roccoschili Chapter 12 My Enclosure, My Field
Chapter 12 My Enclosure, My Field
Boss Wang, who can even control bandit leaders and has connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, shouldn't be this cowardly.
But who isn't afraid of death?!
They couldn't be tough at all when faced with a madman who dared to provoke the entire Kanto Beard.
That kind of person is insane!
Lu Xingzhou gently helped him up: "Don't be afraid~ Whether you're a scumbag or a law-abiding citizen, I won't kill you without evidence."
You could say he's reckless, but he's definitely not insane.
It is perfectly justifiable for landlords to fight bandits, and no one can find fault with that. However, it is unacceptable to arbitrarily kill registered "civilians" without evidence.
"Get out of here, you don't need to serve me."
"Yes, yes, Young Master Lu, please rest well. I won't disturb you any longer!"
Wang Tieshan wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly moved far away.
After a group of 150 or 160 people, along with dozens of vehicles and horses, settled down and had a hot meal, it was already late at night.
Before going to bed, Zhu Kaishan spoke with Lu Xingzhou: "Master, I'm new here, shouldn't we talk about other things later?"
Old Zhu dared to fight even the Eight-Nation Alliance, so he's definitely not afraid of trouble. If he gets angry, he might do something even more ruthless than Old Zhu.
But with so many men, women, and children sharing the risks, as the head of the village, he had to offer his advice with caution.
Even if we agree to protect the waterway with Yu Wendou, there's no need to offend the bandits along the Liao River to the death today.
Lu Xingzhou wiped his face and calmly asked, "Any of the workers are having second thoughts?"
"No! I just feel a bit uneasy about it."
"Uncle Zhu, let me give you a heads-up."
It's not that he can't lie to everyone, but Lu Xingzhou felt that if everyone had a clear understanding of his goals, they wouldn't panic when something really happened.
"My grandfather lost everything to a bearded man back then, and had to go to the United States to make a living before dying far from home. Ever since I returned to China, I've never imagined I could live peacefully with a bearded man!"
"So you absolutely must get rid of the beard, do you understand?"
Moreover, this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
"Besides, dozens of villages along the Liaohe River source have been wiped out. Even if we endure humiliation and flatter him, do you think the Bearded Man will let us off the hook?"
"Hahahaha~~! Of course not!"
Zhu Kaishan laughed heartily.
"To be honest, the employees who were willing to come along were somewhat prepared."
Lu Xingzhou's provocative act towards the bearded man had already spread among the farmhands by dinner time.
Some were as excited as Chuanwu, some were indifferent and focused on making a living, and some felt that things were being rushed.
They weren't afraid and didn't want to run away.
The most popular figures in the misty Jiangnan region are gentle and refined gentlemen, while in the chaotic land of Guandong, filled with bloodshed and slaughter, the likes of Zhang Zuolin and Wu Junsheng, who were illiterate but violent and ruthless, were the great heroes admired by everyone.
Compared to those two vulgar old men, Lu Xingzhou's level of education was a detrimental factor.
"That's good. From now on, let Chuanwu lead everyone in more shooting practice!"
The guns he distributed also helped to stabilize morale among the troops.
The encirclement of 40 guns was already a formidable force, and given Beard's bullying tactics, as long as not all the gangs ganged up on him, the pressure on everyone wasn't too great.
This is why Zhu Kaishan only suggested taking it easy and wasn't really in a hurry.
These days, you can be robbed at any time while walking. If someone is worried even with a fortified enclosure, they're definitely not a man from Northeast China.
Besides, regardless of status or position, which man doesn't harbor the dream of sacrificing himself for his country and contributing to his hometown?
"You provide for our wives and children, and even pay us wages. You're the best employer you could ever find! If you also lead us in eradicating the bandits along the Liao River, these farmers will be incredibly respected in Fengtian!"
"We have to work together and fight our way up. It's getting late, you should go back and rest."
Zhu Kaishan stood up to take his leave: "Boss, get some rest. I'm going to check on things again!"
If you're staying at a drug den, you need to make sure you have both overt and covert sentries.
"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Zhu."
Lu Xingzhou went back to his room and fell asleep holding Lin Fengyi's chubby, warm body.
There was a reason he didn't mention.
In his previous life, he worked in an environment surrounded by a group of second-generation rich kids who could easily trample people under their feet by saying, "Dad, I want this." He had long been tired of being a shrewd and manipulative operator.
Only those obsessed with numerical values enjoy playing with skill; they have no idea how skilled players crave numerical dominance.
He wanted to live a more carefree life in this lifetime!
The next day, they prepared to continue their journey as soon as it was light.
Before leaving, Wang Tieshan stood at the entrance of the inn with a smile, holding two silver dollars (1 dollar = 100 dollars).
"Young Master Lu must have been frightened last night. Please accept this small token of my appreciation. Please believe me, I am absolutely a good person!"
Lu Xingzhou wasn't in a hurry to deal with him, so of course he wouldn't refuse.
"From now on, we'll be neighbors. Whether it's good or bad, we'll see!"
"Yes, yes, take care!" With such a troublesome neighbor, Wang Tieshan's face was stiff with a forced smile and he couldn't be happy at all.
The scenery in Northeast China is beautiful all year round, except for the period between winter and spring when the snow melts, which is an awkward time when the scenery is not pleasant.
On the land, where a few crooked wild trees grow, patches of black and white resemble the bald head of a programmer.
The occasional sight of burned ruins only added to the desolate atmosphere.
Feeling utterly bored, Lu Xingzhou chatted with Zhu Kaishan about the plague that had changed the Zhu family's predetermined fate.
"Is the plague serious again in that place in Andong?"
Zhu Kaishan nodded emphatically: "In Fengcheng and all the villages and towns, more than 10,000 people have been infected. There are also more than 200 patients in our Yuanbao Town. That's why I wanted to take my family to Qiqihar in the north to avoid the disaster."
Knowing by chance the ins and outs of this protracted plague, Lu Xingzhou joked:
"Uncle Zhu, I really saved your whole family's lives by not letting you go to Qiqihar."
Zhu Chuanwen, who was following behind, curled his lip, thinking that he was trying to win people's hearts. Old Zhu wouldn't be so superficial.
"What do you mean by that, sir?"
"If you actually go to Qiqihar, you'll find that the plague is much more severe there. In Harbin, the epicenter of the outbreak, more than 100,000 people must have died in the past few years."
Zhu Chuanwen was stunned!
"What the hell?! Wasn't the plague in Harbin over? How come so many people are dying? There are only a handful of people in the whole of Heilongjiang!"
Lu Xingzhou explained, "The European virus was brought over by the Japanese and Russian merchants. Our bodies don't have antibodies, so the morbidity and mortality rates are very high."
This plague began in 1910 and broke out in Harbin. More than 6 people died within six months, and many surrounding villages were wiped out.
It broke out several more times afterward, until around 1918 when the epidemic was finally contained under the leadership of Mr. Wu Lien-teh. The modern medical mask was invented by Mr. Wu during this period to prevent and control the Manchurian plague.
The daily deaths and the astronomical sums accumulated create a very different feeling.
Sanjiangshui cursed angrily, "Those damned Japanese devils!"
Stunned and speechless, the group lost their appetite for conversation and could only keep on their way in silence.
The last ten miles or so of dirt road were indeed extremely muddy, greatly reducing our speed, but fortunately no accidents occurred.
Four o'clock in the afternoon.
As the setting sun casts its rays, the outline of a pale yellow building appears on the dark earth.
Zhu Chuanwu rode forward and shouted, "Master, I see the enclosure!"
A fortified enclosure is a rustic castle built by landlords and wealthy households for self-protection, integrating living, storage, and defense functions.
Since it is a castle, the outermost perimeter is naturally a yellowish-brown braided wall that is 80 meters long, 60 meters wide, 4 meters high, and 60 centimeters thick.
Using thick, soft, and rot-resistant large and small-leaved camphor trees, soak them in mud and twist them into "braids". Layer upon layer of braided walls are made, which are inexpensive, readily available and extremely practical.
Even if years of snow and wind erosion have made it pitted and unattractive, bullets hitting it will only leave shallow craters.
Lu Xingzhou led the way by entering the courtyard through the main gate in the southeast corner. To his right was a well that had not yet thawed.
"Thank you, Brother Chuanwen, for taking some people to the river to fetch some water."
"Alright! A few guys, come with me!"
Zhu Chuanwen answered readily, picked up a carrying pole, grabbed the buckets, and headed to the river. After hearing Lu Xingzhou talk about the plague on the way, he was less opposed to becoming a farmhand.
There is a separate kitchen next to the well, and going any further in is quite "presumptuous".
The house has nine side rooms on the east and west sides and seven main rooms on the north side, which is completely against the regulations. It is not unique to Yujiaweizi; the Guandong region had already experienced a "collapse of etiquette and music" a hundred years ago.
The brick-and-mortar house, with red bricks on the bottom and adobe bricks on the top, is slightly dilapidated but has not collapsed and is perfectly habitable.
The house is surrounded by houses on all four sides, forming a huge courtyard about half the size of a football field, which can be used as a drying ground.
Two of the three warehouses behind the east wing collapsed, leaving only one usable. Zhu Kaishan directed his team to move supplies to the undamaged warehouse.
"Let's get moving!"
The stables behind the west wing were already dilapidated and in a terrible state.
The weather isn't too cold right now, so the livestock won't freeze. There's no rush to rebuild.
We need to prioritize people.
"Chuanwu, take some men to inspect the doors, windows, stoves, and heated brick beds in each room. They must be repaired before we go to bed tonight!"
The northwest corner fort was the most severely damaged.
Bearded men often attack the enclosure from this corner. There's a saying among the people: "Northwest corner, cross the crossroads, a gunshot, and you're done for."
Each of the four corners has a small platform that rises above the wall, known as a gun emplacement, which is also a major feature of the walled enclosure.
It facilitates observation of enemy positions and allows gunners to fire down on the enemy from a high vantage point, making it the most important defensive feature of the fortified enclosure.
"Those bearded guys must have broken through the fence from here."
Even such a thick wall has collapsed, leaving a gap of more than 2 meters. The other side may have used artillery.
"Wow, that's fierce! Is it revenge or something else?"
Lu Xingzhou realized that the group of bearded men who smashed up the Grandpa Yu's kiln were no ordinary gang.
The quick and efficient rural women, who are truly "holding up half the sky," don't need anyone to tell them; they will automatically set up the pot and cook without being told.
Lin Fengyi took Wen's mother, Na Wen, and Xian'er to tidy up the main house. The farmhands were also working in an orderly manner, repairing, fetching water, and feeding the horses. The scene was bustling with activity.
Before it got dark, Lu Xingzhou went to inspect the fields not far away.
The snow had long since melted away, and there weren't many weeds.
You can clearly see rows of dark earth stretching for two or three kilometers and five or six hundred meters wide.
Looking around his enclosure and the land, Lu Xingzhou felt a surge of pride.
His career began here!