I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 149 Recruitment Orders and Labor Orders

The spring breeze and autumn rain kept everyone busy until the afternoon before they finally finished distributing the porridge, their throats so dry they kept drinking water.

"The young lady was very farsighted. She said there would be many disaster victims coming to collect porridge today, and she was right."

"I'm starting to admire the woman surnamed Bai. She spent half a month working on it, providing money, food, and manpower. She really went all out to outdo the girl."

As Qiu Yu walked back, she asked, "Did you see Lord Lu today, young lady?"

Tang Zhao answered on behalf of Chunfeng, "I saw him."

Chunfeng and Qiuyu hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects. Just as Chunfeng was about to report back, Tang Zhao waved his hand to interrupt, "Lord Lu and I witnessed the whole thing, there's no need to report."

The two stepped back and stood behind Tang Zhao.

"Lord Lu, the time is ripe, we should now settle the disaster victims."

Lu Ying had been waiting for several days when he finally heard those words, and immediately took his leave and returned to the government office.

"Girl, what's the ideal temperature?" Qiu Yu asked curiously.

"The timing of disaster relief."

"Haven't we been doing disaster relief all along?"

"Giving out porridge is not true disaster relief. Providing disaster victims with a means to survive is the real disaster relief. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Bai Rouyin's approach will only breed a group of lazy people. Tang Zhao wants the people under his rule to be hardworking and simple. Anyone who dares to be lazy should get out of Wuwei City!
What kind of fish? Qiu Yu didn't understand, but she knew that the girl had been holding back for so many days and was finally about to make her move.

Inside the Wuwei government office, the clerk put down his pen, rubbed his aching wrist, and felt distressed.

How many pages do I have to write before this ends?

Lu Ying strode in and said, "Summon the yamen runners immediately and post the notice."

At Lu Ying's command, the yamen runners took thick stacks of notices and posted them all over the streets and alleys of Wuwei City.

The government's notice attracted the attention of the disaster victims who were collapsed on the streets and alleys.

"Hey! Is there anyone who can read? Can you read what's written on it?"

"Zhang Tongsheng can read, everyone please make way."

A refined-looking middle-aged man stepped forward, looked up at the notice, and read aloud, "Job Posting."

To ensure the public could understand, the notices were written in plain language. The general idea was that the government would provide work relief instead of labor. Those who were conscripted would be provided with two meals a day and ten coins as wages. If they worked for two months without breaking the law, the government would grant them household registration and provide them with houses to rent.

"Register your household there? And get a house?"

"It's not about allocating a house, it's about renting a house. The rent is fifty cents a month."

Fifty coins is fine too! The disaster victims were very excited. They were worried, though. They could sleep on the streets in the summer, but what would they do in the winter?
Unexpectedly, the government resolved the issue.

"Zhang Tongsheng, hurry up and find out where to register?"

The moment the words "Wuwei Prefectural Government Office" were uttered, the disaster victims rushed to the government office.

Zhang Tongsheng brushed away the dust in the air. "What's the rush? There's still a notice here."

However, no one cared what the other notice said. The disaster victims and ordinary people rushed to the government office, scrambling to sign up for work.

"Don't rush, everyone, one by one," the clerk shouted. "The government officials work in three shifts, so they will definitely keep track of everyone who wants to work."

The clerk took paper and pen and, according to the government's requirements, recorded the person's life, age, ancestral home, whether they had any illnesses, and whether they had any special skills.

After registering, the local residents of Wuwei City asked nervously, "Can people from the surrounding counties and villages register?"

The clerk didn't even look up as he wrote rapidly, "Okay, but you need to register at the local county level."

The people were extremely excited and hurried home to drive their mules to their relatives' homes in the countryside.

The Wuwei Prefecture government office was bustling with activity, but the gates of the Protector General's mansion were deserted. Everyone kept their heads down, not daring to look at Tang Zhao's expression.

"Are the benefits I offer really that bad?"

Chao Yi was shaking his head so hard he almost jumped off. It was quite good, very good. The treatment of an ordinary soldier was comparable to that of a colonel in the Northwest Army.

"Then why is no one responding?" Tang Zhao plopped down in a chair.

The guard who went to inquire reported that no one had read the recruitment notice at all, partly because they were eager to get jobs and partly because they couldn't read.

Tang Zhao:.
It was a miscalculation; we forgot that the average education level of people in Chongqing is still lower than that of kindergarteners.

Wu Yi'er: "I will immediately send people among the people to spread the word that the Protector General's Mansion is recruiting soldiers!"

Tang Zhao stopped the man, "Who did you say was recruiting soldiers?"

Wu Yi changed his tune, "It's Wuwei County."

Tang Zhao was satisfied, and Wu Yi'er led his men to squeeze into the crowd of disaster victims.

"Ugh, with so many people, how long will it take to get a turn?"

"The government officials are quick; it will be our turn in another hour."

"Brother, judging from your accent, you're not from Wanzhou, are you?"

"I am from Qinzhou."

"Qin Prefecture? Qin Prefecture wasn't affected by the disaster, so what are you doing in Wuwei?"

"Qin Prefecture wasn't actually affected by the disaster, but the disaster victims and officials made it seem like it was!"

The man who spoke to them was holding his wife's hand on the left and his child's hand on the right. "The government has no money or food for disaster relief, so they sell the land that was rented to the people to local bigwigs. Those bigwigs take 70% of the rent each year and only leave 30% to us tenants."

Wu Yi'er was furious, "Thirty percent? How dare they?"

"We went to the government office, but that corrupt official not only refused to help us, but also kicked us out. We had no choice but to come to Wuwei."

Seeing that the man was tall and strong with clear and firm eyes, Wu Yier thought he was a good candidate for a soldier, so he suggested, "Brother, you hate evil so much, why don't you join the army?"

"I also thought about joining the army, but the Northwest Army is not recruiting for the time being."

"The Northwest Army isn't recruiting, but Wuwei County is!" Wu Yi offered his terms: "One tael of silver per month in military pay, family resettlement included, children free schooling, and guaranteed job placement for wounded veterans!"

"That's so good?" The man was tempted.

The man's wife was initially reluctant for her husband to join the army, because war meant death! But when she heard that their child could go to school, her heart was immediately moved.

Who doesn't know the value of education? It's just that ordinary families struggle to even have enough to eat, let alone afford to send their children to school.
Now that the opportunity has arrived, how could anyone not be tempted?
The man simply replied, "Alright! I'll go!"

Upon hearing this, some of the surrounding disaster victims were tempted, especially families with children. They left their families to continue queuing while they went with Wu Yier to apply for the conscription.

As the disaster victims gradually left, the constables responsible for maintaining order hurriedly reported to Lu Ying.

Lu Ying waved for the people to go back to maintaining order. The princess had already told him about recruiting soldiers, and although he had some doubts, he eventually agreed.

Princess Zhaoshan is right. Only with a strong army can Wuwei City be defended.

In front of the Protector General's gate, Qiu Yu saw a large group of people walking towards her from afar and excitedly shouted, "Miss! Wu Yi'er is here with his men!"

Tang Zhao, who was lounging like Ge You, suddenly sat up and exclaimed excitedly, "Quick, everyone, perk up!"

Wu Yi'er personally pulled the man to the front of the line, saying, "Young lady, Brother Lu wants to join the army!"

"Good! You truly are a fine man of our Great Yu!" Tang Zhao slammed his hand on the table, personally entered his information, and then said, "All those who enlist will have a two-month probationary period. After the probationary period, there will be an assessment. If you pass the assessment, you can enlist. Good luck, brave warrior Lu!"

"Next!"