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Chapter 305: Hungry People ()

Chen Zhuo was so efficient that he sent a letter to the county government in Li County overnight.

Magistrate Cai received the letter from Chen Changshi at noon on the second day. After reading the letter, his eyebrows lit up and his face looked happy.

The chief clerk and the county lieutenant on the side looked at each other curiously.

Suddenly a letter came from the palace. Could it be that something big happened?
I don’t know if it’s serious or not, but it’s definitely a good thing. Otherwise, how could the county magistrate be so happy?

County Magistrate Mo has been here for the past two years and is completely convinced by Magistrate Cai. He opened his mouth and asked, "May I ask, sir, what errands are there at the palace?"

Magistrate Cai quickly solved the mystery and gave the letter directly to Mo County Cheng. Mo Xian Cheng took a closer look and laughed: "Okay, okay, this is a great thing."

The county captain also read the letter, and each of them was happy.

Of course it's a good thing.

Li County was originally an extremely poor lower county. In the past two years, the bandits have been wiped out. Magistrate Cai has been diligent in managing the area and leading the people to plant and collect medicines to open up wasteland and farmland. Now I can finally fill my stomach. However, there is still a long way to go before becoming wealthy. It is even more difficult to make Jin a Zhongxian county.

Daliang has strict regulations on the division of upper counties, middle counties and lower counties. The most important thing is that the population must meet a certain quantitative requirement.

But no matter how hard Li County develops and no matter how hard the people work to have children, the population will not be able to skyrocket. It takes at least ten years for a child to grow up from birth to adulthood.

It's better now. The Tang family went to drought-stricken counties in the north to promote new grains, and the accompanying guards camp quietly recruited hungry refugees. These are all ready-made adults!

The palace also sent money and food. It only takes a few months for the corn and sweet potatoes in the field to be harvested. By then, are you still worried about being able to feed hundreds of people?
"Chen Changshi and Feng Changshi are very fond of you." The chief clerk flattered him: "When such a good thing happens, the first one who thinks of us is Li County."

"Exactly, we have to settle down the people well, and we must not make any mistakes." The county captain quickly took over the words: "What to do, my lord, just tell me."

Moxian Cheng was also used to being dispatched, so he took the initiative to ask for help: "My lord, just dispatch."

Magistrate Cai thought about it carefully and said: "The two chief historians sent the first batch of hungry people to our Li County. Firstly, they will increase our population. Secondly, they must make us look good. In the future, there will be a batch of hungry people." When the land is granted, we cannot only give it to Li County, but the other counties must also accept the people. Therefore, we must do this quickly and well without causing any trouble. "

"When these hungry people arrive for the first time, they must be panicked and uneasy. Therefore, we cannot break up the settlement and set aside an open space to build some simple thatched huts for them to live in for a few months."

"As for building a thatched house, please ask Prime Minister Mo to take charge of it. Remember, it doesn't need to be too particular, as long as it can be protected from wind and rain. Recruit people to help build the house together, and it must be completed within ten days. The county government will provide ten days of food. "

Moxian Cheng accepted the order.

Magistrate Cai said to the county lieutenant: "Go and order half of the government officials and stay with the hungry people for the time being. Prevent some of the hungry people from causing trouble or escaping at will."

Of course the chief clerk also has errands. Magistrate Cai ordered: "Go and receive the money and food from the palace. Calculate how much food is needed per day based on the number of hungry people. From now on, go and distribute food to them every day."

As for Magistrate Cai himself, he personally went to receive the hungry people.

Magistrate Cai was skinny, black, and ugly. Even though he was wearing official uniform, he didn't have much of the demeanor of his parents' seventh-grade officials. Instead, he had an indescribable aura of wretchedness.

However, everyone in Li County was convinced by Magistrate Cai. No one can find fault with Magistrate Cai's appearance anymore.

The one who escorted the hungry people was Tao Da from the First Guards Battalion. Tao Da led a team of elite soldiers, fifty men, all tall and strong, with long swords at their waists, bows and arrows on their backs, and tall and splendid war horses.

In contrast, the hungry people on the side were all emaciated and shabby, with shabby clothes and dejected expressions. They were so light under their feet that a gust of wind could blow them over.

"Magistrate Cai," Tao Da opened his mouth, his voice buzzing like a bell: "I have been ordered to send him here."

Magistrate Cai stepped forward with a busy smile, cupped his hands and thanked him.

Tao Da is known as a fool and doesn't know much about the world. However, he is born with great strength, and when fighting, he can charge into battle, one against ten. Military was respected in the military camp, and Tao Da was protected by the commander-in-chief of Qin. The princess particularly favored him, and everyone who saw Tao Da was polite.

Tao laughed and said, "I am doing something under orders. If Magistrate Cai wants to thank you, just thank the princess. There is no need to thank me."

Then he turned around and said loudly: "This is Magistrate Cai of Li County. From now on, you are the people of Li County. Come and see your magistrate soon."

There was a commotion among the hungry people. One of the men plucked up the courage to stand up and asked tremblingly: "Sir... sir, where will we live in the future and will we have food to eat?"

As soon as the man opened his mouth, a second and third person stood up.

"Sir, we don't ask for anything else, we just want food to eat and survive."

"We can do any heavy work. I just ask you to give our family a way to survive."

"I kowtow to your lord. Come here, Danni and Erni, kowtow to your lord."

Before Magistrate Cai could react, people fell to their knees, scrambling to kowtow.

These hungry people are poor people who have suffered from two years of drought. Unable to survive in his hometown, he left his home and career behind to escape. When Qin Zhan picked people that day, he had the same idea as Chen Changshi. He picked men who had wives and families.

In order to keep their wives, children and children alive, they gritted their teeth and signed a contract of betrayal, and walked hundreds of miles to a completely unfamiliar place.

From this point of view, they are very courageous.

Magistrate Cai stepped forward, lifted up the kneeling hungry people one by one, and said solemnly: "You all stand up and listen to me."

"This is Li County, Nanyang County, and I am the county magistrate here. The one who bought you is the Princess of Nanyang, and the one who gives you a place to live, food for you, and a way to survive is also the Princess."

"You must remember the princess's great kindness. From now on, you will repay the princess by settling down in Li County and living a good life in the fields."

The hungry people could hardly believe their ears: "Sir, will we still have land to plant in the future?"

Magistrate Cai laughed, and his dark and thin face stretched like an old chrysanthemum: "Of course. But you have to clear up wasteland yourself. Half of the cultivated fields belong to the county government, and the other half belongs to you. The county government will prepare the grain seeds. Before you grow food, someone will bring you food every day.”

The hungry people were stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears of joy and knelt down again to kowtow: "Thank you, Mr. Cai."

Magistrate Cai said hurriedly: "This is the direction of the palace, everyone kowtow to the princess to thank you!"

It’s the first day of May. Please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket.