Chapter 338
Chapter 338
Before long, a crowd of refugees with smoothly shaved heads appeared outside the city.
At a glance, anyone who did not know better might think they had arrived at a monastery.
Jiang Yunsui and Ji Yang wore short red cloth bands around their arms and came to help.
Those wearing the red armbands were essentially volunteers who helped handle minor tasks.
They registered people’s names or assisted at the medical tents.
Most were older children who had come to learn, which would also make it easier for them to find work later.
Jiang Yunsui was bandaging someone’s wound, a task she knew well.
“By the way, Big Sister, once you’ve recovered, go register over there if you want to move to a new village. Someone will arrange for you to help build it.”
“This year’s seeds have already been distributed, but you can clear some land and grow vegetables suited to the season. If you need money, you can help build houses or the city wall. Those jobs pay wages and include a meal.”
“Women can collect wool from the textile workshop to spin into yarn. Those who are good with a needle can also make clothes. The jobs are only temporary, though, so the pay will be a little lower.”
“You can only collect porridge once a day here.”
They limited the porridge to one serving a day because they feared the refugees might grow idle and unwilling to work.
A little aid inspired gratitude, but too much bred resentment. If people grew accustomed to accepting charity as their due, some would become angry when the aid suddenly stopped and demand to know why they were no longer being helped.
The young woman hurriedly committed all this to memory and thanked Jiang Yunsui repeatedly.
The other volunteers shared the same information while helping people.
Some refugees who were healthy and free of illness immediately wanted to find work and save money.
Recruiters had set up tables outside the city, and people called out available jobs.
“House construction in the eastern district! Strong workers needed! Twenty copper coins a day, plus a filling afternoon meal!”
“City wall construction! Twenty copper coins a day and a filling afternoon meal!”
“The textile workshop needs temporary women workers to sort wool! Fifteen copper coins a day, paid daily, with one filling meal!”
“The textile workshop also needs skilled needleworkers to make a batch of winter clothes! Thirty copper coins a day, paid daily…”
“The stone quarry needs miners! Sixty copper coins a day, paid daily…”
“The jade mine needs miners! Sixty copper coins a day…”
Dangerous jobs clearly paid more, and workers also signed agreements covering accidents such as injury or death.
Those who were injured received compensation according to the severity of their wounds.
If a worker died, his immediate family would receive ten taels of silver.
The work was dangerous, but the higher pay and guarantees still led many men to risk signing up.
Applicants had to present identification tablets.
These were issued when their names were registered and recorded each person’s name, age, and former place of residence.
Only those with identification tablets could take these jobs.
Thanks to this entire system, everything continued operating in an orderly manner despite the large number of refugees pouring into Mobei.
Ji Yan’an stood atop the city wall and looked down at the bustling yet orderly scene, his heart at ease.
This was not limited to Beizhen City. Every county under his authority in Mobei followed the same procedures.
He sent people to inspect them from time to time. Any official who neglected his duties was immediately dismissed and replaced.
Beside him, Song Jin held a fan and smiled.
“With this entire system in place, how could chaos possibly break out?”
“Come to think of it, that damned emperor deliberately spread the news and multiplied the number of refugees coming to Mobei. He wanted to see this place descend into chaos. If he saw this scene now, he’d probably die of rage.”
Indeed, far more refugees had come to Mobei than expected, and the Imperial Court had played a role in that.
Many refugees knew nothing about Mobei. Its frequent wars and bitter cold had left such a deep impression that many still did not want to come.
But the people of the Imperial Court cared only for their own pleasures, and very few were willing to accept refugees.
They also feared a refugee uprising. Having only just suppressed the Prince of Nanyang, they had no desire to face another large rebel army.
And so someone devised a plan to direct all the refugees toward Mobei.
Mobei was now a grave threat to the emperor and the Imperial Court as well.
They hoped that sending vast numbers of refugees here would create chaos.
The scheme would dispose of the refugees while causing Ji Yan’an enormous trouble, killing two birds with one stone.
But never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that Mobei’s grain reserves could feed and supply these refugees for a very long time.
Mobei also gave people work in exchange for relief, using their labor to accelerate the growth of many local industries.
Many refugees were willing to enlist in the army as well.
This expanded Ji Yan’an’s forces even further.
The Imperial Court had truly tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait.
“Ji Yan’an.”
Wearing a face covering and lifting her skirt slightly, Jiang Yunsui climbed the stairs to the city wall and went straight to Ji Yan’an.
She had spotted him from below the wall.
Her eyesight was excellent.
“It’s so lively down there. Everyone is thanking you.”
Jiang Yunsui reached Ji Yan’an’s side and leaned over the battlement to look down.
She rather liked watching such lively scenes.
“You’re the one they should thank.”
Ji Yan’an had first heard the idea of providing work in exchange for relief from Jiang Yunsui.
Of course, Jiang Yunsui had only described an example from her previous world.
Everything now in place had been developed into a detailed plan after Ji Yan’an, Song Jin, and the others spent several days discussing it.
They then issued the plan to every city and town, creating the stable scene before them now.
Jiang Yunsui shook her head.
“You all worked it out yourselves. Everyone is doing well, so of course they should thank you.”
“And everyone in the city helped too.”
Some donated old clothes and bedding from home.
Others donated pots, bowls, utensils, and similar household items. Once the refugees settled, those supplies would be distributed to them.
Some people simply donated copper coins.
Even some grassland tribes donated meat, sheep’s milk, and cow’s milk.
Since the milk spoiled easily, it was turned into dairy products.
These included cheese, milk tofu, and powdered milk.
“None of this is my accomplishment.”
Ji Yan’an lowered his gaze and rested his long fingers on her hair.
Jiang Yunsui tilted her head and looked at him in confusion.
Then she heard a rare note of warmth enter Ji Yan’an’s cool voice.
“You simply don’t realize how much influence you have.”
Because she suggested work relief and gave them an example, they found a starting point from which to devise a way to resettle the refugees while benefiting Mobei’s development.
Because she was kindhearted and first donated her own old clothes, everyone else followed her example and gave away unused belongings. This solved many of the refugees’ problems.
Those things might not have been valuable, but to refugees who had only just arrived in an unfamiliar place and had nowhere to settle, they were the best possible gifts.
The corners of Jiang Yunsui’s mouth lifted into a happy smile.
“Oh, why bother deciding who did what? Everyone deserves credit.”