Chapter 210 Settlement
In mid-October of the third year of Wuding, there was already a hint of chill in the wind.
The scene outside Shezhou city at this time was very different from that a month ago. At that time, there was no one outside the city gate, but now there were many people crowded together. Some were registering at a long table outside the city gate. Most of them were there to watch and ask questions from time to time. From a distance, it looked like a crowd.
Looking closer, they looked like refugees, with pale faces, thin bodies, and bony bodies, but they were wearing silk and satin and carrying bundles. There were so many bundles that they were almost drowned by them. In addition to the bundles, they also carried bedding, tents, pots and pans, and even dressing tables, mirrors, and red lacquered stools. It looked very strange at first glance.
The people dressed like this at the city gate were still escorted out of the city by the yamen runners. To say they were escorting was a subtle way of saying goodbye, somewhere between sending and chasing, not offending, but also not allowing you to linger. The groups of people walking in front of the yamen runners kept looking back at the city, their steps getting slower and slower, showing both reluctance and reluctance.
Manager Wang, whom Chen Lie and Shopkeeper Xu had met before, was now following behind the group. The two people walking in the front were none other than Manager Wang's master, Shopkeeper Xu's boss, Mr. Wang. The other one, who even Mr. Wang had to give way to, was wearing a dark blue official uniform and was none other than Chu Qichuang, the newly appointed assistant military officer of Shezhou City, followed by a few minor officials.
Two clerks pushed forward and said, "Make way, Lord Chu is coming, make way!"
As soon as they heard the word "sir", the crowd quickly split to both sides. Chu Qichang and his group strode out of the city gate. As they walked, they asked Uncle Wang: "Maolin, the group of people you mentioned will come today, right?"
Wang Maolin nodded: "Yes, the appointment is at the end of Chenshi today."
"Are there really nearly two hundred people?"
"The person who contacted me was a shopkeeper of a former restaurant branch. They were several families who fled to the mountains to avoid disaster. Later, they met people from a neighboring village and lived together. He said there were nearly 200 people. I think it's true." As he was talking, he had already left the city gate. He looked forward and saw Master Wang narrowing his eyes and smiling, "Master Chu, look ahead."
Chu Qichang looked into the distance and saw a huge group of people. He turned around and called the clerk behind him: "Look ahead, is it..." When he said this, he couldn't remember the person's name and looked at Wang Maolin.
Wang Maolin said, "My boss's surname is Xu, and there is a young man in his twenties named Chen."
Chu Qichang said, "Yes, yes, let's go and see if it's them."
The two clerks took the order and ran quickly, and soon brought back two people. They were none other than Manager Xu and Shen Lie who had contacted Shezhou before.
This time, no one had to come close. Master Wang saw clearly and said with a smile, "It's them."
Chu Qichuang didn't look at the people coming forward. He stretched his neck to look at the long line of people behind him. There were at least 180 or 190 people, if not 200.
"Good! Good!" He smiled and said hello twice. When Manager Xu and Shen Lie came closer, he looked at their warm smiles and said to Wang Maolin, "Are these Manager Xu and the young man named Shen Lie?"
Shopkeeper Xu and Shen Lie had already been instructed by the clerk to greet them as they approached. Chu Qichang raised his hand to tell them not to be polite. Looking at the crowd that was getting closer and closer, he could see that they all praised the governor for him.
When they got closer, he saw that they were men and women, supporting the old and carrying the young. The old man had white hair and beard, and as for the young child, he vaguely saw a woman holding a child by the hand, who was no more than five or six years old. Wasn't this a baby in someone's arms when they hid in the mountains?
Look at this group of people. Although many of them are thin, they are much better than the skinny people who can be seen everywhere in the city.
Leading such a group of old, young, women and children into the mountains and seeing them come out relatively safe and sound, Chu Qichang couldn't help but sigh in his heart that it was a great skill. Looking at Manager Xu and Shen Lie, he was even more impressed.
The plan to resettle this group of people was decided at the beginning of the month. There happened to be a group of people in the city who were making trouble under various excuses and refused to come out. Chu Qichang didn't waste any words and called a few clerks behind him: "Take your things and take them directly to the large manors I designated earlier to register them and measure the land. You can ask them first about which household will be settled in which place, and we will make it convenient for them if possible."
To bring nearly two hundred people out of the mountains to settle down, Chu Qichang must provide them with enough benefits and conveniences to make those who are still waiting and watching envious.
The clerk naturally understood what his superior meant, and responded loudly, then smiled and called Shen Lie and Shopkeeper Xu, saying, "Brother Shen, Shopkeeper Xu, bring your people and follow us. You know where the Zhuangzi is, right? First look at the land and then register your household registration. After that, you can go to the city with your household registration certificate to receive food and seed relief."
Is that it?
Old Man Chen and the others felt like they were in a dream.
The villagers and refugees who were originally waiting outside the city and still refusing to apply for settlement were stunned. Someone asked, "Have they already chosen the place where they will settle down?"
"Where did they choose?"
"Can we choose for ourselves, too?"
Originally, he was not in a hurry, but when he found so many people coming, he panicked immediately. One adult male was 40 mu, how many people were there? If they chose first, wouldn't the good locations near the gate of Shezhou have been taken by others?
The official who was helping with the household registration smiled and said, "Of course you can choose. They came here at the beginning of the month to choose. Now they can go directly to measure the land and register. Isn't the map right here? You can choose in the area we have designated. First come, first served. If you drag your feet, you will naturally have to choose what others have left."
"The queue is ready. Come one by one to handle it."
The crowd lined up in a hurry. Chu Qichuang looked at this scene and couldn't help but smile. He thought of something and asked Wang Maolin in a low voice. Wang Maolin replied.
Shen Lie and Shopkeeper Xu went forward to thank Chu Qichang and Master Wang, and also said goodbye. They were about to leave with the clerk, but Chu Qichang stopped them and said, "Mr. Shen, I have something to ask you. Would it be convenient for you to come to the side and talk for a few words?"
Shen Lie was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."
Chu Qichang led Shen Lie to the side where there were fewer people. Shopkeeper Xu took a look and Wang Maolin said, "Nothing serious. Master Chu wants to ask about the situation in the mountains."
Shopkeeper Xu was relieved. Wang Maolin asked, "What are your plans for your household registration? Are you going to move back to your hometown or something else? If you want to move to Shezhou City, I have a small house that I can give to you, and you can move in."
Giving a small house to a shopkeeper under his hand was really generous. Shopkeeper Xu was stunned for a moment and then quickly declined: "Thank you for your kindness, boss. I won't accept it without merit. But I can't do this."
Wang Maolin glanced at Wang Yunzheng who had not come near the crowd and said, "It's not in vain. Yunzheng has been relying on you for the past few years. As his uncle, I am too busy to take care of him. His aunt was sick at that time. If he hadn't been with you, I'm afraid I might not have been able to take good care of her."
Manager Xu lowered his eyes and said, "It should be, I am also his uncle. Besides, I was disrespectful when I acted like this. It's good that the old master, the old lady and the third master don't blame me. I dare not take any credit. We have been neighbors with the Shen and Chen families in the mountains for the past few years, and we are used to it. I have discussed it with my mother, wife and children. I don't have any relatives in my hometown, so I just want to be their neighbors."
Wang Maolin heard that he had made a plan and said, "It's not rude. I know what happened. Anyway, thank you for protecting the child for the past few years. You want to register your household registration outside the city. Since you have made a plan and it is close, I will follow your instructions."
Wang Maolin said this and glanced at Wang Yunzheng again. It had been a while, but the child still hadn't come over.
When Shopkeeper Xu saw him looking towards Yunzheng, he waved to Wei Qinghe and Wang Yunzheng and said, "Master Chu was here just now, so it's inconvenient for them to come over."
Both of them were well-educated and knew etiquette. The first and third wives were originally two different things. Even Wei Lingzhen, who used to serve in the first wife, came forward. The Wei siblings called him "uncle", and Wang Yunzheng called him "big uncle", and they all greeted him.
Wang Maolin's face brightened up at this moment, and he looked at Wang Yunzheng carefully: "You have grown up, taller, and darker. Your grandmother and your father have missed you for a long time. Will you go back with me today?"
Wang Yunzheng's hands were clenched slightly at his sides, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.
He didn't want to go back to the Wang family at all.
Wang Maolin guessed that he already knew about the matter of Steward Wei and his wife, so he sighed and turned to Wei Qinghe and Wei Lingzhen and said, "Qinghe, Lingzhen, I think you also know about the matter of Steward Wei and his wife. At that time, the rebel army rushed into the outer courtyard, and many servants in the mansion faced them head-on, and many were killed. I have asked people to bury your parents properly. After they are settled, ask Steward Wang to bring you and your sister to kowtow to them and burn incense."
The brother and sister's eyes turned red, and one of them had a trembling hand, but they knew that this matter could not be blamed on Master Wang. They nodded in unison and said, "Thank you, Master."
Wang Maolin turned around and called Manager Wang.
Manager Wang handed over a bundle and a thin wooden box. Wang Maolin took them and then handed both the bundle and the wooden box to Wei Qinghe.
"These are some of the property left by your parents. The old lady ordered someone to pack them up right away, and added some silver as a reward. She has been waiting for you to come back and ask me to pass them on. In the box is your indenture. I know you have always been a hard-working scholar. Now that scholars in our Great Qi have a future, this indenture will be returned to you. You can cancel your registration at the government office. In the future, you can study and become an official, which will also help to raise the reputation of your Wei family, and Steward Wei and his wife will also have some comfort in their afterlife."
There are many refugees nowadays, and they can be registered as good citizens if they want to. However, Da Qi did not deny everything of the Da Gan Dynasty. For example, the court would not touch some houses, properties, slaves and maids that did not conflict with the court's major policies and could guarantee the interests of the majority of people.
If you register yourself as a good citizen, there will be no problem if no one pursues you. However, if the old owner starts to make trouble, it will be troublesome. It is best to return the indenture directly like Wang Maolin did, and let him go to the government to cancel his registration before settling down.
Wei Qinghe was still in a daze, and Wei Lingzhen had already pushed him anxiously: "Are you stupid? Why don't you thank the old man and the old lady?"
Only those who have been slaves know what the meaning of returning this indenture is. Especially at this time when they are studying to become officials, their parents' death may have something to do with the third wife. The master did not frame or suppress them at this time, but released Wei Qinghe. The siblings felt complicated for a while.
Wei Qinghe also came to his senses, took the bundle and the wooden box, and realized that what he was holding in his arms were his parents' relics. His nose felt sore, and he knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Maolin several times, as a way of thanking Wang Maolin for releasing him and fulfilling the relationship between master and servant.
Wang Yunzheng, who had been clenching his fists, finally loosened his fingers and said to Master Wang, "Uncle, I will accompany my uncle to register for household registration first, and then return to the mansion to visit my grandmother tomorrow. However, I want to go to the provincial school to study. I wonder if the Shezhou provincial school is open now?"
Wang Maolin smiled more when he heard that he was willing to go home. He knew that his nephew loved reading. When he fled, he also brought a bag of books with him. So he smiled and said, "The provincial school has been set up and will recruit students soon. Students must pass the exam. You can go to the notice board at the gate of the government tomorrow to see the specific regulations."
Wang Yunzheng's eyes lit up and he said, "Okay, after I go back to see my grandmother, I still want to live with my uncle and study hard together to prepare for the provincial school entrance examination."
Wang Maolin looked at him. Wei Qinghe's place didn't have any good place to live. If one of the big manors was not originally his, there were still some houses in the manor. If he went to a worse place, he would have to build a straw hut for the winter. However, he also knew the situation of the child in the third room. It was good that he was willing to go back. He didn't force him to stay for a long time. If he really could enter the provincial school, he would live in the school. So he smiled and agreed.
After they finished their conversation, Chu Qichang and Shen Lie also finished their conversation. They said goodbye to each other and followed the messenger to a few farms not far from the city gate, with one side backed by a mountain and the other side close to the official road.
After walking for a while, Sang Luo asked Chen Lie in a low voice: "What did that Lord Chu call you over to talk about?"
Old Man Chen and Mrs. Chen, who were walking nearby, also looked over.
Chen Lie said: "Ask me if there are any people in the mountains near where we are hiding, and whether they are willing to come out. Ask me if I can help recruit some mountain people and accurately deliver the court's policies to the mountains."
Deep in the mountains, the few officials they have are too busy to look for people, and they don't have the ability to go in.
Mrs. Chen tilted her head and let out a cry subconsciously.
Chen Lie said, "Lord Chu has good intentions and wants more people to know that the outside world is peaceful. However, all of us have come out. The others hiding in the mountains... our area is too mountainous and there is nowhere to find them. Even if I want to help, it is difficult for me to help."
These words were spoken to the clerk in front who was listening with his ears perked up. In fact, quite a few neighbors were interested and many had visited their two villages to inquire about the possibility recently, but there were more who were hesitant.
Whether others come back or not is their own business. He can't just sell them out like that.
As soon as he said this, the Chen family and Xu family members beside him understood what he meant. Mrs. Chen said, "Yes, we are a little lucky. The relatives of many of these people still don't know where they are and what their situation is."
One part of this was to respond to the clerk in front, but the other part was sincere. Shi Erlang's wife and Zhou Cunzheng's wife were both a little depressed and responded one after another: "I don't know what happened to my family. I don't know where they hid. Now I can't find them even if I want to."
"My parents and brothers are the same. I don't know if they are all good or not."
As soon as these words started coming out, the atmosphere became heavy. Chen Pozi was embarrassed and hurriedly advised, "There will be a day of reunion. Everything is peaceful outside. You should be able to find out if you go out. The policies given by the court are good, and they will gradually come out. Go to each county one by one and you will eventually see them."
The two clerks in front listened for a while, exchanged looks, and just as they reached the turning point of the official road, they turned around and said to the people behind them with a smile: "Go a little further in here and you will reach Daxing Manor. Mr. Shen, Manager Xu, which of you are being placed in Daxing Manor? Follow me."
According to the area occupied by several villages, Chen Lie and his group of nearly 200 people would have to be dispersed among the three villages to have enough land to be divided.
Which farm each family would go to had been decided long before they left the mountains. Daxing Village, which was the closest to Shezhou City, was, needless to say, the one that these families from the villages outside the village chose. Firstly, it had the best location, and secondly, the size of the farms was about the same, just enough for them.
When they heard about Daxing Village, they all put aside their worries about their families and immediately became excited: "We, we!"
Those who were carrying loads on their shoulders and baskets went out and stood alone, and the children followed the adults' group with laughter.
Zhou Laizi, Zheng the Butcher, Dong Ge'er's family, Gan Erlang's family, and the Feng clan all laughed. Feng Dalang said, "Go ahead, let's keep going and visit your farm later. After all, it's close and we can get there in a few steps."
Everybody started laughing.
The road was divided into two parts. The Feng family still walked along the official road, while a few households outside the village walked towards the dirt road inside. Not far away, they saw a circle of walls. There should have been a gate between the walls, but it had been broken and was wide open, and the farmland and houses inside could be vaguely seen.
Manager Xu and Shen Lie, who had already come to see this place, laughed and said, "We're here!"
A group of children saw that their village still had a wall and couldn't help but scream. Some of the naughty ones thought the official was quite friendly and ran inside first, saying, "Let's go in and take a look first!"
As soon as the boys ran away, Shen Ning went to pull Xu Wenyin and Shi Qiaoer: “Come on, let’s go and take a look too.”
Chen Lie had been in there before, and there was no danger inside, so he just let them go.
A group of young boys and a few girls were laughing all the way. Shi Erniu, who ran in first, was already happy: "Xiao An, look, there is a big blue brick and tile house!"
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