HCB Chapter 150 Absorbing Population
Chapter 150 Absorbing Population
Wave after wave of seriously ill victims were dealt with, and bowls of medicine and porridge were fed to the surviving victims.
April is finally here.
Perhaps the disasters in other places have also eased.
The number of disaster victims piled up at the Lezhou city gate remained stable at over 2,000.
People from the Southwest Palace finally arrived, and they wanted to summarize the disaster information.
I was surprised to see so many victims alive outside Lezhou City.
You should know that nearly 10,000 people died in Changjia Prefecture, that is, Changjia County, and almost 30,000 refugees died outside the city gate of Changjia Prefecture.
He rushed to Lezhou from various counties. Not to mention the faraway places, even outside the gate of Yicheng County was "clean and spotless", with no living people.
The people in the palace cleaned and disinfected the city gate tent according to Xu Siyu's requirements before allowing her to enter the second floor of the city gate and talk to her from a distance of three meters.
"Two hundred and three people died in the city?" The household official of the palace looked at Xu Siyu in disbelief, then realized the difference in status and lowered his head again.
It seems that Earl Anle has a way to deal with the plague, and there is still some surplus that has not been squeezed out. He must bring the news to the prince as soon as possible.
After the plague, the King of Southwest was very angry about the sharp drop in his soldiers.
There is an urgent shortage of medicinal materials everywhere, which even affects the treatment of common diseases. If the situation continues, I am afraid that even minor illnesses may kill people.
The King of Southwest was asking them to think of a solution.
Xu Siyu didn't know that she was being targeted again, so she pushed a local record of Lezhou to him.
"Yes. The deceased's information and cause of death are all recorded."
Xu Siyu's record also included the victims who were allowed into the city gate.
"However, I have no record of what happened outside the city."
"That's fine. When each city counts the heads according to the old records, if they can't find the person, they'll cancel the account."
The Southwest Palace means when a person dies.
Xu Siyu thought for a moment and asked again, "What if the person goes back?"
"Those with registered permanent residence will have theirs restored, and those without will be sent to the barracks."
Xu Siyu's eyes rolled, this meant that she could recruit people.
After registering the situation in Lezhou, the household official asked as usual whether Lezhou needed help from the court. Although he had seen the relaxed life of the citizens in Lezhou, he felt that this question was unnecessary.
"Tax relief?"
As soon as Xu Siyu spoke, the household official didn't know how to respond.
You know, Lezhou has the lowest tax rate. After all, it is the fief of Anle Earl. The military and corvée labor are all managed by Anle Earl himself. The court only collects some household taxes per person. What else can the court reduce or exempt?
Xu Siyu didn't make things difficult for him. She set up a table of wine and sent the hard-working household official off!
Upstairs at the city gate.
Standing under the early summer sun, Xu Siyu picked up her loudspeaker and announced to the victims: "The snowstorm is over. Starting tomorrow, there will be no more porridge distribution. You can go home! I will build a pagoda at the incineration pit and invite eminent monks to pray for the deceased every year. Don't worry!"
As soon as Xu Siyu finished speaking, a group of people who were used to being arranged by her knelt on the ground and kept begging her: "Uncle, please take us in! We have no home..."
"Someone from the Southwest Palace just reported that anyone with a household registration can go back!"
The disaster came unexpectedly. Heavy snow blocked the mountains and roads. Most of those who were forced to become refugees were villagers who lived not far from Lezhou and had no city walls or shelter.
Perhaps, when they left home in the beginning, they just wanted to beg for food or medicine.
When the suffering is over, you can go home.
"I...ours is lost!" A young boy came from the back to the front and knelt down, also begging to stay.
Xu Siyu will definitely take in some disaster victims.
As long as the city gate is opened, it is impossible to stop people from coming in.
Even if they did not have household registration, as long as people in the city bought them and signed a contract to sell them, they would become Lezhou people.
Besides, Xu Siyu originally wanted to recruit people.
"If you want to become a citizen of Lezhou, you must first serve two months of labor service in Lezhou. After the labor service, you can become a citizen."
The conditions offered by Xu Siyu were not high. Compared to letting them return on their own, it was already a clear way out.
She also had to take care of the food and drink for the laborers, and with a two-month time difference, she could clear out space to accommodate these new people.
Through labor, city officials can also identify which of the disaster victims are hardworking and persevering, which can also make further resettlement more appropriate.
After Xu Siyu put forward the conditions, most of those who had lost their household registration went to the city gate to register.
Among those who had registered household registration, some decided to stay because their family members died here so that they could burn incense and offer sacrifices during festivals; but in the end, some people left because they did not want to work.
At the end of the registration at the city gate, 1,600 people were left. Although there were old people, women and children among these people, this size, which was almost one-tenth of the population of Lezhou, still made Xu Siyu satisfied.
In fact, she didn't want to burn these victims at first. Firstly, she couldn't do it, and secondly, she wanted to attract some population to Lezhou.
In her opinion, people are both consumption power and productivity. For a city to develop, it must have enough people and good people.
Due to a great disaster, the Ming Dynasty lost nearly 20% of its population. Xu Siyu thought that it would take a long time to recuperate, but he did not expect to receive a recruitment order from the court.
The conscription order had no effect on the people of Lezhou, as the order for Lezhou was issued by Xu Siyu.
This recruitment order was sent to Lezhou and was given to Xu Siyu to read.
When Pingxiang, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, appeared in Lezhou, Xu Siyu almost didn't recognize him.
Don’t they say that men are in their prime at 31?
But the Southwest King Pingxiang in front of him was very old and looked like he had suffered a great crime.
"I've been infected with the plague. There was no medicine available, but I managed to get through it." Only someone who has experienced it can speak in such a calm and composed tone.
Those who couldn't get through died.
Xu Siyu admired Pingxiang as a man and was about to flatter him when she was choked by his words.
"I heard that Lezhou has never been short of medicine. Not only is there no shortage in the city, but there is also enough to treat the victims."
Let’s just say that the golden finger should not be abused, but since it has come to this, Xu Siyu will naturally try to cover it up.
"Your Highness knows that I cherish my life, so I have stored a lot of food, grass, and medicinal materials."
"How much have you saved for your family of four?"
"Your Highness, there are hundreds of people in my City Lord's Mansion. There are also the city pharmacy and Ci'en Hall. I have to take care of them all."
"Some lies are easily exposed." Ping Xiang ruthlessly made it clear that he didn't believe it. "If you check the water in the city, Anle Bo may not be able to explain himself."
"It's unclear what I'm talking about. It's just some medicinal herbs, not weapons or minerals. Will the Ming Dynasty punish me for using privately stored herbs to save the people?"
Now it was Pingxiang's turn to choke.
For so many years, Xu Siyu has been polite to his eldest brother and third brother. How could she dare to vent her anger on him and even use coercion?