The Prince of Ding was inconvenient to show himself at the moment, so he stayed by Wen Zhonghe's side, offering advice under the guise of He Fang.
"News of the floods and earthquakes in the southwest will surely spread soon. What we must do now is to focus on rebuilding Shuzhou. Not only do we have official granaries, but the Southwest Army also has supplies. With refugees everywhere, idly waiting for food day after day is not a long-term solution. It's better to exchange labor for grain. The elderly and children can do light tasks, and women and children can be organized to cook, sew, and wash. Only by getting moving can Shuzhou be saved."
Waiting passively for help was impossible.
In the southwest region, there were Shuzhou, Quanzhou, Liuzhou, and Danzhou. Among them, Shuzhou and Danzhou were the wealthiest. However, the current flood situation was quite severe. Shuzhou, being at the intersection of the Xishui and Luo rivers, was naturally the first to be hit.
But Danzhou downstream was not much better off. The only fortunate thing was that there was no earthquake.
Therefore, Danzhou could still help itself. Quanzhou and Liuzhou, on the other hand, had always lacked a strong foundation, so relying on them for aid was practically a pipe dream.
Thus, Shuzhou's way out could only depend on itself.
Brothers Yang Xu and Yang Zhao, leading the Southwest Army, were clearing debris in the city to open up roads for vehicle passage, while the other was outside the city dealing with the bodies of fish, shrimp, and deceased citizens.
Although the people of the Great Jin believed in burying the dead in peace, in the face of natural disasters, the best way to prevent epidemics was to burn them first and then bury them in deep pits.
Most of the people of Shuzhou were in the tents outside the city.
Seeing plumes of thick smoke rising in the distance, many people knelt down and cried out towards that direction.
Just a moment ago, they were living ordinary lives with their families, and in the next, they were separated by death.
No one could easily overcome such a blow.
Soon, the cries in this area spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and the wails became widespread.
Perhaps crying would help them feel a little better, bidding farewell to past hardships. They still had a tough battle to fight ahead.
After Wen Zhonghe announced the new policies in the tents, there was not much opposition.
Although they had been relying on official relief during these days, everyone had strength. Therefore, when one person stood up willing to work for food, it naturally inspired a group of people.
Moreover, Wen Zhonghe promised them that those who registered and performed better would have priority in choosing good land to cultivate after Shuzhou was rebuilt.
As a result, everyone was scrambling to seize this opportunity.
On the other hand, the merchants, gentry, and local dignitaries were somewhat displeased.
When it came to heavy labor, how could they compete with the farmers who had always relied on nature for their livelihood?
But if they didn't do anything, wouldn't they even have food to eat?
For a time, they were in a difficult predicament.
So, when Wen Zhonghe found their tents, everyone had an anxious look on their faces.
"Don't be afraid. Since we are to adapt to local conditions, we must also differentiate labor. If you cannot do heavy work, you can either exchange money for grain. The price will be thirty percent higher than usual. I will not embezzle the money obtained; it will be publicly announced and used for the reconstruction of Shuzhou. Alternatively, you can exchange ideas for grain. If you can help Shuzhou recover its former vitality, there will be no shortage of grain for you."
After proposing these methods, smiles finally appeared on their faces.
Doing heavy physical labor was not their specialty, but they did have ways to revitalize themselves and the city of Shuzhou.
The earthquake had destroyed their homes, but not their minds or past experiences. Therefore, they also played a significant role in the reconstruction of Shuzhou.
The refugees were organized into teams of ten, with one person elected as the leader. Records were kept before each day's work, and after work, they received their grain and work statistics.
Soon, those who were both diligent and honest were well-fed and had accumulated considerable records for their future.
However, those who were lazy and tried to cut corners were eliminated by their teams. After starving for three to five days, they naturally dared not be lazy again.
With such positive reinforcement, the city of Shuzhou truly "came alive."
Houses could be rebuilt, and flooded fields could be replanted, but if the hearts of the people were scattered, there would be no hope for the future.
However, under the impetus of these methods, everyone was full of drive.
Three days later, when Feng Jinyao got out of bed and walked outside the tent, she saw busy people and a Shuzhou city that was slowly recovering.
She felt proud of the Prince of Ding.
Qiao Shanwei had also been busy during these days. After the earthquake, he had undergone a complete transformation.
Adversity was like a double-sided mirror: some people would become disheartened and sink into despair, while others would strive upwards, transforming like dragons.
Clearly, Qiao Shanwei was the latter.
A few days earlier, he had compiled the methods he had painstakingly researched for water management during this period and presented them to the Prince of Ding.
After carefully reviewing it, the Prince of Ding understood why Feng Jinyao insisted on bringing him to the southwest and why she was so confident that he could uphold the prestige of the Bai family.
Looking at him, if he had seemed somewhat immature before, now he exuded an extraordinary demeanor.
Fearless in the face of danger, and rising to meet challenges.
"Most of the water management methods in Shuzhou over the years have focused on diversion. The dikes are high, and the fields are low, so every time the river swells, there is a possibility of flooding fertile land. When the river floods, the people suffer; when the river flows smoothly, the people prosper. In addition to diversion, the river channels themselves should be widened, and some turbulent sections should be modified. By managing the water, it can flow smoothly and evenly, making it naturally difficult to breach the dikes."
This point made by Qiao Shanwei was only one of several.
"Go with the flow, and plant trees densely along the riverbanks. The soil, held together by tree roots, will not easily be washed away."
"Divert water for irrigation, and build reservoirs in suitable locations. This may offer a solution for dry fields."
"And the last point, which is the most important, requires the help of the Chi family."
"How so?"
"The Chi family's fortune was built on maritime transport, so river transport is similar. If Shuzhou and the surrounding cities can be connected by rivers, it will not only speed up communication between regions but also allow commerce to drive regional development. With profit to be made, people will participate, and with participation, the floods can be turned into a boon."
After he had fully expressed his thoughts, the Prince of Ding looked at him with admiration in his eyes.
Although some of the methods still needed further discussion, overall, they had solved the problems of frequent floods in Shuzhou, and even the entire southwest, and even many areas south of the Great Jin.
"Ayao didn't misjudge! You are indeed excellent."
Xu Lin rarely heard the Prince of Ding praise someone. He was surprised that Miss Feng San's cousin could receive such praise and could not help but admire him.