After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Chen Futu gave Yan Qing a simple suggestion: tell these troublemakers that it's not impossible for them to eat. First, they should hand over the troublemakers to the government office. Second, they should exchange their belongings for medicinal porridge. Otherwise, they should just go hungry.

"what?"

Yan Qing was stunned when he heard this idea. Where would these people get money? If they did, they would have gone to Longcheng long ago.

"It doesn't matter if they don't have money, they can exchange it for clothes. In addition, I will tell the other relief points to stop providing them with aid. If they want to eat, they must pay the price," Chen Futu said coldly.

"But why are they being forced to exchange clothes for food?"

"Haven't you noticed yet? Some of them are actually capable of going out to work, but you've always thought they're not healthy enough and haven't urged them to make a living like the government has. So why not make them more anxious? As winter approaches, they'll realize their clothes are no longer enough to keep them warm, and they'll naturally get worried and stop relying on you. As for those who really need help, you can have a doctor take a look and you'll have the answer."

Chen Futu explained it very clearly, and Yan Qing finally understood. This method could indeed drive away people who didn't need help. To be honest, she had long noticed that some people deliberately gathered at this aid station, saying they had stomach aches, liver aches, or all sorts of aches, but when the doctor examined them, they found that they had no problems at all. Wasn't this just bullying honest people?

Yan Qing found a squad leader from the Longcheng Garrison and told him his plans.

The captain frowned and said, "Is this really a good idea? I'm worried it will damage your reputation, Madam Yan, since these are all sick people."

"Do as she says."

Chen Futu suddenly spoke up, and the captain asked suspiciously, "And who are you?"

Chen Futu flashed out the Zhenbei token with black and gold patterns. The captain was taken aback and quickly lowered his head, saying, "This humble one greets Your Highness."

"Do whatever Madam Yan tells you to do. Also, send more people from the garrison to maintain order. If anyone dares to break the rules, expel them from the northern frontier."

"Here!"

The squad leader accepted the order and immediately ordered men to be transferred from the garrison.

He then personally announced Yan Qing's new rules to the refugees. Upon hearing that they needed to exchange their clothes for food, the people immediately became anxious.

"You can't do this! The Crown Prince has strictly forbidden you from mistreating the people. Aren't you afraid of being punished for doing this?"

“Punishment? I will only be punished if I let you run rampant. Besides, Madam Yan came to provide disaster relief out of kindness, not on a mission assigned by the royal court. If you stay here, you must follow the rules. Also, let me tell you, the Crown Prince has ordered that no one will be received by those who cause trouble. In other words, if you leave here today, no relief point will receive you.”

The squad leader's words caused an even bigger stir, and some people who were really seriously ill sighed upon hearing this, but there was nothing they could do.

Human greed is insatiable; it's no wonder they're being targeted.

"We want to see the Crown Prince!"

"Yes, see the Crown Prince!"

"You mistreat the people, the Crown Prince will chop off your heads—"

The shouts grew louder and louder, even showing signs of rioting.

Chen Futu gave the squad leader a look, and the latter immediately drew his sword. Seeing this, more than a dozen guards also drew their swords, and the chaotic scene was finally brought under control.

Subsequently, a large number of soldiers from the Longcheng Garrison arrived, numbering at least five hundred, and surrounded the area.

The people panicked and dared not gossip anymore.

Chen Futu came to the front of the line, looked at the young man who had started the trouble and was hiding in the crowd, and sneered: "If you want to eat, you must first bring the person who broke the rules to justice. He's right there. It's up to you to decide."

With a whoosh, the crowd dispersed, revealing the young man completely.

Seeing everyone staring at him, he chuckled awkwardly, "No one ordered me to do this. I just wanted everyone to eat some meat to nourish their bodies. It's all out of good intentions."

“If you have something to say, go and say it to the government office. What are you all standing there for? If you don’t take him to the government office and let Madam Yan calm down, you will all have no food to eat. You will either starve to death or freeze to death, or leave the northern frontier and find another way out.”

Chen Futu spoke again, and finally someone couldn't sit still any longer. He rushed forward to hold the young man down, but the latter was shocked and quickly dodged away. Then, his eyes were filled with hatred as he looked at Yan Qing. Suddenly, he charged at Yan Qing.

The two were only a few steps apart. By the time he pounced, the guards had already reacted, but it was too late.

Yan Qing stared in disbelief at the young man's crazed gaze and the gleaming dagger in his hand.

Chen Futu was prepared. Before he could kill Yan Qing, he kicked out, and the young man screamed like a rag doll and flew more than ten meters away, lying on the ground spitting out blood. The dagger also clattered to the ground.

"You ignorant fool, daring to act so arrogantly in front of me." Chen Futu's eyes were sharp, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

The people then came to their senses and rushed forward to subdue the young man.

Yan Qing was still shaken, her face pale as she looked at Chen Futu, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Chen Futu said, "You can continue."

Yan Qing composed himself and instructed the people to first distort the government office before returning to exchange for food.

The people then realized they had been fooled by the young man, and one by one, they angrily shoved him away, hitting him quite hard.

Chen Futu watched with admiration.

Yan Qing asked, puzzled, "Is the young master not satisfied with this result?"

"I just had some feelings. It is said that those who carry firewood for the masses should not be allowed to perish in the wind and snow. Although that young man came to target you with a purpose, these people are not good people either. On the one hand, they watched others stand up for them, and on the other hand, they turned the other party over to the government. Not a single one of them pleaded for them. They are simply a bunch of rabble."

Chen Futu's comments were quite sharp.

Yan Qing was stunned. The phrase "Those who carry firewood for the masses should not be allowed to perish in the wind and snow" deeply moved her.

Having learned from past mistakes, the relief points became much quieter afterward.

Yan Qing's exchange rule is that you can exchange one piece of clothing at a time, such as a top or an outer robe, etc.

Because they have temporary thatched huts and thatched roofs to live in, they won't freeze to death at this time of year. But if they don't go to work and then get the qualifications to apply for houses and land, they will only be able to wait to die naked.

Yan Qing then handed over the management of the relief point to the steward, and Chen Futu and she boarded the carriage to return to Longcheng.

Yan Qing's mood was not good throughout the journey, and she was clearly affected by it.

Chen Futu asked, "Besides the brokerage official, have you offended anyone else?"

Yan Qing thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I am new here and unfamiliar with the place, so I dare not offend anyone. However, some people are particularly attentive to me."

"Is that so?" Chen Futu awkwardly touched his nose, feeling that her words had a hidden meaning.

In addition, there are several large houses in the core area of ​​Pingkangfang that have not yet been sold. If she is interested, she can go and take a look, as an apology for standing her up last time.

Yan Qing's eyes suddenly brightened. "Is the young master really willing to grant me the right to reside in the core area of ​​Pingkang Ward?"

It's worth noting that houses just outside Pingkangfang have already been sold at exorbitant prices.