As their carriage traveled south, the weather grew hotter, and the number of refugees they encountered increased.
After making inquiries, they learned that these refugees were all migrating from the northern regions of the Tianwu Kingdom to the south for winter. More accurately, these people were seeking food in the south to escape the winter famine.
"Jun Mohan, does Tianwu Kingdom have such a large number of people migrating south every winter?" Leng Ruoli asked in confusion.
Upon hearing this, Jun Mohan nodded slightly.
"In recent years, Tianwu Kingdom has been plagued by natural disasters, and the crops planted by farmers have yielded poor harvests. Food is already scarce, and they still have to pay imperial taxes. Furthermore, there are constant disturbances at the border, requiring the court to dispatch troops for defense and substantial amounts of grain and fodder. Consequently, many people starve to death each winter. My father has been overwhelmed with trying to solve the problem of winter famine."
"During spring, summer, and autumn, it's manageable as the common people can dig for wild vegetables. But in winter, with the ice and snow, the common people have no wild vegetables to dig. This leads to the winter famine, and the phenomenon of refugees from the north migrating south is all in pursuit of a mouthful of food."
As Jun Mohan spoke, he looked through the carriage window at the men and women, old and young, who were stumbling along, starved. His mood grew increasingly heavy.
Leng Ruoli listened to Jun Mohan's words and watched the refugees outside scrambling for steamed buns and wild vegetables. Her heart also felt heavy.
"The common people are starving like this; the court should collect less imperial grain. The soldiers stationed at the border aren't always fighting enemies and training, are they? When they have free time, they could also grow grain. This way, it would not only reduce the burden on the common people but also achieve self-sufficiency, wouldn't it?" Leng Ruoli suggested.
Hearing this, a gleam suddenly flashed in Jun Mohan's narrow phoenix eyes. His Li'er was right; the army could grow food during their off-hours. Why had they never thought of this before? Those soldiers were a powerful labor force.
He was curious how his consort, a sheltered woman who had never left the capital before, came up with this idea.
"Lier, your method is excellent. Doing so can indeed alleviate the burden on many common people in Tianwu Kingdom," Jun Mohan agreed enthusiastically.
"However, low crop yields still do not solve the fundamental problem."
Jun Mohan then added.
"Besides planting grain, we can also plant other high-yield coarse grains that can fill stomachs," Leng Ruoli added. From the original owner's memories, she recalled that sweet potatoes seemed not to exist in this era.
Sweet potatoes are a relatively high-yield coarse grain, filling, and easy to store. In her past life, when the older generation encountered poor harvests or famines, they relied on planting more sweet potatoes and corn, these coarse grains, to survive.
"What are coarse grains? Can we plant anything other than rice and wheat?" Jun Mohan asked, full of confusion.
"Of course. Things that can fill one's stomach are not just white rice and noodles. We can encourage farmers to plant some sweet potatoes, corn, and other high-yield, filling crops," Leng Ruoli patiently explained.
Just as Jun Mohan was about to inquire about sweet potatoes and corn, their carriage suddenly braked sharply, nearly throwing Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan against the carriage walls.
"Yin Yi, what's wrong with the carriage?" Jun Mohan asked, his brows furrowed.
"Young Master Mo, Miss Mo, an old woman and a child suddenly fainted at our horses' hooves," Yin Yi explained immediately.
"Get out and check on them. What's happened?" Jun Mohan instructed.
"Yes, this subordinate obeys!" Yin Yi replied respectfully.
He then alighted from the carriage and crouched down, using his finger to check the breathing of the old woman and the child.
"Young Master Mo, Miss Mo, it's an old woman and a boy, about six or seven years old. Both are on the verge of death," Yin Yi reported to Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli in the carriage after checking their breaths.
"Jun Mohan, how about I get out and take a look?" Leng Ruoli said.
"No, there are too many refugees outside. Their prolonged wandering and lack of food can breed hatred towards the wealthy in their hearts. I fear they might hurt you, so you mustn't go out. Let Chu Mingxuan, that big man, go down and check instead," Jun Mohan immediately refused Leng Ruoli's request.
"Alright, then I won't go down," Leng Ruoli said helplessly.
Afterward, Jun Mohan instructed Yin Yi, "Yin Yi, go and call Divine Doctor Chu to help them."
"Yes, this subordinate understands!" Yin Yi replied, then immediately walked to the carriage behind them and called Chu Mingxuan out of the carriage.
Chu Mingxuan and Yin Chen immediately got out of the carriage and approached the fallen old woman and child. They felt their pulses and shook their heads, saying, "They've fainted from hunger. Yin Yi, move them to that rock over there and help them lean against it. Give them some water first."
Upon hearing this, Yin Chen bent down to help Yin Yi, lifting the old woman and child to the side of the rock. He then unfastened his water pouch, poured a cup of water, and fed it to the old woman and the little boy.
After giving them water and waiting for a long while, the old woman and the little boy slowly opened their eyes and regained consciousness.
The old woman looked at the three men before her and said weakly, "Thank you... thank you, three benefactors... for saving us, my grandson and I."
"Elderly woman, at your age, where are you taking your grandson?" Chu Mingxuan asked with concern.
The old woman glanced at Chu Mingxuan and sighed, saying, "Benefactors, I am originally from the north. I didn't want to drag my grandson on such a long journey and come to the south starving. I brought my grandson to the south to find my son and daughter-in-law."
"Then why did your son and daughter-in-law come to such a distant south?" Chu Mingxuan asked again.
"Alas, it was to make a living and support the family that they came to the south. In the winter three years ago, my son and daughter-in-law, to find a way to live, left my three-year-old grandson and came to the south. Since then, for over three years, I haven't received any news from my son and daughter-in-law. This winter, our hometown suffered a snow disaster again, and we became homeless. My old bones can no longer support my seven-year-old grandson, so I decided to take the one or two taels of silver I had saved over the years to the south to look for my son and daughter-in-law. Who would have thought that after we, the grandmother and grandson, had only walked for a day, the silver and clothes we had were robbed by other refugees? My grandson and I could only go hungry and beg our way to the south, completely exhausted. Today, thanks to the three benefactors for saving us," the old woman choked out.
Chu Mingxuan and the others felt deeply distressed upon hearing this. Even Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli, sitting in the carriage, felt a profound sadness after listening to the old woman's words.
At this moment, the little boy beside the old woman cried, "Grandma, I'm so hungry! Wuwu..."
The old woman, her eyes red, lied, "Child, just bear with it a little longer. When you see your parents, there will be delicious food."