distributing porridge and food."
As the soldiers shouted, they began to serve a bowl of porridge to the first person in line, and the soldiers next to them also gave that person a steamed bun.
A bowl of clear soup and a small steamed bun the size of a palm—that's enough for ordinary people.
The first people to receive the food held their bowl of porridge and their steamed bun, their eyes brimming with tears of joy.
The steaming hot food, with its rich and unique aroma, convinced the man that he wasn't dreaming.
He really got such good food; he's saved and can live!
Upon emerging and seeing Xuan Yuanzhan beside the procession, the commoner immediately knelt before him with a thud: "Your Highness, you are truly the savior of us northern people! Without you, we might have starved to death here. You saved our lives, and this humble subject kowtows to you."
Afraid of spilling the bowl of porridge, the commoner carefully placed the bowl aside, stuffed the steamed bun into his bosom, and then solemnly kowtowed to Xuan Yuanzhan.
He had only kowtowed once when Xuanyuan Zhan bent down and helped him up: "Stop kowtowing. The disaster relief has only just begun. I hope you can cooperate with me so that we can win this long war."
For the people of the North, this drought and famine was a major battle.
The commoner nodded excitedly: "Your Highness, rest assured, we will listen to whatever you say and do whatever you say. We will never disobey Your Highness's orders!"
The prince is the savior of the entire northern lands! How could they disobey the prince's orders?
Xuanyuan Zhan bent down, picked up the bowl of congee, and handed it to the commoner: "Go eat, everyone's life will get better and better in the future."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The commoner was moved to tears once again as he saw the bowl of congee that Xuan Yuanzhan had personally handed to him.
Not only this person, but all the other people who received porridge and steamed buns were moved to tears.
Once the steaming hot porridge was in their stomachs, everyone finally realized that they weren't dreaming; they had really eaten such good food and received help!
The imperial court really did send a holy king to rescue them.
The Holy King wiped out the bandits for them, helped them seek justice, and even gave them porridge and hair. The Holy King was truly like a god sent by heaven to save them!
He looked like a god, so incredibly handsome that people were afraid to even glance at him, for it would be a desecration!
The soldiers in front were distributing rations, while the soldiers behind continued cooking porridge and steaming buns.
Xuanyuan Zhan was relieved to see that the people were receiving their food in an orderly manner without any chaos.
Ye Feng stepped forward and looked at Xuan Yuanzhan, saying, "Your Highness, would you like to go and rest for a while?"
Everything here has been taken care of, and there shouldn't be any trouble. Your Highness can rest now.
Xuanyuan Zhan shook his head: "I am not tired."
Xuan Yuanzhan, as if remembering something, looked at Ye Feng and said, "There is something I need to do. Take a team and ransack Chen Chuan's house. As for his family..."
Xuanyuan Zhan thought for a moment and said, "Let's just forget about Chen Chuan's family. Just kick them out of the prefect's mansion."
He didn't want to punish the women and children, and the men would at most be exiled. However, the northern region was already the most remote and harshest place in Eastern Chu. In present-day Eastern Chu, there was no place more difficult than this.
Destroying Chen Chuan's house and expelling them from the prefect's mansion would be enough to give his family a hard time.
"Yes," Ye Feng replied.
Seeing Ye Feng about to leave, Xuan Yuanzhan called him back: "Also, after you've raided Chen Chuan's house, go and raid Silver Tiger Village, Black Panther Village, and Wolf Fang Village as well, especially the grain in the villages, bring it all back."
Although he brought 10,000 dan of grain this time, there were too many refugees in the north. Almost all the people in the north were refugees, and everyone was hungry and waiting for the relief grain.
So right now, what he lacks most is food, and he wouldn't mind having too much food.
"yes."
Seeing that Ye Feng was about to leave, Xuan Yuanzhan instructed, "Take a few bandits from Black Panther Village and Wolf Fang Village with you, so you don't get lost."
These bandit dens are all very well hidden, so bringing someone who knows the way will save you a lot of trouble.
"I'll go right away."
Ye Feng immediately took his men to handle it.
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