ATFCM ~ 09

Chapter ~ 09

Registering the Refugees, Canal Map, Seedling Cultivation

Shen Zheng looked at Li Hongmao’s rather wary expression and nodded inwardly, acknowledging that he was indeed a clever man.

“My Tong’an County is notoriously poor throughout the surrounding villages. We have no silver to speak of, but there is one thing we do have in abundance—land. This year, I plan to repair ditches and dig canals, reclaim wasteland, and cultivate it. The more hands, the better.”

Upon hearing this, Li Hongmao’s expression turned serious. He thought to himself—so she intends to dangle household registration in front of them first, get them to dig canals and tend the fields for her, and then kick them aside once they’re of no further use.

But Shen Zheng’s next words made Li Hongmao secretly feel ashamed of his own petty suspicions.

“I can issue the household registrations to you all first, putting you on Tong’an County’s rolls. The county office and each of you will keep one copy each. The canal-digging will begin in the next couple of days. The county residents are paid forty wen per day, with meals included. But since you just cost me a sum in medical expenses, there will be no wages for you—though your meal standards will be the same as the county residents’.”

Before the refugees could even begin to express their joy, Shen Zheng continued:

“The county office will allocate land for both your housing and farmland. You can slowly build your own shelters and reclaim the fields at your own pace. This year’s grain seeds will also be provided by the county office.”

She thought to herself that this would be a good chance to have these refugees plant some hybrid rice on ordinary fields to see the results.

After all, the land on Wang Guangjin’s estate was all high-quality fertile fields, so the harvest there would naturally be better than on ordinary land.

Li Hongmao and the refugees were overjoyed to the point of near madness. This felt too unreal—like one of those beautiful dreams they had had along the road before.

First, their household registrations would be recorded in the books, and then the documents would be issued to them. That would make them bona fide county residents.

And the canal-digging actually included meals—as long as they worked, they would have food!

Land for farming and a place to live—these were things they wouldn’t have dared to dream of in the past!

The refugees stood frozen for a moment, looking at each other, and then burst into loud wails.

A man clutched his head and wept: “If only we had come to Tong’an County sooner! My mother wouldn’t have starved to death!”

Those nearby felt a pang of sorrow at his words and could only pat him on the shoulder.

After the refugees had calmed down, they came forward one after another, kneeling to thank Shen Zheng.

But Shen Zheng waved her hand and said: “You work and farm for the county, and the county gives you shelter and food in return. It’s an equal exchange. There’s no need to thank me.”

Yet Li Hongmao understood that things were not as simple as Shen Zheng made them sound.

Registering new households and allocating land were no easy tasks.

Moreover, the harvest had been poor everywhere last year, and it was plain to see that Tong’an County was impoverished. The daily meals for dozens of people alone were no small expense.

This county magistrate was truly a good official.

Li Hongmao clasped his hands in a fist salute toward Shen Zheng and said: “Magistrate, this humble commoner may not be much, but I flatter myself that I have some learning. I am willing to offer my humble services to you!”

Hearing this, Shen Zheng thought to herself that Li Hongmao really wasn’t one for modesty.

She could only nod and say: “Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Li, to manage everyone during the canal-digging and make sure there are no conflicts with the county residents. As for everything else, we can discuss it after the canal work is done.”

“Yes, Magistrate!”

With that, Shen Zheng looked at the group of refugees with some headache. For today, she would have to bring them back to the county office first.

Shen Zheng sent the constables to notify the village head, then led the group back to the county office. Along the way, they were secretly gawked at and whispered about by the county residents.

“Where did the magistrate pick up these savages from?”

“Savages? I heard they’re refugees! Caught by the people of Huaihua Village!”

“It looks like they’re heading back to the county office. What’s she taking these refugees there for? To chop their heads off?”

“Why are you always going on about beheading people every day!”

……

Once back at the county office, Shen Zheng ordered the constables to close the main gates, mainly because the county residents outside were staring as if they were watching a spectacle.

She then had the county kitchen prepare some food for the group. Watching them wolf down the food, preferring to choke rather than stop, Shen Zheng stood still for a long time without moving.

“What is the magistrate thinking about?”

Chief Clerk Xu had somehow appeared beside Shen Zheng.

Shen Zheng turned her head, looked him in the eyes, and said: “I was thinking—how many more people like them are there in this world?”

Chief Clerk Xu looked at the crowd before them and was silent for a moment.

“There are naturally too many to save.”

Shen Zheng said nothing more. She understood well enough. Right now, she was just a minor county magistrate whose own residents had yet to live a life of food and clothing security. On what grounds could she worry about the masses of the world?

But she wanted to try—because she already possessed advantages that others did not.

Still, she had no intention of voicing her thoughts. Without absolute strength to back them up, speaking them out would only invite ridicule.

Better to focus on the tasks at hand.

“I’ll trouble you, Chief Clerk Xu, with the household registration and land allocation. Please make sure not to harm the interests of the original county residents,” Shen Zheng said.

Chief Clerk Xu nodded: “Understood. I will have it all handled within two days.”

Two days later, Chief Clerk Xu came to see Shen Zheng.

“Magistrate, the household registrations and land allocations for the refugees have all been arranged.”

*”Ding—detected that the host’s jurisdiction has taken in a number of refugees. Bonus reward: 10 prosperity points.”*

Hearing the system notification in her mind, Shen Zheng quietly curled the corners of her mouth. It seemed the system’s bonus rewards were quite generous. She had more points now, and hopefully before long she could try redeeming some items.

Snapping back to the present, Shen Zheng took the documents Chief Clerk Xu handed her and reviewed them. The household registration procedures were complete—the refugees were now officially residents of Tong’an County.

The land allocated for their housing and farmland was in Xiahe Village, at the starting point of the canal route.

More than a decade ago, Xiahe Village had suffered a flood, prompting the villagers to move away. Although the river embankment had since been repaired, the village’s population remained sparse even now.

Adding a bit more life to the place wouldn’t be a bad thing.

After reading through everything, Shen Zheng nodded: “Chief Clerk Xu, your work is truly reassuring.”

Chief Clerk Xu’s lips curved slightly upward: “You flatter me, Magistrate. It is merely my duty.”

Seeing his expression, Shen Zheng chuckled softly and pulled out the map she had drawn showing the canal’s course.

“There’s one more matter. Would you be so kind as to take a look at this and see if there are any issues with digging the canal according to this plan?”

Chief Clerk Xu looked at the map Shen Zheng had produced, and his eyes lit up!

“Magistrate, where did you get such a detailed map? It’s truly marvelous!”

Shen Zheng pressed her lips together and did not answer.

Realizing he had been presumptuous, Chief Clerk Xu said no more and began studying the map carefully.

A quarter of an hour later, he looked up, his eyes filled with delight as he gazed at Shen Zheng.

“Magistrate, this map is brilliant. With it, we won’t have to feel our way across the river like crossing stones—digging one step and then figuring out the next. This will greatly improve the efficiency of the canal work!”

Seeing Chief Clerk Xu’s excitement, Shen Zheng found herself infected by it.

“So, Chief Clerk, how long do you think the entire project will take? Will we make it in time for spring planting?”

Chief Clerk Xu nodded without hesitation: “Without this map, I’d estimate three months—we’d definitely miss spring planting. But with this map, I’m confident we can finish in just over a month!”

Just over a month—that meant they would make it in time!

Shen Zheng immediately scrapped her earlier plan to wait until next year before having the county residents plant hybrid rice.

They had to plant this year!

But she needed to find a way to make the county residents trust her—trust in hybrid rice.

If she forced everyone to plant it, there would certainly be dissatisfaction. She didn’t want conflict; having everyone plant happily and willingly would be the best outcome.

Chief Clerk Xu saw that Shen Zheng seemed lost in thought again and could only call out to her: “Magistrate, the sooner we start, the better. I’ll go notify everyone now, and we can begin work tomorrow morning.”

Shen Zheng nodded in agreement. Chief Clerk Xu saluted with clasped hands and withdrew.

If she wanted every one of the county’s thousand-odd households to plant at least one *mu* of hybrid rice, then she needed Wang Guangjin to germinate all the remaining rice seeds!

With that, she dashed out of the county office gates, found a few porters, and had them carry the rice seeds with her to Wang’s estate.