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It seemed like just a blink of an eye, and a series of huts were built under the city. Men and women were housed separately, there were rules for getting food and water, and even defecation and urination had fixed places.
The women gathered together to wash clothes, cook, and take care of the children, while the men were sent to cut wood, build houses, and even repair city walls. When the land was divided, only then would they select the obedient and useful ones from the crowd and send them to open up wasteland and cultivate it.
Unaware of how much land they had, or how long they could sustain themselves, these refugees worked even harder, hoping to find a place to settle down soon. Those with families were even more cautious, daring not to slack off or cause trouble, fearing they would bring trouble to their families.
But for those who had served in the rebel army, life was a bit harsh. The porridge and rice they were given barely filled their stomachs, and there was no more joy in doing whatever they wanted. They could only bury themselves in the work. How different were these hard times from those back home? However, no matter how resentful they were, few would dare to speak out. The idea of "collective punishment" was truly terrifying.
"Have you heard? Yesterday a group of people got into trouble, three of them escaped, and they were all beaten up. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, it's true. They don't even keep an eye on the people they eat and live with. Aren't they just asking for death?"
"That's right. They finally have something to eat. What else can they do if they run away now? They must be thinking of killing people and setting fires! It's a good thing they didn't rebel on the spot. If they had taken knives and guns, they would probably be dead now."
"From now on, we must keep a close eye on the people around us. If anyone has bad intentions, we will kill him first!"
Zhang Gou'er's back was crawling with fear as he listened to these discussions. He had joined his fellow townspeople as a city guard, but many others were living worse off than him. Now he could earn a living without fighting, and with his farmland hanging over his head, he was unwilling to cause trouble. As a result, he dared not speak out even if he had any thoughts. If he was not careful, his fellow soldiers would report him and he might even be beaten to death. What a waste of time!
Alas, I surrendered in a fit of rage. If I had escaped with my brothers, I might be better off than I am now...
Just as he was grumbling inwardly, he heard a sudden commotion over there. He quickly looked up and saw a group of people happily returning, carrying pots. Were they the model workers from the building team? Zhang Gou'er didn't understand what "model" meant, but he knew the rules here all too well. As long as you did the work the fastest and best, you'd get a reward, often a pot of meat porridge, a meal of chicken or duck, or something like that, and you could eat and drink to your heart's content.
No one knew when these people had developed the nasty habit of showing off their prizes in public, making everyone drool. Swallowing his saliva, Zhang Gou'er grumbled and went back to work, but he didn't even notice that his movements had become more agile.
Besides these peasants, scholars and artisans also had their own places to go. Anyone who could read and understand the notices on the walls could get a job, such as registering refugees, managing a small team or two, or keeping accounts. The artisans were divided into teams early on, and some were even able to take the boat back to Panyu to work in the workshops there.
With the help of these scholars, the refugee camp settled more quickly, much to the delight of the newly appointed Wei Zhubu. Wei Sheng had originally been a minor clerk, but unexpectedly, he had been spotted by the Red Flag Gang's leader and appointed Zhubu. Although not appointed by the imperial court, the Red Flag Gang still held the final say in the city. He was also responsible for rallying the refugees and intimidating the powerful, eventually becoming almost like the head of the mansion. Wei Sheng secretly wondered if these powerful men wouldn't be able to stay in the city for long. If they left, wouldn't he still have the final say in Lian Shao Mansion?
This was his luck! It was a pity that he hadn't used his strength before and was beheaded by the chaotic army. Just as Wei Sheng was secretly rejoicing, a boat hurriedly arrived, bringing with it a scholar in a wheelchair with a stern face.
"Danhui is finally here, and this place can be handed over to you to handle." Tian Yu's arrival made Cheng Xi breathe a sigh of relief. Although she could control the situation, she tended to use military control, which could not last long. She had to let the real civil officer to handle this mess of things.
Tian Yu had come all the way here after a long journey by boat, and the roads here were in disrepair, making the wheelchair even more bumpy and uncomfortable. However, with a pale face, he nodded seriously, "The leader will just clean up the rebels. I'll take charge here."
He hadn't expected Cheng Xi to capture a city so quickly, and to gather such a large number of refugees. If proper arrangements were not made, and further chaos arose, it would cause endless disasters.
However, after agreeing, he couldn't help but say, "I know that the leader has the heart to save the world and the country, and he also wants to save more people, but our Red Flag Gang has limited funds and food, and its foundation is no longer here. I hope the leader will act within his means and must not expand blindly."
This was also his biggest concern. Would the ease of taking a city cause unrest in the army, leading to a reckless advance? The effort required to capture a city was vastly different from the effort required to govern it. Furthermore, hosting a large number of refugees could easily lead to chaos. The Red Flag Gang had just established a foothold in the South China Sea. If they focused all their energy onshore, blindly expanding their territory, they might lose their maritime territory.
Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Danhui. I don't intend to take advantage of this opportunity to cause any major disturbances. I just need to control one or two of the major cities along the river."
She certainly couldn't take over the entirety of Yue Province right now, but she could still spread her net a little. Yue Province happened to be densely networked with rivers, and half of its major cities were built along the rivers. As long as she followed the refugees' footsteps, retaking a few cities wouldn't be difficult. To gain a foothold, she needed to defeat the refugees and train a group of soldiers capable of fighting on land. Relying solely on militias wasn't enough at the moment; time was running out.
Hearing this, Tian Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then his face hardened again: "A son of a wealthy family should not sit idle in the hall. When the leader goes to war, please give more instructions to the generals around you and do not rush to take the lead."
This is really a familiar smell. Cheng Xi laughed, waved to Tian Yu in a cool manner, turned around and boarded the warship.
After watching the large ship set sail for a long time, Tian Yu turned his head and said coldly to Wei Zhubu who was standing beside him: "Are you the new Zhubu in the city? Bring all the documents here. I want to examine them."
Stared at by those cold, all-seeing eyes, Wei Sheng trembled as he uttered his yeses. His fleeting fantasy of "holding great power" was shattered. How could there be such a bureaucrat-like figure in the Red Flag Gang? He should just stay honest and be a chief clerk, and stop overthinking things.
Only two thousand soldiers and a few ships remained, while the remaining warships continued northward along the river. However, the rebels, facing a critical blow, chose to turn back. After all, to continue south, they would have to cross the Yueshui and Xijiang Rivers, and no one was sure they could cross the river with a large shipping gang like the Red Flag Gang watching closely. Since they couldn't advance, they had no choice but to retreat. This time, the rebel leader was also cautious and, rather than attacking another city, returned to the previously conquered city of Leren Prefecture.
Compared to Baoxiong Prefecture, this place is farther away from the river, and large ships cannot reach the city at all. Moreover, after a disastrous defeat, the "rebel army" needs to rebuild morale and use women and money to inspire people.
Cities that had already been conquered became the best option. Previously, they had rushed in and out, only looting the treasury and plundering the city. A thorough search would surely have yielded more benefits. Furthermore, they didn't want to engage in a direct battle with the Red Banner Army this time; defending the city was the safest option.
The Red Flag Gang, however, didn't pursue them relentlessly. Instead, they lingered in Lianshao City, organizing the refugees and distributing land. When the news reached the bandit leader, he felt reassured. It seemed the Red Flag Gang was marching north again, aiming to seize the imperial court's prefectures and counties. If that was the case, there was no need for them to desperately attack cities. If they captured a city and the enemy pursued them, wouldn't they be playing the victim? It would be better to secure a position first and then decide how to advance or retreat.
However, after only a few days of "rest and recuperation", the number of refugees gathered had not even returned to 50% of its peak, and news of the Red Flag Army's relocation came again.
The bandit chieftain was so angry that he threw the teacup in his hand and cursed fiercely: "Why don't they go to Baoxiong Mansion and blame us? There is no river here, and without the cannons on the boats, I wonder how they can fight!"
The constant propaganda these past few days about the Red Flag Gang hating rebels and threatening to execute any captured ones had already convinced most of his refugees. However, they were still undecided about whether to muster the courage to fight or flee at the sight of the Red Flag. Honestly, he himself doubted the refugees' courage to face the enemy head-on.
But if they continued to flee, wouldn't that just be a vanguard battle for the Red Flag Gang? They'd die in vain, and the other side would take advantage. How could such a good thing happen?
After much deliberation, the bandit chief gritted his teeth and decided to hold out in the city for a while. The city was strong anyway. He could leave the elderly, weak, and sick outside, consuming the enemy's food and arrows, while he himself remained inside. He didn't believe the pirates had any means of attacking the city. If time dragged on, they might retreat on their own. After all, they were fighting for territory, and a city like Baoxiong Prefecture, which had been through the turmoil, would surely be easier to capture.
Soon, the scouts brought news again, saying that the Red Flag Gang had divided its forces on the river. It seemed that some of the boats went to Baoxiong Prefecture, while the rest of the boats stopped on the shore. Only a thousand people were sent to land and they were heading towards them slowly.
Upon hearing this news, the self-proclaimed general burst into laughter. "I knew it! They'll definitely rely on ships and cannons. They've only sent a thousand men, hoping to intimidate us and force us to flee. That woman is mistaken! This time, I'm going to occupy Leren City and never leave!"
In troubled times, it's definitely safer to establish one's own territory. Even if you want to leave, you have to take advantage of the fact that the main force of the Red Flag Army is not here, so that you can show off your power a little before leaving. Otherwise, if you suffer repeated defeats, the people will be scattered, and how can you lead the army?
Once he made up his mind, he didn't hold back and ordered his men, "Have those hungry men stationed outside the city. When the bandits come, keep harassing the camp and make them feel uneasy. We don't need to fight them head-on; it's best to wear them down! Also, set up ambushes along the road. If the grain transports come, rob them and leave these bandits stranded!"
Compared to the Red Flag Gang, they were definitely better at attacking and defending cities. Furthermore, the "rebel army" also had a number of "hungry men"—those newly arrived starving people. Giving them some food and drink, and offering them women as rewards, would spur them to fight to the death. They were outnumbered anyway, so a few more charges would frighten the Red Dogs.
The bandit chief, having made all the necessary arrangements, returned to his mansion to sleep. He knew some of his men were tempted to join the Red Bandits, and he understood that if their army pressed forward, he would likely flee. However, having rebelled, unafraid even of the imperial army, how could he bow down to a woman? He couldn't afford to lose face!
After feasting on wine and women, the rage in his heart dissipated a little, and the bandit chief fell on the county magistrate's soft couch and fell into a comfortable sleep. However, at three o'clock in the morning, a terrible scream suddenly woke him up, and he fell off the bed. He looked out the window in horror, only to see figures bustling about, obviously fighting. What was going on? Could someone be rebelling? Alarm bells rang in his heart, and he struggled to the table, trying to grab a weapon, but the closed door was kicked open, and the shining knife flashed, and the huge head rolled to the ground. He spun around twice, his eyes still wide open.
That night, the government office where the thieves were staying was attacked by assassins. The thief leader, who had proclaimed himself a general, was killed, and several of his leaders were beheaded. When the guards rushed in, they saw no assassins at all, only a red flag nailed to the wall, stained with blood, making it look even more vibrant.
For a moment, the entire army was in a state of panic. Everyone understood that these were assassins sent by the Red Flag Army, who had actually found their way to their bedsides. Some loyalists still wanted to avenge their leader, while many were terrified and wanted to surrender. Another chaotic internal conflict began.
When the Red Flag Gang finally arrived at the city gates, the crumbling gates flew open unsurprisingly. A few took advantage of the chaos to flee, while the other leaders, both large and small, raised the white flag and obediently welcomed the Red Flag Army. Since they couldn't defeat them anyway, they might as well surrender and perhaps even earn a position.
Since we are all rebelling, it is better to follow the more powerful side.
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