The refugees who opted to remain would be tasked with farming in the coming year. However, there was a logistical challenge: the previously cultivated paddy fields comprised only 3,400 acres. With an allocation of two acres per person, over 3,000 individuals would require more than 6,000 acres—plenty to go around.
The issue arose with accommodating all 660 families in that limited space—it was simply too crowded. At best, around 350 households could be accommodated, leaving the remaining 300 families in need of alternative arrangements.
Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan identified several locations nearby, situated near mountainous dry land but lacking in paddy fields. However, these areas were owned by affluent families who possessed adjacent paddy fields.
