Shulong Daojun

But the leopard-eyed man, seeing the panic among the refugees, suddenly shouted.

Immediately following was a roar from a thousand armored civilians.

The voices blended together, followed by the heavy creaking of leather armor rubbing against each other, pressing down with the heavy darkness of the night.

Below, the hundred or so refugees who had taken refuge saw this and their pupils suddenly contracted. They threw down their farm tools and scattered in all directions in a panic.

They usually focus on farming, so they've never seen anything like this before.

One person escapes, and a hundred escape; then a thousand, then ten thousand.

But behind them were armed civilians in armor, and in front of them were the tightly closed gates of the county town. Where could they possibly escape to?

Just then, a heavy object suddenly crashed down with a loud bang, and a ray of light pierced the night.

Swoosh—the door opened.

The fleeing refugees paused, looking in the direction of the light.

Dozens of county garrison soldiers, wearing gray iron helmets and old leather armor, stood in formation behind the gate, with worn-out bow sacks and swords at their waists and torches held high, ready for battle.

It was precisely because the county magistrate had sent out the garrison as agreed, just to make a show of it and provide cover.

At this moment, the refugees were already in a state of panic. Seeing this situation, their legs went weak and their throats tightened.

Some were so terrified they could not walk, some took the opportunity to sneak away in the dark, and others narrowly focused their eyes and tried to rush towards the city gate.

But then, someone suddenly cried out, "Spare me! Spare me! I surrender!"

As soon as he finished speaking, cries for mercy rang out one after another.

Although it was only a few words, it was enough to make people blindly follow.

After all, once one person spoke up, the other couldn't hold on any longer, and in a short while, the refugees were all kneeling down and begging for mercy.

Upon seeing this, the leopard-eyed man's face lit up with a slight smile, and he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "Having a group of body-refining junior brothers sneak in under the cover of night, pretending to be refugees begging for mercy, has indeed proven to be remarkably effective."

This time, I have not failed Senior Brother Beichen's trust.

Then, a thought struck him, and he waved his hand and shouted, "Stop—!"

The next moment, a series of hurried but orderly footsteps sounded, and the thousand armored civilians seemed to be nailed to the spot, not moving an inch.

They were panting heavily, their eyes filled with disbelief: They had won just like that? Their food, land, and houses were secured so easily?

But... it seems like they didn't do anything!

At the same time, Lin Shu also nodded slightly.

It is truly commendable that the unrest among refugees outside the county was quelled with such minimal casualties.

This man with leopard eyes is indeed a great talent who understands military strategy and warfare.

However, intimidation with military force is only a temporary measure; only by providing food and housing for the people can the situation be sustained in the long run.

Therefore, we need to take Pingjiang City as soon as possible, use the power of the officials in the city to take the lead in providing relief to the people who have taken refuge outside the city, and then order the counties and townships under our jurisdiction to follow suit.

As for where the relief supplies came from?

We can obtain it from the wealthy households in the city.

If they can manage to deliver grain and buy peace, then this matter shouldn't be difficult once they grasp the right measure.

Just provide enough food for a few days, and at the same time call on green rice and wheat to ripen to make up for the shortfall. The surplus food can then be returned to the large households.

After thinking it over, Lin Shu turned to Jiang Heng beside him and said softly, "Time is of the essence. Brother Jiang, after you have settled the refugees here, let's head to the next county."

Jiang Heng suppressed his joy and cupped his hands, saying, "Rest assured, my lord."

He understood what Lin Shu meant, and immediately took a step and strode towards the county town gate.

Neither the man with leopard eyes nor Kong Ling and the others were recognized by the county magistrate; they were all complete strangers.

Outside the county, a thousand armored civilians stood in formation, holding long spears. Judging from their array, without a clear explanation, one might think they were there to seize the county.

as predicted.

As soon as Jiang Heng arrived, he saw the county magistrate nervously scanning the surroundings, with several guards standing in front of him holding swords.

"Ah! It's young friend Jiang." The county magistrate was surprised and then delighted when he saw the familiar figure.

He immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Thanks to the troops from Chuzhou County, my worries have been relieved. I am extremely grateful."

After speaking, he sighed, as if remembering something, and asked with a hint of doubt, "But why did you come alone, young friend Jiang? Where is the magistrate of Chuxian County? Is he unwell?"

Jiang Heng smiled slightly and replied gently, "No, it's just that there are some urgent matters concerning people's livelihood in the county that need to be dealt with urgently, which is why I haven't arrived yet. I hope you will forgive me, sir."

"I see..." The county magistrate frowned slightly, glanced at the group of armored civilians nearby, and said with a wave of his hand, "I can understand. As the magistrate of a county, one should prioritize the affairs of the people within the county."

He paused for a moment, then coughed a few times, rubbed his forehead, and sighed, "It's just that I haven't been paying much attention these past few days, and I've caught a cold."

According to the doctor in the county, the medicine should be taken three times a day and once at night. Now is the time to take the medicine, and I need to rush back in time to prevent the illness from worsening.

"Then I won't keep you company any longer, young friend Jiang."

Having said that, he raised his hand and beckoned the guards beside him to follow him as they slowly walked into the city gate.

Jiang Heng chuckled softly, shook his head, and walked straight toward the refugees who had surrendered.

Whether the county magistrate is truly ill is not important; what matters is acting in accordance with the plan of the sage of the Manifestation of the Righteous God.

Then, Jiang Heng lowered his gaze slightly and said, "I am just like you all. I was transferred here by the Taoist using magic, so I know your suffering and desires."

Without further ado, I assure you all that food will be delivered tomorrow so that you will have something to eat.

Although all we can offer is thin porridge, it will be provided daily, and we will never let you go hungry.

These words were spoken.

The surrendered people exchanged glances, their eyes flickered slightly, and then they moved closer together, whispering among themselves.

If it were possible, who would willingly become a refugee and start an uprising? And who wouldn't want peace and stability?

If what this person said is true, it would be a great joy.

But how can we believe something that's just talk without any proof?

Before long, a voice rang out from among the surrendered people: "You say you have it, but what if you're lying to us?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of voices echoed in agreement, all expressing disbelief in the claim that there was grain.

Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes and said, "I am a person entrusted by the Azure Dragon in a dream and ordered to save the people. How could I deceive you?"

This place is not far from my hometown, Chuzhou. Is there anyone willing to go there? I will ask Kong Ling to take you there.

Whether it's true or false, you'll know at a glance.

As he spoke, he took a step forward, his gaze sweeping around, exuding an air of authority without anger.

Before the surrendered people could react, he smiled and said, "The armored men beside me were just like you a few days ago. If you don't believe me, you can ask them."

Upon hearing this, the surrendered people were stunned, and then their faces were filled with disbelief.

Azure Dragon? Food to eat? Military officer? It all seems like a dream.

After a brief silence, someone mustered up their courage and approached the armored civilians, revealing a cautious smile as they tentatively inquired.

Upon hearing the familiar dialect and seeing the armored civilians nodding repeatedly, a burst of joyful cheers erupted, stretching far and wide.