His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

Da Xi Calendar.

January 23rd, winter.

The heavy snow has been falling for two days, and the entire city of Daxi seems to be covered with a thick layer of silver.

A general knocked on Xu Bing's door and delivered a report.

Xu Bing invited him to visit the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Inner hall.

The incense burner held a warm charcoal fire, and the moment the general stepped into the Imperial Preceptor's residence, he felt much warmer and experienced an indescribable sense of comfort.

"Grand Preceptor, your residence is truly magnificent," the general said sincerely.

Xu Bing smiled and said, "Not only is it true, but this is a blessed land, where good fortune will come rolling in."

He used long iron chopsticks to pick up a few pieces of charcoal and put them into the stove, which raised the room temperature a few degrees.

Snowflakes were falling in front of the door.

In the distance, there are willow trees, lakes, and birds on the branches.

This is truly a delightful scene of leisure and tranquility. Compared to the freezing cold and silvery landscape outside, it's like two completely different worlds.

So much so that even the generals wanted to stay there a little longer.

In the past two days, the snow has been falling heavier and heavier, and the weather has been getting colder and colder. If it weren't for his official duties of overseeing the refugees, he should have been on leave, lying in bed with his beautiful wife, enjoying the pleasure of the moment.

Xu Bing brewed a cup of hot tea, and with a gentle flick, the teacup flew steadily toward the general.

The general took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and placed the report on the tea table. Since he was already inside, he might as well give a verbal report.

"Your Excellency, at Chenshi today, the number of refugees in the East District has increased to more than six thousand. Although your bathing site has already started construction and twenty groups of refugees have been assigned to participate in the project."

"But the workshop can't handle so many people."

"There are now nearly three thousand migrants living in the shantytowns with nothing to do."

"Imperial Advisor, what do you think we should do next?"

After the general finished speaking, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

I think Xu Bing must be in a difficult situation now.

The idea of ​​exchanging labor for food was indeed good, but unfortunately, the impoverished Dae Hee has not undertaken any major projects.

As for those small projects, they offer small pits and don't last long.

Moreover, not every job is suitable for assigning migrants.

The 6,000 refugees can consume nearly 100 bushels of grain a day, and more than half of the grain donated by the ministers yesterday has already been eaten.

As Xu Bing listened to the general's report, he observed the general's expression with great interest.

This general was named Wang Jinfu, a member of the prestigious Wang family of Da Xi.

He was still young and new to officialdom, which was why Xu Bingzheng valued him and entrusted him with the task of looking after the refugees.

His performance these past few days could barely be considered responsible, but that didn't stop him from waiting to see Xu Bing make a fool of himself and find himself in a difficult situation.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the displaced people be sent back to their hometowns to resume work," Wang Jinfu proposed.

Xu Bing stopped, saying, "No need. I, Xu Bing, can afford to support a mere six thousand refugees."

"Since the workshop has no work to do, I, Xu Bing, will take care of the food for these refugees."

Wang Jinfu was taken aback upon hearing this, and gave Xu Bing a strange look. He wondered whether this Imperial Advisor was being overconfident or genuinely confident.

"What does Your Excellency intend to do?" Wang Jinfu asked.

"Clearing the land".

Xu Bing suddenly smiled.

From the moment he released the refugees into the city, he knew it would end this way.

There are few jobs inside Da Xi City, but many outside the city.

It is about forty miles south of Daxi City.

There's a vast expanse of barren forest and wasteland there, completely undeveloped. If we were to actually go and clear it…

That job is indeed enough for the refugees to keep going until spring.

But for whom is this land reclamation being carried out?

Given Da Xi's current situation, with financial difficulties, how can they possibly have the capacity to reclaim wasteland?

In present-day Da Xi, the distribution of resources can be described as elliptical, narrow at both ends and wide in the middle. The vast majority of resources are concentrated in the hands of landlords and clans.

The imperial court's meager fiscal revenue was barely enough to support the army.

In addition, there is rampant corruption at every level that cannot be contained.

Xu Bing smiled slightly, naturally indicating that he was clearing the land for him.

He could do a lot of things with the land he had cleared. The land reclamation project had already taken shape long ago, but it was postponed until next year or the year after.

But now, with so many refugees and a major war scheduled for a year from now,

Xu's illness was thus brought forward slightly.

"General Wang, just do as I say. I will take full responsibility for these refugees."

Xu Bing smiled, which was also a way of telling him to leave.

……

After lunch, Xu Bing left the mansion by carriage. He first went to Bai Shangxue's mansion to meet the man who was once a pale-faced scholar but is now Boss Bai's capable assistant.

Bai Shangxue revered Xu Bing as a god, knowing full well that everything he had was given to him by Xu Bing, and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

The two talked for a while at Bai Shangxue's residence, but it wasn't all about business.

They mostly chatted about everyday matters. For example, Xu Bing asked Bai Shangxue how things were going with his little Xia maid, whether they were getting along well, and when they would get married, etc.

Bai Shangxue looked shy. Xia Xia and he were indeed a good match and were indeed at the point of marriage, but he had been busy with work lately.

On one hand, Bai Shangxue needs to manage the Longqu Rice Shop and the Qingmeng Inn, and on the other hand, he also needs to keep an eye on the movements of Mushentang, the most remote part of Qinglong District.

He was responsible for navigating relationships and maintaining operations in many areas, including stone materials, timber, and craftsmanship.

Now that the bathhouse is back in normal operation, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

As they talked, Bai Shangxue showed Xu Bing the bill details. Xu Bing glanced at it briefly and then returned it.

He trusted Bai Shangxue.

Xu Bing had lunch at the Bai family mansion. Bai Shangxue was so excited that his face turned red. He ordered a grand banquet to be prepared, but Xu Bing stopped him and told him to keep it simple.

We had a little wine after dinner.

Before leaving, Xu Bing asked him to set aside about five hundred taels of silver to buy grain.

……

The next day.

January 24th of the Da Xi calendar.

More than 3,000 refugees were led out of Daxi City and headed south in groups of shantytowns.

“This Xu Bing is a real scoundrel. I’ve heard he’s a fat man with a face full of sores, and he’s vicious and wicked at heart.”

"To ask us refugees to clear wasteland is simply inhuman."

"Exactly, why is it so difficult to even get a bite of their food?"

Many of the displaced people murmured amongst themselves, harboring resentment.

"Save it."

"If it weren't for Grand Preceptor Xu, you would have been a withered skeleton by the roadside long ago."

"That's right. Da Xi is barely able to take care of itself. Someone is willing to give us food and let us do some work, and you're still complaining."

"Yeah, if you're so capable, then leave. Nobody's stopping you."

However, another voice soon emerged.

The people who had just been complaining immediately shut up.

How could I dare to actually leave?

……