After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Due to insufficient manpower left by Zhao Hu in Jiangnan, three batches of people were sent to transport food back, but they were unable to mobilize more people, so the managers could only consider recruiting locally.

They naturally recruited young and strong individuals, so the people they have been recruiting recently are aspiring youths aged sixteen and over, but under thirty.

Aside from higher pay than the inexpensive wages in Jiangnan, there are limitless opportunities in the Northern Land.

"Can’t you just think about it? The court is in the north, so won’t the benefits given by the court in the future also be placed in the north?"

At first, some young men couldn’t help but retort: "There’s turmoil in the north."

"That’s all in the past. Now the Great General has already reclaimed lost lands, pacified the Xiongnu; there won’t be war in the north. And even if there’s a war, it’s not a concern because the Zhao Family Army is there."

"Exactly, right now is the time when everything in the north needs revitalization. If you go north now, it’s like picking money up with your eyes closed."

"Isn’t it said that the north is impoverished and lacks food? Is it really as you say?"

"Lack of food is true, but impoverished? Hmph, can’t you see? The most valuable colored glass and books in the market are brought from the Yu State, and look at those in the city who spend money like soil—most of them are noble families migrated from the north, while there are more noble families who didn’t migrate from the north remaining there, and aren’t they even richer?"

Young men, inexperienced and still naive, believed, unable to resist looking forward toward the north.

Zhao’s servant pressed onward, whispering in temptation: "And do you know who our boss is?"

Young men didn’t really know, as they collectively referred to these merchants who came from the north to collect food as those from the north.

Zhao’s servant spoke softly: "Our boss is the Great General’s uncle, part of the Zhao Family!"

The young men exclaimed in awe, filled with envy.

Zhao’s servant also felt proud, telling them: "So, it’s the right choice to follow us. If we’re lucky and the Great General sees our capabilities, perhaps we can work beside him, changing our fate and achieving success in the future."

The young men’s eyes brightened, their ambitions stirred.

Hence, they decided to go north with them.

Managers were able to recruit a group of passionate young men by offering small amounts of money, and though it’s said to be small money, compared with the current low wages in Jiangnan, it’s considered high.

Jiangnan’s influx of many people fleeing from the north has caused a surge in prices, making labor cheap.

The newly arrived nobles brought their wealth, craftsmen, slaves, and tenant farmers, purchasing houses, shops, and lands in large quantities.

Local nobles are wary of them, but they still manage to buy lands, mountains, forests, and waters from impoverished farmers in various ways, forcing numerous farmers who lost their land to become tenant farmers or short-term workers.

They also introduced various tools never seen before, whether in weaving, construction, or farming; it became faster and more precise, leading to many local craftsmen losing their jobs due to technical differences with the north.

Thus, there is now a surplus of idle labor on the market, resulting in low wages, yet... prices remain high.

The managers took these people and, having collected ten carts of grain, immediately brought them on a journey back to Yu State.

As they proceeded towards Yu State full of confidence and hope, the desolate and deathly silent Youzhou also welcomed its first batch of grain.

The arrival of this batch of grain was like dropping oil into boiling water; it boiled over instantly. Youzhou, suddenly, came alive!

Shi Le felt resentment, yet had to admit Zhao Hanzhang’s timely dispatch of this batch of grain. To give the people confidence to survive, he had to vigorously publicize it, letting it be known throughout Youzhou that the Great General had sent relief grains.

By now, Youzhou was beginning to chill, Xu Dayi, barefoot, pushed open the half-open wooden door, walked in tapping, and poked the person under the tattered quilt, hoarsely said: "Quickly get up, it’s time to go to the village entrance to receive relief grain."

The woman on the bed struggled to open her eyes, speechless.

He fed her a mouthful of water, saw her complexion still gray and defeated, considered for a moment, gritted his teeth, went to the kitchen to get a knife, stood by the water tank, gestured briefly, and cut off half of his ear with one swift motion.

He took out prepared burlap and pot ash to wrap the ear, then chopped the half ear into pieces, steamed it, and fed it to her.

The person on the bed muddle-headedly ate it, barely surviving, only then faintly asked: "What is this?"

Xu Dayi said: "Rabbit meat I snatched from outside. Let’s go, I’ll carry you there. When I returned, the village chief had already arranged for people to boil porridge over the fire. Soon, we can get a bowl to eat."

He carried her onto his back and stealthily took two bowls from the kitchen, stuffing them into his chest.

The woman weakly leaned against his back. After eating, her vision slowly cleared; she gradually noticed his head wrapped in burlap and faint red traces of blood on his ear.

She couldn’t help but raise her fingers to touch and asked: "What happened?"

Xu Dayi tilted his head slightly, impatiently said: "Bitten when fighting for food with someone, why do you care so much, keep some strength to live."

He threatened: "If you die, I’ll trade you for grain."

She immediately fell silent, but didn’t feel particularly scared inside. She thought, if she were dead, whether being eaten by others or chewed by insects, what difference would it make? 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Her two children...

Thinking of this, her heart ached dully, but not a single tear flowed out, she numbly looked ahead.

They started encountering people along the way; those with strength ran with bowls towards the big village, and those without strength dragged themselves step by step. She even saw some who fell and couldn’t stand, crawling forward...

Xu Dayi carried her to the big village; the first pot of porridge was ready. He immediately placed her at a corner and then went, holding the two bowls, to queue for porridge.

The village chief, while pouring porridge, loudly declared: "Everyone can get only one bowl, I’m keeping track, no repeating, after everyone eats, we’ll distribute the grains. This batch is relief grains sent from Yu State, the Great General is thinking about everyone."

He added: "For those who find one bowl insufficient and still have strength, after eating, go to the village and carry people. For each immobile person carried, you can get half a bowl more. It’s best if two people carry together; if you carry and kill them, it doesn’t count... "

Because of these words, Xu Dayi drank most of the two bowls of porridge, leaving only the bottom to the woman, and after she finished, he turned to look for someone, "Sansheng, how about pairing up? Go check Erzhu’s house; his few kids and wife, wonder if they are alive, carrying them can exchange for porridge."