The sacrifice at Jianshanying lasted for many days.
Although Lin Hai only appeared on the first day, the news that the county magistrate was offering sacrifices to the souls of the innocent dead in Jianshanying was still fermenting. Many people rushed from the most remote mountainous areas with their families just to burn a stick of incense for their relatives in front of the nameless tablet.
"Although most of these people are considered to be illegally moving according to the Baojia Law, let's forget about it this time," Lin Hai said to Ling Yang.
"From now on, we will hold a grand ceremony on November 12th every year. Let's set aside a special fund to repair the Jianshan Camp and avoid leaving the tablets exposed to the wind and sun."
If the role of the grand sacrifice in rallying people's hearts cannot be quantified, then the refugees who, after hearing about the memorial service, were reluctant to leave the old forest also came down the mountain one after another, which was the greatest recognition of Lin Hai.
The people's spontaneous sacrifices lasted for a full seven days. During these seven days, Jianshanying was surrounded by the smoke of incense and candles and flying paper money. God was also very kind and it didn't rain for seven consecutive days. Lin Hai believed that his actions were recognized by God. Of course, Ling Yang, who said that it rarely rained in winter, was beaten again.
On the seventh day, Lin Hai and his sworn brothers appeared at the altar again. They gently placed rows of new tablets among the countless tablets in front of the altar. These tablets belonged to the soldiers of the Qinghe Camp who had been away from them for a long time but had been able to rest and be worshipped.
"Father, I did it. The new Qinghe County has been established, and the surviving brothers have been taken care of. We are all living well."
Lin Hai knelt before the spirit of the old captain Ma Shouxin and said softly, "It's still a little difficult now, but it's much better than when we first started..."
"Big brother said that many of my sworn brothers are tired and just want to live the rest of their lives well. I promised Big Brother that I would definitely protect this place and let my sworn brothers live a good life."
"Don't worry... You're always worried, and you have endless worries. Look, now we're living well without you worrying about us. Just enjoy your happiness in heaven..."
"I live in the county government office. You're familiar with this place. Come visit me when you have time. I'll show you the steel and glass I've forged, as well as the dozen or so useless disciples I've created. They're not as smart as I was back then, and I've put in a lot of effort on them. Unlike me, if you'd given me a stutter, I would have gone with you..."
Ling Yang looked at Lin Hai, who was immersed in his memories, and felt a little reluctant, but he still stepped forward and said, "Principal, there is news from Jinguan City..."
"So what does the governor mean?" Lin Hai was eating melon seeds in his office while looking at the intelligence sent back from the Jinguan City stronghold.
"What else could it mean? They're just jealous. No amount of money can stop these officials from talking." Wang Liang grabbed a handful of melon seeds and stuffed them into his mouth. He sat down on Lin Hai's desk and started to chew them, proving with facts that it is really difficult to stop people's mouths.
"On the surface, it looks like good news." Ling Yang didn't dare sit on Lin Hai's desk like Wang Liang did. He could only quietly stuff a melon seed into his mouth and then stood aside and said, "It's said that the Ministry of Revenue has approved Qinghe to become a lower-class county. The county lieutenant is Lord Wang, but they said they will send a new county magistrate. It seems they have been coveting our steel and glass for a long time."
"They've skipped the preparatory county and confirmed Brother Wang's position as county lieutenant. Does our governor think he's given enough and wants to send someone to reap the spoils?" Lin Hai said angrily, "The governor has been in Jinguan City for far too long. He's forgotten what Xichuan is, and what lies south of it."
"Xiao Linzi, you don't want to..." Wang Liang was a little worried. As a former grassroots military officer, he knew very well how powerful the Daliang Empire was. If he raised the flag directly, Qinghe would not be able to withstand the wrath from the capital.
"I can't do anything. I understand what you mean, brother."
Lin Hai suppressed his anger. "However, there are so many bandits gathered around Qinghe, especially along the line from Qiongdu to Qinghe. It is difficult for us to guarantee the safety of the new county magistrate."
"Principal, let's leave this matter to Qitian Village. Zhang Jinnan is familiar with this business and he guarantees that it will be done beautifully." Ling Yang took the opportunity to say.
"Is it that Zhang Jinnan no longer wants to go into the woods and fight bandits in Xiangyun Province? That's what he wrote to you last time?"
"Principal, I'll bring the stick over shortly, please hit me gently..."
"How could I have taught you such a double-faced person... Never mind. We can't let Qitian Village interfere in this matter. We've already reported to Jinguan City that Qitian Village's forces are under our control south of Qinghe. We can't afford to contradict ourselves. I remember there's a guy named Cao in prison, right?"
"Yes, he's been imprisoned for a long time. Originally, they planned to sacrifice him to the gods during this grand ceremony, but in the end, they thought he might be useful, so they spared his life. They feed him with a pound of food every day, and he can survive the New Year."
"It's strange that there really is someone with the surname Cao. But he has eaten so much of our food, it's time for him to work." Lin Hai didn't care whether a pound of bran wheat cakes mixed with sand and stones could fill a person's stomach every day, but he ate it, and that was enough. After eating, one must work, and this is an irrefutable truth.
"Brother, go talk to him as a lieutenant. Tell him to help us complete this mission, and we'll spare his life. Whether he settles down in Qinghe or leaves Qinghe to find a place to live, it's up to him. But there's one thing: this time he's under the banner of the head of the gang, and he must show up so the new county magistrate's guards can see him clearly."
"After you're done?"
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