The First Killer God of the Tang Dynasty

Zhang Yang's face was ashen, and he remained silent for a long time.

Although Ximan Village is adjacent to Guodu Town, it is not within the jurisdiction of Guodu Town.

The Uyghurs dared not touch Guodu Town, but instead, to vent their anger, they massacred the entire Ximan Village!

The people of Ximan Village are also people of the Tang Dynasty, and they are also Zhang Yang's compatriots!

Zhang Yang's eyes grew increasingly cold, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

"Were the ones who made the move Uyghurs from Tuntian Fortress?"

Guo Shitou nodded.

"There are only four or five elderly people and seven or eight children left in Ximan Village."

"Settle them all in Guodu Town. I'll avenge them soon!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Shitou was startled and quickly tried to dissuade him.

"Brother, General Li specifically asked you to prioritize the overall situation."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Yang looked up and said with a sinister expression.

"If you can't even protect the common people, what kind of grand strategy do you have to talk about!"

In response, Zhang Yang also felt that the plan to take Tuntianbao should be brought forward.

However, unlike the rebel army of the Great Yan, the Uyghur soldiers in these garrison forts all huddled in their bunkers, two-story earthen buildings with arrow slits inside, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Wolf-tooth spears are not effective for defending against enemies.

Then, Zhang Yang looked up at his wife, Liu Yun'er, who was waiting beside him.

"Yunniang".

This time, Yunniang was smarter and hurried over to Zhang Yang with small, quick steps.

With an innocent look on her face, she asked, "Husband, what are your orders?"

"Go back and call Qiaoniang, and gather all the women and elderly people in the village. I'll find you a place where you can grind the sulfur into fine powder and store it. Also, collect the charcoal and grind it into powder. Pay them whatever wages are due, and men and women can work together."

Seeing her husband's expression, Yunniang knew that this matter was very important. She nodded and immediately turned around to go back to the village to make preparations.

"Remember, never let it come into contact with fire!" Zhang Yang shouted.

"Understood." Yunniang turned her head and smiled back before continuing on her way.

To make gunpowder, sulfur and charcoal alone are not enough; saltpeter is also needed.

In ancient times, saltpeter was also used to treat diseases, promote urination and detoxification, and reduce swelling.

If you want to obtain large quantities of saltpeter, the only option now is to try your luck at the pharmacy.

"Stone, you guys come with me to the town's pharmacy."

Just as the group was about to leave, a familiar figure appeared before him.

Zhang Rourou, the girl he rescued from the Uyghurs.

Standing next to Zhang Rourou was a burly, somewhat simple-minded young man carrying four or five thick bamboo poles on his back, looking around curiously.

When she saw Zhang Yang, she was overjoyed and immediately pulled the young man to run to Zhang Yang.

Without saying a word, he pulled the young man and made him kneel down in front of Zhang Yang.

"Little Lu, quick, quickly kowtow to the master! He's the great benefactor who saved my life and helped us bury my father!"

The young man didn't hesitate at all, and immediately kowtowed three times to Zhang Yang.

The ground creaked and groaned from the impact.

Zhang Yang quickly helped the two up and glanced at the sturdy bamboo still standing to the side.

Those bamboo stalks were as thick as a thigh. Although they were unusable, each one weighed seventy or eighty pounds.

This kid carried several of them without even breaking a sweat; he's practically born with superhuman strength.

"My benefactor, my sister said that my life belongs to you, so my life is yours from now on."

Although Zhang Lu may seem a bit slow-witted, his eyes are clear, and his words carry weight.

Zhang Yang patted Zhang Lu on the shoulder and found that although the boy was young, he had a very strong frame and solid muscles, making him a good candidate for martial arts training.

"Good lad, you've got some strength. Interested in joining my team?"

Zhang Lu smiled sheepishly.

"Whatever my benefactor says goes."

Zhang Yang laughed heartily; this kid was so adorably naive.

"You don't need to cut bamboo anymore. From now on, you'll follow your brother Stone and train every day. I'll give you military pay."

Zhang Lu shook his head like a rattle drum.

He waved his hands repeatedly in refusal.

"It's already a great favor that my benefactor is willing to take me in. Just provide me with food; I can eat a lot. I can't accept any money."

"Just take it when I tell you to. Don't worry, I'll make sure you eat your fill. I'll give you as much as you can eat."

Upon hearing Zhang Yang's words, Zhang Lu scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly.

"That's great."

After settling Zhang Lu in, Zhang Yang said to Zhang Rourou, "Rourou, I'm going to the pharmacy. I won't stay any longer. If you need anything at home, just go to Guojia Village and ask your sister-in-law."

Zhang Rourou waved her hands repeatedly, then asked with some concern.

"My benefactor, are you sick? Why are you going to the pharmacy?"

"No, I'm going to see if I can find any saltpeter; I'll need it."

At this point, Zhang Rourou paused for a moment, then quickly searched her body and soon pulled out a small bamboo tube from her waist.

With a pour, several snow-white, translucent saltpeter crystals appeared on my hand.

"My benefactor, is this what you're talking about?"

Instantly, Zhang Yang's eyes lit up, and he quickly grabbed Zhang Rourou's hand and asked excitedly.

"That's right, where did you get it from?"

Zhang Rourou pointed in the direction of their house.

"Our house is by the river, and the firewood is a bit damp, so it's not easy to start a fire. I picked up these saltpeter stones from the ground to use as kindling. If you want them, there's plenty of them in the fields over there."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang was so excited he almost jumped up on the spot.

Overjoyed, he hugged Zhang Rourou's shoulders, gesturing wildly as he exclaimed, "Rourou, do you know how much you've helped me!"

Then he turned to Guo Shitou and said.

"Go and tell the brothers who are training that after training, they should do nothing but go to the fields and collect saltpeter."

"Understood, brother."

Zhang Yang said to Zhang Rourou with a serious expression.

"Rou Rou, you've helped me so much, I have no way to thank you. Go to Guo Family Village and find your two sisters-in-law, and ask them to give you ten taels of silver."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rourou directly refused.

"My benefactor, it is already an honor for Rou Rou to be able to help you. Rou Rou absolutely cannot accept your money. Absolutely not."

Seeing Zhang Rourou's determined gaze, Zhang Yang took a deep breath.

Unlike Zhang Lu, Zhang Rourou speaks clearly and logically, as if she has studied.

"Rou Rou, you've been to school?"

"When I was a child, I studied with the village scholar for two years and learned to read a few characters."

Zhang Yang suddenly realized.

Do you know arithmetic?

"I know a little bit about it."

"Great! Then you can help me receive goods at this receiving yard. From now on, you'll be the registrar of Guodu Town. We share the same surname, so you'll be my younger sister, and Xiao Lu will be my younger brother. Call me brother."

With tears in her eyes, Zhang Rourou spoke to her brother in a trembling voice.

"elder brother!"