Chapter 349 Refugees Everywhere in Lingnan
In a small open space in the backyard, four people stood facing each other.
Yun Zhaoxue spoke first, "I wonder if Your Highness has been out in the streets lately."
Zhao Xuan replied, "I go out every day. Xue'er, just say whatever you want to say."
“There were countless people begging along the streets, including refugees from the north and local people who had lost their land to cultivate because their land had been confiscated.”
Zhao Xuan replied, "I see. Where there is war, there are refugees. Let's resolve the war first, drive the enemy out of the Central Plains, recover the lost territories, and let the refugees return to their hometowns to farm."
“Looking back at the dynasties that fell in the past, many dynasties were overthrown by peasant uprisings. Large amounts of rural land in Jiangnan were annexed, taxes were heavy, and the people suffered greatly. Disillusioned with the court, they joined the rebels in rebellion.”
If the refugees in the south are not properly resettled, while the soldiers at the front are fighting, a fire breaking out in the south will only give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage.
Yun Jiaoyue retorted in disagreement, "You're exaggerating. They've all fallen on hard times and are begging on the streets. How can they rebel if they have no power and no money?"
“They risked their lives to rebel. They had nothing left but their lives. It’s not unreasonable for them to risk everything to seek a way to survive for themselves and their families.”
Xiao Xuance also said, "Your Highness, the rebels in Jiangnan were led by the people. With the help of some people, millions of people rose up in rebellion. The soldiers of the Great Zhou were exhausted from suppressing the rebellion in Jiangnan, which is why they suffered repeated defeats on the battlefield, giving the Great Jing an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. I hope Your Highness will learn from this."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Yun Zhaoxue said, "Press the wealthy merchants to return the land to the people, open the granaries to distribute porridge, and provide relief to the refugees who fled from the north."
Zhao Xuan said, "Returning the land to the people is acceptable, but opening the granaries is not. If this precedent is set, the people in the north will all flee to the south, and the lost land in the north will be completely surrendered."
Yun Zhaoxue said, "If we don't open the granaries to help the disaster victims, are we just going to let them starve to death?"
She considered herself a sophisticated egoist, but seeing those people starving and freezing to death on the streets, she couldn't bear it and wanted to help them as much as possible so they could have enough to eat.
If the people knew that the monarch they revered and worshipped had indirectly caused their families to be destroyed and their lives to be lost.
If instigated by someone with ulterior motives, they will surely rebel against the imperial court.
Yun Jiaoyue firmly opposed it, saying, "Jiangnan has just experienced a major war, and the crops have been destroyed. The granaries in Lingnan are the reserves of the national treasury for Your Highness's ascension to the throne in the north. They absolutely cannot be used to relieve disaster victims."
Zhao Xuan didn't speak, but Yun Jiaoyue's meaning was his.
The result of the four-person negotiation was that both sides compromised, and Zhao Xuan agreed to resolve the local land consolidation issue and return the land to the people.
But he refused to open the granaries and distribute grain to help the people.
War requires food; only with people fighting can the Great Zhou Dynasty be preserved, and its emperor's throne secured.
"Young Master Xiao, I have already delayed by a day for your sake. We will depart early tomorrow morning. I can wait, but the soldiers and people in the north cannot." Zhao Xuan patted Xiao Xuance on the shoulder.
He and Yun Jiaoyue left.
Yun Zhaoxue said, "The two children are still young and cannot travel long distances. You go to Lin'an first, and I will bring the children to find you after some time."
Xiao Xuance was very reluctant to be separated from his wife and children.
However, he knew that Yun Zhaoxue had her own ambitions and that there were more important things for her to do in Lingnan.
"Take good care of yourself. I'm leaving Zhuiying, Zhufeng, and the others behind to protect you. I'll be waiting for you in Lin'an."
"Um."
In the middle of the night, Zhao Xuan went to the Chamber of Commerce and, using both threats and persuasion, ordered them to return some of the land to the people for cultivation.
Chairman Feng asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness was perfectly fine, why did you suddenly change your mind? You've already taken back the land, and now you're giving it back. It'll be difficult to take it back next time."
Zhao Xuan glanced at him sideways and snorted coldly, "You still dare to question me? I told you to annex some land and leave some for the people so they could support themselves, but I didn't tell you to leave them not an inch, take over their houses, and leave them homeless."
"Your Highness, it's not that we wanted to be ruthless, it's just that those unruly people refused to pay their debts and hand over the land. They would gather crowds and cause trouble at various mansions every few days, which angered the lords. So those lords didn't show them any mercy and drove them out."
“Give the land back to them.”
"This... His Highness previously promised us that if the matter was accomplished, he would make an exception and allow us to enter the court as officials. Does that promise still stand?"
"We'll talk about it later," Zhao Xuan said, waving his hand dismissively.
Chairman Feng respectfully watched him leave, and after his figure disappeared, the smile on his lips slowly froze.
"You're backing down now? Too late."
The steward asked curiously, "Master, are you not planning to act according to Prince Xuan's orders?"
Feng Zhang put his hands behind his back. "I'll listen to him. Can the old man forgive me? The Jiangnan rebellion failed because it was close to the northern army. If Lingnan were to fall into chaos, the emperor would be far away and their reach wouldn't be as far. They also have to face the powerful enemy in the north and have no time to take care of Lingnan."
"Prepare a sedan chair immediately; I'm going to see the old man."
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