Chapter 478: Those Who Can Be Saved Must Be Saved
The leaders were instantly startled. "Wang Jiayin's main force has already reached Qinshui County!"
Qinshui County was indeed not far from the Gudu Ferry.
Moreover, the rebel forces weren't a tightly organized group. When Wang Jiayin's main army arrived in an area, it often meant that hundreds of miles around were teeming with his various factions: Zijing Liang, Chuǎng Wang, Lao Huihui, Cao Cao, the Eight Great Kings of the Southern Camp, the Eight Great Kings of the Western Camp....
These groups rarely operated directly with Wang Jiayin's main force, but they never strayed too far, with hundreds of thousands of rebels spread out across a radius of several hundred miles.
Xing Honglang pulled out a map, her face darkening. "Our Xiao Lake is in danger."
Xiao Lake had no garrison. Only a large group of salt makers had secretly built a salt village there, producing salt. Due to the remote location of Xiao Lake, the authorities had never bothered with it, so there was no concern about being discovered by officials. But with the rebels coming, things would be different.
Rebels loved to sneak into desolate, uninhabited places to hide from government troops. They could easily discover the salt village, and the salt makers there would be far from safe.
"We can't evacuate the salt makers," Zhao Sheng said. "Gao Family Village's soda ash factory has an immense demand for salt right now. The salt supply cannot be interrupted, so the salt makers can't leave. But under such critical circumstances, keeping them at Xiao Lake would put them too much at risk."
Zao Ying spoke up, "I'll lead a team over first. The Gao Family Village Cavalry Battalion can temporarily station themselves at the salt village and protect the salt makers. If it's a small band of rebels, I can eliminate them. If it's a large force, I'll mount the salt makers on horseback and flee."
Zao Ying clasped her fists in salute, exited the camp, and, taking three hundred cavalry, rode like the wind towards Xiao Lake. As she rode, she suddenly felt something was off. Why did she keep hearing a clatter-clatter sound whenever her warhorse moved?
She turned her head and saw that the Puppet Heavenly Lord was actually sitting on the horse's rump, rising and falling with the animal's gait. The wooden blocks on the Puppet Heavenly Lord would collide, creating that distinct clattering sound.
Zao Ying jumped in surprise. "Oh, Heavenly Lord, when did you get on the horse?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "The moment you did."
Zao Ying said, a little flustered, "If you had spoken up earlier, I would never have let you sit on the horse's rear. I would have had you sit in front, and held you carefully."
*I deliberately sat on the horse's rump precisely because I didn't want a female gorilla holding me in her arms*, Li Daoxuan thought. *Just think about it: a giant female gorilla hugging a puppet. Is that a beautiful image?*
What a horror story!
However, that would be too hurtful to say directly. Li Daoxuan certainly wouldn't voice it, simply stating calmly, "I prefer sitting here. You don't need to concern yourself."
Zao Ying said, a little embarrassed, "If you come with me, then your statue won't be at the Gudu Ferry, and without the Heavenly Lord's protection, everyone's hearts will be uneasy."
Li Daoxuan replied, "It's fine. They'll just make another one."
Zao Ying nodded, said no more, and simply spurred her horse to greater speed.
With the Heavenly Lord sitting behind her, she felt a little nervous, but also a heightened sense of responsibility.
After a hasty advance for some time, they arrived at Xiao Lake.
After several months of operation, the salt village beside Xiao Lake had begun to take shape. Many thatched huts had been built, several salt-drying ponds dug, and a bamboo fence erected around the village, providing a rudimentary defensive capability.
The salt makers now produced salt that was directly collected by Gao Family Village. They were paid ten copper coins per jin, five times the two copper coins per jin the authorities offered. If they didn't want money, they could be paid directly in grain.
This arrangement filled the salt makers with enthusiasm for their work.
Upon seeing Zao Ying's cavalry team arrive, the salt makers immediately crowded around, chattering excitedly as they greeted her. "Leader Zao is here again!"
"Hello, Leader Zao!"
"Wow, why are so many cavalry here this time? Has something happened?"
"Are the officials coming?"
The salt makers felt a little flustered. Seeing so many cavalry, even a fool would know something was amiss.
Seeing that the salt makers were still safe, Zao Ying breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that you're alright. Wang Jiayin's army has reached Qinshui County, two hundred li from here. Leader Xing was worried about your safety and sent me to look after you."
Hearing this, the salt makers were quite moved. "With Leader Xing looking after us, it's a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes! We'll certainly be safe with you here. The ones we truly need to worry about might be our fellow salt makers still at Xie Lake who haven't come over. Xie Lake is a big target, after all."
Zao Ying was a little startled to hear this. *That's true!* she thought to herself. Although Hedong Circuit, next to Xie Lake, had government troops stationed there, the fighting power of the Salt Administration Bureau's soldiers was negligible. If Wang Jiayin wanted to deal with them, it would probably take no effort at all.
Considering it further, the rebels must also be in great need of salt. They would likely raid Xie Lake.
What was to be done?
Just as she was hesitating, the Puppet Heavenly Lord suddenly spoke. "Send scouts to keep an eye on Xie Lake. If the Hedong Circuit's soldiers are ineffective, the salt makers might be harmed. We must extend a helping hand. We cannot stand by idly for any common folk we are capable of saving."
Zao Ying's spirits lifted. "As you command, Heavenly Lord!"
Soon, the scouts were organized. Xie Lake was vast, too large for a single scout to cover, so a scout team of ten was dispatched. They were all veteran horse bandits, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and very alert. Dressed in light clothing, with light swords and bows, they galloped towards Xie Lake. Upon reaching the shore, the lake, tens of li long, appeared relatively peaceful; there were no signs of rebel activity for the time being. The scouts dispersed, spreading out to various points along the lake's edge....
Meanwhile, in Hedong Circuit.
Tie Niaofei, with his eighteen subordinates, swaggered through the military barracks of Hedong Circuit.
Despite being a salt smuggler, he could stroll freely through the official barracks, and the soldiers were quite polite to him. Whenever they saw him, they would clasp their fists in greeting. "Leader Tie! Good to see you!"
"Where have you been making a fortune lately, Leader Tie?"
"Next time you're dealing in salt, cut us brothers in on some of the profits."
Tie Niaofei clasped his fists in return, his face adorned with a false smile. "Don't worry, don't worry. If I have food, you'll have food too."
The soldiers all laughed.
Tie Niaofei, however, mentally spat, cursing inwardly, *A bunch of greedy wretches.*
He slipped into the Salt Administration Bureau official's residence. The official was seated grandly in an armchair, and upon seeing Tie Niaofei enter, he smiled as if he had just seen a giant silver ingot. "Ah, Master Tie, you've arrived. What good business do you have to discuss with me this time?"
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