CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE DIVINE BRAVE GUARD

"Refugees from Fengxian?"

Hearing this, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, as if he had guessed what was happening. After considering for a few moments, he waved his hand and started walking down the hill, saying, "Let’s go take a look."

When Chen Mo reached the village entrance, Zhang He was leading the Divine Brave Guard to stop the group of ragged refugees outside the village.

Out of the several hundred members of the Divine Brave Guard, over a hundred were wearing armor and holding official sabers. The rest were holding firewood knives or hoes. With days of training and access to ample food and meat, they were not afraid of this group of refugees at all.

"Brother Mo."

"Immortal Master Chen."

"Immortal Master Chen."

"..."

As soon as Chen Mo arrived, Zhang He and others greeted him one by one.

The refugees were stunned to see that the person in charge was a young boy who still smelled of milk, inevitably looking down on him somewhat.

Chen Mo quickly glanced at the crowd; these refugees had crowded the village entrance, totaling at least over a thousand people.

However, there were few strong young men; most were the elderly, the weak, women, and children, with even some disabled individuals.

Chen Mo stepped forward. Although his strength alone made protection unnecessary, Zhang He and Hu Qiang along with a few strong men still guarded his sides, making it appear credible.

Chen Mo called out to the refugees to elect a representative to speak.

After much pushing and shoving among the refugees, an elder was finally brought forward. Though his face was full of dirt and his white hair was disheveled, his dignified robe and his mannerisms gave off the impression of an old gentleman.

The elder cupped his hands and squeezed out a smile, saying to Chen Mo and the others, "I am Zhao Daoxian, from Zhao Family Village in Fengxian, a down-and-out scholar who repeatedly failed the exams. The rebels from the north conquered Fengxian City and ordered a five-day plunder. Our families suffered as well, and we fled among the refugees. I am humbled to have been chosen as a representative. I hope the young master can shelter us."

"Fengxian has fallen!"

Upon hearing this, the Divine Brave Guard was shocked and there was an uproar, as most of them were originally soldiers sent to reinforce Fengxian.

Zhao Daoxian nodded with a bitter smile, saying, "It’s been half a month then."

"Half a month?" Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed. If Fengxian has fallen, Nanyang would be encircled and difficult to defend. Considering how much time has passed, Nanyang may have fallen as well.

If Nanyang is lost too, the rebels from the north will sweep through the entire Qingzhou.

To be honest, with so many elderly, women, and disabled people among them, from a long-term perspective, Chen Mo did not want to take them in.

After all, there would be too many mouths to feed who couldn’t contribute anything.

However, even if he doesn’t take them in, it can’t be done openly. There must be a way to divide and suppress them, otherwise, one never knows what desperate people might do.

After pondering for a while, Chen Mo said, "I deeply sympathize with your situation, but our village can’t help all of you because we are not the government’s shelter."

This statement immediately caused a stir among the refugees. For people who have fallen to such a situation, calling them refugees is putting it nicely; otherwise, they are bandits. If you don’t give them a satisfactory answer, they will fight you for it, and they might rob you, for they have lost everything.

"Everyone, quiet down, and let me speak," Chen Mo continued, but the refugees couldn’t calm down.

"Cao Ni Niang, Brother Mo is talking to you, are you deaf?" Seeing the refugees still making noise, Zhang He and his men shouted, nearly waving their knives in their faces.

The Divine Brave Guard also put on a ferocious demeanor.

The refugees finally calmed down.

Chen Mo extended a finger and shouted, "Anyone who can read and write, or has skills as a carpenter, blacksmith, butcher, or potter, raise your hand."

Zhao Daoxian was the first to raise his hand, followed by more than a dozen others among the refugees.

"Those who raised their hands, come in with your families." As he spoke, Chen Mo turned his gaze to Wang Ping, instructing him to register these people.

Zhang He let the Divine Brave Guard open a path to let these people in.

"Thank you, young master."

"Thank you, young master."

Zhao Daoxian and some others expressed their gratitude in unison.

Wang Ping corrected them, "Call him Immortal Master Chen."

Chen Mo wasn’t particular about how they addressed him, and he raised a second finger: "Families with grown men can also come in."

After this announcement, about two hundred more people were let in by the Divine Brave Guard.

"Families with children can also come in." Chen Mo raised a third finger.

This time, over two hundred more people entered.

This left only women, the elderly, and the sick and disabled outside.

Though these people looked pitiful, Chen Mo was numb to these things after experiencing so much.

Looking at the Divine Brave Guards, Chen Mo suddenly thought of something—some of these soldiers were widowed or bachelors.

Chen Mo coughed a few times, "Among my soldiers, some have lost their wives, and others are not yet married. If any of you are willing to marry or remarry, you may also enter."

Doing so would also help grip the hearts of these bachelor soldiers, giving them something to be attached to.

After he said this, some still-bachelor Divine Brave Guards blushed, and their teammates began teasing them.

Still, they indeed had such inclinations and even started to size up the women.

As for whether Chen Mo’s method involved coercion...

Come on, this was giving them a way to survive.

In chaotic times like these, without a man to rely on, even if they were taken into the village, they would be marginalized to death.

As for those still outside, Chen Mo ordered porridge to be cooked in the village, and after they had their fill, he sent them away.

Those taken in had the grown men naturally incorporated into the Divine Brave Guard.

As for Zhao Daoxian, Chen Mo offered him a very high position—not only providing a house and meals for his family but also other benefits.

The condition was that Zhao Daoxian would teach basic literacy to the Divine Brave Guard.

This was extremely important.

After all, this group of Divine Brave Guards would form the future core of military officers; how could they manage if they couldn’t read?

...

It was late at night.

In the Chen Family home.

In the master bedroom, Chen Mo sat like a lord on the kang bed; Han Anniang was kneeling behind him massaging his shoulders, while Song Min was squatting on the floor washing his feet.

Han Anniang talked about the village affairs: "Uncle, today Qi’s mother came to me, asking if her son’s catch, after giving three parts to the village, could be exchanged for other grains with the village, as they’re fed up with eating fish every day.

It’s not just Qi’s mother who said this. Many of the wives of the fishing team members have also approached me about this."

Chen Mo listened quietly.

"Furthermore, Zhang Fusheng’s wife came to me saying she knows how to make shoes and asked if the extra shoes could be exchanged for grain with the village." Han Anniang mentioned numerous other village matters one after another.

After listening to everything, Chen Mo had an idea.