Vol 6 Chapter 9 (1/2)

VOLUME 6 CHAPTER 9: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY (5)

Yun Chang POV

After we followed the militia for about 3-5 km, a village appeared before us. It was pretty big, and as Chen Gong said, it was more like a town than a village.

Several dozen adobe houses were neatly arranged in a flat valley at the foot of a mountain. Because it was still early in the morning, there was a fire going in most of the houses and pillars of smoke rose to the skies. Looking further ahead, there was a water mill at the end of the river. The current continuously drove the wooden water wheel, powering the water mill. I’d always heard of such a convenient thing in the north but this was the first time I’ve ever seen it myself.

(TL: Adobe is a type of brick made out of sun-dried mud.)

Just as we stepped into the village, many villagers came running out of their houses and gathered before Chen Gong, and asked how she was doing and if she needed anything. Clearly, she had strong support from her people.

When they heard they’d won, everyone cheered and danced. Chen Gong was hugged by everyone, and received an almost G.o.d-like welcome.

I was still worried at first about our treatment once we came to the village since we’d been taken as members of the robbers but Chen Gong did not hand us over to the mob. After she spoke with some of the elders for a bit, she waved over the female soldier who tied me up and gave her some instructions. The female soldier then brough us down a side road away from the crowd.

“Hide the ropes on your hands, don’t let anyone see them.” The female soldier said softly, though she didn’t seem to make any effort to hide what she said. Liao Hua and I looked at each other and then complied by acting as though we were walking with our hands behind our backs.

“To be able to govern and manage this place well takes some skill and patience, even with the water mill and the strong support of the people.”

As we left the crowd, my curiousity led me to look about. The more I looked, the more I felt that this village town was well managed and began to heap praise. Now that battles are so commonplace, the lack of manpower is an issue which can be alleviated by something like the water mill.

“That Chen Gong looks like a cunning swindler but she’s pretty good huh.”

Why do you have to use such negative adjectives huh, Liao Hua.

“That’s right, our leader made this village the way it is now.” The female soldier added in. When she said this, she was extremely proud, as though she was the one who managed the village.

“Before our leader came here, we fell prey to many pillagers, and it’s thanks to her that we are able to live decently now.”

“So the reason why you’re all so angry is because of those robbers right?”

Provisions are of extreme importance to both soldiers and ordinary citizens. They don’t have enough to fill their stomachs to begin with so if they have to endure plundering by robbers, they will face up to the robbers with the resolve to fight to the death.

But after I finished, the female soldier did not reply. She neither agreed nor disagreed, and only continued to walk on wordlessly with a difficult expression on her face.

As we followed along the line of houses, we soon stopped at a residence. It was rather quaint and not all that big, and it was actually at the end of the line.

“This is…”

“My house,” The female soldier bowed respectfully to me, and opened the door before entering, “The leader means for me to have you 2 stay here for now. When those thieves come again, we’ll use you 2 in negotiations.”

Isn’t that a little too haphazard? Captives should be kept in a more s.p.a.cious, empty environment with professionals standing guard. Leaving aside the place to keep us, just having 1 person guard 2 captives is already rather ludicrous.

“Aren’t you afraid that we’ll escape?”

“The leader told me not to worry about that as you would have ran away long ago if you wanted to do so.”

That is indeed the case… But this la.s.s is far too obedient.

“Here, have some water.” The female soldier scooped out some water with a clay bowl and brought it to our mouths and slowly delivered the water down our throats. Her movements were delicate and well-practiced, it seems, and we had no difficulty drinking.

“The water’s delicious.”

“That’s right, this water is from a spring in a nearby cave. We led the stream down here on the leader’s orders.”

She’s even thought of that? She’s definitely not a simple person.

As I thought so, I set aside my worries for now and looked at the surroundings. The house was not big, and when we came in, I didn’t see anything that resembled a courtyard. When you entered the house, you came right into the hall. To the left was a room with a bed and nothing else.

“Are your parents in the fields now? Or have they not yet returned from missions?”

It’s not uncommon to have entire families in the army. That’s one big source of recruitment after all.

“My parents died of hunger in a famine 7-8 years ago.”