When Tian Yu woke up early the next morning, Zhao Moyan had already left, leaving the matter to the head guard. Tian Yu nodded to indicate that she understood, and then busied herself organizing everyone to prepare breakfast. It was the same as yesterday—rice porridge and steamed buns—but much faster than the day before. The Crown Prince himself had brought people to help and delivered a cartload of food and supplies. Looking at the large group of refugees, Tian Yu sighed, thinking that this couldn't go on. Since someone was deliberately trying to cause her trouble, she couldn't let them down!
After thinking for a long time, Tian Yu stood on a high place and called out to everyone, "Fellow villagers, I have limited food here. In order for everyone to have food to eat in the future, to be able to live a good life again, and for the sake of your families, we must work together." Everyone nodded in agreement.
Tian Yu continued, "We will try to help everyone rebuild their homes, but we hope that everyone can cooperate. Please go there and register now so that we can allocate resources. Please also tell them what special skills you have, such as embroidery, farming, fish farming, or anything else."
Everyone looked at each other, and seeing that they were a little worried, Tian Yu quickly pulled the crown prince onto the stage and said loudly, "This is the crown prince of our Wu Kingdom. With him here, I would not lie to you." After saying that, she winked at the crown prince, asking him to say a few words.
The Crown Prince had only come to watch the spectacle, but he never expected this turn of events. Seeing that Tian Yu had pulled him up, he straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and said, "I, the Crown Prince, guarantee that as long as everyone cooperates, everyone will have food to eat and a place to live. My Wu Kingdom will not abandon you."
Then everyone went to the place arranged by Tian Yu to register their personal information. Several people in the family who could write were sent to help, but it was still not enough. Tian Yu asked the servants who came with the Crown Prince if they could write. Several eunuchs could, so Tian Yu pulled them all to help. The Crown Prince was left standing far away. If it weren't to please his father, why would he come to such a place? He was annoyed by this group of refugees!
Suddenly, Tianyu's desolate farm was bustling with activity. The person recording the events asked, "Name?"
"Li Ergou".
Where do you live?
"Old Li Village".
Which county is it from?
Fengyang County.
What county?
"Fengyang County, the Feng of Fenghuang."
"Okay, I understand. How old are you?"
"Death squad".
"What"
"dead body"
The person asking the question gestured with their hand before nodding in understanding.
What did you do before?
"Farming".
"What else can they do?"
Does helping people build houses count?
"Calculate!"
Who else is in the family?
"I only have one daughter left."
"What's your name? How old are you?"
"Little girl, you're ten years old."
Interspersed throughout were various dialects, some of which were so incomprehensible that several people had to explain and discuss before they could understand what was being said. Tian Yu was the biggest translator among them. Perhaps because she lived in modern times, she could still understand many dialects, so she was the busiest person, spinning around like a top, going wherever she was needed.
Another meal was served in the afternoon. Because there were so many people, only two meals could be provided per day. By dark, the basic information of these hundreds of people had finally been registered. The Crown Prince, bored, had already gone back, leaving only a few eunuchs who had been brought in by Tian Yu to do chores. After the registration was completed, the eunuchs quickly took their leave to go back and serve their master, leaving without even eating.
Despite her aching legs from running around all day, Tian Yu worked through the night to organize the files. The next day, when Prince Wu came, she showed them to him and said, "These are the basic details of these refugees. I've roughly organized them by gender and age. I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is? Is there any way to resolve this?"
"It hasn't been decided yet, but this morning at court, Zhao Moyan proposed selecting some of the physically fit to serve in the army, some to be sent back to their hometowns to be supported by the court to cultivate the land, and some who are really unable to move could be arranged to cultivate the land in villages near the capital. I think this is a good idea."
“Yes! That’s what I was thinking too. But the elderly, women and children can be left to me. I’ll find a way to help them.” Tian Yu left the list behind and handed the rest to Prince Wu.
"Are you sure these people are troublesome?"
"Don't worry! I have a plan."
With the encouragement of Prince Wu and Zhao Moyan, the Emperor adopted Zhao Moyan's suggestion. The next day, Zhao Moyan's deputy general led a group of men suitable for military service away. To appease everyone, Tian Yu offered three taels of silver to each person willing to follow the arrangement. Those unwilling could also receive three taels of silver and leave on their own. Most people were willing to stay and follow the court's arrangements; only a very small number received their silver and left.
On the third day, the imperial court sent people to take away those who were able to return to their hometowns to continue working. Tian Yu still prepared three taels of silver for each of them and repeatedly assured them that the court would help them rebuild their homes. Most of those left were orphans and the elderly, who had no other relatives. Tian Yu left the elderly on the farm, had a few thatched huts built for them, and let them live with the people from Qian Village so they could look after each other and help her take care of the crops. But Tian Yu and her group had to move back to Qinyuan.
For the remaining dozens of orphans, Tian Yu rented a large courtyard in a remote part of the capital and hired a tutor, hoping they would learn more. In addition to reading and writing, Tian Yu also hired embroiderers and carpenters to teach them some basic skills, hoping they could support themselves in the future. However, during this period, she had to pay for these expenses, which put a lot of pressure on her.
After running around all day, Tian Yu was so tired that she could barely straighten her back. Green Willow and Autumn Chrysanthemum came in with water and said, "Madam, why don't you take a hot bath? You've had a long day."
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