Chenxi pointed to the stool and said, "Sit down and talk."

Han Rang gave Shen Xi a detailed account of everything that had happened during this period, and he especially mentioned Dou Yong.

Shenxi was not surprised that he was able to capture the burned soldiers and others.

With the wind so strong at the time, coupled with Leng Aofu's erratic actions and the soldiers' panic at the fire, the chances of them escaping unharmed were very low.

But Chen Xi was truly astonished by the actions of a platoon leader named Dou Yong.

This guy is a real talent!

This person is a bit of a handful.

Shenxi prefers those who are loyal to her and those who are sincere in their hearts.

Dou Yong has many hidden agendas, shows little respect for his superiors, and even loves to show off.

When she was given food and drink, I noticed that her appearance was really not flattering, but she was very reliable in doing things.

His name was Dou Yong.

Shen Xi read through Dou Yong's compiled confession one by one and couldn't help but praise him again: "Truly a talent."

The statements were recorded clearly and meticulously, making them easy to understand at a glance, as if one were personally present at the interrogation.

"You mean, Dou Yong was the one who suggested the isolation zone?"

"Yes, when I arrived, the isolation zone had already been set up."

"Were the ideas for tidying up the passageway and using charcoal to block the smoke also his?"

Han Rang felt somewhat ashamed: "It's because I'm incompetent; these were all Dou Yong's ideas."

"It's alright. Many people don't know that charcoal can be used to block out the smoke. It's a stroke of luck that he knows it."

Chenxi had no idea that there were people here who knew about using activated carbon to make face masks.

It may not be called activated carbon here, but the substance is the same.

Without Dou Yong, Zheng Hongfang's plan would likely have involved a gradual, step-by-step approach, or an even more cumbersome method: widening the road to spread the smoke further.

Moreover, the smoke will likely lessen considerably later in the night.

At that point, either Shenxi and the others will find a way to get out from the north themselves, or they will have to wait another day for Zheng Hongfang to come in.

But by then, the elderly and children will probably find it hard to endure.

I estimate I'll get a serious illness.

Some elderly people couldn't bear it and passed away.

Shenxi instructed Han Rang: "I will not see Dou Yong for now. We will talk about it when we return to Qiaozhen. The most important thing right now is to confirm the situation of Cao Sen, the magistrate of Linchuan County."

Cao Sen and the others were trapped in the canyon. Hu Axiong set it on fire, and no one knows what has happened to them now.

Han Rang agreed, "Sir, once everyone has been rescued and settled, I will lead a group to take a look."

Seeing Han Rang struggling to suppress his exhaustion, Shen Xi shook his head: "You go and rest first. I'll have An Kang take some men. Although we've been suffering in the basin, we're not tired. Once we've eaten and drunk our fill, we can get moving."

The people outside haven't had much rest these past two days, especially Han Rang and his group, who are already extremely exhausted after only a short rest.

After Chenxi dismissed Han Rang, he said to Zheng Ankang, who had just entered, "Take some men and go take a look."

Zheng Ankang had already heard Han Rang's report, so he agreed and turned to leave.

He took half of the guards who had come out of the basin, as well as some soldiers who took turns resting, and went to the canyon.

Zheng Ankang brought out a bandit named Sun Er and asked him to give directions so that he wouldn't go to the wrong place.

Sun Er was very familiar with this place, but Shen Xi asked Lu Yuanjun to lead the way.

This was Shenxi's caution; she feared that Sun Er, taking advantage of his familiarity with the terrain, would lead Zheng Ankang and the others into an unsafe area.

Lu Yuanjun was also very familiar with this place.

Even if Sun Er wanted to frame Zheng Ankang, he couldn't.

After Zheng Ankang led his men to the canyon, Chen Xi said to Xing Xiuyan, "Xiuyan, go and rest."

"The leader is also taking a rest."

Seeing Xing Xiuyan's stubborn expression, Shen Xi knew that if she didn't rest, Xing Xiuyan wouldn't rest either.

Shen Xi nodded at Xing Xiuyan: "You're really a busybody."

Xing Xiuyan smiled as she laid out the bedding for Chenxi. It was a gift from the villagers of Luzhuangzi; it wasn't very new, but it was very clean.

Shenxi lay down on the bed.

I thought I wouldn't be able to fall asleep for a while because of all these things, but to my surprise, Chenxi fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

When I woke up, the sun had already risen in the east at noon.

Xing Xiuyan fetched water and washed Chenxi's face, then brought him clean clothes: "Last night, after the leader went to sleep, the villagers took the initiative to wash him and then dried him."

Chenxi sighed. The common people of this era actually have very simple requirements. They are content as long as they can eat and drink their fill.

After Shenxi had finished breakfast, Zheng Ankang came in.

"Commander, the fire in the canyon has been extinguished. We have roughly counted the number of people who died. We searched the surrounding area and brought back more than 20 of those who were injured and unable to run. The rest should have escaped."

"Among those who were burned to death, was Cao Sen among them?"

The reason they didn't ask if Cao Sen was among the injured was obvious; Cao Sen was the county magistrate, and no matter what, even if he was injured, he would be taken back.

The chances of them burning to death inside are slim; even their bodies will likely be taken back by their men.

Chenxi was just asking to make sure she had a clear understanding.

Zheng Ankang shook his head: "No need to identify them. The injured people have already confessed, and their county magistrate has been rescued by the guards."

"Hmm, does the injured person have any other statements?"

Zheng Ankang shook his head again: "These wounded and abandoned people are all ordinary soldiers."

"Alright, treat their injuries. We'll question them properly when we get back to Qiaozhen."

"yes."

"Let all the villagers of Luzhuangzi move out first; this place is not suitable for living for the time being."

After all, there will definitely be a lot of smoke and dust in this area after the wildfire, and it won't disappear anytime soon.

"We should move to Wangjiazhuang, which is the nearest village, or merge into Wangjiazhuang."

After all, too many people died or were injured in Wangjiazhuang, and the staff was not complete. There may be many difficulties in adapting at first when the staff is merged into Wangjiazhuang, but they will be able to adjust over time.

"Alright, I'll go and give the order right away."

The people of Lu Zhuangzi were very reluctant to leave this place, after all, it was where their ancestors had lived.

But the leader said that this place is not suitable for living for the time being, so let's listen to the leader.

They hid their grain on rocky mountains where no fire broke out.

The villagers transported the grain out and followed Chenxi's group out of the mountains.

Shenxi went to Wangjiazhuang first.

The villagers of Wangjiazhuang have already held a funeral and buried the deceased.

The injured are all receiving treatment.

The loss of more than half the population left the village extremely desolate and gloomy.

Shenxi left Han Rang behind and entrusted him with all matters concerning Wangjiazhuang.

Wangjiazhuang definitely needs to be rectified, but the head of Taoyuan Township has long been detained by Chenxi's people and taken back to Qiaozhen. The new head of the township has not yet been transferred, so Han Rang can only handle things here temporarily.

Not only Wangjiazhuang, but also other villages that suffered losses, as well as daily affairs that needed to be dealt with.

Shenxi did not linger and went straight back to Qiaozhen.

He sat down in the conference room and then shouted angrily, "Bring in Ma Hongsheng, the mayor of Taoyuan Township."