MLMD -Chapter 188 The Enormous Tide of Refugees

“Porridge! Government porridge!”

“Hurry and get your porridge!”

“Father… Mother… the government is giving out porridge! Let’s go quickly!”

The news of the government distributing porridge in Hunyuan Prefecture this morning spread like a winter thunderclap. In less than half an hour, the word had traveled through every street and alley of Hunyuan City. Tens of thousands of refugees, starving and freezing, surged toward the porridge distribution points like a tidal wave.

At a secluded intersection, Yue Yang, Jiang Xin, and several dozen wealthy and influential locals stood silently, watching the ceaseless flow of refugees in the streets. Hundreds of fully armed soldiers and city officials guarded their sides.

Seeing the endless crowds running and spreading the news, many of those present couldn’t hide their fear. In recent days, officials and gentry had heard that Hunyuan City was seeing an influx of refugees, but they had paid little mind. After all, in previous years, refugees had always come and gone, and life had gone on. But today, witnessing this tidal wave of humanity firsthand, they realized just how immense a force it represented. If this force were to erupt, it could tear them apart in an instant.

Seeing their fear, Yue Yang’s face grew stern. He said, “Magistrate Jiang, colleagues, and respected elders, as you can see, there are already more than thirty thousand refugees gathered within Hunyuan City. These people have no food or clothing, and countless perish from starvation each day. If any of them were incited to attack the officials or rebel, I am not trying to frighten you, but I fear Hunyuan City could fall in a single night. At a time like this, would you rather let the grain in your warehouses rot at home than use some of it to aid those in disaster?”

Yue Yang’s voice was calm but carried weight, silencing everyone around him. After a long pause, Jiang Xin forced a bitter smile. “Lord Yue Yang, it’s not that I am unwilling to open the granaries. But most of the autumn harvest has already been transported to the capital. Our local granaries hold less than five hundred dan of grain. Even if we open them, it would not last long. More importantly, I fear that if we open this door, the flood of refugees could overwhelm Hunyuan City in just a few days.”

“Lord Yue Yang, Magistrate Jiang is not speaking without reason,” sighed Liao Chunyu, standing behind Jiang Xin. “There is precedent. Two years ago, in Mizhi County, Shaanxi, the local magistrate, seeing so many destitute refugees, opened the granaries and set up porridge shops daily. The disaster victims spread the word, and within half a month, fifty or sixty thousand refugees had gathered. Eventually, the county’s granaries were emptied. A month later, some incited refugees, thinking the magistrate was unwilling to continue relief, attacked the county office, captured the magistrate, and beat him to death. The incident shocked the entire court, and only after the emperor sent troops to suppress the rebels did the situation settle. Ever since, officials have feared repeating Mizhi’s tragedy.”

“Such a thing actually happened?” Yue Yang was surprised. He had never heard of government granaries being emptied and things going so wrong. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Lord Liao, even if that was the case, it cannot serve as an excuse. In years of disaster, it is the government’s duty to provide porridge and relief. We cannot let a single past failure stop us. Ultimately, Hunyuan Prefecture is not just mine—it belongs to everyone.”

Yue Yang swept his piercing gaze across the gathered officials and gentry, sending a clear message: I have taken the first step and am doing my best to provide relief, but this is not a task for one man alone. You all must contribute effort and resources as well.

Today’s relief effort was initiated by Yue Yang himself. Though he came from the future, he knew the suffering of hunger all too well. His purpose in opening the porridge shops was to consolidate the refugees in preparation for spring planting. But gathering refugees couldn’t be done blindly, nor could the stubborn gentry be allowed to shirk responsibility. Such a task required collective effort. If left to become a habit, future disasters would see everyone push responsibility onto others. That’s why he had summoned Jiang Xin and all notable gentry and merchants in Hunyuan City.

Faced with Yue Yang’s veiled threat, everyone fell silent. Finally, Jiang Xin sighed deeply and nodded. “Since Lord Yue Yang has spoken so plainly, it would be shameful for me not to act. The official granary currently holds five hundred dan of grain. Today, I shall command it all to be distributed in porridge shops at the prefectural office. Distribution will continue until all the grain is given out.”

“Magistrate Jiang, your nobility of character is admirable!” Yue Yang clasped his hands in respect, then turned to the surrounding gentry and merchants. Once they saw the magistrate taking the lead, who would dare refuse? Besides, Yue Yang was a fearsome figure—just last month, he had beheaded hundreds of mutinous soldiers, a memory still steeped in blood.

Unexpectedly, the first to respond to Jiang Xin’s call was Fang Jiuming. The old man readily agreed to set up a porridge point at his residence and promised the distribution would last no less than three hours each day. This completely surprised Yue Yang.

Looking at Fang Jiuming with some surprise, Yue Yang slowly nodded. “I did not expect Elder Fang to be so public-spirited. Well done… Well done. Who else is willing to aid the disaster victims?”

“I am willing…”

“I am also willing to set up a porridge shop…”

“I am willing to donate three hundred dan of grain for relief.”

No one present was foolish. Now that the two most influential men in Hunyuan Prefecture had stepped forward, refusing to act would be shameful.

Seeing everyone willingly contribute, Yue Yang nodded inwardly. Though each donation was small, together they formed a significant amount. And now that the precedent was set, future contributions would be easier…

By mid-morning, dozens of porridge distribution points were set up across Hunyuan City. Long lines of starving refugees had formed, and to maintain order, Yue Yang dispatched two thousand soldiers to patrol and prevent looting or chaos.

The East Market, Hunyuan’s busiest district, had nearly twenty porridge shops that day. Large iron pots steamed with hot porridge, the aroma of rice wafting through the air, making the waiting refugees salivate. Were it not for the armed soldiers keeping watch, they would have surged forward.

A few hundred paces from one distribution point, Wang Shaozong stood against a wall, watching the sea of people with a shifting expression, clearly considering something. Behind him stood Ma Laosì and over ten men disguised as refugees.

After a while, Ma Laosì, growing impatient, said, “Boss Wang, we’ve been walking along the street for nearly two hours, and nothing’s come of it. The brothers are starving.”

Wang Shaozong finally turned his gaze back. “You don’t understand. I’ve been observing. The porridge shops are well-managed. The porridge is thick enough to stand a chopstick upright. That shows those officials at least made some effort. But here’s what puzzles me: with so many refugees in Hunyuan, how dare they distribute porridge like this? Where did they get all this grain? Or are they only planning to distribute for a day or two and then stop? We have to consider these things. One misstep, and this whole plan could fail.”

“Bah!” Ma Laosì spat on the ground. “Two years ago, the Mizhi County magistrate had confidence and opened the granaries to win hearts with porridge. How long did it last? Less than half a month. Then my brothers finished him off. These tens of thousands of disaster victims could consume enough to form a small mountain. Even if Hunyuan had a mountain of gold, it would be eaten down. That’s when it’ll be our turn to shine.”

“Alas…” Another man nearby sighed. “That Mizhi magistrate was admirable. Using all the county’s grain to feed the refugees? We have to respect that. Too bad he ended up…” They all sighed together.

Ma Laosì, however, shook his head. “Who told that old fool not to appreciate an offer? The Eight Kings invited him in good faith, but he insulted them as rebels who bring chaos to the people. So the Eight Kings got angry and finished him. A useless official, no matter how capable, cannot be spared.”

No one responded, leaving a tense silence. Ma Laosì, frustrated, muttered, “Bah! I’m hungry anyway. I’ll grab a bowl of porridge to honor my stomach. These officials are giving out grain once, we won’t waste it.”

Tying his belt, he strode toward the front to get a bowl of porridge.