Dressed as a farmer's widow, she brought her daughter to stock up on food and reached the top

Chapter 301: Refugees Become Bandits

The servants who were accompanying them remained calm in the face of danger and quickly took out the big knives hidden under the car. The blades flashed coldly in the sunlight, and the servants' movements were in unison.

When the bandits saw the sharp swords in their hands and then looked at the crude sticks in their own hands, they immediately felt a little regretful and their original arrogance was greatly reduced.

At this moment, Afan and Shiliu jumped up without hesitation, waving their knives and rushed towards the bandits.

Afan roared loudly, his sword flashing, and Shiliu was no less heroic. For a moment, the bandits on the opposite side were frightened and fled in all directions.

Xiuying looked at the bandits' receding backs, sighed slightly and said, "These are just some homeless people who gathered together to survive and gradually formed a robbery business. They are not real bandits.

If these bandits continue to do evil for a long time without anyone to control and guide them, they will eventually become real bandits.

They will become more brutal and unscrupulous. To deal with these bandits, we cannot rely solely on military suppression, we must start with the refugees.

Only by providing these displaced people with basic living security, allowing them to live and work in peace and have a legitimate livelihood, can they avoid going down this road of no return.

Otherwise, even if we temporarily repel these bandits, new refugees will join us, and the bandit problem will never end."

The servants looked at their master Xiuying with eyes full of admiration and respect.

One of them couldn't help but whispered, "Our mistress doesn't look like a country woman at all."

"Yes, look at the way the lady talks and her knowledge. She sounds like a learned scholar." Another person quickly agreed, with admiration in his eyes.

"It's our blessing to be able to follow such a visionary and knowledgeable person." An older servant said with emotion, his face filled with satisfaction.

Everyone nodded in agreement, secretly feeling fortunate to be able to work under Xiuying.

Shi Liu said with a firm face: "Mother, don't worry. I have grown up now and learned a lot of skills. Now I am able to protect you."

After hearing this, Xiuying smiled with relief and said, "My daughter has really grown up." Xiuying's eyes were full of love and joy, and she reached out and gently touched Shiliu's head.

"Hurry up and get on the cart. Let's go and don't delay our trip." Xiuying patted Shiliu's shoulder, turned around and got on the ox cart first.

Everyone calmed down and got back on the carts. The two ox carts continued to move slowly forward on the mountain road.

The ox cart slowly drove to the gate of Nanyang City. Xiuying looked at the refugees on both sides of the road with a serious look, her brows slightly furrowed.

There were young women with haggard faces, clutching their crying babies, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair, and strong men with disheveled hair and faces, squatting by the roadside in a state of despair.

Xiuying thought to herself: If these laborers are not given a way to survive and a place to live, they will soon become bandits under the pressure of survival.

Thinking of this, Xiuying couldn't help but sigh and shook her head worriedly.

Xiuying decisively stopped the carriage, then stood up and said loudly to the refugees on both sides of the road: "Fellow villagers, listen to me!"

"Pingyang County is about to have its city wall renovated, and they need people right now. You can go and try your luck."

Xiuying looked at everyone sincerely and continued.

"Pingyang County Magistrate, Lord Wu, is a truly good official!" Xiuying raised her voice, her tone firm, "I can guarantee that everyone working under him will have food to eat and a place to live!"

"Master Wu is dedicated to the people and will never treat you unfairly. As long as you are willing to work hard, you will be able to live a stable life!" Xiuying's voice echoed at the city gate, gradually igniting a glimmer of hope in the eyes of those originally confused and helpless refugees.

After hearing Xiuying's words, the refugees, who were originally lifeless, immediately became agitated.

"You will all starve to death if you wait here!" An old man with a weathered face shouted first, with a determined light flashing in his dry eyes.

"We can't get into Nanyang City at all. Even if we did, there's no place for us to stay!" A sturdy man waved his fist and echoed excitedly.

"Yes, let's go to Pingyang County! Maybe there is still a way to survive!" Someone else shouted loudly, with a desire for survival in his voice.

For a moment, shouts resounded throughout the city gate. The refugees packed up their only belongings, supported each other, and prepared to embark on the journey to Pingyang County.

Xiuying looked at the retreating group of refugees with a solemn expression. She then called Wang Daya and said firmly, "Daya, go back immediately and prepare 500 kilograms of rice to send to Pingyang County."

"Tell Master Wu that this rice is my contribution to repairing the city wall." Xiuying raised her head slightly, her eyes full of the importance of this matter. "With this rice, these refugees can temporarily alleviate their hunger, and it also solves the urgent need for labor to repair the city wall."

Wang Daya agreed without hesitation, then turned around and ran back.

Wang Daya is a skilled martial artist, and her steps are light and agile, so this speed is nothing to her.

Others only felt a gust of wind passing by, and before they could see her appearance clearly, Wang Daya had disappeared.

After Xiuying paid the entrance fee, she led everyone into the city.

As soon as they entered the city, Xiuying frowned at the sight before her. The city was even more desolate than the last time the chicken vendors arrived.

The streets are deserted and sparsely populated, and the hustle and bustle of the past seems to have become a distant memory.

Many shop doors were half-open, and some even had signs saying "For Transfer" posted on them.

Occasionally, there were a few pedestrians walking in a hurry, with tired and helpless expressions on their faces.

Xiuying brought everyone to Baohetang. This street used to be bustling with people coming and going, but now it was a deserted scene.

Only a few pharmacies were open, while the rest were mostly closed, their facades covered in dust.

Xiuying watched this scene with a flood of emotion in her heart, muttering to herself, "No matter what era, medical care is indispensable."

"When people are sick, they need treatment, but in today's situation, even the pharmacy business is so depressed."

Xiuying walked in slowly with Taohua and Awang. As soon as they entered the door, the medicine boy came to greet them warmly.

Xiuying smiled and said, "Brother, it's me, Xiuying."

"Oh, it's Sister Xiuying. You haven't been here for some time." The medicine boy responded with a brighter smile on his face.

Xiuying continued, "I've come to discuss the medicinal herbs with your shopkeeper."

"Okay, please wait a moment, I'll go inform the shopkeeper right away." After the medicine boy said this, he trotted towards the inner room.