Marquis Xue sent servants to the Ye family to find Xue Fenglin. As the Marquis was Xue Fenglin's father, and a father's summons couldn't be ignored, Xue Fenglin could only bid farewell to the Ye family and Shen Xuan and return to the Xue residence with his people.
After Xue Fenglin left, Shen Xuan chatted with Lady Ye for a while longer before excusing himself.
On the way home, Shen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Don't rush back yet. Let's go take a look at the west side of the city."
The carriage headed towards the west of the city. The closer they got to the city gates, the more soldiers and supply wagons they saw on the roads, presenting a chaotic scene of war and disorder.
Having never witnessed such a sight, Jin Gui felt a little scared. He urged, "Shen Ger, it's very chaotic out here. Should we go back first?"
Shen Xuan remained calm. "Don't panic," he told Jin Gui. "Lord Ye is guarding the city gate with so many soldiers; nothing will happen."
When the carriage reached the vicinity of the city gate, he dismounted and climbed onto the city wall. From there, he saw endless stretches of white snow outside the city. The city gates were tightly shut, and several makeshift shelters were set up outside, packed with thinly clad common folk. Many women and gers held children in their arms.
---
These refugees had come from the northwest, and by the time they reached the vicinity of the capital, they were already thinner from hunger.
Now, with the cold weather, people huddled together for warmth. Children looked pale and coughed incessantly, clearly suffering from the cold.
The court had sent people to deliver grain, and there were two porridge stalls distributing food on either side of the city gate.
Shen Xuan saw long queues already formed in front of the porridge stalls, packed tightly with people. Those at the front were mostly strong, able-bodied men. The frail women, gers, and children were squeezed to the back.
According to the capital's regulations, these refugees were supposed to line up and take turns receiving one bowl of porridge. However, there were always some strong men in the queue who, having already eaten one bowl, would sneak back in, pushing other women and gers out of the way.
"These refugees are truly miserable," Jin Gui exclaimed, startled by the scene. He was a born servant, having grown up in the Marquis's residence. Though his meals were coarser than his master's, he had never gone hungry. He had never witnessed such a sight.
If he were to end up in such a situation, he might not even be able to get a bowl of porridge and would starve to death!
Shen Xuan frowned and watched for a while. He saw that many women and gers among the refugees couldn't get any food at all, while the men who had received several bowls of porridge, once full, began to cause trouble again.
They gathered at the city gate, clamoring for the soldiers to open the city gates and let them, the displaced, into the capital.
'This won't do,' Shen Xuan thought to himself.
In the modern world, in the event of a disaster, the government would provide relief, ensuring everyone could eat their fill.
However, here in Dajin, due to the limited relief grain, it was impossible to guarantee that everyone would be fed, and many common folk simply couldn't receive any food.
Shen Xuan looked around and found a young soldier at the city gate. "Sir," he said, "my surname is Shen. I am an acquaintance of The Shizi of the Xue family. I would like to request an audience with Lord Ye."
The young soldier was busy directing others to move rice. Seeing a ger approach, he rolled his eyes and said, "It's very busy here right now. How could Lord Ye have time? What are you doing here, a mere ger? Aren't you just adding to the trouble? Go back quickly!"
The soldier, seeing that Shen Xuan was merely a ger, naturally didn't think he would have any serious business with Lord Ye.
Shen Xuan saw that the other party completely ignored him and knew he had to find someone else.
Just then, he saw a familiar figure: it was Commander Pei, whom he had met at the hunting ground that day.
At this moment, he was clad in armor, riding a black warhorse, directing a contingent of soldiers forward. It was clear they were going to suppress the troublesome refugees outside the city wall.
"Commander Pei, Commander Pei?" Shen Xuan called out to Commander Pei a few times. "Do you still remember me?"
Pei Xia was busy with disaster relief. Suddenly hearing someone call him, he turned to see it was Shen Xuan, whom he had only met once.
Last time, due to the Ye family's influence, he had genuinely considered marrying this Shen ger as his husband.
But this Shen ger was so insensible that he directly refused him, making him lose face terribly.
Though Pei Xia came from common background, he was exceptionally talented and quite proud.
Now, seeing Shen Xuan actively calling him, he raised an eyebrow and said, "What wind blew Shen Ger over here? Did you go back and think for a few months, and now you regret it and want to come warm my bed?"
Shen Xuan's face stiffened. He said to Pei Xia, "I have serious business with Commander Pei. Please stop joking with me."
"Look outside the city gate; they're all refugees," Pei Xia said, pointing outside the city gate. "What important business could be more crucial than disaster relief? You should come find me after I'm done with this busy period!"
"I'm here to find you precisely because of the disaster relief," Shen Xuan then said. "This matter is extremely important. I wish to request an audience with Lord Ye."
Pei Xia looked at Shen Xuan carefully. Seeing the serious expression on his face, he said, "Alright, I'll go inform Lord Ye now. However, he's very busy, so whether he sees you is his decision."
A moment later, Pei Xia hurried back and said to Shen Xuan, "Lord Ye wants to see you. Follow me."
Shen Xuan followed Pei Xia to a small house at the base of the city wall.
The house was not large, but several officials stood inside. Judging by their official robes, they were all civil officials of fifth rank or higher from the Ministry of Revenue, and one was indeed Lord He, whom Shen Xuan had seen at the Ye family earlier that morning.
"The court has already set up porridge stalls, distributing porridge to the refugees three times a day, but the unrest among them continues."
"Currently, grain requisition in the capital is already very difficult. It's New Year's, and many court officials have taken out their own provisions, and they'll have to go hungry for the next few days."
"If these troublesome commoners don't behave, we'll still have to use force to suppress them. We simply cannot let them truly break into the capital."
"There are so many people outside the city; it will take fifty shi of grain in just a single day. The two thousand shi of grain in the granary will be used up in merely forty days. Even with the grain everyone has raised, it will last at most two months before running out."
Lord Ye's face was stern, and his hair seemed to have whitened considerably. After pondering for a long time, he finally said, "We must hold out until spring. Once the snow melts, we can dig for wild vegetables, and fish can be caught in the river. The refugees will also need to return home to sow for spring farming, so they won't be relying on the court for grain anymore."
Shen Xuan stood at the doorway for a while. After Pei Xia went in and said a few words into Lord Ye's ear, Lord Ye came out.
He had not slept all night and looked unwell. It was because of Shen Xuan's relationship with Xue Fenglin, and remembering that Shen Xuan had once stockpiled grain, that he specifically allowed him in, thinking he was there to donate grain.
"Shen Ger, you specifically came to see me, saying you have something important regarding disaster relief? What exactly is it?" Lord Ye asked patiently.
"Lord Ye, I just observed the situation of the refugees below from the city wall for a while, and I have some thoughts. Please allow me to speak," Shen Xuan said.
***
About an incense stick's worth of time later, Lord Ye, his face flushed with enthusiasm, patted Shen Xuan's shoulder. "Shen Ger, your insights are truly useful. You've helped this old man immensely. After the disaster relief concludes, this old man will certainly reward you handsomely."
"Lord Ye, you're too kind," Shen Xuan quickly said. "It's merely for the safety of the capital and the common folk of Great Jin."
After exchanging pleasantries with Shen Xuan, Lord Ye ordered Commander Pei to escort him out.
After walking for some time, Shen Xuan stopped and said, "This is far enough, Commander Pei. You can stop here."
Pei Xia then spoke. "You are smarter than I imagined. But your suggestion to let those men go hungry—that thought is quite malicious."
"If they eat too much, they'll use all their strength to cause trouble. Won't that make things difficult for you soldiers?" Shen Xuan retorted, raising an eyebrow. "If they truly cause a riot, their lives won't be safe. I'm merely letting them go hungry for a few meals, and giving more food to children, women, and gers. How is that malicious?"
As Shen Xuan said this, his eyes shone brightly, and his spirited demeanor made him exceptionally handsome.
Pei Xia paused slightly, then after a moment of silence, he said, "It's cold. Standing in the snow talking all this time, be careful not to catch a cold. As a ger, you should quickly go home and rest."
Shen Xuan didn't know why Pei Xia's attitude had suddenly changed. He merely bid him farewell and left.
After he had ridden away in his carriage, Pei Xia withdrew his gaze and returned to Lord Ye's side.
***
Indeed, not long after, Lord Ye said to Pei Xia, "Later, take your men and separate the refugees outside. Men aged sixteen and above will be in one group, and everyone else in another. They are not to mix."
"Yes," Pei Xia immediately accepted the order and quickly had his soldiers forcibly separate the refugees.
Once the refugees were divided into two sides, a few soldiers then brought two tables and some ink and brushes.
Pei Xia stepped forward and shouted to the refugees, "From now on, men aged sixteen to fifty will stay on this side and help with disaster relief work. Everyone else will stay on the other side. No mixing between the two groups."
As soon as these words were uttered, a murmur of discussion immediately arose among the refugees. An unyielding man loudly asked, "Why should we men have to work? We can't even get enough to eat; where would we get the strength to work?"
"If you're unwilling to work, you won't get any porridge. Work or don't, I don't care," Pei Xia said, rolling his eyes.
The man was about to rush forward and resist, but several soldiers stepped forward, drawing the swords from their waists.
The man was no fool. Seeing such a display, he naturally dared not move again and obediently retreated back into the crowd.
Other eager troublemakers around him were also intimidated by this sudden, unified display and fell silent, daring not to say anything casually.
Seeing that the men's side had finally quieted down, Pei Xia looked at the refugees on the other side and said, "You people, now line up, come and receive porridge. Those who have received porridge will have an ink mark made over there, no repeats allowed."
These refugees were mostly old, weak, sick, and disabled. The porridge stalls had been chaotic before, and many of them hadn't received anything at all, having gone without food for a long time.
Now, hearing that they could line up for porridge, and with no men to snatch it, rare smiles appeared on their faces. They immediately lined up obediently under the soldiers' guidance.
"Lord Ye has given an order: from now on, when distributing porridge, prioritize the old, weak, women, and children. Only after all of them have received their share will the men's side receive theirs, according to the order of their work," Pei Xia stated. "If anyone has any objections, they are welcome to not receive relief porridge and leave now."
Pei Xia held a sword high in his hand, its blade gleaming coldly. The men among the refugees were furious but dared not speak, accepting the arrangement.
Meanwhile, on the women and gers' side, hearing this news, they cheered Lord Ye's wisdom, each one deeply grateful.
An official from the Ministry of Revenue, witnessing Lord Ye's arrangement, felt some doubt in his heart. He then asked, "Great Jin has always prioritized men. Women and gers, outside the home, follow their husbands, and their status is inferior to men. Why then should they receive disaster relief food first? Wouldn't this disrupt the proper order?"
Lord Ye replied, "A man eats three bowls of porridge and still isn't full. If we prioritize them, at least half of these refugees will starve to death. These people, once full and idle, will still cause trouble at the gates. If they cause trouble in the capital, wouldn't it be chaotic? If you, sir, are willing to provide another fifty shi of grain, then I have nothing more to say. I am doing this for the sake of the capital's common folk."
When that official heard Lord Ye bring up the grain requisition again, he immediately fell silent.
Just one grain collection would force everyone to tighten their belts. Some official households in the capital hadn't even fully paid their grain quotas yet!
So, that evening, after the round of porridge distribution was complete, Pei Xia had the record-keeping soldiers take stock. He found that indeed, nearly ten shi less grain had been used compared to noon.
A wave of joy filled him, and he immediately reported this to Lord Ye. Lord Ye, upon hearing this, also let out a long sigh of relief. He then said, "Thanks to Shen ger's idea, we've saved a lot of rice. The refugees who were causing trouble before have calmed down significantly."
These men could only receive one bowl of porridge per meal. Before eating, they had to help the soldiers transport grain sacks, already leaving them utterly exhausted. How could they have the energy to cause trouble?
Furthermore, with those refugees helping to move grain, the soldiers' tasks were significantly lightened.
Gradually, order was restored outside the city gate. The refugees grew accustomed to Lord Ye's arrangements, taking turns to receive porridge on time, then getting a mark, and everything became orderly.
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