Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power-Chapter 464 - 461: Bringing Honor to the Face

The government official helped the woman on the ground to stand.

The official advised, "First treat the child’s illness, then make other plans."

Xie Liangchen heard Chen Yuyu beside her sigh.

"Sister," Chen Yuyu said, "Every time I see these people, I think of the disaster in Zhenzhou. We’re lucky to have our brother-in-law, otherwise we might have been in the same situation."

Xie Liangchen nodded. If not for Song Xian, the North would not be as stable as it is now. With constant war, it’s difficult to do anything, and one would be forced to leave their home.

Seeing Hei Dan running over, Xie Liangchen asked, "Where are Chuchu and Zhongdong?"

"The brothers are coming over," Hei Dan replied, "I’ll go and urge them again."

There were many patients among the refugees, most suffering from cold and exposure, and some seriously ill showing signs of infectious diseases.

Xie Liangchen came out of the courtyard where the patients were housed and saw Chen Chuchu and Chen Zhongdong waiting with a few others.

Chen Chuchu said, "I walked around the refugee accommodation area, and we can recruit quite a few people."

Chen Zhongdong added, "There are many jobs at the paper workshop and wool felt workshop, easy to do as long as they want to learn."

Since some progress had been made, Xie Liangchen said, "In a few days, the government office will talk to the refugees about this. You go with a few stewards to select people."

The war won’t end soon, and refugees can’t all squeeze into the refugee center. The most urgent task now is to properly settle them.

Settling refugees isn’t about leaving them at the refugee center to receive food daily—that’s not a long-term solution.

The best way is to use work to substitute for aid, allowing refugees to take up jobs, as the Eight States and various northern states need manpower.

Especially in the Eight States, due to years of war, the number of households has sharply decreased, and despite preparations for spring plowing, many fields haven’t been cultivated yet.

Although we can’t plow land now, there are paper workshops, familiar medicine institutes, weaving rooms, and blacksmith shops...

The refugee center is simple and crude; as the weather gets colder, those who find jobs will have better accommodation and won’t suffer as much in winter.

Those wanting to return home will get some grain to use on their journey.

Those unable to work and can’t leave for various reasons can temporarily stay at the refugee center.

After such a layer-by-layer screening, those with bad intentions or originally of dubious character will be easier to identify.

...

When Old Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Gao arrived, some refugees had already set out for the Eight States.

Mrs. Gao, sitting in the mule cart, spoke animatedly to Old Mrs. Chen, "Aunt, we’re late. Look, some have already left. How can it be so quick? Indeed, the officials at the government office are efficient, handling things swiftly."

"Last year when the village invited a teacher, I hoped Hei Dan could become an official. Now thinking about it, forget it. My Hei Dan has a small head, won’t understand these things. If he really passed the exams and became an official, thinking about arranging this and that, he might die of worry! Can’t let him always go and ask his sister for ideas, right?"

Old Mrs. Chen said, "You really think ahead."

Mrs. Gao said, "Isn’t it Aunt who always tells me to think things through?"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen couldn’t help but smile.

Mrs. Gao took the wool felt and covered Old Mrs. Chen’s legs, "Why didn’t you stay home comfortably? No need to come out; even elder sister advised you but you didn’t listen."

"Now Dai State and the village have Shao Yuan and A Yin, so I don’t worry anymore," Old Mrs. Chen said, "While my legs and feet are still agile, it’s better to get out and about. If one day I can’t move, even if you carry me, I won’t come."

"True," Mrs. Gao laughed, "You’re always right."

Mrs. Gao recalled something, "Aunt, the other day I saw some diagrams on your account books that I’ve never seen before. What are those?"

"What diagrams?" Old Mrs. Chen widened her eyes, "Those are my writings."

Not recognizing any big words, the old lady insisted her writings were words, though the problem was that nobody but her understood them.

Mrs. Gao said, "Those ones you drew, like two branches growing out of a stick, what kind of word is that?"

Old Mrs. Chen said, "You can’t see what it is?"

Mrs. Gao shook her head; a circle was an egg, a curled tail was a pig, a pointed beak was a chicken, and she couldn’t tell if it was a cow or a sheep with branches. The price difference between these two animals was considerable.

"Is it a cow?" Mrs. Gao guessed, "Is it correct?"

Old Mrs. Chen nodded, "Don’t let it out."

"Understood," Mrs. Gao whispered, "Rest assured, nobody can understand it except my wife."

Old Mrs. Chen was quite pleased. She had shown her account books to Mrs. Gao every day, finally teaching half a student. Being a teacher wasn’t easy.

"Let me negotiate with you," Mrs. Gao said, "Next time, draw the pig’s tail longer; actually, pig tails aren’t that short."

This time Old Mrs. Chen couldn’t hold it and burst out laughing,

"Let the driver hurry," Old Mrs. Chen said, "Liangchen can’t handle everything. You and Mrs. Zheng still have to select people for the weaving room. Mrs. Zheng must be exhausted these days; let’s arrive early to help."

Mrs. Gao responded.

The refugee settlement was even smoother than expected by the Zhaoyi Jiedu Envoy, who kept smiling these past two days. The record of Lu State receiving refugees would make it into local chronicles.

All northern prefectures and counties rarely unite in their efforts to aid refugees.

Rescuing so many people brings comfort, and future generations will praise this episode.

All officials could bask in the glory.

Before Song Xian was appointed as the Jiedu Envoy, Mr. Dongli had already written a letter to him. He trusted Mr. Dongli’s judgment, but there’s nothing like seeing for oneself.

After this refugee matter, there was a feeling of major turbulence ahead in the political scene. Song Xian was gradually revealing his talents, and the prefectures and counties in the North seemed inclined to follow him.

The Du Family, Qin Family, and Song Qizheng’s good friend, Cui Gui, moved the entire North, creating a momentum surpassing Prince Lu’s. When the Emperor suppressed Prince Lu and realized it, he would have already lost control over Song Xian.

Moreover, besides the North, Song Xian had close interactions with the Prefect of Yuezhou. In this western chaos, northern goods were being sent east and south, fostering interactions...

The only missing factor might be time.

When the opportunity comes, everything might naturally fall into place. Recently, he must search for an opportunity to meet Mr. Dongli.

...

Most of the refugees have left Lu State, with several groups heading to Xingzhou.

If this is well done, future arrivals would be similarly organized. Seeing such results, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Gao also found many female dependents among the refugees willing to go to the weaving room in Zhenzhou.

"With this resolved, you should rest at home," Old Mrs. Chen held Xie Liangchen’s hand, feeling rather concerned, "Look, your face looks thinner."

Xie Liangchen leaned on Old Mrs. Chen’s shoulder, "Not so much; before leaving Zhenzhou, I had gained some weight."

Now that her parents were by her side, she had no worries. Song Xian had been concerned when they came to Lu State, fearing for their safety on the road.

She was used to running around, and this journey was not much to her.

Perhaps everything was done, thinking about it made her feel drowsy, as if she’d fall asleep any moment.