Chapter 1143: The Terrified Sanxin

Baifeng handed the "troublesome task" of arranging people for the Golden Autumn Gathering to Yulong; in exchange, he took on the task of arranging people for Xiao Town. The construction team for Xiao Town returned in full just a few days after Changle left. Their report was that the construction of Xiao Town was entirely complete, capable of accommodating at least three thousand four hundred people, though the farmland could only support a little over one thousand. The main food supply would still need to be transported from Huaxia City, or they would have to continue reclaiming wasteland in Xiao Town.

All other basic infrastructure was also basically completed, so there was absolutely no problem with people moving in. They had even been so thorough as to prepare the necessary firewood; the wood was already chopped, so it could be used immediately after moving in.

They had also prepared more wood to be used at any time. The houses and water cellars were already built, just waiting for people to move in.

It was only when Baifeng saw them return that he suddenly remembered this matter. He had been too busy these past few days, and Sanxin also seemed to have his mind off his work due to his own fiefdom affairs, which resulted in no one reminding him of this.

Thinking of this, Baifeng could only sigh. He had originally planned to postpone the task of letting Sanxin and the others go to the Suiren clan until next year, but now it seemed he would have to make them go ahead of schedule.

He would not interfere with their transactions, but he needed to push them at the policy level so they would make a decision sooner and take action immediately. With the round trip and the road to Xiao Town, he estimated that by the time people arrived at Xiao Town, it would be exactly Winter.

Fortunately, Sanxin had already thoroughly negotiated with those Nobles. The original plan was to go to the Suiren clan next year, but now Baifeng needed them to go now.

The Ministry of Rites Official who delivered the document to Chengqie received a reward—privately, of course—and his courage would be slightly bolstered during his promotion, allowing him to rise faster. This was the benefit of being an eye and ear for Baifeng.

Baifeng took out the document that should have been in Chengqie's hands, which was now crumpled, and said casually, "Call Sanxin over."

Sanxin thought it was just a normal arrangement. After all, Baifeng hadn't found fault with them on the night of their gathering, and now that it was this late, it was even less likely he would find fault with them, right? So he wasn't afraid at all. Besides, wasn't his behavior exactly what Baifeng wanted?

But the moment Sanxin arrived at Baifeng's side, the document Baifeng handed him made his heart go cold, because not only had he seen this document just two days ago, but it was absolutely the same one! What did that mean? It meant that the King knew everything he did.

Sanxin broke into a sweat instantly. He racked his brain, trying to figure out what the King wanted him to do—was he to go to the Suiren clan, or was he not to go? Was his gathering with the Nobles appropriate, or should it not have happened? Sanxin's mind was in total chaos. Just as he was about to kneel and admit his mistake to Baifeng, Baifeng spoke.

"Sanxin, it's like this: the construction of Xiao Town is now complete, and we need to move people in. But currently, the enthusiasm for moving from Huaxia City and Lema City is not high."

"And we can't force everyone to move there, right? So I was thinking, we can pick some people in Huaxia who have the idea of moving there, and the remaining main population can be requested from the Suiren clan. Now that Xiao Town is built so well, everything is there, even the firewood is already chopped; moving there is just like enjoying a good life."

"Plus, I will provide food and everything else. If you go to the Suiren clan, you will definitely be able to get people, and I will write a letter to Baoxi to ask him to help handle this."

Sanxin was now so frightened that his mind was unclear; he just silently lowered his head and said yes, but he didn't even know what he was saying.

Baifeng saw that he was a bit distracted, so he tapped the table to wake Sanxin up: "Sanxin! What's wrong? Didn't you rest well? Why do you look so listless and distracted?"

Sanxin still replied in terror: "King, no, no, I rested very well. I am listening, I am listening."

So Baifeng pointed at the document: "Look at this document. How long has it been since I issued it? None of you have wanted to move. You could at least show some movement. I feel that this policy of mine shouldn't have any problems; it is beneficial to everyone. Why are you unwilling? Sanxin, you tell me, your family has so many fiefdoms, why are you unwilling to act according to this document of mine? I don't think this is difficult, and it is a good thing too."

Sanxin's face turned pale, and at this moment he could only tell the truth: "King, we are afraid."

"Afraid of what? What, are you afraid of going to the Suiren clan? Now that you go to the Suiren clan, at least Baoxi will protect you."

Sanxin shook his head quickly: "No, no, King, we are not afraid of that. We are afraid of you, because this matter, no matter how you look at it, seems like we are taking advantage of Huaxia and harming Huaxia's interests. We shouldn't do this; doing so is purely for our own sake."

Baifeng laughed out loud upon hearing this: "So that's it! Then Sanxin, you all have misunderstood. Since I am willing to formulate this document and this policy, I am not afraid of you doing it, but rather afraid of you not doing it. Anyway, if you act according to my policy, it is at least beneficial to Huaxia; of course, it is even more beneficial to your own interests."

"After considering it, I thought it was best to give this policy to you, but I didn't expect you to be afraid and not dare to do it."

"Alright then, Sanxin, let me put it this way: this time, I am not looking at whether you are willing or not, but requiring you to go, and within these few days."

"Now Xiao Town needs people, and the time is about right. It has been Autumn for a long time, so I am thinking of sending someone to the Suiren clan in these few days to find Baoxi and ask for two or three thousand people to fill Xiao Town."

"Isn't this just right for you? You can go together, or when you go yourselves, you can just handle this matter for me. Our Huaxia is very short of people right now."

"But I will say this again: I only manage Huaxia's affairs. You handle your own affairs yourselves. You formulate your own policies to attract people, and you prepare your own food."

"I will not tell Baoxi about this either. I cannot let Baoxi do the work for you; you must rely on yourselves to attract people. How many people you can attract depends on your own ability."

"In the future, if any disputes or conflicts arise because of your own problems, that is also a matter between yourselves and has nothing to do with Huaxia, understand?"

"You can go and prepare now. I don't care whether you are willing or not; anyway, this time, you must go. As for what methods you use, I won't care about that."