Chapter 231 Jiang Dadan
Jiang Tangtang knew that they were upholding their duties for their own safety, but hearing the sounds of fighting, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
Fortunately, the men in the caravan were not pushovers. After a fierce fight, the chaos was quickly quelled.
Cheng Jiashu came to report: "They are the remnants of the army that escaped from the north. They were starving and wanted to steal food when they saw the caravan. We have already subdued them all."
"Are there any casualties in the caravan?" Jiang Tangtang asked.
Chen Jiashu said, "We have one dead and fifteen wounded, but the enemy suffered even greater casualties, with thirty-eight dead, fifty wounded, and one hundred and twenty-three prisoners."
For men who died while traveling for business, the caravan, like the army, provided pensions and policies to take care of their families. Jiang Tangtang did not ask too much and just gave some good medicine to Cheng Jiashu.
Just thinking about the captives, she couldn't help but ask, "What are you going to do with these people?"
Cheng Jiashu bowed to Jiang Tangtang and said, "Please give me your instructions, Second Young Master."
Jiang Tangtang said, "Tell them that if they are willing to pledge allegiance to me, I can treat their wounds and provide them with food. If they are not willing, I will kill them all."
Cheng Jiashu suddenly looked up to see Jiang Tangtang's expression, the surprise in his eyes could not be concealed.
He thought that this lady, who was always known for her kindness, had softened her heart and did not want to talk about killing people, but she did not even blink an eye.
He now understood why Brother Lu's eyes were full of admiration when he talked about his sister-in-law.
Why could she, a woman, manage the entire Lingnan and make so many men willingly submit to her?
She is not only smart but also courageous, alert and always ready to seize opportunities.
While Cheng Jiashu admired Jiang Tangtang, he couldn't help but compare himself with her, and many ways to conquer prisoners instantly came to his mind.
He must not embarrass himself in front of Jiang Tangtang.
These remaining soldiers originally thought they were doomed to die, but unexpectedly they still had a chance to survive. Without Cheng Jiashu having to use any tricks, they all expressed their willingness to be loyal.
Of course, some people were afraid of death and were truly willing to pledge their loyalty, but others were just making a stopgap move, silently observing the caravan's situation, hoping to take it down again.
Jiang Tangtang also knew that the temptation of a little food and medicine alone was not enough to make these remaining soldiers completely loyal to her.
She carefully examined the map and decided to separate from the caravan. She wanted to bring her men to reunite with Lu Shiyan. She couldn't completely subdue these people, but at least she wanted to intimidate them so they wouldn't dare to harbor any other thoughts.
After she told Cheng Jiashu her decision, she called Xiaowu over.
Xiao Wu's first reaction was to object, "Husband... Second Young Master, this is too risky."
Because he was so excited and shocked, he almost called the wrong name.
"Aren't you sure you can deal with these remnants?" Jiang Tangtang looked at him and said.
"It's not that we can't defeat these remnants, I'm just worried there might be something unexpected along the way."
"Don't worry, I'm here, nothing will happen."
If force doesn't work, there's poison. Jiang Tangtang is getting bolder and bolder.
Xiaowu is only responsible for leading people to protect Jiang Tangtang's safety and cannot refute her decision.
He could only bow and say, "Xiao Wu will obey the Second Young Master's orders."
Jiang Tangtang took out a bag of rice and a jar of meat sauce, handed them to him, and said, "Use this bag of rice and meat sauce to cook porridge for the new compatriots. Tell them that this is a reward for them. As long as they follow me and work hard, their lives will only get better."
After Xiaowu received the rice and meat sauce, she instructed, "Watch over the one hundred or so new compatriots and make sure everyone gets a bowl. Don't fight with them for a little porridge. I'll reward you handsomely when we return to Lingnan."
Xiaowu looked at the meat sauce in the jar with some confusion, and subconsciously felt that there was something wrong.
Thinking of the gossip he had heard, it suddenly dawned on him that no wonder the lady was so arrogant. It turned out that she already had a way to deal with these captives.
He suddenly felt that their general might have some misunderstanding about the lady, and perhaps the lady did not need their protection.
Just as Xiaowu guessed, Jiang Tangtang added something to the meat sauce.
Of course, if these people had no ulterior motives, this would be just a simple meat paste. But if they were dishonest, then a single breath of the specially formulated smoke would instantly cause them to become completely limp, collapsing on the ground and becoming vulnerable to slaughter.
This was Douxian'er's new poison developed on Treasure Island. Jiang Tangtang had several jars of special meat sauce, as well as some spicy and fragrant mushroom sauce and seafood sauce.
These soldiers were fighting against the Western Rong. When the leading general saw that defeat was inevitable, he led his personal soldiers to flee.
They were beaten to pieces by the Western Rong people and barely escaped death, fleeing all the way to Cangwu.
Occasionally they could snatch some food on the road, but most of the time they met refugees who had nothing like them. When they had nothing to eat, they could only eat grass roots and tree bark like the refugees.
Who could resist the temptation of meat porridge at this moment? Xiao Wu didn't need to do anything, these people ate it obediently. Some people even felt that one bowl was not enough and wanted a second bowl.
The aroma of the meat porridge also attracted refugees from nearby.
Jiang Tangtang asked Xiaowu to repeat what Cheng Jiashu had just said to the remaining soldiers. As long as they were loyal to her, they could eat.
“Brother, we will all listen to your master from now on. Will we have food to eat in the future?”
Xiao Wu gritted his teeth and said, "Anything, as long as they are willing to be loyal to our Master."
The refugees nodded immediately, "Listen! We all listen to your master. Whatever your master says is what we have to do!"
This is porridge with meat sauce! It's just a matter of listening to her, what's the problem?
So, when Lu Shiyan brought his men back, the group had grown from more than a hundred people to more than three hundred people.
Lu Shiyan looked at the messy refugees and remaining soldiers, feeling both shocked and frightened.
Jiang is really bold. She dares to take in so many refugees with just a few people. What if something goes wrong?
He couldn't bear to criticize Jiang Tangtang, so he pulled Xiaowu aside and lectured him, "Why didn't you try to persuade him? Is this how you do your job?"
Xiaowu's scalp is numb. Can he persuade her?
"Madam said he knows his limits, but..." He lowered his voice and said, "It seems the meat sauce has been spiced."
Thinking about how Jiang Tangtang was often with Dou Xian'er, and how both of his sons could use poison to take down anyone who wanted to harm them, Lu Shiyan felt a hint of embarrassment on his face.
He was just too anxious and didn't think carefully. Given his wife's personality, she would never fight an unprepared battle.
He coughed dryly and said, "Anyway, be careful next time. Let's forget about this time."
Xiaowu's face turned as bitter as a bitter gourd.
There will be a next time?
Lu Shiyan ignored the suffering of his subordinates and hurried to find Jiang Tangtang.
"Is everything arranged?" Jiang Tangtang asked excitedly, "When are we entering the city?"
In just half a day, she had already collected more than 300 people. If she arranged people to specifically collect refugees, Lingnan would no longer be short of labor.
She couldn't wait to get the food.
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