Chapter 61: Jiang Yanli, what is your identity?
Lu Tingwan was still a little frightened along the way. Just now, when she held the knife to the man's neck, her legs went weak.
But still try your best to control yourself and not show any clues.
After this experience of going down the mountain, Lu Tingwan also thoroughly understood the routes up and down the mountain of Baita Village, and secretly left marks along the way for her future use.
After returning to the village, Xie Zhao asked her to sell the spices within three days and exchange them for silver.
Lu Tingwan lived up to everyone's expectations and consumed such a large amount of spices in Qingfeng County within three days without being detected. Bai Tu and others didn't know what method she used.
As long as I can get the money.
After two robberies in Qingyao Mountain, the county government accepted the lawsuit from the Chamber of Commerce, requesting that the county government send troops to encircle and suppress Qingyao Mountain. However, the county government knew that the bandits in Qingyao Mountain were familiar with the terrain and combat strategies, and they could not attack at all, but would suffer losses in the process.
They just sent soldiers to patrol the narrow road in Qingyao Mountain. For half a month, the bandits in Baitazhai retreated and did not move.
But this is not a long-term solution. Seeing that Xie Zhao, Bai Tu and others are trapped in the main hall all day long and are worried, Lu Tingwan needs to keep gaining the trust of the two if he wants to get out of Qingyao Mountain alive.
For this purpose, she asked Xie Zhao to send someone to take her to inspect the mountain. Xie Zhao assigned two people to her. Lu Tingwan inspected the back mountain near Baita Village and found that it was not impossible to grow crops with the terrain and soil of this mountain.
As long as the growth habits of crops and the soil and climate of Qingyao Mountain are combined, Baitazhai will have no problem being self-sufficient.
After returning to the village, she suggested to Xie Zhao that they use part of the money from selling spices to buy medicinal herbs and crop seeds, which would be useful for farming next year.
Taking advantage of the natural conditions in the mountains, they divided the villagers into small teams every day and sent people into the mountains to hunt and collect medicinal herbs, and then went down the mountain to sell their belongings and food, thereby increasing the village's revenue.
But they went up the mountain to be bandits, not to farm. If they wanted to farm, there was no need to go to such a harsh area as Qingyao Mountain. Bai Tu was the first to object, and it was also the first time he felt hostile towards Lu Tingwan.
"Let us cultivate the wasteland?" Bai Tu said gruffly, his face shrugged. "Miss Jiang, that's easy for you to say. It would be more satisfying to go down the mountain and rob people."
"What? Ah Zhao asked you to go down the mountain once, and you were scared like this?"
Lu Tingwan was calm and just waiting for Xie Zhao to express his opinion, but Xie Zhao did not respond for a long time.
I also want to hear Lu Tingwan's other reasons.
"Robbery on the mountain isn't a long-term solution. The first and second in command aren't just after money. If they were, why would they only rob the goods of the wealthy merchants, then painstakingly transport them up the mountain, and then use every possible means to exchange them for money?"
"Since we want to support these hundreds of villagers, this is not a good long-term strategy. The government is not intervening because it does not affect their interests. But in the future, who can guarantee that the county government will not ask the prefect for troops to attack Qingyao Mountain, or even alert the people in Kyoto?"
Lu Tingwan reasoned with him, "People from the county government are patrolling at the foot of the mountain right now. As long as the brothers come down the mountain and engage in a confrontation, we may not be able to gain the upper hand."
"Or does Master Bai want us brothers to take risks at this critical moment?"
"You," Bai Tu said angrily, seeing that he couldn't win the argument, "What do you know? If we are willing to farm in Qingyao Mountain, why would we run up the mountain to become robbers? Ah Zhao, tell me."
"Second Master Bai is right," Xie Zhao said calmly, fiddling with his arm crossbow. "Brothers don't want to be oppressed by the government. If we want to fight, we have a chance of winning."
Lu Tingwan hated their stubbornness and said, "What can we use to fight? The county government's soldiers might be able to hold out a bit, but what about the provincial government's army? What about the Kyoto's army?"
"I've heard that Duke Jiang of Kyoto will be returning from Shanhaiguan before the New Year. By then, the rampant banditry in Tanzhou has reached the court, and Duke Jiang is leading his cavalry to attack Qingyao Mountain. How dare you speak so outrageously?"
"Jiang Yanli!" Bai Tu couldn't bear it any longer and crushed the teacup with his bare hands. Hot tea mixed with blood filled the air, but Xie Zhao turned a blind eye.
The other people in the main hall didn't dare to make a sound.
Xie Zhaoni looked at her without saying a word.
"You have to listen to this even if you don't like it. Of course, if you think there's a better way to make a living, then just pretend I never came to the main hall today."
"How did Miss Jiang know that Duke Jiang was going to return to the capital?" Xie Zhao narrowed his eyes and looked at her.
Lu Tingwan swallowed hard, remaining composed. "I'm originally from the capital, having done business and returning home. Naturally, I'd hear reports from the border. And if the boss is concerned about this, he'd have sent people to Qingfeng County to inquire about it. I'm sure the news would have reached Tanzhou long ago."
"I'm not trying to alarm you or dampen your brothers' spirits. To the villagers, you are their breadwinners. With the leader's kindness and righteousness, even if he doesn't consider himself, he will consider others."
"Isn't it?"
Everyone in the hall focused their attention on Xie Zhao, who was still twirling his crossbow. After a long pause, he spoke calmly, "Then let's do as Miss Jiang says. Half of the brothers in the village will be assigned to patrol, and the rest will be at Miss Jiang's disposal."
As soon as the words fell, several people led by Bai Tu had different opinions and had nowhere to vent their anger. Xie Zhao knew Bai Tu's temper, but he still ignored him and took out the token from his waist and threw it at Lu Tingwan.
Lu Tingwan took the token, which was still warm.
Going up the hillside from the north of the village, there is a relatively flat forest land that can be reclaimed into arable land. According to the soil quality of Qingyao Mountain, it is suitable for growing wheat and cold-resistant and drought-resistant herbs.
By the end of the year, nearly ten acres of wasteland had been reclaimed. The government officials patrolled the mountain for half a month and then withdrew on their own. The county officials were just pretending and did not dare to actually attack.
Xie Zhao bought all the medicinal herbs and crop seeds that Lu Tingwan provided him, and all that he could buy during the winter.
Lu Tingwan was busy reclaiming wasteland and planting winter vegetables with the villagers in the back mountains. In her free time, when it wasn't snowing, she would go hunting with the villagers. She didn't know how to shoot arrows at first, but she got the hang of it over time. However, she seemed more interested in the crossbow in Xie Zhao's hand than in ordinary bows and arrows.
Xie Zhao often watched the figure negotiating with others from a distance. She bent down to pick up the loose soil, observed the soil quality, and then discussed farming methods with the villagers. The crowd surrounded her, and the simple villagers looked satisfied.
Lu Tingwan raised her sleeve to wipe away the stray hair from her forehead. Mud had rubbed against her cheeks, and her hands were red from the cold. When she looked up, she saw Xie Zhao on the hillside, nodding at her.
The setting sun hung on the top of the mountain, covering everything with golden light, and the villagers came down the mountain with their farming tools.
Lu Tingwan put down her rolled-up sleeves, and the two of them walked towards the path of the village. When they got close to Lu Tingwan, Xie Zhao handed her a box with both hands.
"Here." This is the frostbite cream that Xie Zhao found for her when he went down the mountain.
"What is this?" Lu Tingwan raised his eyebrows.
Xie Zhao's eyes fell on her red hands. "This is for you. Frostbite ointment."
There was still mud on her hands, and she was carelessly trying to wipe it on her cloth. Xie Zhao hurriedly stretched out his arm, and Lu Tingwan didn't understand why.
"Wipe me here."
"Thank you." Lu Tingwan didn't hesitate. After thanking him, he wiped his hands on his sleeves before taking the wooden box.
"You look rough, but you are actually very careful." Lu Tingwan praised.
"You've been busy for Baita Village, and what I do is insignificant." Xie Zhao was also very calm.
The afterglow fell on his shoulders. Lu Tingwan tilted his head and looked up at him. After thinking for a moment, he smiled to himself.
The setting sun lengthens the human shadows, and the evening breeze is coming.
After more than a month, Xie Zhao came to the thatched cottage to look for her several times because of the land reclamation. As the year drew to a close, Lu Tingwan saw him less and less.
After dark, Xie Zhao led his men down the mountain and into the city. The bandits used sharp arrows and handy weapons to break into the houses of the rich families and looted everything.
The soldiers chased them halfway, but after leaving the city, the bandits climbed up the mountain and dared not pursue them any further. If they dared to pass through the narrow path, Xie Zhao would immediately blow the whistle, and the rocks would instantly smash the soldiers' heads and armor.
These officers and soldiers also escaped the disaster out of fear of death. Xie Zhao reined in his horse and looked down at the officers and soldiers through the starlight from Yashan Mountain. Only when the men and horses retreated did the bandits return to the village.
The huge team returned to the village. Horses stood outside the main hall. The light of torches blew up the eaves in the wind. Lu Tingwan had just washed up and was about to go to bed, but she was aroused by the noise. She took her cloak from the wall and pushed the wooden door out.
The brothers outside the main hall were still celebrating their harvest tonight, while the doctor inside was treating Xie Zhao's wound. He had accidentally cut his palm when he broke out of the siege of the soldiers in the city. The bleeding had stopped and the doctor was wrapping it with gauze.
Lu Tingwan was stopped outside the hall, and the sound reached the main hall. Xie Zhao opened his tired eyes and said lazily, "Who is making a noise outside?"
Bai Tu turned over and jumped off the table, lifted the curtain and went out.
Lu Tingwan was held outside with a knife and couldn't come in.
After seeing Bai Tu come out, he waved his hand and his men put away their weapons. Lu Tingwan stood in front of the steps and looked up and asked, "Second Master Bai, where is Xie Zhao?"
"Thank you, thank you, Miss Jiang, it's not polite to call us the boss." Bai Tu leaned against the door frame with his arms folded, raised one foot to block her way, and provoked her with a nonchalant look.
Xie Zhao came from inside the room: "Bai Tu, let her in."
Bai Tu reluctantly put his legs down and lifted the curtain. Lu Tingwan glanced at Bai Tu sideways, and after entering, a gust of cold wind followed him.
Firewood was burning in the house for heating. The doctor packed up his medicine box and left. Lu Tingwan observed the situation. These people clearly exuded a murderous aura.
Staring at her gave one the illusion of being hunted.
Her gaze fell on Xie Zhao's bandaged palm again. As she walked away, she asked, "Xie Zhao, are you guys coming down the mountain?"
Xie Zhao took off his arm crossbow, threw it on the table, and leaned back in his chair: "Do I need to report this to you?"
Lu Tingwan was furious. These reckless men were so brute force, not considering the consequences at all. She was extremely annoyed but had to hold back her anger. "What did they steal this time?"
Bai Tu stepped forward and refuted, "Jiang Yanli, who are you? The two leaders of Baita Village are still here. Who gave you the courage to speak like that?"
"I have warned you not to go down the mountain at this critical moment. If you insist on going down the mountain to burn, kill and plunder without restraint, after this New Year, it is uncertain whether Baita Village will still have a leader."
Xie Zhao supported his temples with his other hand, leaning against the chair, and looking through the gaps between his fingers, Lu Tingwan's figure was made extremely small.
"The village doesn't have enough food left. This is the last time we go down the mountain this year." It seemed like a casual response, but it was the only thing Xie Zhao could think of to deal with her.
He knew that going down the mountain would bring risks. As Bai Tu said, they were bandits. If they were afraid of death, they would not do this business.
Since the village did not have enough food stored, they naturally had to go down the mountain. He also wanted the people in the village to have a decent New Year in Bai Ta Village.
Lu Tingwan was not clear about the situation in the village. He just thought that it could survive until the New Year, and the money he earned would be enough to buy food.
But Xie Zhao used most of it on forging weapons. This was a way out he left for himself and his brothers.
But he would not tell Lu Tingwan about this.
"Xie Zhao, can I talk to you?" Lu Tingwan lowered his voice. Xie Zhao raised his eyes and couldn't help but meet their gaze. It was as if a fire had collided in the snow and ice, emitting starlight.
Xie Zhao raised his arms and waved them twice, telling his men to leave.
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