Chapter 1041: Rada Khan
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The prevention of the snow disaster involved nothing more than food, warmth, and typhoid medicine.
The coal and charcoal industry in the Shanxi and the Shaanxi area was very prosperous. Almost all the coal and charcoal in the various areas of the Great Zhou Dynasty were supplied from the Shanshaan area. The local commoners lived in cellars, which were strong against the wind and kept them warm.
They were also safer. In addition, the weather in the North was cold in winter. The commoners had lived on that land for generations and had good resistance to cold and rebellion. The matter of keeping warm could be delayed a little.
Food and typhoid medicine were the main focus.
In addition, a drought has lasted for three to four years in a row in the Guanzhong area, and it had snowed. The drought had been alleviated, but the long-term drought had caused the soil to turn into sand that was no different from a wasteland. Crops had to be carefully planted and the soil had to be handled well to raise the soil back. This would have a huge impact on the spring planting in the second year. The hairy vetch had to be planted in October.
If the temperature dropped drastically, the seeds wouldn’t be able to survive.
Yu Youyao had a plan in mind. She immediately joined forces with the Xie and Bai Residences and the aristocratic families and n.o.bles of Liaodong to prepare supplies for the snow disaster.
The state government office had also announced many matters related to the prevention and control of the snow disaster. They had also set up a series of measures to help the refugees and encourage the commoners to donate supplies.
At the same time, a doc.u.ment was issued encouraging the planting of hairy vetch in the central part of the country.
First, hairy vetch could survive winter and nourish the land. It could prepare the land for the spring planting next year and increase the harvest.
Second, when there was a lack of food during winter, it was still edible.
It wasn’t that they hadn’t considered that if the snow disaster was serious, the hairy vetch wouldn’t be able to survive. However, the hairy vetch was strong against cold, and the cost of seeds was low. They weren’t afraid of wasting it, nor did they need to spend time tending to it. Even the hairy vetch couldn’t survive and froze to death, it could also rot in the ground and fertilize it. No matter how one looked at it, it was beneficial.
At the same time as the notice was put up, the doc.u.ments in the state government office were also issued to the various counties.
After the government made a move, Yu Youyao timely handed over the prepared relief supplies to the government in the name of a donation. Among them was a batch of hairy vetch seeds.
As soon as the news spread, Liaodong was in an uproar again.
After three consecutive years of harvest in Liaodong, the commoners’ lives were much better. With Eldest Princess Shaoyi taking the lead, every family spontaneously went to the donation location organized by the government office to donate resources. It was more or less a token of their appreciation.
When the news reached the Shanxi and the Shaanxi area, the n.o.bles could no longer sit still.
Although the Han family of Xi’an had fallen, as the case involved too many parties, it had yet to be closed and had implicated many n.o.bles.
After confiscating a large amount of wealth, all the supplies were confiscated as military supplies. All the real money was sent to the Ministry of Revenue. Carts of silver were forcefully withstood by the Great Zhou Dynasty.
It also made the Imperial Court completely target the fat sheep in Shanxi and Shaanxi. How could they bear to let the Han family’s case in Xi’an be closed so easily?!
This also completely sounded a death knell for the n.o.bles of the aristocratic families, making them realize that the power of the aristocratic families was gone and the entire North was King Yue Fei’s world.
In particular, when the Northern Barbarians invaded on a large scale, the Imperial Court issued a doc.u.ment calling for people to support the battle and gave King Yue Fei ultimate power. Everyone was terrified and donated money, food, and supplies. They spared no effort.
As soon as they heard that Eldest Princess Shaoyi had donated resources to help with the snow disaster, they scrambled to prepare the supplies and arrange for the snow disaster relief, afraid that they would fall behind. As soon as the snow disaster appeared, the North showed great cohesion.
It reflected Eldest Princess Shaoyi’s appeal in the North.
It also expressed King Yue Fei’s control over the North.
News from the Guanzhong area reached Yu Youyao’s ears one by one. After Yu Youyao read it carefully, she sent someone to investigate openly and secretly. In mid-November, the heavy snow did not stop, and the snow disaster arrived as scheduled.
The various government offices in Guanzhong sent over the first list of snow disaster deaths.
Yu Youyao felt terrible when she saw the bright red names on it that represented lost lives. However, when she saw the total number of people, she couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.
The aristocratic families and n.o.bles of Liaodong were finally humane.
Nanny Yue said, “The disaster relief supplies sent by the government are mainly food. There will definitely be enough sweet potatoes. When the refugees eat their fill and their body’s resistance increases, they will be able to reduce their illnesses and save on the consumption of medicine. Their deaths will also be reduced.’
Food for disaster relief was the most important. Only food could calm the hearts of the people.
Yu Youyao agreed deeply and asked, “How’s the situation with the hairy vetches planted in October?”
Nanny Yue said, “Although the hairy vetch has good resistance to cold and harsh weather, the germination rate has greatly decreased in extreme weather. Not even 50% of seeds in each acre have survived. If the temperature continues to drop, a batch will freeze to death.”
Fortunately, Young Miss reacted quickly and planted the seeds in October. At that time, there were still very few areas with snow, and the temperature had not decreased greatly. If it had been a little later, the seeds would not have germinated.
“It’s much better than expected.” Yu Youyao smiled, and even her expression relaxed a lot. “After this winter, everyone’s days will be hopeful.”
As long as it could survive in the fields, it would more or less improve the quality of the soil. The harvest next year would also increase a little.
Unknowingly, it was December.
A shocking news came from the front line—
The various tribes of the Northern Barbarians jointly elected the leader of the
Huqiang Tribe, Rada, to be the Khan. He was known as the “Rada Khan.” Rada Khan unified the gra.s.sland tribes and led 600,000 troops of the Northern Barbarians to conquer the narrow Yu Pa.s.s.
In the past year or so, the Northern Barbarians had fought the Great Zhou repeatedly, but they had always lost. The Northern Barbarians had never retreated, and they did not have any effective countermeasures. The war between the two sides had always been at a stalemate.
This did not match the brave and warlike nature of the Northern Barbarians.
Yu Youyao had a bad feeling. The birth of the “Khan” confirmed this.
The Northern Barbarians were a hunting race. There were no less than 200 tribes of all sizes. The tribes did not have a fixed place to live, and they wandered and migrated in the gra.s.sland. Furthermore, because the Di people advocated freedom and respected strength, the tribes usually did their own things. In order to fight for resources, internal strife was also very intense.
The selection of the Khan had definitely been going on for a long time. However, because the conflict between the various tribes was intense, there had never been a conclusion. The internal opinions were not united, so the war ahead was a little stretched.
Therefore, in the past two years, the war had been at a stalemate.
Yin Huaixi often attacked the various tribes in the gra.s.sland, making the Northern Barbarians helpless.
Now that the Khan had been born and the Northern Barbarians had made a comeback, they vowed to wash away their previous humiliation.
This news shocked the entire royal court.
The You army only had a total of 500,000 troops. There were only about
300,000 people who could really go to the battlefield, while the Northern Barbarians had 600,000 troops. The difference in troops between the two sides was too great. How were they going to fight this battle?
The entire court argued endlessly.
There was even someone in the hall who suggested making peace with the Northern Barbarians. “Don’t the Northern Barbarians want supplies? Liaodong has had a huge harvest for three consecutive years, so I don’t think they lack supplies. Spend a little resources to appease the Northern Barbarians.. After dealing with Thief Liang, we’ll settle the internal and external matters…