If we only maintain an army of about 4,000 and feed the local people, it would not be too difficult. The problem now is that we keep coming from the north to avoid the refugees in the war.

It is a arduous test for Meng Jiucheng to place them or just spend a few meals and send them to continue to seek refuge in other places.

At this time, the Southern Song Dynasty court, in view of the rise of Mongolia and the decline of the Jin Dynasty, launched a fierce debate on whether to fight against Jin and the war. Although Prime Minister Shi Miyuan knew that the power of Jin was greatly frustrated by the Mongolian invasion, it was just that Kaixi's Northern Expedition was not far away, so he did not dare to accept the opinions of the main warriors. He just stopped paying annual tribute and sent envoys.

The peace war was not yet concluded, but the Southern Song court still kept the peace agreement. For example, if the Huai River was blocked, the returnees were not allowed to cross the south. Some officials even regarded those who returned to the south as thieves, killed them and burned them, and asked the superior ministers to suppress the southern ones.

Meng Jiucheng was very angry about this. The people of the Central Plains were also the original people of the Song Dynasty. However, the Southern Song Dynasty court lost its land and lost its people, but they did not want to recover. They also regarded the people who returned to the south as enemies and thieves, blocked the Huai River, and killed them. Such a court was really heartbreaking.

The northerners suffered in suffering, and after Jingkang, they were defeated by the Jin people. They fought hard this time, but they did not get the support of the Song court. The Southern Song court had forgotten that the elders of the Central Plains were also citizens of the Song Dynasty. It was because the Zhao family was incompetent and lost their territory and trapped the people, but they just lived a peaceful life and sang and danced to peace. They had long forgotten the recovery of the Central Plains.

Furthermore, the Southern Song Dynasty court classified the people who traveled south to the Song Dynasty as northerners, called "naturalized people". Discrimination and guard against it not only made the hearts of the people cold, but also made it difficult for many great talents to show their ambitions.

Xin Qiji is an example. He was born in Shandong. He revolted against the Jin Dynasty when he was a young man. After returning to the south and returned to the Song Dynasty, he was repeatedly excluded and suppressed because he was a "reformed person". His words also often talked about the unfulfilled ambitions of regaining the Central Plains and the indignation of serving the country without any way to serve the country.

At this time, the Central Plains rebels and Jin armed forces were in full swing, and the Song court could recruit them and use these heroes to engage in the great cause of restoration. However, the Song court obviously had already suffered from the fear of Jin or lost its enterprising spirit, for fear of offending the Jin Dynasty, and was unwilling to provide help. He just stood by and watched the rebels and Jin armed forces fighting bloody battles, but suffered repeated failures. Although Ying Chunzhi, Jia She and other local officials knew the importance of border defense, the facts and reality of Song and Jin were repeatedly written to them, but they were still unacceptable.

No matter how indignant he was, the news from the south made many refugees stagnate. He also forced Meng Jiucheng to find a way to place him.

Of course, among the refugees, there are strong young people, various craftsmen, and those who read and read. If they can be properly placed, it will be of great help to enhance their overall strength.

"Registering and naturalization of refugees, and forming craftsman camps and engineer camps according to their professional expertise..."

"Reclaiming land and replanting, and releasing ten acres of tax-free land is rewarded with one acre of tax-free land..."

"Breeding and fishing, taking advantage of the many characteristics of rivers, raising ducks and geese, and fishing and shrimping in an organized manner..."

"For work-for-relief, build forts and villages, build water conservancy, dredge river channels, lay bridges and roads, and build barracks and warehouses..."

"Send a message that people who can transport grain from other places will pay five times the price..."

"Grain is regulated, and large households must not hoard more than five stones of grain. Violators will be punished severely..."

"The use of grain to make wine will be prohibited, and violators will be punished severely..."

The orders issued and made public, and the effectiveness of the implementation is not only a test for Meng Jiucheng, but also a test for the establishment of a short-term government affairs team.

It is not required to be perfect. As long as people are not starved to death or to starve to death at least, it is Meng Jiucheng's great success. The food shortage has already appeared, but the real test is at the end of the year. The description of "the treasure goods are not allowed to eat, and they can only be more than exaggerated."

I have never eaten pork, nor have I seen pig run. Although Meng Jiucheng was not a professional in economics, he also knew what market leverage and work-for-relief knowledge were in the society with extremely developed information in later generations. Although the explanation was not very profound, it was still very creative compared to the ancient ideas at that time.

For example, in ancient times, there were many corrupt scholars who were stubborn in the current affairs. They were banned from selling rice, closed their mercy, affordable prices, etc. In this way, local rice would naturally not be sold to foreign countries, but rice merchants did not have the enthusiasm to sell rice from other places. Local rice hoarders were afraid of causing trouble, and the government set prices and were not allowed to sell them at high prices. They did not make any big profits, so they just closed their warehouses and sat high.

Therefore, these methods seem to serve the people, but do not conform to economic laws. They often make the market less rice and higher rice prices, which aggravates the disaster and harms the people.

Although the food shortage will gradually spread, when it is no longer a problem in Junan County and some areas of Juzhou, it is impossible to sell rice from the surrounding areas, Meng Jiucheng naturally has the next plan.

Go eastward and head towards the sea, open up the sea outlet in Lanshan, and even occupy Banqiao Town (now Qingdao area). Then you will attract a lot of money, or send merchants to the Huaihe River from the sea, trade with the Southern Song Dynasty, and buy food.

"The plan is very good, but the Liu family is an obstacle to the eastward advance." Meng Jiucheng took a short rest and closed his eyes to rest. "It's not impossible to detour, I'm afraid you will not consider it."

"Of course, I cannot move eastward without caring about the threat from the sidelines." Meng Jiucheng said thinking: "It's time to take out the sky cannon. If you don't defeat the Liu family, the existing food will only last for two months."

The principle of "Sky Booming Cannon" is very simple, and the standards for co-design with the system have long been established. A 1.5-meter-long and 40-cm-diameter iron cylinder is tied into a pointed shell shape (reduces flight resistance). In order to stabilize flight, four wooden tails have to be added to the "Sky Boom"; the fuse is also built into the shell to reduce the possibility of flying or hitting fire extinguishing.

From theoretical calculations, the maximum range of the shell can reach nearly 200 meters, far exceeding the current stone thrower, and it is not large in size and is easy to carry.

"It's not difficult to manufacture with craftsmen and materials. There is no need to be enough ammunition, and it's enough to defeat the Liu family." Ruanmei smiled, "Unknown things are always scary, mainly psychological effects, not killing effects."

"I want to solve the problem with the two Lius." Meng Jiucheng said in a deep voice: "Try to make it sufficient ammunition, and one month can still be afforded. Moreover, Yang An'er can still hold on for more than three months. During this period, neither the Red Coat Army nor the Jin army will care about us."

The soft girl paused for a while and suggested: "Start now, you can pay attention to the casting craftsmen and store copper materials. The bronze casting process is still relatively mature."
Chapter completed!