Chapter 136 Our people enter the city in the afternoon
"But there aren't many people?"
Seeing Li Zhe's expression, Li Mo's heart skipped a beat.
"Lord, my subordinates have been investigating all the way. Many villages have become uninhabited. Only seven or eight households can be found occasionally. In a radius of dozens of miles, the total number of people is only five thousand. Until we get closer,
Within five miles of the county seat, the number of people gradually increased."
Li Zhe took a deep breath.
"So few?"
Li Mo rubbed his eyebrows.
He had previously estimated that the number of people in Ruyang as a whole might only be 50,000 or 60,000, which was far less than the official number of 100,000.
Now it seems that 50,000 or 60,000 is a bit overestimated, and 30,000 to 40,000 is too much.
Moreover, most of these 30,000 to 40,000 people gathered near the county seat.
"My subordinates finally visited a few households in a remote place and inquired about it. I learned that the number of people in Ruyang County was not so small before. Instead, starting from six years ago, whenever the crops they planted were about to be harvested,
A group of bandits will appear to loot, kill, and plunder, leaving only a little food for them in the end.
Over time, people who saw no hope fled to other counties one after another, leaving behind mostly the old, weak, sick and disabled."
Having said this, Li Zhe clenched his fists tightly and couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
Once upon a time, as a traveling warrior, he drank heavily, ate large amounts of meat every day, and lived his life wantonly, without thinking that ordinary people had anything to do with him.
But seeing the situation of those people today, he actually had the urge to kill, and he wanted to kill those bandits who had committed many crimes with his own hands.
Thieves also have their ways!
What do those people have?
Some hungry skinny men went out to beg, but they still couldn't escape the bandits.
"I know! You can accompany me to the county town tomorrow."
Li Mo narrowed his eyes slightly.
As long as I get to Ruyang County, these bandits are destined not to continue to act arrogantly. The fact that the people are like this must have a lot to do with the three major untouchables in Ruyang County!
Really untouchable?
He wanted to see how strong these three major forces were.
'Yes, my lord!'
Li Zhe nodded heavily.
"Also, tonight you go to Yiniugou to the east of the county to find someone from Wang Qing. Let him take his subordinates and disperse into the city tomorrow, and be sure not to attract the attention of others."
After a pause, Li Mo said again.
This Wang Qing is the leader of the Thousand Mountain Bandits secretly brought in by Zhao Hai, and he is a fourth-level warrior.
After these thousand people were brought to Ruyang, Zhao Hai secretly arranged them in Yiniu Valley, dozens of miles east of the city. It was an inaccessible place and no one would find it.
Once you go there, as long as you recite the name Xue Song of Yi Bo Lou, they will understand what it means.
"Yes, my lord!"
.......
No more words were spoken all night, and the next day dawned,
After Zhou Yurou and Master Zeng and others were settled, Li Mo and Li Zhe left the inn and came to the street.
Logically speaking, this is the busiest time at the beginning of the day, but the two streets in Ruyang County are deserted and not as lively as late yesterday.
Walked around,
Finally, he met an old man who was about to go out with a hoe on his shoulder. Li Mo hurriedly stepped forward and started chatting.
"Uncle, can I ask you something?"
"Mr. Sir, please tell me."
The old man looked Li Mo up and down, and felt that Li Mo looked kind and didn't look like a bad guy, so he whispered.
"Uncle, this morning market is supposed to be busy, why are there no people there?"
Li Mo asked out his doubts.
"Well...it must be Lang Jun's first time coming to Ruyang."
The old man gave a long sigh.
"Um!"
"Ruyang is now entirely supported by merchants who are engaged in the silk business. How can local people and merchants have money to buy things? And those merchants who come and go usually only arrive in the county after noon. Over time, Ruyang County
Basically, it only becomes slightly more popular after noon.”
The old man smiled bitterly.
These days, it is a luxury to buy a few hot steamed cakes in Ruyang County.
What if I go out to do business in the morning?
Since no one is buying it, I might as well sleep at home.
"Oh! Then uncle, you are going..."
Li Mo frowned again.
No wonder those common people would kneel at the yamen door regardless of anything when they saw Zhao Hai.
"If you go farming, you may not get anything in the end, but you still have to keep hope, what if those bandits don't come again?"
Shaking his head, the old man ignored Li Mo and Li Zhe, turned around and dragged his rickety back towards the city gate.
"These damn bandits!"
At this point, Li Zhe's fists were clenching loudly.
"Let's go and check out other places! By the way, what's going on with Wang Qing? When can all our people enter the city?"
Turning around, Li Mo asked while walking away.
"Lord, the thousand men are not expected to enter the city until noon. Fortunately, it is noon. If they enter the city now... I am afraid it will cause trouble."
Li Zhe hurriedly followed.
Last night he was ordered to go and discuss all matters with Wang Qing.
The entire county is deserted right now, and it would be very unexpected if a thousand people suddenly poured in.
"good!"
...
The county seat of Ruyang County is not very big. After walking not far, Li Mo couldn't help but stop.
Without it,
Just because a magnificent mansion appeared in the distance, with two large stone lions standing in front of the mansion, and the word "Ke's Mansion" was clearly written on the plaque.
The grandeur is not inferior to those of the royal palaces in Chang'an City.
Compared with the dilapidated houses around it, this Ke Mansion looks particularly out of place.
"My lord, this should be the merchant's mansion where silk is collected!"
Li Zhe on the side whispered.
Last night, in addition to a trip to Yiniugou, he also explored several major forces in Ruyang County.
"How many people are there in the mansion?"
Li Mo turned around.
"There are not many people in Ke's Mansion, but there are many warriors, and there are also many fifth- and sixth-grade guards. There must be more powerful warriors, but don't worry, lord... Once we have all the people, we will take the
It shouldn’t be a problem to get into this Ke Mansion.”
Li Zhe said again.
He has this confidence, and there is no need to call the big guys at Yibo Tower.
"Don't worry yet!"
Li Mo shook his head slightly.
His intuition told him that Ke Yi might just be a chess piece on the surface, and there must be a big fish behind it.
"yes!"
Just like this, walking and chatting all the way,
Li Mo and the two passed by the County Cheng's Mansion, which was the second most important thing not to be messed with, and Zhang Yuanwai's Mansion, which was the third most important thing not to be messed with, and the county government office.
Compared with these three mansions, the county government office also looks very shabby.
Finally, the master and servant went for a long walk outside the city, and it was already after noon when they returned to the county seat again.
At this time, Ruyang County finally gained some popularity.
There are more stalls selling on the street, and there are also many merchants coming and going in the silk business. Shops along the street are opening one after another, and it finally looks like a county town.
"Let's go, find a tavern and have something to eat first!"
Li Mo said after looking up at the sky.
The two of them had been busy all morning and had not eaten yet, so they were inevitably a little hungry.
