"That would be best. Let Li Huailiang handle the search for Zirui on his own. Don't make a big fuss about it; do it quietly."
"If you find Zirui, have Li Huailiang send a pigeon back as soon as possible."
"If we don't find them, we'll make a plan to eliminate the bandits in Qingfeng Village. Then we'll return to the base as soon as possible."
"Okay, go and make the arrangements quickly. Report as soon as you have any news."
"Grand Prince, I will make arrangements immediately."
The eldest prince waved his hand.
The people in the military tent quietly retreated.
The eldest prince sat there and pondered for a while.
It seemed that Qingfeng Village had to be eliminated without further delay. Zirui was also very likely among the refugee group in Shilin Town.
It's better to be safe than sorry. It's more reassuring to be safe than sorry except for the bandits in Qingfeng Village.
Moreover, the bandits in Qingfeng Village also blocked the refugees' way south. At this time, the people living there were already having a hard time, and encountering Qingfeng Village was even more of a disaster.
Let’s not talk about how the eldest prince found a way to eliminate Qingfeng Village.
In Shilin Town, Yun the Butcher had just returned from a meeting.
"Boss, please eat first." Zhang said, and brought out the food left for Yun the butcher.
"Okay, wife." Butcher Yun sat down with a heavy face.
"Master, Yiyi has already told us about the Qingfeng Village incident. Has the village reached any conclusion?"
Butcher Yun sighed heavily, "The people the village sent out to gather information have all heard about Qingfeng Village."
"The villagers haven't come up with a solution yet. Some say we should take the small road, while others say we should take the official road."
"No matter which path we chose, there were people who opposed it. Everyone was arguing so much that the village chief got fed up and asked everyone to return."
"The village chief is also afraid of the bandits from Qingfeng Village, so I don't think he has made up his mind yet."
"Boss, if you ask me, even if we wait until tomorrow, we probably won't be able to come to a conclusion."
"If we take the small roads, we can't use cars. Every household has so much stuff, and it's not practical to rely on people to carry it all on their backs."
"If I take the high road, if I follow Yiyi's advice, I don't feel very safe."
"We are poor, with little food and money, but every household has a car. Just for this, Qingfeng Village can rob us."
"Wife, I think so too. Besides, when the people in our village, young and old, meet the people from Qingfeng Village, they are just sending people to them."
"However, our village is large and everyone has different opinions. The village chief wants to see when the other refugee groups will set off.
"Let's go together from our village. With more people, it will be a deterrent to Qingfeng Village."
Yun Yiyi was sitting next to them. When she heard what Yun the Butcher said, she immediately showed an expression of disapproval.
"Dad, even though we set out with other refugee groups, it seems that there are more of us. However, it's useless."
"Think about it. We don't know the other refugees, and we don't trust each other. If the bandits from Qingfeng Village came out to rob us, we'd probably all scatter."
"If this is the case, there will be no fighting power at all. Everyone will be fighting on their own, and they won't pose any threat to Qingfeng Village."
"So, even if we set out with other refugee groups, we must be prepared."
"The key is that the villagers are still too naive. According to the information we have heard, the bandits from Qingfeng Village will definitely come down the mountain and intercept the refugees passing by."
"Don't be so optimistic that the bandits from Qingfeng Village won't come down the mountain. I can clearly say that the bandits from Qingfeng Village are short of money, people, and food."
"Refugees like us always have something the Qingfeng Village bandits want. So, now we need to consider deciding which path to take and how to get there."
"We have to hurry. When I was in town today, I saw several groups of people looking for information just like us. I'm sure there are people from Qingfeng Village among them."
"Staying outside of Shilin Town like this makes us too conspicuous. Unless we turn back, the bandits from Qingfeng Village might let us go."
"Yiyi, going back is impossible. We've gone through so much trouble to get here, we definitely can't turn back."
"Besides, even if we go back, it won't be suitable for us to live there. We can only consider moving forward."
"Yes, Yiyi. We absolutely cannot turn back. Along the way we've been through either a shortage of water or food, and the government hasn't done anything."
"We can only live a good life if we move forward. So, let's just think about moving forward."
"Dad, I understand what you and Mom mean. However, no matter which choice we make, Qingfeng Village will be a roadblock."
"There's no good solution right now. Let's just listen to the village chief and wait a little longer. Refugees come to the official road every day."
"If you're in a hurry to leave, we can also wait and see and use it as a reference."
Butcher Yun sighed deeply. "Yes, now we can only wait. However, the weather is getting colder and colder, and we can't afford to waste time."
"Dad, we can't just keep wasting time. Have you forgotten that the bandits from Qingfeng Village will be coming down the mountain to collect our food soon?"
"If we haven't escaped by then, we'll probably be treated the same as the villagers in Qingfeng Village."
Zhang was a little hesitant. "Yiyi, are you saying that by then, our food will be taken away by the bandits from Qingfeng Village?"
"Yes, mother. As long as we don't leave, the bandits from Qingfeng Village will come looking for us."
"Now that Yiyi said that, it seems we can't stay in Shilin Town peacefully."
"Mom, the bandits in Qingfeng Village just treat the villagers here as bags of food."
“That’s a pretty vivid way of saying it.”
Butcher Yun gave a wry smile. It was just a bag of grain. It was the kind that wouldn't run away. It had unlimited access to grain.
"Yiyi, after hearing what you said, I can't eat anymore. I'm really worried sick. We're just trying to escape a famine, why is it so difficult?"
"Dad, you should eat when you need to. Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. This problem will be solved sooner or later."
"Yes, boss, you should eat quickly. You've been busy all day, you can't not eat. Just listen to Yiyi. There are so many people in our village, we can always find a solution."
Butcher Yun thought about it and picked up his chopsticks to eat.
At this time, Xie Zirui pulled Yun Yiyi's clothes and said, "Yiyi, come here. I have something to tell you."
"What's wrong, Brother Zirui? Do you have something to tell me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
