Chapter 111: Vernacular version of "Recruitment Order"

The fourth year of Zhongping.

Since Han Sui killed Beigong Boyu, Li Wenhou and Bian Zhang last winter, the Liangzhou rebel group has completed centralization and its power has become increasingly powerful.

Han Sui led an army of over 100,000 and marched to besiege Longxi.

At that time, the governor of Liangzhou, Geng Bi, trusted corrupt officials, and his subordinate, Cheng Qiu, was treacherous, which made the scholars very dissatisfied. Under his rule, the Liangzhou people, Wang Guo, Di, Qiang, etc. all rose up in rebellion.

In order to quell the rebellion of Wang Guo and Han Sui, Geng Bi decided to lead the troops of six counties and take the initiative to attack. Hanyang prefect Fu Xie tried to persuade him, but Geng Bi refused.

In April, Geng Bi's army arrived in Didao.

Li Xiangru, the governor of Longxi, rebelled and allied with Han Sui. Geng Bi's army mutinied, Cheng Qiu was killed, and then Geng Bi was also killed by Beijia.

The rebels then surrounded Hanyang, and Fu Xie was killed in the battle. Wang Guo, a native of Hanyang, called himself the General of Allied Forces, and Ma Teng, a native of Sima Fufeng under Geng Bi, also led his troops in rebellion. Han Sui and others jointly promoted Wang Guo as the leader and attacked the Sanfu area.

May.

Emperor Liu Hong recruited the Wuhuan cavalry from Youzhou to suppress the rebels from Liangzhou. Zhang Chun volunteered to lead the Wuhuan cavalry, but was rejected by the court, so he plotted a rebellion against Han.

June.

Zhang Chun and his fellow countyman Zhang Ju joined forces with Wuhuan Qiuliju and others to attack counties and prefectures, with an army of more than 100,000. Zhang Ju proclaimed himself the Son of Heaven, and Zhang Chun proclaimed himself the General Mi Tian and the King of Anding, claiming that they would replace the Han Dynasty.

July.

Qu Xing, a native of Changsha, gathered nearly 10,000 bandits again after being defeated by Jin Mao and laid siege to the city.

This time, Qu Xing learned his lesson and did not dare to go east, but went west to attack Changsha County.

Zhou Chao of Lingling County and Guo Shi of Guiyang County responded to Qu Xing and revolted in the same month.

The Ten Eunuchs issued a false imperial edict, ordering the Minister Sun Jian to go to Changsha County to suppress the rebellion.

Nanchang County.

July is the season for harvesting early rice.

Fortunately, Jin Mao saw the opportunity early and forced the four counties to cultivate the land, otherwise, no one knows how many of the millions of people in Yuzhang County would have starved to death this year.

As the plum rain season came early and it rained intermittently for three months, the water level of the Yangtze River rose, causing Pengze Lake to overflow and flooding countless acres of farmland.

The six most fertile northern counties of Yuzhang County originally relied on Pengze Lake for their food and clothing, but now they have suffered a great disaster.

Not only are hundreds of thousands of people about to lose their crops, but some people’s land has already been submerged and refugees have begun to appear near Nanchang County, and their number is increasing.

Jin Mao immediately ordered: "Recruit refugees to work as farmers."

When the early rice began to mature, the original inhabitants of Nanchang County just wanted to sit back and wait for their share of the profits. These refugees just happened to solve the problem of insufficient manpower.

"County, how much food do the refugees get every day?"

Gu Yong asked at the right time: "Will the resettlement be carried out according to the original policy?"

Gu Yong would not say things for no reason, and Jin Mao knew this very well.

There is a reason for this, and there are more and more refugees than just this batch now.

If the old rules were followed, Jinmao’s financial resources would be emptied in an instant.

"What do you think, Yuan Tan?"

Gu Yong still had a calm expression and said, "Our dynasty provides assistance to refugees by giving them a bowl of porridge every day."

"Now, if the county government wants to provide relief through work, two meals of thick porridge will suffice."

"We will also formulate corresponding regulations to prevent people from cheating and playing tricks."

Jin Mao nodded: "Let's do it this way. Yuan Tan, please work harder. You proposed this matter, so I'll leave it to you to do it."

"Here."

After finishing his business, Jin Mao took a break and went outside. Looking at the scorching sun, he couldn't help but feel a little worried: "Will there be a drought after the flood?"

I am really afraid of what will happen.

July fifteenth.

Yu Fan sent a letter asking for help. Dantu County suffered a flood, and the people were displaced and crowded into Qu'a County. Food was in short supply.

Moreover, the number of refugees was still increasing. Yu Fan believed that Piling had also suffered a disaster. The people of the three counties all gathered in Qu'a, and the logistics could not keep up.

Yu Fan also mentioned in the letter that there might not be enough rain in the second half of this year, and hoped that Jinmao would not forget to build water conservancy projects while planting late rice.

July 18th.

Ling Cao sent a request for help, Wucheng County encountered the same problem.

Ling Cao didn't know where the refugees came from, but their numbers were increasing. This year, the early rice production in Wucheng County might not be enough to support all of them.

Tang Mao, who was in charge of Yuhang and Qiantang counties, also wrote to me...

It seemed as if all the refugees in the world had agreed to gather here.

Although Jinmao was prepared, it was still in a state of panic.

Fortunately, Kuaiji County is very stable. Except for Taimo and Wushang counties, the output of other counties varies, but there is always a surplus. This year's oil production has soared to 100,000 barrels!

Unfortunately, the man who collected the oil never came again. Not only did Jin Mao's official position remain unchanged, but there was no news about any craftsmen or books either.

Jinmao has collected and improved the cultivation of all contemporary varieties of vegetables, fruits and melons, thanks to Tang Mao's help.

Due to the flood, the Tang Mao caravan has not come to transport oil for several months, and the area occupied by Jinmao seems to be isolated from the Central Plains.

Back to the topic.

As all the counties were in urgent need, Jin Mao had no choice but to use the grain reserves in Kuaiji County, but this was like drinking poison to quench thirst.

If the current trend continues, Jinmao will not survive until the day when the late rice matures.

"How to do?"

Ask for advice from Gu Yong Xi Zhicai.

Gu Yong suggested increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

"The three counties have many rivers, lakes and marshes, and there is also an area near the sea. We can organize refugees to go into the water and catch fish and shrimp."

"Good." Jin Mao immediately asked Gu Yong to write a document and send it to all counties.

Xi Zhicai waited until Gu Yong left before offering a suggestion: "My Lord, why not rob the powerful families? They are extremely wealthy."

Jin Mao was very moved, and finally shook his head and said: "No matter whether they are powerful or common people, they are all under my rule now, and I will treat them equally."

"The law cannot be abolished!"

Xi Zhicai secretly praised him and whispered, "What if a powerful family violates the law?"

"Don't mess around!" Jin Mao said subconsciously: "Now our identities and status are different, we can't use these despicable means anymore."

Xi Zhicai widened his eyes and said, "No, I never thought of such a brutal method of framing someone else."

Jin Mao also suddenly realized this and coughed twice: "Why didn't you say it earlier if you had a solution? Why didn't you say it earlier?"

Xi Zhicai immediately adjusted his expression and pretended he hadn't heard anything: "According to my investigation, in the six northern counties of Yuzhang County, most of the powerful families are lawless, which is why the number of refugees continues to increase."

"Is there such a thing?" Jin Mao was surprised and delighted: "What else is there to say? Kill them all! Confiscate their property and exterminate their clan!"

"Cough cough" Xi Zhicai coughed dryly. He guaranteed that he was choked by saliva.

"My lord, since there are laws, we can just act according to them."

Jin Mao was very hesitant: "Are you sure it's enough?"

Xi Zhicai nodded immediately: "That's enough! It's definitely enough! If it's not enough, you can confiscate our property and exterminate our clan."

"That's right." Jin Mao was very satisfied: "Then I'll leave this matter to you."

"Who do you want to cooperate with you?"

Xi Zhicai said without hesitation: "Captain Gong."

"Okay." Jin Mao waved his hand and said, "I will send a thousand soldiers and a thousand Baiyue troops to cooperate with you. This must be done quickly!"

"Yes!" Xi Zhicai accepted the order.

"Wait!" Jin Mao stopped him and said, "You haven't finished talking yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

"You have another mission this time. Get me the six northern counties of Yuzhang. Do you know how to do it?"

"Don't worry, lord." Xi Zhicai said excitedly, "I know what to do."

It was hard for Xi Zhicai not to be excited. As long as these two things were accomplished, they would be great achievements!
Even though he was a civilian, Jin Mao had already said that civilians could be promoted to military ranks and receive the same welfare benefits as military officers.

This is a great thing!
The food problem has been solved temporarily, but Jinmao still has more things to do.

Plagues always occur after major disasters, and doctors are needed to cure the plague.

In this era, doctors were considered to be of lowly profession, not much better than craftsmen.

"Somebody come!"

Jin Mao originally wanted to ask Gu Yong to write an announcement to recruit doctors, but he forgot that Gu Yong was so busy that he would not have time.

And Xi Zhicai had just received an order to do something more important.

"Alas, talents! We are still in such a desperate need of talents!"

In the end, Jin Mao randomly found a county official with better handwriting to write a vernacular version of the "Talent Recruitment Order."

The content is very strange.

"We are now recruiting the following talents: craftsmen, doctors, and farmers. Food, lodging, and travel expenses are provided. Those who excel will be promoted within three years."

"We are looking for scribes: no matter if they can read and write or are good at counting, we want them all!

Accommodation and travel expenses are provided, and those who excel can be promoted after assessment."

"Recruiting military commanders: Your past is not important, what is important is your future."

(End of this chapter)