Qi Pingwei: “…”
They had just been comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, and now he was suddenly an outsider?
Zhou Leng paid no attention to his unpleasant expression. She turned and entered the tent, leaving Qi Pingwei standing there in a daze, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
Just then, Suo Qian came strolling over. Seeing him standing at the tent entrance, he could not help frowning. “Are you planning to serve as our guard?”
Qi Pingwei: “…”
The people of the Jinyang Army really were insufferable.
He snorted and turned away.
After seeing Suo Qian enter, Xie Nanxiao asked, “How is it?”
Suo Qian sighed. “The situation isn’t optimistic. A large number of refugees have contracted the plague, and I’m afraid we won’t have enough medicinal supplies.”
Xie Nanxiao reassured him, “Don’t worry. More medicines will be arriving later. Chen Xi also purchased medicinal supplies in Jiu’an, and they should be delivered within the next couple of days.”
Only then did Suo Qian secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Zhou Leng remarked, “At least these commoners are being fairly cooperative.”
Xie Nanxiao shook his head. “That’s only because they haven’t been driven completely to desperation yet.”
Zhou Leng agreed. “Indeed. Human nature can withstand very little when put to the test.”
Xie Nanxiao turned to Suo Qian. “How long will it take for this epidemic to pass? And how long is the incubation period?”
Suo Qian pondered for a moment. “This illness is much the same as the previous one, though the incubation period is a little longer—about five to seven days. Are you thinking of moving the people elsewhere?”
Xie Nanxiao nodded. “Once things have stabilized here, if these refugees are willing to leave Sizhou, I’d like to transport some of them away first. There are simply too many people.”
Suo Qian was somewhat curious. “Where does the lord intend to send them?”
Xie Nanxiao pointed at the map. “The lord said that Kèyuan Island and Little Kèyuan Island can each accommodate some of them. However, because the refugees are infected with the plague, we can first transfer them all to the islands. Once the epidemic has passed, we can send them to Fengzhou in batches.”
“While they remain on the islands, they can work on construction projects and earn wages.”
As he spoke, he took out a detailed development plan for the islands and spread it open. “The Planning Department drew up this plan for the islands a long time ago. The lord has already approved it.”
When the Jinyang Army’s navy first took control of the two islands, Jiang Jin had already made preliminary plans for them.
She intended to plant rubber trees there, as well as fruit trees.
That was why she planned to settle tens of thousands of people on the islands. In peacetime, they could work as fruit farmers; in wartime, they could serve as logistical support for the navy.
Unfortunately, Jiang Jin’s territory had expanded too rapidly, and her domains had always been short of manpower.
Although the Planning Department had drawn up detailed plans for the two islands, construction had never begun.
The barracks, farmland, roads, and residential buildings had all yet to be built.
Zhou Leng hissed. “You’re going to have hundreds of thousands of refugees build the islands for us?”
If that really happened, wouldn’t construction progress soar?
Xie Nanxiao nodded, a hint of pride showing on his face. “Why not? The two islands are large enough. Accommodating these refugees won’t be a problem.”
Suo Qian agreed. “Sending the refugees to the islands will prevent the plague from spreading to Fengzhou. It will also allow us to expand our territory further, while giving the people a way to earn enough grain to get through the winter.”
A small favor could inspire gratitude, but too much charity could breed resentment. Jiang Jin understood human nature very well.
So she would provide emergency relief, but only as a temporary measure. She would offer the commoners opportunities to support themselves.
Zhou Leng frowned. “Once construction on the islands is complete, will the refugees be allowed to remain there, or can they choose to go to Fengzhou?”
Xie Nanxiao shook his head. “They won’t be able to stay simply because they want to. We’ll still have to select the people we need at that time.”
His confidence came from his belief in their own strength.
Once the islands had roads laid out according to plan and spacious, well-lit houses built, there would also be work available as fruit farmers. With food and clothing no longer a concern, he believed many people would want to stay.
Suo Qian was somewhat worried. “With so many people going to the islands, there are bound to be some who don’t know how to appreciate our kindness. What if they betray us later?”
Xie Nanxiao shook his head. “Naturally, the refugees will be placed under military administration once they arrive on the islands. They’ll only be permitted to move within designated areas. The only thing they’ll probably know is that the Jinyang Army is stationed there.”
Suo Qian thought about it and realized that Xie Nanxiao was right. The islands were vast, with complicated terrain. After arriving, the refugees might not even be able to tell east from west.
Zhou Leng pointed to a mark in the northeastern part of Kèyuan Island and asked curiously, “Does the lord intend to build another military harbor here?”
Xie Nanxiao nodded. “Kèyuan Island is enormous, and its northeastern side faces the State of Pi and the State of Yu. We have no choice but to guard against them.”
Zhou Leng’s heart skipped a beat, and she secretly admired Jiang Jin’s foresight.
Other people might look three steps ahead with every move, but Jiang Jin could see a hundred steps ahead. With such careful planning, the unification of the realm was merely a matter of time.
Suo Qian was slightly concerned. “Although these two islands are large, most of them consist of dense forest and wasteland. If we really send hundreds of thousands of people there, I’m afraid they’ll have trouble finding places to live.”
Xie Nanxiao wasn’t worried in the slightest. He knew the islands’ terrain like the back of his hand. “I know the conditions there. We’ll assign people to different areas. It won’t be a problem.”
Zhou Leng thought of something and asked, “Have limestone and clay been found on the islands?”
Xie Nanxiao nodded. “Of course. We’ve found quite a few deposits.”
Limestone and clay were both common materials, so it was perfectly normal to find multiple deposits on the islands.
Suo Qian smiled. “Looks like I’ll be spending quite a bit of time on the islands too.”
Xie Nanxiao smiled back. “That works out perfectly. You can keep our navy company and teach their military doctors a thing or two.”
Suo Qian had originally trained as a military physician, and nearly all the Jinyang Army’s military doctors had been his students.
Suo Qian stroked his beard. “That can be arranged.”
Zhou Leng remembered something else and asked, “Once the construction is complete, could some of them be sent to Changhai County, apart from those who remain on the islands?”
Changhai was the county he had negotiated over in the past and directly handed over to the Flood Dragon Army.
When it was given to the Flood Dragon Army, all the commoners had been relocated, leaving the county town empty.
Although Changhai had recently been reclaimed, few of the people who had been moved away were willing to return. After all, they had already settled in other commanderies and counties.
Xie Nanxiao nodded. “We’ll see what the higher-ups decide when the time comes.”
Just then, a commotion arose outside. Suo Qian frowned. “Have the soldiers sent out to search for refugees brought people back?”
The refugees in Bilan County naturally numbered far more than the twenty thousand or so who had reached the county seat. Many others had been scattered across various places for one reason or another.
Once things had stabilized here, soldiers had been dispatched to search the surrounding areas and bring the refugees to the disaster-relief resettlement site.
Xie Nanxiao nodded. “That’s probably what it is. There’s no need to hurry. We’ve prepared plenty of porridge and food. Any refugees who arrive can be fed immediately.”
Suo Qian rose to his feet. “All right. There’s nothing else for me to do here, so I’ll continue treating patients.”
After Suo Qian left, Zhou Leng said worriedly, “We still have too few people. I’m afraid the situation will become uncontrollable if the number of refugees keeps growing.”
Her voice turned cold as she continued, “The Sizhou Army is truly something else. They’ve done absolutely nothing. They’re completely unfit for the task!”
Xie Nanxiao, however, took it in stride. He had already anticipated such a situation before coming to Sizhou.
He smiled. “Don’t worry. Tomorrow, we can recruit some guards. If any of them show enough potential, they can join the Jinyang Army.”
Zhou Leng’s eyes lit up. She realized that she had still been thinking too narrowly.
“Your military department really knows how to take advantage of circumstances,” she said with a sigh.
Xie Nanxiao shook his head. “The lord once said, ‘Unite every force that can be united.’”
He found that the saying applied at any time.
