Chapter 7

The next morning at dawn.

Energetic Lin Dao rode his tricycle into Yonghe Spacetime.

Outside the courtyard, many people still gathered, men and women, old and young.

Seeing Lin Dao riding a Mechanical Beast over, each revealed an expression of pleading.

Lin Dao shook his head, pretending not to see them.

With so many people, he couldn't support them.

These people couldn't be taken to the Modern World to do black labor, working as oxen and horses to earn money for him.

Opening the Courtyard Gate, Lin Dao rode his tricycle directly into the Courtyard.

"Come over here!"

Lin Dao called the women over to line up.

Taking military greatcoats and quilts off the tricycle, he distributed one set to each person.

"Put them on."

Lin Dao called out, "Try them on to see if they fit."

Soon, the Courtyard was a sea of green.

Most of these women were thin and weak; wearing military greatcoats that were obviously much too large, they looked quite comical.

"Hehe~~~"

Lin Dao laughed out loud without hiding it.

The women didn't think there was anything funny about it.

They were very happy, joyfully circling and surveying each other, fondling and squeezing, very lively.

These military greatcoats were indeed warm.

And compared to the Vine Cloth Hemp Clothing they wore, they were much more comfortable to the touch.

They were also prettier.

In these times, dyed cloth was also very expensive.

The women in new clothes happily hugged their quilts and went to arrange them in the left and right Xiangfang.

When they came out, Lin Dao had already set up a large Iron Pot here.

Taking a Molotov Cocktail, he poured some Gasoline onto the dry firewood.

Tearing a Cloth Strip, he lit it with a Lighter, threw it onto the dry firewood, and flames immediately rose.

"Don't use snow water anymore."

Zhao Qingran instructed, "Snow water isn't clean; it seems there is a Water Well outside. Use well water for cooking from now on."

When a large pot of water boiled, Lin Dao picked up a bag of frozen dumplings, tore it open, and poured bag after bag in to boil dumplings.

"Lord Husband," Jin Lian, who was helping on the side, swallowed her saliva, her eyes fixed straight on the boiling dumplings in the Iron Pot, "Are we eating Lao Wan today?"

"Mm."

"There's meat, vegetables, and grain, to supplement nutrition for you."

Lin Dao held a slotted spoon and stirred the dumplings in the pot.

Waiting for the water to boil, he took a wooden ladle, scooped half a ladle of cold water, and poured a circle along the edge of the Iron Pot.

Repeating this several times, Lin Dao scooped up a frozen dumpling, bit into it, tasted that it was cooked, then tapped the edge of the Iron Pot with the slotted spoon, "Line up, eat!"

One bowl of steaming hot Lao Wan per person; one bite down, the full aroma and satiety filled the mouth and nose.

Many women, as they ate, began to cry.

Dumplings with meat filling like this—many times in the past, even during festivals, they couldn't eat them!

To be fortunate enough to follow Lord Husband is truly wonderful.

Following Lord Husband, three days and nine meals~~~

The Courtyard Gate stood open, the aroma of food spreading everywhere, and more and more people gathered outside.

Watching the women squatting on the ground eating Lao Wan, the people outside kept swallowing saliva, their reddened eyes full of longing.

For people long in a state of semi-Famine, the most unbearable thing was the temptation of fine food.

Soon someone couldn't hold back.

A young man of about sixteen or seventeen tightly tied the Grass Rope around his waist of his Vine Cloth, raised his head, puffed his chest, and did his best to look spirited.

He strode through the Gate and immediately saluted, shouting loudly.

"Lord Husband!"

"Eldest Son of the Sun Family, willing to die for Lord Husband!"

Lin Dao, sitting in the driver's seat of the tricycle, lit Ali Quan cigarette and puffed clouds and mist.

People inside and outside the Courtyard all looked at him curiously.

"Lord Husband must be performing magic; how can there be clouds and mist swirling around?"

Someone knowledgeable immediately retorted, "Don't talk nonsense; where is there any magic? That is clearly Five Stone Powder that only High-ranking Families can enjoy!"

Lin Dao turned his head and looked at Sun Dalang, who stood straight with his back straight performing a great salute.

"Hungry, want to eat Lao Wan?"

Sun Dalang was not reserved; he immediately nodded, "My home still has a young sister suffering from hunger; I only beg Lord Husband to accept us siblings."

"From now on, Sun Dalang's life belongs to Lord Husband!"

Lin Dao laughed out loud.

"My food isn't something just anyone can eat."

If he accepted everyone who came, the countless Beggar Armies in Guangzong County could eat him alive.

That's over a hundred thousand mouths to feed every day.

The light in Sun Dalang's eyes instantly dimmed.

He forcibly endured it, saluted Lin Dao, and struggled to his feet, about to leave.

In this chaotic era, there are too many people willing to sell their lives and bodies, but there must also be someone willing to take them in.

"I can give you a chance."

One sentence from Lin Dao made Sun Dalang, who had stopped and turned around, have light in his eyes once more.

Reaching out to point at the woodshed not far away, Lin Dao smiled. "There are weapons inside, go choose for yourself. Leave the camp, bring back a Hu Cavalry head, and I'll take you in."

The people outside the courtyard were all moved.

If Hu Cavalry were that easy to kill, the Northern Regions would not have become the Hu Cavalry's pasture.

Immediately someone persuaded Sun Dalang to give up; there was no need to throw his life away for this.

Sun Dalang, however, said not a word and simply walked into the woodshed.

When he came out again.

A ring-pommel saber and a quiver of arrows hung at his waist, and a bow was slung across his back.

Lin Dao raised an eyebrow. "Can you shoot a bow?"

"My family were originally hunters," Sun Dalang replied. "I learned archery from my father since childhood."

"The forests were cut clean, so I set it aside for some time."

Hearing this, Lin Dao suddenly realized.

Where over a hundred thousand people gather, whether for cooking or keeping warm, fuel consumption is enormous.

The forests near the camp were indeed bare.

Lin Dao, with a smile at the corner of his mouth, stood up and spoke in a clear voice to the crowd outside the gate.

"I'll put my words here."

"Whoever can bring me a Hu Cavalry head, I'll take them in!"

Someone outside the courtyard showed fear on their face.

The Hu Cavalry's fierce reputation is renowned; they kill people like mowing grass.

Taking their heads, isn't that nine deaths and one life?

Some also immediately stepped forward, generously agreeing.

Rather than starve to death, better to go fight for a chance at life.

Especially those with families in tow — wives, children, parents at home are nearly starved to death!

Lin Dao was very generous, taking out all the weapons previously captured at Sanhe Village and letting these people take whatever they wanted.

"Weapons and such, I wouldn't use them either."

"Truth is still the most reliable; within seven steps, Truth is fastest."

"This trip to Hai Gang Cheng, let's see if I can get my hands on one."

After all, Yonghe Spacetime is a chaotic era; Lin Dao felt that relying solely on Molotov Cocktails was insufficient to protect his own safety.

He planned to find a way to get a Truth at Jinrong Gang for self-defense.

After all, riding horses to war, drawing bows to shoot arrows — he truly doesn't know how.

To keep doing business in such a chaotic era, he needs his own martial protection and loyal guards.

Returning to the Modern World, Lin Dao accepted an invitation to a drinking gathering.

Modern World, roadside restaurant.

"Li Zong, you're being too polite."

Holding a wine cup, Lin Dao signaled to the labor protection supplies store owner. "Everything's in the wine cup; I'll drink first as a sign of respect."

"Young brother, you're my big customer."

Li Zong drank the wine in his cup, his expression grateful.

"My store can barely stay open."

"Every time I see the warehouse piled full of goods that won't sell, I have thoughts of wanting to die."

These days, without some factory connections, labor protection supplies are truly hard to sell.

Lin Dao bought dozens of military overcoats and dozens of sets of cotton quilts in one go.

Undoubtedly a big customer.

This time actively treating, he also hoped this big customer would continue to help clear inventory in the future.

Lin Dao, eating food, suddenly felt a stir in his heart.

"Li Zong, how much inventory do you still have over there?"

Li Zong, holding the wine bottle, poured for him. "I didn't count carefully; the warehouse is piled full, there are definitely several thousand pieces."

"If you're interested in taking it all, I'll give you cost price."

"Heh~" Lin Dao smiled and raised his cup. "What would I want several thousand sets of military overcoats and army green quilts for?"

He didn't want to appear too eager, otherwise he'd definitely get fleeced.

Yonghe Spacetime is a chaotic era with low productivity.

Besides grain to fill bellies, warm clothing, and fuel for heating, cooking, and boiling water — these are all business too.

After eating and drinking their fill, Li Zong got into his Cadillac and invited Lin Dao to go for a foot bath and massage.

Although Lin Dao had drunk alcohol, he wasn't dizzy yet.

He wouldn't dare get in a car driven by someone who'd been drinking; his own life is most important.

Besides, he has little interest in that kind of on-call pleasure.

Yonghe Spacetime.

Qihuo Army Old Camp.

The atmosphere inside the Weichang was off, thick with tension.

"What's going on?"

He glanced at the soldiers pouring rice into the hu and measuring volume.

Lin Dao handed Ali Quan to Qin Lang, who was supervising the work.

Enviously watching Lin Dao's self-igniting fire in his hand, Qin Lang inhaled deeply with practiced ease, his face showing intoxication.

"The Heavenly King wants our Qihuo Army to hand over people."

Qin Lang snorted, "They want the Qihuo Army to hand over three thousand young women, and also send thirty thousand able-bodied men for corvée labor."

"Or perhaps he forgot that the Qihuo Army rose through blood battles against the Hu."

"Up and down the Qihuo Army, every family has a blood feud with the Hu!"

The Qihuo Army was a vagrant group, and they had always been at odds with the various Hu regimes of the Northern Lands, frequently slaughtering each other.

Now although it was a truce period, they had nominally accepted Later Zhao's pacification.

But in essence, both sides were still mortal enemies.

Historically this time, the Qihuo Army of Guangzong County, lacking grain, had no choice but to submit.

They exchanged people for grain to tide over the crisis.

But only a few years later, they supported the fleeing Later Zhao minister Li Nong and fought fiercely against the Later Zhao army.

Ran Min, with the support of Li Nong and the Qihuo Army, destroyed Later Zhao and established the Ran Wei regime.

Unfortunately, the Qihuo Army trusted the wrong people; ultimately, two hundred thousand Guangzong Qihuo Army were buried alive.

After understanding the ins and outs of the matter, Lin Dao's first reaction was.

"This cannot happen!"

He had finally found a stable sales channel; if the Qihuo Army no longer lacked grain, it would inevitably affect his business.

At that time, would he sell grain to Later Zhao's Shi Hu, or to Murong Huang, the ancestor of Murong Fu, or to those Eastern Jin scholar-officials addicted to Five Stone Powder all day?

Although merchants conduct business without borders, merchants themselves have nationality.

Lin Dao would absolutely not sell supplies to the Hu.

Likewise, those Eastern Jin good-for-nothings were also out.

Looking at Qin Lang, face full of intoxication, puffing clouds and spitting mist, Lin Dao silently made up his mind: "It's time to strengthen support for the Qihuo Army."

"You Qihuo Army."

Lin Dao spoke carefully, "This time, are you submitting to Shi Hu?"

"Impossible." Qin Lang shook his head repeatedly, "I'd love to swallow that dog thief Shi Hu alive!"

Lin Dao nodded, "If so, then take me to see the Great Commander; I want to increase my stake."

End of Chapter