41

At this moment, all the clues came together.

Why did the original owner disguise herself as a man and escape? Because the Qiu family was about to be wiped out, and General Qiu wanted to rescue his only beloved daughter.

Why would Yan Yuan give up everything just to find a weak woman? Because he once served under General Qiu and was a close confidant who could see his family.

Why wouldn't he doubt his own abilities? What did it matter if General Qiu's beloved daughter knew some martial arts and military tactics?

At the beginning, Sun Erlang once asked Cheng Xi what his connection was with General Qiu.

She denied it outright at that time, but unexpectedly, by some strange coincidence, the body turned out to be General Qiu's beloved daughter!

The question is, can she tell Yan Yuan the truth? Can she explain that she is not Miss Yuehua, but a lonely spirit from another world?

Of course not.

Even Cheng Xi couldn't bring himself to say it.

Miss Qiu, who had escaped at great cost and at the cost of countless lives, had long since died at the hands of the thieves; the renowned General Qiu was unjustly murdered and his entire clan was exterminated, and he could not even save his last flesh and blood.

More importantly, if Yan Yuan knew this news, would he turn against them? Could they still hold on to Luoling Island, which they had conquered with great difficulty? And how would the several villages that had joined the Red Flag Gang survive?

Since she couldn't tell the truth, what was she supposed to do after inheriting this body?

After a long silence, Cheng Xi slowly spoke: "My father once gave me a letter, asking me to go find Zixin, hide my identity, and live a life without worries."

Yan Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up: "General Xu is in Yunnan Province now. I can take the young lady there!"

That "Zi Xin" should be the young general Xu Xianrong who was once promoted by the military.

Although this man has not had a prominent career, he is a gentleman who keeps his promises. Entrusting the young lady to him may not be a bad choice.

Yan Yuan really wanted to obey the military commander's will immediately and send the young lady out of the den of thieves and move her to a safe environment.

Unexpectedly, the woman in front of him shook her head and said, "Who will redress my father's grievances, and who will fulfill his legacy?"

Yan Yuan suddenly shut his mouth and clenched his fists.

Everyone knew that General Qiu died unjustly, but no one in the court, whether civil or military, came to his rescue, and no one dared to say a word.

Powerful ministers are in power, and aristocratic families are ruining the country. The tyrant on the throne just listened to a few slanderous words and cruelly killed loyal officials. Who can redress the injustice of the generals?!

Of course he hated it, so much so that he abandoned his official position and ran away, wanting to save people.

However, he was alone and helpless, so how could he save her? In the end, it was Zhongbo who sent him a letter, asking him to help escort the young lady to escape, and only then did Yan Yuan arrive in Leizhou.

After traveling hundreds of miles, he rushed to Luoling Island, just for that glimmer of hope.

He could do nothing more but to risk his life to protect the last of the army's blood. However, the young lady now told him that she wanted to do more.

At that moment, Yan Yuan couldn't tell whether he was ashamed or resentful, worried or guilty.

After a long time, he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Miss, you are just a woman. You shouldn't bear this."

"If I can, I should bear it." Cheng Xi's brows relaxed and he also let out the depression in his heart.

Since she came to this world, she has been pushed by the world, working hard and tirelessly to find a way out for the people around her.

However, she did not have a complete goal in her mind that could serve as a driving force.

There is no motherland for her to defend, and no people for her to protect.

But there are indeed people here who need protection, grievances that need to be redressed, and great things that need to be inherited. Since I have accepted this body, why not shoulder some responsibilities?

Yan Yuan's breathing became heavier, but he still shook his head stubbornly: "That doesn't mean he should be a thief. The general has a clean reputation throughout his life..."

"A lifetime of clean reputation cannot buy back the lives of my family." Cheng Xi interrupted him, "Besides, I'm not a thief, and the Red Flag Gang will not become a gang. Father wants to protect the sea border and want the people living on the coast to live in peace, but this world and this court won't allow it. In this case, I will find a new way out!"

These words were simply too straightforward, too decisive, and too irrefutable.

With the emperor so foolish and the court so corrupt, how could the general's will be fulfilled and his name vindicated? But gathering a crowd and causing chaos along the coast, what difference was there between them and rebels?

Yan Yuan felt his mind was in a mess, and even his words began to stutter: "The Qiu family is full of loyal and brave people..."

Cheng Xi laughed, and her laugh was sarcastic: "I am not a loyal minister or a good general, I am a woman."

Thousands of exhortations were stuck in his throat, choking Yan Yuan so much that he couldn't speak.

If she were a man, she might obey orders without hesitation, hoping to avenge the military commander.

But she was a woman, so how could Yan Yuan not be entangled, hesitate, and want to persuade her? However, now, this reason was thrown back in his face.

Is it any use to reason with a woman? But if I don't, can I still disobey orders? After all, she is also an orphan of a military family...

Seeing Yan Yuan's confused face, Cheng Xi ignored him and said directly: "Don't call me by that name anymore. My name is Cheng Xi now, Xi as in morning light. Only a few people in the Red Flag Gang know that I'm a woman, so don't let anyone know."

Yan Yuan froze when he heard this new name. After a long moment, he slowly said, "The commander once said, 'I only wish for the dawn to break, the seas to be peaceful, and the world to be at peace.'"

"Dawn breaking" is not the military commander's long-cherished wish, his unfulfilled legacy?

These words were spoken lightly and slowly, but Cheng Xi's heart trembled violently, and she thought of the person who gave her the name.

He once boasted that this name was well chosen, "The Dawn at the Beginning of the Sun," which was the best name he could think of. He hoped that she would be as bright as the morning light and have a bright future.

He had also scolded her angrily, saying that she shouldn't have been given such a name, which made her seem ungirly, too competitive, and overestimating her own abilities.

But now, the phrase "Dawn" brought two completely different figures together, transcending time and space, giving her name a whole new meaning.

A smile appeared on the corner of his lips, and Cheng Xi took a step forward: "Let's go."

This time, Yan Yuan didn't say anything and just followed her closely.

…

The servants' courtyard, at the westernmost corner of the village, was unaffected by the fire. Furthermore, since the riot broke out at night, the servants, lacking food and clothing, and often suffering from nystagmus, would never dare flee. Besides, this was an island in the sea, where else could they escape to? Most people huddled trembling in their straw huts, hoping the riot wouldn't spread to their area and leave them a chance to survive.

Unexpectedly, the commotion only lasted half the night before things gradually quieted down. Was the fight over? Did the Qingfeng Gang win? Would anyone come to punish them? Just as they were dreading uncertainty, the gate suddenly flew open, and everyone was driven out of the hut and gathered in the courtyard.

It was just dawn. After a sleepless night and filled with fear, everyone was timid and bent over, afraid of angering the new owner.

His gaze swept over the emaciated faces of the poor people trapped in the thieves' den, and Cheng Xi shouted, "Luoling Island has now changed hands and is now owned by the Red Flag Gang. I'm sure you were all robbed here. If you want to leave, I can send a boat to take you ashore in a few days."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only did the servants below make an uproar, but even Yan Yuan's face changed.

Aren’t you here to persuade people to surrender? Why do you want to release them right away?

A man with his hands tied behind his back and a face covered in whip marks asked anxiously, "Boss, are you serious? Can you really let us go home?"

"The Red Flag Gang isn't a gang of bandits, and we have rules that prohibit us from attacking villages on the shore, robbing women, and forcing innocent people into slavery." Cheng Xi replied calmly, "But it will take a few days to settle down on the island, so you'll have to wait. If you're willing to help put out fires, clean up the streets, and do some chores before leaving the island, you can get two meals a day."

Now everyone was excited. This guy looked young, but he had a very dignified demeanor. There were several big men with knives following behind him, so it was obvious that he was also of high status.

If that were really possible, what would doing some work mean? When I was caught by those thieves before, weren't they beaten and scolded, and even starved of food?

Seeing everyone cheering, Cheng Xi put on a serious face again: "But let me tell you this, if anyone dares to take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble, I will kill them all! I can't do anything else, but killing people is my specialty. If you dare to cause trouble, don't blame me for my sharp knife!"

These words were full of murderous intent, and immediately the scene became quiet again.

Only then did everyone remember that this handsome young man was from the "Red Flag Gang." Even if he hadn't left the courtyard, they had heard the shouts of killing all night. Now, none of the familiar leaders had appeared. Could they have been killed? How many people from the Red Flag Gang had come, and how powerful were they?

Seeing that everyone was silent, Cheng Xi slowly nodded and said, "We will form groups of five and listen to the tasks assigned by Boss Yan later."

After she finished speaking, she made a gesture to leave when someone suddenly called out, "Chief, if you don't want to go home, can you stay on the island?"

The man who spoke was a man with a sad face. He looked hunched over and had wrinkles all over his face. It was hard to tell his age, but it was not surprising that he said this.

These past few years, people have been living in poverty. Even if they return to their hometowns, they may not be able to eat. For the elderly, those whose villages have been attacked, and those who have long lost their families, as long as they can survive, who cares where they are?

Cheng Xi glanced at him and said calmly, "As long as you work hard, it's fine for you to stay. If you do a good job, you can even swear an oath to join the gang and work on the ship."

The man who was questioning remained silent. The man whose hands had just been tied started shouting again: "Didn't you say the Red Flag Gang wasn't a gang? Why are you still getting on the boat?"

Cheng Xi raised an eyebrow. "If maritime trade isn't profitable, why would pirates rob merchant ships? If they can protect their own fleet, why waste time robbing others?"

Those two rhetorical questions brought silence to the entire courtyard. The man also shut his mouth and said nothing more.

He was actually a coolie, trying to make a living on the ship. He was unlucky and not only did he run into the pirates, but he was also captured. Fortunately, the pirates needed manpower these days, so they didn't kill him directly, but wanted to beat and scold him into submission before using him.

As a result, before he gave in, all the thieves were killed.

If it is true as the young man said, that the Red Flag Gang is just a maritime merchant caravan, can he also get back on board and work as a laborer without killing people?

Cheng Xi didn't have time to care about what they thought. He turned to Yan Yuan and said, "I'll leave these people to you. Put out the fire first. If you find that you can't put it out, tear down the houses and isolate them to control the fire. When you clean up the streets, remember to stack the bodies together and transport them to the dock. I still need them."

Yan Yuan was speechless at the moment. Their purpose in coming was to use these slaves. He had been thinking about how to coerce and bribe them, but the young lady had made them all obey with just a few words.

She gave them freedom.

The phrase "send back to shore" is said lightly, but it has given rise to hope in the hearts of many people. With hope, people will naturally believe in the person who gives them hope.

This decision may result in the unnecessary loss of a group of manpower, but it will be able to win over the hearts and minds of the people and control the situation on the island in a very short period of time.

Once the fire is extinguished and the village is cleaned up, order will be restored. There might even be a group of people left behind who will become loyal members of the Red Flag Gang.

With such means, it's no wonder she was able to form a gang in such a short time. If she were a man... However, this time, the thought only flashed through her mind.

It doesn't matter whether he is a man or a woman. As long as he can clear the military's grievances, he is willing to sacrifice his life for it!

And Yan Yuan believed that the young lady - no, it was Gang Leader Cheng Xi, who had the determination and ability.

Once he made up his mind, he lowered his head and said, "I obey your command."

After being tense all day and staying up most of the night, Lu Jian could no longer hold on and went to sleep. When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Thinking it was not good, Lu Jian turned over and sat up, calling out, "San Ding, what's the situation outside?"

Lu Sanding hurried into the house: "Don't worry, master, the fire has been put out, the streets have been cleared, and food has been prepared."

Lu Jian was stunned: "Were all these done by the Red Flag Gang?"

That shouldn't be the case. How could Cheng Xi not know the priorities? There might still be many bandits hiding on the island, the docks definitely need to be taken care of, and those warehouses need to be guarded.

It’s okay to put out the fire, but where is the time to clean the streets?

"No, the dirty work was done by the slaves on the island, the meals were prepared by the female camp, and even the dock was taken care of. The people from the Red Flag Gang only searched for the escaped thieves, and they found more than a hundred of them in half a day..." Lu Sanding's voice became lower and lower. He really couldn't have imagined that Gang Leader Cheng was so capable!

It's fine that he's subdued the slaves and servants on the island, but why aren't the thieves making a fuss? Thirty or so men went around twice and pulled out everyone who was hiding. What a huge hassle that was saved! Could it be that he possesses some kind of magic that forces everyone he sees to bow down and do his bidding?

Lu Jian immediately said, "Take me to see it."

He had slept with his clothes on, so his outer shirt was inevitably a little wrinkled. Without even bothering to change into something more decent, Lu Jian quickly walked out of the yard.

As expected, the fires were out everywhere, leaving not even a trace of black smoke. The bodies scattered across the street had been moved away, and even a little water had been sprinkled on the ground to wash away most of the blood. In the distance, in the burned-out courtyard, one could still vaguely see people moving things, seemingly in an orderly manner.

That guy really had a plan in mind by not letting the Qingfeng Gang stay.

Before I went to sleep, the island was in chaos and filled with smoke. But when I woke up, everything was in order, even more orderly than when the pirates were there.

After finally coming back to his senses, Lu Jian asked, "Where's Gang Leader Cheng?"

"At the dock, would the head of the family like to go and take a look?" Lu Sanding asked quickly.

Lu Jian didn't even bother answering and strode towards the dock.