Prosperity's Kindness
"The Shiyi Prince has gone to Liuzhou, and it's unclear when he'll be back."
The current governor of Southeast Commandery is a young man named Wen Keming. He comes from a scholarly family and is said to have been born into the Yellow Academy, specializing in agricultural science. He achieved excellent results in the previous graduating class and holds four or five major patents.
At the same time, because he was also good at political and historical writing, he was recommended by Shen San to serve as the deputy political official of Nanyang City Nanyang City during his internship. Later, because the southeast was conquered and there was an urgent need for management talents, and the southeast was mostly plains and farmland, it was a place to build a rich granary. Because Chen Qing had experienced reality, he disliked the idea of an outsider managing an insider. So in the end, he simply let Wen Keming directly serve as the governor of the Southeast Commandery.
"That's quite troublesome." Bai Lie, who was in charge of negotiating the refugee situation, frowned upon hearing this. "The number of refugees is increasing, and those demons outside are becoming bolder and bolder lately. Many of them are constantly probing the surrounding area. My subordinates have reported that several children from the Southern Barbarians have run into trouble."
Upon hearing that a child had been in trouble, even the usually reserved Wen Keming showed a look of pity.
Most people still have compassion for the young, especially those studying at the academy whose values are influenced by Chen Qing's later perspectives. While there are differences regarding racial boundaries, young children are generally not treated as livestock based on race.
"This"
"My men suggested," Bai Lie quickly said, seeing the other party's reluctant expression, "That we could consider letting the women and children in first, while leaving the able-bodied men outside. What does Prefect Wen think?"
"General Bai, you're too kind." Wen Keming quickly returned the greeting when the other party addressed him by his official title. He was too inexperienced, and many of the senior officials under him were not very respectful of him. However, in recent years, Bai Lie had cooperated with him in various ways and given him a lot of face. He was not an ungrateful person.
"Given the current situation in the Southeast, it would be enough to absorb even another 10 billion people, not to mention women and children, but..." Wen Keming ultimately hesitated.
Southeast Commandery is a large province, even larger in area than Jiangnan. Its population was also larger than Jiangnan's in the past, and it has always been a major area for the imperial court to recruit soldiers. However, because it is located in the south with more mountainous forests, the number of mutated demons during the Spiritual Energy Revival was also greater than in the north, resulting in a significant decrease in population. In recent years, most of the powerful Magic City have been recruited as Mountain God to ensure the safety of the area, and the population is rapidly recovering. However, this has only been five or six years, and the number of young and middle-aged people is still limited.
This resulted in a large amount of farmland in the Southeast Commandery being nurtured by the Mountain God but left undeveloped by the immortal farmers, while the Jiangnan region, despite its overpopulation, has always struggled to attract people, and the occasional arrival from the north is insufficient to meet the demand.
Actually, if those Southern Barbarians pose no threat, letting all those at the gate in is a minor matter; it can be easily arranged, and we could even continue recruiting. But the problem is, who can guarantee their safety?
"Actually, I've been observing the safety issues for the past year," Bai Lie quickly said with a smile. "Those people have basically never left the protection zone of the gatekeepers. In that position, without sufficient meat, even a strong martial artist couldn't last this long. Besides, this time we mainly recruited women and children, so the danger is even lower."
Wen Keming was increasingly tempted by the offer, and finally nodded under the expectant gaze of the other party, saying, "Then let's leave it at that for now. I will report to Lord Shiyi as soon as he returns. As for the responsibility, I will take it upon myself."
"Hey, look at what the Prefect is saying. Since I brought up this decision, I, Lao Bai, will naturally take responsibility for it."
"As the prefect, since I have agreed, I naturally have to take responsibility. General Bai, there's no need for further explanation. You should set off now to prepare at the pass. I will open up Jiayun County to take in these women and children from the Southern Barbarians. What do you think?"
"Lord Wen is a reliable and steady person; this is an excellent choice," Bai Lie nodded repeatedly.
Jiayun County is located in Zhangzhou to the south. It is not close to the pass and will not pose too much of a threat to the pass's defense. To send a message, one would have to pass through the locations of four Mountain God, which is not easy. Moreover, there are not many people living along the way in that county town. Even if something happens along the way, it will not cause too many casualties and there is still room for maneuver.
It must be said that although this Prefect Wen is young, he is indeed very meticulous in his work.
"That's settled then. General Bai, you may depart first. I'll head to Jiayun immediately to coordinate the pick-up arrangements."
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you, Lord Wen."
"I still need to ask General Bai to be extra careful, especially when the formation is activated."
"Please rest assured, Your Excellency!" Bai Lie patted his chest, full of confidence!
Back then, to compensate for his exile to the southeast, Tian Heng would allocate a considerable amount of faith power here every year. Although he didn't have many men under his command, he allocated enough Power of Faith and had no shortage of resources. Although his soldiers weren't as Transcendent as Tian Heng's elite troops, most of them were still first or second-rank martial artists. Their overall strength was among the best in the world.
To be honest, with this military strength, if there aren't any major changes on the Southern Barbarians side, he could wipe out the Southern Barbarians with this army.
He was only wary of the emaciated, starving people outside the door; he was confident that nothing serious would happen.
"Listen up, you Southern Barbarians barbarians below!"
On the city gate, the deputy general, overjoyed upon receiving the order, shouted, "Thanks to the mercy of the general and the higher-ups, we can now temporarily take in fleeing women, children, and infants. But listen carefully: we only accept women, children, and infants. Children taller than a cartwheel will not be accepted. Do you understand?"
The lieutenant's voice was as deafening as thunder, but to the ears of those with sallow complexions below, it was nothing short of heavenly music.
One by one, they immediately knelt down and kowtowed, weeping loudly!
These days, they've become numb, devoid of any hope, constantly fearing being devoured by those terrifying insect poisons, especially those spider demons, who are said to be extremely cruel, trapping people in spider silk balls, melting their bodies with liquid, and then slowly sucking them dry, all while they're still alive. This is what some rescued refugees have said, and even now, the mere mention of it evokes a nightmare-like fear in them.
What they fear most is that their own children will suffer such a terrible fate.
In fact, those Central Plains people on the city gate were already kind enough. If it were the Southern Barbarians city, let alone giving them food, it would have been an act of great mercy not to take them as slaves!
Looking at the Southern Barbarians below, who were crying tears of joy and kowtowing repeatedly in gratitude, Bai Lie and the others had mixed feelings.
People only develop a kind heart when they are well-fed, clothed, and wealthy. It was said that the Southern Barbarians barbarians were savage and vicious, but this was mostly related to the scarcity of resources. Nowadays, the Jiangnan region is peaceful and prosperous, and there are very few vicious incidents. The reason for this is that everyone is living well enough.
Chen Qing is truly a savior-like figure, creating a haven in such a chaotic world and instilling in most of the people living here the compassion that humanity should possess.
"Activate the formation!"
"Yes"
Bai Lie turned around and went down to direct the soldiers to provide support, but many people did not see that among those young men kneeling and kowtowing, there were some whose eyes had a strange and eerie color, as colorful as the starry sky!