I Plan to Bring My People to Join Your Black Wind Stronghold

In years of famine, people become less than human; they'll do anything for a bite to eat.

Even though she hadn't experienced it herself, she knew what a hellish scene it was, so she planned to find a place where she could see the leader of Black Wind Stronghold.

Although Black Wind Stronghold had robbed them before, they eventually obediently sent them food and money.

And the leader of Black Wind Stronghold is quite good at dealing with people; he'll have someone send him some things every month from time to time.

Sometimes they would grow some vegetables, sometimes they would give some silver; it was like making offerings.

Zhou Wanwan also didn't understand what the leader of Black Wind Stronghold was thinking.

She led a group of people straight up Black Wind Stronghold, where the Black Wind Stronghold inside were terrified. "Boss, a lot of people have come! Are they here to attack Black Wind Stronghold?"

The leader of Black Wind Stronghold, named Tie Niu, roared in fear, "Quickly bring out all the weapons! Anyone who dares to attack Black Wind Stronghold, let them taste our might!"

Zhou Wanwan shouted loudly, "Tie Niu, it's me. Open this gate, I have something to discuss with you."

Upon hearing the voice, Tie Niu paused for a moment, then quickly said, "Isn't this the young boss? Open the door for me right now!"

Soon, the gate to the stockade opened.

The gate of Black Wind Stronghold was very dilapidated, but it was made of solid wood and was very heavy.

The people inside Black Wind Stronghold waited for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before opening the gate. Tie Niu looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "Little Boss, what are you doing?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Tie Niu and said, "I plan to bring my people to seek refuge with your Black Wind Stronghold. I just wanted to ask if you would be willing to accept us?"

Looking at the large group of people behind him, Tie Niu said, "Is your Liu Family Village in trouble? What exactly happened? I'll have someone boil some water, and we can talk over tea."

Zhou Wanwan waved her hand and said, "I'm just asking if you're willing. If you're not, we'll leave now."

Zhou Wanwan didn't want to drag things out, because she really didn't have the time.

If Black Wind Stronghold is unwilling to take them in, she will have to find another stronghold to do so.

Tie Niu was silent for a moment, then looked at her and said:

"It's alright, you can stay here as long as you like. Although it's a bit simple here, you'll have no problem staying here."

Because our Black Wind Stronghold is very large, let me show you around!

"Boss, this is our territory. What will we do if they settle here?"

"Exactly! What kind of mountain stronghold would let people live there? What if these people have ill intentions towards us? Wouldn't our stronghold be finished?"

Tie Niu shook his head and said:

"Everyone encounters difficulties, let alone when the youngest brother comes to me."

I'm in charge of this stronghold now, so you all have to listen to me.

The bandit leader, with a gloomy expression, looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Anyway, I disagree. These people must have ill intentions."

If you want to stay at our mountain stronghold, you can, but you'll have to pay us rent every month.

Otherwise, what will the brothers eat and drink?

Tie Niu retorted loudly, "Are you trying to rebel? Do you even have a place to speak here?"

The second-in-command, Lin Xiao, roared:

"I think you shouldn't be the boss anymore, let me be the boss."

Look how poor our village is! You're too principled in your actions.

"Our brothers in the village can't even get enough to eat now, who do you think you are as the leader?"

A dozen or so brothers nearby chimed in, saying:

"That's right! I've never seen a bandit leader cower like this, saying he can't rob this or that."

The entire village of over 2,000 people lives here with you, making a living by farming every day.

I only get a few odd jobs now and then, barely enough to make ends meet. What kind of life is this?

Everyone else in the mountain stronghold is living the high life, but you're making us starve?

Tie Niu said loudly:

There are some people and some things that we can't afford to mess with.

Unlike other villages, our Black Wind Stronghold doesn't have any powerful backers; we have to rely entirely on ourselves.

Why don't you understand this?

Just like how Azure Dragon Mountain Stronghold pays the local magistrate several thousand taels, or even tens of thousands of taels, every year, what do we have to compete with them on?

Lin Xiao roared:

"That's what they always say. They think Azure Dragon Mountain Stronghold is much stronger than ours. Brothers, are any of you willing to come with me?"

Let's go straight to Azure Dragon Mountain Stronghold. It's better than staying here and suffering in silence, having to put up with their rudeness.

They're living a terrible life in their own village, yet they're thinking of taking in people from Liu Family Village.

This is a huge group; there must be over a thousand people, right?

You think you can afford to support them? You coward, I'd like to see how you manage to feed over 1,000 people.

Lin Xiao rebelled immediately, and all 300-plus of his men rallied around him.

More people gradually approached him, and soon more than 800 people had gathered around him.

They're pretty much the same as the people in Liu Family Village.

Lin Xiao sneered:

"Boss, this has nothing to do with me, and we don't need this bandit camp."

I'll take them directly to start their own business. You don't have any objections to that, do you?

Tie Niu sighed, looked at them, and said, "We've been brothers for a while. Since you're leaving, I'll give you some of the silver and 100 bags of grain."

The family was divided up very quickly.

Lin Xiao scoffed coldly:

"Brother, this is the last time I'm calling you. You've brought in these thieves from outside; it's definitely not a good thing."

You'd better be careful around them! Otherwise, you might die without even knowing how.

Lin Xiao led his group away, leaving Black Wind Stronghold completely empty.

Tie Niu stared blankly in the direction they had gone. Zhou Wanwan sighed and looked at Tie Niu, saying, "Maybe we should leave! It seems like we're not welcome here."

Tie Niu shook his head and said:

"Actually, Lin Xiao wanted to leave a long time ago, and it has nothing to do with whether you come or not. I already knew about this."

He just chose a suitable time to bring it up.

These are all predestined relationships; now that the predestined relationship is over, it's natural that we must part ways.

It's alright, I'll take you to your accommodations! But our place is a bit basic."

Zhou Wanwan turned around once and then shook her head.

It's not just somewhat rudimentary, it's extremely rudimentary.

Some people live directly in the greenhouses, which get incredibly cold in winter.

It's already winter, and it's freezing cold.

Looking at the dilapidated sheds, Zhou Wanwan said, "You're sleeping in here? Won't you freeze to death in winter?"

Tie Niu shook his head with a wry smile and said:

"There's really no other way; all we can use on this mountain are trees to make shelters."

We don't know how to build houses, so we can only make these simple sheds. They'll be fine for sheltering us from the wind and rain, so please don't mind them."