Chapter 28: Strategizing to Stabilize the Realm

The problem of refugees in the southern territory of the Great Yan Dynasty had troubled him for far too long.

That area bordered the region controlled by the Black Soul Hall, and chaos reigned supreme.

Recently, great turmoil had erupted there once again, and countless refugees flooded into the southern frontier.

The Great Yan Dynasty had been established for a very short time—by His Majesty's generation, it was only the third.

Therefore, in order to absorb people from the surrounding areas, increase the Great Yan population, and strengthen national power...

The Great Yan Dynasty's policy in this regard was to welcome anyone who wished to come, turning no one away.

Now they couldn't refuse these refugees just because they were troublesome and difficult to handle.

That would be bad for the Great Yan Dynasty's future reputation, and bad internally as well.

Moreover, the number of refugees this time was considerable. If they could absorb them all, it would bring enormous benefits to the Great Yan Dynasty.

However, the one thing that gave Zhong Yangming a headache was the lack of money.

Settling so many refugees required enough Spirit Stones to purchase grain and supplies.

Now the most troublesome problem had been directly solved by the prince before him.

One million Spirit Stones! Settling these refugees would be more than enough—it was far too easy!

What did being a cook matter?

If Xiao Tian didn't mind, Zhong Yangming would even call him father.

"However, Prince, these Spirit Stones..." Zhong Yangming looked at the storage ring on the table, somewhat hesitant to take it. "There's no problem with them, right?"

He was worried that these Spirit Stones came from the imperial palace.

If it were investigated, they probably wouldn't be able to withstand His Majesty's wrath.

"Don't worry, these Spirit Stones were compensation from someone who accidentally offended me." Xiao Tian knew what Zhong Yangming was worried about and told him to use them without concern.

Zhong Yangming was quite surprised. "Who offended you, Prince, that they had to compensate so much money?"

"Ah, that's all in the past." Xiao Tian waved his hand and said quietly, "Don't spread this around, and definitely don't say I gave it to you."

"This is my private savings. It wouldn't be good if His Majesty found out."

Xiao Tian looked completely serious as he handed the storage ring to Zhong Yangming.

When Zhong Yangming heard the words "private savings," he showed an expression only men would understand, and solemnly took the storage ring in hand. "Prince, rest assured, I will definitely keep this secret."

"That puts my mind at ease." Xiao Tian nodded, then sighed. "You should know, this private savings didn't come easily."

"You can't even imagine what those people forced me to do..."

Zhong Yangming gasped, looking at Xiao Tian's handsome face, as if imagining many terrible things.

After collecting himself, Zhong Yangming reached out and patted Xiao Tian's shoulder. "Prince, I... I thank you on behalf of the future people of the southern frontier for your sacrifice."

"No problem, just make more good dishes in the future." Xiao Tian showed a relieved smile.

"Don't worry, absolutely!"

The two men looked at each other wordlessly, smiling.

Only Zhong Ling and Liu Yan, who knew the truth, had extremely strange expressions on their faces.

They looked at Zhong Yangming's moved and tearful appearance, not knowing what words to use to describe their feelings.

Especially if the people from Blood Cloud Tower heard what the prince said, they'd probably be angry enough to rise from the dead.

What do you mean they forced you to do things?

Could annihilating the entire Blood Cloud Tower be considered being forced?

Under normal circumstances, who would force someone to wipe out their entire organization?

And as for compensation...

That was even more absurd. Clearly Xiao Tian had killed all those assassins and then taken it himself.

Everyone was already dead—who was going to compensate you?

There were too many points to criticize. Zhong Ling and Liu Yan had a bellyful of words but couldn't say any of them.

"However, since we've already talked this far, how does Minister Zhong plan to spend my private savings?" Xiao Tian poured himself another cup of Qingyan wine and asked, then took a sip.

Zhong Yangming was momentarily stunned, but thinking that the money came from him, it was reasonable for him to want to know the details.

"Naturally, I'll purchase grain and supplies for disaster relief and send them there, and also fund the construction of temporary housing so they have shelter."

"Once they get through this round of planting and have a harvest, they'll be able to settle down here."

Xiao Tian raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "That won't work. It's too wasteful, and problems will easily arise."

"What do you mean, Prince?" Zhong Yangming was somewhat surprised.

"Why not try work-relief? Isn't that method better?" Xiao Tian asked back with curiosity.

Zhong Yangming stood there dazed, muttering Xiao Tian's words. "Work-relief?"

"These refugees in the southern frontier lack everything except people, right?" Xiao Tian said, pointing at the storage ring in Zhong Yangming's hand. "Why not use this money to hire them to do work?"

"This... this... We're providing disaster relief—how can we hire people?" Zhong Yangming opened his mouth, but before he could continue, Xiao Tian interrupted him.

"Why not? If you directly spend money to give them food and shelter, you'll have a large group of people gathered together with nothing to do."

"When people are idle, they easily overthink things. When they think too much, trouble arises."

"Better to exchange this money for grain and supplies, and use them as wages to hire them to repair bridges and roads, and cultivate wasteland."

"This way, not only do these refugees fill their bellies, but they also help build the Great Yan. Why not?"

"Moreover, having done work and vented their excess energy, they won't have the strength to cause trouble even if they wanted to."

"Besides that, it's best to separate and disperse these refugees, placing them in various counties, towns, and villages. It's best to separate those from the same hometown to avoid people who know each other gathering together and emboldening each other to cause trouble."

"Combined with the work-relief method, letting them integrate into various places—wouldn't that be better?"

"This way, the money is truly well spent, and it can solve more problems and accomplish more things. Isn't that good?"

"Think about it. Think carefully!" After speaking, Xiao Tian drained his cup in one gulp.

Good deeds should be done thoroughly—see the Buddha all the way to the West.

Xiao Tian figured that with just a few words, he could help Zhong Yangming handle the matter, and then he could focus on making dishes for him.

Zhong Yangming was thunderstruck, pondering Xiao Tian's words.

The more he pondered, the better he thought this method was.

"Brilliant! This strategy is truly..." Zhong Yangming finally slapped his thigh hard, looking at Xiao Tian so shocked he couldn't speak.

He really hadn't expected that this prince before him possessed such wisdom.

Providing money and helping with planning—it was all done in one step.

"Prince, whenever you have a craving in the future, just call on me." Zhong Yangming waved his hand grandly, patting his chest in guarantee. "I won't dare claim anything else, but in terms of culinary skill throughout the entire Great Yan Dynasty, if I say I'm first, no one can claim to be second."

At this moment, a smile bloomed on Xiao Tian's face.

He'd said so much waiting for exactly this sentence. He raised his cup toward Zhong Yangming. "Later, this prince wants a midnight snack!!"

"No problem, hahaha!"

The two men smiled at each other once more.

Zhong Ling and Liu Yan beside them, however, wore expressions of shock as they stared at Xiao Tian, unable to look away.

It was as if they were meeting Xiao Tian for the first time.