The refugees at the side gate were also attacked by rain of arrows. Seeing the refugees at the main gate running towards them like a gust of wind, the refugees at the side gate who were originally hesitant to move forward immediately followed suit.
After a while, outside the three gates of Mengjiazhuang, only a few refugees in the lead and their trusted subordinates were left. These people together numbered no more than a hundred or eighty people.
The great cause was not accomplished, and the team that had been finally gathered was dispersed by a wave of arrows from an unknown group in the yard. The faces of the leading refugees became extremely ugly.
After retreating to a safe place, one of them asked the others, "Do you know where those people from Mengjiazhuang came from?"
Everyone shook their heads.
The man had a gloomy face and said, "Then let's split up and ask around to see if they are just passing through or planning to stay here permanently."
Unwilling to give up, they began to inquire about the origins of Yu Zizhen and others. However, in Mengjiazhuang, Yu Zizhen, Mr. Jiang, the head guard and others were also busy.
The head of the guards ordered people to clean up the battlefield and pile up all the dead refugees outside the village. Mr. Jiang wrote a personal letter to report to the King of Zhenbei about the killing they had done today.
As for Yu Zizhen, she was having a cordial conversation with Meng Tingru and his son.
Meng Tingru came to greet and express gratitude. He knew that if it weren't for Yu Zizhen and others, the Meng family would definitely not be able to get through this difficult situation today.
He was not afraid of the refugees stealing things, but he was afraid that the refugees would kill his entire family.
What he didn't know was that in the original book, the refugees really did kill his entire family and their servants without leaving a single one behind.
The refugees, who originally only wanted to steal food, meat, gold, silver, pearls, jade and other valuables, turned into wild beasts out of their cage in an instant with cruelty and greed after breaking into the house.
They wanted everything they saw, and this "everything" even included the women and children living in this manor.
Those who tried to stop them were all brutally killed without exception.
Having narrowly escaped disaster, Meng Tingru was still terrified. After asking Yu Zizhen if he was frightened and thanking him solemnly, he held up his teacup and said to Yu Zizhen, "If it weren't for your help tonight, my Meng family would have been wiped out."
Yu Zizhen took a sip of tea and said, "This is what your Meng family deserves. You don't need to thank me. I once read a saying in a book, 'Those who carry firewood for the people should not be allowed to freeze to death in the wind and snow.' Mr. Meng's family is a family of good deeds. We naturally cannot sit idly by and watch the refugees who have received your kindness turn around and burn, kill, and loot your family."
Meng Tingru said seriously, "I still have to thank you." After all, there are too many justices in this world that we deserve but don't get.
Not to mention those far away people, just take the refugees as an example. They eat the Meng family's rice every day, but they are still full of malice towards the Meng family in their hearts.
They were not satisfied with the Meng family just giving out porridge. They wanted more. They wanted to eat meat and transfer all the food of the Meng family into their own hands. They wanted to tear down the Meng family who were high and mighty and showing an attitude of charity to them and trample them into the mud. They wanted to kill all the people of the Meng family and then divide up the money and belongings of the Meng family.
Desires are insatiable and human greed has no limit.
He was just sighing inwardly when he heard Yu Zizhen say, "Having good intentions is a good thing, but the prerequisite for doing good is that you have the ability to protect yourself."
The wolf will not be grateful to the lamb for sacrificing itself to fill its stomach. It will only think that wolves eating sheep is a natural part of the food chain of the survival of the fittest.
Meng Tingru, who was being lectured, did not look down on Yu Zizhen at all because of her young age. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, what you said is very true. I am grateful for your guidance."
It is said that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Although he wants to do good deeds, he will not do so at the expense of his own personal safety and the personal safety of those around him.
Yu Zizhen politely returned the greeting, "You have money, food, and connections. I think it shouldn't be difficult to hire a few reliable martial artists to help train a group of servants who can guard the house."
Meng Tingru was stunned. He had never imagined Yu Zizhen's idea.
Just now when Yu Zizhen said, "The prerequisite for doing good is that you must be able to protect yourself," Meng Tingru subconsciously thought that the way to ensure the personal safety of himself and those around him was to temporarily move to the county town with his relatives and servants.
There are soldiers guarding the county town, and the Meng family also has a big house in the county town where they are used to living, as well as stored grain, gold and silver. As for the farm and the things on the farm, Meng Tingru doesn't mind giving them up temporarily.
He considered the food, supplies and other things in the farm as gifts to the refugees.
Even if the houses inside were destroyed by the refugees, he could always find someone to repair them or even tear them down and rebuild them.
Compared with human lives, he is willing to lose these things and can afford to lose them.
However, the vast farmland, which was the important source of income for the Meng family and which he was most reluctant to give up, was also what he didn't need to worry about the least. After all, it was impossible for those refugees to occupy his family's farmland.
The central idea of all his planning and psychological preparation was actually the word "hide", but the idea that Yu Zizhen gave him was to let him strengthen his own military strength step by step in the future.
Meng Tingru's heart was beating fast. He looked at Yu Zizhen deeply and said, "I will seriously consider your suggestion, Your Highness."
Yu Zizhen nodded. "Would you like to leave with us after daybreak? We will pass by Kangping County and the prefectural capital. If you'd like, we can give you a ride."
Otherwise, once this team leaves, the Meng family will be in danger.
Meng Tingru couldn't ask for more. He nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, "Your Highness, this is a great favor. We are truly grateful for this."
Yu Zizhen smiled and said, "It's just a small favor. I'll just take it as a thank you for your wholehearted hospitality."
Although Meng Tingru treated them so warmly and generously because the "Zhenbei Army" to which they belonged had blocked the invasion of foreign tribes outside the Great Wall countless times, making the people of Daqi, especially those in the area north of the capital, have a natural liking for them, neither Yu Zizhen nor Mr. Jiang wanted to let the Meng family suffer losses.
Mr. Jiang wanted to maintain the reputation of the Zhenbei Palace, while Yu Zizhen believed that she was not worthy of such respect and courtesy. After all, she had never made any contribution to defending the border.
She would not take advantage of her status as the prince of Zhenbei Palace to interfere with the glory of those who risked their lives to protect the people behind them.
Therefore, Mr. Jiang insisted on giving the Meng family money as compensation, and although Yu Zizhen could not openly remind Meng Tingru that the world would soon become more chaotic, she took this opportunity to point out a clear path for the Meng family.
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