Chapter 21: Performing Corvée Labor

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In ancient times, coal was not widely used, largely because transportation was inadequate. The mining regions were generally located in the mountains, where transport was extremely difficult.

Zhao Bin therefore arranged for the coal to be transported in stages. From the mountains, it could only be carried out on people’s shoulders or hauled by pack animals. Once it reached the outskirts of the mountains, horse-drawn carts would carry it back to Yan City.

The next day, more than four thousand people, along with over a hundred carts and horses, set out for West Mountain. Two military physicians accompanied them as well, both borrowed from Qin Fang.

They brought medicines specifically for treating bruises, sprains, and other injuries. The mountain roads were treacherous, and bumps and falls were unavoidable, so it was best to be prepared. If anything happened, they could provide treatment at once.

With the primitive medical conditions of ancient times, even a moment of carelessness could leave a person crippled or cost him his life. Fortunately, the coal mines at West Mountain were already in operation and easy to locate. The mountain folk in the area often gathered coal and sold it in the city.

In the northeastern part of Yan City, the old residential district also began undergoing large-scale replanning. Unnecessary courtyard walls and dilapidated houses were torn down, while the salvaged bricks and tiles were sorted and put to use again.

Time was pressing, and there were not enough new bricks available, so they had to make do with what they had.

The sturdier houses could still be used. Those near the outskirts and out of the way were temporarily left standing and converted into warehouses or dormitories.

In Zhao Bin’s vision, this area was only a temporary arrangement. In the future, it would certainly be replanned into a more rational district capable of supporting production.

On the northwestern city wall, Zhao Bin stood with Cao Li, Wang Wu, and several others, looking down at the busy crowds below. Every face was filled with an indescribable joy.

“Your Highness, this must be the strangest corvée labor in history. I have never heard of commoners being so happy to perform corvée labor,” Cao Li said as he watched the people working below the wall.

Zhao Bin glanced at him. “To be honest, this labor isn’t being done for me. It’s entirely for their own benefit.

“We’re refining salt to exchange for livestock for them, and the ironworks we’re building will forge farm tools for them. Isn’t that right? In the end, the ones who benefit are the common people themselves.”

“You’re absolutely right, Your Highness. In the two months since you arrived in Yan City, you’ve done so much for its people. I’ve been here for decades, and yet…” Cao Li sighed, looking ashamed. “It’s truly embarrassing.”

“Lord Cao, there’s no need to blame yourself. Many problems cannot be solved overnight. For now, we’ve only made a beginning, and it’s nowhere near enough to resolve Yan City’s troubles.

“From what I can see, most of the people inside the city are living even worse than the farmers outside the walls,” Zhao Bin said slowly.

“You’re right, Your Highness. The commercial system within the city has withered almost completely. There are hardly any ways to make money, and without money, people cannot buy grain.

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“Many households eat only one meal a day. At least the farmers outside the city have land to depend on. No matter how difficult things become, they can still dig food out of the soil.

“They can gather wild greens or chew tree bark. At least they have something to put in their mouths. The people inside the city are not registered as farmers and own no land. Their lives are truly miserable,” Cao Li replied.

“No land? Then why doesn’t the government distribute some? That would increase grain production as well,” Zhao Bin asked, puzzled.

“How could we never have tried? But whether land is distributed or not makes little difference. First, most city residents do not know how to farm. Second, farm tools are in desperately short supply. Third, during the autumn harvest, Jie cavalry often crosses the border, and most people are afraid to leave the city,” Cao Li said helplessly.

Listening to Cao Li speak one point at a time, Zhao Bin fell into deep thought. What would the country have done in his previous life?

“Lower interest rates to stimulate consumption? Lower them for what? There aren’t even any banks here. Develop real estate? Less than half the homes in Yan City are occupied. They can barely afford food—how could they buy houses?

“No, no. It doesn’t have to be real estate. Perhaps construction? Build projects and create jobs. Or invest in factories and create jobs.

“But what could I use to build anything now? What could I use to establish factories? I’m not the government, and I don’t have that kind of money.”

The thought gave Zhao Bin a splitting headache.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, something terrible has happened…”

Just as Zhao Bin was wrestling with the problem, a palace guard came running toward him from nearby.

When the guard reached him, Zhao Bin hurriedly asked, “What happened?”

“Your Highness, a great many commoners have come to the palace,” the guard replied between breaths.

“Commoners? Didn’t we send them all home? Why have they come back?” Zhao Bin asked helplessly.

“Not the people from outside the city—the people from inside. They heard that anyone performing corvée labor for the palace would be given meals, so many of them rushed to the palace to petition for work.”

“Damn it, what a nuisance! Where am I supposed to find work for them now? We’re only building a few houses, yet two or three thousand people have already shown up. Did you see how many there are?” Zhao Bin cursed angrily.

“I couldn’t count them exactly, but the entire street outside the palace is filled with kneeling commoners. It looks like there are at least three or four thousand.”

Standing atop the city wall, Zhao Bin tapped the battlements again and again, muttering to himself, “Corvée labor… corvée labor…”

Xiao Chu, Wang Wu, and the others could only watch from the side.

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“I’ve got it. They want to perform corvée labor, don’t they? Old Cao, take them to dig a canal. Bring the White River in the northeast of the city over here. We need water for iron smelting, and the canal will have to be built sooner or later anyway. Take them there and put them to work.”

Zhao Bin pointed toward the great river flowing northeast of Yan City.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll make the arrangements at once.”

With that, Cao Li took two yamen runners down from the wall and headed toward the palace.

Xiao Chu stepped forward and asked, “Your Highness, the White River is only two thousand meters from Yan City. With several thousand people, they could finish the canal in less than a day. What will we do afterward?”

“Don’t worry. They certainly won’t finish it in a day. They not only have to dig it all the way to the city, but also continue digging eastward and reconnect it with the White River.

“I have a feeling that if we don’t find them something to do, getting back to the palace tonight will be difficult.

“Hopefully Wei Xiang and the others find the iron mine soon. Once they do, we can send this whole mob off to mine it,” Zhao Bin said angrily.

Seeing that Zhao Bin was becoming agitated, Wang Wu stepped forward. “Your Highness, why don’t I take you riding? That fellow Qin Fang built a horse ranch nearby.”

“Forget it. Riding makes my backside hurt. We’d better think of a way to keep this troublesome crowd busy. What if we have them tend the horses?” Zhao Bin asked.

“Let’s not, Your Highness. They don’t even know how to farm. They certainly won’t know how to tend horses,” Xiao Chu teased.

“That’s not right. Farming is difficult, but tending horses is simple,” Wang Wu argued.

“Simple? Those horses are untrained. If one loses its temper, it could trample a man to death in an instant,” Xiao Chu replied.

“So even if we give them the horses, they won’t be able to ride them?” Zhao Bin asked, puzzled.

“It isn’t that difficult. They can be trained in two or three months. It’s merely a little troublesome,” Xiao Chu said.

“Never mind. The horses are theirs now. How they train them is their concern.”

With that, Zhao Bin swept his sleeve and turned away.