The refugees looked on with envy in their eyes: "Heavens, are these really the citizens of the Plague City? They seem so fortunate, able to receive so many supplies each month."
"Officer, can we go collect supplies too?"
"We also want to work in exchange for food..."
The soldier replied formally: "Any citizen who contributes labor is eligible to receive supplies."
A woman approached crying, about to kneel down: "Officer, my husband has passed away. I - I can work too. I beg you to consider—"
Seeing the woman about to kneel, the soldier quickly stepped back and hurriedly said: "Miss, there's no need to kneel before me! Women can work too, doing things like cooking or whatever tasks they're capable of."
"Whether you're a woman, or unable to do heavy labor due to physical reasons, as long as you want to work, we'll definitely arrange the most suitable tasks for you. So don't worry about not being able to do the work."
"Wonderful!!!"
The crowd of refugees applauded enthusiastically.
The woman was moved to tears. She had never imagined a place that would treat women so kindly.
Women could work for food too, and be respected!
Immediately, some people inquired about joining the army: "Officer, are the benefits for soldiers really that good?"
"Officer, can women join the army too? Are there any extra requirements?"
"Even if a soldier dies on the battlefield, their family will be taken care of? And their children can attend school for free?"
The soldier answered all the questions from the crowd, which made the people of Liujiang City deeply envious of the citizens of the Plague City.
Heavens!
The people of the Plague City were so fortunate!
They were glad they had chosen to follow the Elder Princess to the Plague City, rather than siding with the imperial court.
If the imperial court were recruiting soldiers, it would mostly be forced labor, without pay.
"The Elder Princess was right when she said life in the Plague City would be free from worries about food and clothing."
"When I saw there were female soldiers, I hoped that one day I could become a woman like them. I never imagined being a soldier had such benefits. I want to join the female guard unit too!"
"As long as I become a soldier, my son can go to school! I'm going to enlist!"
"The Divine Lady said men and women are equal, so we shouldn't just think about our sons. Daughters can study too. Whoever studies well should be sent to school!"
"That's right, if we want to live as happily as people in the future, we need to think like people of the future! Come on, let's go sign up!"
The crowd, moved to tears, rushed off to enlist as soldiers.
If for nothing else, just for their children to attend school for free was enough to make them fight desperately for a future for their kids.
While the Plague City was bustling with construction of schools and other buildings, news of the various benefits offered in the Plague City spread far and wide to other cities.
Whether imperial officials or common people and merchants in various cities, when they heard this astonishing news, they were stunned for a long while before coming to their senses.
The common people in other cities said in disbelief: "Heavens, what's going on in the Plague City now? In the past, everyone envied the Jiangnan Water Town and the capital, but now the tables have turned."
"To think that such a poor and remote place as the Plague City could become the object of envy."
"Don't you feel envious and jealous?"
"It seems the Elder Princess indeed has the intention to compete with the imperial court. I have a feeling that the Plague City will rival Jiangnan in the future. Hehe, I'm going to open a few inns there first. If the Elder Princess wins, the value of property in the Plague City will soar."
Many people had similar thoughts, and merchants from various parts of Central Plains caught wind of the opportunity and rushed to the Plague City.
They all wanted to establish their businesses there before the Plague City fully developed.
For the Plague City to develop, it needed not only manpower and agriculture but also economic growth. However, not all merchants could be fully accepted.
The Elder Princess set a time to personally meet these merchants, selecting those with good character to settle in the city, and explaining the rules of the Plague City to them.
When news of free education and various benefits for new recruits reached the capital, the people there once again became discontent!
Yes, they were unhappy!
Why should a poor, remote place like the Plague City be better than the capital!
In the past, living in the capital, they had to be cautious around officials and nobles. Although one misstep could lead to beheading, they took pride in the fact that people outside the capital envied them for living there.
They felt very proud and superior!
Despite the danger of offending the nobility, just mentioning their identity as capital residents would make people from other places look at them with admiration.
But now, they had lost even this sole source of pride.
They were also restricted by the imperial court, forbidden from approaching within a hundred meters of the palace, or face beheading!
That was clearly a gift from heaven, a live broadcast bestowed by the Divine Lady. Why should the imperial court control it!
They wouldn't accept this!
The people gathered in groups to shout at the government offices, expressing their dissatisfaction and crying in distress. They beat the drums outside the county office to appeal for justice, hoping the county magistrate would listen to the voice of the people.
"Your Honor, my husband and son both died on the battlefield. Their deaths were so unjust! They left behind just me, a woman. With no son to care for me in my old age, how am I supposed to live?"
"Your Honor, my husband died while serving in the army. He died for his country, so why is the imperial court so heartless, not giving any compensation?"
"In the Plague City, soldiers get one spot for free education. Why can't the imperial court offer free education?"
"That's right, we had no harvest again this year! Look at the Plague City, not only do they not collect high taxes, but people can also receive so much grain for working. We have nothing!"
"..."
Seeing the aggressive crowd, the capital's county magistrate was too scared to hold court and could only order the county office to be tightly closed.
As the situation became increasingly serious, with the people growing more and more agitated and dissatisfied, all shouting about how their sons had died unjustly without any compensation.
They all cried about how good the rules in the Plague City were, how women could go out to work and earn money for food with their own hands, while they could only sit and deplete their resources.
The county magistrate: "....."
He was at his wits' end.
He even thought the Plague City sounded good!
No, no, no, he was an important official of the imperial court!
The magistrate wiped his face, then tried to sneak out through the back door. Oh no! The back door was also blocked by the people.
The dignified county magistrate ended up having to climb over the wall, fleeing in a pathetic state to report to the emperor at the palace.
At that moment.
In the main hall of the imperial palace.
When Pei Changying heard about the incident at the county magistrate's office, his arrogant and overconfident nature prevented him from realizing the gravity of the situation. He certainly didn't think that his rules needed to change.
Enraged, he threw the official report to the ground, exclaiming, "These insolent commoners dare to cause trouble right under my nose!"
"It must be the Consort Zhao incident that emboldened them. Do they think I am so easily manipulated?"
"Ignore them. If they dare to break down the gates of the county office, then according to the law, those who storm into the county office shall be charged with treason and immediately put to death!"
