Chapter 39

The position of a hundred-household head is a military post, requiring the procedures of the Ministry of War, which can take one or two months. However, the position of a village head is much simpler. According to tradition, 110 households form a village, and the ten households with the most people and grain contributions are selected as village heads, each serving for one year, with a ten-year cycle.

Of course, in practice, the position of village head usually falls into the hands of clan families, chosen from among the local gentry and elders, and reported to the court immediately. This means that Zhang Ke can take office immediately and doesn't have to worry about rotation, allowing him to issue orders directly to the people.

This should have been a great thing, but the subsequent order made Zhang Ke feel as if he had swallowed a fly.

"Uncle Qiao, what's going on with Sun Youguang? Why is he in such a hurry?"

Qiao Tieshan shook his head and said, "When you sent Qiao Fu into the city, he told me about the idea of moving to River Bend Village. I then went to see Sun Youguang. When I arrived at his house, I heard that someone from Yizhou had come, perhaps giving Sun Youguang an order."

Zhang Ke frowned and said solemnly, "Sun Youguang doesn't seem like someone who would make things up. These officials can do anything. They might really have killed the returning people, mistaking them for bandits!"

Qiao Fu couldn't help but widen his eyes and asked in surprise, "Brother Ke, would they really dare to do that? Isn't that a disregard for human life?"

Qiao Tieshan snorted, "What's the big deal? Your father has seen officials kill innocent people to claim credit many times. These people are lucky to have met Ke. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't even know how they died."

Qiao Tieshan's voice wasn't low, and he deliberately let the people outside the city hear. Indeed, Yue Zixuan and Ma Rufeng's faces turned extremely ugly.

"Sir, since that's the case, let's hurry to River Bend Village to avoid trouble with the corrupt officials!"

"No rush!" Zhang Ke smiled slightly. "Preparation is key. Let everyone have a good meal first, and then we'll discuss how to divide the work. It won't delay anything. Uncle Qiao, lead everyone in slaughtering sheep and cooking meat!"

"Sure thing!"

Qiao Tieshan had already prepared the knives, and Ma Rufeng picked out a dozen strong young men to help. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the fat sheep, wishing they could eat hot mutton immediately.

Four young men held down a sheep, and Qiao Tieshan swiftly slit its throat with a sharp knife, and blood spurted out.

"Quick, get a basin to catch it, add some salt and green onions, and it will be even better when steamed!"

Someone came over to catch the blood, and Qiao Tieshan moved on to the next sheep. In no time, all twenty sheep were slaughtered. Thinking of the mutton, Ma Rufeng's mouth watered, and he took off his shirt, helping to skin and gut the sheep, cutting off pieces of tender meat.

On the other side, Aunt Qiao directed Liu the blacksmith and others to set up the stoves and pots, quickly boiling water and throwing in large pieces of mutton.

Shen Shi and Xiao Xue weren't idle either. Their baskets were filled with ginger, garlic, green onions, and spices, which were mostly bought from Guangning. Unlike in the future, many families in the Ming Dynasty only had salt as a seasoning.

Shen Shi heard that the people outside the city had traveled hundreds of miles, risking their lives to return to the Ming Dynasty, and shed many tears, insisting on giving everyone a good meal.

Not only were the seasonings complete, but the salt was also of high quality. Zhang Ke, who was not used to coarse salt mixed with sand, had bought two jars of clean green salt in Guangning, which Shen Shi brought over. Green salt was clean and easy to flavor.

The aroma soon filled the air, and everyone present swallowed their saliva. Even if they weren't hungry, the smell would make their mouths water.

A young man couldn't resist and sneaked to the stove, lifted the lid, and reached for a sheep leg, ignoring the boiling water. Just as he was about to grab it—

Smack!

A stick came from nowhere and struck his hand, making the young man jump in pain. He looked up to see Zhang Ke.

"I'm hungry. Isn't the cooked meat for eating? Are you unwilling to share?"

"Ma Biao, how dare you speak to the sir like that!" Yue Zixuan stepped behind the young man, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Apologize to the sir immediately."

The young man stubbornly held his ground, gritting his teeth. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

"You brat, you dare to talk back. I'll—"

"Wait!" Zhang Ke smiled and held Yue Zixuan's hand, looking at the defiant Ma Biao. "The meat is for everyone, but there are rules for eating. If you don't follow the rules, you'll be punished."

"Rules for eating? I've never heard of that!"

"Look around. Are there any children, elders, women, or injured or sick people among these hundreds of people? Shouldn't they eat first? If everyone was selfish during your escape, you would have been killed by the Tartars long ago!"

Ma Biao was speechless, his face turning red.

Zhang Ke turned to everyone present and said loudly, "I, as the village head, will manage everyone from now on. Our situation is dire, and we have nothing. We could freeze or starve to death at any moment. The only way to survive is to unite, work together, and think of others. The elderly, women, and children, as well as the injured and sick, should be given priority. We cannot abandon anyone easily. If you abandon others today, you might be abandoned tomorrow, and the team will fall apart. Therefore, my first requirement is to follow orders strictly. From eating and sleeping, any violations will be punished severely, and repeat offenders will be expelled and left to fend for themselves!"

Zhang Ke, who had been smiling, suddenly changed, exuding a fierce aura. There was no doubt that if anyone provoked this new village head, they would face severe consequences. Previously, people respected Yue Zixuan, but now they feared Zhang Ke.

Yue Zixuan carefully pondered Zhang Ke's words, finding them increasingly reasonable. With two thousand people escaping, having rules could greatly reduce casualties. He gradually realized the gap between himself and Zhang Ke.

Yue Zixuan suddenly knelt on one knee and said sincerely, "Sir, we are willing to follow your orders. Whoever disobeys will not be spared by me!"

"Right, sir is our sky. Without sir's protection, we have no future. Whoever disrespects sir has a bad heart and should be thrown to the wolves!" Ma Rufeng also said.

Seeing their leaders kneel, the people followed suit, bowing to Zhang Ke.

"Everyone, get up. Let's eat!"

Zhang Ke smiled and helped Yue Zixuan and others up. Then he gave them their first lesson as village head... queuing!

Following Zhang Ke's instructions, the elderly, women, and children, as well as the injured and sick, were at the front of the line, receiving the cooked meat first. The able-bodied men were divided into two groups, one for guarding and the other for queuing for food. They would switch after eating.

The originally chaotic group finally had order, and Zhang Ke personally supervised, punishing any mistakes without mercy.

Ma Biao was at the end of the line, nervously holding a large bowl as he passed Zhang Ke and approached the stove.

Shen Shi smiled and picked out two ribs from the pot, dripping with meat, and ladled a spoonful of thick broth into Ma Biao's bowl.

"Young man, I am the mother of your village head. Rules are necessary. Don't blame him for hitting you."

"Okay!" Ma Biao nodded forcefully. He wasn't stupid. The village head who could provide such good food wasn't a bad person, just strict!

Ma Biao glanced at Zhang Ke, who hadn't eaten yet and was discussing with a group of people to ensure they had enough food and warmth.

"Uncle Qiao, do you know the situation in River Bend Village?"

"I've been there a few times," Qiao Tieshan said. "The village is quite good, with mountains and water, and plenty of game and fish. However, the Tartars have frequently raided in recent years, causing the village to decline. If we move there, we need to repair the houses and build a wall to protect against bandits and wild animals. We also need grain. With hundreds of people, we need at least one shi of grain per day, which is a significant amount."

Zhang Ke nodded, understanding the challenges. He thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Qiao, I want you to handle the repairs and the wall. Everyone who can work should help. We can't use bricks and mortar now, so use more wood to seal the gaps. If we can survive this winter, things will be easier."

Qiao Tieshan nodded. "No problem. I'll take twenty people to River Bend Village to check the situation."

Zhang Ke then turned to Qiao Fu. "Brother Fu, you and Ma Rufeng select fifty able-bodied men who can hunt. I don't care how you do it, but you must bring back three hundred pounds of meat per day."

"Hahaha, Brother Ke, don't worry. Fifty people can bring back five hundred pounds easily!"

"This is a serious matter. Focus on it. We have five hundred people now, and another five hundred will arrive tomorrow. In total, a thousand people. Three hundred pounds of meat means each person gets about five taels (sixteen taels per pound). Even without grain, they won't starve. You are responsible for their lives, understand?"

Qiao Fu immediately stopped joking and nodded solemnly. "Brother Ke, don't worry!"

Zhang Ke finally turned to Yue Zixuan and smiled. "The remaining task is security. Brother Yue, let's take the remaining able-bodied men and divide them into two groups for day and night patrols. We don't have a city wall, so we'll use a human wall to protect the people!"

"Sir, I will do my best."

Everyone was assigned tasks, and Zhang Ke was about to lead them out when Liu the blacksmith and his son Liu Shitou suddenly stepped forward.

"Zhang Ke, do you think I'm useless, only good for blacksmithing?"

Zhang Ke quickly waved his hands and smiled. "Uncle, isn't it better to keep the best for last? You are everyone's hope for survival! The court won't give us silver, so we need to earn money. If you're willing, move your workshop to River Bend Village and start making stoves immediately."

Liu the blacksmith finally smiled in satisfaction. "Alright, I've been tired of staying in Dacheng Fort. I'll follow you!"

By now, it was completely dark, and the people outside the city began moving to River Bend Village in batches.

Zhang Ke quietly called Qiao Gui over. "Take out that box of silver and buy as much grain as possible immediately!"

"All of it? Shouldn't we keep some?" Qiao Gui asked in surprise.

Zhang Ke, though reluctant, smiled. "Brother Gui, Zhang Ke doesn't want to be a miser. For big things, don't be stingy with money!"

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