Chapter 222: Chapter 149: Take a Gamble
Afternoon, in the main hall of the house.
Inside the main hall, besides Li Lu who had just finished discussing matters with Cheng Zongyang, there was also Zhao the Seventh, who had been summoned.
He stood respectfully about two ters away from the other two n, cupped his fists in a salute, and spoke:
"My Lords, what instructions do you have for ?"
Although Zhao the Seventh was now the gang leader of the East District, he was smart enough to know his place. This position was a gift from Li Lu and Cheng Zongyang.
Therefore, he could be as arrogant and domineering as he liked in front of his underlings and the common people, but he absolutely could not be insolent before these two.
If these two wanted to get rid of him, it would be over in an instant. Thus, he knew his place.
Cheng Zongyang paid no mind to Zhao the Seventh’s attitude, simply giving a slight nod and saying:
"I do have a few questions for you. You’ve been in the city for a while now, and you’re in charge of a district. I want to know, roughly how many people are in the city right now?"
Hearing this, Zhao the Seventh was taken aback. ’What does he an by that?’
But he quickly understood. This was a test for him. He imdiately fell into deep thought.
After a long mont, he scratched his head in embarrassnt.
"Lord Cheng, I’m not entirely sure about the whole city. But the East District has about 4,300 households. So of those are unoccupied, as the residents have left the County Town. Currently, there are over 2,700 occupied households, which is about eight or nine thousand people.
"My Lord, South City and West City have the most houses. But ever since the Governnt Office collapsed, those of the Foreign Race took many resources with them. They did, however, leave so grain behind, which we later took control of. We’ve been following the old County Magistrate’s thod: selling it at a low price every other day, which is just enough to keep people from starving.
But because of this, many people have left the County Town. South City and West City combined probably have only about twenty thousand people. The north of the city was originally where the officials and rchant families lived, but they’ve nearly all fled, leaving only an estimated four or five thousand people.
So, by my estimate, the entire county doesn’t have more than forty thousand people now. Most of them are forr refugees who don’t want to flee anymore—the kind who are prepared to die here. The refugees who were once under my command all have houses to live in now.
"My Lord, if you need, I can have my n investigate. I can get you a result in two days."
After Zhao the Seventh finished speaking, Cheng Zongyang fell into thought.
This County Town once had sixty to seventy thousand residents. Now, fewer than forty thousand remain. The population had been nearly cut in half.
It was only an estimate, but he didn’t care about the exact number. He would just work with the figure of forty thousand.
"Zhao the Seventh, the County Town’s grain reserves are currently stored in the East District, under your supervision. How much is left?"
Zhao the Seventh answered imdiately: "I wouldn’t dare deceive you, my Lords. Of the current reserves, we only have 16,000 pounds of Old Rice, 17,000 pounds of sorghum flour, 8,000 pounds of wheat bran, 21,000 pounds of wheat chaff, and the 3,000 pounds of dried fish that Lord Cheng sold. There’s nothing else."
"So by that count, we only have 65,000 pounds of edible food left," Cheng Zongyang quickly calculated the total.
He was also rapidly analyzing the feasibility of his plan in his mind.
Li Lu, standing to the side, did not interrupt.
From their conversation this morning, he knew that Cheng Zongyang had a plan to vigorously develop agriculture.
The two of them had discussed it. Given the current situation, the Court had held out for so long that it was almost certain they would not compromise.
And based on the Thirteen Royal Families’ way of fighting, it was impossible for them to end the war and retreat now. Therefore, this farming plan was highly feasible.
They waited for about the ti it takes to drink a cup of tea before Cheng Zongyang finally spoke.
He stared at Zhao the Seventh with a profound gaze and said:
"Starting tomorrow, you will post notices throughout the entire County Town.
Anyone who registers and is willing to go outside the city to reclaim wasteland for farming will get to drink their fill of dried fish soup for free before starting work.
After work, each person can receive a one-tael stead bun.
Therefore, starting tomorrow, gather all the cooks in the city. All grain is no longer to be sold raw.
Grind the Old Rice into flour, mix it with the sorghum flour, wheat bran, and wheat chaff, and make one-tael coarse grain stead buns.
Add water to the dried fish and simr it into a fish soup. Not everyone needs to get a piece of fish; one dried fish per large pot of soup is enough, as long as it has the flavor of salt and fish broth.
Don’t worry about the dried fish. Another thirty to forty thousand pounds will be delivered in batches later.
There is only one goal: to get everyone in the county through these next four months!"
At this, not only Zhao the Seventh, but even Li Lu was stunned.
"Wait, for free? Are you playing the great philanthropist? We’re not the County Magistrate. Why are you acting just like him?"
Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Free? No. Reclaiming land for farming is a form of work-for-relief. This food is their paynt. The problem now is how to get through this initial period. These rations aren’t enough."
"Farming? Then..."
"Brother, just follow my arrangents," Cheng Zongyang said with a smile. "No one will be treated unfairly. In four months, when the grain and dicinal Materials are harvested, it will all be worth it."
Seeing this, Li Lu didn’t press the matter further.
But Zhao the Seventh spoke up, a little worried:
"My Lord, if we do this, then just as you said, I’m afraid the food won’t last. Even with the supplies you said are coming later, it won’t be enough, will it?"
"On that notice, add another sentence at the end: ’After the harvest, every household will receive half of the yield.’ Just do as I say. We have to stretch this out, even if it ans eating one day and going hungry the next. There’s no need to say anything more."
’If I want them to willingly endure hunger, I have to give them hope. An empty County Town would be a disaster; the disadvantages would far outweigh any advantages! And who knows how long this war will last!’
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