Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 504 Side Story: Seoul (Part 4)
"...A total of 87,635 sheep were sent out."

"This is the register, one book records one thousand people. There are eighty-eight registers in total. As per His Majesty's orders, women and men are registered in the same register at a ratio of seven to three. After the Han capital is completed, I will compile these Han people into the various wards according to the register."

"There are currently more than 80,000 Han Chinese, and perhaps more Han Chinese will be willing to live in Hancheng in the future. In addition, some places will be reserved for grassland herders who are willing to move into the city. For now, 120 wards will be set up. In total, it can accommodate 120,000 permanent residents."

"If the population becomes too large in the future, the city can be expanded further north."

A woman in her twenties reported in a deep voice.

The woman was dressed in a specially made official robe. She had a slender figure, a beautiful face with a resolute and calm demeanor, bright eyes, and spoke clearly and logically.

Pei Qinghe flipped through a few books and smiled approvingly: "I made the right choice in selecting you. You are meticulous and thorough in your work. The position of the first prefect of Hancheng is rightfully yours."

The woman's eyes shone brightly, and she solemnly bowed, replying, "Your Majesty's favor is greatly appreciated. This humble subject will certainly do my utmost to serve the country and live up to Your Majesty's kindness!"

This woman was none other than Zhao Qi, the top scholar in the first women's imperial examination.

Three years ago, Zhao Qi went to Changping County and adapted to the affairs of the county government with astonishing speed. After completing his training, he ranked first in the assessment and was subsequently retained by Minister Pang in the Ministry of Personnel as a senior official.

Pei Qinghe conquered the grasslands and needed to build Hancheng (Han City). Minister Pang sent several officials. After observing them for some time, Pei Qinghe selected Zhao Qi as the governor of Hancheng. The other officials were also retained to serve.

How to govern his subordinates, win their hearts, and manage the people is all the responsibility of Prefect Zhao. As the emperor, Pei Qinghe only needs to select capable and useful ministers.

After leaving the military tent, Zhao Qi looked up at the azure sky, his heart surging with excitement.

A few years ago, she was just a pitiful woman trapped in the backyard of a wealthy family, living a life of widowhood. Life's twists and turns are truly unpredictable. Back then, how could she have imagined that one day she would leap over the dragon gate, become a protégé of the emperor, enter the officialdom, and now be the first governor of Hancheng?
For over a century, the grasslands were ruled by the Xiongnu tribes, a domain of the Xiongnu barbarians. Now, this vast and expansive grassland has been conquered. Truly integrating the grasslands into the Republic of China will be no easy task; it will require countless years and immense effort.

In the future, the historical records of the Republic of China will document the great achievements of Emperor Sowon. As the first governor of Hanseong, she may also occupy a small place in the historical records. Centuries later, future generations will be amazed and praise her as a good official who loved the people like his own children, was honest, loyal, and shrewd.

Women are even more capable than men!

Women can also serve as officials and do their jobs, contributing to the country and its people, and leaving a lasting mark on history!
“Lord Zhao,” an official in his thirties hurried over, his face displaying appropriate and respectful demeanor, “the foundation is complete, and we will begin building the city wall. The Imperial Secretary requests that Lord Zhao come to discuss the specific details.”

This official, who had also passed the imperial examinations that year, had become a shrewd and capable minister after several years of study and training. He was also the strongest contender for the position of governor of Hanseong. Now that he had narrowly lost, his attitude changed swiftly, and he adopted a posture of being willing to serve as a subordinate.

Zhao Qi composed herself and said, "Okay, I'll go see Fashion Book now."

Building the city wall requires more laborers. Moving stones and laying bricks are all physically demanding tasks, consuming a great deal of manpower. Fortunately, there are over 80,000 Han Chinese outside Han City, including more than 20,000 men. Pei Yan has also brought a large number of Pei family troops, bringing the total number of troops stationed here to 40,000. Some of these men can be transferred over.

The military personnel were under the overall management of Hemu. As for the civilian laborers, they would have to be organized by Prefect Zhao.

This city was built for the Han people, so it was only right that they contribute their labor. There was no pay, but they were provided with three large, filling meals a day. When they were slaves in the tribe, they worked from dawn till dusk and still weren't well-fed. Now that they had enough to eat, the men were not averse to being laborers.

After receiving the sheep, a sense of belonging to Hancheng and a responsibility for its development suddenly arose. When Prefect Zhao issued a notice to conscript laborers, a large number of people immediately rushed to sign up. The manpower problem was easy to solve; the real challenge was feeding so many people.

The people of the Republic of China had only just escaped poverty and had been farming steadily for a few years, enough to feed their families. The imperial court had been reducing taxes in recent years, and there was some surplus grain in the national treasury. But transporting it thousands of miles to the grasslands and feeding more than 80,000 people and 40,000 elite soldiers was incredibly difficult.

The fashion editor, now in her thirties, has been so stressed and worried lately that she's starting to get gray hair.

While transporting grain and various supplies from the north, he also advised the emperor that they should raise more money and grain from the grassland tribes.

Pei Qinghe readily adopted the fashion book's suggestion. He dispatched young, capable, and skilled generals such as Pei Feng and Pei Xuan to various tribes to raise the necessary supplies and funds for building Han City.

“Tell them that Seoul is not only a place where Han people live, but also that some places will be allocated to their tribes in the future so that they can live in Seoul.”

"I will not take a single penny of the money, grain, and supplies they offer as tribute. They will all be used to build this city. Once Han City is built, there will be a special market for trade, where they can exchange cattle, sheep, and warhorses for tea, cotton cloth, salt, sugar, and so on."

"The tribe that makes the greatest contribution will have more spots available to enter Seoul."

The young Pei Lang boldly asked, "What if they don't listen to our advice and refuse to contribute money and grain?"

Pei Feng and Pei Xuan glanced at the young man.

Pei Yan rolled her eyes impatiently.

Pei Qinghe twitched the corner of her mouth and made a gesture as if drawing a sword.

Pei Lang grinned and nodded to indicate that he understood.

Clearly, Pei Lang was overthinking it.

Pei's army was renowned throughout the grasslands, and Emperor Zhaoyuan had long since replaced Morton as the new Khan recognized by the grassland herders. Since the new Khan wanted to build a city, they were obligated to offer him money and provisions. Moreover, the new Khan had promised them quotas to live in Han City and to open a trade market in the future, allowing them to smoothly exchange for essential resources scarce on the grasslands.

They not only had to provide money and grain, but also offer a large number of cattle and sheep to the new Khan in order to gain his protection and favor.

Occasionally, one or two stubborn tribes, after expressing strong opposition and resistance, would quietly disappear into the depths of the grasslands.

The grasslands are so vast, and there are so many tribes, large and small. A natural disaster or an invasion by a band of bandits can wipe out a small tribe. Losing two or three tribes has no impact on the grasslands.

The sun rises as usual every day, and the light of Zhaoyuan Khan shines on the grassland.

(End of this chapter)