blogombal Page 427
Page 427
"A solution? How is that possible? They have a perfectly good way home right in front of them, how could they not leave?"
Rahula II didn't believe it at all; after all, homesickness is a natural human emotion.
However, Lin Ye shook his head. "If these Hebrews had only been captured by you for four days, four years, or even forty years, I wouldn't have made this bet. But these Hebrews have been living in Egypt for 400 years. For them, Canaan is just an expectation, a spiritual sustenance. But in the end, they have never even seen Canaan. How much sense of belonging can they have?"
“This…” La Er thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
That's right, Lin Ye is right. These Hebrews don't really have much of a sense of belonging to Canaan. If that's the case, how strong can their homesickness be?
Indeed, this was the case. Before the ten plagues even began, these Hebrews were already complaining about Moses for angering Seti I. Later, after finally following Moses out of Egypt, they complained about Moses leading them on this arduous journey, causing internal strife. How could you expect them to have a strong sense of homesickness?
"People have their limits. If you don't push them too hard, how could they possibly leave the place they've lived in for 400 years for a vague idea of returning home? So, in the end, as long as you give them a way to survive..."
Lin Ye said no more, believing that with Rama II's wisdom, he would surely understand what he meant.
“If you give them a way out, they will absolutely not leave with Moses!!”
Looking at the suddenly enlightened Rabbi, Lin Ye suddenly had a strange feeling.
"I feel like I'm the villain," Xiao said.
Chapter 602 Work-for-Relief Program and the Delineation of Autonomous Regions
October 5: Ramses II summoned the Egyptian ruling class and explained the necessity of reforming the Hebrew slave system, stating that "it is better to solve the problem from above than from below."
October 6: Ramses II established the Council for Hebrew Affairs and issued the "General Decree Concerning the Hebrew People Freed from Slavery," proposing that the Hebrews, freed from slavery, would enjoy the same rights as other Egyptian residents, such as free trade, freedom of marriage, and remuneration for labor. According to these provisions, the Hebrews gained the rights of "human beings." They were no longer like livestock, subject to being bought and sold at will, and from that day forward, they were officially renamed the Hebrew people.
The Hebrews throughout the country cheered when this policy was announced.
"He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world," Lin Ye couldn't help but sigh.
No one understands the meaning of inclusiveness and the concept of ethnic integration better than the Chinese people.
What a great achievement it is to unite 56 ethnic groups together!
So what if the Hebrews and Egyptians had a feud? And what about the Mongols, Manchus, Qiang, and other ethnic groups? Which of them didn't have ancestral conflicts with the Han Chinese? But now, who can say they aren't part of the Chinese nation?
I dare not speak of other regions, but at least in the Northwest, Northeast, and Mongolian regions, where intermarriage has been going on for hundreds of years, how many people dare to say they are purely Han Chinese, and how many dare to say they are purely ethnic minorities?
If the Hebrews and Egyptians had lived together, they would probably have blended together perfectly, not just for a few hundred years, but even within a few decades.
October 7th: A boy, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, stepped forward and shouted, "You will never gain the freedom you desire from Ramses II. You are still slaves of the Egyptians, servants of Ramses II. Even if you are freed, how will you live without land and money! Return to Canaan! Return to your home! Only there can you truly be your own masters!"
In a short time, many Hebrews realized that although they had been freed from slavery, they were still living in dire straits!
"Damn! You're trying to play dirty tricks on me, aren't you!"
Lin Ye immediately realized something was wrong. He knew perfectly well who that boy was!
but……
"Then I'll show you what I'm capable of."
October 8: Ramses II issued the Decree on Local Institutions of Egypt, allowing the Hebrews to establish local self-governing institutions directly under Ramses II's jurisdiction, with Moses appointed as the first governor.
In terms of initial capital accumulation, Ramses II promulgated the "Regulations for the Management of Work-for-Relief in Egypt," and Ramses II planned to invest in the construction of some infrastructure projects, including but not limited to: the Radiant Complex Temple, which included buildings such as the Abu Simbel Temple, the Dendera Temple, and the Karnak Temple.
The Hebrews received wages for participating in the construction of wonders, which ensured their survival.
As soon as these two regulations were introduced, almost all Hebrews switched sides instantly.
At that moment, the boy couldn't help but stand up and shout loudly.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? In the end, aren't you still slaves of Ramses II? You've just changed your names. Why should you linger in a place like this!"
However, Lin Ye then said loudly, "Of course there's a difference. La Er will pay you wages! This money is absolutely yours! You can use it to buy houses and land, or you can use it to get married and have children."
"Oh, right... now that you're free, you can naturally go back to Canaan if you want. But what about your travel expenses? Look at you, empty-handed! Are you planning to beg your way back?"
Lin Ye's words struck a nerve with these people. They had lived here for 400 years, and as long as Ramses II stopped oppressing them, they were almost certain they could survive here. But once they left, they would embark on a completely unknown journey.
"That's right, we can't leave!"
"Yes, we've finally seen some good days, how can we just leave like this!"
"Besides, didn't Ramses II say he wanted to establish some kind of autonomous region? If that's the case, what's the difference between us going back?"
"Of course there's a difference! It's said that the area is still occupied by the Brahmins. If we go back, we'll have to fight them in a big battle!"
Hearing these people's words, the boy on the side couldn't help but shout, "Wow, you're so devout to God! Don't worry! With God's protection, you will definitely be able to return to Canaan!"
God? Hearing this word, everyone felt a sense of anticipation...
However, Lin Ye, standing to the side, said in a sinister tone, "May I ask? Under the protection of the great god, how long will it take for them to return to Canaan?"
"Of course, it will only take eleven days!" the young man said proudly.
Lin Ye asked again, "Are you sure? Why don't you use your clairvoyance to take a look?"
God must have clairvoyance, after all, even Solomon had it, so it wouldn't make sense if He didn't.
The boy was taken aback, then closed his eyes. After a long while, he opened them and said helplessly, "Okay, it might take 40 years, but..."
"No buts. What? Does that mean even blasphemy can be forgiven?" Lin Ye said.
Originally, it was only an eleven-day journey for Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt to Canaan. Although the Hebrews carried a lot of miscellaneous items, it only took them a few months.
The problem was that when they arrived in Canaan, the Canaanites stationed there did not treat them as their own people.
These Hebrews, fearing the tall and fierce Canaanites, began to complain against God. God punished them by forbidding them from entering the Canaanite region, so these Hebrews wandered for 40 years. After 40 years, all those who had complained against God had died, including the 120-year-old Moses. Only then did their descendants, led by Moses' son Joshua, return to Canaan.
Both Lin Ye and Jehovah knew that, given the nature of these people, they would definitely complain about God, and given Jehovah's nature, he would absolutely not let them off the hook, so... this was an inevitable outcome.
Upon seeing this, the group of Hebrews immediately shouted loudly.
"Long live His Majesty Ramses!"
"Your Majesty Ramses, have mercy!"
Seeing these guys change their minds on the spot, the boy's face turned ashen! The next second, he simply turned and left!
Sure enough, these guys! There's absolutely no point in saving them!!
Chapter 603 The Achievements of Ramses II
February 11th of the following year: On the edge of the Red Sea, this was the newly designated Hebrew autonomous region by Ramses II, and across the Red Sea lay the road home for these Hebrews.
Standing before these Hebrews, Ramses II sat on his throne, looking down at them.
"Today is the agreed-upon day. I promised Lin Ye that as long as you want to go to Canaan, I will not stop you! Now, it is time for you to decide for yourselves."
After finishing his speech, Rama II said nothing more. He simply watched the group of people quietly, seemingly indifferent to their fate.
At this moment, the 400,000 Hebrews below erupted into an uproar. They looked at each other, then began to argue fiercely.
"I want to go home! I want to go back to our hometown!"
"Old man, what are you going back for? That place is now ruled by the Canaanites. Going back? With your old arms and legs, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"God will guide us!"
"But staying isn't so bad either. The great Ramses II has forgiven us. I believe it might be better to stay, at least we won't have to go to the battlefield."
"But that's our home, our homeland."
"Home? The home we haven't been back to for 400 years? We were born here, this is our home!"
After a long while, these people split into two camps. On the left, there were about 30 people, mostly young people, who chose to stay and live there.
The remaining tens of thousands of elderly people still want to go home.
Looking at the scene before him, Moses was suddenly bewildered. He probably didn't understand why these people suddenly didn't want to go home.
What about all his previous efforts? He almost turned against Rasmus II for these people, and almost killed Rasmus II's son. What was the point of all that?
At that moment, he suddenly felt that his previous behavior was like that of a clown.
Are you feeling lost?
At that moment, Lin Ye appeared beside Moses, patted him on the shoulder, and then quietly told him...
"Do not regret what you have done. You must understand that although on the surface your actions seem to be futile, and in fact they are, it is because of you that these Hebrews have been freed from the fate of slavery and have become people who can truly live for themselves. This is your success."
That's right!
Upon hearing Lin Ye's words, Moses' eyes suddenly lit up, and at that moment, his gaze became resolute.
He took two steps forward, stood directly in front of Ramses II, and then knelt on one knee, resolutely saying...
"Your Majesty, please allow me to leave with these people. Now that I have accepted the divine decree, I should see it through to the end."
"You!!!" Ramses II glared angrily at Moses. How could this guy be so stubborn! Nearly a million Canaanites lived there, and you think you can fight back with just a few tens of thousands of old, weak, and disabled people? What do you take them for? Just freeloaders?
Raja II wanted to refuse at that moment, but looking at the resolute Moses in front of him, Raja II finally did not say the word "no".
He knew his brother too well; no one could stop him from doing what he wanted to do.
La Er instinctively looked at Lin Ye, wanting to ask him for help. But Lin Ye didn't say anything. He just smiled and pointed to the cane that he had given La Er in his hand. Instantly, La Er understood what Lin Ye meant.
“Moses, now that you have made your decision, I cannot stop you. This staff is my most precious possession, and I give it to you now, hoping that when you see it, you will remember me and remember that this is your eternal home.”
After Ramses II finished speaking, he handed the staff to Moses. Moses accepted the staff with both hands and nodded solemnly.
Moses led 8 Hebrews out of Egypt, and on that day, Ramses II led an Egyptian army of 40 and hundreds of thousands of Hebrews to see him off.