“Go that way!” The soldier cracked his whip, “carry it over here!”

“Did you not eat?! Where’s your strength!” 

The laborers were only clad in pieces of rags, their bodies stooped, skin dark and dirty. In actuality, their ages were not even that old but looking at them though, they appeared to be extremely advanced in years. They trembled as they carried the coal, not daring to even let out a sound.

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“Someone fell down!”

“He’s not breathing!” 

The soldier rolled his eyes and said in an irritated tone: “Throw the body in the pit outside.” 

The laborers barely reacted, their heads down and doing their own work, as if they were mindless animals. 

The soldier took a sip of wine from the flask he had on him and yelled: “Bring out your strength!” 

The laborers did not talk, silent and submissive like old oxen working the fields. 

Li Congrong looked at the scene in front of him behind the hillside and spat, cursing lowly: “Bunch of cowards who only dare to bully the common people. Abusing people like that as if they are pigs and dogs. Even with dogs you need to feed it for it to be loyal.” 

Zhu Zhongba consoled: “Don’t be hasty brother Dao. When the sky darkens I’ll go burn their granary, at that time brother Dao you sneak into the crowd and fan the hate, people will answer correspondingly.”  

Although Li Congrong had not read any books on military tactics but he knew the old saying ‘the food supply precedes the soldiers and horses.’ They knew just how important the food supply was. This place was just a small coal mine and the soldiers guarding the place weren’t alot. The largest official was a bai hu (TN: equivalent to a centurion in the Roman army), only 100 soldiers under his command.

But the laborers here numbered more than a 100. 

Most of these people were neighboring villagers and farmers and had been held here to dig and transport coal. They were already nearing their limits. Looking at the soldiers who had meat and wine for meals, only they themselves knew how they felt. 

Li Congrong and Zhu Zhongba changed into rags and prepared to take action once the sky darkened.

“It’s so cold.” Li Congrong’s teeth chattered in the cold despite his muscular physique. 

Zhu Zhongba was also no better off. People were made of flesh and knew the cold and pain. 

“Brother Dao, endure for a bit more.” Zhu Zhongba said. 

The sky gradually darkened and seeing the people walking back to their shacks Li Congrong took a small path down the hillside and stood outside the shacks, a bit hesitant which shack to enter. 

Just when Li Congrong was feeling rather awkward, someone pushed him from the back. 

Only two words flashed through Li Congrong’s mind: “Oh no.” 

But once he turned around he saw instead, a skeleton thin middle aged man. His numb eyes seemed to be fogged over as they examined Li Congrong and asked tonelessly: “Newcomer?” 

Li Congrong nodded stiffly. The man pulled up the rag curtain on the doorway of the shack: “Come in.” 

Li Congrong followed the man inside and saw a rather empty shack with people just laying on the floor. The people saw a stranger had come in and looked alertly at Li Congrong but their eyes were filled with sympathy. 

The man that lead him in pointed at an empty floor space: “You can sleep there.” 

So Li Congrong went over and sat on the damp ground. Here, there weren’t even dry grass or hay to put over the floor. Li Congrong asked the person at his side: “How come you don’t spread some grass to cover the floor?” 

The person let out a laugh of ridicule: “Would the lord master let you go cut some grass?”

Li Congrong did not mind being sneered at, he asked again: “How long have you all been here?” 

No one answered him.

Li Congrong continued talking: “I am originally a porter in Wu City, although life isn’t that great but I didn’t worry too much about food and drink. Sometimes if I’m lucky I can even eat some meat.” 

Still no one responded. 

Li Congrong scratched his cheek: “Right, where are your wives and children?” 

Finally someone answered in a muffled voice: “Don’t know.” 

“I don’t have children, my wife likely ran off with someone else.”

“My parents were still waiting for me to return in my old hometown.” 

“Wonder what this year’s harvest is like.” 

Li Congrong said immediately: “Currently, the outside is in an upheaval, alot of people are selling themselves. You should go back and have a look. If there’s no man at home wouldn’t just anyone be able to pick on them?” 

“You think you can still leave after coming here?” Someone turned over, “here no one can leave, only when you’re dead then your corpse will be thrown out.” 

Li Congrong’s eyes flickered: “On my way here I heard that there were some people who killed the soldiers supervising and escaped.”  

The shack fell very silent.

Suddenly someone said: “The soldiers have weapons.” 

No one spoke anymore.

“Sleep, leave it for tomorrow.”

Li Congrong became anxious: “Rather then live a life worse than animals here, why not fight back? The worst is death but if we fight back there would be a chance for survival!”

Someone angrily rebuked him:”How is it that simple! You think no one tried before? The few who tried were skinned alive! A clean death would be better than that!” 

Li Congrong paused in a daze, not having expected the officials here to be so insanely cruel. Were they not humans too? How could they be this cruel?

“Even if you aren’t caught, your situation isn’t any better.” Someone said quietly, “when I left, my wife was already pregnant. I want to see my kid.” 

A little while later, someone continued: “My parents are already old, and I’m the only child…..”

“When I left, my son was only 3 years old.”

The group of people who had already become numb to their situation suddenly teared up as they talked.

“Who’s talking!” Outside a soldier yelled, “you better sleep now! If you delay tomorrow’s work you will see what’s coming for you!” 

The person’s voice was extremely loud, the people in the nearby shacks could all hear it. 

But everyone was already used to it. They all shut their mouths tight afraid of attracting a beating. 

After all, even if they got injuries from the beating they would still have to work. And when they didn’t work up to standards with injuries hindering them then they would attract another beating. A lot of people died in such a way. 

Just when everyone closed their eyes and prepared to sleep, Li Congrong hollered: “Your gramps, I, would be afraid of a coward like you?! So long as you have balls, follow me and fight back!”

Everyone was shocked into a daze by this. 

Especially the soldier making his rounds. He paused for a moment before reacting: “Who just said that! Get your ass out here!” 

Li Congrong: “Your gramps said that, grandson!” 

The soldier was rather young and temperamental, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and pulled the whip from his belt: “You just wait, I’ll skin you alive!”

Not a small amount of soldiers were attracted by the shouting. 

The people in the same shack as Li Congrong trembled in fear. 

Just when the footsteps came closer, a shout from outside was suddenly heard: “The granary is up in flames! Hurry and put the fire out! Hurry!” 

The nearing footsteps moved farther away. Li Congrong turned his head and looked at the people who had already sat up, his face cold: “If you’ve got the balls then charge out with me, and fight to the death! Staying here means death tomorrow if not death today. Fight back and you have a chance of survival.”

“Big grown men reduced to animals and actually don’t even think of resisting.”

“As good, respectable men, where’s your unyielding stuanchness!” 

“Think of your wife! Your son! Your parents!” 

Li Congrong lifted the door curtain: “If the lord masters up high won’t give us a way out, then we can fight for a way out ourselves!” 

Li Congrong turned his head and found that the men originally sitting had all stood up. 

They didn’t say anything but stood behind Li Congrong. Li Congrong finally let out a relieved sigh.

Everyone left the shacks and picked up nearby wood or rocks. Li Congrong charged barehanded in the front, raising his voice in a shout: “Fight back!”

A group of skeleton-like men followed his lead, eyes red as they screamed along: “Fight!” 

Likely due to the disturbance being too loud, the people in other shacks also came out fearfully. 

There wrre still some soldiers who did not go to put out the fire. One saw Li Congrong and the crowd of laborers and immediately came over cracking his whip: “What are you doing! Get your asses back inside! Or else you’ll get what’s coming!” 

But Li Congrong threw himself over and grabbex the other’s whip, his weight holding the other down and used the whip to suffocate the soldier around his neck. The man’s face flushed red with lack of air, his hands grabbing and legs kicking, his mouth letting out gurgling sounds.

“What are you doing? Rebeling?!” Another soldier camr over but this time the people who followed Li Congrong stood forward.

They swarmed the soldier who had been used to these people being submissive and not knowing how to resist. Before he could react they had him pressed to the ground, his head cracked open with a rock, breath disappearing in an instant.

“Kill them!”  

“Kill them!” 

Li Congrong raised the whip: “We must survive! We must go back and see our families! Charge!” 

The soldiers split up with one group to put out the fire and while the other group might have weapons but they could not hold up against the greater numbers of laborers. These soldiers had never been on the battlefield, their army ranks being hereditary. Normally they were used to lording it over the common people, abusing and taking advantage of them. But when they did come across an angry mob of common people fighting for their lives, these soldiers were the first to show fear and retreat. 

But in a matter of life and death, retreating meant death. 

The laborers had no other road left for them. If they retreated and gave up now, later when it was time to settle scores, none of them would escape punishment, and might even get their families implicated.

The step having already been taken, they now had no choice but to see it to the end. 

Besides, emotions were infectious. When everyone around you were charging forward, those not at first would end up charging along in the end. 

In the dark, the people could not see the blood, could not see how it had dyed the ground red. Only hatred and the image of their enemies remained in their eyes. Their weapons were randomly picked up objects like rocks and tree branches and knives that used to belong to the soldiers. They were all just normal people without any training in fighting, but they had the mentality of putting their life on the line and fighting to the death. 

Like a pack of starving wolves.  

The soldiers as their prey.

In that moment, emotions ran high, their blood boiling as if they had all forgotten their fear of death, charging forward without a care for their own lives. As if they could not see the people falling under their attack. 

The moon was hidden behind clouds. Li Congrong raised his head and looked up, thinking that the moon was also dyed red. 

He would never forget this night, never forget his first kill. 

Aside from being scared witless, he felt something else as well. 

A feeling of excitement that couldn’t be put into words. 

He finally understood something Lin Yuan said. “Don’t rebel, then there won’t be a way out. Only if you rebel can you survive.” 

Li Congrong hollered: “Kill!” 

In the dark, Li Congrong lost count how many he killed. He had wounds himself but he did not feel the pain, his brain on overdrive and conciousness overly excited. 

But the situation worsened for them.

The opponents were after all soldiers. Even if they had never been on the battlefield they were still soldiers with weapons that the laborers did not have. When they gathered together, the laborers simply weren’t their opponents.

Just when Li Congrong and the others became more and more disadvantaged, a sudden shout was heard coming from the hill, echoing across the area and deafening in its clamor. 

They had finally come!

Li Congrong slashed the stolen blade at a soldier in front of him. The soldiers were only dressed in clothes with no armor; the soldier turned trying to get a last glimpse of the person who killed him. 

Li Congrong also saw the other clearly in the moonlight, a young puerile face with an expression of surprise.

Li Congrong bit down hard and turned his gaze away yelling: “Our reinforcements have come! Don’t be scared! They are here to help!” 

Likely because Li Congrong charged in the front from the very beginning so the laborers all seemed to listen to him, believing his words without a second thought. His words lifted the fighting spirits of the laborers, even if the reinforcements were just the 40 men that had been waiting for the right moment up on the hill. 

Li Congrong let out a relieved sigh, it seemed Zhu Zhongba had managed not to be caught. 

After all, the plan was for Zhu Zhongba to burn the granary and then go back up the hill to bring the men charging down. 

The shouts caused the soldiers to lose their composure, the bai hu Burigude shouted: “It’s just a bluff! No retreating! Anyone who retreats will be punished by martial law!” 

Burigude raised his blade: “Follow in my lead!” 

Li Congrong also shouted: “Get them!” 

Zhu Zhongba and the 40 men also arrived at the battlefield. In their hands were hoes and compared to the laborers their physique was much more muscular, their arms with more strength. 

Zhu Zhongba said to them: “Treat them as pigs and goats, don’t take them as people! If they don’t die then we will die!”

The men screamed: “Understood!” 

Amidst the carnage, Zhu Zhongba searched for Burigude. Burigude was after all a bai hu so even if he charged in the front he was still surrounded by protectors. 

Zhu Zhongba carefully moved closer, in his hand was a small knife Li Congrong gave him. He could hear his heartbeat, even feel his blood rushing. He had never been as afraid or as excited as he was at that moment. 

Burigude cut off someone’s head and exclaimed while breathing heavily: “Kill them all!” 

And then he said to a person at his side: “Don’t mind me, I am a warrior of the Great Yuan, these inconsequentials cannot come close to me.” 

Hearing this his personal guards moved farther away. 

Burigude camr from a family of soldiers, their wealth amassed from cutting off the heads of enemies. He eas the only person here who had ever been on a battlefield.  

In his eyes, the laborers were no opponents. 

“Bai hu.” Someone called him. 

Burigude turned his head and saw a young man, and likely because he appeared healthy and muscular unlike the laborers that he naturally assumed him to be one of his soldiers: “What is it? Why aren’t you killing the enemies?”

The young man appeared fearful: “I…..I lost my knife……” 

Burigude sneered: “Useless thing.” 

Saying so, he threw over his own knife: “Use mine.” 

He had more than one blade.

The young man moved closer: “Bai hu, I’m afraid..….” 

Burigude snapped with impatience: “A coward with no balls! Go already!” 

“Bai hu.” The young man looked eagerly at him and moved a few steps closer, “I will protect you.” 

Burigude sneered: “I am…..” 

He had yet to finish speaking when he saw a cold flash of light and could no longer speak. 

Burigude clasped a hand to the wound on his neck, blood flowing incessantly, his mouth also spilling blood.  

Because he couldn’t speak, not even the name of his personal guards could be called. 

Burigude fell to the ground and could only watch as the other walked closer and then——his sight darkened. 

Zhu Zhongba cut off Burigude’s head and climbed to a higher spot on the hill and shouted loudly: “Your bai hu has already been killed! Surrender and be spared! Your bai hu has already been killed! Surrender and be spared!” 

In order to capture the thieves one must first capture their king. Zhu Zhongba had not read many military books but he naturally understood this tactic.

The soldiers immediately lost their composure and became absentminded, the scythe of death had already fallen upon them. 

Only when the soldiers at their side fell one after the other did they begun to put down their weapons and kneeled on the ground. 

The sky gradually lightened. The battle had fought through the entire night. Only once the sunrise could be seen did they all finally witness the carnage from the previous night. Corpses of the soldiers, of the laborers, blood staining everything. Someone let out the first sob. 

Slowly, the sobs rose in volume. 

It’s unclear if they were crying for the dead or crying for their own suvival. 

Li Congrong’s shoulder and back were covered in wounds but luckily they weren’t deep. He sat on a rock and breathed in exhaustion. 

Zhu Zhongba had the remaining soldiers tied up before saying to the laborers: “We have our own destination. If you want to return home then you can leave. If you have no place to go then you can come with us.” 

Most of the survivors chose to return to their hometowns; they had family they were comcerned for. 

Only a few chose to follow them. 

Li Congrong sprawled on the ground and asked: “What shall we do now.”

Zhu Zhongba said calmly: “Bring the weapons along, pull as many carts of coal as we can, and return home.” 

It would soon be deep winter. The things they had on them were not enough for them to survive past the deep of winter. They must return to the farmstead as soon as possible especially as their food supply was almost used up.

“Got it.” Li Congrong said, “let me lay for a bit.” 

Zhu Zhongba also sat down. Looking at his expression, Li Congrong asked: “You aren’t even scared one bit?” 

One person, alone and unarmed, leaving to go burn the granary. How did he have such calm nerves?

He even killed the bai hu. Li Congrong believed that he would not have been able to do the same. 

Zhu Zhongba smiled at Li Congrong: “I don’t know either.” 

Admist the battle cries and sounds of fighting he gained the strength and courage; his hatred towards the imperial court exploding and causing him to fall into a state of extreme excitement.

Those who wanted to return home left, each with some beans enough for a full meal given to them by Zhu Zhongba. They even kneeled and kowtowed to Li Congrong and Zhu Zhongba before they left with stoop backs. 

They didn’t know what their future held and could only move forward on the road in front of them.

“Although we didn’t find any iron but finding coal is also not bad.” Li Congrong recalled their motive for leaving the farmstead, “as long as there is coal then we can turn the iron pots and kitchen knives into proper weapons. These blades aren’t bad at all.” 

The soldiers did have good things. 

They stayed for half a month and then began their journey home. Aside from the original 40 men, 10 new men joined them. 

The new arrivals soon familiarized themselves with the 40 farmstead men.

At night by the fire, they listened to the men talk about the farmstead. 

“You can eat your full.” This was the biggest attraction. 

“Boss doesn’t hit people.”

“At night we can sleep in beds with cotton blankets.” 

Their hope for the farmstead reached a high point when Zhu Zhongba brought over clothes for them. Although the clothes were not cotton, but it was warmer than normal rough cloth clothes with the soft grass in the linings. Besides, back in the coal mine they didn’t even have rough cloth clothes to wear. 

A lot of people froze to death during last winter. They survived that winter but they knew that they likely wouldn’t be able to make it through this winter.

But now, they could see the hope for life.

So long as there was an opportunity to continue living everyone would want to do so.

The snowflakes danced in the wind and left a thin layer on the ground. Lin Yuan stood in front of the window; it was the first time he saw snow in the south. Much less than the north and not common every year. 

The people in the farmstead all exclaimed. 

“There’s snow! It’s actually snowing this year!” 

Er Liang and Gou zi squatted outside and made snowballs from the bit of snow.

They were teenage boys after all, with playfulness not yet grown out. 

Lin Yuan looked at the snow and hoped next year’s harvest would be even better. 

Currently the granaries were full, and two shacks were used for raising pigs, ducks, and chickens. If everything went smoothly, then by next year the farmstead would be completely self-sufficient.

If Li Congrong and Zhu Zhongba could come back safely, and with the tasks of finding coal and iron successfully completed, the farmstead would also be able to raise armed forces.

When the uprisings and revolts emerge all across the empire they would be able to share in the action amongst the warlords and despots.

Towards the future, Lin Yuan only had a vague plan. He needrd more time to think it over, and more time to implement his ideas.

“Boss.”

“Boss! They have returned!” 

“Brother Dao and the others returned safely!” 

Celebratory shouts came from outside. 

Lin Yuan charged out the door, he ran so fast he nearly couldn’t breath. 

They returned safely!

He looked at the unharmed brother Dao and Zhu Zhongba, breathing harshly. 

In the end it was brother Dao stepping forward and giving Lin Yuan a hug.

“This trip can be considered living up to expectations, right?” Brother Dao laughed, pleased with himself. 

He soon followed that with a whisper: “Living up to expectations’, this phrase did I get it right?” 

Lin Yuan also laughed: “That’s right! You said it right!” 

Lin Yuan said to the women behind him: “Go catch some chickens and ducks, there will be meat tonight!” 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“There’s meat to eat!” 

“Boss says we will eat meat tonight!” 

Lin Yuan felt as if he had never been happier than at that moment, unable to put away the foolish smile on his face. 

It was noon, the sunlight beamed down and melted the remaining snow on the ground.

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A thing like vine armors, their manufacture took a long time. But the materials required to make it were easily available. Lin Yuan did not have 2-3 years to make vine armors——by that time the dishes would already be cold (TN: expression for it being too late). He could only explore and experiment on a method that would not only take less time but also have sturdy results. 

Tung oil and wild vines were easy to find, they were in the south after all. Originally vine armor had been the invention of some ethnic groups in the southwestern region. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

But their weakness was revealed in Romance of the Three Kingdoms written by Luo Guanzhong in which Zhu Geliang used a fire attack scheme to break through its defense.

Right now Luo Guanzhong should still be in Hangzhou and had yet to write his famous novel. So the method for dealing with vine armor soldiers not many should know——bandits were all made up of uneducated people so using vine armors against them should be enough. 

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan wanted to meet Luo Guanzhong. Luo Guanzhong had been an advisor of Zhang Shicheng and it was his advice that had them win against Zhu Yuanzhang in a battle. It was a pity Zhang Shicheng was an idiot, causing all of his advisors and aids to leave in disappointment. 

In truth, rather than discribe Luo Guanzhong as a literary scholar he was actually a military expert, only no one remembered since his accomplishment in literary was so big.

If possible, Lin Yuan truly did want to meet the man and have a chat so that it would do justice to the many times he read the Romance of Three Kingdoms and himself as an ardent fan. 

Even the dramas and movies he had watched numerous times. 

The vine armors were woven by the women. After being soaked in tung oil it was dried and then soaked again in tung oil, and then dried and soaked again. Finally it was dried with a low fire with someone constantly watching the fire. 

Lin Yuan used a hoe to try its sturdiness. Although it had not reached the level of being completely immune to sharp objects, but it was indeed a layer of protection. With a hit from a hoe a few vines broke but no harm reached the bamboo mouse underneath——a few were smashed to death but their bodies show no wounds. 

This was enough after all bandits used knives unlike hoes which were heavier. 

The vine helmets were also usable and very light. 

Yang Zi’an put on the armor and helmet and had Lin Yuan use a knife left behind by brother Dao to slash at him with. 

Lin Yuan’s strength could not be considered small so while the knife was not too sharp it still left a few scratches on the vine armor. 

Yang Zi’an examined it and smiled: “It’s enough.”

Lin Yuan put away the small knife: “In total 50 are made.” 

Yang Zi’an: “Enough to spare.” 

“I will bring 20 people with me.” Yang Zi’an said, “you must stay in the farmstead otherwise the hearts of the people will not be at ease.” 

Lin Yuan: “But there aren’t many weapons left.” 

Last time brother Dao and the others left they took almost half with them. 

Yang Zi’an: “I am no fool, I won’t pick large numbers to attack, only the small groups. Nowadays even bandits can not eat fully, in a competition of strength and endurance they are not our opponents.” 

Lin Yuan: “Then I will wait for second brother to return victorious.” 

Yang Zi’an smiled at Lin Yuan: “I won’t have fourth brother disappointed.” 

When Yang Zi’an left with the men, Lin Yuan became dejected. He discovered he had nothing to do, everyday it was just to supervise the farmstead people at work. 

Just when Lin Yuan thought his life’s motive was just to eat well drink well and wait for brother Dao and Yang Zi’an to return, the heavens sent him a big present——a white bearded old man, Chen Half-Immortal.  

Chen Half-Immortal arrived in rags but he still put up the mysterious front he used when swindling. Behind him followed his fellow co-workers. This group of daoists had escaped when Wu City fell and went to seek a living in other nearby cities. Everyday relying on fortune telling and lying to make a living. Later, refugees began to show up at the city they were at and seeing so they once again made a getaway. 

But Chen Half-Immortal had a good memory and remembered that brother Dao said his brother had a farmstead not far from Wu City. The group of old daoists gathered together and decided, this one, let’s go. 

They practically wandered through all of the surroundings near Wu City. If they saw a farmstead that was still running they would go inside and carry out their swindling. Sometimes they would recieve some food and other times they would be directly thrown out. In the end they actually found themselves to Lin Yuan’s farmstead. 

At this time the wall was already nearly half finished and even had a watchtower. The person on duty saw several old men walk over and had at first thought himself to be seeing things and reported it to Lin Yuan. 

At such turbulent times, they were actually lugging along wooden cases filled with their fortune telling instruments and other things and maintaining an air of masters of daoism despite their ragged and shabby appearance. 

When Lin Yuan saw them he couldn’t help feeling a smidge of admiration. 

Chen Half-Immortal sat in his chair and spouted endless flattery: “Young master Lin is just like when I first saw you with a broad forehead, just your appearance convey fortune and auspiciousness. I said it that time, young master Lin would definitely achieve big accomplishments.”

Lin Yuan: “……” You clearly did not say such things. 

Chen Half-Immortal took a handful of fried beans put out on the table to chew on with a rather carefree and familiar attitude: “Looking at young master Lin’s fortune…..”  

Lin Yuan quickly interrupted: “Stop, Half-Immortal let’s not talk about empty things. You can remain here but you must work.” 

Chen Half-Immortal nodded his head and replied deadly earnest: “But of course, the group of us with just our fingers can calculate……” 

Lin Yuan: “……I meant physical labor.”

Chen Half-Immortal pointed at his nose with a finger: “Farming?”

Lin Yuan was about to nod when Chen Half-Immortal said: “Young master Lin, you don’t know, anyone can farm the fields but not anyone can fourtune tell. Let’s talk about the Book of Changes (TN: an ancient Chinese divination text and among the oldest of the Chinese classics) for example, can just anyone read it? Can just anyone read and understand it?” 

Lin Yuan: “No fortune telling. Do you have any other abilities?” 

Chen Half-Immortal said quickly: “I can concoct pills. If you require I can even have a 70 year old man return to the height of his prime.”  

So you mean aphrodisiacs?

Chen Half-Immortal: “Definitely no negative side effects.” 

Lin Yuan could only feel admiration, it seemed talents could be found everywhere. 

Wait a second! 

Lin Yuan suddenly realized something. He stared fixatedly at Chen Half-Immortal causing the old man to blush. Clearing his throat, Chen Half-Immortal said: “Young master Lin, although I have a handsome appearance……” 

Lin Yuan: “Half-Immortal, when you are concocting pills have you ever exploded your furnace?”

Chen Half-Immortal’s eyes flickered, touching his beard he says seriously: “I am the 81st generation successor of Daoism, how could I possibly commit such mistakes?” 

Lin Yuan slapped the table: “Tell the truth!”  

Chen Half-Immortal immediately replied: “I exploded!” 

Lin Yuan smiled and grabbed Chen Half-Immortal’s hand with a warm and ardent expression: “Do you still remember the steps to blow up the furnace?”

Chen Half-Immortal: “…….” Does this young master have special interests? 

Why so interested in explosions? 

In actuality, there was already gunpowder, except the formulation was still not perfected. And the ones who had access to its formulation was only a small group of people. 

The flintlock was invented during the Ming dynasty but unfortunately its power was not enough and depended on distance. 

In Lin Yuan’s tentative plan, if they could create grenades——a simple version was also fine, with iron or metal balls added inside, once it exploded the powerful force would propel the the tiny metal balls in all directions like bullets. The armors of now could not hold up against such force. 

Although the scope of damage would not be too wide but it was still a considerably destructive weapon. 

“You can just focus on experimenting and finding the method for exploding the furnace.” Lin Yuan looked at Chen Half-Immortal and saw a treasure chest. This was an old man treasure chest, so he promised, “the duration before you find it I will still have food provided with a dish of meat every week. If you can find the method then not only can you eat your fill but also meat everyday.” 

Scientific talents, he must put down huge money. 

“Are you serious?” Chen Half-Immortal asked stupefied. 

Lin Yuan guaranteed: “If I lie let me be struck with lightning by the heavens.”

Chen Half-Immortal looked at Lin Yuan and privately thought, could this be a fool? 

But Lin Yuan also warned: “Keep it small scale so as not to hurt anyone.”

“Your safety is very important.”  

Chen Half-Immortal: “The people I brought with me…….” 

Lin Yuan: “Excellent, do they also know how to explode furnaces?” 

Chen Half-Immorta: “…….” 

How should he reply to this question?

If he said yes, it would be undermining their pill concocting abilities, but if he said no he was afraid Lin Yuan would not let them stay. 

Chen Half-Immortal could only tighten his scalp and say: “They all do.” 

Those who concoct pills, who hadn’t exploded a furnace or two? 

There were even casualties, so the practice of concocting pills was not common among the people. But the daoists in the imperial palace had impressive pill concocting skills. 

Chen Half-Immortal even thought, if not for his lack of a influential sect, with his skills he could even concoct pills for the emperor.

Lin Yuan: “Then we are agreed!” 

Afterwards, Chen Half-Immortal rested for the night and when he woke up he found everything had changed. New clothes were left at the side of the bed and someone even came to lead him to the dining hall. Although it was just rice porridge mixed in with husks, but it was already extremely good in these times. There were also two mixed grain buns and pickled vegetables. After eating and drinking fully Chen Half-Immortal was lead to a room already furnished with a furnace. 

The person who lead him there had a very good attitude: “Half-Immortal, Boss said, there is enough charcoal and even some saltpeter (potassium nitrate). Anything else you need you must come up with a solution yourself.”

Chen Half-Immortal was shocked by Lin Yuan’s extensive preparations but he still held up his air of mystery, with his fingers he calculated and said: “I have calculated, today is a good day to use the furnace.”

The man smiled: “What Half-Immortal says is right.” 

When the man left, Chen Half-Immortal sat and looked at his old mates as they lug their cases in with content expressions on their faces. 

“Ai, old Chen, you have the big capability after all. Taking only a day to become an honored guest.”

“Even getting a furnance, say, what are we concocting today? I have all the zhuang yang recipes with me (TN: pill recipes for boosting the male sex drive lol).” 

Chen Half-Immortal sighed. 

Everyone: “What’s wrong? Is there a problem? Should we……make our escape?”

Chen Half-Immortal waved his hand: “It’s not trouble.” 

Everyone let out a relieved sigh. 

Chen Half-Immortal said with a pained expression: “Boss said, he wants us to find a recipe that will explode the furnace.”

“……Boss, does he want to let out fireworks?” 

Chen Half-Immortal rubbed his chin: “I feel that we got ourselves into serious business. Looking at Boss, I am afraid it will not be for fireworks.”

Everyone exchanged looks. 

Chen Half-Immortal: “Sometimes furnaces exploding can cause death.” 

Everyone finally understood.

Chen Half-Immortal: “Shall we…..do it?”

“Will it harm the natural order of things?” 

“Yes, we are all people with conscience.” 

“We cannot offend the heavens and reason.” 

Chen Half-Immortal sighed again: “I also said the same thing, but Boss said, if we succeed then we can eat our fill everyday, everyday there will be meat.” 

Everyone: “Let’s do it!” 

So, these half-immortals began their vigorous journey on inventing gunpowder. Luckily, the cases they lugged along with them already had materials for pill concocting, so for now Lin Yuan did not need to worry about the lack of materials.

“Ai, this thing of exploding furnaces, normally when you don’t want it to explode it explodes faster than anything. But now that we want it to explode, it just refuses to do so.”

“That’s right. I already concocted several batches, but none exploded.” 

They were sighing on this side and on the other side Chen Half-Immortal listened with his eye twitching. If a fellow co-worker (TN: another daoist who is not part of their group) heard this who knew what kind of expression they would show.

Lin Yuan also knew not to rush so he didn’t go and hurry them along. The new arrivals were still adapting to their surroundings. Unlike the people from earlier, their alertness was much stronger. He heard that these people didn’t talk much, they wrre diligent enough but they still had anxious looks on their faces. 

Er Liang carried in a bowl of dough drop soup with pieces of meat and vegetables. It smelled quite savory. 

Er Liang saw Lin Yuan sitting there with a troubled look and asked: “What’s wrong, young master? Do you have troubles?” 

Lin Yuan did not have an appetite and pushed the bowl away: “Er Liang, you eat it.” 

Er Liang thought it strange and asked: “Young master you only had two buns today.” 

Lin Yuan sighed, and asked Er Liang: “How are the people in the farmstead today?” 

Er Liang felt even stranger: “Like always. The weather is becoming colder, all are staying inside the dormitories right after work is finished.” 

In order to keep warm, almost everyone in the dorms were sleeping in pairs. 

Yun Niu and her young lady lay in the same bed. The single sized bed was rather cramped but the blankets were clean and Yun Niu buried her head in it and took a deep whiff. She said to her young lady: “Young lady, it is cotton!” 

“Don’t call me young lady anymore.” The woman rubbed Yun Niu’s head, “call me Qiu Niang.” 

Yun Niu said sincerely: “The young lady is the young lady!” 

Qiu Niang smiled at her and did not say anymore.

It had been a long time since Qiu Niang slept in a bed. After fleeing they lived like vagrants and after being…..by men with evil intentions, it was Yun Niu that encouraged her to live on. Everyday Yun Niu carried her on her back. All the time her body had pieces of grass and dirt, bugs and lice. 

Her lower abdomen constantly hurt and the lochia had yet to finish. 

“Team leader said, there will be buns tomorrow.” Yun Niu lickex her lips, “I can eat three.”

A dormmate laughed: “There are buns everyday, not just tomorrow.” 

“That’s right.”

“You came from the outside, what’s it like right now? I came here early, I don’t even know what’s going on outside.” They were all brought along by their families when Lin Yuan bought them. After arriving they worked from sun up to sun down, their lives very simple. Their ages were also not very old, the oldest being only 16, the youngest 8. In their eyes, there were no longer cities but just the ‘inside’ of the farmstead and the ‘outside’ of the farmstead.

Yun Niu was rather talkative, saying from her nest on the bed: “The outside is very bad! When we fled our hometown, we saw so many others also fleeing. At first we went to the nearby city, it was crowded with people. Sometimes kind wealthy people came and provided porridge but later they stopped.”

“The imperial court does not care for us either.” Yun Niu thought of that time and could not restrain a shudder, “last winter a lot of people died.” 

“If someone died then another person would take off their clothes and wear it themselves.”

The girls asked: “Then how did you survive?” 

Yun Niu thought a bit and said carefully: “I found a man, he has a couple of brothers, he gave me some food and I survived.” 

The girls sighed: “What happened to the man?” 

Yun Niu said: “In early spring he was beaten to death when fighting for food.” 

Not dying when it was the most barren in winter but dying when there was food to eat in the spring. 

Yun Niu: “What about you all? What was it like when you came here?”

The girls chattered their stories. 

“My family are farmers, when the landowner fled we had no place to go so with my parents we fled too. Seeing that we could barely live on, my dad decided to sell the entire family to Boss.” 

“Boss is a good person, he only takes 50% of the harvest!” 

“Our old landowner took 80%!”

Lin Yuan made time to see Qiu Niang. One reason he took her in was because he could not bear seeing someone dying in front of him and another was because she was a ‘young lady’. Normally, to be referred as such they must come from slightly wealthy families. And these families would educate their daughters, particularly in balancing accounts and number calculations. 

Nowadays, people were concerned with marrying only within their social status. When a woman married she must manage the family’s accounts, social connections and relations. Especially in the landowning class, a female head must manage quite a lot. 

They might not have read the Four Books and the Five Classics and did not read the works of sages but their ability to do the accounts was quite good. Some were even better than the bookkeepers.

Nowadays, not many knew how to calculate using the abacus let alone accounting.

It was time for Lin Yuan to find some people who could manage things. 

He himself didn’t know how to bookkeep, it was all done by Yang shi. But Yang shi was also not too experienced——in the old Lin family home she did not bother with the family’s accounts, it was all done by the head steward. Unfortunately, he was separated from them on the way here. 

It would be great if this young lady knew how to bookkeep, not a big deal if she didn’t. She could hold a literacy class if she was literate.

In any case, cultured people in this era was of the very few, every one of them was important. 

Qiu Niang did not have much expression when she heard that Boss wanted to see her.

She didn’t know why Boss would take in a cripple. Although everyone here said Boss was a good person but Qiu Niang was still not completely at ease. 

She couldn’t do anything, if she just ate she would be a burden.

“Boss.” Qiu Niang was carried to the chair. Her physique skinny and malnourished, skin yellowed and with freckles, completely not looking like a girl in her best years. 

She tucked in her neck and dared not look at Lin Yuan directly, only lowering her head and looking at the table. 

Lin Yuan in truth did not know how to interact with the women of this era, especially educated women. He sat in front of Qiu Niang and asked softly: “This young lady…..” 

Qiu Niang said in a small voice: “Boss, you can just call me Qiu Niang.”

Lin Yuan: “Hai, Qiu Niang, are you literate?” 

Qiu Niang nodded: “I am slightly learned in the four arts (TN: zither, Go, calligraphy, painting).” 

This was actually an all around talent. 

Lin Yuan was even more satisfied: “Do you know how to bookkeep?”

Qiu Niang lifted her head in curiosity and saw a young man with a pair of upward tilting red phoenix eyes, lips naturally curved in a smile, hair black like ink and dressed in cotton clothes. It was the appearance of a wealthy gongzi but his expression was gentle and eyes even more so and this had her lowering her guards.

“I am slightly knowledgeable.” From a young age Qiu Niang had learned female work and managing a family. The four arts were just additional talents. When she said a little bit she was not being humble, only the part on bookkeeping had she been too humble. 

Everyone said an unlearned women was virtuous so women were only educated to the point they could recognize and write words. 

The ones truly educated like men were daughters in affluent and noble families or scholarly families. 

And their education was all received from their mothers. Female teachers were very rare.

“Qiu Niang.” Lin Yuan said,”take care and recuperate your health, when you are better come and bookkeep for me.” 

Qiu Niang surprised: “Bookkeep?” 

From then to now, what women did bookkeeping? It was the work of men. 

Lin Yuan said perceptually: “Who says women are inferior to men?” 

Qiu Niang paused, not knowing what to say. Her expression when looking at Lin Yuan was that of one looking at an alien.

Lin Yuan rubbed his nose and realized this was not the right time to make perceptual remarks and said in a different way: “Currently, no one knows how to bookkeep in the farmstead, so I can only have you fill the position for now.” 

Only then Qiu Niang replied with ease: “Boss has asked of me, I will of course be willing.” 

That night when Er Liang served Lin Yuan in washing up he discovered Lin Yuan was humming a song.

Er Liang carried a basin of water over and asked curiously: “Young master, what are you singing?” 

Lin Yuan smiled: “A song.”

Er Liang: “Young master, you also know this as well?” 

Lin Yuan: “Come, I’ll sing for you.”

“Big brother Liu says, the reason is too prejudiced, who says women only enjoy leisure and idle…..” (TN: from a Henan opera on Hua Mulan)

Er Liang: “…….” 

Lin Yuan finished his tune and smiled pleased with hinself: “What do you think, not bad?” 

He only knew this song, the only song he remembered all the lyrics for and learned it when he was young and saw it on TV. 

Er Liang: “The lyrics……”  

Lin Yuan: “Is about Hua Mulan.” 

Er Liang let out an ‘oh’ in sudden realization: “So it’s about General Hua.” 

The story of Hua Mulan had long been well known and could be considered a popular tale spread among the people. 

Er Liang said against his conscience: “Young master sings very good.” 

 Lin Yuan: “I’m just so-so.” 

Er Liang: “……..” Young master seemed to have taken his words seriously, it was just a perfunctory praise.

Er Liang copied Lin Yuan and sang a few phrases. 

Lin Yuan looked at Er Liang with bulging eyes, scaring Er Liang. 

Er Liang asked carefully: “Young master, is something wrong?” 

Lin Yuan patted his shoulder and sighed: “The country has talents all over, Er Liang, I didn’t expect you to have such a good voice!” 

Er Liang was praised and was quite happy: “Really? Young master, teach me another line.” 

So Er Liang learned the whole song and sang to Gou zi the whole night causing Gou zi’s dreams to be filled with the song, his whole person feeling not right after waking. 

Very soon, Lin Yuan discovered that the women in the farmstead had all learned the song and would hum it unconsciously, even singing it together during work. After hearing it so many days Lin Yuan was already feeling rather numb. 

So he taught Er Liang another song, ‘The Exoneration of Su San’ (TN: from a peking opera also known as Su San left Hongtong County from one of the lines in the song).  

The result was that now he repeatedly heard: “Su San left Hongtong county…..” 

Fine, with two songs taking turns it was better than just having one repeated over and over. 

Yang Zi’an came back much earlier than brother Dao and Zhu Yuangzhang’s party. When he left it was just some men and a few hoes but when he returned it was with a crudely made wooden cart that was almost falling apart by the time they arrived at the farmstead. 

Not only that, Yang Zi’an took 20 men with him but he returned with 40, the other 20 were all tied up.

But Lin Yuan saw them and knew that even if they weren’t tied they wouldn’t run far either way with them so skinny and weak. 

Only one waas rather sturdy but only in comparison with the others. Just in terms of physique he could not even compare to Lin Yuan who didn’t exercise often. 

Yang Zi’an had a smile on his face as he jumped down from the back of a donkey: “I went through the surrounding areas and only found this group of people.” 

Lin Yuan: “They set up camp nearby?”

The sturdiest looking man said: “We just got lost!” 

“Who would come to this desolate place to set up camp!” 

“Taking advantage of us sleeping to steal our things!” 

On the side one of the farmstead men said: “We call that rob…..no! That is called strategy!” 

The tied up men said indignantly: “Strategy my butt! You just took advantage of us sleeping and knocked us out!”  

Yang Zi’an coughed and said to Lin Yuan: “They have knives, long blades.” 

Lin Yuan looked at them and asked calmly: “How did you come by these things?”

The sturdiest man let out a huff: “You ask and I’ll tell you? What do you take me for?” 

Lin Yuan took out a large blade from the cart. 

The sturdy man immediately changed his tone: “We stole it!” 

Lin Yuan: “Where did you steal it from?” 

The man: “When escaping we robbed the several blacksmith shops in the city.” 

Lin Yuan: “…….” How should he assess such actions? 

The man saw that Lin Yuan was not coming to cut him up so he looked around him. Just now he had not the attention to truly examine but now he realized that there were actually farm fields here, and strange box like buildings.

“This is my first time seeing such a large coffin!” The man was shocked into a daze by the dormitories.

His underlings also had their attention taken: “How big must the person be to fit this kind of coffin?”

Lin Yuan: “Let’s not talk it out for now, first take them and lock them up for a few days without food.” 

They must find out what things they had done before. 

In these times, bandits who had not killed were too little.  

The result however, had Lin Yuan’s eyeballs falling out. 

Originally, these men had been porters who went to cities to make money which they then sent back to their wives and children. 

The leader was called Zhao Wuliu. Seeing the situation not right he gathered the porters he had good relations with to go rob a blacksmith shop and took a bunch of blades and knives along their escape from the city and returned to their hometown.

What they found however, was a hometown in complete disorder with no sight of their families. They could only wander like vagrants. 

Although they had weapons they didn’t have it in them to kill and rob. They could only wander around and see if there were any advantages they could take.

The result however, was that they got lost on their wanderings and were knocked out by Yang Zi’an and the others and finally brought to the farmstead. 

Zhao Wuliu complained inside the shack they were locked up in: “They lock us up with not even a bite of food. Dragging us here over such a long distance and yet not even feeding a single bean curd cake! They even stole our things!” 

“Boss, we should fight back!”

Zhao Wuliu glared at him: “Whad’ya sayin’! Be quieter! Didn’t ya see their farm fields, there’s food here!” 

The underlings didn’t understand: “Boss, whad’ya mean? How come I don’t get it?”

Zhao Wuliu: “Ai, lemme tell ya, I see that it’s not bad here. If we can stay then we’ll not be hungry anymore.” 

The underlings all let out oh’s in sudden realization: “Boss, good thing you’re the smart one.” 

Zhao Wuliu was also pleased with himself: “True that.” 

So when Lin Yuan went to see them, he discovered every one of them as obedient and submissive as could be. As expected, different people had different wisdom. These former porters, their wisdom was to find a good employer, so long as they ate fully it was enough. 

If they were indeed murderous bandits, they would likely be currently thinking of how to have Lin Yuan killed and then take over the farmstead. 

“Boss!” Zhao Wuliu was extremely enthusiastic, “we have all thought it over, if you let us eat our fill then we’ll work for you.” 

“We don’t want those blades anymore either.” Zhao Wuliu said lowly, “besides we haven’t used them anyway.” 

The blades had only been used to cut up firewood or scare away wild animals. 

Lin Yuan ws still not completely convinced: “Stay for a few more days.” 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Zhao Wuliu immediately threw himself forward and hugged Lin Yuan’s leg: “Boss! Show some kindness! At least give us some food! We have not eaten for several days!” 

Lin Yuan suddenly realized, he had said to starve them a few days but he didn’t specify how many. It had already been 3 days and this group of people had just relied on water to make it through. That they still had the strength to hug his leg was already not easy. 

So Lin Yuan said to someone outside: “Make some porridge and bring some over.”

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When strangers showed up, everyone in the wilderness became nervous and stayed inside their shacks. Someone in their shack hollered: “We don’t have food! We don’t have any valuables either! This hero, please leave us a chance for survival!” 

More people just stayed silent, trembling inside their shacks. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan had thought that there would be more people in the wilderness. The truth was it was extremely desolate. Because it was winter the trees were all bare, on the ground though there were human faeces and Lin Yuan must be careful so that he wouldn’t step on these ‘surprises’. 

The people in the farmstead at least knew to dig a hole and bury their wastes and then use it as fertilizer later. 

The people here didn’t even bury it. 

Lin Yuan shouted towards the people in the wilderness: “I require people to carry heavy objects. Everyday there will be mixed grain buns and bean curd cakes. There will be houses for shelter too. Those who want to come step out from the shacks.” 

Silence. 

Lin Yuan repeated it again but still no one appeared. 

They hid inside their shacks and examined the new arrivals. 

After waiting nearly 2 hours and as Lin Yuan was about to give up, a woman who was carrying someone on her back came out. Her hair oily and knotted, she timidly walked forward, looking up at Lin Yuan: “Are women acceptable? I can carry things.” 

She also said: “I won’t waste food, I can do two people’s work for just one person’s food ration.” 

She looked at Lin Yuan with desperate hope: “Is that alright?” Lin Yuan looked at the person she was carrying. 

The woman immediately said: “This is my young lady, my young lady……my young lady knows how to read and write!” 

Lin Yuan: “What is your name?” 

The woman said immediately: “I am called Yun Niu!” 

Lin Yuan nodded, “Yun Niu, wait behind me.”

Yun Niu carried her young lady and walked to the back behind Lin Yuan. She stood in the middle of tall and big men, appearing even smaller and pitiful. Her face still showed anxiousness, she didn’t know what the future held but she knew that with the winter on them she wouldn’t be able to even use her body to exchange for food anymore.

In fact, she herself could become food. 

“No more people?” Lin Yuan asked a final time.

This time he did not wait long, finally someone left their shack as well. 

Most who lived in the wilderness wrre men, there were some women but other then the women who had the protection of their husbands, most single women were like Yun Niu and sold their bodies for food. They wrre barely covered in rags and walked out barefoot, their bodies even sported wounds——some men relied on hitting women to vent their emotions.

The people who came out were about 1/3 of all the people in the wilderness.

In Lin Yuan’s eyes this was not a lot but those unwilling to come out he couldn’t help it either. It’l was not like he could force them to come work for him?

So he said to the people who came out: “Follow me.” 

On the way back, Yun Niu carried her young lady, gritting her teeth in order to not fall behind. On the side one of the men who came out with Lin Yuan from the farmstead offered: “I can carry her, don’t end up falling.” 

Yun Niu said alertly: “I can still carry, there is no need.” 

The man did not insist: “That’s fine, when you can’t anymore just let me know.” 

Yun Niu did not reply, she also could not reply, following the others without falling behind was already taking up all her strength.

When they finally arrived at the farmstead, this group of people with timid and numb eyes finally seem to have some light in them. 

They saw farm fields, even with bok choi planted in the soil. They were all of farmer origins so seeing the farm fields they could barely move their eyes. 

The land was the source of the people’s livelihood, the people’s roots.

“First bring them to go wash up.” Lin Yuan said to the women waiting on the side, “one set of clothes per person.” 

The women smiled: “Understood, Boss.” 

With smiles on their faces, they lead them to wash up and shave their hair so that they didn’t bring lice into the dormitories.

Yun Niu was also pulled away by a woman. The woman wore clothes that looked thick, not shivering at all in the winter winds. She was also very clean, no dirt at all on her face. Her hair was also pulled up with a wooden hairpin, and looked very respectable. 

“I am called San Hua, what are you called?” The woman asked Yun Niu. 

Yun Niu said quietly: “I am called Yun Niu, this is my young lady.”

San Hua brought them to a crowd of shacks. The shacks were much more sturdier than the ones seen in the wilderness. At least it did not have cracks to let in the wind. Inside the shack were a few buckets of water. This world did not have the conditions for showering, using warm water to wipe at was already very good. 

“You…..have always stayed here?” Yun Niu asked San Hua carefully. 

San Hua smiled: “No, we were bought and brought here. They bought my dad and my dad took me and my mom along.” 

San Hua shaved Yun Niu’s hair and said: “Don’t be afraid, after coming here everything will be alright. As long as you work there will be food to eat. Boss does not hit people.” 

Yun Niu asked curiously: “What kind of person is Boss?” 

San Hua’s eyes had hope and yearning in them: “Boss is a good person, it is the first time I’ve ever seen such a good person like Boss in my whole life.” 

On the other side another woman shaved the hair of Yun Niu’s young lady, she teased: “San Hua wants to be Boss’s servant girl.” 

San Hua blushed: “Who said that? Don’t say nonsense.” 

Yun Niu slowly relaxed, she said to her young lady when the women left to pour out the water: “Young lady, the Boss seems to be truly a good person, there are so many women here.” 

The young lady coughed twice, her face smiling.

Even a cripple like herself he was willing to bring back, who but a good person would do that. 

“In total we brought back 30 people.” Lin Yuan sighed, “men 22, women 8. And it’s a whole number, not even one more.” 

Yang Zi’an said: “Not bad, I had thought not even one would be brought back.” 

 Lin Yuan thought that strange: “What do you mean?”  

Logically speaking, with a chance for survival those people should not be so unmoved? 

Before there had even been a brave horse caretaker who sneaked into the people belonging to the human trafficker, just to have a chance at surviving. 

Yang Zi’an: “I hear that there are some bandits who have already started killing people and cutting their flesh.”

Lin Yuan: “…….Cannibalism?” 

Yang Zi’an nodded: “That’s right.” 

Lin Yuan fell silent, after a while he stood up: “I’m afraid we must speed up the work this winter.” 

“Strive to finish building the wall by next summer.” 

He wanted to have more people stay alive. Perhaps the heavens brought him to this era so that he could do this very thing. 

Lin Yuan looked at Yang Zi’an: “Second brother, the bandits have weapons right?” 

Yang Zi’an paused, and immediately understood Lin Yuan’s meaning, smiling: “Of course.” 

Lin Yuan: “And we lack weapons.” 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Yang Zi’an and Lin Yuan made eye contact, both blinking their eyes at each other and then letting out loud laughs. 

Lin Yuan: “In the winter, they lack food and don’t have much warm clothes. We can take advantage of winter and rob the bandits in the area.”

“But before that, we need an important object.” 

“Vine armors.”

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It was drizzling the day brother Dao and Zhu Zhongba left. Luckily, it wasn’t too cold and they didn’t spend too much time making farewells before they slipped inside the woods——the leaves could keep the rain from hitting them directly and there was no lightning to worry about on drizzling days. 

But Lin Yuan did not have the people work on the walls today since there was no shelter from the rain on the farmstead. If they caught a cold, with the lack of medicine they would just have to rely on their immune system. But some people might have a good immune system and could recover after a few days but others had a weak immune system and would not make it through the fever. Lin Yuan was not willing to ignore lives for just one day of work. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

So, this day was a rare resting day. 

When the rain stopped, quite a lot of people gathered out in an open field and set up a fire. They chatted while around the fire pit. No matter the difficulty experienced, so long as they endured it, the people’s faces would still have smiles. 

The men even competed on leg balancing for fun. The soil had yet to be turned so it was quite hard, if they were to fall it would indeed hurt.

People were social creatures, gathering together made them feel safer. 

“Young master.” Er Liang brought over a cotton coat, “put on another just in case.”

Lin Yuan did not refuse, putting on the coat he asked Er Liang: “Are there wilds in the area?” 

Er Liang often followed the hunting team up the mountains so he knew: “Yes.” 

Lin Yuan asked again: “Are there people?” 

Er Liang nodded again:”Yes, they are all refugees, both men and women who live in shacks they put up.”

Lin Yuan nodded: “Call over second brother Yang, tell him I have something I need to discuss with him.”

“Accept people in from the wilderness?” Yang Zi’an rubbed his chin, thinking for a bit: “It’s not impossible, only they might not be manageable.” 

Currently the people in the farmstead had either been following brother Dao and Yang Zi’an originally or people with dependents. And for their families they would not dare to have errant thoughts. 

Another type was of servant origins and they didn’t care for anything but eating fully, dressing warmly and having work to do. They wiuld do anything they were told to. 

But the people in the wilderness was different. 

Some could even be of bandit origins and that could only bring trouble. 

Lin Yuan said: “I will personally discipline them.” 

He had managed people under him before. But dealing with these people required a different method. 

Shift their attention and hate, push out a target. The target being the least compliant out of all of them. Have him manage the rest.

The people under him would curry favor with him, some would be afraid, others would have resentment. 

Once the resentment had reached a breaking point, Lin Yuan would then be able to step in. 

Of course, he hoped that there wouldn’t be uncompliant people.

At least not at the time being where everyone must be on the same side and tightly tied together into a rope. 

Once there was any loosening, the rope would break. 

Lin Yuan also knew that in times of upheaval, to keep his hands clean completely was not possible. But he hoped that day would come much later. 

Yang Zi’an looked in puzzlement at Lin Yuan. In his belief Lin Yuan was not someone who could harden his heart. Have him discipline the people? 

Lin Yuan only sighed: “It’s not like I want to.” 

But he had no choice.

In the end they took 20 people with them to the wilderness. The wilds, or wilderness were places where the imperial court did not govern over. The people who fled their hometowns and become refugees could not enter cities. Some stayed outside the city walls waiting for the wealthy to provide charity for them or the day they might finally enter the cities. 

Some people could not handle living outside the city walls and treated like pests that needed to be shooed away. They couldn’t even dig up wild herbs outside the gates so they went into the wilderness. Other than winter, during other seasons they could find food to eat. If they were lucky they could even catch a wild animal. 

Yun Niu was one of the people in the wilderness. She forgot how old she was already. She thought it might be 15 or 17, she was unclear.

Her parents were both dead and so in order to survive she sold herself to different men. Some men would give her some wild herbs. Some just pulled on their pants and left. She grabbed their leg and reminded them they did not give food. But those men unwilling to give food would just kick her away. 

But she survived. 

Her fellow villagers who fled with her were almost all dead. 

Now only one was left, lying in their shack and relying on the food Yun Niu brought back to struggle on whilst at death’s door. 

Yun Niu fed her some tree bark and some water, saying to the woman: “Today no one hit me.”

The woman’s voice sounded like worn out bellows: “That’s good.”

Yun Niu thought of something and smiled: “Today someone told me, when his shack is set up he wants me to live with him.” 

The woman said: “That is also good.” 

Yun Niu chuckled softly.

“Yun Niu!” A man shouted from outside, “I brought some grass roots for you!” 

That was something edible! Yun Niu’s eyes glowed, and went outside. 

The man likely resisted a long time, seeing Yun Niu he immediately pulled her pants down and carried out the business on the ground.

Around them people passed by. Some would pause and watch, thinking once the man finished they could also get a piece, and they didn’t need to give food. Some people were already used to these sights, walking by without much expression. 

When the man got up Yun Niu pulled her pants up and grabbed tightly on the grass roots, baring her teeth at the watching men: “What are you looking at? If you want to do it bring food! Or else I’ll bite off your thing!” 

The men were not afraid of her but they also didn’t want to waste energy on her either, so they left now that they discovered no advantages to be had. 

Yun Niu once again went inside her shack. It was given to her when she slept with one man for several days and did not ask for any food from him. 

She hummed a song from her hometown as she chewed on the grass root. She also fed some to the woman laying. 

The woman coughed twice: “Yun Niu, leave me out in the mountains.” 

Yun Niu also lay down. She shook her head: “If I leave you there you will die.” 

The woman smiled with difficulty: “I will die anyway, if you don’t put me there I will just waste your food.” 

Yun Niu was upset: “Young lady, Yun Niu should be caring for you.” 

The woman fell silent and did not say anymore. 

Yun Niu had always been protecting her. She was the daughter of a landowning family and Yun Niu was her servant girl. When fleeing, her parents ran ahead holding onto her younger brother and she became separated from them.

 After she was raped, her lower parts became numb and began discharging lochia. Yun Niu carried her on her own back and hid in the mountains. The whole way avoiding others in search of a place to settle. 

With a place to settle, Yun Niu began doing business. 

Yun Niu often got hit, sometimes there was not a piece of unblemished skin on her body. 

The woman thought sometimes, why were they still living, why not just die cleanly. 

Yun Niu said: “My parents told me, it’s better to hang on to living than die.”

So the woman forced herself to endure.

She didn’t want to make Yun Niu sad.

“Young lady, Yun Niu can’t eat anymore……” Yun Niu talked in her sleep.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

A tear fell from the woman’s eyes. Yun Niu must be dreaming of before. Before when she was still a young lady of the landowning class with servants who served her and endless fine grains and meat to eat. She always had Yun Niu eat more, thinking her to be too skinny. 

The woman held in her sobs but the tears could not be stopped. 

TN: A bit depressing in this chapter, but it’ll get better when Lin Yuan comes!

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Lin Yuan didn’t know how to make sugar so he first squeezed the juice out of the berries and then simmered it in a pot. When it became viscous he put the fire out and waited for it to cool——the result appearing more like honey, very viscous and sweet, but it was far from either dark brown sugar or fine white sugar. This kind of liquid sugar was not convenient for carrying around and couldn’t be stored long either. But in an era lacking in sugar intake it was enough.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The charcoal was also put into use, however the temperature was still not high enough to melt metal. 

Everyone was disappointed; in the end the most important thing was to find coal. 

But there wad also good news, Yang Zi’an found the soil that could be used to make bricks, and the charcoal conveniently could be used. From the kiln the bricks came out a dark yellow, although the sizes weren’t uniform, they were indeed usable.

The newly bought people had been put into the farming team and accompanied the farmstead people in farming the fields. Some who were very weak and malnourished followed the women into the mountains to gather berries. They adapted extremely well. 

It caused the people who had originally followed brother Dao and Yang Zi’an to feel rather puzzled. 

Someone asked them: “You aren’t afraid?” 

The people replied: “Why would we be afraid? There is Boss for everything!”

The worst would be being sold again. They would only hope their next master was also a good master.

It had been very, very long since they had eaten fully. 

Now there were grains to eat, no matter if it was just bean curd cakes, so long as they could fill their bellies then they would be very happy.

“Just before being bought, the human trafficker told us that if no one will buy us he will have to throw us away.” Someone said sorrowfully, “otherwise we would just be wasting his food.” 

“On the way, there were people who sold their sons and daughters, as long as there was a sack of beans they would sell.” 

“They even sell their old wives. I saw someone, no one wanted to buy his old wife so he just abandoned her in the market without even looking back.”

“She was still conerned over her husband and children when she was took away.”

Someone said fearfully: “Next to us there was another human trafficker, in his group there was a person who suffocated several of his fellow slave-servants.” 

“A lot of people does it, with less people then your own chance of being bought would be greater.” 

The listeners all had goosebumps from hearing.

“Our days now are very good.” One of the new arrivals sighed with feeling, “Boss says there are a lot of charcoal which can be used in the winter and are better than firewood.”

“And the clothes, I saw it, it looks very thick and warm.” 

“A bed to sleep in! I haven’t slept in a bed before!”

The others asked: “Where do you normally sleep in if not a bed?” 

The person chuckled: “Before at my old master’s place I looked after the horses so I sleep in the stables with them. In the winter, sleeping with the horses is very warm.” 

“You even raised horses?” 

“That’s amazing, I only ever saw big officials riding horses, their wives and daughters sitting in horse carriages. I haven’t even touched a horse’s butt before.” 

The person smiled, rather pleased with himself: “I am very good at raising horses, whatever they like to eat I know. I can even help mares birth colts.”

“Then how come you were sold away?” 

The person’s expression became desolate: “When my masters fled they abandoned me.”

“Then how did you fall into the hands of human traffickers?” 

The person became high spirited again: “I saw a group of people passing by, and after finding out it was a human trafficker making his trips I sneaked into the group of slave-servants.” 

Everyone: “…….” 

This was actually something that happened?

“You all don’t know, even human traffickers won’t accept anymore people.” The person said quietly, “now that sells are difficult the wilds are full of people. No one wants to buy more mouths to feed.”

The person let out a relieved sigh: “If not for Boss, we would definitely be abandoned in the wilds as well.”

“Where would there be any of the good days here?” 

The other new arrivals all nodded in ardent agreement. 

“I truly hope Boss lives a 100 years.” 

“Yes, Boss is a living Buddha.” 

“In the future when I have a son, the sons of my sons, they will all work for Boss!”

These people already made plans for their grandchildren and later generations. 

The building of a city wall soon began and almost everyone was mobilized. When the fields required less work everyone began to build the wall. The replacement for cement was a mixture of mud and when dried it was also rather sturdy, just not as smooth as cement. Lin Yuan had people make some push carts from wood. Compared to metal push carts they weren’t as convenient and rather clumsy but it was still better than manually carrying the bricks. 

Sometimes they were pushed by people and other times they were pulled by the ox and donkey. 

By winter only 1/3 of the wall was finished but in brother Dao and the others’ eyes the speed was already rather quick. 

On the first day of winter Lin Yuan had people kill and cook 20 or so bamboo mice and everyone got a share of some meat. Bamboo mice meat with tofu and pickled vegetables stewed together with enough salt and oil. In the eyes of the people on the farmstead this was something only normal families could have during the new year holidays.

Also on this day Zhu Zhongba had a talk with Lin Yuan. He was now like brother Dao and the others, building the wall together. His young age combined with the recent better diet had him growing muscle mass, his forearm being as thick as Lin Yuan’s thigh——Lin Yuan consoled himself that his body was still only 16 while Zhu Zhongba was almost 20. 

Besides, boys developed and matured slowly, they could still grow in their 20’s.

“You want to go search for coal and iron?” Lin Yuan looked in disbelief at Zhu Zhongba, “do you know what the situation is like outside?” 

Searching single-handed and unaccompanied, even if he found it how could he bring it back by himself?

Zhu Zhongba said seriously: “I discussed with brother Dao, he will come with me and we’ll bring some people as well.” 

Lin Yuan thought it over but did not immediately agree: “Let me think for a bit. Without weapons what would you all do if you come across danger?”

He truly did not want to hear anymore news about death. 

Even if this was Zhu Zhongba, even if he was Ming dynasty’s founding emperor, Lin Yuan did not think he would have some kind of special halo. 

After all, historically Zhu Zhongba should now be on his way to Huang Jue temple.

Zhu Zhongba appeared to have already decided: “Even if we are always in the farmstead we are also without weapons. The wall is just an obstacle, if someone truly wants to charge in, without any weapons we would just be like a turtle in a jar.”

Lin Yuan fell silent. After awhile he said with a hoarse voice: “I know.” 

He was very clear on this point, but he was also clear that there was an 80% chance someone would die.

Lin Yuan thought silently for almost an hour before saying with difficulty: “Go, you and brother Dao select some men. Don’t force yourselves, run if you meet danger.” 

Zhu Zhongba smiled, showing white teeth which set off against his tan skin: “I know.” 

They were not soldiers and going outside was also not for fighting in a war. So long as they could protect their lives they would. 

Lin Yuan said: “Money and food I will have it all prepared, you all must come back safely.” 

Zhu Zhongba: “Boss, you truly are a living Buddha.” 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan jumped up and gave Zhu Zhongba’s head a forehead knuckle: “Have you seen such a young Buddha before?” 

Zhu Zhongba laughed, he actually forgot, Boss had yet to be considered an adult, younger than himself by a few years.

Although his person was still small, but his heart was not small at all.

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Of the two who came down with a fever, only one survived. They were both bachelors without any families and they didn’t even have proper names. The one who died his surname was Li and was the second child in his family. Everyone just called him Li Er (TN: er = 2, or second). Now that he passed away, his headstone could only be carved with Li Er. Although they were used to death, but a person near them just died so everyone still felt sorrow.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Er was only 17 years old. When fleeing he separated from his family and met brother Dao, following brother Dao from then on. He was honest and did not like to talk much. One of his front teeth was knocked out when fighting for food with others so from then on even smiling he did it mouth closed. His life’s dream was to eat fully, marry a wife and have a couple kids. 

Brother Dao cried the most fiercely and sat in front of Li Er’s grave. “Little Er, currently I can’t buy any money to burn to you in the underworld, gege will owe you for now. Don’t be too quick in leaving for reincarnation, wait until gege burns some for you and you can use it to bribe yourself a better second life, be reborn in a wealthy family and be a young master. Everyday there will be white rice and meat to eat.” 

Yang Zi’an stood on the side without saying anything. His whole person became gloomy after the trip, he knelt by brother Dao’s side: “Big brother, it’s my fault for not taking care of them.”

Brother Dao wiped a tear and spat at the ground: “Not your fault! It’s the fault of the damn heavens! The damned imperial court! How would it become like this if they would give the people a way out! Treating us like dogs and pigs! Even dogs and pigs have a bite to eat, we have nothing!” 

Back then when the food for disaster relief was given out, it could not be considered food but sand mixed in with husks. Originally the husks were edible but mixed in with sand and rocks, some who had not filtered them out became ill after eating a few times. Besides, it was such a small amount, even if they filtered it clean they would still starve to death.

“Fourth brother is right!” Brother Dao stood up, face still tear-streaked, “we should overthrow those dogf**kers!” 

“Big brother!” Yang Zi’an urged quickly, “speak cautiously!” 

Brother Dao wiped at his face. Finally some reason returned and he didn’t say anymore.

The ones who died outside were buried on the spot by Yang Zi’an. Only a wooden tablet as a gravemarker, carved with their names. 

They did not even have one good day. From birth they had been struggling for survival at the very bottom of society. Perhaps the happiest moments were when the whole family was together and they could taste some meat during the New Year’s. 

Brother Dao sniffed hard, waving his hand at Yang Zi’an. “I want to talk some more with little Er.” 

Yang Zi’an could only nod: “Big brother, don’t be too upset.”

Brother Dao: “I know.” 

People die, but life must still continue. The new people all had their heads shaved, a lot even had their privates shaved. Now that the weather had warmed, washing did not require boiling the water first and could be used immediately.  

These people were all unsettled and frightened. They had all been basically sold to the human traffickers who brought them along on their travels, making sells on the way. Nowadays, buyers have decreased and most of them only get one bean curd cake a day. And that was only when the human trafficker made a sell and was in a good mood. 

They were all unwilling to run away becuase then they would not even get the one measly bean curd cake a day. At least with the human trafficker they could expect to eat a bean curd cake. 

They traveled a long distance on just a bean curd cake a day so they were barely skin and bones. 

Lin Yuan observe6s them and discovered they had already been ‘trained’ by their previous masters. They did not know how to make their own choices or even think on it. They did whatever the master told them to do, listening to the master when they were still serving at the master’s home and listening to the human trafficker when they were sold to the human trafficker. 

Now that they were sold to Lin Yuan, they would obviously listen to Lin Yuan. 

So long as there was a master, they would feel relieved and be at ease. 

Yang Zi’an originally bought 100 people but now only 56 stood in front of Lin Yuan. 

All men, Yang Zi’an did not dare buy women. 

“Women and children, I dare not bring them back.” Yang Zi’an explained, “the road is too dangerous, they would not be able to survive even if I bought them.” 

Lin Yuan understood and sighed: “It’s fine.” 

But Yang Zi’an said: “Fourth brother, don’t feel guilty, as long as the city wall is built, the people living inside will have a better chance at survival. If we don’t go out to buy people we can only expect for the bandits to make a raid on us.”

Having experienced two bandit attacks, Yang Zi’an said sincerely: “In every situation there must be a choice made.” 

Lin Yuan wiped a hand across his face. 

In his heart, one side was clear that if they didn’t buy more people and add to the manpower, then the farmstead would not be able to maintain a positive cycle. 

But the other side felt that those people died because of his orders, and he could have avoided that. 

Enormous guilt and self-doubt suffocated him.

In the modern times, the biggest decision he made was whether a project should still be continued and assess how much a project should be invested in. The only thing on line was his own monthly bonus.

Now, every decision he made concerned human life. If he made a mistake then there would be human life to pay the price.

Lin Yuan finally knew that during wartimes, not everyone could be a general. 

You must be cool-headed enough and your heart must be hard like steel in order to make the right decision.

Yang Zi’an looked at Lin Yuan with determination: “This issue, you are not in the wrong.” 

Lin Yuan raised his head and looked at the sky. A tough grown guy like him could not break out into sobs. When he once again lowered his head from gazing at the sky, his eyes became cool and penetrating. He said to Yang Zi’an: “We must finish building a wall by next spring. Aside from farming everyone else will take part.”

Lin Yuan said: “I will have people forge the iron weapons.” 

“I will think of a solution for coal.” Lin Yuan said, “I will think of a solution.” 

Yang Zi’an patted Lin Yuan’s shoulder, finally revealing a slight smile: “Fourth brother, that’s right, anyone can fall now, only you cannot.” 

Now in everyone’s heart Lin Yuan was their ‘boss’, not only representing the decision maker but even more so representing a stable life. Once ‘boss’ fell, they would be fearful, would panic. When there was panic and unsettlement disaster would follow. 

Lin Yuan: “I know.”

In the following days, Yang Zi’an lead people in digging kilns and finding the proper clay to make bricks all over the mountain, even camping out in the wild. 

Lin Yuan lead people into the mountains to differentiate the different types of trees, experimenting with which ones were the best to burn into charcoal at the right temperature——without a thermometer Lin Yuan could only use the back of his hand to test the temperature, leaving behind burn marks. 

If only they could find a coal mine, but they didn’t have the manpower to dig all over the mountain in search of a coal mine.

Compared to Yang Zi’an and Lin Yuan, the hunting team had a better result. They recently caught several bamboo mice. Because they could gnaw on wood and make holes they could only be placed in cages.

They were mostly quiet and ate everything, like pigs.

By autumn, most of the bamboo mice were carrying young. Once the second generation grew bigger then the farmstead could have meat more often.

They also caught a few rabbits, in total 5, but were all pitifully skinny. They just ate it the day of the catch. 

Now, the meat they could taste everyday was from fish soup. A lot of people soaked their mixed grain buns in the soup and ate it like that and was considered rather delicious.

Guo’er, Lin Yuan’s only sister now ran around with Er Liang and Gou zi everyday. Because she was quite young so when the pain of losing her two older sisters passed she returned back to the usual liveliness of young children.

Old father Lin complained a bit but it was all rebutted by Yang shi.

Yang shi said: “I don’t expect her to be a wealthy and educated proper lady in the future. I only hope for her to grow up safely. The world as it is, that she can run and jump will be her source of survival.” 

Old father Lin could not win against his wife in a debate and any complaints were useless so he didn’t say anymore. 

Guo’er was a yellow haired girl. While still in the womb she had not been nourished well, her hair yellowed, arms and legs thin. Er Liang and Gou zi dared not bring her to catch fish in the pond so they brought her along to the woods to gather berries alongside the hunting team. They were not stupid and knew to follow the grownups and knew not to go to a place where the grownups could not see them. 

When there were more people the wild beasts also dared not show up.

Guo’er carried a small braided basket filled with deep red berries. Each one the size of a small pearl but very sweet. In the farmstead there was no sugar so this bit of sweetness was enough to satisfy her.

“Er Liang, Gou zi, eat.” Guo’er lifted the basket closer to them. She was freckled, her skin tone yellow but she had a rather infectious smile, “it’s very sweet, you guys eat some.” 

Although Er Liang had always been serving at Lin Yuan’s side but he had interacted with Guo er before back in the old Lin family home. The three young ladies were just like young master, all kind hearted people. Finding out the second young lady and the third young lady passed prematurely, Er Liang had sobbed terribly.

“I thank fourth young lady’s reward.” Er Liang knelt deferentially.

Guo’er said: “Get up quickly, don’t kneel to me, I won’t allow you to kneel.” 

Er Liang stood and took some berries to eat, smiling at Guo’er: “Sweet, the ones picked by fourth lady are all sweet.” 

Saying so he shoved at Gou zi. 

Gou zi had originally wanted to kneel but had been stopped by Guo’er, she said: “You don’t kneel either, or else I’ll tell big brother.”

Gou zi looked towards Er Liang at a loss. 

Er Liang: “Gou zi, listen to the fourth young lady.” 

Gou zi stood up and Guo’er gave him a handful of berries. 

Guo’er said: “It’s truly sweet.” 

“I must bring some more for gege!” 

She was extremely excited, staying in the woods the whole day. If not for the hunting team leaving she would continue to stay. 

When Lin Yuan saw the berries he was also happy. It was indeed sweet with a lot of sugar. The only downside was that it was too small. He asked Guo’er: “Are there still more of these berries?”

Guo’er nodded: “A lot! It’s all over the mountain, only there are thorns on the vines, you must be careful when picking.” 

Lin Yuan planned to first use the berries brought back by Guo’er and see if he could make sugar from them.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

If possible, he would have the women join the hunting team to pick berries as they didn’t need to sew at this time. 

Sweet things, at times could comfort one’s heart.

TN: You can see Li Yuan showing signs of change in this chapter as he realizes what it means to be a leader when he had just been a regular guy. His character development over the story is gradual and really satisfying to read. Kudos to the author.

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