CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: AFTERMATH HANDLING

The crowd dispersed.

Nearby, villagers with children quickly covered their kids’ eyes because the scene was too bloody.

The more than fifty Defense Army soldiers and constables were hacked beyond recognition and had all lost their lives.

On Chen Mo’s side, there were also casualties. After all, the opponents were regular troops wearing armor, and this disorderly attack resulted in the deaths of thirteen villagers and injuries to more than twenty.

Looking at the thirteen dead villagers, Chen Mo furrowed his brow.

There was sympathy, but more so worry. It was evident that despite having the numerical advantage, dozens were still killed or injured. This was even when the Defense Army had only a few dozen men and didn’t bring mid-to-long-range killing weapons like crossbows.

If the entire Defense Army from the county town were to mobilize with full weaponry to encircle and suppress us, given the current situation, we wouldn’t be able to withstand it head-on.

But Chen Mo could only deliver good news and not bad. At this moment, having slain this group of official soldiers, the villagers were filled with confidence. If he were to dampen their spirits now, it would only collapse the morale that had been so hard to build up.

"All of you are brave men. I’ve decided to give the families of the thirteen dead men an additional plot of land, a tael of compensation, and three pounds of meat. For the injured, compensation is three hundred cents and one pound of meat. For any brothers who die or get injured from now on, compensation will be based on this standard."

Chen Mo said after some consideration.

Given the current situation, these were the only compensations he could offer.

"Immortal Master Chen is righteous," Han Wu shouted at the top of his lungs and then said, "Brothers, Immortal Master Chen owes us nothing. We each bear heavy crimes, yet Immortal Master Chen does not abandon us. Instead, he shelters us, rescues our families, leads us to slay the official soldiers, and now even distributes compensation for our fallen brothers. Such a loyal and righteous person, I, Han Wu, am willing to protect Immortal Master Chen with my life."

Zhang River: "..."

Not to be outdone by Han Wu, Zhang River immediately said, "Only by following Brother Mo can we have a way to survive."

"Follow Brother Mo."

"Follow Brother Mo."

The villagers of Fu Ze Village echoed.

Han Wu frowned slightly and signaled with a look to the people of Da Han Village, who quickly joined in the chanting.

Comments about Immortal Master Chen’s righteousness and magnanimity were plentiful.

In an instant, the whole crowd was infected and started shouting together.

There were even cries of "Long live Immortal Master Chen."

Chen Mo: "..."

Goodness, he suddenly felt like someone had draped a robe over him, though the robe felt too ornate.

Amidst the spirited crowd, a cold laugh suddenly rang out.

"A group of fools, deceived by a few flowery words, laughable, laughable."

It was then that everyone realized Peng Qing was still alive.

Among those present, many had been forcibly conscripted by Peng Qing.

The villagers gritted their teeth and glared angrily at Peng Qing, who was kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, Peng Qing’s right arm was severed, and he had lost a lot of blood, face pale, yet the corners of his mouth still carried a mocking smile as he looked at everyone, seemingly ridiculing their ignorance.

Peng Qing then looked up at Chen Mo and said, "I admit I underestimated you, but do you think you and these fools can resist the government office or the court? It’s simply a daydream. There are thousands of Defense Army soldiers and thousands of Qinghe Gang members in the city. They can annihilate you with little effort."

"That’s not something Chief Peng needs to worry about," Chen Mo said coldly. "Chief Peng, do you want to live?"

"Do you think I still can?"

Peng Qing, not an inexperienced martial artist like Chen Mo, knew a little about the medical art. He understood that in his current physical state, he wouldn’t live much longer. Moreover, with a broken arm, he was as good as crippled. Even if he made it back alive, he wouldn’t last long.

"Don’t expect to get anything out of me. My family is in the city. I won’t talk."

Seeing the determination in Peng Qing’s eyes, Chen Mo squinted, knowing it was impossible to extract any information from him.

Swish!

The Tang Blade swept across Peng Qing’s neck, giving him a swift end.

After wiping the blood off the blade on Peng Qing’s body, Chen Mo looked at Zhang River, Han Wu, and others, instructing, "Strip the armor off these soldiers."

"Yes, Brother Mo," Zhang River responded loudly.

Han Wu simply said, "Understood."

"Does anyone among you know how to read?" Chen Mo glanced at the crowd, asking.

"I... I can read."

A stocky man with a simple demeanor stepped forward, scratching the back of his head, and said, "Immortal Master Chen, I once apprenticed at a city pharmacy for a few years, and the shopkeeper taught me to read and write."

"What’s your name?"

"Wang Ping," the stocky man replied.

Chen Mo nodded, "Wang Ping, record the names of the wounded and dead brothers, then go to my house to take money and meat to distribute to their families. From today, I’ll give you a monthly salary of... three hundred cents."

Hearing that there was pay, Wang Ping perked up, "Thank you, Immortal Master Chen."

"I can read too."

"Me too."

After hearing about Wang Ping’s pay, two more villagers stepped forward, stating they too could read.

Chen Mo blinked and looked at everyone, "Anyone else who can read, come forward. There’s money for that."

"My mother can. She used to be a wet nurse, and the employer taught her some words. Is that okay?" A voice emerged from the crowd.

"That’s fine," Chen Mo replied.

The immediate crisis was resolved, but more were on the horizon. Chen Mo had many matters to attend to and needed capable people to help him.

Even when he mentioned there was money involved, only four out of the several hundred people here, including the one who mentioned his mother, could read.

Chen Mo instructed them to follow Wang Ping’s lead, offering a monthly salary of two hundred and forty cents, slightly less than Wang Ping, to tally the number of people willing to follow him, how many armors and weapons were seized, and to document any money looted from the corpses.

He then called the villagers to clean up the village.

They dragged the soldiers’ bodies to a wasteland and buried them in a pit.

Spring had begun; if the bodies weren’t handled, a plague might spread.

The bloodstains on the ground were covered with soil to prevent flies and mosquitoes.

Afterward, Chen Mo instructed the villagers of Liu Village and Xiaogao Village to move their families to Fu Ze Village and Wang Family Manor.

These villages were too spread out, and Chen Mo needed to gather and manage the people centrally.

...

Meanwhile,

At the village entrance.

Wu Mountain and his group hadn’t left yet.

"Big brother, if we just go back like this, won’t there be problems?"

"Yes, boss, so many people came out, and now just the three of us are returning. How do we explain that to the officials? Should we join Chen Mo instead?"

"But what about our families in the city?"

After contemplating for a while, Wu Mountain decided to go back and ask Chen Mo to see if he had any solutions.