As the weather grew colder, more and more laborers gathered along both banks of the Luo River. The open stretch between Chengfu Ward and Chengfu Gate was already the main wharf for shipments entering the palace by way of the Luo River, and it now became the largest worksite and gathering point for laborers. As a result, the area around the Jing'an Directorate in Chengfu Ward was also full of laborers.
The first laborers to arrive mainly worked on demolition. Qianyuan Hall, the main hall of Ziwei Palace, was dismantled in its entirety. Vast quantities of timber, ornaments, bricks, and stone were reassessed. Anything deemed reusable was moved to the vacant ground west of Qianyuan Hall and stored on-site. As for what failed inspection... the bricks and stone really could not be used, but large quantities of timber and ornaments flowed into the Eastern Capital's civilian markets.
Wealthy households and powerful families scrambled to get a length of timber for a roof beam, a lintel, or a coffin. With a few alterations, any ornament a family managed to obtain also became an ideal gift or a way to flaunt their wealth.
Besides these, metal articles were sorted out and sent to the Southern City to be smelted again. For a time, smoke and fire rose there without pause, day and night. This alone brought the gangs in the Southern City wards and markets back from the ashes, making them thoroughly prosperous.
The poor there were willing to pay any price for an iron ingot or a piece of scrap copper, only for the gangs to collect the lion's share with ease.
Just half a month later, once the main structure of Qianyuan Hall had been dismantled, and while the Southern City smelting workshops were still smoking, the Eastern City laborers'