A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

"Listen, charge!"

Wang Laoqi shouted again.

Then, the crowd parted, and some people carried several ladders, looking as if they were about to launch a full-scale attack on the village.

Even at the very front of the procession, some people were holding wooden shields and slowly approaching the village.

Wang Laoqi and others rode their horses and stood behind the refugee column to supervise the battle.

Although this group of refugees was completely undisciplined and lacked fighting ability, as long as there were enough of them, they could cause damage to Lingtou Village.

The villagers in the village gripped their weapons tightly, their faces showing unease.

Given the vast disparity in troop strength between the enemy and ourselves, a direct confrontation might not be enough to hold out...

"Looks like it's going to be another tough battle..."

Liang Ming withdrew his gaze, drew his knife, and prepared to fight.

These refugees before me are emaciated and pale; they cannot withstand the threat.

However, with so many enemies, casualties were inevitable in the village.

"Brother Mo, I've brought the things."

At this moment, Sun Dazhu and the others brought the potatoes up.

"Throw all the potatoes into the crowd."

Chen Mo gave the instructions.

"What?"

Sun Dazhu was stunned.

These are all precious grains; if we just throw them away, wouldn't that be giving them to the enemy for nothing?

"leave."

After saying that, Chen Mo personally took a potato and threw it into the line of refugees.

"Be careful!"

Suddenly, someone in the group of refugees shouted, making it seem as if the villagers were about to retaliate.

But the next moment, a potato fell into the crowd.

The refugees nearby immediately stopped and looked at the potatoes on the ground with some confusion.

"Listen up, you outsiders! All you want is a meal, right? Why risk your lives? In that case, we'll give you all the grain from our village for free!"

Chen Mo shouted loudly, then picked up a few potatoes and threw them outside.

Previously, the village had stolen the Huang family's white rice, and they rarely ate potatoes. Although grain was precious, special measures were necessary during this special period.

The villagers hesitated for a moment, but seeing the refugee procession stop, they followed suit and threw potatoes at them.

Soon, potatoes rained down, hitting the heads of the refugees.

The refugees stood frozen in place, no longer moving forward, staring at the grain on the ground with considerable doubt in their eyes.

Is all of this grain?

"Don't believe him! These things are poisonous; those rebels are trying to poison you!"

At this moment, Wang Laoqi shouted urgently.

This Chen Mo actually wants to use food to turn the displaced people against their cause?

Wang Laoqi realized that if Chen Mo succeeded, everything the government had done would be in vain.

"Everyone, look carefully, this is real food, there's no poison!"

Chen Mo shouted again, then put a potato in his mouth.

"The government wants you to die in vain. What have they given you? Just empty promises. Now, if you stop and pick up the grain on the ground, I guarantee I won't harm you!"

Chen Mo's words immediately made the refugees present hesitate.

The government gave them a meal, but now they're being sent to the front lines to die in vain.

A moment later, someone boldly picked up a potato from the ground, smelled it, and then began to eat it heartily.

"They can really eat!"

Someone shouted in surprise.

Upon hearing this, the refugees nearby squatted down and picked up the potatoes from the ground.

Now that we can eat without fighting, who would want to die?

"What are you doing? All of you, get him!"

When Wang Laoqi saw the group stop, he became anxious and lashed the group of refugees with his whip.

Those refugees were beaten, but they didn't care at all.

After all, they don't care about the pain just to get a meal.

Seeing the commotion among the refugees, the villagers in the village breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're the one who has a solution."

Liang Ming smiled faintly.

Chen Mo shouted outside again, "Listen to me, as long as you're willing to join the village, we can provide you with food every day, and we can also distribute land to everyone!"

Distribute land?

Upon hearing these three words, the refugees outside immediately stopped in their tracks.

The reason they became refugees was because they lost their land and had nowhere else to go but to flee famine and come here.

If they could regain their land, who would want to be a refugee?

The refugees looked at each other, the madness in their eyes gradually fading, replaced by hesitation.

"Don't listen to his nonsense. There are only twenty people in the village. If you all attack together, you can easily break through. Then everything inside will be yours!"

Wang Laoqi shouted urgently again.

If they don't act soon, those refugees will be deceived by Chen Mo.

"We're not just twenty men, brothers, fire the arrows!"

Chen Mo ordered.

Then, the villagers in the village all drew their bows and arrows and shot them outwards.

However, these arrows did not hit the refugees; they simply landed on the open ground nearby.

"See that? If you dare to force your way in, next time these arrows will be aimed at your bodies. I'll say it again, as long as you lay down your weapons, join us, and resist the oppression of the government, we will give you food, not only these potatoes, but also white rice porridge, pickled vegetables, and even meat..."

Chen Mo raised his voice again.

Hearing Chen Mo's words, the refugees outside had already begun to waver.

Looking at the arrows that had been shot into the ground, how could they possibly break into the village with these broken pieces of metal?

"Don't listen to his instigation! Anyone who dares to retreat will be killed by the authorities!"

Wang Laoqi was immediately enraged.

Seeing that the refugees in front of him remained unmoved, Wang Laoqi became furious and started whipping them.

"Get to work now, or we'll all starve!"

The whip struck the refugee's face hard, leaving a bloody welt.

"Listen up, you lot! This Wang Laoqi, and the government officials, killed countless refugees back then. Have you heard about what happened in Shannan Town? Those refugees were beaten to death. If you don't resist, that's what will happen to you!"

Seeing that the fire was ready, Chen Mo quickly added more firewood.

"Chen Mo! You beast! You bandit! Shut the hell up!"

Wang Laoqi cursed loudly.

"If you don't move now, you're all going to die! Men, make your move!"

In his haste, he ordered the supervising team behind him to force the refugees to rush forward.

"That man is right. We're just trying to eat; why should we risk our lives?"

Suddenly, someone in the group of refugees shouted.

Seeing that the supervisory team was about to make a move, the refugees were instantly enraged.

"That's outrageous!"

A stir arose in the crowd, and the group of refugees changed direction, rushing towards Wang Laoqi and the group of constables.

Wang Laoqi's expression changed drastically. He never expected that these refugees would actually dare to turn against him.

"Kill these scoundrels!"

Wang Laoqi was terrified, but dared not linger. He immediately turned around and rode his horse desperately to escape out of the mountains.

Seeing that Wang Laoqi had left, the group of government officials panicked and hurriedly spurred their horses to gallop away.

The refugees brandished their weapons and chased after them for quite some time before finally stopping.

They turned back and looked at Chen Mo on the village wall.