When facing life and death, most people break free from their constraints, including their fear of high officials and nobles.
The refugees fixed their burning gazes on Yu Jin.
Although they felt favorably toward this prince, if they didn’t receive a satisfactory answer, they would still riot, refusing to quietly await death within the city.
They had witnessed firsthand how terrifying the epidemic was.
A perfectly healthy person could, by the next day, develop fever, vomit blood, and have their body covered in festering sores… The mere thought made one shudder.
This place had once been their peaceful paradise, but now it was hell.
They were human beings – why should they remain in hell?
Yu Jin saw the determination in the refugees’ eyes.
He shook his head silently.
Vice Minister Zhao and the others were fixated on keeping the refugees obediently within the city, believing that the court’s authority would ensure compliance from citizens who normally wouldn’t dare stand straight. Yet they overlooked the power of survival instinct.
He was certain that without a solution, without giving these people hope, the conflicts would escalate with each occurrence, eventually culminating in bloodshed between soldiers and refugees.
Of course, the court had dispatched many guards for disaster relief, and they would ultimately subdue these refugees. With some manipulation of the epidemic narrative, these bloody conflicts could be covered up, perhaps even transformed into meritorious achievements.
In the South, he had witnessed soldiers slaughtering innocent civilians to fabricate military accomplishments, which he deeply abhorred.
“Everyone, please wait. This prince will discuss arrangements for you with the Vice Minister and others. Once we conclude, I will personally inform you all here.”
“When will you conclude?” someone shouted.
Countless voices echoed: “Indeed, are we supposed to keep waiting if you never conclude?”
“By the hour of shen today, this prince will give everyone an answer,” Yu Jin declared solemnly, surveying the raggedly dressed civilians.
The refugees fell silent for a moment before someone finally called out: “Very well, we trust the prince. We’ll return here at the hour of Shen!”
Vice Minister Zhao’s lips quivered several times, wanting to intervene, but he could only restrain himself in this situation.
After leaving the city gates, Vice Minister Zhao sighed: “Your Highness, you were too impulsive!”
Yu Jin glanced at the children who had been successfully led out of the city and replied coolly: “Let’s wait until everyone’s gathered before discussing this.”
Not far outside Qianhe County, a large area was covered with tents – the soldiers’ quarters.
On the other side stood a row of thatched huts and wooden cabins, clearly separated from the tents. The largest wooden cabin served as the meeting hall for the disaster relief officials.
Yu Jin silently observed his surroundings.
“Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?” Vice Minister Zhao asked the officials who had accompanied the Crown Prince out earlier.
Of the many officials who had accompanied the Crown Prince to the city walls, only a few remained.
One replied: “His Highness has returned to Jinli Town…”
Vice Minister Zhao faltered.
Already returned to Jinli Town? He could have at least made an appearance at the meeting hall for appearance’s sake.
Vice Minister Zhao didn’t know what to say about the Crown Prince anymore. Sighing internally, he said: “Your Highness, shall we return to Jinli Town to join the Crown Prince?”
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “Who is the chief official for this disaster relief?”
Vice Minister Zhao cupped his hands: “Your humble servant.”
“What was the Crown Prince’s purpose in coming here?” Yu Jin asked again.
Vice Minister Zhao replied: “To comfort the refugees on behalf of His Majesty.”
Yu Jin smiled slightly, his sharp brows showing a touch of coldness: “The Crown Prince has already comforted the citizens in the city, so his return to Jinli Town for rest is reasonable. However, Vice Minister Zhao’s duties are not yet complete.”
“Your Highness means—”
“Naturally, to discuss with your colleagues how to resolve the settlement issues of the citizens in the city.” Yu Jin paused here, a hint of mockery at the corners of his mouth. “Or do you intend to ignore the citizens in the city and leave them to die?”
Vice Minister Zhao’s eyelid twitched as he hurriedly said: “Your Highness misunderstands. These days, your humble servant and others have been diligently working, and would never dare disregard the lives of citizens…”
Before Vice Minister Zhao could finish, Yu Jin interjected: “That’s good then. Let’s go to the meeting hall.”
Soon the meeting hall was filled with officials, though some had accompanied the Crown Prince back to Jinli Town. Yu Jin didn’t insist on everyone’s presence.
“How do the honored officials view today’s events?”
Vice Minister Zhao sighed in distress: “Your Highness shouldn’t have made an exception by bringing the children out of the city. Once this precedent is set, it will be harder to pacify the citizens.”
The capital officials eligible to attend court had a good habit – when discussing official matters, they would speak their minds even if they disagreed with the Emperor, let alone to a prince without real power like Yu Jin.
After Vice Minister Zhao spoke up, the officials from the capital joined in agreement.
The local officials, however, remained quietly in their seats.
The relief supplies were brought by the capital officials, the army was dispatched by them, and they would be the ones reporting to the Emperor later – the local officials had no say in the matter, so they might as well listen quietly.
“Vice Minister Zhao’s focus is misplaced.” Yu Jin tapped the table with his finger. “I’m talking about the demands of the citizens in the city. They can endure for one day or two days, but can they endure indefinitely? Blood has already been shed today – this is just the beginning. If we don’t respond when large-scale conflicts erupt, do you plan to suppress them all bloodily?”
As he spoke, his gaze slowly swept across each person, coldly continuing: “If that’s the case, this isn’t disaster relief – it’s a massacre. Where are your consciences?”
Everyone’s expressions changed simultaneously.
People live by their reputations – even corrupt officials want a good name, let alone the many officials who genuinely want to accomplish something. Especially the lower-ranking local officials, born and raised here, who had ties of kinship with the city’s residents. In contrast, outside officials like the Qianhe County Magistrate didn’t have such connections.
In Great Zhou, county-level and higher local officials must avoid serving in their native places, which explains why the Qianhe County Magistrate had no emotional attachment to the city’s residents.
Vice Minister Zhao, unable to maintain face, asked: “What countermeasures does Your Highness suggest?”
Yu Jin responded directly: “Within the city, I propose designating another area called the transition zone.”
“Transition zone?”
“Yes. Currently, there are only east and west zones – it’s one or the other. If someone from the east zone with latent illness enters the west zone directly, it would have serious consequences. If we establish a transition zone between the east and west zones, those moving from east to west would need to isolate there for two or three days, reducing the chance of sick people entering the west zone…”
Everyone nodded involuntarily.
Prince Yan’s suggestion was good – it would indeed reduce risk.
Vice Minister Zhao stroked his beard in approval, saying: “Even so, this won’t dispel the western zone residents’ desire to leave the city.”
Yu Jin smiled: “Why should we dispel it? It’s better to channel than to block – why not give those citizens hope? With hope, even those who remain in the city will wait patiently.”
People need hope to live.
No one had taught him any grand principles, but he understood clearly what people needed most in desperate situations.
Not an immediate bowl of thin porridge or a few taels of relief silver, but hope for survival.