The Mystery of Blue Silver Village

"Uncle Dashan, are you wondering how to arrange things for them?"

"Mm! Eldest Son of the Zhang Family, do you have a good idea? These people aren't ordinary disaster refugees. If something goes wrong..."

"It's all right! We'll deal with it when the imperial court sends someone. The important thing now is to

hurry and arrange for them to wash up, then get them some food so they can fill their stomachs."

Hearing Zhang Sheng say that gave Uncle Dashan some confidence.

Otherwise, the charge of harboring fugitives alone would be more than their village could bear.

His trust in Zhang Sheng came from the impression Zhang Sheng had left when he displayed his might last time. Otherwise, Uncle Dashan would never have taken these people in so casually.

"My lord! Judging by the traces this group left behind, they must be just ahead."

"Mm! A bunch of lowborn wretches should know their place. To think they dared resist the imperial court! They're courting death! Move out! Once we catch them, we'll hurry back and report in."

The whole party was dressed as imperial soldiers, so they were presumably the men sent by the imperial court. They followed the tracks to the vicinity of Blue Silver Village,

and judging by their purpose, they were probably after the laborers Zhang Sheng and the others had just taken in.

"I didn't expect there to be such a peculiar city here. Where is this? Does anyone know?"

"My lord! I do. I came here on official business a while ago."

"Oh?"

The lord leading them immediately grew interested when he heard his subordinate's answer.

"Then tell me about it."

"My lord! All I know is that this place is called Blue Silver Village, and it's been built up beautifully.

Lots of people come here for leisure every day. It's even more prosperous than most county seats."

"Blue Silver Village? Are you sure it's Blue Silver Village and not Blue Silver City?"

"I'm sure, my lord. It's Blue Silver Village!"

"How could a village build walls this high? Could there be some dark secret inside?"

The moment the lord in the lead thought of a secret, he felt his chance to earn merit had arrived. Excitement spread across his face as he said to the man beside him,

"I think there's something suspicious going on inside. We must enter the city and bring everyone here under control,

so the imperial court can send people to investigate and see whether they're plotting something."

"My lord! You mustn't! We can't afford to offend the people in there."

"What do you mean?"

"The last time I came here on official business, it was on General Cheng's orders, and General Cheng seemed somewhat afraid of offending the people inside.

So, my lord, it would be best not to offend them rashly."

He knew who General Cheng was: the commanding general in charge of the canal here in Luoyang.

He was countless ranks above a captain like him. If even General Cheng had to treat those people carefully, how could he afford to offend them?

The lord in the lead wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then said to the subordinate who had just stopped him, his face full of relief,

"You could say you saved my life this time. Once we get back, I'll promote you to squad leader."

"Thank you for your appreciation, my lord! It was only my duty. As for what we do next..."

"First, we'll go back and report this, then see what our superiors decide. This is no longer something you or I can meddle in."

After saying that, the lord in the lead turned and left the vicinity of Blue Silver Village. The soldiers behind him hurried after him.

It all happened in such a short time that the people of Blue Silver Village never noticed a squad of soldiers had just been there.

As for the lucky ones who had escaped, Uncle Dashan arranged for them to change into clean, warm clothes

and have a generous meal. They were deeply moved.

"Thank you for saving our lives, Village Chief! I'll kneel before you!"

"Hey! What are you doing? It's just some food. We don't lack any here, so there's no need for this! Get up!"

Uncle Dashan was filled with emotion as he looked at them. If not for Zhang Sheng, he would probably have been just like them, never knowing in the morning whether he would live to see the evening!

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Alas! We're wanted men. What plans can we have? We'll take it one day at a time. We'll leave in a little while."

"Leave?"

"Yes! We can't bring harm to everyone in Blue Silver Village for our own selfish sake. If we did, we'd be sinners for all eternity."

"You don't have to leave. As for the people the imperial court will send,

you don't need to worry about them either. We have our own way of dealing with it."

"Village Chief, is that really true?"

"Of course. I wouldn't joke about the people of Blue Silver Village."

"That's wonderful! On everyone's behalf, thank you for taking us in, Village Chief."

On hearing the good news that their fortunes had turned, the laborers wept tears of joy. They finally no longer had to hide wherever they went.

"All right! Next, I'll arrange a place for you to stay. But there are quite a few of you, so it'll be a bit cramped."

"It's all right! It's all right! As long as we have somewhere to stay!"

It was hard enough for them just to stay alive now. How could they care what their lodging was like? They would even have been willing to sleep in a livestock shed.

After Uncle Dashan had arranged everything, he came to Zhang Sheng's estate.

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! Will this really be all right? I still can't put my mind at ease."

"It'll be fine, Uncle Dashan! I've got everything under control!"

Seeing how confident Zhang Sheng was, Uncle Dashan felt a little more at ease.

"Uncle Dashan! Later, you can ask around and see if any of them want to settle in Blue Silver Village. If they do, register them."

"You want to take these people in?"

"Mm! Don't you think Blue Silver Village still has too few people?

Once the population grows in the future, Blue Silver Village will become Blue Silver City."

"Blue Silver City!"

Uncle Dashan had not expected Zhang Sheng to harbor such ambitions, but was this really appropriate?

Would the imperial court allow them to recruit troops and gather followers so brazenly?

"Don't be alarmed. It's not as if we're turning Blue Silver Village into Blue Silver City right now. We'll take it slowly; there's plenty of time."

"As long as you know what you're doing. I can only help you with a few small things. I can't do much for you."

"You've already helped me a great deal. Look how well Blue Silver Village is being managed."

"All right! Don't flatter me. Don't I know my own abilities?

Weigh things carefully. I won't stay here and bother you any longer."

"Uncle Dashan, won't you eat here before going back?"

"No! I still have things to deal with back home. I'll come eat another time!"

As Zhang Sheng watched Uncle Dashan leave in such a hurry, he felt a little sorry for him.

The village chief's position had originally been his, but now he had dumped it on Uncle Dashan.

Look how busy Uncle Dashan was-he didn't even have time to eat.

"And that's only the position of village chief. If I became emperor, how bad would it be?"

The thought immediately gave Zhang Sheng goosebumps.

"Master! What's wrong? Have you caught a chill?"

"I'm fine. A gust of cold wind just blew past. Lan Xin! Is there something you need?"

"Master! Now that spring has begun, the pharmacy urgently needs a batch of medicinal herbs.

Our stores are a little low, so we need you to accelerate the growth of another batch."

"Mm! I understand. I'll go to the herb garden in a little while."

That was life. Sometimes, there was nothing one could do. For Zhang Sheng to maintain things as they were,

he had to keep providing material goods and money. Fortunately, his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass.

If it had been some other Beast Martial Soul or Tool Martial Soul, who knew what things would look like now?