Jian Ruonan wandered around the Farm Estate for a while and discovered that a great many more people had gathered nearby.
According to the estate manager, quite a few disaster refugees had arrived recently. Some, driven into a corner with nowhere to turn, had even joined the mountain bandits.
Several surrounding villages and counties had been plundered by the bandits, leaving the common people mired in misery.
Apparently, the bandits had been roaming everywhere lately and had already set up camp on Mount Wanyang. The Farm Estate might be their next target.
"Go ask the refugees whether they're willing to stay," Jian Ruonan instructed. "From now on, find work for any refugees near the estate who are willing to stay and work."
Emperor Deyuan was no muddleheaded ruler. With disasters striking year after year, he had reduced taxes again and again, yet some people still couldn't get enough to eat.
With so many refugees, failing to keep things under control could lead to a major calamity.
Several great peasant uprisings in history had begun with disaster refugees raising poles as their banners and rising in revolt.
If they took the refugees in, gave them something to eat, and provided an honest livelihood, people wouldn't be willing to risk everything out of desperation.
Spring had arrived, and the estate needed to expand its potato and corn fields. This was precisely when they needed workers. There were more pigs and cattle, too, and the piglets, calves, and mother pigs all needed tending.
That wasn't even counting her workshops, which desperately needed workers. Any honest, dependable people could stay and be trained.
Refugees working on the estate would not only have enough to eat, but would even get meat during the holidays.
Leaving this matter to the Marquis's Brother-in-law put her mind at