novelhk Chapter 120 Who is this visitor!
Chapter 120 Who is this visitor!
After Dou Xiucai left, Niu Er took the tung oil he had bought and asked Meng Fuqing what he wanted to do with it.
Based on Meng Fuqing's modus operandi, he assumed Meng Fuqing intended to use fire to attack the government during the war. Fortunately, they had a considerable number of bows and arrows among their weapons.
Niu Er guessed correctly; Meng Fuqing did indeed ask Niu Er to buy tung oil in order to prevent the government from taking harsh measures.
"Go find Mu Feng and have him select some skilled archers to lie in ambush. We'll all move behind the hillside later."
She didn't know what measures the government would take next, so she could only prepare in advance.
Niu Er responded and hurriedly left.
After a brief discussion with Du Zhong, they found a location with a gentler slope, and everyone loaded their carts and horses and went to the forest behind the hillside.
As for the refugees in the mountains and forests, they were all driven away without any mercy.
Some refugees who had heard that they had food to sell finally found a place, only to discover that they couldn't even get close to the hillside.
There was a small band of bandits standing on the hillside, their bodies completely covered except for their eyes.
Three or four zhang in front of them, some yellow powder was scattered. When the refugees approached, they would draw their broadswords to intimidate them. If any refugees dared to ignore them and try to break through, burning arrows would be shot from behind the hillside.
The arrow landed on the yellow powder and immediately burst into flames, emitting a pungent, unpleasant odor.
In this way, even the most clueless person would be too scared to approach.
Some refugees were unwilling to leave. They shouted at them, asking why they wouldn't sell their food.
The bandits replied loudly, "The officials of Yezhou City are wholeheartedly devoted to the people. As long as they don't make things difficult for us, we will naturally sell you grain!"
Upon receiving this answer, the refugees immediately understood that this group was afraid of the government and that was why they dared not act recklessly.
The bandits continued shouting, "If the officials don't pursue this matter, you'll have to dress like us if you want to buy grain!"
"Yes! We won't sell it unless it's properly wrapped!"
Some refugees asked curiously, "Why are you covering yourself up so much?"
"Of course, it's for disease prevention! Didn't you see the doctors at the city gate dressed like this too?"
……
The bandits, who had never done many good deeds before, began to explain their "Twenty Articles" to the refugees who were guarding the hillside and three or four meters away.
It is emphasized that you should not eat rats and should stay away from dead rats.
If the refugees don't get sick, they are less in danger. If there are any who are reckless and unwilling to listen, they don't need to interfere; they can simply refuse to sell them food.
The bandits and refugees chatted enthusiastically. Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Meng Fuqing, who was on the other side of the hill, returned home and ate his still-warm meal.
She had been busy since early morning, and now it was already evening, and her stomach was empty.
While eating, she suddenly remembered something and looked up at Shan Qiyu, who was weaving a straw mat.
"Mother, from now on, when we cook porridge, we should use the water I filled in my water bag and the fine rice together. After it's cooked, we should also bring some to Doctor Zheng and Young Master Xie. Anyway, we don't lack food."
The water in the water bag was stream water from the space. They drank a lot of it when they fled. After drinking a lot, Meng Fuqing discovered that the stream water could expel impurities from their bodies.
She wasn't sure if the stream water would help Xie Jin with the poison, and it was impossible for her to do something as erratic as delivering water to someone's door every day. Delivering some porridge cooked with stream water every day would be more discreet and less likely to attract attention.
Anyway, everyone knows that Meng Ranran is Zheng Dafu's apprentice.
Upon hearing the words "Young Master Xie," Shan Qiyu paused in his actions.
Unlike Niu Er, Qi Liang, and others who were close to Meng Fuqing, Young Master Xie gave off a different feeling.
She didn't ask any more questions, she just nodded, "Mother remembers."
Knowing that Meng Fuqing was busy all day for so many people, Shan Qiyu felt a little sorry for her: "You are so busy every day that you can't even eat on time. You don't need to worry about these little things anymore. Your mother will take care of Doctor Zheng."
Meng Fuqing finished the last mouthful of porridge and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."
At the foot of the hill, a refugee reminded the bandits, "A carriage is coming from behind, followed by a lot of soldiers. Could they be here to find you?"
The bandits' view was completely blocked by the refugees. One of them turned around and ran up the hillside to look around. Sure enough, he saw a carriage being guarded by soldiers.
He raised his hand and made a gesture, and soon the news reached Du Zhong and Meng Fuqing's ears.
Instead of going out, they gathered together and hid behind the hillside to listen to what was happening ahead.
Xie Jin, who hadn't shown up for a while, walked up to Meng Fuqing and whispered his thanks: "Thank you for last night."
He wasn't sure if Meng Fuqing had done anything, but he thanked her for showing up.
Meng Fuqing was completely confused. She seemed to have done nothing last night, and even if she had, Xie Jin wouldn't have noticed it in his state. Why was he thanking her?
Seeing that Xie Jin didn't intend to continue, she didn't pay much attention and continued to keep an eye on the sounds outside.
The refugees blocking the way in front of the bandits blocked the carriage's path. Before the refugees could make way, the accompanying soldiers rudely cleared the way with long halberds.
Many refugees were pushed to the ground and could only swallow their anger and get up on their own.
Just as the carriage was about to cross the boundary marked by sulfur, several arrows pierced the air and embedded themselves deeply in the ground in front of the horses' hooves.
"Who goes there? State your name!" the bandit shouted.
"Lord Cao Hu, the bandit from Yezhou, is here! You all, why don't you kneel down and pay your respects immediately!"
One of the bandits, puzzled, scratched his head and asked, "Thief? What's that? Is this official a thief just like us?"
Another bandit sneered, "You ignorant fool! This official is here to catch thieves, which means he's here to catch us!"
After saying that, he shouted, "Our boss said, officials, just say what you want to do directly, don't keep dawdling! Otherwise, we don't care who you are, we'll just attack!"
Lord Hu had just gotten out of the carriage when he heard these words, and he tripped over the weeds and stumbled.
After regaining his balance, the other person also got out of the car and said respectfully, "Please, sir."
The man he addressed as "sir" was named Yan He. He was dressed in a plain robe, with white hair and beard, but a youthful face, giving him the appearance of an old man with a youthful appearance.
The two stepped forward, and Yan He spoke first, "May I ask where the chief is?"
The bandits said, "Our leader isn't someone anyone can just meet!"
Yan He remained unperturbed, his face still amiable, stroking his beard as he continued to ask, "What is the purpose of what you gentlemen have done within the territory of my Yezhou?"
"Sell grain!"
"Is it you who incited the people?"
At this moment, Niu Er and Qi Liang emerged from behind the hillside. Niu Er stood on the hillside and shouted loudly, "Who incited the people?! We have grain, and they want to buy grain from us, it's that simple! Are we trying to stop you from saving the people from their suffering?"
Yan He and Lord Hu exchanged a glance, realizing just how troublesome this group of people would be.
"Yezhou is indeed short of food. The grain in the hands of you heroes is like a godsend for the people and refugees. Since you are so concerned about the people, I will buy the grain on behalf of the government. You may leave on your own."