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

As Wang Mang's servants swarmed forward, Chen Mo remained completely calm.

Over the past few months, Chen Mo has been constantly climbing mountains and doing all sorts of hard work, and his body has become very strong.

And these bluffing servants were all show and no substance.

Chen Mo had just drawn the short knife from his waist and taken a step forward when the group of servants stopped in their tracks, too frightened to approach.

"Is this kid really going to use a knife?"

The servants, who were used to showing off their power alongside Wang Mang, dared not actually make a move against a truly ruthless person, even if they had an overwhelming numerical advantage.

Seeing his men hesitate, Wang Mang lost his temper, snatched the stick from one of them, and roared, "Do you think he really dares to make a move? All of you, get him! I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

After saying that, he pushed the servants on both sides forward, while he hid behind to watch the show.

The two servants, steeling themselves, struck Chen Mo with their sticks.

But then Chen Mo moved, smashing past the two servants and charging straight at Wang Mang.

Wang Mang turned pale with fright and tried to grab his men to block him, but Chen Mo was incredibly fast and kicked Wang Mang in the stomach.

Wang Mang was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.

The Wang family servants standing nearby were instantly stunned, at a loss for what to do.

Chen Mo was too fast; they couldn't react at all.

"Brother Mang, are you alright?"

The group of people retreated and helped Wang Mang up from the ground.

Wang Mang clutched his stomach, unable to react for a long time.

This Chen Mo actually dared to lay a hand on him?!

"Get out of here now! If you dare to barge into my house again, I'll make you bleed!"

Chen Mo's tone even carried a hint of murderous intent.

Previously, Chen Mo had no powerful backing and was subservient to the Wang family, never daring to reveal his strength. But now, he is the one who has united the entire village, and he no longer needs to be cowardly towards the Wang family.

The servants, who had been so aggressive just moments before, were now frozen in place.

"Kill him!"

Wang Mang was furious and kept urging him on.

The servants looked at each other, and could only grit their teeth, grip their sticks, and slowly approach Chen Mo.

Chen Mo's eyes turned cold, and he was about to make a move.

"stop!"

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard outside.

"Wang Mang! How dare you kill someone in the village?!"

When everyone turned around, they saw Li Laogen leading more than twenty villagers, holding hoes and wooden sticks, surrounding Wang Mang and his group.

"Li Laogen? What do you want with this bunch of troublemakers?"

Wang Mang struggled to his feet and angrily glared at the crowd.

"Lingtou Village is not a place for your Wang family to run wild. You've come to cause trouble time and time again. Do you really think we're easy to bully?"

Li Laogen said with a stern expression.

"So what if we bully you? You bunch of lowly commoners, daring to oppose the Wang family? Are you planning a rebellion?"

Wang Mang roared, his voice fierce but his heart filled with fear.

"Lingtou Village does not welcome outsiders who come to cause trouble. Get out of my house right now."

Chen Mo sheathed his dagger and scanned Wang Mang and the others.

"Yes, get out!"

"If you don't leave, we won't be polite!"

The villagers nearby echoed his sentiments, raising their weapons in a powerful display of force.

The servants Wang Mang brought turned pale with fright and retreated hastily, whispering, "Brother Mang, they outnumber us. Why don't we go back first and bring more men to teach them a lesson next time?"

Wang Mang was furious as he looked at the villagers who had surrounded him, but he also knew that if he really fought with these villagers, he would definitely not have the upper hand.

"Chen Mo, you just wait!" Wang Mang glared fiercely at Chen Mo, then turned around and said with considerable resentment, "Let's go!"

After saying that, he hurriedly fled with his men.

Chen Mo and the villagers drove Wang Mang and his men out of the village before he felt at ease.

"The Wang family will definitely not let this go so easily."

Chen Mo murmured.

"Now that we've already broken ties with the Wang family, if they dare send anyone to cause trouble again, we'll just take action!"

One of the villagers shouted.

"That's right. Now that we're united, why would we be afraid of just one Wang family?"

"If a fight really breaks out, those good-for-nothings from the Wang family are no match for us!"

The villagers all agreed.

These days, after following Chen Mo to reclaim the wasteland, they no longer need to live at the mercy of the Wang family. Since the other party has gone too far, all the villagers no longer need to endure it.

"Everyone, please don't act rashly."

Li Laogen slowly walked out from the crowd.

The villagers' chatter gradually subsided.

"The Wang family has powerful connections in the government, which is why they act so recklessly. If things really escalate and the authorities send people to hold us accountable, we won't be able to withstand it."

Li Laogen sighed.

After all, the villagers were just ordinary people, and they didn't have the confidence to fight against the government.

"What are you afraid of, the government? Our Brother Mo has General Zhao backing him up. Last time Wang Mang set fire to the mountain, wasn't he arrested by the government troops? If the government really dares to favor the Wang family, let's go find General Zhao to settle this!"

One of the villagers spoke up.

"Yes, with the government troops as our backing, what are we afraid of from the authorities..."

The crowd started discussing it again.

"Everyone, calm down. Things aren't that simple. Right now, we're just clearing land for the government troops and providing them with food. General Zhao might not really protect us forever."

Chen Mo's expression was solemn.

Hearing this, the villagers calmed down a little.

Chen Mo knew very well that what Zhao Canjiang valued was never any particular person, but rather the grain requisitioned from Lingtou Village.

Lingtou Village was just a small village, and the grain it collected was only a small fraction of what the government troops received, far from enough to feed all the soldiers of Zhao's army.

Chen Mo still has value, and that's why General Zhao is protecting Chen Mo and his associates in order to suppress the local gentry.

But if those local gentry unite, Lingtou Village alone cannot defeat them.

"So, Brother Mo, what should we do?"

Someone couldn't help but ask.

"The most urgent task is to repair the village as soon as possible and then protect the fields in the mountains."

Chen Mo said in a serious tone.

The village is located in a valley. As long as the village is built up and the entrances and exits are guarded, it will not be so easy for outsiders to come in and cause trouble.

Nowadays, the main roads leading up the mountain are mostly behind the village entrance, which also ensures the safety of the fields on the mountain.

"Brother Mo is right. We have enough manpower now, so we should seize the time and get to work."

"I've heard that there are more bandits in the north recently, so it's really necessary to repair the village."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The reclamation work in the mountains is now basically complete.

Thanks to Chen Mo's system intelligence and the hard work of the entire village for more than a month, more than 200 acres of potato fields have been cultivated in the village area.

Now, the mountain only needs regular watering and fertilization, and occasionally villagers are organized to pick fruits and fish. There is no need for so many people.

"Since everyone agrees, I will redistribute the manpower."

Chen Mo immediately made the arrangements.

It's only noon now, but many people have already carried axes and gone up the mountain to cut down trees.

"Mowa, there's something I need to tell you."

At this moment, Li Laogen walked to Chen Mo's side, his tone quite solemn.