If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

The day after Tang Su left Heifengkou, the first batch of grain carts began to descend the mountain.

The dozen or so large carts that Black Wind Village originally used to transport stolen goods were all overturned.

The broken axles were temporarily reinforced by Bai Zhi and her craftsmen, while the wheels that were missing were simply dismantled from the village and remade.

Of course, it was impossible to transport more than 300 shi of grain all at once.

Shen Qinghe stood at the entrance of the grain depot, holding the military register, and first recalculated the current rations of the four forts.

Qingyabao is in dire need of supplies.

Iron Gate Fortress is the second.

Duanhebao just received eight cartloads of grain, which should last them a few more days.

Although Blackrock Fortress has the largest population, its inventory is slightly larger than that of the other fortresses.

Xu Qingshan read the numbers she listed.

"Save those who are starving to death first."

"More will be given from Qingya Fort."

"Don't take too much from Broken River Fortress."

Shen Qinghe asked, "What about Black Stone Fortress?"

"Reserve a batch of reserve grain."

"If any fortress suddenly runs out of food in the future, Blackrock Fortress can replenish it at any time."

She picked up her pen and made a few changes.

How are the warhorses divided?

Most of the more than sixty warhorses in Zangma Valley have been gathered back.

The dozen or so horses that had run the furthest away were also found and brought back by Aman and his men along the mountain gully.

Those who are seriously injured should rest for the time being.

Those that were still rideable were lined up and tied outside the village gate.

Xu Qingshan walked over and touched the neck of a blue horse.

"Leave half of Blackrock Fortress."

"The Iron Gate and the Broken River will each receive a portion."

"The mountain road is narrow, and there's no use for too many horses. Let's replace them with packhorses and medicine."

Shen Qinghe nodded.

"Where are the weapons?"

"Usable bows, swords, and spears should be registered in the armory first."

"Let Bai Zhi choose from all those random, privately made weapons from Black Wind Stronghold."

"Change it if you can."

"It's too late to change it now."

Hou San sat on a grain cart, basking in the sun.

"Centurion."

"You're getting better and better at dividing things up."

"In the past, we had to think for a long time before we could get a bag of salt."

Xu Qingshan looked at him.

"Is your back better?"

Hou San immediately lay back down in the grain bag.

"Almost there."

"Then shut up and rest."

"it is good."

…………

Food can be calculated based on population.

Those who were rescued cannot be divided in this way.

After a thorough inventory of the Black Wind Village wooden prison was completed, more than two hundred people, including merchants, soldiers, and nearby villagers, were rescued alive.

Some of them originally came from the vicinity of Qingya, Tiemen, and Duanhe.

There are still dozens of people who can't say for sure whether their original village still exists.

Black Wind Stronghold has been repeatedly plundered over the years, and many people's homes have long been gone.

Four wooden signs were quickly erected on the open ground outside the village.

Blackstone Castle.

Qingyabao.

Iron Gate Fortress.

Broken River Fortress.

Shen Qinghe sat in the middle with the clerk, registering names, places of origin, family members, and skills.

A man in his thirties stood there for a long time.

My family used to live in Beihe Village.

"It was burned down by barbarians the year before last."

"My parents are dead too."

The clerk asked, "What do you know?"

"hunt."

"Can you draw a bow?"

"meeting."

"Which castle would you like to visit?"

The man looked at the four wooden plaques.

"Where will the land be given?"

Shen Qinghe looked up.

"The land in the four forts will be cleared again after the military households are cleared."

"We're just registering for now."

Those who wish to remain at the North Wall will be reassigned according to their population and skills.

The man thought for a moment.

"Then I'll go to Qingya."

"There are many mountains over there."

On the other side, a mother and daughter chose Broken River Fortress.

The woman's husband was originally a military household member of Duanhebao, and he went missing three years ago while patrolling the river.

After Chief Feng personally checked the name, he actually remembered it.

"He didn't run away."

"He died in Beitan that year during a smuggling raid."

The woman stood there, stunned, for a long time.

In the end, I only asked one question.

"Can I still go back to the Broken River?"

Feng Baozhang sat in a chair, still feeling weak.

"Return."

"The military land left by your husband will also be returned to you."

The woman's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Xu Qingshan, who was standing not far away, heard this but did not interrupt.

This kind of thing is better suited to be handled by Chief Feng.

Who are the people in this fort?

Which family used to live where?

Who died, who escaped, and who was betrayed by Ma Rong?

The old man remembered it better than an entire military register.

Liang Shun stood beside him and helped check.

Chief Feng called out to Xu Qingshan.

"Lord Garrison Commander."

"I want Liang Shun to continue in his position as team leader."

Liang Shun was taken aback.

"Fortress Commander..."

Feng Baozhang waved his hand.

"I need help to climb onto the wall now."

"Leaving their names behind is so that the former military households will have someone they know in their hearts."

"You're the one who truly leads the troops."

Xu Qingshan looked at Liang Shun.

"Are you willing?"

Liang Shun straightened his back.

"willing."

"From this day forward, Broken River Fortress Team shall be yours."

"The garrison, the patrol cavalry on the shallows, and the beacon towers are all under your command."

Liang Shun clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes, sir!"

…………

News also arrived quickly from Iron Gate Fortress.

After Guo Shan led his men to clear the trade route again, several small caravans that had previously bypassed Tiemenbao began to return.

Sun Kui is dead.

Black Wind Stronghold was also destroyed.

The old rule of handing over one copy upon entering and another upon leaving the fort naturally disappeared.

Su Jinniang gradually registered and returned the goods in the Black Wind Village warehouse that could be identified as belonging to their original owners.

When Ding Wang retrieved the remaining three bolts of blue cloth and two boxes of salt from the Shuntong caravan, he pressed his fingerprint on the booklet.

"Manager Su."

"If there's any news from White Wolf Village, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Su Jinniang asked, "Aren't you afraid the leader of Black Wind Stronghold will come after you?"

Ding Wang touched the scabbed wound on his chest.

"Afraid."

"But all seven of my brothers are dead."

"If we pretend to be blind this time, we won't even be able to hold our heads up when we burn paper money for them in the future."

Several other businessmen nearby also chimed in.

Who is in charge of Wanhe Auto Dealership?

Which warehouse frequently receives goods in the middle of the night?

In the past, Black Wind Village residents preferred to exchange silver at certain shops.

The merchants quickly provided a significant amount of information that would have otherwise required them to interrogate the captured bandits.

As Su Jinniang took notes, she said, "Don't do anything on your own after we return to Bailang Village."

Write down what you see.

"It's really dangerous. Come back alive first."

Ding Wang smiled.

"That sounds like a business deal."

"Only when a person is alive can the accounts be settled."

…………

Three days later, most of the spoils seized from Black Wind Village were finally transported out of the mountain pass.

When Qingyabao received its first batch of emergency grain, Feng Shouyi personally stood outside the fort gate to receive the truck.

Dozens of soldiers surrounded the grain cart.

Many people's expressions changed when they saw the old Qingya military ration seal still on the sack.

These things should have been delivered last winter.

Now, after a whole year of wandering, they have finally returned from the bandit's den.

Feng Shouyi touched the sack.

"It's good that you're back."

"It's better than never seeing each other again."

Iron Gate Fort received more goods, salt, and iron.

These items can restore trade routes the fastest.

Duanhebao received grain for planting, timber for wall repair, and a batch of horses.

Blackstone Castle left behind armaments, rations, and the most warhorses.

For the first time, the four border fortresses began transferring supplies according to the same set of accounts.

If anything is missing, we'll get it from another fort.

What's the big deal? Register first, then transfer.

The days when everyone stayed in their own way are finally starting to change.

…………

The afternoon of the fourth day.

Xu Qingshan returned to Duanhe Fort.

The old flags on the city wall have been taken down.

Bai Zhi had four new Zhenbei Banners made.

The styles are the same.

Same size.

Even the height of the flagpole was remeasured according to the wind direction near the beacon tower.

Hou San stood below and looked up for a long time.

"Is it really necessary to make it this complete?"

Bai Zhi said, "I can recognize them from more than ten miles away."

"If a fort suddenly changes its flag, the other forts can spot it immediately."

"It can be used like that?"

"The flag isn't just for you to see."

Hou San nodded.

"Understood."

"Then I'll watch less of it in the future."

Bai Zhi was too lazy to pay him any attention.

Messengers from Iron Gate Fortress, Green Cliff Fortress, and Black Stone Fortress also sent back confirmations at the same time.

Sanbao is ready.

Xu Qingshan climbed the city wall of Duanhebao.

Chief Feng was sitting below.

Liang Shun led the garrison to stand beside the beacon tower.

The river in the distance has already begun to freeze over.

Further north, there is a range of rolling hills.

When he accepted the seal of the Four Fortresses, only one name in the system truly belonged to him.

Iron Gate Fort refused to open its gates.

Broken River Fort was sold off by Ma Rong, leaving him barely clinging to life.

The Qingyabao fortress was so short of food that even patrolling the mountains was difficult for the garrison.

Blackstone Castle itself was dirt poor.

Now at least the beacon fires of the four fortresses can now respond to each other.

Grain carts could also be transported from one fort to another.

When they encountered enemy activity, someone finally learned that there was another army unit next door.

Xu Qingshan glanced at the sun.

"Raise the flag."

Liang Shun pulled the rope down.

The Zhenbei Flag rose along the flagpole.

When the wind blew, the entire flag was unfurled on the city wall.

At almost the same moment, a black and red military flag was raised in the direction of Iron Gate Fort.

Further away at Qingya Pass, a second flag appeared.

Finally, there's Blackrock Fortress.

The four flags stand facing each other across the mountains and valleys.

Hou San stood by the wall.

"I never realized these four fortresses were so close together."

Zhou Laoqi said, "Because in the past, no one could rely on anyone else."

"There's no difference between being ten miles apart and being a hundred miles apart."

Xu Qingshan looked toward the beacon tower.

"ignition."

Dry firewood was pushed into the beacon tower.

Flames quickly shot up.

Following the newly established password, Duanhebao lit a plume of smoke.

A moment later, a response came from the direction of Iron Gate Fortress.

A second column of smoke rose into the sky.

Smoke rose from Qingyabao immediately afterward.

Finally, a straight column of smoke rose from the direction of Blackrock Fortress.

All four fortresses responded.

The soldiers living under the city wall gradually quieted down.

Many people looked up at the three plumes of smoke in the distance.

There was no enemy attack during this ignition.

They did not ask for help.

It was just to tell the people in the four forts.

Everyone is still here.

The words then appeared before Xu Qingshan's eyes.

Stable communication has been established with Blackstone Fortress, Green Cliff Fortress, Iron Gate Fortress, and Broken River Fortress.

[The actual control of Sibao has been completed.]

The first phase of rebuilding the northern wall defense line has been achieved.

Then, new prompts continued to appear.

Current combat-ready forces: 187.

[Target combat force: 300.]

[Remaining deadline: 81 days.]

Xu Qingshan stared at the number 187 for a while.

All four fortresses have finally been captured.

We have grain now.

Dozens more warhorses were added.

Black Wind Stronghold also sent a large quantity of military equipment and supplies.

The result was still more than a hundred people short of three hundred.

Shen Qinghe was carrying the new military register when she walked up to the city wall.

She handed the booklet over.

"We have enough food for now."

"We don't have enough people."

Hou San peeked out from the side.

"This sounds like something even more troublesome than a food shortage!"

Shen Qinghe said, "We can buy more grain if we run out."

"The person is gone, why don't you buy one and try it?"

Hou San thought for a moment.

That is indeed illegal.

Xu Qingshan closed the military register.

"We'll hire if we need more people."

"No one came before because even if they did, they wouldn't have enough to eat, and they might even be sold to bandits."

"The rules have changed now."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a gong sounded from the direction of the city gate.

A soldier ran up the wall ladder.

"Lord Garrison Commander!"

"A group of people have arrived outside the fortress!"

Xu Qingshan asked, "How much?"

"More than forty people arrived first."

"There's more along the way."

"They said they heard from the caravan that the Zhenbei Army is distributing grain and is also preparing to redistribute wasteland."

Hou San raised an eyebrow.

"The news spread fast enough."

The group walked to the other side of the city wall.

A group of people dressed in disheveled clothes had already gathered on the snowy road outside the fortress.

Mountain people carrying hunting bows.

There were refugees with their wives and children.

There were also a few men with straight backs and walking habits that clearly resembled those of soldiers.

An old craftsman carries a toolbox on his back, followed by two apprentices.

At the very back of the line stood several unfamiliar faces.

Their clothes were cleaner than those of ordinary refugees.

The soles of the shoes weren't covered in much mud.

When his gaze passed over the city gate, he didn't look at the grain carts and soup kitchens first, but instead lingered for a long time on the beacon towers, the number of garrison soldiers, and the crossbows on the walls.

Xu Qingshan watched for a while.

A smile slowly crept onto his lips.

"The person has arrived."

"Trouble followed."