As Chi Fei guessed, the other side of the Wujiang River was indeed heavily armed by the puppet dynasty, and various obstacles were also placed on the river to intercept the boats.

As a result, it will be difficult for the authorities in the northwest to send the displaced people back, even if they want to. An Guogong has long blocked the retreat of the displaced people.

Due to the approaching tide of displaced people, Jiujiang and Zhangnan provinces became very nervous, not only did the city gate be closed, but also specially sent people to inform the villagers of the surrounding villages and the residents of the small town to hurry into the city to take refuge.

This move was very popular with all the villagers, because the government rarely took the initiative to inform them to take refuge in the city, and sometimes even forbade them to enter the city casually. This Northwest Army seems to be quite good to civilians.

As a result, all the villagers, regardless of their size, brought pots and pans, beds, quilts, and other daily necessities into the city for refuge under the cover of officers and soldiers.

When they arrive in the city, each household must first be registered and checked.

The clerks will record the names, addresses and other information of each villager, and then place them in batches according to different villages or towns according to the principle of proximity.

There are also officials outside each hut who are responsible for guarding and maintaining order to prevent theft or conflict.

Due to the shelter from the wind and rain, and most of the familiar villagers around them, the villagers' panic mood gradually settled down and slowly accepted the situation.

Seeing that the northwest authorities had made such good arrangements, many villagers were quite moved, and their good impression of the Northwest Army deepened to a deeper level.

After settling the surrounding villagers and townspeople, the thousands of soldiers in charge of defending the city began to wait for the arrival of the displaced people.

Two days later, the displaced people finally appeared in front of the city gate of Jiujiang Mansion one after another.

Looking at the dense crowd of people that could barely be seen at a glance, many of the soldiers standing on the top of the city all changed their faces and involuntarily clenched the weapons in their hands.

Although Ning Zhiyuan, Chi Fei and others, who were standing at the head of the city with everyone, had already been mentally prepared, they couldn't help frowning when they saw such a large-scale crowd.

I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, but these homeless people all came to the side of Jiujiang, and did not go to the side of Zhangnan.

After hundreds of thousands of homeless people came to the bottom of the city wall, the leading old men suddenly knelt on the ground, and the homeless people who followed them also knelt down one after another, following their example.

The old man in the lead said loudly to Ning Zhiyuan and the others at the head of the city in an old and humble voice: "We are all the people of Great Wei, and we don't ask for anything else, just ask your lords to give us a way to live." After saying this, he looked deeply at the people in the city with great solemnity.

The other outcasts were like the old man, screaming loudly and squinting incessantly.

"Please give us a way to live."

"Please give us a way to live."

"Even if you don't let us into the city, it's okay to let our children into the city, please, adults."

"Please give us a way out."

The sound of kneeling and begging continued to sound from among the displaced people, mixed with the cries of countless women and children.

Seeing this scene, the eyes of many young soldiers above the city turned red.

Although Ning Zhiyuan didn't make a sound, he also subconsciously clenched his fists.

The old gentleman Zhang Wenxuan, who was standing next to him, looked at the homeless people below with a look of compassion and was silent for a long time.

The world is prosperous, and the people are suffering; The world is dead, and it is the people who suffer.

Ning Yabai, who was standing beside Chi Fei, gritted his teeth and said in a voice full of hatred: "Ah Zhen, one day, I will destroy the entire Xie clan and kill them to the point that there are no chickens and dogs left, and there will be no one left!" ”

Chi Fei silently patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

In fact, Chi Fei also felt very uncomfortable when he saw the scene in front of him, and his heart felt as heavy as a big weighing stone.

That's hundreds of thousands of ordinary people.

As they say, all they want is a way to live!

Heaven and earth are unkind, and all things are used as dogs. This situation is really hard to let go.

Finally, Ning Zhiyuan spoke: "Let's go back and discuss." ”

With that, he walked away with heavy steps.

When Chi Fei followed him, he could still clearly hear the desperate pleading voices of the homeless people coming from under the city wall, which was unbearable to hear.

When he returned to the council hall, Ning Zhiyuan looked around at everyone, and then said in a depressed voice: "The lords have seen the scene just now very clearly.

Those are all the people of the Great Wei, the children of the Han family like us.

I know it's going to be difficult, but I still want you to think about if there's another way to help them and give them a chance to live.

If I really can't do it, I will give them porridge for three days so that they can all be fed.

On the fourth day, I will order people to quietly poison the porridge, so that they will not die so painfully, and they will not be starved to death when they reach the Yellow Springs Road.

That's what I decided. What do you think? ”

"Don't do it, your reputation will be tarnished, don't do it!" One of the aides immediately objected.

"Yes, Dashuai, Old Thief Xie just wants you to execute these homeless people. If you do this, he will definitely spread rumors that are unfavorable to you, and then everyone will scold you all over the world. ”

"That's right, you can't do that. Otherwise, we'll find a way to get these homeless people away. Since we can't go by water, we should be able to take the land route instead. ”

"Lao Li is right, we can take the land route instead."

"The land route is too far, and at the speed of these displaced people, it will take at least half a year.

During this half year, we not only need to spend a lot of food to feed them, but also to prevent them from escaping on the way, which is too labor-intensive and material-intensive. ”

"Even if it's hard to do, we have to do it, in short, these homeless people must not die with us, otherwise people all over the world will scold us, and who will believe us then."

"Otherwise, let's just leave these homeless people alive and dead, anyway, this sin was not created by us, why should we bear this pot."

"You said it too lightly, once these hundreds of thousands of displaced people are scattered in various places, they will become chaotic people who do all kinds of evil.

If they plunder villages and towns everywhere, sooner or later we will have to send troops to surround and suppress them.

Rather than do it at that time, it is better to kill them all now to prevent future troubles.

But having said that, I don't approve of the marshal personally ordering this to be done, which would indeed tarnish the marshal's reputation. ”

"This doesn't work, that doesn't work, then what do you say."

"If I can think of a way, I won't have such a headache. Instead of asking me about this kind of coarseness, you should ask Mr. Zhang, maybe he has a way. ”

These words immediately reminded the generals, and everyone immediately looked at Zhang Wenxuan together, and Li Dingbei, the general of Zhaowu, took the lead in asking: "Mr. Zhang, what do you say we should do now?" ”

Zhang Wenxuan sighed and said, "The old man actually has no better way, but if you want to pick out the lord, you can give it a try."

In fact, the method is very simple, first of all, the lord should first return to the northwest to preside over the overall situation. After the lord leaves, we will choose another person to deal with these displaced people in the way of the lord.

After all the displaced people have been disposed of, the lord can rush back to Jiujiang as if he has no knowledge, and then behead those who ordered it in public.

Of course, it is not really necessary to behead this person, as long as the execution is replaced by a death row prisoner.

In this way, it can be regarded as picking out the lord on the bright side.

However, those officials and nobles of the puppet dynasty will definitely not believe it, at most, they will just give an explanation to the people on the surface. ”

"This method is good, although it is only superficial work, but it is better than not doing anything well."

"That's right, in short, you can't let the big handsome carry this pot, otherwise it will be too much of a loss."

"This should be the best way, Mr. Zhang is really powerful."

The generals applauded, and the other staff members agreed that this was indeed a no-brainer.

After listening to everyone's opinions, Ning Zhiyuan did not answer immediately, but looked at his little son-in-law Chi Fei.

Although Zhang Wenxuan's method is really good, he still wants to hear the opinion of his little son-in-law Chi Fei.

All along, whenever he encountered a difficult problem, the little son-in-law could always come up with some real and effective solutions that sounded a little unbelievable to help him solve one problem after another.

This was the case when vaccinum was invented to prevent sores, and the same is true for the creation of new salt production methods.

Because of this kind of achievement, in Ning Zhiyuan's opinion, this kid is a lucky general with all kinds of whimsical ideas.

If he can't even do it as a little son-in-law, then he can only do it according to Zhang Wenxuan's method.

Facing his father-in-law's expectant eyes, Chi Fei could only smile bitterly.

He's not the blue robot cat in the anime, how can he have so many magical laws and ideas to solve all kinds of problems. This time I can only disappoint my father-in-law.

Chi Fei arched his hand and said, "General, I can't think of a better way than Mr. Zhang." ”

Ning Zhiyuan showed a very disappointed expression, and couldn't help but add another sentence: "Is there really no other way?" Think again. ”

Chi Fei smiled bitterly: "To resettle so many displaced people, the most important thing is to have sufficient food.

With our current stockpiles, we may be barely able to afford it in a year, but in a year it will be difficult to say.

If we have enough farmland here for these displaced people to cultivate, then these displaced people will not only not become a burden to us, but will also be conducive to the supply of military rations.

The problem is that the barren land and arid climate in the northwest have led to very limited food production, and it is barely enough to feed the locals, let alone so many displaced people.

Although the soil and climate of the northeast region that we have just occupied are better than those in the northwest, there are many mountains and few lands, and it is not suitable for a large number of cultivators......"

Speaking of this, Chi Fei's whole person suddenly froze, as if he had been pointed.

Seeing him like this, everyone was stunned.

"Ah Zhen, you ......" Ning Zhiyuan couldn't help but call him.

Chi Fei woke up suddenly, and then hurriedly rushed to the table where the map was placed and looked at the map above without blinking, his fingers still gesturing on the map from time to time, and he didn't even pay attention to his father-in-law's call.

"Dad, what's wrong with Ah Zhen?" Ning Yabai asked his father with some surprise.

Ning Zhiyuan waved his hand to stop talking, and then looked at his little son-in-law expectantly.

He knew that the little son-in-law must have thought of something, otherwise it wouldn't be like this.

All the generals and staff members also stood there with a confused expression, looking at Chi Fei, who was constantly comparing the map as if he had gone mad.

After a while, Chi Fei finally raised his head from the map, and then said with an expression full of uncertainty: "Father-in-law, I have thought of a solution, but I don't know if it is feasible. Due to his emotional agitation, he subconsciously called back to his usual name.

"Tell me about it." Ning Zhiyuan looked at him expectantly.

"I just looked at the map, and Linqi, Zhangzhou, Qianhe, and Zhangnan are close to the Wujiang River, and as long as you dig a canal from the river, you can divert the river water inland.

As long as there is plenty of water, things are easy to do.

Since the biggest problem with the resettlement of displaced people is that there is not so much land allocated for them to cultivate, then we can find a way to create some more fields. ”

"How do you want to make a field?" Ning Zhiyuan couldn't wait to ask.

"Isn't there more mountains and less land in the northeast? We can do the opposite, not on flat ground but on the hills, and build terraces. ”

Hearing the words "farming on the mountain", not only Ning Zhiyuan and the others' eyes lit up, but even the always steady old Mr. Zhang Wenxuan suddenly stood up and asked: "Mr. Su, is the terraced field you mentioned in the "Huainan Miscellaneous" the unique mountain field in the southern region?" ”

Chi Fei hadn't read anything "Huainan Miscellaneous" at all, and he didn't know what was going on with the Yamada mentioned in it, but what appeared in front of him at this moment was the extremely spectacular Longji Terraced Rice Fields that surrounded the peaks and turned into huge snails when he traveled to Longsheng, Guangxi.

Chi Fei replied: "Mr. Zhang, I haven't read the "Huainan Miscellaneous" you said, but I know that there are terraced fields in some remote southern areas.

The so-called terraced fields are cultivated around the mountain like a staircase, until the entire mountain is fully utilized.

The reason why there are no terraces in the northern region is because the terraces are built on the hills, and how to irrigate them is a very tricky problem in itself.

In the southern region, there is a lot of rain, so as long as a dam is built near the foot of the mountain, the rainwater can be retained and water can be stored for farming.

I was in a hurry to look at the map to see where there would be more abundant water.

Although there is not much rain in the northeast, as long as the water source of the Wujiang River is fully utilized and canals are dug to divert water inland, the idea of storing water for farming should be artificially realized.

Even if rice cannot be grown on a large scale as in the south, it should be possible to switch to drought-tolerant crops such as wheat and sorghum.

But to be honest, I don't know if this idea can be realized.

Father-in-law, and Mr. Zhang, you'd better study it carefully before deciding whether or not you want to try this method. ”

Ning Zhiyuan lowered his head and thought for a moment, then slapped the table hard and said fiercely: "Compared to killing so many Han family children with my own hands, I am willing to treat the dead horse as a live horse doctor and try my best." I believe that God will not let so many people starve to death in vain.

If there is no way, it is fine, since there is still a glimmer of life, we should always try our best.

Okay, let's build this terrace together and see if God really opens his eyes.

The matter was settled. ”

After saying that, he walked out with everyone in high spirits.

From now on, they will have a lot to do, and they will definitely be busy in the future.

But Ning Zhiyuan didn't feel tired at all, but his whole body was full of strength, and he felt that the tiger could kill a few heads.

Also feeling excited was Ning Yabai, who suddenly felt much better at the thought of not having to kill the homeless people outside with his own hands.

He could use the knife against the family without mercy, and even exterminate the clan with his own hands, but he really didn't want to swing the knife at these defenseless people.

Regardless of whether the method proposed by his brother-in-law was feasible, at this time, he no longer had the feeling of depression and heaviness in his heart before.

The so-called things are man-made, and if you don't try many things, how can you know the result?

Although most people were still skeptical of this unheard of idea, seeing Dashuai so excited, others unconsciously relaxed.

Mr. Zhang Wenxuan was the last to leave, and before he left, he suddenly bowed to Chi Fei very solemnly, and then walked out.

For his sudden gift, Chi Fei couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and he didn't understand why the old gentleman did this.

Only Zhang Wenxuan himself knew that this worship was to thank Chi Fei for leaving a trace of life for those displaced people.

If this method is feasible, then what Chi Fei is saving today is these hundreds of thousands of Han family children and flesh and blood compatriots.

is also a Han person, this worship, Zhang Wenxuan is happy and convinced.