Chapter 1015: Chapter 851: Helpless Refusal

This many disaster victims will be a problem to feed and provide for, and Hangtian Prefecture does not have enough food to supply them with!

Not to mention two meals a day, even one meal a day would be insufficient. Those river workers have nothing to eat, and Yang Chaoying has been troubled by this matter over the past two days!

Moreover, this group is not just composed of able-bodied young men; there are plenty of old, weak, women, and children among them, making up more than half.

These people cannot do heavy work; the only ones to rely on would be those able-bodied workers.

But these people will definitely follow their family’s able-bodied workers into the city, yet he cannot distribute that much food!

The government official beside him noticed his lord hesitating and urgently tugged at Yang Chaoying’s sleeve.

"My lord, I have something to report!"

Yang Chaoying saw the official’s face wanting to speak but holding back, knowing this plan surely won’t work. Pulled aside by the official, they began whispering to each other.

"My lord! We in Hangtian Prefecture have no reserve grain left; even the river workers don’t have enough to eat! How can we accept so many people inside?"

The official frowned with worry; he felt this plan was untenable.

Though tempted by the extra able-bodied workers, how can one expect people to labor without pay?

To get the horse to run, one must feed it hay! With no food, drink, or silver, how could people exert effort?

Yang Chaoying pondered for a moment, furrowed his brow thinking of a solution.

"My lord, if these disaster victims enter the city, there is nowhere to settle them! Not to mention this is just a small portion! If all the victims from Changtian Prefecture come here, imagine how Hangtian Prefecture could accommodate them? If this first batch enters the city and those subsequently aren’t allowed in, they may riot and forcibly break in."

This analysis seemed logical and justified, and Yang Chaoying had already considered these problems earlier.

However, he nearly forgot about the continuous arrival of more disaster victims after this.

Not wanting to see these victims wander homeless, he hadn’t considered the arrival of many more victims.

Having been reminded by the official, he felt he couldn’t set this precedent. Otherwise, if victims increase, Hangtian Prefecture would be in chaos.

The elder on the other side observed the pair plotting for quite a while, with the lord’s expression growing increasingly grim, feeling ill at ease!

He was a bit anxious, earlier the lord hesitated because of his words, so he thought there was great hope.

Who would have thought the constable’s words would overturn it?

Yang Chaoying clenched his fists, sighed helplessly, and then approached the victims.

"Dear friends and elders, I just learned the stored grain in Hangtian Prefecture has been exhausted; even if you help reinforce the river embankment, I cannot provide food!"

With that, Yang Chaoying bowed to the crowd, "I apologize! I ask everyone to proceed to Yingnan Mansion!"

The victims heard this and felt greatly disappointed. Looking at Yang Chaoying’s helpless demeanor, they felt both angry and powerless.

The village chief was very anxious, "My lord, please take us in! We now have nowhere to go; isn’t the lord pushing us to a dead end?"

The village chief wiped his tears with his damp sleeve, hoping the lord might be moved to empathy.

"Indeed, my lord, I can see you are a good official; please let us enter!"

Some villagers spoke quickly, also recognizing that this lord seemed to have conscience.

Because the helplessness and pity on his face seemed genuine, not allowing them into the city might truly be difficult.

Still, understanding aside, they need to survive! So they can only plead with the lord to let them into the city, otherwise staying outside means waiting to die.

"Everyone, I’ve said all I can! Stopping you outside the Prefecture city is a helpless action, please understand."

Yang Chaoying did not want to continue speaking; he considered solutions within his heart. With so many people, these twenty-odd soldiers certainly couldn’t resist.

It might be better to temporarily close the city gates, rigorously screen, allowing exits but not entries!

"My lord! You ask us to go to Yingnan Mansion, but if the lord there doesn’t let us into the city, then what should we do?"

The village chief wasn’t unreasonable; on the contrary, he was once a scholar. Just lacking talent, he never passed the exams! 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Studying does help one understand reason, indeed.

Compared to those villagers who cannot recognize a single character, the elder naturally has more insight, analyzing the situation comprehensively.

Yang Chaoying was left speechless by the elder’s question. Indeed, he knew what kind of person Yingnan Mansion’s Magistrate Li Taixing was.

Given the two Prefectures are close, naturally, there would be frequent exchanges. That person is greedy and sly; accepting disaster victims with all its future troubles is something Li Taixing surely wouldn’t do.

Not only Li Taixing, even himself, despite regularly considering the people’s needs, feels somewhat resistant to this matter.

Who doesn’t fear trouble? Who doesn’t want to preserve their official’s hat and life?

So even if the victims went there, it’s likely Yingnan Mansion would make the same choice as him. Close the city gates to prevent victim entry.

However, he remembered the imperial envoy dispatched by the court, knowing the imperial envoy would have consulted Li Taixing beforehand.

It’s said Li Taixing was a schoolmate and graduated the same year as Hu Maoshen, the imperial envoy, and for mutual support, might indeed accept these victims.

After all, if the matter is done well, with Mr. Hu praising in front of the Emperor, isn’t promotion inevitable?

Considering this, Yang Chaoying was somewhat tempted. But realizing the personal grain store had bottomed out, he immediately shook his head.

"Rest assured, the court has already sent the imperial envoy. The envoy has already written to Yingnan Mansion, consulting on this matter. As long as you proceed to Yingnan Mansion, the Magistrate there won’t dare stop you from entering. Even if he refuses, the envoy wouldn’t agree."

Hearing Yang Chaoying say this, the victims knew he was resolute in not letting them into the city.

They cared not for the imperial envoy, nor did they wish to travel so far to Yingnan Mansion. On the way, with no food or drink, while it’s raining, they must cross mountains and rivers.

If a landslide occurred, wouldn’t their lives be at risk?

Moreover, there are mountain bandits and road robbers along the way; among them are women, risking not just losing their silver, but also putting these women in great danger.

Most importantly, the money they have is half gone, some families have only a few copper coins left.

If the bandits don’t find money, would they kill them all in anger?

Many had thought of these, discussing among themselves, and the elder also frowned hearing their words.

Having foreseen this, he didn’t want to lead the villagers to the distant Yingnan Mansion.

Because the unpredictable dangers along the way were too many, among them were even more than half his clan. Watching them die en route was unbearable.

The disaster victims spoke more, increasingly feeling the journey was fraught with danger, terrified at the prospect of moving to Yingnan Mansion.