Liang Xiao said happily: "Go and recruit as soon as possible."
Since discovering that refugees are more reliable than ordinary workers, Liang Xiao has become more and more keen on recruiting workers from refugees.
After being homeless for a long time, someone gives them food and work, which is undoubtedly a savior-like existence.
Even if there are opponents among the refugees, he is confident to weed them out.
No matter how good the other party pretends to be, they can't leak the secret under the strict supervision system of the Liang Mansion.
Especially since he also has a group of Xuanwei who are good at observing words and gathering intelligence.
Sugar production is in full swing in several workshops.
Liang Xiao and Gu Pingxiu rode in a carriage together and rushed to the northwest city.
If nothing else happens, these refugees will be sent to the capital for supervision this afternoon.
If the capital does not care, once these refugees become hungry and anxious, they may loot the surrounding villages.
However, after the imperial court accepted the refugees, it could not provide them with adequate food. The Ministry of Household Affairs always used the excuse that the national treasury was empty to persuade them to allocate funds.
Therefore, these refugees are thankful if they can eat a little gruel or chaff every day.
In the carriage, Liang Xiao asked: "Captain Gu, is there any news about horse dealers recently?"
Gu Pingxiu replied: "There were several Malaysian merchants who came to the capital, but the Gongsun family got there first, and the Gongsun family gave priority to choosing good horses."
Liang Xiao frowned and reminded: "The Gongsun family may be reorganizing their armaments. Is this always the case?"
Gu Pingxiu nodded and said: "It's always been the case! The Gongsun family of Bashu is nominally a minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty. In fact, it is a separate government. However, they pay a certain amount of tax every year, so the court just lets it go."
Liang Xiao was thoughtful.
In fact, the imperial court of the Great Zhou Dynasty had no control over the Gongsun family. Compared with other separatist warlords, the Gongsun family seemed much more kind.
But the situation will always change, and he must be prepared for danger in times of peace. He can't say that the border will suddenly break out and the world will be in chaos tomorrow.
Zhou Dynasty needed an elite cavalry that could drive away Beihu, and he also needed to rely on this cavalry to avenge himself.
He has modern ideas, but he is still the only son of the Lanling Marquis of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
When he was a child, he often dreamed that his father, whom he had never seen before, was decapitated by Beihu owl, and then woke up crying from the dream. When the old man was awakened by the crying, he would rush to hold him in his arms and comfort him softly.
But he can't be too hasty and let those aristocratic families find excuses to cite him and accuse him of being disobedient.
Liang Xiao and Gu Pingxiu arrived in the northwest city. After a small meal, the refugees from the capital were also sent to the city one after another.
The two of them were observing from a high building.
All of them were half-clothed, disheveled, and had their families with them, and they were all miserable.
Pedestrians around were afraid to avoid him, and many good people gave them some dry food and chaff, and they immediately started to fight for it.
The good people who delivered food were frightened by these disorderly refugees. Most of them hid far away and never dared to approach them again.
Liang Xiao was not surprised and immediately started to arrange for people to be stationed in the northwest city to prepare porridge every day.
At this time, Duan Yunxiu was in Mu Qinxue's boudoir, admiring Liang Xiao's calligraphy with her. The two sisters were fascinated by it.
Not long after, Lin'er came to report that Liang Xiao went to the northwest to rescue refugees.
"Your Highness, Miss, we heard from Xuanwei that someone sneaked into the refugee group on the way, and maybe he went to Mr. Liang."
The two best friends suddenly became worried.
"The enemy must have spotted him specifically to recruit refugees!" Mu Qinxue was furious.
Duan Yunxiu deeply agreed: "He can provide food and shelter for the refugee family, but those people can't. Of course it's not good for him... But what is he going to do?"
Liang Xiao was already their designated prince-in-law. Of course, giving the refugees a place to live would also be beneficial to the court, so they naturally gave their full support.
Now they are even more worried that Liang Xiao's sugar making technology has been leaked.
Once the technology is leaked, his enemies will find ways to imitate sugar and then start a price war. After crushing them, they can monopolize the sugar market and raise prices as they please.
At that time, Liang Xiao had only two options, either to let the empress step aside to support him, or to hand over the sugar business to the Marquis Dingguo Mansion, and both sides would split the accounts. In short, he had to find a backer.
Mu Qinxue did not want her father to take over Liang Xiao's business. It was better for the business to be in the hands of her own man.
Otherwise, her father might look down on Liang Xiao again.
An hour later, Feiyun, the commander of Xuanwei, came to report: "Your Highness, Mr. Liang is already making arrangements to give porridge to the refugees!"
The two girls became more and more worried, and finally couldn't help it. Even Mu Qinxue learned how to dress up as a man, and the two quietly followed them to the northwest city to observe.
At this time, Liang Xiao was leading a team to express condolences to these refugees from other places.
There were close to 500 households of refugees, but compared to the group he had already recruited, their number was less than 1,500.
Because this group of people came from farther west and north, many people died of hunger and disease along the way, with less than four people per household.
Gu Pingxiu looked at the large pots cooking porridge in the distance and asked in confusion: "Boss Liang, don't we prepare dry food?"
"I brought dry food, don't use it yet." Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Everyone looked at each other.
Making porridge is much more troublesome than delivering dry food and water.
"Thank you, great benefactor!"
Nearly two thousand refugees swallowed their saliva and kowtowed to Liang Xiao to thank him. Liang Xiao quickly asked them to get up.
They couldn't wait any longer. If they didn't eat something, they might faint from hunger.
Xuanwei followed Liang Xiao's instructions and announced in public: "It was my emperor who suggested it. We, Boss Liang, were ordered to help you all. If you want to thank me, please thank my emperor for his grace!"
The scene was full of "Our Emperor's Holy Grace", and the refugees bowed to the palace.
In the crowd, Duanmu Yunqing, Nangong Ning and others looked at each other and smiled.
"How can I satisfy you?"
Each family sent a few people to infiltrate the ranks of the refugees, but most people couldn't tell.
Because those who can sneak in are all clever in character, with sallow complexions, unkempt hair, and ragged clothes. They look no different from refugees.
Duanmu Yuncheng's face was livid, staring at Liang Xiao who was comforting the refugees in the distance, gritting his teeth.
It was this young man who repeatedly disgraced himself in public and even won Mu Qinxue's favor!
He is known as the most talented person in the capital. This title was earned with great effort by his family after three years of publicity and campaigning. However, Mu Qinxue never looked at him in the eyes.
The only time he was praised was because he read a line from Liang Xiao's poem!
At the same time, Mu Qinxue and Duan Yunxiu also quietly went up to the high building, looking at Liang Xiao's back in rapt attention.
"The porridge is ready!"
With a shout, the so-called refugees flocked in, relying entirely on the government officials in the capital and Liang Xiao's guards to maintain order.
The onlookers were also startled by the refugee's impulsiveness, and shook their heads: "It's hopeless!"
At this moment, Liang Xiao shouted angrily: "Wait a minute!"
Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Liang Xiao grabbed a handful of sand and gravel from the basin on the table and threw it into the porridge pot.
After a while, Liang Xiao's men followed suit and threw all the sand and gravel in the basin into the pot.
Complaints suddenly broke out in the streets.
The onlookers also looked at each other in astonishment.
