The next day, Wang Dashan and his friends finally came back.
But there was some bad news: the Daqian troops had captured two cities along the way and were heading this way.
"They are about 10,000 people, and it's still five or six days away from us, but the cavalry can arrive in two or three days." Wang Dashan took a sip of water and said, "The Guizhou Army is also strange. They didn't go anywhere else, and seemed to be heading straight to us."
Jiang Sanlang said: "I guess he wants to join forces with King Cheng's rebels."
"What should we do?" Chief Chen said with a worried look on his face, "We haven't harvested the wheat in our fields yet."
Old man Jiang took a puff of his pipe and sighed, "Maybe those people just want our food."
With 10,000 people dispatched, they would consume no less than 8,000 kilograms of food every day. How could they not rob the people along the way
Maybe they would even capture able-bodied men to work for them.
Patriarch Chen was even more anxious: "What can we wait for? Take everyone and run away quickly."
Jiang Sanlang shook his head. "Where to run to? There are wars everywhere now. No place is safe."
"Alas!" Old Man Jiang sighed, "It would be great if our village was built like the city wall of the county town, so that we can at least hold out until reinforcements arrive."
Yingbao, who had been standing aside and listening for a long time, suddenly said, "Dad, I want to go to the county town."
Jiang Sanlang was stunned: "What are you going to the county town for?"
"County Captain Cao has ill intentions towards us and must be eliminated." Yingbao said expressionlessly.
Jiang Sanlang immediately stood up, dragged his daughter outside, and whispered, "What are you talking about, little kid? This is an adult matter."
My daughter is still a child. If people think she is a cruel and ruthless person, how will she find a husband in the future
Ying Bao said seriously: "We must cut the Gordian knot on this matter. Don't worry, Dad, I will definitely kill Cao Shen."
Before she had the long sword, she might not have been sure of her success, but now that she had the magical golden sickle, it would be no problem for her to kill Cao Shen, or even all of Cao Shen's subordinates.
"As long as we take the county and close the city gates, the Daqian army will be helpless." Ying Bao said confidently, "Besides, Cao Shen has committed murder in the county. The county people and some wealthy merchants must hate him to the core. As long as we appeal to their emotions and reason, they will definitely help us defend the city with all their strength."
Jiang Sanlang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Okay! But you can't do it alone, why don't you let Wang Dashan and Chen Zhu bring some people with you, and I will go too, it will be easier with more people."
"Dad, you can't go." Yingbao refused. "Tell the villagers to harvest the grain quickly. Only harvest the wheat ears. We can deal with the rest later. Transport the grain and livestock to the depths of the North Mountain and hide them. Take the old and weak with you as well. Don't leave them in the village."
The Qian army is not like bandits. They are here to recapture the city and territory. They certainly don't have the time to search the mountains and plains for people. Therefore, the depths of the North Mountain is a good place to take refuge.
Jiang Sanlang was still worried, but Yingbao insisted that he stay in the village to resettle the villagers.
In the end, Jiang Sanlang had no choice but to agree with his daughter's suggestion.
Afterwards, Yingbao selected more than twenty people to go to the county town with her.
More than twenty people, using three horse-drawn carriages and several mules and horses, rushed to the county town overnight.
There was no one in the post stations along the way. The postmen and postmasters inside had either fled or been killed by Cao Shen.
The mules, horses and other belongings were also taken away by Cao Shen, leaving only a dark and empty yard.
More than 20 people rushed all night and finally arrived near the county town in the early morning.
Yingbao and others did not move forward easily, but watched from the woods in the distance.
At this time, the gate of the county town was closed, but there was someone on guard on the city wall.
Chen Zhu: "It seems that they have closed the city gates."
"How do we get in?" someone asked.
Yingbao said: "Let's go by water."
"Waterway? But we don't know how to cross the water. And it's daytime now, there must be someone guarding the waterway."
Every county has a flowing water source, and Qinchuan County is no exception. This river is also the lifeline of the entire county.
"You stay here, I'll go in by water." Yingbao was dressed in black shorts, like a teenager, and her mother smeared soda on her face, making her look very funny.
Chen Zhu frowned and looked at Ying Bao: "Can you do it alone?"
"Okay! If I succeed, I will wave my coat as a signal." Yingbao pulled out a red coat from somewhere, "This is it. When you see it, hurry to the city gate. I will find a way to open the gate."
She pulled another white garment from her bag and said, "If I wave this, you will flee immediately, return to the village immediately, and lead the villagers into the North Mountain."
Chen Zhu and Wang Dashan were silent for a moment and finally nodded.
After Yingbao finished explaining, she turned and ran towards the river.
Half an hour later, she ran to the river, cut some willow branches, wove a rough raincoat and put it on.
I cut a few more reeds and made some tubes that could allow them to breathe in water.
Afterwards, he came to the city wall and quietly went into the water.
Yingbao clamped her nose with a clip, held a reed tube in her mouth, and swam slowly underwater.
She didn't emerge from the water until she was far past the guard's checkpoint.
After finding a deserted place and climbing ashore, Yingbao immediately went into the cave to rest for a while, then came out changed into a set of youthful clothes.
She grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and smeared it on her face so that no one could tell she was a girl, and then went to the market.
She wanted to find out where Cao Shen stayed at night.
There were very few people on the streets of the county town, and everyone was in a hurry.
There were also people setting up stalls to sell goods, but they were all very nervous.
Yingbao took out some copper coins and bought a piece of cake to eat, and then bought a bamboo basket from a bamboo shop and slung it over her arm.
Go back to the cake seller again and buy all his cakes.
Then she slowly walked towards the brothel carrying the bamboo basket.
On the way, someone wanted to buy her sesame cakes, so Yingbao sold some to them. Finally, she came to a teahouse outside the brothel and went in to sell sesame cakes.
There was no one telling stories today and there were very few tea drinkers, but there were still a few curious people whispering something.
Yingbao moved closer and stood nearby to eavesdrop.
"The silk shop on East Street was robbed last night. All the cloth in the shop was taken away. Do you think it was done by the gang from the government office again?"
"Who knows? Anyway, the world is in chaos. Good people don't live long, and evil will last for thousands of years."
"That's right. Alas, I don't know when the imperial court will send troops. If the city gates are kept closed day after day, our people will be harmed by those people sooner or later."
Several people drank tea and sighed for a while, and then someone said, "Recently, even the mother of Yihonglou has started to complain, saying that her young ladies were paid for nothing. A great official actually didn't pay for the stage. This is unprecedented and will never happen again."
Another person said, "What's so strange about this? Let alone Yihong Court, even the top performers of Wuchun Court are being played with for free. It is said that County Magistrate Cao is hosting a banquet tonight and has specially sent someone to inform the head of Wuchun Court to select a few dancers who are proficient in Huxuan dance, saying that they are going to entertain a distinguished guest."
"Is it true?" Someone stretched his neck and asked, "Where is he hosting the party? Can we take a look?"
Another person rolled his eyes at him and said, "Of course he is at the county government office. At this time, how can he entertain guests in a teahouse or restaurant?"