Outside Tian'an County, the area was bustling with noise.
Outside the city gate stood a large number of yamen runners and county soldiers, holding torches, with swords drawn, bows strung, and crossbows and spears ready, clearly displaying their strength.
It wasn't aimed at demons or monsters, nor at the enemies of the Northern Kingdom, but at the doorway, aimed at the displaced disaster victims.
The rising smoke was a byproduct of the fire burning in the stove to cook porridge. Several large pots, each requiring three people to encircle, were simmering with piping hot porridge, and a group of people dressed as servants were distributing the porridge.
"The Zhou Household in Tian'an provides porridge, bringing peace and prosperity to the Great Liang Kingdom."
"The Shen Household in Tian'an provides porridge, Great Liang Dynasty enjoys peace and prosperity."
"The Wu Household Tian'an porridge, Great Liang Dynasty enjoys peace and prosperity."
... Various flags and banners, regardless of whether the refugees were literate or not, were hung above the soup kitchen, with words of praise written on them, singing praises of the compassion of those who distributed soup and the perfection of the Great Liang Dynasty.
The displaced refugees, like ants that have lost their nest, huddled together in a chaotic mass. Their faces were numb; they embraced each other, sitting there silently awaiting their fate.
Next to the porridge stalls were individual shops, where managers, accompanied by their servants, sat comfortably in chairs, each holding a bowl of hot porridge and taking sips from time to time, demonstrating their loyalty to their respective masters.
"Your land is definitely going to yield no harvest this year. With the market like this, it's like there's something sinister going on. Even next year, who can guarantee a good harvest?" a manager said to the woman before him. "Not to mention you've lost your husband and your child is still young. How will you survive?"
"That's only because our master is kind-hearted. You can sell the land to our master, take the money, and live your life in another state, right?"
"That's three acres of top-quality irrigated land. You can't buy one acre for less than five strings of cash. What you're giving is far too little."
"Sister-in-law, in a normal year, five strings of cash would indeed be too little. But what kind of year is this? One string is one string. How about this, sister-in-law, go back and wash up, and come see me again tonight. I'll ask the master to add some more for you tomorrow."
"You heartless, bastard, you've tried to scheme against me! Why don't you go fuck your mother?"
"Guards, guards, drag this madwoman away! Damn it, I'm doing you a favor. Countless women would love to get away with this!"
In a chaotic scene, a group of constables came up and dragged the woman away.
"The young lady is quite pretty. How old is she? She has a good figure."
In another place, the manager's eyes were fixed on the girl before him like those of a hawk.
A numb middle-aged man held the girl's hand, his eyes already dry and sore.
"Let's get this straight, brother, we in Great Liang do not allow the adoption of slaves. Disobeying this order will result in being conscripted into the army."
The steward reached out and pinched the girl hard. She didn't cry; instead, she wore a fawning smile.
"We're taking her in, not as a slave, but as an adopted daughter." The steward nodded in satisfaction. "Understood. Just put your fingerprint on the paper."
The man didn't speak, but silently pressed his fingerprint onto the yellow paper with cinnabar.
"The adoption gift for the daughter is two strings of cash. Look carefully, these are all high-quality copper coins, not those scrap iron coins we use now. After deducting forty cash for paper money, count the rest yourself."
The steward took a few strings of cash from the plate next to him.
"Father, don't cry. Your daughter is going to enjoy a better life. At least she won't go hungry anymore. You should take Grandma, Mother, and Sister with you. Your daughter has escaped from this Sea of Bitterness. This is a great joy..."
The girl was smiling, but tears kept streaming down her face.
The man didn't speak, silently taking the money from the plate. He turned to look at his daughter, raised his right hand, and slapped himself hard.
Su Che rode his horse slowly forward, with Lu Bai beside him.
"Young master, are you intending to enter the city?"
Along the main road, yamen runners came up to greet them.
The Southern Dynasty lacked horses, and the fine steeds one rode could not be deceived. Those who could ride tall horses across the official roads were either rich or noble. If they did not belong to this category, then they were even more formidable heroes and bandits.
"What? Has the city been locked down?"
Looking at their stances with long spears, great axes, powerful bows, and crossbows, Su Che suddenly felt as if he were walking on the ancient battlefield of Monk Plateau.
Those outside the gate are not refugees, but barbarians who will trample the Divine Land.
"The city is not under lockdown, but you need to pay fifteen coins to enter."
The constable smiled and said, "In this peaceful world, with calm seas and clear rivers, why would we seal off the city?"
"I came from Jiankang, what's going on?"
Su Che pointed to the side.
"Sigh, it's common for the seasons to alternate between drought and flood."
Su Che took out a handful of copper coins from his sleeve and gently tossed them to the ground. With his divine power, the thirty copper coins stood steadily on the ground, stacked one by one.
"Young master, you have quite the skill."
The constable scooped up the copper coin and gestured to the people around him to let them pass.
These methods only prevent poor refugees from entering the city; they can't stop those with property.
Su Che spurred his horse and entered the city.
The Yin Qi stirring in the sky is the resentment of the people. The Heaven-Human Resonance and man is the very foundation of a cultivator's ability to cultivate.
The Immortal True Person can Spirit Transformation that can change the color of heaven and earth, causing the resentment of countless people to boil over, which will naturally affect heaven and earth.
In a short time, it is merely the manifestation of Yin Qi; in a long time, yin creatures and demons may even Transformation Birth and wreak havoc on the area.
That's why the High Antiquity sage kings spoke of "following the will of Heaven and responding to the needs of the people."
Indeed, the will of Heaven can influence the will of the people, and the will of the people can be transformed into the will of Heaven.
The streets of Tian'an County are far more prosperous than those of Guobei and Shanyin Counties. In truth, the Ci Prefecture that Yellow Heaven Sect and Zhongyuan and others established is indeed a blessed land.
The land is fertile and the soil is abundant. Because of the well-arranged landscape, natural disasters are much less frequent than in other places. Except for Guobei and Shanyin, which are practically located in a den of demons, the other counties are typical lands of fish and rice.
Agriculture is the foundation of all industries. With sufficient food, all industries will naturally prosper. Tian'an County is located beside the official road from Ci Prefecture to Jiankang, and it is also the main trade route for Ci Prefecture's grain to be transported to other places. It truly deserves the description of "abundant resources and prosperous people".
"You two are from Jiankang, aren't you?" a waiter greeted. "These are fine horses. Don't let those people outside spoil your enjoyment; we're perfectly Tian'an."
As soon as Su Che and Lu Bai entered the city, waiters came to solicit their business. One said his wine was good and his bed was soft, another said his horse feed was free, he said his girls were fair and smooth, and he said his dishes were the best in Ci Prefecture.
The bustling city and the desolate area outside the city are two extremes, forming a stark contrast.
Su Che ignored these people and led Lu Bai straight into the city.
The Imperial Demon Hunters had spies planted in Tian'an County, and they opened a silk shop as a cover.