When Song Zhong opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the wiry man who had spoken to him earlier.
He immediately remembered his purpose. It seemed the time had come to discuss how to escape this place.
He rolled out of bed and walked over to the tap in the corner, cupping some water to wash his face.
The icy water splashing against his face instantly cleared Song Zhong's head.
He calmly turned around.
The vast barracks were utterly silent. The laborers were sleeping soundly. Xi Yan had repeatedly cut into their already meager sleeping hours, and without proper rest, they would inevitably grow drowsy at work the next day.
No matter how tough they were, they could not endure this forever.
That only strengthened his resolve to escape.
Song Zhong finally turned his gaze to the wiry man before him and said quietly, "Let's go. Take me to meet the others."
The man nodded, inwardly impressed. As expected of a boss who was famous even back then. He naturally carries the maturity and composure of someone born to lead.
He led Song Zhong to another corner of the barracks.
There were no guards overseeing the camp's interior. An independent little society had formed here, with laborers banding into small groups and stealing resources from the weak.
Beds had already been arranged around the corner to enclose a small space, shielding it from everyone else's view.
Those beds had probably been taken from other people. Those who had lost them... probably had no choice but to sleep on the floor.
It was survival of the strongest.
Fortunately, not much food had been stolen. The swill biscuits were so difficult to swallow that nobody would eat them unless their survival depended on it, so few people bothered stealing them.