Chapter 441: The Workers Outside
Gudu Ferry.
Zhao Sheng, accompanied by a large group of workers, was drawing lines on the ground.
They meticulously arranged pebbles, forming long, neat lines that outlined the approximate shape of the future district.
As he laid out the lines, Zhao Sheng glanced at the Heavenly Lord's design blueprints in his hand and declared loudly, "Here, we'll build a town office. The town chief who manages this town will work here in the future."
The workers quickly marked the center of the pebbled area, indicating where the building would stand.
"This area will be built into shops... where merchants can buy and sell goods."
"And here, residences will be built..."
Zhao Sheng spoke as he walked, but it wasn't long before he began to falter, wheezing gasps punctuating his words.
A young man from Qingjian County ran over, holding a large bowl filled with a fragrant yet bitter herbal concoction. "Sir, your Asthma Relief Decoction is ready."
When he rested, the others couldn't proceed, as they had to wait for his instructions, severely impacting work efficiency.
Just as he was fretting, two old farmers suddenly rushed over, carrying a soft sedan chair made of bamboo. With cheerful smiles, they said, "Mr. Zhao, please sit on this. We'll carry you, and you won't be so tired."
Zhao Sheng protested, "Oh? How can I allow that?"
The two old farmers insisted, "You are our great benefactor. We don't know how to repay you, so please just let us do our part."
With such earnest words, Zhao Sheng found it difficult to refuse any longer. He meekly climbed into the soft sedan chair, and the immediate difference was profound. Carried swiftly by the two old farmers, he could visit any construction site he wished.
He rushed to one site, then rushed to another. Zhao Sheng was naturally impatient, his movements previously restricted by asthma. Now, free from that worry, he felt his efficiency multiply several times over. His presence was seen everywhere across the entire ferry construction site...
"Oh, right," Zhao Sheng turned to ask two young monks, "I heard yesterday that the cement factory was short on limestone. Has that problem been resolved?"
The two young monks, eager to prove themselves, quickly replied, "Sun Genping from Sunjia Village led over a hundred people and found limestone near a small hill two li to the north. They're organizing a convoy today to transport the rocks back."
Zhao Sheng smiled. "That's good."
No sooner had they spoken than shouts erupted from outside the camp. The workers who had gone to dig limestone were running back in a panic, having apparently abandoned their small pushcarts.
Zhao Sheng blinked in surprise. "Hm?"
Zhan Seng shot forward, urgently asking, "What happened?"
Sun Genping, who was leading the charge, looked embarrassed. "We had finished digging the limestone and loaded the carts, just about to transport them back, when a group of roving bandits suddenly appeared. They scared us half to death, so we had to abandon the carts and run back."
Zhan Seng's expression darkened. "More roving bandits?"
Zhao Sheng also chimed in, "Oh? How can this be? I'll go find Commander Zao and have the cavalry reclaim our limestone carts."
Everyone quickly sprang into action...
The camp instantly became a hive of activity. Zao Ying's entire Gao Family Village Cavalry Battalion was called to an emergency assembly, mounting their horses.
However, just then, a sentinel on the watchtower suddenly shouted, "People are coming from outside the camp! Look north, a convoy has appeared from the north!"
Several leaders climbed the watchtower and peered north. To their astonishment, a large group of raggedly dressed people, looking very much like bandits, were pushing the limestone carts toward the Gudu Ferry.
With this unexpected development, the cavalry's immediate sortie was put on hold. Everyone quietly watched the situation unfold.
The group stopped an arrow's shot away from the camp. The leading man, with hands raised and unarmed, walked forward and shouted towards the camp, "Good folk, don't shoot! We're not here to fight you. What just happened was a misunderstanding. We didn't steal your carts. Look, we've pushed them back for you, loaded with stones."
The people in the camp exchanged bewildered glances. After a few seconds, Xing Honglang called out, "I'm Xing Honglang of Yongji! Who are you?"
"We are farmers from Linyi County to the north. You can hear our Shanxi accent," the leader replied. "A few days ago, Old Zhang Fei's men robbed us and forced us to join their rebels. We came here with them... and even attacked your camp, but we weren't on the front lines. We hid in the back... we didn't even go to battle. We ran away as soon as the fighting started."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the camp paused in unison.
Well, that story was believable! Anyone who had dared to charge the camp that time had, nine times out of ten, ended up as a corpse—either killed by hand grenades, flintlock rifles, or expertly dispatched by He Ping...
The farmer shouted, "We didn't want to be bandits. They held knives to our throats and forced us to follow them. When we saw you kill Old Zhang Fei, we didn't dare to come and surrender to you. But, but we've been hiding nearby and secretly watching for days. You're different from other bandits. You're building a camp, and you even provide work for people..."
As he spoke, everyone in the camp understood: they had come to seek refuge.
Zhan Seng pressed his palms together. "Amitabha Buddha! Evil deeds instill fear and drive people away, but good deeds attract them. These people have been drawn by Commander Xing's benevolent actions. This humble monk believes they can be trusted."
Xing Honglang also recognized their Shanxi accent. Since they weren't from Shaanxi, they must be local Shanxi commoners who had been coerced. "They can be trusted, but not completely. I think it's best not to let them into the camp for now, to prevent them from starting a fire in the dead of night and coordinating with outsiders. Let them work outside the camp, digging and transporting limestone for us, and pay them their wages."
Lao Nanfeng and Zao Ying both nodded, feeling the plan was sound.
Gao Chuwu grinned. "Sounds good!"
As the general-in-chief of the Shanxi "expeditionary force," his approval settled the matter.
Xing Honglang leaned over the camp wall and called out loudly, "Understood! You don't want to be bandits anymore, right?"
The farmer outside replied, "We were never bandits to begin with."
"Alright! That makes things easier," Xing Honglang said. "Then we'll keep you here to work. Your job is to dig stones and transport them back to our camp. We'll give each of you three catties of flour every day."
The people outside cheered. "That's wonderful! We'll have food!"
Comments