Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Killing Two Birds with One Arrow_1
Time passed, and soon three more days had gone by.
During these three days,
Qingshi Town, as well as the Luo Family,
continued to operate at a high speed and with great precision.
While Luo Yong had stopped expanding his army, many projects still required a great deal of labor.
Therefore, these refugees who had poured into Qingshi Town
were actually in a much better situation compared to refugees in other places.
Although they had no houses to live in, no fancy new clothes to wear,
and not much in the way of wages to collect,
at least they could have their fill of food, and even drink a hot bowl of meat soup.
For those refugees who lacked clothing and sufficient food,
this was already a considerably good life.
…
In Qingshi Town, the number of people guarding the green stone veins for the Luo Family was gradually increasing.
Meanwhile, in a hidden, unknown mountain outside of Qingshi Town,
a massive stronghold stood erect.
Inside the stronghold, within the gathering hall,
Black Tiger Xiong Qi, the current leader of Blackwind Stockade,
sat anxiously on the principal seat and occasionally glanced nervously at Scholar Qu Yan, who was calmly seated in a chair nearby.
“Scholar, it has been some time since our last move against the Luo Family of Qingshi Town,”
“as time passes, the strength of the Luo Family keeps growing stronger.”
“If we don’t act against the Luo Family soon, I’m afraid it won’t be long before they completely discover our location.”
“By then, our Blackwind Stockade, in front of the Luo Family, will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, with death a certainty…”
After hesitating for quite a while, Xiong Qi still couldn’t hold back,
and he voiced his concerns to Scholar Qu Yan.
“Leader, it is the Luo Family that needs to hurry, not our Blackwind Stockade…”
Qu Yan said with a slight smile, slowly waving his pure white goose-feather fan, a gift from who knows where.
As he fanned himself, he spoke quite calmly.
“But now, with the Da Feng Dynasty in chaos, a very large number of refugees are pouring into Qingshi Town every day.”
“In this period, the Luo Family is still actively expanding the town, building those thick and high new city walls.”
“If we continue to stay leisurely in our stockade, sooner or later we will be annihilated by the Luo Family…”
“Scholar, you once said that the Prince has under his command no fewer than two handfuls of forces similar to our Blackwind Stockade.”
“If we can’t do something remarkable near Qingshi Town,
“how can we catch the eye of the Prince?”
Xiong Qi suddenly stood up, he walked in front of Scholar Qu Yan, his expression quite eager.
After Xiong Qi’s remarks,
the handsome scholar in white clothing, holding a goose-feather fan, finally stood up silently.
Looking at the muscular figure of Xiong Qi, towering like an iron tower and exuding immense deterrent power, Qu Yan smiled and said, “Very well, since that’s the case, let’s prepare to launch another attack on the industries under the Luo Family.”
“So, Scholar, which aspect of the Luo Family’s industry under Qingshi Town do you think we should strike first?”
“Is it the remaining one-third of the green stone veins?”
“No,” Qu Yan shook his head slightly, speaking calmly, “The green stone veins, although extremely important to the Luo Family, after these years, both the Luo Family and the now-extinct Zhao Family have surely accumulated an enormous quantity of green stones.”
“Even if we target the remaining green stone veins now, the benefits are there, but not the highest.”
Xiong Qi furrowed his brows and inquired in a low voice, “Then which of the Luo Family’s industries should our Blackwind Stockade strike to maximize the benefits?”
“`
“Farmland!”
“Farmland?”
With this answer from Qu Yan, Xiong Qi’s eyes couldn’t help but grow more excited, “In these chaotic times, compared to useless gold and silver, food is indeed the most important.”
“Since that’s the case, I’ll have someone prepare.”
“At dawn tomorrow, when the sky is not yet fully bright.”
“I will launch an attack on the Luo Family’s lands.”
“Leader, don’t be hasty…” Qu Yan said, stopping the black-furred tiger Xiong Qi who was about to leave the hall.
“What do you mean by this, Master?” Xiong Qi asked, looking at Qu Yan in front of him.
“If the Luo Family’s lands are to be touched, those operating Qingshi mines must also be dealt with.”
“Since we have chosen to act, why not take care of those operational Qingshi mines as well?”
“Moreover, the leader must not put himself in jeopardy.”
“If by accident, the leader were ambushed by the Luo Family’s people.”
“This vast Blackwind Stockade might just collapse…”
…
The words of Qu Yan, the scholar, gradually echoed throughout this hall.
And Xiong Qi, the black-furred tiger who had been stopped,
with furrowed brows, pondered for a moment.
He couldn’t help but nod silently.
What Qu Yan had said was indeed correct.
The bandits of Blackwind Stockade can die at will, for there are countless refugees in these chaotic times.
To expand the stronghold’s influence, just capturing some refugees would suffice.
But if he were to fall at the hands of the Luo Family…
This vast Blackwind Stockade might truly vanish from this world.
…
After Xiong Qi and Qu Yan had thoroughly discussed the next steps,
Xiong Qi took three thousand armored youths and quickly headed towards the location of the Luo Family’s Qingshi mines, as well as the farmlands outside Qingshi Town.
As for where these armors came from?
They were naturally sponsored by that mysterious Prince.
The Prince had sponsored a total of five thousand sets of armor.
Out of these, he took three thousand armored youths, and the remaining two thousand were left to defend the stockade.
He did not wish to lose the stronghold of Blackwind Stockade due to his own negligence.
…
The subsequent events unfolded much as Qu Yan had envisioned.
Whether it was the Qingshi mines’ locations,
or the vicinities of those farmlands,
the armored youth of Blackwind Stockade met with some resistance.
However, the resistance from the Luo Family was not particularly strong.
With just a small clash, the Luo Family’s side directly collapsed.
The reasons for this were…
In addition to the Luo Family actively cooperating and putting on a show with Blackwind Stockade,
there was also the disparity in numbers and equipment between both sides.
One side was fully armored, while the other had an armor rate of less than half, and there was also a significant difference in numbers; in such a battle, the Luo Family’s side was bound to be undoubtedly defeated.