Chapter 716: Firewood, Open Space, and Riding the Same Horse

Jier's words left the merchant opposite him stunned for a moment: "Surely, is that not the case?"

Clearing his throat, Jier said with a thick-skinned smile: "As you can see, the group I lead consists of destitute people. They have suffered endless humiliation at the Baishi Chengqiang Guanka, and this return to their home in the Southern Province is merely to find a place where they can safely live and avoid disaster. We still have some grain, but the food must be heated to be edible, and heating it requires flames, and flames require firewood."

Jier pointed to the mountains north and south of the west side of the town: "In the past few days, we could rely on picking up dead branches in the Shulin on both sides of the Shanglu, or felling trees to obtain firewood. But now that we have arrived at the edge of the town, we naturally cannot do that anymore, right?"

Jier was sitting high on his horse, looking left and right: "The vicinity is mostly open, cultivated farmland, and there is no suitable place to obtain firewood."

Mr. "Gaunt Aolier" immediately said: "There is, there is. There is a rather large Shulin to the east of the town. Usually, the town's firewood is obtained there, it's just..." He rubbed his fingers together, miming the action of collecting money: "It's just that the land all has an owner. Both gathering and felling require payment. You have to pay the owner of the Shulin land, the 'Sawmill' Merchant Guild, based on the number of people and the amount of timber felled."

He put on a smiling face: "It is not much; the people in town can all afford it. Of course, if you do not want to spend time going over there to find firewood yourself every day, you can also buy it in town. We have everything here!"

Jier's mouth twitched, and he said with a cold face: "You may have misunderstood my meaning. I have so many people here, at least a fraction of the town's population; the daily requirement for firewood is not a small amount."

Jier continued: "Therefore, I hope that the various Merchant Guilds of Duoen Town can help exempt our poor people from the daily firewood felling fees. Or, could the Merchant Guilds in town provide a portion of the firewood needed for daily life as a free sponsorship? How about that?"

Hearing this unreasonable demand from Knight Jier, the merchant's face twitched, but he maintained a smile. His eyes rolled, and he did not refuse: "This, I cannot make the decision on my own. I personally very much hope to help with your noble act, Knight, but after all, this is not a small quantity. I must go back and report to the Merchant Union that manages the town to see what the people above think."

Jier nodded: "Then please be quick. I hope to have this settled by this evening. After all, the circle of wooden posts and wooden fences around this open space would be quite nice to burn as firewood."

These words almost made "Gaunt Aolier" lose his composure.

"I'm joking, please rest assured. Before dark, we will not target your wooden fence. By the way, I have another question. Since this open space was created temporarily for the Kendall Army to station and rest, and the army has been gone for several days, what is this place kept for?"

Regarding this question, "Gaunt Aolier" answered easily: "The caravans that used to pass through the town would park their vehicles in the backyards of various inns. But as the town's scale expanded and buildings were added, not to mention the width of the streets, the inn backyards built early on are no longer enough for the scale of today's caravans. So the various Merchant Guilds discussed leaving this place here for some larger-scale caravans to park their carriages safely."

Smiling, the merchant shrugged: "You have also seen that in the current situation, smaller-scale caravans can hardly trade as they used to. The scale of the caravan must be large enough to cope with the various dangers on the road."

"Is it like the way they deal with places in the Western Province where there are many horse bandits?"

Jier guessed as much, and to his surprise, Mr. "Gaunt Aolier" was very knowledgeable about the Western Province and nodded to acknowledge Jier's analogy.

"Then, please allow me to take my leave. I will convey your request in full to the Merchant Union. Later, we will also send a few Security Guards from the town to help you assist with the guard at the entrance of the open space."

"As you wish. We will also send our own people to protect ourselves. After all, the reputation of Duoen Town is quite loud."

"Hahahaha, you joke."

"Hahahaha, just a joke."

Subsequently, Mr. "Gaunt Aolier" took the remaining two riders and turned back toward the town. However, on the return trip, he was not as anxious or uneasy as when he came.

Jier also turned around, watching the hundreds of people gradually and chaotically fill the open space, which had seemed quite large before.

He shook his head. This place was enough for the Kendall Army with their large number of logistics wagons, but he hadn't expected that ordinary people, similar in number, would occupy it so messily, and it still looked like there wasn't enough space.

"Priest Bataer, Xueya Site, Long-Bafute, and the Captains of each squad, come over here!"

Jier rode his horse toward the center of the open space, his shouting voice rising and immediately drowning out the messy, noisy sounds around him.

Those called approached Jier's side. Once they arrived, Jier began to issue orders: "We might stay in this Duoen Town for two days. We need to inquire about news here, sell the captured goods, and raise the supplies and tools we will need later. So, this mess is not a way to do things. The positions for the squads to rest and recuperate need to be adjusted!"

"Jier, tell us, we will listen to you."

Priest Bataer naturally supported the decision of the warrior Jier, as long as it was beneficial to the mission and the people.

Xueya Site did not care; he anticipated that he would be assigned a task, so he leaned against the side of Jier's carriage, listening without speaking.

The middle-aged Merchant Bafute was a bit anxious. He had actually been trying to adjust the positions of the people after they entered, but many were unwilling and would not move once they sat on the ground. At this moment, he took out a fine cloth handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his busy neck, then took out a small water skin and took a sip of sweet honey water.

The four Squad Leaders of the Armed Civilians, who basically only listened to Jier's orders, also hurried over with their respective deputies.

Originally, they did not have deputies. After all, each person managed twenty-some people, mostly just using their voices, and they could call out everyone's name in the squad.

But in the past two days, Jier had given them simple training and reorganization. Each person had twenty-five people under them, and the originally messy weapons and equipment had been redistributed.

The tall and strong young men picked up the double-handed long-handled axes and heavy hammers, and each squad was arranged with four or five young Hunters from the former village. Besides that, the captured Mudu were paired with uniform Cleavers, allocated to at least five per squad.

The remaining combatants were then equipped with a long wooden stick in addition to their Long Swords, as well as Rope, so that in a short time they could insert the Long Sword into a groove carved into the stick and bind it tightly with the Rope to use as a temporary Long Spear.

Not only did the weapons change, requiring the young people in the squads to re-accustom themselves, but Jier also shuffled and rearranged the personnel of each squad, dispersing those who were familiar and huddled together to avoid bullying and oppression within the squads.

Because the people under them had all changed, it was necessary to add a deputy to command and lead the squad. Of course, Jier let each Captain choose their own deputy; the pairing of the leader and deputy had to be smooth and suitable, so it was better to choose someone familiar.

As for the extra people, they were absorbed by Jier into the squad under his direct command. Including those who had surrendered and listened to orders early on, Jier directly commanded about forty-plus armed youths.

At this moment, Jier jumped off his horse and pointed to the roughly rectangular wooden fence enclosure: "You four, each take people to guard one side of the fence. Three squads are responsible for the fence, and one squad is responsible for the guard at the main gate. Bataer, have the religious people gather together, find a place to rest in the middle of the open space, and concentrate the wounded in the squads, still responsible for the medical care of the squads. Bafute, have the Priest help you, and have the currently scattered people divide into three sections leaning against the fence, leaving the middle of the open space specifically for the religious people."

"At the same time, have the people carrying the supplies on the list unload everything neatly near the inside of the main gate. And the surrendered Bandits, I promised to spare their lives, but I didn't say I wouldn't sell them. Each of them must sign a debt note for me, and then according to the rules of Duoen Town, I will sell them directly to the various merchants who like to use people. Xueya Site, go into the carriage, take a sum of money, and you will come with me later."

Everyone saluted and followed the orders after hearing them. Jier flicked his head toward Xueya Site: "Let's go, the two of us will take a trip into town. You are responsible for going to the tavern to inquire about news, the detailed situation of the town, the situation of the several counties on the west side of the Southern Province, and the latest situation of Borisfa City that the Priest is concerned about. Of course, also the situation of other surrounding towns, Bandit Groups, and villages."

"That's a lot."

Xueya Site smiled and tidied up his equipment, making his attire look more like a caravan guard looking for opportunities. However, he was originally a caravan guard, so he didn't really need to dress up.

He originally wanted to return the borrowed Crossbow to Jier, but Jier was currently unloading the weapons from the Tianxuecao into his own carriage.

"What? Not bringing this equipment? The Long Spear might not be needed, but the bow and arrows?"

Jier shrugged: "You all say the security in Duoen Town is chaotic and prone to theft, how could I dare to carry extra things on the horse? A set of riding harness is enough. You say, the horse won't be lost too, right?"

Rolling his eyes, Xueya Site said speechlessly: "If a shop let the horses of the guests who come to trade be lost, then they wouldn't be running a shop at all. Rest assured, I have been here before. There are many thugs in the shop who watch the store. Although their skills aren't great, when you enter the shop, they will specifically send someone outside the shop to help guests watch their horses."

"Chaotic, poor security—that's what is said to the 'insiders' of the town. For outside travelers and merchants, as long as you can control your lower body and your hands, I think it's fine here."

Jier was curious: "What if you can't control them? What happens?"

Xueya Site raised his finger and pointed to the debtors outside the wooden fence who were starting to work hard under the whip: "What else could happen? Go work hard to pay off the debt. But fortunately, debtors are not slaves. Although they get beaten and have to work hard, at least they won't die. Uh, at least on the surface it looks like that. How those gangs rely on the evil in the Human Mind to make money privately, I don't know."

The two were ready, and the other people in the open space, under the urging of the armed youths and the Priest, gradually became orderly from a messy group.

Of course, this "orderly" was actually very limited.

"Bataer, the squad is handed over to you. We are going to Duoen Town to take a look." Jier shouted to the Priest who was helping the wounded.

Priest Bataer seemed to dislike this "Jiedian" of the God of Wealth in Duoen Town, so he waved his hand and said: "Be careful not to fall into the trap of wealth and desire. By the way, when will you two be back? Jier, the squad cannot do without you."

"I might be back before evening. As for Xueya Site, he has a heavy task, it's hard to say."

Xueya Site laughed: "I'm going to drink to my heart's content tonight!"

Subsequently, the two rode away from there under the envious eyes of the surrounding people.

At the main gate, after a short delay, the few Security Guards mentioned by Mr. "Gaunt Aolier" had already arrived and were currently staring at the squad of Armed Civilians Jier had arranged there, both inside and outside the gate.

Jier was not polite either, directly shouting orders to the Squad Leader in charge: "Keep a close eye on these people from town. Without my orders, don't let any outsiders in."

"Yes, Knight!"

The Captain shouted loudly, making the faces of the few Security Guards "standing guard" outside the gate look ugly.

When Jier and Xueya Site both rode past on horseback, Jier sized up the attire of the Duoen Town Security Guards and discovered that they wore studded leather helmets on their heads, thick cloth armor protected by thin metal plates on their bodies, metal bracers, and leather gloves. Their wide, sturdy cowhide belts, besides having a Steel Longsword hanging from them, also had an extra Iron-wrapped Club, the head of which was stained with blood; it was likely used often to maintain "security."

On their lower bodies, they wore studded thick cloth battle skirts that reached their calves, as well as iron-toed leather boots.

To be honest, this set of equipment was already quite good; although it couldn't compare to the leather combat armor of the Kendall Guard, it was the best-equipped group of Security Guards Jier had seen since he started his journey from the north.

This set of equipment wouldn't be obtainable for less than a few Gold Coins.

At least Xueya Site looked on with quite a bit of envy.

It was just that the equipment was decent; he didn't yet know how the combat effectiveness of the guards was. Of course, Jier had no intention of attacking Duoen Town; he knew it was impossible to take it. Despite having hundreds of young civilians under his command, those with real combat effectiveness numbered only about a hundred, and the average strength of these hundred people was also very limited; he estimated they couldn't even beat ordinary, vicious Bandits.

Just as Jier and Xueya Site were leaving the place on horseback, he was called out by Ms. Feiniya, who had been waiting on one side of the entrance.

"Knight Jier, have you forgotten some of the rewards you are owed?"

Ms. Feiniya walked out from the side with her sister; these days of recuperation had made her spirit much better, and most of the injuries from the beating had already healed; at least the miserable appearance she had when she was rescued was no longer visible.

"I haven't forgotten, Ms. Feiniya, shall we go now? You seem to still have property in the town, right? If you give the shop to me, how will you and this young girl live? Don't tell me you're going to borrow a sum of money and try your luck at the casino?"

Jier teased.

Ms. Feiniya walked toward Tianxuecao, while the other girl under her command walked toward the prairie horse that Xueya Site was riding.

She reached out her hand to Jier and said, "As for how to survive, I have my own ways. I stopped believing in luck a long time ago; people can only rely on themselves. Although it's a bit blasphemous, I imagine the great gods of all paths wouldn't look favorably upon a woman like me, right?"

Xueya Site also looked at Jier to ask for a signal; Jier nodded, and with one motion, he pulled Ms. Feiniya up onto Tianxuecao.

Jier did not let her sit in front of him, but rather on the Weapon Rack originally on the horse's back. It was empty now, so she could sit on it sideways.

Beside them, Xueya Site also pulled the young girl onto his horse, but his prairie horse was not as tall and sturdy as Tianxuecao, so the person who just got on could only sit in front of his Muan.

He moved as far back as he could, and there was barely enough room in front for a slim young girl to sit.

The young girl leaned right into Xueya Site's embrace, but Xueya Site, a middle-aged man, felt quite uncomfortable.

"That's hard to say. I think that compared to mediocre ordinary people, people like you with 'complex' life experiences are actually more favored by the gods."

Ms. Feiniya grabbed the Weapon Rack with one hand and Jier's rain-proof Cloak, which was draped over his armor, with the other to steady herself.

"Really? Thank you for your comfort."

"You're welcome. That wasn't comfort, but rather how it's sung in stories."

"Haha."

Afterward, Jier nudged Tianxuecao's belly, and amidst the horse's reluctance, the two riders and four people slowly headed toward Duoen Town, not far to the north.

On the road, the spring sunshine mixed with a warm breeze of comfortable temperature, sweeping away the humidity from the continuous rain of the past few days.

On both sides of the wide gravel road were cash crops planted according to the wishes of the field owners, regardless of whether the local climate was suitable or if the quality of the produce could reach half the standard of the original place of origin.

A considerable number of debtors carried small buckets filled with water, running back and forth on the route between the wells and the fields, constantly watering the cash crops that required large amounts of water.

This was the most exhausting task among all the crop plantings near Duoen Town that were out of season, out of climate, and out of place for the land. Every debtor who was resold to the owners of these fields felt quite unlucky. If they could persist until the end of this long or short debt period, many would go to the Temple of the Goddess of Fortune in the town. Although they couldn't donate much money—they had no money anyway—at least rubbing shoulders with the daily Prayers of the believers in the temple was a good thing.

When Jier looked at Duoen Town from afar, he felt that this place, with its chaotic buildings and black smoke billowing everywhere, was a potentially bad and messy place.

After he approached on horseback, he realized that his previous judgment had been too light.

Not to mention anything else, just as he gradually approached, a stench of feces mixed with things rotting in the mud gradually surged into Jier's nasal cavity.

"Ugh, why does this place smell so bad? It's practically impossible to breathe!"

A light laugh came from behind: "What, young Knight, is this your weakness?"

"Don't start. I don't even feel anything about a battlefield full of the smell of blood; could this stump me? It's just that we were traveling in the mountains with good air before, and now I'm just not used to it for a moment. Ms. Feiniya, don't you find this smell unpleasant?"

"It's alright. I come here a few times every year, so I'm used to it. Although the smell is foul, the wealth here is truly abundant. If the Shanglu that connects the different provinces on both sides of the mountain range has Montoka City at one end, then the other end is this Duoen Town. If there were a scale to measure wealth, I think Montoka City would be on one side and Duoen Town on the other, and the two would certainly be balanced."

Jier was extremely surprised: "Nonsense! Montoka City is so prosperous and tidy; how can this broken, smelly, chaotic, and small place compare to it?"

"The answer to that question lies in... hehe."

Ms. Feiniya left him in suspense.

"Where the wealth brought by the Shanglu ultimately goes!"