Chapter 571: Let's Fight! Let's Fight! (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Despite having just finished his shift, Liao Jia rushed to the government office immediately, where he happened to run into other colleagues who were also on their way back.
"Hanzhang, do you know what has happened?"
Liao Jia asked Xun Zhen, who had arrived first, in a low voice.
As far as he knew, his lord always insisted that duty was duty and off duty was off duty, fully respecting the private time of his staff, and that emergency calls for extra work were extremely rare. This time, however, an exception was made, and they couldn't even wait until the next day.
This shows how urgent the situation is.
Xun Zhen had heard of it.
Therefore, his expression was unusually solemn.
Just then, Jiang Sheng also rushed over.
The hem of her clothes rustled and created a breeze with her hurried steps.
As soon as he arrived, he asked, "Hanzhang, what happened?"
Perfect timing, there's no need to answer the same question twice, so Xun Zhen decided to address it all at once, turning slightly to look at Jiang Sheng who was seated: "Shao Mei doesn't often travel in the Northwest region, so she might not know about this. Xian Deng, do you remember Lu Xia County last year?"
Less than a year has passed since this incident.
How could Jiang Sheng not remember?
Luxia County was, after all, his hometown. The calamity of the siege by the refugees directly led to the death of the county governor's entire family, leaving only Lu Ji and Lu Ji's nephew as his only remaining bloodline. Even though Jiang Sheng had a strained relationship with the governor of Luxia County and didn't have any deep feelings for his hometown, it would be strange if Jiang Sheng didn't remember the fact that his stronghold had been captured and the city hadn't been massacred if Shen Tang's reinforcements hadn't arrived in time.
It's definitely not the problem in Luxia County right now.
Because Lu Xia County is currently jointly "governed" by the Tianhai, Shangnan and Yiru families—if it weren't for Lord Shen Tang being transferred to Longwu County, she would have been added to the list—although Lu Xia County is in disarray and poorly governed, at least no one dares to attack it.
Then there's only one possibility left.
"That group of refugees?"
Xun Zhen nodded in affirmation.
"I do know a bit about that group of refugees and bandits that Hanzhang mentioned. Didn't they suffer a great loss in Luxia County, were forced to change their route, and then disbanded?" Liao Jia has been active in the Northwest Continent for a year and has seen and heard a lot along the way, but his understanding is not deep. After all, a group of people who rely entirely on plunder for military supplies can't make much of a splash.
"It's not that simple..." Xun Zhen sighed. Jiang Sheng had only briefly fought against that group of refugees and bandits, while Liao Jia had only heard some rumors. Their understanding was naturally inferior to his, who had personally joined the ranks of refugees and bandits.
That group of refugees and bandits might not be a makeshift operation.
Its threat level is far greater than people imagine.
As soon as he mentioned it, Jiang Sheng remembered.
He realized he hadn't asked Xun Zhen why he left that group of refugees and went to operate in Shiwu. Previously, he'd been hesitant to ask about Xun Zhen's private affairs, but now, it seemed there was more to the story. He was ready to listen attentively.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the package Liao Jia was holding. He hadn't normally paid attention to this detail, but the package had been hastily tied and was now coming undone—
A corner of the object is visible.
One piece...
The color is fresh and vibrant...
A bellyband?
That ruined the atmosphere.
Xun Zhen was about to speak when he noticed his friend's subtle expression. Out of curiosity, he followed Jiang Sheng's gaze.
Xun Zhen: "...???"
Just as Liao Jia was about to watch the drama unfold, he looked up and found that the gazes of his two colleagues were fixed on him—or rather, on what was in his arms. So, he also lowered his head. When he saw what was in his arms, his hands felt like they were being licked by flames, and he instinctively wanted to throw it away. Reason suppressed his impulse, and Liao Jia's face flushed red and then turned pale.
He hastily tied the package tightly.
He awkwardly explained, "This isn't Jia's."
Xun Zhen and Jiang Sheng gave a subtle "oh".
Actually, Liao Jia didn't need to explain. They were quite open-minded and didn't mind if their colleagues had a habit of wearing women's undergarments. After all, with Qi Bushan, that troublemaker who would disguise himself as a woman at the drop of a hat, set a good example... compared to that, Liao Jia's hobby was quite friendly.
Liao Jia knew from their expressions that his explanation was futile. His face turned red, and he felt like he was being shoved into a hot potato. He stammered as he explained, "It really was forced on me by my guard... The lord summoned me urgently, and I didn't have time to deal with it, so I brought it here."
Xun Zhen nodded: "I see."
Jiang Sheng also laughed: "That guard has a unique hobby."
The two did not excessively ridicule Liao Jia.
After all, he's a new colleague, so he gets some special privileges.
Fearing the package might come loose, Liao Jia tied it into a tight, twisted knot. Regardless of whether the two truly believed her or not, she quickly changed the subject: "I just heard Hanzhang say that the band of refugees and bandits doesn't seem as weak as the rumors suggest?"
Xun Zhen coughed lightly.
"really."
He continued, "The leader of this group of refugees and bandits was named Huang Lie. He was originally a traveling doctor in Yanzhou. His family was poor from a young age, and for generations they were tenant farmers. The family of several people could not even get enough to eat. A few years later, his biological father died of an epidemic. His mother was unable to raise her children and wanted to remarry, but she was sold into prostitution by her grandmother. Huang Lie was lucky enough to develop martial arts skills and later became a wandering knight-errant."
What is a bell doctor?
To put it bluntly, they were barefoot doctors.
They carried bells and medicine chests year-round, traveling through deep mountains and bustling cities. Different itinerant doctors used different methods to treat patients.
"This man was generous and righteous, but once, in a fit of rage, he caused a death. Fortunately, a benefactor helped him escape imprisonment. Huang Lie was grateful for the benefactor's life-saving grace, so he offered to serve as the benefactor's bodyguard for several years to repay the debt. The benefactor saw that Huang Lie was quite talented, and over the next few years, he passed on all his skills to him. Huang Lie completed his apprenticeship in a few years and traveled around as a traveling doctor..."
Liao Jia said, "He sounds like a nice person."
Xun Zhen, with his conscience clear, spoke a fair word: "He wasn't a particularly wicked or evil person. He wasn't exceptionally good, but he wasn't exceptionally bad either. Ultimately, it was just that the world was too difficult, forcing people to rebel. Several years later, his medical skills became increasingly refined, and he returned to his hometown, only to find that his blood relatives had either starved to death or died of illness. Only his younger brother and two cousins remained."
The four brothers depended on each other for survival from then on.
The profession of itinerant doctor often meant uncertainty about where one would eat.
Most of the patients were ordinary people, or rather, people who were too sick to afford medical treatment and could only wait to die. How much could such families afford for medical consultations? Huang Lie didn't ask for much; just enough to feed his three younger brothers. Even so, the four of them found their lives becoming increasingly difficult.
The only advantage?
It's probably because they've accumulated a good reputation.
In a way, he's somewhat similar to Yi Ru and Zhang He. Both of them made their fortunes through their superb medical skills. The difference is that Zhang He at least had a background, having once served as the Imperial Physician of the Medical Bureau, starting from a relatively high position. Huang Lie, on the other hand, was a genuine commoner from the bottom of society.
He possesses medical skills and martial prowess.
But it's still just a speck of mud in this world.
Until Zheng Qiao led his troops to destroy the Xin Kingdom, Huang Lie also faced the greatest crisis and the greatest opportunity of his life!
(≧﹏≦)
It's been so hard! I can finally see the chapter comments on the front end, sob sob sob—but it seems there was a problem with the previous chapter comments, they can't be displayed, sigh. So sad.
Shiitake mushrooms need to start stockpiling manuscripts.
_(:з」∠)_
I aim to write one chapter during the day and one chapter at night.
At least ensure that updates continue throughout the postpartum period.
(End of this chapter)
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