Chapter 218: The Immigration Boom

Ningguta.

The living hell of Huaxia.

Since ancient times, this has been the place of exile for successive dynasties.

Ningguta is not a pagoda, but a place. Located in the far Northeast of Huaxia, barren and cold are its synonyms.

Under normal circumstances, as long as one is a convicted criminal, the entire family of the criminal would be exiled to Ningguta to perform hard labor until death.

Why is it said that Ningguta is a living hell?

The harsh environment of Ningguta itself is one aspect. Another reason is that for most criminals, you wouldn't even make it to Ningguta; you would die on the road.

According to the exile regulations of the Longyan Dynasty.

"Limit travel to fifty li per day; if three thousand li, the limit is two months; two thousand five hundred li, the limit is fifty days; the rest follow suit."

What does this mean?

If a prisoner is sentenced to exile in Ningguta, they must walk fifty li every day while wearing heavy cangues and shackles for about two months, which in itself is a great torture. Thousands of li of road must be covered entirely on two feet, and upon reaching the freezing North, the prisoners lack clothing and food while having to trek under heavy loads; many freeze, starve, or exhaust themselves to death on the road.

Besides natural disasters, there is also human misfortune; those yamen runners and soldiers escorting the prisoners trek through the ice and snow alongside them, and naturally, they vent their inner resentment upon the prisoners. The tragic experiences of Lin Chong when he was escorted to the prison camp in "Water Margin" are still fresh in the minds of most people.

If you can give these yamen runners some benefits on the road, then it is easier to talk.

If not, there are plenty who die halfway.

After arriving at Ningguta, it is still not an easy matter to stay alive. Being a slave to the armored men means you will be used as a consumable, squeezing your labor power without limit.

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that this border fortress of Ningguta is forged from human flesh, blood, and grievances.

"The cold and bitterness of Ningguta are unparalleled in the world; from early spring to mid-April, great winds roar like thunder and lightning, obscuring everything within reach; from May to July, there is continuous overcast rain; by mid-August, heavy snow falls; by early September, the river is completely frozen. As soon as the snow hits the ground, it turns into solid ice, and as far as the eye can see for a thousand li, it is all vast white snow."

This is Ningguta.

"When will these days ever come to an end!"

In the Bingzi No. 7 prison, the day's labor had just ended, yet the sky was already dark. Even during this Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather in Ningguta remained bone-chillingly cold, amidst a world of ice and snow.

"Time to eat, time to eat!"

The armored men responsible for guarding these prisoners tossed in a few steamed corn buns.

In this one prison cell, there were over a dozen people and over a dozen buns; although they didn't taste good, they could at least fill their stomachs—after all, these armored men didn't want the prisoners to actually die, as they still counted on them to do the work.

"This damn thing, couldn't you be gentler? It's all covered in mud!"

A shifty-eyed fellow cursed in anger.

"Hahaha, Old San, if you've got the guts, say that to their faces!"

This Old San stuck out his tongue: "Forget it, forget it; in this freezing weather, I can't take that leather whip!"

The crowd burst into loud laughter.

"Big Brother, you eat!"

"Big Brother..."

Surrounded by these people was a sturdy, large man. This person was burly, like a polar bear, imposing without anger, and filled with a murderous aura.

This person was named Feng Zhen, who was once famous throughout the world for his astonishing bravery, but because his personality was rigid and unruly, he could not be tamed; he was sentenced for beating a playboy in Jinghua to death and was escorted by a thousand-man troop to this Ningguta; five years had already passed since then.

"Hahahaha, good, brothers, let's eat together!"

Feng Zhen smiled.

Perhaps because there was so much hard labor, he hadn't grown thin since arriving here; instead, he had become even more robust. Those armored men even gave him some face, so the Bingzi No. 7 prison received quite a few steamed buns.

"You say, when will our imperial court grant a general amnesty?"

"What are you thinking? Even with a general amnesty, there's no reason to pardon Ningguta!"

The crowd sighed one after another.

Ningguta was the most terrifying place of exile, and the people here were naturally those who had committed grave sins; even in a general amnesty, Ningguta would not be included in the scope.

Despair.

For those who came here, there were only two words: despair!

Feng Zhen smiled coldly: "If I, Feng Zhen, can ever get out, I will surely hold a long blade, go to Jinghua again, and kill every one of those wealthy and unrighteous playboys!"

The crowd was shaken to the core, and no one dared to speak.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out in Ningguta.

"Assemble!"

"Assemble!"

"The Imperial Edict has arrived!"

"The Longyan Dynasty is expanding its territory, the Emperor is greatly pleased, a general amnesty for the world, a general amnesty for the world!"

"What?"

The prisoners of Bingzi No. 7 stood up one after another.

It was not an isolated case.

In fact, in this Ningguta.

There were quite a few talented people.

Just like Feng Zhen, there were many others who could thrive in Ningguta.

Ling Chen.

Was one of them.

He had read extensively since childhood, possessed outstanding literary talent, and was famous throughout the world, but due to the schemes of petty people, he could never advance to an official position, causing him to live a life of mediocrity.

Finally, by a stroke of chance, he discovered that several of his own essays had been claimed as their own by a famous literary giant and Imperial Tutor in Jinghua, who used them to gain many benefits.

Ling Chen was furious.

He entered Jinghua alone and angrily denounced the Longyan Dynasty's official appointment system, saying it had no laws to follow and was filthy, and that with Powerful Clans controlling the government, how could scholars get ahead?

This speech and conduct caused him to be convicted and exiled to Ningguta.

The reason was that the literary giant had too powerful a background.

After Ling Chen arrived in Ningguta, he helped the armored guards with some clerical work, which allowed him to escape the backbreaking labor that made life worse than death.

In the blink of an eye, four years had passed.

Ling Chen had long seen through the corruption of this Longyan Dynasty.

If he still had time...

"When the autumn comes in the ninth month on the eighth day, after my flowers bloom, all other flowers will die."

"The fragrance of the flowers will soar to the heavens and permeate the Imperial Capital, and the whole city will be covered in golden armor."

Ling Chen looked at the drifting snow in the dark night, clenched his fists tightly, and a sharp light flickered in his eyes.

Just at this moment.

"The Imperial Edict has arrived!"

"A general amnesty for the world, a general amnesty for the world!"

Ling Chen's whole body trembled.

"The Western Regions?"

At the same time.

The Cao Family, who had been exiled to Ningguta and convicted due to a "Literary Inquisition," the Powerful Clan Chen Family and Liu Family, who had been exiled here for offending Zhu Zhen, the rebellious scholars who attempted reform, the ink-stained writers who offended the powerful by producing "forbidden books," the assassins who had once participated in the assassination of a Feudatory King, the Gentry who had gathered crowds for an attempted rebellion...

In Ningguta alone.

There were three thousand people granted amnesty.

Nationwide.

That number was even greater.

A general amnesty for the world.

Regardless of whether they were in exile or in prison, all were released.

This was undoubtedly a massive project. The imperial court and the various Feudatory Kings were also responsible for transporting these people to Yinzhou.

"The Western Regions?"

These people were overjoyed to hear the news of the amnesty, but upon hearing "Western Regions," their hearts began to panic.

That Western Regions.

What difference was there between it and this Ningguta?

But who cares...

As long as one can live!

As long as this "Work Point" nonsense is met, one can regain the status of a free citizen?

Could there really be such a good thing!

Go!

Without the slightest hesitation!

"Prince Wei, I say, this Prefect Liu is too capable of stirring up trouble, isn't he? There are twenty thousand people in the prisons throughout our Qingzhou; if we send them all, this, this will cost how much..."

Qingzhou, Prince Wei's Mansion.

A subordinate looked troubled.

Prince Wei laughed and said: "Yinzhou is indeed quite far, but isn't it also a nuisance for us to keep them in prison? Mandarin would like to see, with so many monsters and demons, if Prefect Liu wants them, won't this Yinzhou become a complete mess?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

That is certainly true.

These prisoners, how could any of them be easy to deal with?

In fact, it was not just Prince Wei.

The Feudatory Kings of the world all failed to understand.

This was also the reason why the old Emperor agreed to Liu Zheng's suggestion. They believed that these prisoners were nothing but trouble, so since you want them, fine, take them.

It also saved us a lot of grain and grass.

However...

The trouble in their eyes was, in Liu Zheng's eyes, the more the better.

Shen Xing had been exhausted these past few days.

Once Liu Dahao, Liu Zheng, and Qingyang Shuo left Yinzhou, all the affairs of Yinzhou had to be managed by him; Zheng Yueru was busy with matters at Yintan City and occasionally came over to help.

"How many, how many today?"

Shen Xing, holding paper and pen and accompanied by several Executives, ran back and forth.

"Lord Shen, just today alone, there are twenty thousand craftsmen who signed up to go to the Western Regions!"

"And there are another thirty thousand prisoners sent from various places!"

"Ah?"

Shen Xing smiled bitterly again and again.

Fifty thousand in one day?

Only three days had passed, and there were already one hundred and fifty thousand people... Moreover, he believed that many more were still on their way—after all, the Longyan Dynasty's territory was too vast, and it took time to reach Yinzhou.

"Good, good, good, register them, register them!"

"Remember, for those prisoners sent by the Feudatory Kings, you must let their people help keep watch, understand? Treat those military gentlemen well with good food and drink; don't let them go back!"

Shen Xing had a massive headache.

The free citizens were easy enough to deal with, but these prisoners were no light matter. Liu Zheng had taken the 150,000-strong Yinzhou army to the Western Regions, leaving very few men behind.

If there were too many of these prisoners.

How were they supposed to manage them?

"Yes, Lord Shen!"

"You lot over here, continue your training. Training for what? Nonsense, that's the Western Regions! A sandstorm on the road or a failure to acclimate to the environment, and your little lives will be gone!"

"And you, Lord Ma, haven't you finished your investigation yet? Can't you hurry back to Jinghua once you're done? You're useless at getting things done but great at ruining them! Haven't you heard that a good dog doesn't block the road? Migrating to the Western Regions is a major affair for the Longyan Dynasty; are you trying to defy an imperial decree?"

Ma Yong was trembling all over with rage.

Shen Xing didn't care about him at all.

……

The Longyan Dynasty set off a wave of migration fever.

Meanwhile, Cheshi had already entered a state of being slowly besieged.

Jiulong.

The number one Great General of the Dayuan Kingdom, he had lived a life of prominence with few defeats. He was originally a Yanqi man and the younger brother of the former King of Yanqi. In fact, the royal family of Yanqi before this had quite interesting names; their surname was Long and their clan name was Jiu—followed by a long string of characters. Later, after Yanqi was ruled by Xie Xuan, Xie Xuan had the intention to Sinicize them, so he made them change their surname to Jiu. This Jiulong was the name he took after changing his surname.

This fellow simply took his family's clan name as his given name and his family's surname as his surname.

He was also quite an oddity.

Ancient surnames and clan names were actually a very interesting matter. The surname and the clan name were not actually the same thing.

Take Lian Po for example. Was his surname actually Lian? Not at all. His surname was Ying; he was of the Ying surname and the Lian clan. And back then, Qinshihuang was called Yingzheng, but also Zhao Zheng. This had absolutely nothing to do with his mother being called Zhao Ji; it was because he was of the Ying surname and the Zhao clan...

So for this Jiulong, you could say his surname was Jiu, or you could say it was Long.

Of course.

This was not important.

What was important was.

Jiulong had arrived.

Jiulong led 150,000 Western Regions troops and was already slowly closing in on Cheshi.

"Liu Zheng, the Prefect Liu?"

This burly man of the Western Regions drank wine while holding the intelligence, a flash of killing intent in his eyes: "Longyan people, this Western Regions is not a place where you can come and go as you please!"

At this moment, Jiao Zhe came scrambling in, excited: "Great General, Great General, they're here, they're here, the scouts have come!"

In the military tent, everyone's eyes lit up.

【Author's Note】

Thank you to brother Liu Ming for the energy drink tip, thank you brothers. May you all get rich in the New Year!