After lunch, everyone in the village gathered here, shovels in hand, to dig a trench in the village to prevent any accidents.
In addition, some surplus able-bodied men need to be drawn upon for secret missions.
Zhao Dayou, a lazy villager, said, "Uncle Gui, I can understand keeping watch at night, but digging trenches is no big deal. It's hard work and doesn't pay well. This is a village. Are there really any stupid refugees who want to rob the village? Why not just rob a rich merchant in a town?"
Chen Qingshan scolded, "You think you're so smart? Don't you think the wealthy merchants in town would make preparations?"
Although he was rich, were his guards and servants just idle people?
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Zhao Dayou gave an awkward smile.
Several men from the Dong family chuckled dryly and said, "Can't we not go? We still have to stay home, forge iron and sickles, and then go to town to sell them?"
Chen Gui glanced at him and recognized him as the man from the Dong family who had tried to kill off the family's descendants. He nodded slightly and said, "Okay, the village's night patrol team will bypass your area. Anyway, the Dong family lives far away, so going around to your place would mean walking a lot more."
A burst of snickers came from the crowd.
The worst thing is comparison.
No one is prepared, and no one is panicking.
However, once everyone starts patrolling at night, if you don't prepare, you'll always feel like a little lamb smelling of meat in the dark, and nobody knows if the big bad wolf will snatch you away at any moment.
Old Master Dong chuckled awkwardly, "Alright, take it as me talking nonsense, Uncle Gui, I'll listen to you."
Chen Gui suddenly remembered something, "Okay, wait a minute, don't leave yet, I need to talk to you about something."
"OK."
After the meeting, each household left one able-bodied laborer to await Chen Gui's instructions.
Chen Gui quietly told Dong Laoda, "During this time, take some time to make more barbed wire, spearheads, and wire wrapped around the barbed wire."
Boss Dong chuckled sheepishly, “There’s no problem. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve done something this thin, so I don’t have much experience. It might not be very smooth or rough.”
Chen Gui smiled and said, "That's great."
Um?
Seemingly noticing Dong Laoda's doubts, he explained, "Don't worry, just keep your mouth shut. When we get through the village crisis, the village will reward you with a sum of money."
"What are you saying!"
Old Master Dong's feigned anger was genuinely sincere.
Chen Gui lowered his voice and said to the men, "You guys better keep your mouths shut from now on. We need to prepare the village's secret weapons. After all, given what's going to happen, who knows if those starving refugees will rush into our village to rob us!"
"yes!"
Chen Gui nodded and smiled, "Very energetic. Anyone who works well and keeps secrets will be rewarded with fifty coins after the crisis is over. Of course, we all hope that those people don't come over and that we can keep to ourselves and not interfere with each other."
I hope I'm overthinking it.
Chen Qingshan glanced at the neighboring village, where wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys.
He whispered, "Father, should we inform Zheng Juzhong next door?"
Chen Qingshan nodded, "We notified him a long time ago, but I don't know if he will make any preparations. Oh well, let's just focus on our own village."
...
The neighboring Red Leaf Village.
Zheng Li was holding a meeting under the locust tree at the entrance of the village.
The people chatting and bragging below were making a racket.
Zheng, the village head, scolded, "Everyone, quiet down. Have you prepared the grain and medicine I asked you to buy?"
The person below said lazily, "I bought some medicinal herbs, more than a pound, which is too expensive. Prices keep rising, and grain prices are also quietly increasing, rising one coin at a time... I bought a few pounds."
The old man said angrily, "Why didn't you listen to us? Chen Gui from next door sent someone to notify us almost half a month ago. Why didn't you act in advance?"
Some people said dismissively, "What's there to be afraid of? They're just a bunch of beggars. Why would they come to our village instead of robbing the town? Are they stupid? If they really come, those starving men, I'll kill them with one blow."
Some people ridiculed them.
"Awesome."
Laughter and noise.
Zheng Lizheng said weakly, "Forget it. I came back from town yesterday and found that quite a few refugees have started to gather. We need to start digging trenches around the village and setting up patrol teams to guard against them. Otherwise, if they sneak in, who knows what disaster might happen?"
The villagers started laughing and interrupting, saying, "I'm exhausted. Whoever wants to go can go. I'm not planning to dig. Let them take it. If they dare to take it, I'll beat them to death!"
Zheng Lizheng jumped down from the rock and kicked the man in the butt: "You think you're so great? Anyone who doesn't want to go, just expel them from the village and kick them out. Don't come looking for me if you run into trouble later!"
Upon hearing this, the villagers grumbled and cursed, clearly unwilling to comply.
...
Outside the county town walls, a large number of displaced people gathered.
They split into several groups.
The leader was a man with a chest covered in hair, named Bear.
He was already surrounded by a number of accomplices, about a hundred people.
Magistrate Su has been extremely busy these past two days, setting up soup kitchens and contacting surrounding businesses to raise funds...
The thirty-odd yamen runners outside, the guards of wealthy families, and the thirty-odd patrol soldiers in the county town were all dressed in leather armor with swords hanging at their waists.
Walking back and forth.
Magistrate Su felt the situation was deteriorating more and more.
It seems that more and more refugees are gathering.
The number of soup kitchens gradually expanded from the initial three to five.
Outside the door.
Brother Xiong stood at the front of the line, looking angrily at the rice porridge in his hand that resembled tea, and said, "We are all honest country men who have traveled thousands of miles to finally arrive in Yingzhou Prefecture, only to be told that there is not enough food, so we had to run to the county town. And you're trying to fool us with this soup?"
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