Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1111 - 137: Come to Swamp Prefecture_2

Both Jimin Hospital and Jisheng Hospital receive annual funding from the government in money and grain. Numerous merchants contribute donations as well.

Zhao Yao first proposed the concept of donations. Now, across various areas in Swamp Prefecture, building projects rely on these contributions, which spares the Ministry of Revenue a huge sum.

Additionally, free schools have been set up for a while, and the medical center stands fully built.

The court founded the "Swamp Prefecture First Medical Center," much like the public hospitals from Zhao Yao’s dream world. This vast facility boasts plenty of doctors, offering low-cost consultations and medicines that ordinary folks can actually afford.

The medical center’s pharmacy operates around the clock for all twelve hours, letting residents pick up drugs whenever they drop by. Even doctors stay on duty through the night, so a sudden illness at midnight won’t leave anyone without care.

Beyond the medical center, the Medical College now thrives, drawing students from all over, including outsiders from foreign lands.

Swamp Prefecture’s schools host foreigners too. Some come for trade and send their kids, partners, or even themselves to learn Great Zhou customs. Others arrive purely to study. Essentially, education here welcomes both Great Zhou locals and visitors from abroad.

Women in Swamp Prefecture can join schools as well. Free academies feature special sections just for females.

A library sits close to the school—a free one erected under Zhao Yao’s rule where everyone reads books at no charge, though taking them home isn’t allowed.

Unlike the pharmacy, the library doesn’t run all twelve hours but stays open till evening, right up to the Hai hour.

Since its opening, crowds flock to the library each day for reading. Loads of folks copy books on-site too. You can’t borrow volumes, but transcribing them is fine.

The abundance of schools sparked bookstores popping up all around. Locals now dub this book-packed street Reading Street.

Back at the teahouse, it sits smack in the commercial hub. All sorts of shops surround it—some Great Zhou-owned, others run by Annan or Johor foreigners. The area buzzes with energy, though the docks outshine it in liveliness.

Tea done and tales heard, Zhao Yao led Tong Xi for a dockside wander.

Ships of every type jammed the docks amid throngs of people. Unloaders hustled cargo, sellers hawked wares, and sailors readied voyages.

Diverse skins colored the dock crowds. Post-trade conference triumph, not just nearby Annan and Johor traders flock here—far-off Western Regions merchants show up too.

Chaos reigns, yet order holds firm. Troublemakers steer clear with guards and troops patrolling non-stop.

The docks pulse with vibrant life, a sight Zhao Yao savors in his leisure, watching common folk thrive.

Spotting resters nearby, Zhao Yao and Tong Xi went over for a talk.

They’d dressed down to blend as everyday folk, Zhao Yao smudging his face dark for the effect.

The group figured Zhao Yao hunted work and eagerly pitched jobs, spilling daily pay details.

Docks never lack gigs with endless tasks. Best part: pay shines high. Porters snag at least fifty or sixty coins daily, sometimes hitting a hundred.

Labor shortages drive those fat wages. Truth is, Swamp Prefecture’s populace stays way too sparse.

Tasks pile high while hands stay few, so rates soar naturally.

Lately, folks pour in from everywhere, chasing Swamp Prefecture jobs. Word from kin and pals here tempts them with big earnings, full bellies, and—above all—meat on plates.

Once here, they adore the place and root down for good.

Zhao Yao’s prior order lures more: Great Zhou citizens hitting Swamp Prefecture gain residency instantly, no travel permits required.

Great Zhou demands passes for travel anywhere; lacking one spells jail. Zhao Yao scrapped that hassle entirely.

Stick around Swamp Prefecture three years, and you score a residence register, turning you into a full-fledged local.

Residing in Swamp Prefecture brings a host of benefits. For starters, starting a business means enjoying certain tax waivers. Farmers can count on subsidies as well. Next up, abundant support exists for schooling. Then, assistance covers births, healthcare, and senior welfare. On top of that, during celebrations like the fresh Mid-Autumn Festival, officials hand out fruits, meats, mooncakes, and even cash to folks everywhere.

Once the trade fair wrapped up, Zhao Yao’s regime pocketed enormous earnings; saying it was like gold flowing in daily barely scratches the surface.

Strangers from afar could hardly fathom getting cash from the authorities, who’ve always been infamous for extracting funds from the masses rather than doling them out.

Locals advised them against shock, explaining that Prince Han delights in lavishing items upon the people.

The main reason outsiders flocked to Swamp Prefecture was just to snag food and scrape by. But to their utter surprise, they realized they could not only fill their stomachs but also amass serious wealth and elevate their living standards dramatically.