Chapter 1474
What we’ve done is finally bearing fruit. (4)
“Is… Is this really our accommodation?”
“For now, please come inside.”
“Yes?”
“If you stay outside like this, it will disrupt the allocation of lodgings for other refugees. Please come inside and unpack your belongings first. We’ll provide further explanations later.”
The man nodded.
Even at this moment, new arrivals were constantly streaming in behind them. The bewildered expressions on their faces mirrored what he had experienced just a while ago.
“Well, let’s go inside for now.”
“Yes.”
Swallowing hard, the group cautiously opened the door ahead. As they glimpsed inside the building, their mouths involuntarily dropped open in surprise.
“What… is this?”
Despite looking quite ordinary on the outside, they honestly thought the interior would be more like a warehouse. But surprisingly, the inside of the building was quite nicely arranged.
It’s not that it had beautiful decorations or anything, but rather, it had everything one would expect. The rooms were properly divided with partitions, and there were beds set up along the walls where people could rest just by adding blankets.
“This is unbelievable.”
Turning to the guide who had led them, the man, with trembling hands holding onto his wife’s shoulder, said.
“I’m sorry, but… there seems to be some misunderstanding.”
“What? Misunderstanding?”
“Yes. We came here not as guests, but seeking refuge. It’s just…”
The man trailed off with a regretful expression on his face.
Seeing a decent house, who wouldn’t want to stay? Especially when everyone, including the tired child, just wants to sit down and rest without any thoughts. But they couldn’t afford to. Those who have always lived with things being taken away from them know better. The despair of having something taken away again after thinking it was finally in their hands is far worse than not having it in the first place.
They thought they would live here, but if they were driven out again to shabby tents, the disappointment would be indescribable. However, the answer to their concerns was surprisingly concise.
“This is your… um, Chae residence,”
the guide said casually after glancing at the plaque.
“This is where Mr. Chae’s family stays, and there’s no need to worry about it changing. Look, aren’t others going into the same place?”
The man turned his body and glanced at Mr. Chae.
“Well, may I ask one more thing?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“There was someone who came with me, but where did he go? He seemed to head elsewhere halfway.”
“Those who come alone are assigned to different lodgings. We can’t provide the same size house for one person.”
“Oh, I see. Then?”
“Yes, he must have gone to the communal lodging.”
“Ah… So, do all families who come here…?”
“No, not all.”
“Yes?”
The man glanced ahead as if he was in a hurry, then quickly replied.
“The ones assigned to this lodging have children. Even if they are families, we don’t give them separate houses.”
“Ah…”
Glancing briefly at the child on Mr.Chae’s back, the man spoke.
“It’s probably difficult to live with others and take care of a child. Anyway, you’ll soon find out everything else. Well then.”
After nodding slightly, the man quickly walked away. Mr.Chae blankly watched his retreating figure before turning to look at the assigned lodging.
“It’s not like I’m possessed by a ghost.”
“Dear, this isn’t how it should be…”
“Yeah, right! Let’s just go in.”
“But that’s not what I meant!”
“Huh?”
The wife, who was carrying the luggage, spoke with frustration.
“Shouldn’t we somehow contact Hubei? My brother didn’t come with us, did he?”
“Oh, right. It’s no different whether we’re in Shaanxi or here.”
“If he knew it would be like this, he would have come, right? It seems like more people will come in the future.”
“Yeah…”
Mr.Chae paused for a moment.
“But after we went through the trouble of calling them, if there’s a shortage of houses…”
“Move aside there!”
“Huh?”
Mr.Chae was startled. A cart piled with wood like a mountain was rushing towards them along the road.
“Move aside!”
They quickly stepped aside, and the cart zoomed past them like an arrow. The stack of wood, towering about twice the height of a grown man, swayed as if it could collapse at any moment.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
Several carts like that passed in succession. Mr.Chae, standing there dazedly amidst the dust, slowly nodded.
“Looks like there’s no shortage of houses.”
“Let’s find a way to contact them somehow.”
“Yeah. Let’s go in for now.”
Before entering, he glanced at the plaque nailed next to the door. A name engraved on it. He closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head.
“It’s not like I’m possessed by a ghost.”
❀ ❀ ❀
Chung Myung raised his head slightly as he reached the summit of Hwasan, gazing at Hwaeum below. People were gathering in an orderly manner and were neatly arranged while entering the village.
“Hmm, it’s not too late.”
Startled by Chung Myung’s words, Jo Geol asked in a voice tinged with confusion.
“Hey… did you know this was going to happen?”
“Know what?”
“That so many people would come. So, did you build so many buildings because of that?”
“Well, why did you think so many houses were being built?”
“Well… I thought you were just going overboard with whatever you do and kept building…Chung Myung. I’m your Sahyeong, don’t look at me with those eyes. At least try to see me with the eyes of a human being.”
“You have to talk like a human to be seen as one.”
In tears, Jo Geol gestured around him.
“Do you think I’m the only one who thought that? Didn’t everyone else know and understand? Sasuk, say something.”
Baek Cheon smiled.
“I knew.”
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
“Amitabha. It’s so obvious.”
Jo Geol was at a loss for words. The look in his eyes, resenting his Sahyeongs, resembled that of someone betrayed by their own country.
“These traitors…”
“Why do you speak up first? It’s not like it’s the first or second time.”
Jo Geol’s shoulders slumped under Yoon Jong’s comforting, yet not comforting, words.
Baek Cheon chuckled and glanced at Chung Myung again.
‘He’s truly an amazing person.’
While others were tirelessly preparing for war, all their focus was on how to gather as many warriors as possible to face the enemy’s forces. But Chung Myung had his sights set elsewhere from the start.
As soon as they returned to Shaanxi, everything he did was, upon closer inspection, preparation to accommodate refugees.
“How many more do you think will come?”
“Huh?”
“The refugees. At least double the current number, right?”
Chung Myung cast a sly glance at Baek Cheon’s question.
“Oh, he is being a bit clever this one time.”
At that moment, Baek Cheon’s face contorted slightly.
“Just answer the question! Stop adding unnecessary remarks before answering.”
“Talking about double the amount. It’s just the beginning now.”
Chung Myung chuckled.
“People who thought Shaanxi would be the same will hear rumors. No, rumors are already spreading. The news will only confirm those rumors.”
“…”
“Unless they’re locals who have no need to flee, they’ll consider this place first. Even if only a third of them come… Hmm.”
Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed ominously as he spoke.
“That’s right. So even now, if we’re a bit short, we need to clear more of that mountain over there…”
Before he could finish speaking, Jo Geol grabbed Baek Cheon by the collar.
“Why! Why do you have to say unnecessary things…!”
“…Sorry.”
I didn’t expect that either. But this guy, even though I’m still Sasuk…
Baek Cheon shrugged off Jo Geol’s hand and asked.
“What you’re aiming for is probably the other sects who will come along with that excuse. It’s not easy for those who secretly think that Cheonumaeng would be better to openly break away from Gupailbang.”
“Half true.”
“But it’s not as simple as you think. As you know, it’s not easy to feed all those people. The amount Hwasan has collected…”
“Huh? Feed them? Me? Those people?”
Chung Myung turned to him with a face that said, ‘What nonsense is this?’ Baek Cheon trembled slightly. It was because his gaze seemed genuinely puzzled.
“S-so what? Are you suggesting starving them to death? Anyway, since these people have come this far, aren’t we responsible for them until they return?”
“Return? Where to?”
At that moment, Baek Cheon saw it.
A familiar expression began to appear on Chung Myung’s face… one that he truly knew.
“Now that this is home, what’s that supposed to mean? You can come as you please, but leaving is not an option.”
“…”
“We’ll have to collect taxes on those newly built houses, and there’s plenty to do if we want to do everything.”
“Collect… taxes? Hey, you! Those people are refugees!”
“…Sasuk. Seems like there’s some misunderstanding here. Those people are the ones who came seeking refuge. They’re not the ones who got injured. Do you understand what that means?”
“W-well?”
“Just a month ago, they were laborers who had to scavenge for food with their bare hands and raise their children.”
Chung Myung’s eyes filled with something sinister.
“They’re just people who migrated from Hubei to Shaanxi. If they have work here, why would they want to go all the way back to Hubei?”
“No, Chung Myung. You don’t understand because you don’t have a hometown…”
“Wait, what? Look at how that gentleman is speaking now?”
“Are you criticizing Chung Myung for being an orphan? Did you leave your humanity in Gangnam?”
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
Baek Cheon shouted angrily, his face flushed red.
“Everyone has a longing for their hometown! That’s what I’m saying. You bunch of wolves!”
“Excuses, excuses.”
“Look at your character, Amitabha.”
Watching Baek Cheon’s astonished expression, Chung Myung chuckled.
“Ah, right. Yes, the love for one’s hometown.”
“That’s why…”
“But Sasuk, you know farming, once you start, takes at least a year, right?”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung’s smirk twisted wickedly.
“After plowing the land once, do you think you can just go back to your hometown?”
“You…”
“It’s a good sentiment, a good sentiment.”
Chung Myung shrugged casually, observing Baek Cheon’s disbelief.
“They’re happy to have work, and we benefit… Well, we rent out the land, take some taxes reasonably, and in the meantime, we develop Hwaeum too.”
“You, you said it yourself before. Hwaeum isn’t suitable for expansion due to its terrain.”
“Oh, right. How’s the terrain now?”
“The terrain? Well…”
Baek Cheon blinked. Now, as far as the eye could see, there stretched vast plains.
“…It’s impressive, even upon a second look.”
“People did this.”
“The government officials would think they’ve gone mad seeing this. It would have been easier to dig a canal.”
“Oh, you said it well. We’re actually going to do that.”
“Huh? Do what?”
“A canal.”
Suddenly, the heads of Hwasan’s disciples turned abruptly to one direction. Towards the distant river flowing calmly.
“No way…”
“Even if we dig wells endlessly, wouldn’t having a river near the city solve most of our problems?”
“…”
“Then farming would be easier, and we could secure more land to distribute to those workers.”
“..Are you talking about the river, perhaps, the Weihan River?”
“There’s another river here?”
Silence fell. Baek Cheon barely managed to speak. He knew he didn’t need to ask, but he had to ask anyway.
“Then… who’s going to dig it?”
“…”
“Chung Myung?”
There was no response. Baek Cheon’s eyes welled up as he looked at Chung Myung’s back.
‘Just kill me. Just kill me now.’
He seriously considered it. Perhaps fleeing to Hubei for survival would be better.
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