As the sun set, Zhao Yanxun was invited to Gao Zhengyan's home as a guest.
He is the village chief, and his family has the best conditions in the village, and has a complete courtyard house.
As Zhao Yanxun expected, Gao Zhengyan was the largest landowner in the village and the head of the Gao family in the village.
Gao Zhengyan had three sons. The eldest son died today, and the second son died during the zombie outbreak.
Now Gao Zhengyan only has a twelve-year-old son left, three grandchildren left by his eldest son and his second son, and two daughters-in-law.
In the courtyard, Zhang Meng was chopping firewood with an axe, while Zhao Yanxun and Gao Zhengyan were sitting under the tree in the courtyard.
Perhaps he was used to simply sending his son away, so Gao Zhengyan didn't feel too sad.
Compared to other families that have died, the situation of the Gao family is already good. At least he still has descendants to pass on.
"Your Majesty, why did General Zhang have to work so hard? These people just chopped the firewood themselves!"
Zhao Yanxun shook his head and then said: "I can't let you entertain me in vain. Anyway, he has a lot of strength, so he will do what he can for you!"
Zhao Yanxun insisted on this, and Gao Zhengyan stopped trying to persuade him.
Next, the two people sitting across from each other slowly started talking.
Zhao Yanxun learned about the general situation in the village and also introduced the situation in Yuanyang to Gao Zhengyan.
By presenting facts and reasoning, Gao Zhengyan truly knew that the situation in Yuanyang had improved.
After hearing the end, Gao Zhengyan couldn't help but sigh: "The good days are coming... It's a pity that Cheng An can't see it anymore, and many young people in the village can't see it!"
"Or people can see it, their relatives and descendants can see it!"
Just as Zhao Yanxun finished speaking, Gao Zhengyan suddenly stood up and knelt in front of Zhao Yanxun: "Your Majesty is like a gift from heaven, and the common people on behalf of the young and old in the village, thank you!"
After saying this, Gao Zhengyan kowtowed three times to Zhao Yanxun.
As the head of a local village, Gao Zhengyan often interacts with people in the government.
Even a lowly official at the lowest level only thinks about how to exploit the people in the village. It is hard for him to believe that a big shot like Zhao Yanxun would care so much about the lives of the people.
After receiving three big gifts from Gao Zhengyan, Zhao Yanxun pulled the old man up. He knew that he would not give up if he was not polite.
Next, Zhao Yanxun described his arrangements for Linshan Village, while Gao Zhengyan listened carefully.
These are just institutional questions, and Zhao Yanxun answered them one by one.
Gao Zhengyan naturally had no objection to the fact that Tao could join the royal family. Nothing was more important than surviving safely.
After dinner, Gao Zhengyan was not idle. He sent his sons and grandsons to every house in the village and summoned all men, women and children.
No matter what, Zhao Yanxun saved the whole village today, and he should be grateful both emotionally and rationally.
Every household was having a hard time and could not offer anything to Zhao Yanxun. In Gao Zhengyan's opinion, he should at least come and kowtow.
Zhao Yanxun actually didn't know about Gao Zhengyan's arrangement. At least he didn't know until the villagers gathered.
Sitting in the room, wiping his sword with a cloth, Gao Zhengyan's voice sounded outside: "Your Majesty, everyone has come to kowtow to you and thank you for your life-saving grace!"
"Village Chief Gao, there's no need for this, let them all go back!" Zhao Yanxun said slowly.
Gao Zhengyan did not give up, but said more solemnly: "Your Majesty... there is nothing that can be done in the village, so I can only kowtow to the prince and ask him to accept this gift!"
Putting down his saber, Zhao Yanxun stood up from the stool and walked out. It would be hypocritical of him to refuse.
Accompanied by Zhang Meng and Gao Zhengyan, Zhao Yanxun walked to the gate of the yard, where the villagers stood in a large crowd.
When they saw Zhao Yanxun coming out, all the villagers knelt down, and even the children were pushed to the ground by the adults.
"If it hadn't been for the prince today, our whole village would have died. The prince is our savior. Should we kowtow to him?"
Under the guidance of Gao Zhengyan, someone immediately shouted: "It's time..."
"kowtow!"
As a result, adults and children all kowtowed to Zhao Yanxun. There was no repayment for saving his life, and kowtowing was nothing.
Everyone kowtowed three times. Just when Zhao Yanxun was about to cheer everyone up, Gao Zhengyan continued: "The prince said that in a few months, he will send troops to recover the county and eliminate the monsters. Then we don't have to worry anymore."
monster!"
Hearing this, the villagers became excited. They didn't have to worry about monster attacks. This was the life he dreamed of.
"Should we be grateful to His Majesty for such kindness?"
"Should!"
This time, a large group of people responded in unison, so that immediately after responding, some people began to kowtow to Zhao Yanxun.
Zhao Yanxun has experienced this scene so many times that he has become a little numb, but the support of the people still makes him feel rewarded.
"Everyone, please get up. God has the virtue of good life. Since I uphold the destiny, how can I sit back and watch you being harmed by monsters!"
"I saved you today. I just hope that you will not let down your dead relatives and live a good life in the future!"
Zhao Yanxun's words moved everyone very much. What a noble man he is who is close to the people!
After some impassioned speeches, Zhao Yanxun asked Gao Zhengyan to dismiss the villagers, and peace finally returned to the village.
Different from when they came, when they returned, the villagers' eyes were full of light and hope.
As night fell, the mountain village seemed particularly quiet. Zhao Yanxun simply tidied up and went to sleep.
He did not leave in a hurry the next day, but led the villagers to strengthen the defense line.
The main purpose is to dig some ditches to restrict the movement of zombies in a larger area, and to seize more arable land for Linshan Village.
Land is the means of production. People in Linshan Village cultivate more, which will also alleviate the material pressure on the palace.
Including the two villages he met before, Zhao Yanxun also stayed for two days to open up living space for them.
In addition to these, Zhao Yanxun also asked the guards to lead the villagers to cut down trees and bamboo, and make more traps and weapons.
It can be said that the villagers have been armed to the maximum extent and taught how to drill. Zhao Yanxun can organize them into an army at any time.
Not only Linshan Village, but also the people farming in Yuanyang Prefecture also have this quality.
Their management is all militarized, and they will also conduct drills in their spare time. As long as Zhao Yanxun is willing, there will be no problem in raising an army of 20,000 to 30,000 people.
The reason why we didn't do this is that on the one hand, we have insufficient material supply capacity, and on the other hand, it's not necessary.
Therefore, the army currently under the jurisdiction of the palace can be said to be the result of selecting the best from the best. Even the ordinary soldiers of the Bingma Division are comparable to the elite of the Imperial Forbidden Army.
After helping Linshan Village upgrade its defense system, Zhao Yanxun left on the third day, and it was useless for Gao Zhengyan to persuade him to stay.
When he left, all the villagers came to see him off.
Before leaving, Zhao Yanxun repeatedly warned Gao Zhengyan that he must persist until the day when the royal army arrives.
Seeing Zhao Yanxun and his entourage riding away, the people all knelt down to see each other off, with sorrow in their eyes.
After Zhao Yanxun and his entourage disappeared into the distance, Gao Zhengyan was the first to stand up, and then said loudly: "Go back, don't forget the prince's instructions... go to work!"