Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
County Magistrate Kong was stunned when he received the news. He had been trying to intercept the refugees here but didnât expect them to run over there.
He had no choice but to call Bai Jingping over and have him bring another hundred soldiers. They had to protect the white potatoes at all costs.
He also asked Constable Zhang to investigate the person who had sent the news to them. He felt that there was something fishy about this.
On the other end, Gu Chengrui and Zhou Ying had also seen the refugees while they were picking herbs from the mountain. They saw that the refugees had already settled down along the river.
Of course, the Mother God Temple was filled with people again.
Most started to pick wild vegetables and leaves on the mountain. They had even dug up all the small tree saplings to eat.
When someone saw them, they even wanted to rob them, but the knife in Gu Chengruiâs hand scared them off.
When they got home, Gu Chengrui put down the basket and said, âYou can handle the medicinal herbs at home. Iâll go outside and find out whatâs going on.â
âAlright, be careful.â
âAlso, if anyone dares to break in, just cut them down with your knives.â Gu Chengrui rushed to the village chiefâs house after he finished speaking.
However, he didnât walk far before he realized that most of the strong laborers in the village had already gathered at the village entrance. There were also many soldiers, so he immediately rushed over.
He happened to hear the village chief distributing tasks.
After learning that the patrols had resumed and even strengthened, they returned.
With the help of the soldiers, the refugees wouldnât dare act rashly, at least for the time being. Otherwise, if something really happened, they would be in big trouble.
On the other side, Constable Zhang had also found two informers. They were dressed up as refugees and blended into the crowd of refugees, quietly asking around for any gossip.
After dinner, Bai Jingping personally led the soldiers over.
He also gave the refugees some noodles and warned them that they could go up the mountain but couldnât simply deforest the place.
They couldnât disturb the villagers or steal the vegetable seedlings in the fields. Otherwise, they would be directly enlisted into the army, regardless of whether they were male or female, old or young.
After that, these soldiers set up a tent at the foot of the mountains.
When the village chief saw this, he went from house to house to collect some white sweet potatoes, dried vegetables, and the like. He then sent them to Bai Jingping and said, âLord Bai, this place is too shabby. You should stay in my house.â
âThank you for your kind intentions, Uncle Qian. Itâs more convenient to be here.â Bai Jingping replied, shaking his head.
With his status, living in the village chiefâs house was just an inconvenience, and he did not want to be served like a king every day. It would be uncomfortable.
âPlease take these then. Itâs a small token of our villageâs appreciation.â After the village chief finished speaking, he pointed to the items in the two small carts.
âDonât mind if I do. We have to cooperate more with each other from now on as well.â Bai Jingping then beckoned for the soldiers to come forward and unload the items.
âI understand. Iâll come over every morning, afternoon, and evening.â After the village chief finished handing them over the food, he informed Bai Jingping about the defense arrangements he had made before returning home.
With the addition of Bai Jingping and his men, the village was guarded like an iron fortress. In addition, some miscellaneous tasks were assigned to the refugees, so the place was temporarily at peace.
Gu Chengrui and Zhou Ying did not go up the mountains again. Instead, they took the opportunity to take out some commonly used medicinal herbs from the interspace and let them dry.
Three days later, at night, Constable Zhangâs informant No. 1 finally got the information he wanted. There were indeed people who were encouraging the refugees to come over.
He didnât expect that after settling down, the place would be so restless again. The new targets of these refugees were the cattle and sheep in Xiahe Village.
Unfortunately, he couldnât find the source.
To prevent him from being imprisoned if the plan was leaked, he had to find his companion and ask, âBrother, do you have any information on your end?â
âItâs about the same as what you got. If we were to ask more, no one would be willing to say anything.
âThe issue is that we canât ask any further. If we anger these people, we might be done for.â Informant No. 2 shook his head..