Chapter 241 Resettling Disaster Victims
Lin Changning and his group left quickly, as they had important business to attend to, while a group of refugees followed the people left behind by Lin Changning and slowly headed back to Yongning City.
After the camp was set up, Lin Changning immediately sent someone to Yongzhou City to report to the commander that Yongning City had been captured.
This place is too close to the rebels' territory. They say they've already captured the city, but they still need to send more people over.
Their 1,000 men are not enough to occupy a city. If the rebels get wind of this and send men to attack, then things are not going to be good.
After Lin Changning and the others had set up their camp, they immediately sent someone back to Yongzhou City to deliver a message. Only when their people came and occupied the city could this matter be considered to be over.
The rebels are now being driven to the brink of despair by the court, and there's no guarantee they won't be implicated in a desperate act.
Moreover, there may be treasures hidden here by the rebels, so the importance of this city has even surpassed that of Datong and Daxing.
By evening, the remaining 500 people had led the refugees into the city, and the place where Lin Changning had settled the refugees was almost ready.
After distributing food to the refugees in the evening, Lin Changning went to his own tent.
Lin Changning did not tell anyone about the treasure hidden by the traitors. He ordered someone to bring him a map of Yongning City, and carefully studied the terrain and the flow of the land, pondering where the treasure might be hidden.
After thinking for a long time but still having no idea, he called out and ordered someone to bring over the elder who had given him the advice the day before.
The old man was helped into the tent by Lin Changning's personal guards. Lin Changning looked up and saw the old man arrive, a smile appearing on his face.
The old man came in and was about to kowtow when Lin Changning waved his hand away.
"No need for such formalities, sir."
He waved for his guards to leave, then helped the old man to the map.
"I need your help with something, old man."
The old man nodded, and seeing the map spread out on the table, he knew why Lin Changning had summoned him.
He couldn't help but cup his hands in greeting: "This old man will certainly tell you everything he knows without reservation."
Lin Changning helped the old man sit down, placed the map in front of him, and pointed to several key locations on the map.
“I’ve taken a quick look, and these are some suitable places if we’re looking to hide treasure. I wonder which ones the Tartars have already searched? Also, I’m not very familiar with the terrain here, so I’d appreciate your guidance, sir.”
The old man looked at the map carefully, seemingly understanding what it said. Lin Changning, seeing the old man's serious expression, suddenly realized that this elder must be literate.
She was even prepared to read the words on the map aloud, but she didn't expect the old man to be able to read. In those days, ordinary people who could read were definitely from wealthy families.
The old man looked up at Lin Changning, seemingly understanding what Lin Changning was thinking.
"My surname is Zhou, and my given name is Fufeng. I went to school for a few years in my early years and then worked as an accountant for a few years, so I know a few characters."
Lin Changning was surprised that his opinion had been seen through so easily, and he couldn't help but rub his nose.
"Then I will call you Grandpa Zhou."
The old man hurriedly waved his hand: "Alas, you are an official, and I am just a commoner. I cannot accept this honor."
Lin Changning smiled and said, "Grandpa Zhou has done me such a big favor this time, I can accept it. Apart from my official position, I am just a young man. It's just a title, no need to make a fuss about it."
Grandpa Zhou looked a little bewildered, but seeing that Lin Changning had already said so, and that this official had always been very kind and good to the people, he no longer refused.
After sighing a few times, he brought his face close to the map and carefully examined the terrain.
Lin Changning also looked at the map with him. Grandpa Zhou seemed to have presbyopia, sometimes looking far away and sometimes close up, and occasionally squinting.
Lin Changning couldn't figure it out either, so he quietly waited with him. After about two or three cups of tea's time, the old man finally finished reading it, picked up the pen on the table, and began to write and draw on the map.
"This mountain and this ravine have both been searched, but nothing was found. The Tartars withdrew after searching half of the other mountain."
The old man paused, and seeing that Lin Changning's expression remained unchanged, he continued, "I have been in the mountains for many years, and occasionally I look for some mountain delicacies. Last time I searched half of it, but the mountain didn't look like it had anything."
Lin Changning looked at the map and nodded thoughtfully.
After a while, the old man pointed to an inconspicuous spot and said, "If it's hidden treasure, I think this place might have it."
Lin Changning was somewhat puzzled: "What do you mean by that, Grandpa Zhou?"
The location on the map was inconspicuous; it was just a small, low hill surrounded by a few villages.
This place doesn't look like a place where you could hide things.
Seeing Lin Changning's confusion, Grandpa Zhou explained, "This place is called Chaoyang Village. Hundreds of years ago, it was a wasteland and barren mountains. However, when I was a child, I heard that there was a prince's tomb here, but I don't know the exact location."
However, what is known is that the entire village there should be descended from the tomb keepers, but now there should be not a single one left. These tomb keepers disappeared without a trace, probably a few months ago, before Dazi entered the pass.
After the Tartars entered the pass, I stopped paying attention to these things. Now that I think about it, if Prince Sheng was hiding treasure, this area of the Crown Prince's tombs would be an excellent location.
However, we don't know the exact location. Perhaps you could send troops to investigate.
Lin Changning looked at the inconspicuous place on the map and also felt that what the old man said made sense.
If you go into the mountains and forests in a big way, you'll be more noticeable. But if you hide in a small, unknown place, these things might be safer.
Having figured it out, Lin Changning nodded and thanked the old man: "Thank you for your guidance, Grandpa Zhou."
After finishing, Lin Changning walked to her bedside, took the two remaining pieces of dried meat that her mother had smoked, and turned to hand them to the old woman.
"Grandpa Zhou, this is some food my mother brought me when she came. I'm sorry to bother you so late, but it's nothing expensive. Please accept it."
Grandpa Zhou declined, saying, "It's enough to be of help to you, sir. There's no need for that. I can hardly repay your life-saving grace. If I were to accept something from you, I would be too ashamed to face you."
Lin Changning was strong and stuffed the dried meat directly into the old man's arms.
“It’s worthless. Take it back with you. I can tell you have a grandson. Take the two pieces of dried meat back, put them in a bowl and boil them to make a meat soup. It’ll help the child get some nourishment.”
When Lin Changning mentioned his grandson, Grandpa Zhou finally hesitated for a moment, and then bowed to Lin Changning again to express his gratitude.
"Thank you for the meat, sir."
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