CHAPTER 2008: CHAPTER 2010: STOPPING REFUGEES FROM ENTERING THE CITY

"Alright then, how many pills do you have in that bottle? Give them all to me," Yangyang frowned and said, "But I need to write a letter to my mother, asking her to prepare some silver."

"Once you’ve written it, I need to check it. After I check it, I’ll deliver it for you."

The old man thought he might be old, but he wouldn’t be taken for a fool. If they wanted to write an address, there was no way.

Yangyang pursed his lips upon hearing this and went to the study. This old man was really annoying.

Yang Chuxia and Ye Zi’an traveled back to the Capital City from the cliff road, only to be stopped at the city gate.

"Why are there so many people?"

The city gate in front was tightly shut, surrounded by a crowd of people who looked like refugees.

"Go and ask what’s going on."

After a moment, Ye Yi returned and said, "Master, I’ve heard that there are orders from above, prohibiting these refugees from entering the city. But if they don’t enter the city, they cannot buy food, so now they’re all hungry and want to use their numbers to break down the gate."

"Who gave the order?" Ye Zi’an was puzzled. His cousin’s side wouldn’t do something like this, would they?

"I’ve heard it was an order from Lord Prime Minister," Ye Yi said.

"Why won’t he let people into the city?"

"When refugees enter, they often conflict with the city’s citizens, leading to injuries. Today, there’s even been an incident of refugees stealing from others, so the city gates were closed."

Since the snow disaster in the northeast before the new year, the number of refugees around the Capital City had been increasing. Initially, the court managed it, but ever since Prince Le took charge of the court, he basically ignored the refugees outside the city. The refugees, hungry outside, would snatch things inside when they saw good stuff but couldn’t afford them due to hunger.

This further fueled the citizens’ resentment in the city. Today, the victim had a bit of a background, and the matter was quickly brought before the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was indecisive before. After Prince Le’s death, fearing that Prince Zhuang would cause trouble for him, he wanted to achieve some merit so that it would be difficult for Prince Zhuang to trouble him in the future.

Therefore, when he heard about this, his first reaction was that his opportunity had arrived. Although he hadn’t thought of a solution, he first ordered the city gates to be closed.

Ye Zi’an thought this problem was indeed tricky. If the refugees couldn’t control their behavior, the city’s citizens would naturally oppose them.

But closing the city gates was not a solution; he couldn’t just watch these refugees starve outside.

"This matter is simple!"

"Does my lady have a plan?"

"Yes, even if these refugees have silver, it’s not much, and they can’t last long. Once their silver runs out, they’ll either wait for court assistance or enter the city to find work and support themselves. At that point, proper arrangements must be made; otherwise, such robbery incidents will only increase."

After pausing for a moment, Yang Chuxia continued, "Upon returning, have the grain shops bring some rice and flour to sell outside the city every day. With the army presence, there’s no fear of robbery. Also, have the Ministry of Revenue people come and conduct a census, using households as a statistical unit. After the census, draw one person from each household to enter the city to work. There are countless wealthy families in the Capital City; who doesn’t have a few estates or shops? Who doesn’t need a hand or two? Assign these people to work; though the wages may be small, with the court’s aid and grain allocations, they can survive and not starve."

"As for those children who’ve lost their parents, see how many there are. These are unable to work and must rely solely on the court’s support."

"Additionally, the children who’ve lost their parents must be quickly separated from those refugees, lest these people, unable to earn silver, set their sights on those children."