County Magistrate Zheng was also anxious. The market had only been open for over a month, and refugees were already pouring into the official road.
If we don't find a way to settle these people, how can we attract caravans? The development of Rongcheng will inevitably be affected, which is something County Magistrate Zheng does not want to see.
Feeling the burning gaze of County Magistrate Zheng, Li Erlang said, "Sir, the weather is warmer now, and there isn't as much food supply. You can collect some vegetable seeds and let them grow more vegetables. With a small amount of grain as a supplement, it's hard to say whether they will be full, but at least they won't starve to death!"
"As for the food for disaster relief, you can use the rent from your shop to buy it, or you can raise some from the landlords and gentry!"
County Magistrate Zheng nodded, then shook his head and said, "We can only ask these people to donate one or two loads at most. I'm afraid that this alone is far from enough!"
"Sir, we can still find a way to make those people pay!"
"I want to, too, but it's easier said than done!" County Magistrate Zheng said dejectedly.
"Sir, we can spread the news again that we are going to expand the inn outside the city. Do you think anyone would be interested?"
Thanks to the two shops of the Li family, there are now more and more merchants staying in Rongcheng, and the Yuelai Inn outside the city can no longer accommodate so many foreign merchants.
Merchants who have stayed in Rongcheng for a long time have even rented houses in nearby villages. Even for the future development of the market, it is obviously only a matter of time before an inn is built and expanded outside the city, and now is the time to make use of it.
After hearing what Li Erlang said, County Magistrate Zheng nodded in agreement, thinking that this was a great idea. Even though he had never done business before, he knew that it would be very tempting, not to mention those merchants who were eyeing the market.
"But sir, this time we won't be renting it out to those people. Instead, we'll be setting aside a piece of land for them to build on. However, the builders will need to be recruited from you, sir. This way, you can earn money to buy food, and those refugees can also earn some money!"
"Also, there's no fixed price for the land. The highest bidder wins!"
County Magistrate Zheng couldn't help but slam his hands and cheer: "Good, good, good," he said three times in a row, and then continued to ask: "Is there anything else you want to say? Please tell me!"
"Your Excellency can use the money you've raised to hire them to work on water conservancy projects and dig ditches. Firstly, this will give them the opportunity to make money and help them survive. Secondly, it will also prevent the local people from complaining about your helping outsiders. Seeing these people helping their hometown, the villagers who benefited will feel more comfortable with it!"
Li Erlang's last words hit the nail on the head for County Magistrate Zheng. This is how people are. They don't worry about scarcity, but about inequality.
The resettlement method discussed by the two is only based on the situation where the number of refugees is around 10,000. If there are only this many people, they can use this method to resettle the refugees first, and first ensure that the official road is unobstructed and safe!
As long as the stability of the external environment is guaranteed, the market can be run smoothly. As for grain, the summer harvest in the south is about to begin. As long as the official road is safe, those merchants will bring the goods that Rongcheng needs most to exchange here. As long as it is profitable, there is no need to worry about those people not coming!
The two of them continued discussing until late at night.
County Magistrate Zheng patted Li Erlang on the shoulder and said, "Take a rest first. I will send someone to Yuncheng to find out the situation tomorrow!" Then he called a servant and ordered him to take Li Erlang to the guest room to rest, and then returned to the inner house.
On the other hand, because her husband did not come home all night, Mrs. Lin tossed and turned and did not sleep much. She got up early the next morning, packed some clothes for her husband to change, and asked her daughter to deliver them later.
After finishing breakfast, Li Yan noticed the dark circles under her mother Qian's eyes. She thought that she must not have slept well last night. In fact, she herself was not in much better condition either. She didn't know the exact number of refugees, nor did she know whether the method she had envisioned would work.
Li Yan took the bag from her mother's hand, comforted her mother, and then went to the market with her cousins.
Li Yan did not go to the shop, but went directly to the city, also thinking of sending the clean clothes to her father as soon as possible, and try to arrive before her father went out.
As soon as Li Yan entered the city, she felt that the atmosphere in the city today was a little strange. The pedestrians were in a hurry and had sad faces.
It was still early at this time, so Li Yan did not inquire too much and went directly to the county government office.
After the gatekeeper informed him, Li Erlang hurried out of the gatehouse and asked, "Why are you here? Did something happen at home?"
Like Lin, Li Erlang, who had never stayed outside before, did not sleep well that night.
Li Yan shook her head and handed the bundle in her hand to her father: "Everything is fine at home. It was my mother who asked me to change clothes for my father!"
"I'm afraid I can't go back in the next few days. I need to help the adults draft arrangements for the resettlement of refugees. Please help me comfort your mother and don't let her worry!" Li Erlang instructed.
"Father, how many refugees have arrived in the north now? Do you know the attitudes of the county magistrates in other towns and cities?" This is what Li Yan wanted to know most.
Li Erlang shook his head, pulled his daughter to a secluded corner, and whispered, "Now the prefect seems to want to stay out of this matter, and I'm afraid the other towns under his jurisdiction have the same intention. Without the order from above, no one is willing to take on this matter at this time!
"We can't just leave it alone, right? If the refugees have no way to survive, what will happen if there's a riot?"
Li Yan was anxious. If there were only a few refugees, it would be fine. But if there were too many, and if they were left alone, the official roads would be insecure and no merchants would dare to come. She had worked so hard to plan this market for a long time, and now it would be delayed if she wanted to attract merchants from the south!
"Don't worry, there's a porridge stall outside the city. Although the refugees can't enter the city for the time being, they can still get a bite to eat. There are people sent by the general stationed outside the city, so there shouldn't be any chaos!"
The weather is getting warmer now, the people have something to eat, and there are soldiers watching over them, so I don't think they will do anything out of the ordinary!
After all, if there is a way to survive, who would want to drag their family to a dead end?
"The general is mediating this matter. You should go back to the shop and don't go out alone in the future. Although there are no refugees in the city, the news that there are refugees crossing the border has probably spread. It will be unsafe if you encounter villains who take advantage of the situation!" Li Erlang warned.
Li Erlang gave his daughter a few more instructions, and then someone came looking for him.
"Miss, our young lady heard that you came to the county government office, and she wanted to invite you over for a chat!"
Over the past six months, Li Yan had not seen Zheng Hui for a long time, except for asking her father to bring her food a few times. Now that Zheng Hui sent someone to invite her, it was difficult for Li Yan to refuse.
"Go!" Li Erlang knew that the two were familiar with each other, so he was not worried.
After saying goodbye to her father, Li Yan followed the little maid and entered the backyard of the county government office through the corner gate.
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