Chapter 493: Chapter 493: Reconstruction
The reconstruction after the disaster is indeed a difficult problem, mainly because no one knows what will happen next. Furthermore, the current situation of the war at the state capital is uncertain, and with the earthquake coming so suddenly, will there be any changes? Can the soldiers at the state capital hold the city? If they can’t hold it, what’s the point of rebuilding the town?
These are all concerns of the county magistrate. Looking at Shanggu Town, which has now turned into ruins, Liu Yongping feels like he might go bald from worry.
There are thousands of people, not just a few dozen. More than half of them are suffering from various injuries, some quite serious, and they can’t continue living in the open air all the time, especially the injured can’t be exposed to water.
"Alright, don’t think too much. Some things can’t be solved just by thinking about them. Let things take their course. Eat this bowl of stuff and get some rest," Liu Zhi said, feeling distressed as he looked at his son’s troubled appearance, urging.
"Dad, where’s Mom? Have you eaten yet?"
"In your sister’s tent, eating with her."
"Dad, I’m fine. I’m just a bit indecisive. The town is a mess now, and the ground has a lot of cracks, making it unsuitable for living. Everyone is waiting for me to make a decision, and for a moment, I really don’t know what to do."
Liu Yongping took the bowl from his father’s hand, and the warmth of the touch also warmed his heart, making him feel somewhat better.
"If you can’t think of anything, don’t think. Eat and let your brain rest for a while. You haven’t rested well these few days. Don’t let your mother and me worry."
"Okay." Seeing the white hair on his father’s temples, Liu Yongping felt a pang of bitterness in his heart and nodded quickly.
His father is in his prime, and he shouldn’t have white hair so early. It was all caused by worrying about him. Thinking of this, he hurriedly ate the congee in his hand, and when he saw the egg at the bottom of the bowl, his eyes turned red, and he lowered his head, eating the whole egg without saying a word.
"Good, sleep early, and think about everything tomorrow morning," Liu Zhi said, satisfied to see his son finish the bowl of rice. He took the bowl from his son’s hand, feeling slightly relieved, and watched him lie down before quietly leaving the tent and closing the door.
Liu Yongping was indeed very tired. Even an iron man couldn’t keep going without rest. Adding up all the rest time of these days, it was less than five hours. He fell asleep almost as soon as he lay down.
The next day, after waking up, Liu Yongping felt refreshed, which was rare these days, and he no longer felt muddled.
Before he could finish breakfast, he saw Hu Hu bringing a few government officials over, followed by a dozen villagers.
Seeing that the lord was eating, Hu Hu stood outside without approaching, but the villagers waiting outside were obviously a bit anxious, constantly craning their necks to look around.
Seeing his parents, the initially moving Liu Yongping eventually stayed in place, but his eating speed obviously increased, finishing a bowl of coarse grain porridge in just a few gulps and quickly chewing the vegetable pie in his hand.
Swallowing the last bite, Liu Yongping stood up, "Dad, Mom, Sister, I’m done eating. You all eat slowly." With that, he was already outside the tent.
"My lord..." Hu Hu and those behind him quickly paid their respects.
Liu Yongping nodded and led the way, "Is it about the house-building issue?"
The anxious expressions on the faces of the dozen or so villagers made it evident.
"Yes," Hu Hu nodded. Early in the morning, many villagers from the town came to find him, especially those whose homes were located in areas with cracks. Even if they rebuilt, it couldn’t be in the same place. Everyone was waiting for the lord to allocate new land.
Liu Yongping pinched his brow and closed his eyes, recalling the entire Shanggu Town in his mind, thinking about where would be suitable to relocate.
The original site of Shanggu Town was definitely not feasible. Although a pity, it indeed required a new location.
Too far wouldn’t work either, as there were too many injured people who couldn’t travel far, especially those with broken legs.
"My lord..." A man with a scar on his face couldn’t help but speak, but Hu Hu raised his hand to stop him, whispering, "The lord is thinking, wait."
The man opened his mouth but then closed it, losing all his courage to speak.
"Hu Hu," Liu Yongping opened his eyes.
"My lord," Hu Hu hurriedly stepped forward.
"I recall there is a large piece of barren land five miles away at the foot of Daqing Mountain, and it doesn’t seem far from the Yun River."
"Yes, my lord, such a place does exist, right at the foot of the mountain."
"Take some people to explore under Daqing Mountain, walk within a radius of a few miles, especially the water flow in the river channel, and investigate it thoroughly."
"Yes," Hu Hu accepted the order.
He seemed to understand the lord’s intentions. Choosing that location seemed feasible.
The land under Daqing Mountain is very barren, and although people have tried to cultivate it, most gave up due to low yields. It has remained barren until now. If used for habitation, it could work, on the condition that it remained intact during the earthquake, with no land cracking and other such issues.
After Hu Hu left, Liu Yongping looked at the dozen or so villagers standing fearfully aside, "You can go back. I’m considering this matter, and I will give everyone an explanation within two days at most."
After bowing to the county magistrate, everyone turned and left quickly.
The conversation between the county magistrate and Head Hu earlier was heard by everyone. They also understood that the county magistrate wouldn’t casually mention a place, which could be where they might settle in the future.
They were all eager to go back and inform their families, thinking of going back quickly, and then gather everything usable from the ruins, as they might have to move soon.
People had no issue with wherever they might settle as long as it was safe. Looking at their home plots covered with cracks, they dared not live there.
Indeed, Liu Yongping intended to do this. After going through it in his mind, he believed it was the most suitable place, not too far from Shanggu Town, and most importantly, Daqing Mountain could be an escape route.
Daqing Mountain is connected to the Qinggu Mountain range. If one day Beicang really broke through the state capital and reached here, the back of Daqing Mountain would be a life-saving route.
However, this idea must wait until Head Hu investigates. If it doesn’t work, they can only expand along the undamaged areas of Shanggu Town.
But it is far from the mountains, and if something happens, there’s nowhere to escape to.
And escaping with families is even less practical since there isn’t a single safe place in ancient Yan right now.
What Liu Yongping wanted more was Hua Village, but unfortunately, that place is too remote, about twenty miles from Shanggu Town. It’s impractical for so many injured people to travel such a distance, and the village chief wouldn’t agree either.
Although he is a county magistrate, only he knows the people’s recognition of the title: if they choose to acknowledge it, it is, if not, it is nothing.
Lingyun State.
After days of relentless digging by government soldiers and the people, the casualties were not as severe as Lord Governor had imagined, which was an unexpected relief.
The earthquake occurred late at night, but the people of the state capital were already frightened due to a night raid by Beicang, and none dared to rest, hiding in concealed spots at home.
When the earthquake struck, nearly everyone was alarmed. Even those who didn’t manage to escape hid in the safest parts of their homes.