No matter how much bloodshed there was outside, the people in the northwest continued to live their lives peacefully. With the Mohist army around, they did not seem to be worried about being involved in the war. However, the number of refugees entering the northwest from Feihong Pass gradually increased. At first, the northwest was naturally willing to accept these refugees. After all, the northwest was not as big as the Da Chu State, but the population was still not that large. Even if there were people moving into the northwest continuously in recent years, it still could not change the fact that the northwest had been barren and sparsely populated since ancient times. If it was in the past, no one would escape to such a place even if they were fleeing. However, after two consecutive wars, the northwest had accepted many refugees. Now that the war had just begun, there would be a day when the northwest's population would swell to the point where this land could not bear it. Just for this reason, the Mohist army urgently needed to expand their territory.
"It has been less than two months since the war between West-Hill and the Da Chu State, but the number of people entering the northwest from Feihong Pass alone has reached 300,000. If the war continues, the number of refugees will only increase. If this situation continues, we will have to close Feihong Pass in two months at most. The northwest cannot support so many people. "In the spacious study, Zhou Yu reported respectfully with a solemn face. After a few years, Zhou Yu, who had been entrusted with an important task by Mo Xiuyao when he had just arrived in the northwest, was now a civil official who could take charge of a department in the Prince Ding Mansion. After Ruyang was renamed to Glass City, Zhou Yu continued to be the governor of Glass City. In recent years, the people in Glass City lived peacefully. The people lived and worked happily, and the foreign merchants were suffering more and more. This was all thanks to Zhou Yu's management.
The others also looked serious. In just over a month, more than 300,000 people had entered Feihong Pass, not to mention the refugees from other places. The total number of refugees in the northwest was probably more than 500,000. One must know that hundreds of thousands of people could not be settled just by giving them a place to stay. They needed to eat and drink. Fortunately, it was not winter, otherwise, there would be problems such as clothing and housing. Furthermore, they could not allow a large number of them to starve to death or die of illness. Putting aside the issue of morality, if so many people were to die of illness during summer, it was very likely to cause a plague. They had no choice but to treat it with caution.
"If we lock the gates, it's very likely that the refugees will be angered. When that happens …" Xu Hongyan, who was sitting at the side, frowned. Ever since the Da Chu State started the war, he and Xu Hongyu, who were originally free and unfettered, returned. Although no one said it out loud, everyone knew in their hearts that Prince Ding would soon set out for battle.
Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, one hand supporting his forehead as he silently listened to the people below express their opinions. After they finished speaking, he asked, "Try to settle those refugees. But … I don't want to see those lazy people stay in the Northwest. I also don't want to see those spies and spies with ulterior motives. This matter … Wei Lin, Mo Hua, shall I leave it to you to handle? "Wei Lin and Mo Hua stepped forward and said in unison," Your Highness, please be at ease. This subordinate will definitely live up to Your Highness' trust! "
Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "I can rest assured that you'll handle things well. But … be careful. Don't cause any mass unrest. Mister Hongyan, I'll have to trouble you to give them some pointers on this matter. "
Xu Hongyan nodded in agreement and said, "This subordinate will do what is necessary. Prince, please be at ease."
Zhou Yu frowned slightly and asked, "Prince, if the refugees continue to pour into the Northwest, I'm afraid our reserves won't last until next year." Moreover, the Prince was planning to set out for battle. When the army set out for battle, they couldn't be short on provisions. If they didn't take precautions early, many people in the Northwest would starve to death this winter.
Ye Li, who had been silent all this time, said softly, "If we use it wisely, it won't be a problem to last until next year. Fourth Young Master Xu and Fifth Young Master Xu's harvests in the North have been quite good these past few years. In addition, Fourth Young Master Xu took the opportunity to write a letter last year to report that he had brought in a crop called 'sweet potato' from the Southwest. The yield is three to five times that of normal crops. It's suitable for satisfying hunger and can be grown in any soil. This year, we tried planting it at the beginning of spring, and the harvest was quite good. This type of sweet potato isn't picky about the soil it's planted in. It can even grow in barren land and sand. Fourth Young Master Xu's intention is to take advantage of the fact that we can still open up a large amount of land and plant it for another season. This … requires a large amount of manpower … "
Zhou Yu's face lit up when he heard this. He wasn't a cold-hearted person. If he could, he would naturally be willing to take in the refugees. He smiled and said, "So, Princess Consort's intention is for the refugees to open up the barren mountains?"
Ye Li nodded. At the same time, she reminded them that they couldn't recklessly cut down the trees. The people of this era didn't pay attention to these problems and wouldn't encounter them. However, Ye Li understood that if they wantonly cut down the trees for important land, the Northwest's already bad climate would only worsen.
Someone asked worriedly, "Even if we survive this year, what will happen in the future?" The Northwest was only so big, and this battle would take many years. The number of refugees would only increase, but there would always be a limit to the amount of food they could harvest.
Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Xu Qingchen's half-smiling face. There would indeed be more and more people, but … the Northwest's land wouldn't always be this big. Moreover, when the refugees discovered that the Northwest's capacity to take in more people than they could handle, they would leave on their own.
After the discussion, they dismissed everyone. Only Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li, Xu Qingchen and Xu Hongyu were left in the study.
Xu Hongyu looked at Mo Xiuyao and asked in a low voice, "Prince, have you already decided on the date to send out the troops?"
Mo Xiuyao nodded. Although the Mohist army was secretly preparing, they couldn't delay for too long. If they delayed too long and were discovered by outsiders, they would lose the chance to launch a surprise attack against the Xiling Army. "I'll have to trouble Big Brother and Uncle with the Northwest," Mo Xiuyao said in a low voice.
Xu Hongyu frowned slightly and looked at Ye Li. "Li 'er is going as well?"
Ye Li nodded and smiled. "Yes, I'll have to trouble Uncle."
Xu Hongyu looked at Ye Li with some disapproval. Although he knew that his niece's martial arts were extraordinary, she was the only child left behind by his only sister. Xu Hongyu was strict with his sons and nephews, and even his grandnephews Xu Zhirui, Xu Zhirui and Mo Xiaobao. However, he was always worried about Ye Li. Ye Li smiled. "Uncle, you don't have to worry about Li 'er. Grandfather also agreed."
Hearing this, Xu Hongyu was surprised. Compared to his love for Li 'er, his father was no less than him. How could he agree to let Li' er go to such a dangerous battlefield? Thinking about it, although Xu Hongyu couldn't understand, he knew that his father had his reasons for doing so. He only wanted to go back to the Academy and ask his father about it. He didn't stop Ye Li and sighed. "Fine, you must be careful."
"Li 'er knows. Don't worry, Uncle." Ye Li smiled.
Xu Qingchen thought for a moment and raised his head to ask, "The Northwest has no more than 1.2 million soldiers and horses. At least half of them need to be stationed in the Northwest. That is to say … you can only take 600,000 soldiers to battle. We have secretly investigated in the past few years. The total number of soldiers in West-Hill has exceeded three million. Lei Zhenting has invested close to one million soldiers in Da Chu State. Once you go deep into West-Hill, he will come back to rescue you and surround you from all sides. You will be surrounded by at least two million soldiers. What will you do then? "
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