The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1011: Chapter 988: Prestige Amidst the Chaos 56

The rumors spread by Xiao Yin about Emperor Jingqing and Noble Princess Consort Li have been spreading northward via Nanyi Prefecture, at an unexpectedly rapid speed.

Due to these various rumors, after winter set in, this area of Southern Yi welcomed wave after wave of refugees.

Many of these refugees were citizens from Salt City and the surrounding areas who had suffered hardships.

They truly had nowhere to go.

Being without food, without salt, and facing extreme shortages of all sorts of living supplies, they could only wander around begging to survive. During their begging, they heard that Southern Yi was well-governed and thus followed the crowds here.

Because of the influx of refugees, Xiao Yuan and Anning had much more to handle.

The refugees needed places to live and food to eat, all of which required arrangement.

Moreover, these refugees required registration and documentation, a massive project in itself.

Xiao Yuan entrusted the management of the refugees to Master Yuan Wei of Marquis Guangning’s Mansion, with Xiao Song and Xiao Ying assisting and learning alongside Yuan Wei.

He requested to inquire clearly about the refugees’ basic information, where they came from, the number of family members, their work experiences, and any special skills.

If educated, they could be arranged for teaching or accounting, or clerical work in the government office.

If skilled laborers, they could be assigned to appropriate posts.

If farmers, they should be given land and quality seeds, allowing them to settle down.

If physically strong, they could join the military and such.

Due to the significant influx of destitute refugees, needing assistance from the government office, and limited food reserves in Nanyi Prefecture, Xiao Yuan sent fleets to the South Ocean for grain.

In many parts of the South Ocean, the land is extremely fertile, with a summer-like climate year-round, enabling crops to be harvested twice or even thrice annually, ensuring ample food supplies.

Xiao Yuan could trade his crafted porcelain and woven textiles for significant amounts of grain there.

Additionally, Xiao Yuan established numerous workshops in Southern Yi, encouraging craftsmen to be inquisitive and diligently research new ventures.

Xiao Yuan frequently visited the kilns and workshops, occasionally offering suggestions to the craftsmen.

By deep winter, a kiln craftsman had produced a rudimentary version of cement, which, after improvements, closely resembled modern-day cement.

Upon learning of this, Xiao Yuan visited with Xiao Qing, expressed great appreciation for the craftsman, and rewarded him with one hundred taels of silver.

The reward of one hundred taels of silver motivated craftsmen everywhere to industriously work and research, hoping to create something good for reward.

Once winter arrived, Xiao Yin was less inclined to go outside.

Southern Yi’s winter was quite frosty, so she preferred to stay indoors daily, reading, practicing calligraphy, or studying with Anning.

After staying indoors for some time, her restlessness drove her to venture outside, only to be almost frightened upon going out.

The roads in Prefecture City had all changed.

One after another, they transformed into spacious cement roads.

Xiao Yin pinched her cheek hard, finding herself awake, ran back at breakneck speed.

Just then, a ship returning from transporting grain from the South Ocean arrived, and Anning was talking with the captain, inquiring about the situation in the South Ocean, when Xiao Yin suddenly barged into the room. Anning gathered the ledgers and told the captain with a smile, ”Alright, I know all. You go rest first, and next time you set sail, I’ll prepare some good things for you to bring to the South Ocean.”

”Okay.”

The captain stood up, saluted, and bid farewell.

After the captain left, Xiao Yin approached Anning, wrapped her arm around her, and acted coquettishly, ”Mother, do you know I almost scared myself to death just now when I went out?”

Anning smiled and pinched Xiao Yin’s nose, ”What’s the matter?”

Xiao Yin frowned, ”Why have all the roads in our Prefecture City changed? They look like they’re paved with stones, yet they don’t seem to be, they’re clean and smooth, what are they made of?”

Anning laughed, ”Well, our Prefecture City received many refugees, some of whom were craftsmen. Your father had them helping in the workshops and encouraged them to create new things. One kiln craftsman developed a type of mud, which is particularly useful for repairing bridges, paving roads, and even building houses. Hence, your father used it to repair the roads in the Prefecture City first. On this occasion, he likely had Liu Song use the mud in Xifeng Prefecture to repair roads, and some were sent to Ningyang too. Your father plans to repair roads in all three regions. Whether sending people there or transporting goods, it will be much more convenient and easier to manage.”

Xiao Yin was thoroughly shocked by this news.

Watching Anning’s calm face with smiling eyes, she thought back to her father’s ingenious maneuvers and honestly felt the gap between people can be so immense!

Her father, a pure ancient figure, not only foresaw road construction upon the first production of cement by craftsmen but also quickly leveraged cement to manage and control three prefectures, demonstrating his sharp mind and innate aptitude for administration and governance.

Anning patted Xiao Yin’s head, ”You, staying indoors all the time, are missing out on the new happenings in Nanyi Prefecture. Not to mention the mud, Mother previously found someone who crafted speedier looms and built a book tower. Also, recently those glass-making craftsmen on impulse modified some formulas, and surprisingly produced more transparent, easier-to-make, and less costly Liu Li.”

”What?”

Xiao Yin quite literally jumped.

How could she have missed such revolutionary developments, the making of cement and glass, all happening while she stayed at home for a mere period?

Anning chuckled lightly, ”If you stay at home longer, a few more months perhaps, you might not even recognize this Prefecture City anymore by the time you come out.”

These words, Xiao Yin truly believed.

”By the way.”

Anning recalled something, causing Xiao Yin to follow her out, ”Our family built a port by the seaside to attract ships from various countries for trade, and the other day obtained some seeds from Hu Shang. Mother plans to start seeding soon, since you’re here, accompany Mother.”

”What kind of seeds?”

Xiao Yin asked with great curiosity.

Anning shook her head, ”Not something from our Da Qi territory; Mother doesn’t recognize them, but they should be edible. If they prove to be good, we can possibly add one or two high-yield crops to our Southern Yi Prefecture.”

Xiao Yin followed Anning to the family storeroom.

As she entered, she saw several bags placed in the storeroom, Anning untied one, and Xiao Yin immediately recognized the contents: ”Potatoes, sweet potatoes... and chili peppers.”

”You recognize them?”

Anning turned to glance at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin quickly exclaimed, ”I read about them in a book, they look particularly similar.”

Anning picked up a potato, ”Is this a potato? Truly resembles a clump of dirt.”

Xiao Yin nodded eagerly, ”Yes, yes, this is a potato, very easy to grow, and yields are particularly high.”

Pointing at the sweet potato, she added, ”And this sweet potato yields even higher, up to several thousand pounds per acre if cultivated well. Additionally, it grows easily, not selective about soil, and is quite drought-resistant.”

Anning listened with keen interest, ”According to you, these are all good things.”

”Yes, yes,” Xiao Yin grasped a handful of chili peppers, ”Mother, we must plant these, and plenty of them too. These are a spice that can produce particularly delicious dishes.”

She envisioned spicy shredded potatoes, Sichuan boiled fish, spicy beef noodle soup, and super-spicy hot pot, making her mouth water uncontrollably.

Anning examined the chili peppers, peeled one, and peered inside, ”Good, there are seeds within, they should be plantable. How should these potatoes and sweet potatoes be planted? Like our yams perhaps, by cutting them for seeding?”

Lost in thoughts of food, Xiao Yin responded instinctively when Anning inquired, blurting out, ”Yes, yes, cut for seeding, Mother, let’s quickly go plant them.”