Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 668 - 621: Everyone, listen to my arrangement!
Most people have never done farm work in their lives and have never looked directly at the small money earned through hard labor.
Ask them to make money off the mountain, and they would never do it.
Ling Yuezi knew the temper of these people well and shook her head upon hearing Li Xingsheng’s suggestion.
Li Xingsheng looked at Ling Yuezi and smiled slightly, "Would you be willing to let me arrange it?"
Ling Yuezi was troubled, and with Li Xingsheng offering to help, she was more than willing, "Certainly."
These people had once protected her, remained loyal to her and Big Master even when the Second Master gave her a hard time, so she couldn’t forcibly drive them away. If someone else had a good way to arrange them, it would be excellent.
Li Xingsheng glanced at her, shook his folding fan, and walked out.
Outside the courtyard gate, it was packed tightly.
Everyone saw Li Xingsheng come out and immediately shouted, "Mr. Li, you must tell Miss Ling that we are not leaving, we die following her."
"Right, Mr. Li, we are not leaving. I’ve been here in the village for ten years and have already treated it as home."
"I’m not leaving either, I grew up without parents, and it was Big Master who took me in and let me live. Where would I go to survive without this place?"
Everyone spoke of their hardships, and in short, none were leaving. Once invited to the mountain, they must be taken care of!
Li Xingsheng looked at everyone, "But now the government has issued a notice stating that if any traces of occupying the mountain as bandits are found in the village after July, they will face severe punishment."
"We’re not bandits anymore; it was Second Master who tricked us into doing it. When we followed Big Master, we never committed any immoral acts." Many quickly responded.
"But now that Big Master is ill, all his business has failed. What will you rely on to survive?" Li Xingsheng asked everyone, "Neither I nor Miss Ling can afford to support so many people here. Will you stay here and starve?"
This question made everyone think.
They looked at each other but couldn’t come up with an answer.
"Mr. Li, as long as we don’t have to leave, whatever you say, we’ll do it." An elder spoke first, "Here, at least we have a place to stay. Where would we go to live without the village?"
"Exactly, without the village we have no place to live! Just allow us to stay here, and we’ll do whatever you ask." Another person replied.
"We will follow the arrangements of Mr. Li and Miss Ling, as long as we are not driven away. We will obey Mr. Li and Miss Ling’s plans."
Everyone spoke in agreement.
The discussion had reached this point, making it easier to arrange.
Li Xingsheng was waiting for just this opportunity.
He scanned the crowd, "Good, this is what you said, as long as you are allowed to stay, you’ll do whatever is required. Don’t turn back on that later."
"We won’t regret!" The elder spoke again.
Being older and more experienced, his words led others to follow, "We won’t regret!"
Li Xingsheng said, "Then, listen to my arrangements!"
He looked at everyone and began to explain his plan.
He required everyone in the village to follow military camp discipline and obey government commands.
During downtime, they would farm, gather firewood, and hunt. If there was warfare in the border area, the villagers would be required to fight and kill the enemies, with those defying orders subject to execution!
Additionally, there would be a monthly allowance of five hundred coins.
"Mr. Li, are you suggesting we join the military camp? This means we are being recruited?" The oldest elder asked, looking at Li Xingsheng.
"Exactly, I am pointing you to the correct path. Days spent freely in the wilderness might seem enjoyable but are not a lasting plan,"
Everyone exchanged looks, hesitant.
Being recruited by the officials guaranteed food and drink but didn’t promise great wealth or freedom.
"I will not force you if you are unwilling." Li Xingsheng watched them.
Ling Yuezi then stepped forward, "If you want to stay here, stay, but I might leave in a few days. I need to take Big Master to get medical treatment since his illness is severe, and I won’t return anytime soon. You’ll have to figure out your lives for yourselves; I’m unable to help."
A young boy immediately cried out, "Miss Ling, you can’t leave! You and Big Master leaving will make this place not feel like home."
"Right, Miss Ling, you can’t leave!" Others shouted.
Ling Yuezi shook her head, "If I don’t leave, what will happen to Big Master’s illness? No miracle doctor here can cure it."
The mention of Big Master’s illness brought everyone to silence again.
"Miss Ling, after Big Master’s treatment, will you come back?" A sorrowful person asked.
Ling Yuezi sighed, "That depends on finding a miracle doctor."
The elder spoke again, "Miss Ling, as long as you and Big Master don’t leave, we will follow Mr. Li’s arrangements."
Others discussed for a moment and echoed, "Miss Ling, after Big Master’s treatment, you must come back; we will follow Mr. Li’s arrangements."
Having lived in the village for many years, everyone considered Big Master and Ling Yuezi as their providers.
Once "parents" left, the sense of home was gone.
Seeing them moved, Ling Yuezi relented, "Alright, Big Master and I won’t leave."
She made the decision, and everyone was delighted.
Then, Li Xingsheng explained the arrangements.
Tomorrow morning at 7:45 AM, a deputy from Zhen An Prefecture’s military camp would come to incorporate the remaining members of Feihu Village.
The two hundred people from Feihu Village were arranged, and the Third Master returned to the village. He was a short, stout middle-aged man always speaking with laughter.
Upon hearing the village was submitting to the court, he immediately packed his belongings and bid farewell to Ling Yuezi before leaving, saying he was seeking other opportunities.
The Third Master was brought into the village by Big Master, intending to help Ling Yuezi suppress the Second Master, but being timid, he couldn’t manage it.
Unable to contend with the cunning Second Master and fearing punishment from Big Master, he stayed away from the village.
Now, upon hearing the village was being incorporated, he was delighted and left openly, going to enjoy a carefree life.
Ling Yuezi knew his character and didn’t stop him, letting him go.
Tomorrow, the people from the court were arriving, and the villagers felt nervous yet excited.
Ling Yuezi was not immune, and before sleep, she visited Big Master’s residence.
In the past few days, Big Master’s subordinates had already informed him of the happenings.
Ling Yuezi came and explained Li Xingsheng’s plans, but Big Master showed no anger, only smiled at her.
"Mr. Li said that our mountain bandit days are not a long-term survival strategy and that we must think for the future generations. Now that the court wants to incorporate us, Mr. Li advises everyone to comply."
