Outside Qingzhou.

A group of New First Army soldiers, who were taking a break, were discussing what the factories in the remote county were like.

Some say the factory is just an ordinary weaving workshop, nothing special. But others have heard of it and look on with great longing.

Chen Liang looked at the group of soldiers, who were lying on the grass not far away, with a blade of grass in their mouths, gazing into the distance.

"There's work to be done again." Ling Xian waved his feather fan and slowly walked over.

"The target this time is the bandit den that is entrenched on this mountain near us. Many people have secretly come to inform us that there are many bandits there."

"Hahaha! Another job!" A soldier excitedly waved his fist.

"Damn it, I'm going to steal the credit this time! I can't let that brat Wang Gousheng get cocky again!" Another soldier patted his chest, spitting as he spoke.

"He's gone to the factory to learn this time, so he can't brag about it now!"

"What were you thinking, robbing civilians on our New First Army's territory?"

A group of soldiers, who had already tasted the sweetness of victory, roared and rushed out after receiving their weapons, their enthusiasm even more fervent than when they were going to abduct a bride.

Ling Xian remained calm and composed, following the group at a leisurely pace.

Chen Yan, with a stern face, walked at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the rugged mountain road ahead.

"Everyone, be alert!" Chen Yan shouted in a deep voice. "Don't think that all bandits are cowards like those from Black Cloud Stronghold! Underestimating them will get you killed!"

"This time, the number of people is limited. Only five hundred people can come with me to suppress the bandits. Everyone will take turns!"

A group of soldiers immediately howled; their chance to eat meat was gone again!

However, the soldiers who were called over were all smiles.

With only 500 people, what's the difference between this and directly robbing meat?

…

However, when they cautiously approached the Wolf Gang's hideout, everyone was stunned.

The anticipated battle cries and flying arrows did not materialize at all.

The dilapidated wooden gate of the village was wide open, and it was quiet inside, with only a few wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, carrying a strange, sour smell.

Several daring soldiers exchanged glances and rushed in first.

Then, as if they had been frozen in place, they stood there motionless.

The sight in the village left them speechless.

There were no vicious bandits, and no mountains of wealth.

There was only one group, a group of people huddled in the corner, looking withered, pale and emaciated.

Most of them were barely clothed, huddled together, with vacant eyes, as if a gust of wind could blow them over.

Despair filled the air.

The so-called weapons were nothing more than a few rusty machetes and a few sharpened wooden sticks, scattered on the ground.

This isn't a bandit's den, it's clearly a refugee camp!

…

A man who looked like the leader struggled to his feet.

He was so thin that his cheekbones were high and his eyes were sunken. His clothes were more like a few tattered pieces of cloth hanging on his body than actual clothes.

He looked at the fully armed soldiers who were charging in menacingly, but his face showed no fear; on the contrary…

Instead, it was as if they had seen a savior, and a strange light shone in their eyes.

"Sir...Sir..." Wang Jiang's voice was hoarse like a broken gong. His legs went weak and he knelt down with a thud.

This sudden kneeling left the soldiers of the New First Army completely bewildered.

Chen Yan frowned and signaled his men to hold off.

Ling Xian also put away his fan, stepped forward slowly, and a hint of inquiry flashed in his eyes.

"Please...please..." The man kowtowed forcefully, his forehead hitting the hard ground with a dull thud. "Take us...take us all away!"

The soldiers looked at each other, their faces full of questions.

Is this some new way to surrender? Are they begging to be captured right off the bat?

"Arrest them?" an impatient soldier couldn't help but shout. "Are we arresting you to behead you and give you credit for your military achievements?"

Upon hearing the words "beheading," Wang Jiang showed no fear. Instead, he kowtowed even more forcefully, his voice trembling with sobs: "Beheading is fine! Soldier, behead me! I organized this whole thing! Just... just give me some food, give me a way to live!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd behind him, who had been like corpses, suddenly stirred.

They struggled to lift their heads, their cloudy eyes all fixed on the soldiers, their gazes filled with longing, as if the soldiers were not government troops sent to suppress bandits, but gods delivering food.

"Yes, sir! Take us away!"

"We'd rather go to jail! At least we get food there!"

"Hungry...so hungry..."

Pleading voices rose and fell; these so-called "bandits" were actually vying to become prisoners.

This bizarre scene left the originally menacing New First Army soldiers somewhat bewildered.

Ling Xian's gaze swept over the group of people, then he looked around the village and slowly asked, "Where are you from? Why have you become bandits here?"

Wang Jiang raised his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face, more painful than crying: "Reporting to the general... we... we are all villagers who fled from the border of Yan..."

"We are not from the State of Yan; we are ordinary people from the border region between Liangzhou and the State of Yan!"

He took a breath, as if even speaking had exhausted his strength.

"Liangzhou?" Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed on, "What happened on the border of Liangzhou? Why are you fleeing here?"

Wang Jiang's eyes dimmed, filled with fear and despair: "The village, the village has been struck by plague... so many people have died!"

"The government doesn't care, we can't survive, we have no choice but to flee with our families..."

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