Li Ruo asked the people from Ziyang Peak to stop what they were doing and walk around General Mountain with the people from Black Wind Village.

Register all those who are still alive.

Each brother who participated in this investigation will receive an additional twenty work points.

You can exchange it for ten steamed buns!

In addition, each person received a bowl of ginger tea to ward off colds.

Everyone was enthusiastic and got right to work.

After two days, the population within a radius of dozens of miles around General Mountain was counted, and 25,367 people remained alive.

How many people rushed into General Mountain when the flood first came?

In less than two months, at least half of them died.

During the "population census," the group also caught a few wild animals, such as wild rabbits, pheasants, and wild boars.

Since the two gangs still had food for the time being, they suddenly felt that the animals were somewhat precious and both suggested that the animals be raised.

Besides this, there was also an unexpected windfall: a small box of gold ingots and jewelry hidden in a snake cave!

After asking around, no one claimed it.

Since it was discovered by both Little Li from Black Wind Village and Yang Huahua from Purple Sun Peak at the same time (by the way, how did these two end up together?), the money was deposited into the joint accounts of both families—well, it was a temporary arrangement.

In addition, six suspicious individuals were arrested.

Under interrogation by the Fifth Master, they all revealed themselves to be spies: three sent by the Prince of Runan, two by the Prince of Jiangning, and the other a lowly henchman from some wealthy and wicked gang.

"Is it wrong to be rich?" Li Ruo asked.

Little Li said in surprise, "I didn't expect them to be targeting us too."

Sun Ergou: "Boss, it seems we've always kept to ourselves and the Fuyou Cuobang."

"Whether they are friend or foe can only be determined by asking," Xie Xiao said.

Li Ruo: "...So what gang is it exactly?"

It turns out that the Fuyou Cuobang was a gang in Runan. The leader was named Xu Dafu, who was said to have served in the army. For some reason, he became a river pirate and frequently transported smuggled goods in the waters of Runan, making him extremely wealthy.

"Ignore them," Xie Xiao said.

In short, this operation not only helped everyone understand the population situation of General Mountain, making future management easier, but also eliminated several potential problems.

Li Ruo kept his word and took out a batch of medicinal herbs and ginger to make ginger tea for everyone.

The steaming ginger tea was ready, and the Black Wind Village brothers who participated in the operation also got some.

Uncle Luo, Fourth Master Sun Ergou, and others were also there, but Master Xie was nowhere to be found.

Li Ruo asked Uncle Luo, "How many new people has your Black Wind Stronghold recruited?"

Uncle Luo dared not laugh. "We've recruited nearly three thousand soldiers who can fight, and the rest are mostly their family members, numbering over a thousand."

What do they usually do?

"It's similar to your situation. Everyone has their own job, and we can barely make a living with just these people. But the boss said he needs to hire more people. We still have food and firewood, but with this cold weather, blankets and winter clothes are in short supply," Uncle Luo sighed.

Li Ruo's eyes lit up. "The boss wants to continue recruiting?"

This idea coincided with hers; if you're going to do something, do it big.

"Yes," Uncle Luo said, his hair turning white with worry, "but the weather will only get colder, and it's hard to say whether the newcomers will survive this winter."

A series of images of corpses flashed through Li Ruo's mind, and she couldn't even finish her ginger tea. She admitted that she felt a pang of pity, especially since they needed manpower right now.

She glanced at the small box of gold and silver jewelry that everyone had found, and asked, "Where's your boss?"

Sun Ergou pointed down the mountain and said, "Someone was looking for the boss just now, but he went down the mountain."

Just as Li Ruo was about to go find him, she saw him stride up, his expression slightly excited.

"Do you know who came to see me just now?" Xie Xiao's eyes flashed with a glint.