Chapter 51: Refugees Enter the City

Within just a few days, under Qin Xuan’s arrangements, every workshop in Beining City began to turn like a raging machine, working at full speed.

Although Qin Xuan was confined to the secondary residence, Zhao Luoying, Du Manjiang, and the others never stopped making preparations for the arrival of two hundred thousand refugees.

“Brother Qiu, it has been a long time!”

Now, amid the thick white snow, when Qin Xuan personally rode out on horseback to welcome him, the distinguished scholar of the age could do nothing but burst into tears. He was unable to utter a single word.

He was ashamed of having doubted Qin Xuan, and deeply moved by Qin Xuan’s arrival.

Heaven was unkind, but there was still the Prince of Chu.

“My lord, on behalf of these two hundred thousand refugees, I thank you.”

Qiu Xingzhi bowed deeply, then suddenly fell to his knees.

“From this day forward, I, Qiu Xingzhi, acknowledge you as my lord. I am willing to brave fire and water for you, my prince, and help restore a golden age.”

Qin Xuan was deeply moved by his words.

Qiu Xingzhi was no ordinary scholar. Behind him stood countless men of letters throughout the realm.

Before taking office at the Imperial Academy, Qiu Xingzhi had served as the head of Qingshan Academy, the greatest academy in Great Qi.

His teacher was the founder of Qingshan Academy, a personage so extraordinary that even the rulers of other nations had to bow and pay their respects before him.

It was no exaggeration to say that with Qiu Xingzhi’s allegiance, Qin Xuan had opened a broad and splendid road into the world of scholars.

Before long, scholars would come pouring into Beining City in an endless stream.

“Brother Qiu, you flatter me far too greatly. Please, rise at once.”

Qin Xuan hurriedly helped Qiu Xingzhi to his feet. He then ordered someone to bring a thick sable coat and personally helped him put it on.

“My lord, these two hundred thousand refugees…”

Qiu Xingzhi had just begun to speak when he staggered, nearly collapsing.

The journey had already exhausted him. He had managed to reach Beining City only by clinging to sheer force of will.

Qin Xuan reached out to support him.

“Now that you have arrived in Beining City, leave everything that follows to me.”

Qiu Xingzhi gazed into Qin Xuan’s resolute yet warm eyes. Only then did a faint smile appear on his face, and he nodded firmly.

Qin Xuan then turned toward the refugees, who had already crowded around the area until not even a drop of water could pass through, and called out loudly:

“Everyone, you have endured hardship and exposure along the way. But rest assured—Beining City will not shut its gates against you as other cities have done.”

“Beining City has already made preparations to settle you. However, since you have come from an epidemic-stricken region, every one of you must follow the arrangements of the Divine Strategy Army for the sake of everyone’s safety. You will enter the city in an orderly manner.”

The moment Qin Xuan finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd.

“We’re saved! Beining City really hasn’t rejected us!”

“Wonderful! I was so afraid we would be driven away. If that happened, my whole family would have died here.”

“Heaven protect us! May the Prince of Chu protect us! We can live on now!”

The wishes of ordinary people were simple. They wanted nothing more than to stay alive.

Thus, throughout the process that followed, no matter how hungry, cold, or desperate they were, not a single person disrupted the order.

Everyone formed neat lines and followed the Divine Strategy Army’s instructions, slowly making their way through passageways enclosed by bamboo railings that had been prepared in advance.

At the very front of the passage stood a series of enormous tents. Huge vats had already been set upon temporary earthen stoves.

Boiling water churned inside the vats, and many of the refugees who had entered were instructed to wash themselves immediately.

Although it was the dead of winter, Qin Xuan had arranged for more than ten thousand coal stoves to provide warmth, so the area was not especially cold.

“My lord, what is this…”

As they walked, Qiu Xingzhi asked one question after another, unable to hide his curiosity.

Qin Xuan explained, “I have already learned what caused the epidemic in Danxia City, and I have developed a method to treat and prevent it.”

“Truly?”

Qiu Xingzhi was overcome with emotion and seized Qin Xuan’s arm in excitement.

Qin Xuan smiled and nodded.

“It is true.”

He then gave a brief explanation of smallpox before continuing:

“The disease spreads through the air and through contact with the skin. Therefore, everyone must wash themselves first and keep clean. Afterward, you will enter the tents farther back in order to receive the cowpox vaccination.”

Qin Xuan’s explanation was simple, but the entire resettlement operation was actually quite complicated.

Before entering the city, the refugees had to wash themselves clean and change into temporary clothing made of hemp. They were then separated according to their physical condition.

Those who had already developed symptoms were placed in an isolated area. Those who had not were sent directly to the tents farther back to be vaccinated.

To receive these two hundred thousand refugees, the Divine Strategy Army had dispatched ten thousand soldiers.

Fortunately, the cowpox method had already proven effective on monkeys. Qin Xuan therefore ordered more cattle to be brought in for the cultivation of cowpox, after which the pus was extracted and injected into the refugees.

“Sir, have a cup of ginger tea to warm yourself.”

Wearing a mask made of hemp, Zhao Luoying personally carried a cup of ginger tea to Qiu Xingzhi.

Qiu Xingzhi hurriedly thanked her, visibly flattered.

“You are too kind, Your Highness.”

“There is no need for such formalities. We are in a military camp. You may call me Luoying, or General Zhao.”

Zhao Luoying gave him a faint smile, then led her people to distribute ginger tea to the refugees waiting in line behind them.

Qiu Xingzhi stared at everything before him, and the gloom in his heart was swept away.

This was clearly a deadly epidemic, yet in Beining City there was not the slightest trace of despair. All that could be felt was warmth, humanity, and a profound sense of security.

The Divine Strategy soldiers, who fought with fierce valor on the battlefield and slew enemies by the thousands, were now as gentle as elder brothers and fathers.

Qiu Xingzhi could not see even the slightest hint of arrogance in them.

Such was Beining City. Such was the Divine Strategy Army.

And all of it was because of the young Prince of Chu beside him.

“You have endured a difficult journey, Sir. Come with me to the princely residence first. Settling all these refugees will likely take at least ten days or half a month.”

Qin Xuan made the suggestion.

Two hundred thousand refugees were entering the city in successive groups, and every one of them had to be vaccinated. Naturally, the process would take time.

Fortunately, Beining City had made ample preparations, and the three great merchant guilds had gradually opened up trade routes. Grain and supplies arrived in an uninterrupted stream every day.

Otherwise, merely feeding these two hundred thousand refugees would have been enough to plunge Beining City into crisis once more.

Time passed, and before anyone knew it, ten days had gone by.

Most of the refugees had entered the city safely, but they were still being temporarily housed in separate areas.

Meanwhile, the people within the city had also begun receiving vaccinations against smallpox.

At that moment, in the council hall of the princely residence, Qin Xuan was discussing various matters with Qiu Xingzhi, Zhuge Xuan, Zhao Luoying, and the others.

Two issues were of greatest importance.

The first was how to provide housing for the two hundred thousand refugees.

The second was the longstanding shortage of officials in Beining City.

“My lord, Beining City lacks officials capable of governing it. However, after carefully examining the historical records and documents in the prefectural office, I discovered that the reason Beining City has fallen into such disorder is entirely because the officials and clerks have colluded with one another, forming factions and embezzling funds together.”

Qiu Xingzhi truly deserved his reputation as the foremost scholar of the age. He had struck directly at the heart of the matter.

In ancient times, officials and clerks referred to two different positions.

Officials were administrators appointed by the imperial court, and they held official ranks.

Clerks, on the other hand, were closer to hired employees. They received salaries but held no official rank. Bailiffs, secretaries, and clerical aides generally fell into this category.

To put it plainly, officials had established posts, while clerks were temporary workers.

“The minor clerks in Beining City are all recruited locally. The original intention was that local people would find it easier to manage local affairs. But now corruption is rampant, and they have all become part of the same nest of snakes and rats. It would be better to recruit clerks from elsewhere.”

Qiu Xingzhi offered his proposal.

Everyone looked somewhat puzzled, but Qin Xuan’s eyes lit up. Unable to contain his approval, he said:

“You truly possess great wisdom, Sir. This is an excellent idea.”