Chapter 1382
Investigation and Covert Protection
Chapter 1382 Investigation and Covert Protection
In fact, the Liu family had come to find Li Liushi, wanting to take her back to her parents' home, but Li Liushi refused.
After all, she was married and had her sisters-in-law at home. If she could manage to get by, she didn't want to cause trouble for her brothers.
But the two elders of the Li clan are too unreliable. What good can come of following such a leader out of the city? That's why Li Liushi took the opportunity to make a scene and resolutely stayed in the city.
Li Liu said, "Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, please don't make things difficult for them... At times like these, our Li and Liu families must support each other in order to survive."
After hearing this, Aunt Alan praised, "This Li Liu is quite good."
Madam Guan nodded: "She is indeed very good... You can make a note of her. If we need manpower in the future and she is willing, we can ask her to do things."
"Alright." Aunt Alan instructed her female soldiers (who were actually female mountain dwellers) to take out a register and record the names of Li Liushi and other usable female Wei people for future use.
Boom boom boom!
"Wei army is leaving the city, make way!" A messenger shouted as 1,500 cavalrymen rushed up from the main road behind them.
With a whoosh, the villagers at the city gate quickly made way for them.
What are the Wei soldiers doing outside the city?
"Sir, sir, are you heading to the capital for reinforcements, or are you trying to reopen the supply lines and reconnect our transport routes?"
Everyone asked with curiosity, hoping that Wei's expedition would be a good thing, rather than the appearance of new enemies and the need to leave the city to fight them.
The officers in charge were Commander Zhen, Commander Tang, and Commander Zhong. The three of them said, "We are here on official business, carrying documents from three different parties, under the orders of the Prince of Ye. It's nothing serious, so don't worry!"
In fact, after learning that a large number of Wei people wanted to leave the city and that he could not persuade them to leave, Commander Tang could not bear it and went to the King of Ye and General Chu to ask for permission to lead troops out of the city to secretly protect these Wei people for three days.
The reason why Commander Tang was so merciful was that he had witnessed Dong Zisheng's butcher gang slaughtering Wei people, and he did not want to see such a tragedy again. That's why he pleaded with the King of Ye and General Chu to give him troops so that he could secretly protect these Wei people.
Zhong Baihu, however, was worried about Tang Qianhu, who had just recovered, and wanted to scout out whether the road out of the city was safe and whether there were any enemy troops from the Eastern Desert lurking there.
General Chu had been wanting to send troops to scout the area from the capital city to Taizhou Prefecture to see if there were any enemy troops lying in ambush.
With this key reconnaissance information, General Chu and his men finally provided the troops.
Jiang Dalang felt sorry for Tang Zhongzhen and the other two, and rode over on his horse, saying, "Are you all still in good shape? Don't treat yourselves like donkeys."
"Haha, Da Lang, you're getting more and more charismatic." Commander Tang patted his breastplate and said, "I slept until this morning last night, and I'm full of energy now. Running for three days straight shouldn't be a problem. I've been a Wei soldier for half my life, training every day."
Zhong Baihu said, "We must go. The area from the East Gate towards Dongming Prefecture has been infiltrated by enemy troops, so we must investigate whether there are also large numbers of enemy troops lurking on the road from the capital city to Taizhou Prefecture."
Commander Zhen chimed in, "That's right. Otherwise, we wouldn't even know when we'd be surrounded by the enemy from the rear. It would be too risky."
"Commander Zhen, Commander Tang, and Commander Zhong, may you return soon." Jiang Dalang clasped his hands in a salute and made way for them.
When the people of prominent clans like Li Weng and Chang Tan who remained in the city heard that the Wei army was about to leave, they were overjoyed and thanked the soldiers, saying, "Thank you so much, sir, for escorting my people!"
"Sir, sir, could you wait for us? We've gone home to get our luggage and pick up our families. We'll leave the city with you!" A group of Wei Min, who had been watching from a distance, rushed out.
They were all families who planned to leave the city with their families three days after the Li clan elders left, if they were not massacred.
Commander Zhen had anticipated this situation and immediately said, "Come on, let them see the skeleton!"
"Yes." The guard picked up a bag from the horse's back, opened it, and handed it to them: "Take a look. After you've seen it, if you still want to leave the city to find a way to survive, feel free to do so." The Wei people hesitated for a moment before looking at the bag.
With a scream, a burly man who considered himself brave fainted after reading it.
With a thud, the sack fell to the ground, revealing a skeleton through the opening. Upon seeing it, Wei Min screamed in terror and ran in all directions.
"Tsk, you're even afraid of seeing a skeleton? You want to leave the city to find a way to survive? Do you think you can find one? Just stay in the city!" Commander Zhen was disgusted and hurriedly ordered his personal guards to pick up the sack to prevent Commander Tang from having a fit of rage.
"Check the exit documents." Jiang Qianshi came down from the city tower and checked the exit documents according to regulations. After confirming that the documents were genuine, all the seals were complete, and the number of troops being led matched the documents, he ordered: "Let them pass! Return safely."
"Haha, as you command! We will definitely return to fight the enemy with you!" After bowing respectfully, Commander Zhen led his 1,500 cavalrymen out of the city in a flurry.
"Tsk tsk tsk, the Second Elder of the Li clan finally got their money's worth. They really did have Wei soldiers escorting them out of the city." Uncle Qin complained, a hint of sourness in his voice, then glanced at Qin Xiaogu: "Still painting? This is already the sixth sheet of Xuan paper."
Qin Xiaogu: "It's very meaningful, I'll draw the whole thing."
This time, he painted a scene of Commander Zhen and Commander Tang leading their troops to protect the Wei people who were leaving the city.
Dangdang Dangdang!
"Women of all surnames who have stayed in the city, set off for home. Female soldiers will escort you back, so don't be afraid!" Aunt Alan, Aling, Chief Shanshan, Ye Xifen, and Qin Xiaomi led a group of female soldiers, following the clansmen of each surname, to escort the women of the city back home.
Uncle Qin hurriedly told Qin Xiaomi, "Xiaomi, come back early! We still have a family reunion dinner to celebrate Da Bao'er's one-month birthday!"
How can we still have a family reunion dinner at a time like this?
Many Wei people were envious and jealous.
"Big Brother, keep up and protect Xiaomi... Smile more, say more funny things, like me, don't always have such a serious face." Uncle Qin was very worried about his younger generation.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Dalang's face tightened even more, and he simply nodded.
"Tsk, why are you nodding? You have to say something." Uncle Qin was getting impatient; he couldn't get it right no matter how hard he tried.
Qin Xiaogu translated for him: "Second Uncle, Brother Dalang is like this because he thinks your advice is unreliable. Sister Xiaomi doesn't like glib-tongued rascals; she only recognizes companions who might help her with chores."
Uncle Qin was furious: "Those who can help her with work are called employers and employees, but your Sister Xiaomi and Dalang are engaged. They need to get along with each other emotionally, and they have to be completely at ease with each other, understand?"
Qin Xiaogu didn't understand and continued painting.
Ugh, so annoying! They're all such a handful!
"Hurry up and finish drawing. Once you're done, we'll go back to Wuyuan Garden and have a full moon celebration with Dabao'er," Uncle Qin urged.
Jiang Dalang led thirty riders, following behind Qin Xiaomi, and escorted the ten women from the city back home before returning to Wuyuan together. They then celebrated Da Bao'er's one-month birthday with several other families at a distance.
Da Bao'er was used as an exhibit again, which made her cry four times. After the relatives laughed it off, she fell asleep again.
After enjoying his full-month celebration, the relatives returned to their respective homes and slept soundly.
Those who left the city to seek a living were not so lucky; they lived in the wilderness and cooked over a fire.
The firewood and wild grass were still half-dry, and when burned, they produced only smoke without fire, causing many people from moderately wealthy families, as well as men who had never cooked before, to have their eyes water.
Bang! Crash!
"Ouch, it hurts! Parents, I've been burned! Quickly, help your son take off his boots! Get the medicine pack!" Li Wenhu had never cooked before, but his wife had stayed in the city, and his mother was in poor health. He felt it was time for him to take on the responsibility of being the eldest son.
But the load was ridiculously heavy. As soon as he picked it up, he was 'injured' by it.