Chapter 920: Resettlement of the Victims
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ma Dachun nodded repeatedly. Most of the silkworm farmers who taught the refugees to raise silkworms were from the silkworm farms under Princess Shaoyi’s name. They had mentioned this long ago.
The low-ranking official said earnestly, “The Princess won’t let you down. Silk isn’t cheap. If you can recuperate well, even 30% will be enough for your family to live a good life. If you don’t believe me, ask around. Which other silkworm farmer in Liaodong has such good treatment?”
Ma Dachun hurriedly said, understand. Recently, I’ve heard from the silkworm farmers that the nobles are up to no good. The silkworm farmers have worked hard to raise silkworms, but it’s not enough to make a living. It was Princess Shaoyi who joined forces with the individual silkworm farmers and external merchants to pressure the nobles to revalue the price of the silkworms. She also signed a price guarantee contract to ensure that no one can maliciously suppress the price of the silkworm cocoons in any way and bully the silkworm farmers.”
“This year, the price of silkworms in the Liaodong area is basically the same as the other areas of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The first batch of silkworm cocoons in the city is almost out. Many silkworm farmers have already signed a contract with Princess Shaoyi’s silkworm farms. Everyone can sell them for a good price.”
The silkworm cocoons produced during the process of raising silkworms were good things. Not only could they be eaten, but they could also be used to raise livestock and poultry. All of this belonged to them.
They only needed to spend some effort to get 30%. This was because Princess Shaoyi had taken special care of them.
Not to mention 70%, they were even willing to give 90%.
The low-ranking official’s expression softened a little as he nodded.
Ma Dachun quickly continued, “I’m just curious. If I learn how to raise silkworms and get assigned to a place with a silkworm farm, what about the others? How will they be split?”
When the low-ranking official saw that many people behind him were stretching their ears to listen, he did not feel impatient at all. “Those who have learned how to fish will be distributed to the coastal areas, rivers, and lakes. It’s that blue flag over there. Those who don’t know anything will be distributed to places with more wasteland to explore and plant sweet potatoes.
Princess Shaoyi has started breeding seedlings in her manor. There are many vines and there are enough. They’re even distributing the vines to the refugees for free. When the refugees arrive, they’ll directly go to the village to register and receive them. The few batches of refugees that were previously arranged have already explored the area and planted sweet potatoes…”
The government had posted this notice in all the government offices in Liaodong. They had also heard about it in the camp and were completely relieved.
King Yue Fei, the government, and Princess Shaoyi had all made appropriate arrangements and taken care of them. Everyone would last for another month or two before the sweet potato vines came out. They would no longer have to live a precarious life. For a moment, everyone praised Princess Shaoyi for her kindness.
There were even many people who immediately cursed. Those who had once slandered Princess Shaoyi and said bluntly that the people of the North were all fools. Princess Shaoyi had done so many good things, but someone still scolded her. As refugees, they did not believe those slanderous words.
Yin Huaixi only watched for a while before returning to the camp.
There were 200,000 refugees in this batch. According to the different household registration situations, they were divided into different areas. Other than relatives and friends, the rest were scattered as much as possible to prevent them from gathering together.
After the refugees received the resettlement supplies, the You army would escort them to a designated place tomorrow morning.
For the next three years, the refugees were the focus of the government.
The local government would give some help to the local refugees, but once they violated the law, they would also be punished more severely than usual.
Before the refugees settled down, the government had already explained this to them.
If they did not agree to settle down in Liaodong, the government would not force them. They also said that after the disaster, they would be sent back to their place of origin.
Yin Yi came over to report, “The next batch of refugees has passed the initial screening. It’s estimated that they will be able to receive the resettlement supplies in three days and be relocated to the designated places. In that case, it’s estimated that the refugees can basically be relocated at the beginning of May.”
This was just as he had expected. Yin Huaixi frowned. “How’s the situation at the casualty camp?”
There were many people who were injured and sick every day in the camp. Once these people were discovered, anyone who came into contact with them would be sent to the casualty camp for isolation treatment. A small epidemic had already formed.
The patients were all suffering from limb pain, head and eye pain, internal troubles from the heat, cough, vomiting, and other symptoms. In serious cases, they would vomit and have diarrhea, and their bodies would even have rotten sores. It was very contagious.
Fortunately, Uncle Sun was quite experienced in dealing with such illnesses. “This kind of epidemic is a type of illness that spreads in spring and is contracted in summer. The weather is hot and humid, and the victims have traveled a long way to escape to this place. Their bodies are too damaged and they don’t have any resistance to injuries and illnesses. The evil in their bodies is more common. It’s not a difficult illness. As long as it’s discovered early, it can be cured. However, such illnesses are all urgent illnesses. If their condition worsens…
Uncle Sun did not finish his sentence.
However, Yin Huaixi understood that it wasn’t that their condition couldn’t be treated if it worsened. It was just that a large number of precious medicinal herbs were needed for treatment, and it would also consume a lot of energy. The gains wouldn’t make up for the losses.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to save the refugees, but there was no way to save them.
For the time being, the camp did not lack medicinal herbs, but most of them were commonly used. Good medicinal herbs were still scarce, and limited resources were employed where they were needed most. Although it was cruel, it was also a reality.
In addition, most of the physicians in the camp were military doctors from the You army. Although they did not lack manpower, they were still very nervous. There were tens of thousands of injured and sick victims in the camp. If they spent too much energy on one or two people, it was very likely to cause the other patients with mild illnesses to worsen because of neglect.
Yin Yi said, “As we’ve taken precautions in advance, there are also related treatment methods. The epidemic hasn’t expanded and is still manageable. Currently, there are enough medicinal herbs, and the situation in the casualty camp is showing signs of improving.”
However, every day, many people still died.
“Every day, we have to gather the refugees together and burn incense medicine to avoid the plague. Every morning and night, we have to burn mugwort in every tent. We have to sprinkle sulfur mixed with wood ash and medicine to prevent the epidemic. Everyone has a bowl every day. We can’t be negligent…”
Yin Huaixi was a little worried and explained in detail again.
The refugee camp looked messy, but in terms of control, it was semi-military.
Everyone had to implement these measures strictly.
Those who disobeyed were directly thrown into the casualty camp. There was no reasoning.
After explaining, Yin Huaixi changed the topic and asked, “How long will it take until Ye Xiaoci arrives in Xi’an?”
Yin Yi reported, “About three days.”
Yin Huaixi had an idea. He said calmly, “After Ye Xiaoci arrives in Xi’an, hand over evidence that the nobles in the North illegally smuggled tea, salt, food, porcelain, and other trade items to Ye Xiaoci. In addition, hand over the relevant evidence that the nobles skimped on the national policy, causing the refugee camps to lack supplies, the refugees to suffer heavy injuries and deaths, and a small epidemic to break out in the refugee camps..”
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