Chapter 40: A Request for Help from the Neighboring Village

The threat from Black Wind Stronghold was temporarily repelled, and Jiao Tu Zhen continued to operate in a tense yet orderly atmosphere.

Chen Wen deeply knew that passive defense was ultimately no long-term solution!

We must proactively understand the surrounding situation, and even seek out potential allies or vassals!

Only then can we survive better in this chaotic world.

He sent out several nimble militiamen, disguising themselves as woodcutters or hunters.

They cautiously scouted in different directions, focusing on determining Black Wind Stronghold's exact location and strength.

as well as the movements of the forces of Liu Du Tou and Piercing Mountain Leopard farther away.

A few days later, the scouting militiamen had not yet returned, but Jiao Tu Zhen received an unexpected group of visitors.

That evening, a small team composed of seven or eight elderly, weak women and children.

Supporting an old man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, they came staggering to the gate of Jiao Tu Zhen.

Their clothing was tattered, their faces sallow and thin, etched with exhaustion and panic.

Unlike the sorry state of Qian Gui's merchant group earlier, this was a numbness born of long-term struggle in despair.

The gatekeeping militiamen warily asked their purpose.

The white-haired elder trembled forward, bowed toward the walltop, and hoarsely shouted:

"Excuse me… excuse me, are you the Leader Chen of Jiao Tu Zhen?"

"I… I am the village chief of Xiaohe Village twenty li west of here, surnamed Zhao…"

"We… we can't go on living; please, Leader Chen, give us a way to survive!"

Xiaohe Village?

Chen Wen recalled that the scouting militiamen had mentioned it—a tiny village of only twenty or thirty households.

Its location is remote, the land barren, and daily life is a hard struggle to survive.

Upon hearing the news, Chen Wen came to the walltop, seeing the group shivering in the evening wind, and felt compassion.

He gestured to open the gate, yet remained vigilant.

He allowed only Village Chief Zhao and two villager representatives to enter, while the others waited outside.

He also had some hot water and food sent out to them.

In the wooden council hall, Elder Village Chief Zhao burst into tears before speaking, about to kneel with a thud, but Chen Wen quickly steadied him.

"Leader Chen… please save our village…"

The old man sobbed uncontrollably, haltingly recounting their tragic ordeal.

It turned out that, over the past one or two months,

first, Black Wind Stronghold's people would occasionally come to the village to extort, seizing the already meager rations.

later, a troop flying the banner of Piercing Mountain Leopard passed through.

They forcibly took away the village's few able-bodied youths to serve as conscripts, and their fate remains unknown to this day.

More than half of the village's fields lie fallow; the remaining harvest is barely enough to stave off hunger, and several have already starved to death.

They heard that to the east there is Jiao Tu Zhen, whose leader is benevolent, takes in refugees, and can still eat his fill.

Thus, they gathered their last breath and came here seeking aid.

"Leader Chen, our Xiaohe Village… wishes to merge into Jiao Tu Zhen!"

"We only ask that you take in us old, weak, and disabled remnants, and give us something to eat."

"We are willing to work, willing to follow the rules!"

Village Chief Zhao shed tears profusely, and the two villagers behind him repeatedly kowtowed.

Madam Wang beside them listened, her eyes reddening, and Zhang Cheng also showed a look of reluctance.

Taking in refugees is one thing, but merging an entire village means assuming the survival burden of dozens of people.

Especially when facing possible threats from Black Wind Stronghold or even greater forces.

Everyone's gaze focused on Chen Wen.

Chen Wen remained silent, his eightfold mind rapidly weighing the pros and cons.

Accepting Xiaohe Village would bring the benefit of increased population and westward expansion of our influence.

It would allow earlier warning of threats from that direction.

But the drawbacks are also clear:

Food pressure would surge, as these villagers are almost all elderly and weak.

In the short term they cannot form a labor force, instead consuming resources;

More importantly!

This amounts to openly opposing Black Wind Stronghold and even Piercing Mountain Leopard, possibly inviting premature retaliation.

He looked at the old man pleading bitterly before him, and recalled the original purpose behind founding Jiao Tu Zhen

——in this man-eating world, to hold up a sky of survival for as many people as possible.

"Village Chief Zhao, please rise."

Chen Wen drew a deep breath and made his decision.

"Jiao Tu Zhen can take you in."

The three of Village Chief Zhao instantly burst into tears of joy.

"But!"

Chen Wen shifted his tone, his voice turning stern.

"There are a few rules that must be stated upfront."

"First, upon entering Jiao Tu Zhen, you must obey its rules; all actions must follow the Commander."

Second, this place does not keep idle people; regardless of age, everyone must be assigned work according to ability, and be compensated according to labor.

Third, the settlement faces considerable external threats; once foreign invaders attack, everyone must unite and resist the invasion! Can you do that?

Can! Can! We definitely can!

Village Chief Zhao excitedly promised repeatedly.

Leader Chen taking us in is like being our reborn parents!

We will definitely obey and work hard!

【Decision to accept Xiaohe Village refugees, expand power and influence, assume corresponding responsibilities, decision-making ability and courage increased (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+180!】

【Current WP: 5791】

Chen Wen arranged for Madam Wang to immediately lead people to settle the Xiaohe Village villagers, conduct registration, check health, and distribute emergency rations.

He again instructed Zhang Cheng:

"Tomorrow morning, take a team to the original site of Xiaohe Village to have a look."

"If there are any missing villagers or any supplies that can be brought back, bring them back as much as possible."

"At the same time, that place can serve as a forward outpost to our west."

After finishing these, Chen Wen walked out of the wooden hut alone, and the lingering glow of the sunset stretched his shadow long.

The population of Jiao Tu Zhen suddenly increased by nearly one-third.

The burden grew heavier, but the seeds of strength were also sown farther.

He gazed toward the west where the dusk was gradually sinking, his eyes deep.

Absorbing Xiaohe Village is a risky move, and also a move that must be made.

In these troubled times, closing oneself off leads only to a dead end.

Only by continually strengthening ourselves and uniting every force that can be united.

Only then can we carve out a path of survival in these tumultuous waves.

However, this suddenly increased population and expanded sphere of influence.

It is like throwing a larger stone into a pond that appears calm but actually has undercurrents.

The ripples it creates will soon attract greater attention.

Behind that scar-faced man lies the Black Wind Stronghold, and farther away are the "Piercing Mountain Leopard" and "Liu Du Tou".

How will they react?

Jiao Tu Zhen's newly launched small boat is about to sail into wider, more dangerous waters.