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

"They won't let us up the mountain?"

Chen Mo was startled.

Chen Mo naturally wouldn't refute Zhao, the military commander in front of him.

However, if we really can't go up the mountain for a few days, it will be a big problem.

The potatoes in the field have only just sprouted, and the crops in the vegetable garden are almost ready for harvest. If we delay for a few days, we will waste a lot of food.

Although the grain stored at home was enough to last for a while, the other villagers who were helping them reclaim the land were relying on food from the mountains every day. If they couldn't go up the mountain now, they were afraid they wouldn't last long and would have to break up.

Chen Mo suppressed his anxiety and cupped his hands, saying, "General, if I may be so bold as to ask, why are we not allowed to go up the mountain?"

"A vicious tiger has emerged from the mountains and has already injured many people. This general is preparing to rid the people of this scourge. You ordinary people are powerless to even kill a chicken. Going up the mountain at this time would be tantamount to throwing your lives away."

Lieutenant General Zhao continued to look down at Chen Mo.

Hearing this, Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out to be the case.

This General Zhao wanted to hunt the tiger himself and even offered a reward of two hundred taels of silver. Wasn't this an opportunity that was delivered right to our doorstep?

"General, although we are just ordinary people, we are experienced hunters and we have some traditional methods for dealing with tigers."

Chen Mo dared to speak again.

"Look at you, you dare to call yourselves experienced? My general will handle things personally. Do you need to come and join in the fun? Don't let the tiger carry you away and then we'll have to go through all the trouble to rescue you."

The soldier standing nearby said with disdain.

Upon hearing this, Sun Dazhu was about to speak in his defense when Chen Mo quietly nudged him with his elbow.

Sun Dazhu was slightly taken aback, but when he turned his head and saw Chen Mo's eyes, he immediately understood.

"Sir, you jest. My brother and I heard that there were tigers in the mountains that eat people. In order to protect the people living below, we went up the mountain to hunt them. If we can rid the people of this scourge and relieve the general's burden, that would be the best thing."

Chen Mo spoke earnestly again.

"What hunter goes up the mountain without a bow and arrows? I bet you're here to poach. Get down the mountain now and stop delaying the general's business!"

The soldiers looked Chen Mo and Sun Dazhu up and down, and seeing that the two were carrying wild rabbits but didn't have any decent weapons, they were even more disdainful.

"Please calm down, sir."

Chen Mo remained calm and explained, "We did bring bows and arrows, but we were afraid that the weapons would be exposed and disturb the general's hunting mood, so we hid them for the time being. Please understand, general."

Lieutenant General Zhao's gaze remained fixed on Chen Mo.

The young man in front of them, facing the reprimands of his soldiers, not only did not panic, but also spoke so clearly and logically, which was obviously different from ordinary villagers.

"Then tell me, what makes you so confident that you can hunt a tiger?"

Zhao, the military officer, suddenly spoke.

"These rabbits are what we just hunted. We offer them to the general as an apology for disturbing you earlier."

As Chen Mo spoke, he handed over the wild rabbit he was holding.

Sun Dazhu hesitated upon hearing this.

"Haha, I can hunt down a whole bunch of these little creatures with a flick of my wrist. There's no need for you to come."

Lieutenant General Zhao glanced at it briefly, then burst into laughter.

"The general is right."

Chen Mo nodded respectfully.

He had guessed that Zhao, the military advisor, wouldn't accept it, so he might as well leave a deep impression on him.

"As for hunting the tiger, I dare not say I am 100% sure, but I am 70% confident that I can hunt down that vicious tiger within three days."

Chen Mo continued.

"Seventy percent certain? Three more days?"

The soldier standing nearby also sneered.

"You really dare to boast! The tigers on Black Wind Ridge are so powerful that only our general is confident he can hunt them down; no one else dares to provoke them lightly. How can a country bumpkin like you make such a claim?"

The soldier scoffed.

Chen Mo ignored the mockery and turned to Zhao, the adjutant, saying, "General, if I can hunt down that vicious tiger in a single day, I will bring its carcass to see you tomorrow afternoon!"

"Within a single day?"

Upon hearing this, not only were the soldiers surprised, but even General Zhao was stunned for a moment.

He stared at Chen Mo's confident gaze and couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Good, I like your confident look. Since you're so sure, I'll give you the chance. Tomorrow at Shenshi (3-5 PM), take the tiger's carcass to Shannan Town, and someone will meet you there."

"Thank you for your kindness, General!"

Chen Mo quickly bowed in greeting.

The first step of the plan has been successful.

"We just don't know where the general is stationed in Shannan Town. We hope the general can tell us."

"Once you get to town, just tell me you're delivering a tiger to this general, and someone will naturally bring you over."

Zhao Canjiang's tone became serious again.

"But remember, if I don't see the tiger's carcass by Shenshi (3-5 PM) tomorrow, don't blame me for being impolite."

There was a hint of authority in those words.

"This humble citizen understands!"

Chen Mo responded respectfully.

General Zhao said no more, tightened the reins, and waved his hand.

"Walk!"

A dozen or so cavalrymen immediately followed and soon disappeared into the depths of the mountains and forests.

Only when the cavalrymen were completely out of sight did Sun Dazhu finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked in a low voice, "Brother Mo, didn't we already kill the tiger? Couldn't we have just said so directly? Why did we have to do all this? What if something goes wrong..."

"If I had just said it out loud, I don't know if I would have gotten the reward, and doing so wouldn't have gotten the attention of this Lieutenant General Zhao at all."

Chen Mo explained.

Moreover, they didn't know much about Zhao, the military officer. If they confessed everything, and the government troops denied it, Chen Mo and his men would be powerless to do anything about it.

Sun Dazhu was slightly taken aback, not understanding what he meant.

"I went to town yesterday and found out that the person who actually offered the reward is General Zhao, and it's a full two hundred taels of silver!" Chen Mo added.

"Two hundred taels?"

Sun Dazhu's eyes widened instantly.

I thought I would be satisfied with a few dozen taels of silver, but now that I can get on the good side of General Zhao, it will be much more than just a little money.

"We've been bullied by the Wang family all along. To get rid of them completely, we need to find a stronger backer."

Chen Mo stared in the direction the cavalry had gone.

"However, those government troops are not to be trifled with..."

Sun Dazhu hesitated slightly.

For him, getting the reward money as soon as possible was the most important thing.

But Chen Mo's vision extends far beyond that.

He will definitely avenge the Wang family.

"Don't worry, just do as I say, and there won't be any mistakes."

Chen Mo gave instructions.

"Go back and get ready now. We'll go up the mountain first thing tomorrow morning, and we'll borrow a cart from Uncle Li while we're at it."

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."

Sun Dazhu nodded.

That tiger is quite large; transporting it safely to Shannan Town won't be easy.

At this moment, although Chen Mo already had a plan in mind, he still couldn't put his mind at ease.

Whether or not we can find a powerful backer depends on this...