172: Stepmother

Chu Qing wasn't crazy, and it was impossible for him to be crazy.

He felt that if he were to go crazy, he would eliminate all living beings he could see in advance.

Now:

He merely had Zhao Hongxiu call the people from the Martial Arts School and send them to the Quarry.

Ostensibly, it was to protect the people of the Martial Arts School.

In reality, it was to make them cannon fodder.

Even free Martial Instructor.

He had a bold idea:

Using this opportunity, he would have tens of thousands of Quarry workers learn martial arts.

He would turn them into more powerful cannon fodder.

Result:

It was unclear whether Zhao Hongxiu had conveyed the message incorrectly or if the Martial Arts School members had acted on their own initiative.

Not only did they bring their families to the Quarry; they even told their neighbors to go with them.

Each Martial Arts School had dozens, even hundreds of Disciples.

Plus the Disciples from previous crash courses.

Therefore:

When the news spread, over thirty Martial Arts Schools notified almost everyone in the county.

Occasionally, those who missed the message, seeing their neighbors fleeing, also started to flee as quickly as possible.

So:

The Dean saw the entire Shiji County migrating towards the Quarry.

At the same time:

Zheng Zhixiang of Qinghe County received intelligence.

However, the intelligence he received was from yesterday.

【The artisans of Shiji County have all been abducted to the Quarry.】

【Fortress Lord Wus have also been ordered to send grain, armor, etc., to the Quarry!】

【Martial Arts Schools and Gangs must also go to the Quarry.】

【Chu Qing — is still in seclusion!】

Seeing the message, a smile appeared on Zheng Zhixiang's cold face.

“Chu Qing is foolish!”

“Does he think he can survive by relying on the Quarry?”

“Do you think that killing a few thousand cannon fodder means you can disregard true elites?”

“You simply don't know how terrifying an elite army can be.”

“What's even more foolish is that you've removed unstable elements like Martial Arts Schools and Gangs.”

“Without these strong men, Shiji County's resistance will decrease severalfold.”

“This Shiji County will easily fall into my hands!”

Taking Shiji County would allow him to quickly attack the other dozen or so county towns.

Once all the county towns were captured, he would train elites, and it wouldn't be long before he could form a larger army to attack the Prefecture City.

Despite his joy, Zheng Zhixiang still felt some suspicion.

“My army is about to lay siege to the city!”

“Why is he still in seclusion?”

“Could it be that he thinks one period of seclusion will allow him to make rapid progress and contend with me?”

After much thought, he was truly puzzled.

Then, he called the Pigeon Leader and said:

“Other intelligence personnel are unqualified.”

“I only trust you.”

“Go to the vicinity of Shiji County to gather information, the more detailed the better.”

The Pigeon Leader patted his chest and guaranteed:

“General, don't worry.”

“As soon as I discover an Anomaly, I will send you a pigeon message immediately.”

“Not a single piece of information will be missed.”

Zheng Zhixiang was pleased and rewarded the Pigeon Leader with some gold and silver.

The Pigeon Leader, clutching the gold and silver, took his companions and, at dawn, galloped on horseback directly to Shiji County.

The formerly bumpy road had been filled with crushed stones and was now firm.

The warhorses galloped at high speed.

Approaching noon, the Pigeon Leader arrived outside Shiji County.

He saw scattered old men and women coming out of Shiji County, heading straight for the Quarry.

Other than that, no one else was seen.

The vast Shiji County was silent.

Not even the gate-keeping Soldiers were present.

The Pigeon Leader roared, “Bring me my pigeon!”

He took up a pen and wrote a letter:

【Sir, Shiji County is quiet, with only the old and weak fleeing!】

Flap!

He released the pigeon.

The Leader took his subordinates and circled Shiji County.

“Bring me my pigeon!”

He took up a pen and wrote a letter:

【Sir, Shiji County is dilapidated, all four city gates are open, and no pedestrians are seen; those Mud Legs must be hiding in their houses, trembling!】

Flap!

He released the pigeon.

The Leader and his subordinates caught some wild game, then roasted and ate it.

A junior leader said, “Big Brother, should we go to the Quarry to take a look?”

The Pigeon Leader sneered, “The General told us to check the situation in Shiji County.”

“He didn't mention the Quarry.”

“If you want to go, go by yourself.”

The junior leader chuckled awkwardly; he wouldn't go there.

He heard that some spies entered the Quarry and never came out again.

The spies were imprisoned inside, toiling day and night, collecting stones.

Their lives were quite miserable.

It was not as good as the precarious life outside!

...Pigeon messages were highly efficient.

After Zheng Zhixiang received the first intelligence report, his expression changed slightly:

“Damn, even the old and weak have started to flee?”

In all previous wars:

The old and weak would stay in the city and never flee.

But this time, they fled.

This was troublesome.

Not long after, he received the second carrier pigeon:

After reading the content, he said in a deep voice, “I order —”

Crash!

The rebel Soldiers stood up.

Zheng Zhixiang said with a serious expression, “I order all elites to head directly to Shiji County at the fastest speed.”

“Forced march tonight, you must arrive at Shiji County by tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir!”

Many generals were excited.

They were finally going to attack Shiji County.

That was great.

They had been waiting for this day for a long time.

The rebel army stirred.

Scouts, one after another, galloped out.

Tens of thousands of elite rebel Soldiers, upon receiving the news, rushed towards Shiji County from all directions, like hungry wolves...Shiji County, Shi Manor:

A group of servants packed their belongings:

Gold, silver, valuables, dressing tables, opera costumes, food, books, flowers, etc., were all packed and loaded onto carts.

Madam Jin said to Madam Shi, “I feel like we're not fleeing, but clearly moving house.”

Madam Shi said coolly, “We are moving house.”

“It's just moving into the mountains.”

Madam Jin didn't care whether they went to the mountains or the county town.

What she wanted was a sense of security.

And Chu Qing could give her that sense of security.

“Chief Constable Shi and Jin Pangzi only took a little dry food and bank notes when they left; they both fled.”

“We're taking so many things.”

“Do you think they'll regret it if they come back?”

Madam Jin muttered softly.

Madam Shi, cool and expressionless, looked out the door:

“Chu Qing is here!”

Madam Jin instantly discarded her previous doubts, then lifted her skirt and scurried over.

“Qing'er!”

“Godmother!”

“Don't call me Godmother, call me...”

“I like to call you Godmother!”

Madam Jin...A few minutes later: The three of them conversed.

Chu Qing said, “I've made all the arrangements; I'll accompany you into the deep mountains in a moment.”

The two nodded.

Chu Qing comforted Madam Jin, saying:

“We will stay in the mountains for about a month.”

“We'll come back then.”

Madam Jin nodded.

Ten minutes later:

Everything was ready.

Chu Qing clapped his hands and called Zhao Wuji and the other Martial Arts School masters over.

These masters carried an eight-bearer sedan chair.

Madam Jin and Madam Shi sat inside, and it was still very spacious.

With Zhao Wuji and these Martial Arts School masters as sedan bearers, their walking was very steady.

Zhao Wuji and the others were also very willing to listen to Chu Qing.

Among the thirty-odd sedan bearers, Zhao Wuji was the Big Boss.

He arranged for the masters to take turns carrying the sedan chair.

This made the other masters incredibly envious.

“Zhao Wuji, you just got lucky!”

“If Master Qing had gone to our Martial Arts School back then, would you still be the leader?”

Zhao Wuji smiled proudly, “When Master Qing hadn't made his fortune, I had already invested in him.”

Iron Hand and the other masters asked curiously, “When did you invest?”

Zhao Wuji said smugly, “On that stormy night, you all sent Secret medicine; I not only sent Secret medicine, but I also gave Master Qing a Mantis Swordplay!”

Many masters sighed with emotion.

They only regretted Zhao Wuji's good luck.

And Zhao Wuji, beaming with pride, directed The Crowd to lift the eight-bearer sedan chair and head straight for Bamboo Lake in Shiji Mountain.

“Walk steadily.”

“If Master Qing's relatives are jolted, I'll make you suffer!”

Zhao Wuji was full of vigor.