Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 494: Chapter 454 Someone has taken a liking to our Chengmao

”How much grain do we have now?”

Within the General Mansion, Yang Zhenshan asked Zhu Yuan, the head of the Grain and Money Bureau.

”Reply to the Marquis, the grain already stored amounts to two million eight hundred thousand stones!” Zhu Yuan, following behind Yang Zhenshan, replied.

While walking toward the main hall, Yang Zhenshan continued to ask, ”Then how much silver coin do we currently have?”

”Less than three hundred thousand taels were borrowed from the bank last month!” Zhu Yuan answered with some difficulty.

The General Mansion’s expenses had long outstripped its income, and not only that, but the General Mansion had also borrowed as much as six million in silver from Chongshan Bank.

”Is it possible to continue borrowing from the bank?” Yang Zhenshan frowned.

Zhu Yuan shook his head slightly and said, ”This month, at most we can only borrow three hundred thousand!”

Yang Zhenshan had already stipulated that the amount of silver coin borrowed by the General Mansion from the bank could not exceed sixty percent of the bank’s savings.

This meant that the bank’s savings would have to reach five hundred thousand before the General Mansion could borrow three hundred thousand from it.

However, as time passed, the savings absorbed by Chongshan Bank became less and less. Last month there was nearly a million taels, but this month there might be less than eight hundred thousand taels. Moreover, with people possibly withdrawing their silver deposits, only about three hundred thousand taels can be borrowed.

”It’s still not enough!” Yang Zhenshan shook his head.

The two million eight hundred thousand stones of grain was almost enough compared to his earlier decision of three million stones, but the three million stones of grain was prepared with one million refugees in mind.

However, there were as many as ten million victims hit by the disaster this time, with possibly half of them unable to survive, and even if only one third of them migrated to Chongshan Town, this would exceed one million.

Thus, three million stones of grain was just the minimal requirement; Yang Zhenshan still hoped for as much as possible.

”But the grain price in Jiangnan has already risen to two taels and eight thousand silver per stone, and the grain prices in the Li Sheng Dynasty and Desheng Dynasty have also increased by a lot. If we continue purchasing, the prices might go even higher!” Zhu Yuan said.

Three million stones of grain was not a small amount, and purchasing it from all three places would affect the grain prices there.

Jiangnan is the region with the highest grain yield in Da Rong, but it still couldn’t handle such large-scale purchases by Yang Zhenshan.

”Keep purchasing! Get as much as we can, and the General Mansion only needs to keep one hundred thousand taels of silver in reserve,” Yang Zhenshan declared.

Each month, the General Mansion’s silver income was considerable; the glass workshop alone was a gold mine, continuously providing silver coin for the General Mansion.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t afraid of depleting the silver coin; he was only worried there wouldn’t be enough grain.

”Yes, sir!” Seeing Yang Zhenshan’s resolute attitude, Zhu Yuan could only accept the command.

Yang Zhenshan entered the main hall, where Mr. Pang was already waiting for him.

”Mr. Pang!”

”Marquis!”

The two sat down, and Yang Zhenshan went straight to the point: ”Mr. Pang, I plan to send people to Liao Yuan and Ping Yuan to recruit refugees by the end of this month!”

The severe drought in Liaodong had reached a critical stage, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to describe it as a desolate land stretching for thousands of miles.

Although the harvest season hadn’t yet arrived, many people were already struggling to survive.

The reason was simple; the drought affected not only the crops in the fields but also the availability of other sources of food.

Under the severe drought, vegetation withered.

During this time in past years, people could still dig for wild vegetables and gather mushrooms to supplement their insufficient food supply.

But this was clearly impossible this year.

Forget wild vegetables, not even a single weed could be found.

Some people would have been able to last until the end of September for the autumn harvest, but now they could barely make it to the end of August, and some would run out of food even at the beginning of August.

When food ran out, the people could only trade all their possessions for grain.

However, grain in Liaodong is already soaring in price, from the original two taels per stone to six taels.

This was not because someone was driving up grain prices, but a normal market reaction.

Zhao Yunxing and other official merchants had not had the chance to drive up the prices, as they were kept on edge by Ding Qiu and Luo Jingsong, and were no longer interested in inflating prices.

If they did manipulate the prices, grain might currently cost as much as sixteen, eighteen, or even twenty taels per stone.

”Hmm, we can start by recruiting a batch of refugees, which happens to be a good opportunity to train the constables, so they won’t be caught off guard when the time comes!” Mr. Pang agreed.

Accepting and settling refugees is a complex matter.

This time is unlike in Tenglong Guard, where only tens of thousands of refugees were received, with each Hundred Households and garrison being able to take people away for settlement.

With the support of old military households, those refugees could quickly assimilate into Tenglong Guard.

But this time, Chongshan Town was tasked with creating a new home for a possible number of refugees that could exceed one million.

This could be said to be an incredibly massive task, involving almost the entire official apparatus of Chongshan Town.

”I was thinking the same, and since it’s only July now, the first batch of refugees will have some time to adapt. The most difficult will be the refugees that come after winter!” said Yang Zhenshan with a somewhat helpless expression.

It’s hard to leave one’s homeland; people won’t easily choose to leave unless they are truly desperate.

It would be best to move to Chongshan Town at this time, as there’s some time to adapt and prepare before winter.

However, this was clearly impossible.

As long as there was a sliver of hope, the people of Liaodong would not readily migrate to Chongshan Town.

Yang Zhenshan estimated that this migration wave would begin in October and continue until after May next year.

”We can only prepare as much as we can!”

Mr. Pang also felt helpless; dealing with the affairs of millions of people was not something that could be changed with a few words.

All they could do was provide guidance, even enforcement was not an option.

Because enforcement could potentially lead to even more chaos.

Without reaching the last resort, we must not forcibly relocate the common people.

The two discussed the details in the hall. The reception of refugees this time will be mainly led by the Governor’s Office and various local state and county governments. After the refugees arrive at the resettlement points, the General Mansion and various Assistant General Mansions will be responsible for management.

Compared to reception, managing the refugees is even more difficult.

In times of chaos, harsh laws must be applied.

It’s certainly more appropriate for soldiers wielding swords to manage those refugees who have nothing than for officials armed with pens and paper.

After sending off Pang Tang, Yang Zhenshan went to inquire about the construction progress of the official roads and villages at the engineering department.

It was not until nightfall that Yang Zhenshan returned to the Marquis Mansion.

Inside the main courtyard, Yu Qingyi and Ming Zhao were already waiting for him for dinner.

”Dad!” Ming Zhao called out obediently.

”Mm!” Yang Zhenshan responded, quickly washed up, and ruffled Ming Zhao’s little head.

Dinner was already prepared, and upon seeing Yang Zhenshan return, Yu Qingyi immediately had Qingxia and Red Cloud serve the dishes.

”This afternoon, the manager from Ningyuan Prefecture came back and said that the manors there will have a total crop failure this year!” Yu Qingyi said while serving food to Yang Zhenshan.

”What about Jing’an Prefecture?” asked Yang Zhenshan.

”There will be a decrease in yield, but we should still be able to harvest some!” Yu Qingyi said.

The Yang family owned many manors in Liao Yuan Province, in Jing’an Prefecture, Ningyuan Prefecture, Qinghua Prefecture, and Liao’an Prefecture.

After some thought, Yang Zhenshan said, ”Tell everyone, let’s exempt the rent for all the manors in Liao Yuan this year. Times are tough, but it shouldn’t be to the point where we can’t make it through!”

Most of the Yang family’s manors were cultivated by tenant serfs and tenants.

Tenant serfs are those who sold themselves into servitude to the Yang family, and tenants are those common people who rent and cultivate the Yang family’s land.

Most are tenants, while tenant serfs mainly manage the manors.

”What about the manors in Ningyuan Prefecture? They are almost entirely cropless, even if we exempt the rent, it would still be hard for them to survive!” Yu Qingyi said with some pity.

Yang Zhenshan, however, was unconcerned, ”Hasn’t Ming Zhi bought a few manors in Fuzhou? Let them relocate to Fuzhou. Let the manors in Ningyuan be idle for now, and we can recruit a new batch of tenants tomorrow.”

A manor consists of merely a hundred or so households of common people, who have long rented the Yang family’s land. It’s easy for the Yang family to ask them to move, just waive their rent for two years.

Compared to the millions of refugees in Liaodong, these few hundred tenant households really are a trivial matter.

The drought in Liao Yuan is a bit less severe than in Ping Yuan. Places like Liao’an Prefecture, Tenglong Guard, Qinghua Prefecture, and Jing’an Prefecture were less affected and would not result in a complete loss of crops.

The most severe drought regions are actually in the southwestern part of Liao Yuan and the central and northern parts of Ping Yuan. Like the southern part of Ping Yuan, Jizhou also fared much better.

”Alright! I’ll arrange it tomorrow!” Yu Qingyi said while eating.

When the couple dined together, there weren’t too many rules; chatting while eating was common, and in fact, even when the entire Yang family dined together in the main courtyard, there weren’t many rules, just separated into male and female tables.

”Oh, there is one more thing, Yunxue has sent a letter!” Yu Qingyi remembered Yunxue’s letter.

”What does it say in the letter?”

Yu Qingyi smiled and said, ”Someone has taken a fancy to our Chengmao and went to sound out Yunxue about it!”

Yang Zhenshan offered Ming Zhao a chopstick load of mutton and asked in surprise, ”Which family?”

Chengmao is only two years younger than Chengye and is just fifteen this year, and it is time to start considering matrimonial matters.

Not only Chengmao, but Wanqing is also fourteen this year.

Now, they can set the marital arrangements first and wait until they are sixteen to marry or be wed.

”Marquis Haichang’s Mansion!” Yu Qingyi said.

”Marquis Haichang’s Mansion?” Yang Zhenshan was even more startled, ”Xue Ping’s sister or niece?”

Xue Ping is the younger son of Marquis Haichang Xue Chang’an, who has three legitimate sons, with Xue Ping being the youngest. His eldest son, Xue Feng, is also nearly forty years old.

But whether Xue Chang’an had daughters, Yang Zhenshan really wasn’t sure.

”His niece, the legitimate eldest granddaughter of Marquis Haichang’s Mansion! The wife of Marquis Haichang made a special visit to Yunxue recently. Although she did not explicitly state it, her intentions were very clear!” said Yu Qingyi.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly.

Because of Xue Ping’s relationship with Tenglong Guard, the Yang family also had some interactions with Marquis Haichang’s Mansion.

Marquis Haichang Xue Chang’an has always been the Commander of Jin Hai Guard, and Jin Hai Guard is the navy closest to the Capital City.

When Tenglong Guard developed maritime trade, Marquis Haichang’s Mansion also participated, mainly operating the sea route from the Capital City to Tenglong Guard.

And now Xue Ping is still in Tenglong Advanced Guard, serving as the Deputy Magistrate, and Yu Tonghai’s deputy.

Marquis Haichang’s Mansion is not very prominent among the nobles; first of all, Xue Chang’an’s official position isn’t high, being just a Commander, and moreover in Jin Hai Guard.

Secondly, Marquis Haichang currently holds only a second-rank title, which means the next Marquis Haichang will drop to a third-rank title, and the generation after that will lose the title entirely.

If the next two generations don’t earn enough military merits for a title promotion, then there will be no Marquis Haichang’s Mansion in Da Rong in the future.

Compared to the current Yang family, Marquis Haichang’s Mansion is somewhat climbing upwards.

Even if Yang Chengmao doesn’t have a title to inherit, he is not someone any ordinary noble offspring can compare with.

Don’t forget that Yang Zhenshan is now an Innate Martial Artist.

However, Yang Zhenshan is not someone who cares exactly about matching family statuses, he thought for a moment, and said, ”Discuss this with Ming Cheng, ask what he thinks!”

Yang Chengmao’s marriage must be decided by Yang Mingcheng, after all, Yang Mingcheng is Yang Chengmao’s biological father, and moreover, Chengmao is his legitimate eldest son. They could provide support, but it would be best not to make decisions rashly.

Chengmao is different from Chengye; Chengye is the heir to the Marquis Mansion, and with Yang Mingcheng’s somewhat simple nature, it’s completely fine for Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi to decide.

But Yang Mingcheng is a person with his own opinions; avoiding any rifts, this matter must go through Yang Mingcheng.

”Alright, I’ll speak to the Li family first tomorrow, then send someone to ask Mingcheng!” Yu Qingyi agreed.