novelraw Chapter 829: Guiliang: Extra Story (Part 2)
Chapter 829: Guiliang: Extra Story (Part 2)
The border army still had two months of military provisions.
General Fan, without any reservations, took out all the provisions, instructing the kitchen to make porridge and steamed buns. The porridge was thick, chopsticks could stand in it without falling. The multigrain buns were soft, warm, and plentiful enough to fill one’s stomach.
After working until midnight, the returning Da Liang citizens finally had a full meal.
Someone started to cry again: "Sob, I really didn’t expect we’d have a day to return alive... Hiccup!"
Bursting into tears while hiccupping.
"Our homes are all destroyed, where can we go from here?" This was a person from Peng City, whose entire family was killed, leaving him alone. A robust man, he had been a slave on the grassland for years, now as thin as a stick, tears streaming down his face, presenting a heartbreaking sight.
Amidst the cries, came a resolute voice: "The Emperor sent people to save us, he won’t abandon us. Everyone, rest assured, we’ve endured so many hardships, we will surely make it to good times ahead."
Indeed! The worst hardships have passed.
No matter what, being able to return to Da Liang is the greatest fortune.
The people wiped away their tears and began to smile again.
They wrapped themselves in the thin blankets provided by the border army, snuggled by the bonfire, and fell asleep with relief and hope for the future.
General Fan was too worried to sleep at all.
With so many mouths to feed, relying solely on the provisions of the border army would last at most half a month. The court sent provisions every two months. He did send a memorial to the court, but the back and forth would take some time. If the provisions were not delivered promptly, both the civilians and soldiers would go hungry. By then, there would be serious trouble.
The next morning, General Fan, with dark circles under his eyes, went to see Left General.
Liu Hengchang and others were also present.
Left General simply held a brief meeting.
How to settle the people needed to wait for the Empress’s decree. The military generals only dealt with leading troops and fighting, the governance of civil affairs they didn’t understand at all. The most immediate concern right now was the shortage of provisions.
Liu Hengchang spoke up: "Both generals, please be patient. The Emperor, being wise, must have already made preparations. Perhaps, the provisions are already on their way and will arrive at the border in a few days."
Indeed, Liu Hengchang understood the Empress the best.
Five days later, the supply caravan arrived in an unbroken stream.
The one who delivered the provisions was none other than Tang Youyin’s father, Tang Xianzhong.
Today, Grandmaster Tang is the top grain merchant in the Northern Land. Backed by the Nanyang Prince Mansion, with the support of the Da Liang Empress, Tang’s Grain Shop has already opened in every county of the Northern Land.
Grandmaster Tang is over fifty years old, yet full of energy. Upon meeting such big figures as the Left General and General Fan, he showed no sign of timidity. He calmly cupped his hands and said, "Two months ago, the Emperor had sent word to the Tang Family, preparing provisions for the army and the people."
"I have transferred all transportable provisions from the grain shop. This is the first batch, a total of 100,000 stones. Another 300,000 stones will arrive in succession within a few days."
"In addition, there are caravans bringing seeds. Once the people are settled, they can reclaim wasteland, and plant corn and sweet potatoes. In no more than half a year, they will achieve self-sufficiency."
Left General and General Fan were all smiles, deeply admiring the Empress’s impeccable planning.
Accompanying Grandmaster Tang was an ugly, dark, and skinny man.
This unsightly man, like a black rat, was Cai Ye, the County Magistrate of Li County in Nanyang County.
Upon seeing County Magistrate Cai, Liu Hengchang immediately relaxed his brows and smiled: "I should have anticipated that the Emperor would send you."
The pitiful tens of thousands who had been slaves of the Rouran needed gradual settlement and the establishment of a peaceful life. A wise and capable, people-first official needed to be appointed. Who could be more suitable than County Magistrate Cai?
By an imperial edict, County Magistrate Cai was promoted from a seventh-rank county magistrate to prefectural governor. Henceforth, all the tens of thousands of people returning from the grassland would be under Prefectural Governor Cai’s management.
Despite the promotion, Prefectural Governor Cai maintained his modest and low-key demeanor, chuckling: "Being nourished by the state, I shall share the concerns of the state. I only fear that my abilities are insufficient for such responsibility, thus failing the Emperor’s trust."
Left General, with a smile, responded: "The illustrious name of Prefectural Governor Cai is well known throughout Da Liang’s court. Since the Emperor has sent you, he trusts you. Prefectural Governor Cai need not be modest, if lacking manpower, feel free to speak."
Prefectural Governor Cai was not at all polite, stating immediately: "Settling the people is no easy task. Land needs to be allocated to them, and assistance must be provided in building houses. Indeed, I plan to borrow some manpower from the General."
Left General: "..."
Nanyang County does produce talents, that’s beyond doubt.
To say nothing of Chancellor Chen and Minister Feng, who are now the pillars of Da Liang. Officials like Chen Jinyu, Tang Youyin, Ma Yaosong, and Yang Zheng are all astute and capable.
This ugly-looking Prefectural Governor Cai, before him, can’t be judged by appearance. Upon his arrival, he immediately set to work tirelessly.
Having made such a boast, Left General had no choice but to lend out 20,000 troops.
Prefectural Governor Cai meticulously organized these 20,000 troops into hundreds of small teams. Each team consisted of a hundred people, tasked with building houses for a village.
The houses needed to be built quickly, while also being windproof and warm. All the detailed requirements filled a page, distributed to all leaders. Should any problems arise with the houses built by any team, it was possible to trace it back to that team.
Left General also looked at this page, twitching his mouth, and turned to ask Liu Hengchang: "Has Prefectural Governor Cai always worked like this when serving in Li County?"
Liu Hengchang, with a nonchalant face, replied: "This is nothing. Just wait and see, General! In three to five years, Guiliang City will become the most dazzling among all Da Liang’s counties."
Indeed, the Emperor personally established Guiliang County for the returning Da Liang people.
The place where the people were to be settled was the original Peng City. After several years, the empty Peng City had long fallen into ruin. However, the original city walls could be repaired for use. Some of the homes and houses inside could still be habitable after repairs, and materials like stone and wood could be salvaged from those uninhabitable ones.
It’s not realistic to settle tens of thousands of people inside the city, so Prefectural Governor Cai selected original Peng City residents to reside within the city first.
The rest of the people, villages were built around Peng City. With elite soldiers under Left General’s command assisting, the speed of cutting trees and building houses was astonishing. In just over a month, the villages had taken shape.
As Left General prepared to lead his troops back to court, Prefectural Governor Cai shamelessly approached General Fan for more men.
Each village still needed a fence, and ditches had to be dug!
General Fan, being amicable towards the Emperor’s trusted ministers, gladly lent a thousand soldiers.
Prefectural Governor Cai continuously expressed his gratitude, while boldly asking General Fan: "The villages are mostly built, the people have already settled in. Next, I plan to lead the folks to reclaim wasteland, farm, raise chickens and pigs, and plant vegetables and fruits. The seeds sent from the Imperial Manor through Changning Marquis are very high-yield. Once the people can be self-sufficient, what if the surplus is sold to the military camp?"
General Fan: "..."