CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 390: A GLORIOUS MOMENT

"Look, this is what we got to eat after half a month away. The meals in the Deserted Mountain, tsk tsk, there’s meat in every meal."

"Are you all fools? What are you still doing here? Go to the Deserted Mountain! The city wouldn’t take us in, so now that there’s a place willing to accept us, what are you worried about?"

"Moreover, the law and order in the Deserted Mountain is very good. After all, it’s under the rule of the General’s Wife. The people’s morals are needless to say, they’re even better than back in our hometown."

"Look, aunty, especially since you’re bringing such young children, you must go to the Deserted Mountain. They have a few doctors now, some herbs too, and they surely don’t skimp on food."

Saying this, the person spoke again mysteriously.

"By the way, they don’t allow cannibalism there, so children are absolutely safe."

"I’m saying this to let everyone know that if someone has a habit of cannibalism, they either need to quit or stay in this place, because the Deserted Mountain won’t accept them."

"Lazy people shouldn’t go either. In the Deserted Mountain, everyone is assigned land. If you’re too lazy to farm, you won’t have enough to eat, right?"

Everyone was still hesitating whether to go, but upon hearing this, they realized how strict the rules were in the Deserted Mountain.

Good people can be free, but bad people have many restrictions.

This way, everyone felt reassured. They were worried the Deserted Mountain was too good to be true, like it was a fake haven.

Many people quickly signed up.

Some even persuaded their sons to enlist because they wanted to go to the Deserted Mountain.

"Dalang, we want to go to the Deserted Mountain, but strong laborers like you aren’t accepted there. Maybe you should join the army? The camps are good now, and it’s rare for anyone to die."

Dalang hesitated a bit, but seeing his whole family glaring at him, he could only nod heavily.

Because all he wanted was a cozy home with his wife and kids.

Even if it meant scraping by with his family together.

But his family’s meaning was clear: even if they die, let it be as significant as Mount Tai.

He was forced into enlisting, like a duck driven onto a rack.

This was true for many families.

This wave of mobilization was much more effective than the previous one.

Immediately, they gathered 3,000 new recruits and 20,000 Desert Mountain People.

The city gate of Su County was suddenly half empty.

Seeing people heading toward the Deserted Mountain’s territory, County Magistrate Hu couldn’t help but feel relieved.

He actually wanted to let them into the city, knowing how hard it was for these people.

But there were simply too many refugees, and if they entered the city, settling them would become a problem.

If not settled properly and clashes arose with city residents, the situation could worsen.

If funds were gathered to rebuild refugee shelters, the county government simply didn’t have enough money.

Moreover, every time he appealed, the Emperor rejected it.

Refugees outside Jingzhou City were also being gradually relocated, as Jingzhou and Su County aren’t far apart.

The recruitment teams continued forward, sensing that this Dazi attack is no simple matter.

After these people arrived at the Deserted Mountain, Pei Shu’er first made sure everyone had enough to eat and wear, and when they felt the warmth of home, Pei Shu’er delivered a command.

"Everyone in the Deserted Mountain, including those outside the walls, must participate in training outside the walls every day."

Pei Shu’er spoke gently, like a spring breeze, and everyone easily accepted it.

These trainings included running and practicing using sticks, just a simple stick technique.

Teaching everyone was the Zhang Chao team of four.

Pei Shu’er’s reason was that everyone’s physical condition was too weak, needing improvement to avoid falling ill easily.

Everyone gladly accepted it.

After all, they could fill their bellies, so a bit of exercise wasn’t bad, and learning this stick technique could help in self-defense too.

Actually, Pei Shu’er really thought that if the Dazi did attack, the residents of the Deserted Mountain would be able to protect themselves.

If there was truly no retreat, they could provide assistance to the Gulan Military Camp.

However, these ordinary people supporting the Gulan Military Camp might only drag it down due to inherent disparities.

If not as a last resort, Pei Shu’er wouldn’t arrange this.

After half a month’s recruitment, the Gulan Military Camp managed to enlist 30,000 new soldiers, all voluntary.

Previously, this would’ve been impossible.

Entering the military meant having one’s head on the line.

People used all kinds of methods to evade conscription before.

Now, they found that joining the Gulan Military Camp was the only way to survive.

Also, it was the only way for their families to survive.

Otherwise, they’d starve to death at the city gate.

After all, the Desolate Mountain doesn’t take in strong laborers but accepts the old, the weak, women, and children.

So many had no choice but to go to the Deserted Mountain.

A month later, the total number of soldiers in the Gulan Military Camp reached 80,000, with 60,000 being new recruits.

After having enough meals for a few days and undergoing military training, these recruits made impressive progress.

General Zhao watched these men with emotion, unable to stop the smile on his lips, while his eyes turned red.

"I never thought our Gulan Military Camp would have such a glorious moment."

Commander Zhang repeatedly wiped his tears, not wanting to be so dejected unless he couldn’t help it.

Initially, he worried most about food when he saw the recruitment.

But unexpectedly, the food in the cellar was continuously replenished.

New cellars were dug, and they were still filled to the brim.

Previously, he couldn’t even imagine this.

Moreover, the rice clearly bears the signature of the Deserted Mountain.

Previously, the land cultivated by the army was rehabilitated, and with Pei Shu’er’s seeds, everyone found that not only did crops grow quickly, but their quality was excellent.

Now everyone had tasted the first batch of vegetables, and they were quite delicious.

The days at Gulan Military Camp were indeed getting better.

Yan Hengjin stood on the tower and looked at these soldiers, feeling a surge of excitement.

Facing the Dazi with such a troop might not win, but it wouldn’t be a disastrous defeat either, at least not quickly.

Initially, he volunteered to train here in the Gulan Military Camp, and after a year, he developed feelings for this place.

He watched as this place grew from a frail 20,000 to a robust 80,000, a qualitative leap.

He felt pleased for the Gulan Military Camp.

And for Dayan as well.

Yan Hengyin watched this vast troop, suddenly feeling a sense of crisis.

Tang Zan already harbors hatred towards the Royal Family.

If he develops a rebellious heart, imagine if these Gulan Soldiers and Dazi soldiers march north together, what a terrifying scenario it would be.

Yan Hengyin frowned.

"Weren’t all their provisions already submitted? How do they have surplus food for soldiers?"