Chapter 1191: Chapter 1185: Settlent
Zhao Sheng was extrely pleased, as if victory was already in his grasp.
Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded to Zhao Sheng, then asked, “General Zhao, on your way here, did you notice how the implentation of the new policies by the governnt officials in the Xiliang cities we conquered is going?”
ntioning this made Zhao Sheng’s expression a bit unnatural. He raised his hand to touch his nose but still truthfully said to Bai Qingyan, “Many of the Xiliang civilians ran away when they heard the Zhou army was taking over the cities…”
Zhao Sheng did not dare to say that the reason these civilians fled was that the people of Xiliang had not forgotten how Bai Qingyan burned ten thousand surrendered captives of Xiliang in the Battle of Wengshan. They feared that once the Zhou army arrived, they would be slaughtered, and that’s why they ran.
Bai Qingyan nodded, “Running away is good…”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng was completely surprised and turned to glance at Yang Wuce before looking at Bai Qingyan, “What does Your Majesty an?”
Yang Wuce hurriedly explained to Zhao Sheng the policies Bai Qingyan had implented towards the Xiliang people at Yecheng Pass, and Zhao Sheng suddenly understood…
“In this way, Minister of Revenue Master Wei will surely not co to Your Majesty complaining of poverty!” Zhao Sheng smiled.
Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded, “We will indeed make the Xiliang people beco citizens of Zhou, but we cannot offer special treatnt just because they have newly joined Zhou’s nationality, making them feel… they can lazily live on relief from the imperial court.”
“Your Majesty’s words are very true! Now that they know they must beco citizens of Zhou to survive when they can’t live as Xiliang people, they have to start working, be self-sufficient.”
While in Liang Kingdom, Zhao Sheng had been sent out to provide disaster relief. Later, when the fertile lands were ruined, the people could only rely on the court’s grain and funds for over a year, which eventually made so of them lazy. The originally hardworking people began to follow suit, leaving the once-fertile land abandoned, requiring annual grain disbursent from the court, which turned the land—originally a granary for Daliang—into a burden for the court.
Therefore, Bai Qingyan’s asure can be said to be extrely necessary.
“After the first batch of refugees enters the city, more Xiliang refugees will soon co to join Zhou,” Bai Qingyan said slowly. “At that ti, when Yecheng Pass can no longer accommodate them, I can take them along on my way back to Dadu City, settling them in various cities along the route, giving them new hos… new lands, to ensure they settle as citizens of Zhou and live in peace and prosperity.”
Zhao Sheng nodded in agreent.
“General Zhao just arrived today. Rest for a day and lead the troops out early tomorrow,” Bai Qingyan said.
Upon hearing the order to lead troops to war, Zhao Sheng was filled with energy and clasped his fists, saying, “Yes!”
Watching Bai Qingyan walk away, Yang Wuce pulled Zhao Sheng aside, suggesting they sit and chat, actually wanting to boast about the battles he had fought following Bai Qingyan.
After these battles, Yang Wuce admired Bai Qingyan imnsely and understood why the Zhao family army always lost to the Bai family army during Daliang’s ti.
Among the generals of the Bai family, Bai Qingyan was capable and good at strategizing, and every young general of the Bai family was a hero. Even the youngest Bai family girl, the seventh miss, was a young Zhuge, let alone the other generals of the Bai family!
Yang Wuce thought that this young Bai family girl, being so talented at a young age, would undoubtedly beco another Bai Qingyan when she grows up.
·
In the following days, more and more Xiliang refugees flocked to Yecheng Pass, and the citizens inside the city, seeing those kneeling and praying to enter the gates every day, were terrified. The houses of Yecheng Pass were already full, and the land had been distributed.
Just when the Xiliang people thought that the arriving refugees would not be able to enter the city, Bai Qingyan decided to leave General Yang Wuce to guard Yecheng Pass while she led the troops and refugees to settle in Suining City, Fengerlan City, Jiangzi City, and other cities.
As he passed through several cities, Zhao Sheng noticed that these cities were already practically empty. Instead of relocating the Zhou citizens there later, it would be better to settle the Xiliang refugees there.
This also sent a ssage to the Xiliang people: the earlier they beco citizens of Zhou, the more benefits they receive. Not only could they receive Zhou’s relief grain to avoid starvation, but they could also get houses and land. Such a boon… for those Xiliang people who experienced famine and whose court couldn’t provide relief grain but instead seized grain from the common people as military provision, this was an imnse blessing.
The Xiliang court ignored their survival, so why would they remain loyal to Xiliang? Naturally, they would side with whoever could ensure they were well-fed and warm, recognizing whover as their Emperor and Monarch.
The Xiliang refugees followed the Zhou army and set off for the next city. Before departure, the Zhou commanders clearly communicated to those Xiliang refugees that regardless of which city in Xiliang they originally ca from, they were, to Zhou… about to enter cities of Zhou but had not yet formally beco Zhou citizens, they were Xiliang refugees.
Wherever Zhou arranged for them to settle, they must go. Those unwilling to comply could leave imdiately. However, anyone who followed Zhou must adhere to Zhou’s arrangents; otherwise, they would still be expelled from Zhou’s territory.
The main concern was that so refugees from Suining City might want to return to their hos but were unwilling to acknowledge debts to the governnt office.
In reality, as long as they had food and were not starving, these starving people wouldn’t care so much about their houses. If there was no one left, others would reside in their houses anyway.
Soon, after handing Yecheng Pass over to Bai Qingmo and Yang Wuce, Bai Qingyan led the troops and the Xiliang refugees toward Suining City.
These Xiliang refugees, having seen what the people at Yecheng Pass gained under Zhou’s new policies, and knowing the national policies beneficial to the country and people of Zhou, followed the army with hopes for what lay ahead, marching grandly towards Suining City.
When the army reached Suining City, Bai Qingyan found that indeed, half of Suining City was empty.
Before the Bai family army attacked Suining City, many residents with families had already left. Later, as the Bai family army captured Suining City and moved on to assault Yecheng Pass, seeing that the Zhou army did not prevent their departure, many ordinary citizens left under various pretenses, hoping to avoid being rounded up while Zhou was still engaged in warfare at Yecheng Pass.
Of course, the defending general received Bai Qingyan’s orders and did not stop ordinary citizens from leaving Suining City. Seeing Bai Qingyan leading a great number of people back and hearing that Bai Qingyan intended to register the citizens into Zhou’s household registry, General Cheng was sowhat bewildered.
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