Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 1191

Chapter 1191 -1185: Settlement

Zhao Sheng was extremely pleased, as if victory was already in his grasp.

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded to Zhao Sheng, then asked, “General Zhao, on your way here, did you notice how the implementation of the new policies by the government officials in the Xiliang cities we conquered is going?”

Mentioning this made Zhao Sheng’s expression a bit unnatural. He raised his hand to touch his nose but still truthfully said to Bai Qingyan, “Many of the Xiliang civilians ran away when they heard the Zhou army was taking over the cities…”

Zhao Sheng did not dare to say that the reason these civilians fled was that the people of Xiliang had not forgotten how Bai Qingyan burned ten thousand surrendered captives of Xiliang in the Battle of Wengshan. They feared that once the Zhou army arrived, they would be slaughtered, and that’s why they ran.

Bai Qingyan nodded, “Running away is good…”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng was completely surprised and turned to glance at Yang Wuce before looking at Bai Qingyan, “What does Your Majesty mean?”

Yang Wuce hurriedly explained to Zhao Sheng the policies Bai Qingyan had implemented towards the Xiliang people at Yecheng Pass, and Zhao Sheng suddenly understood…

“In this way, Minister of Revenue Master Wei will surely not come to Your Majesty complaining of poverty!” Zhao Sheng smiled.

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded, “We will indeed make the Xiliang people become citizens of Zhou, but we cannot offer special treatment just because they have newly joined Zhou’s nationality, making them feel… they can lazily live on relief from the imperial court.”

“Your Majesty’s words are very true! Now that they know they must become citizens of Zhou to survive when they can’t live as Xiliang people, they have to start working, be self-sufficient.”

While in Liang Kingdom, Zhao Sheng had been sent out to provide disaster relief. Later, when the fertile lands were ruined, the people could only rely on the court’s grain and funds for over a year, which eventually made some of them lazy. The originally hardworking people began to follow suit, leaving the once-fertile land abandoned, requiring annual grain disbursement from the court, which turned the land—originally a granary for Daliang—into a burden for the court.

Therefore, Bai Qingyan’s measure can be said to be extremely necessary.

“After the first batch of refugees enters the city, more Xiliang refugees will soon come to join Zhou,” Bai Qingyan said slowly. “At that time, when Yecheng Pass can no longer accommodate them, I can take them along on my way back to Dadu City, settling them in various cities along the route, giving them new homes… new lands, to ensure they settle as citizens of Zhou and live in peace and prosperity.”

Zhao Sheng nodded in agreement.

“General Zhao just arrived today. Rest for a day and lead the troops out early tomorrow,” Bai Qingyan said.

Upon hearing the order to lead troops to war, Zhao Sheng was filled with energy and clasped his fists, saying, “Yes!”

Watching Bai Qingyan walk away, Yang Wuce pulled Zhao Sheng aside, suggesting they sit and chat, actually wanting to boast about the battles he had fought following Bai Qingyan.

Wherever Zhou arranged for them to settle, they must go. Those unwilling to comply could leave immediately. However, anyone who followed Zhou must adhere to Zhou’s arrangements; otherwise, they would still be expelled from Zhou’s territory.

The main concern was that some refugees from Suining City might want to return to their homes but were unwilling to acknowledge debts to the government office.

In reality, as long as they had food and were not starving, these starving people wouldn’t care so much about their houses. If there was no one left, others would reside in their houses anyway.

Soon, after handing Yecheng Pass over to Bai Qingmo and Yang Wuce, Bai Qingyan led the troops and the Xiliang refugees toward Suining City.

These Xiliang refugees, having seen what the people at Yecheng Pass gained under Zhou’s new policies, and knowing the national policies beneficial to the country and people of Zhou, followed the army with hopes for what lay ahead, marching grandly towards Suining City.

When the army reached Suining City, Bai Qingyan found that indeed, half of Suining City was empty.

Before the Bai family army attacked Suining City, many residents with families had already left. Later, as the Bai family army captured Suining City and moved on to assault Yecheng Pass, seeing that the Zhou army did not prevent their departure, many ordinary citizens left under various pretenses, hoping to avoid being rounded up while Zhou was still engaged in warfare at Yecheng Pass.

Of course, the defending general received Bai Qingyan’s orders and did not stop ordinary citizens from leaving Suining City. Seeing Bai Qingyan leading a great number of people back and hearing that Bai Qingyan intended to register the citizens into Zhou’s household registry, General Cheng was somewhat bewildered.