Read Novel Full Chapter 1102 - 133: Purpose
Chapter 1102: Chapter 133: Purpose
Before Prince Dai left the Northern Border, Prince Han made a special trip from Youzhou to bid him farewell, gifting him with numerous items. Before the soldiers and officials stationed at the Northern Border, Prince Dai and Prince Han put on an act of deep brotherly affection, leading the common people to believe their rapport was genuinely strong.
Chu Ying did not return to the capital with Prince Dai; he stayed at the Northern Border. When the emperor issued the decree for Prince Dai to return to the capital, he also gave Chu Ying an imperial decree, appointing him as the Great General of the Northern Border Camp, tasked with continuing the defense against the Xiongnu.
Prince Han did not anticipate that the emperor would retain Chu Ying. Logically, the emperor was supposed to call him back to the capital, especially given that General Deng had already recovered.
Since the establishment of Great Zhou, General Deng had been leading the soldiers of the Northern Border Camp to resist the Xiongnu. Now, suddenly instructed for General Deng to return to the capital with Prince Dai and leaving Chu Ying behind caught Prince Han off guard.
For Prince Han and his allies, Chu Ying’s continued presence at the Northern Border Camp was not advantageous.
The emperor’s decree was for General Deng to return to the capital to recuperate. General Deng had labored against the Xiongnu at the Northern Border for more than twenty years, and it was time for him to return to the capital for a well-deserved rest. As for his son, who initially was meant to be escorted back to the capital for questioning regarding his drugging of General Deng, he unexpectedly committed suicide out of guilt within the camp’s prison.
Whether it was truly suicide or murder, many knew the truth in their hearts.
The soldiers who colluded with General Deng’s son were not qualified to be taken back to the capital for interrogation. Earlier, Chu Ying personally interrogated them and then punished them according to the law.
These guilty soldiers were exiled to Lingnan, where Zhao Yao specifically sent people to take them. Zhao Yao wrote to the emperor to exile these individuals to Lingnan. Additionally, some Xiongnu captives from the Northern Border Camp were also sent to Lingnan.
During these days, Zhao Yao bought people everywhere. He sent people to various places in the Western Regions, purchasing many slaves. Although Great Zhou had abolished slavery, countries like the Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Annan had not.
Over the past few months, Zhao Yao had purchased tens of thousands of people from these countries. Because of this matter, he was again accused by the officials in the capital, claiming he was raising private soldiers and had rebellious intentions, urging the emperor to punish him severely.
Regarding the accusations from the capital’s officials, Zhao Yao was dismissive and didn’t even bother to explain, allowing them to accuse him while he continued buying people everywhere.
Since Zhao Yao brought many people back, the pressure on the Ministry of Industry had considerably eased, and the Chief of Staff of the ministry no longer had a worried look. Additionally, the second season of rice had been harvested, and many common people participated in constructing the Swamp Prefecture. Recently, the construction across the Swamp Prefecture had progressed swiftly.
Of course, the common people contributed to the construction of the Swamp Prefecture not for free; the government would pay them wages. Although the wages were not substantial, they included food and lodging. The people were very willing to work.
During this period, the Swamp Prefecture was vibrant, with people energetically working everywhere. Most importantly, they worked with smiles rather than faces filled with despair. Before, when the common people worked for the government, it was forcibly; not only did they not receive money, but they also couldn’t eat enough. If they didn’t work well, they would be whipped. In previous years, many common people died under the government official’s whips in the Swamp Prefecture.
Those exiled criminals and bought slaves also received wages for their work, although very little. Of course, they could eat enough, and every meal included meat.
The Swamp Prefecture had no shortage of meat, all sourced from fish from the sea. Every day, various markets and vegetable stalls across the Swamp Prefecture sold various types of fish.
Most of this fish was very cheap, so the common people could generally afford it. With cheap fish to eat, the common people in the Swamp Prefecture visibly gained weight and looked much healthier.
Last year, when Zhao Yao first arrived at the Swamp Prefecture, the people were each yellow-faced, emaciated, and skeletal, their eyes empty and faces filled with despair. Nowadays, their faces wore bright smiles, their eyes shone with hope.
At this time, it was noon. The common people, the exiled criminals, and the purchased slaves sat together to eat. Three dishes and a soup, two plates of meat, one vegetable dish, and a bowl of delicious fish soup.
Everyone sat together, eating and chatting. Although they didn’t speak the same language, they could use hand gestures to understand what each other was saying.
After they finished eating, there was a constant supply of hot tea. By evening, they had snacks to eat. Of course, these snacks weren’t sweet pastries, as they weren’t filling for laborers. In the evening, the snacks were steamed buns, stuffed buns, or baked pancakes. When night came, they would have another hearty dinner.