Gudu Ferry.
Zhao Sheng, accompanied by a large group of workers, was drawing lines on the ground.
They meticulously arranged pebbles into long, neat rows, roughly outlining the shape of the future district.
As he marked the lines, Zhao Sheng glanced at the Heavenly Lord's construction blueprint in his hand and announced loudly, "Here, we'll build a town office. The future town chief managing this town will work here."
The workers quickly marked the center of the pebble-outlined area, indicating the building's location.
"This area will become shops... where merchants can buy and sell goods."
"And here, residences will be built..."
Zhao Sheng spoke as he walked, but soon began to gasp for breath, his words broken by wheezing.
A young man from Qingjian County ran over with a large bowl of fragrant yet bitter herbal medicine. "Sir, your asthma-relieving decoction is ready."
Zhao Sheng took the bowl and drank a mouthful, his face contorting from the bitterness.
When he rested, work stalled as everyone waited for his instructions, severely hampering efficiency.
Just as he grew anxious, two elderly farmers rushed over carrying a bamboo sedan chair. With cheerful smiles, they said, "Master Zhao, please ride in this. We'll carry you so you won't get tired."
Zhao Sheng protested, "Oh? How could I trouble you like this?"
The two farmers insisted, "You're our great benefactor. We don't know how else to repay you, so please let us do this small service."
Faced with such sincerity, Zhao Sheng could no longer refuse. He meekly climbed onto the sedan chair. The difference was immediate—carried swiftly by the two farmers, he could now reach any construction site easily.
He hurried from one site to another. Naturally impatient and previously hindered by asthma, Zhao Sheng now felt his efficiency multiply. Soon, his presence was felt everywhere throughout the ferry construction site...
"Oh, right," Zhao Sheng turned to ask two young monks, "I heard yesterday the cement factory was short of limestone. Has that been resolved?"
Eager to prove themselves, the young monks quickly replied, "Sun Genping from Sunjia Village led over a hundred people and found limestone near a small hill two li north. They're organizing transport to bring the stones back today."
Zhao Sheng smiled. "Good."
No sooner had he spoken than shouts erupted from outside the camp. The limestone-digging workers came fleeing back in panic, having apparently abandoned their handcarts.
Zhao Sheng blinked in surprise. "Hm?"
Zhan Seng rushed forward urgently. "What happened?"
Sun Genping, leading the group, looked embarrassed. "We'd just finished loading the limestone onto carts and were about to transport them back when a group of bandits appeared. They terrified us, so we had to abandon the carts and run back."
Zhan Seng's expression darkened. "More bandits?"
Zhao Sheng added, "Oh? How could this be? I'll find Commander Zao and have the cavalry retrieve our limestone carts."
Everyone sprang into action...
The camp instantly buzzed with activity. Zao Ying assembled the entire Gao Family Village cavalry battalion for an emergency deployment, mounting their horses.
But just then, a sentry on the watchtower shouted, "People approaching from outside the camp! Look north—a convoy from the north!"
Several leaders climbed the watchtower. To their astonishment, a large group of ragged people, looking very much like bandits, were pushing the limestone carts toward Gudu Ferry.
With this unexpected development, the cavalry's sortie was halted. Everyone watched quietly.
The group stopped an arrow's flight from the camp. Their leader, unarmed and hands raised, stepped forward and shouted toward the camp, "Good people, don't shoot! We're not here to fight! It was all a misunderstanding. We didn't steal your carts. Look, we've brought them back for you, still loaded with stone."
Those inside the camp exchanged puzzled glances. After a moment, Xing Honglang called out, "I'm Xing Honglang of Yongji! Who are you?"
"We're farmers from Linyi County to the north. You can hear our Shanxi accent," the leader replied. "A few days ago, Old Zhang Fei's men robbed us and forced us to join the rebels. We came with them... even attacked your camp, but we stayed in the rear... didn't even fight. We ran as soon as the battle started."
Hearing this, everyone in the camp paused simultaneously.
That story was believable! Anyone who'd dared charge the camp that day had most likely ended up dead—killed by grenades, muskets, or expertly dispatched by He Ping...
The farmer shouted, "We never wanted to be bandits. They held knives to our throats and forced us. When we saw you kill Old Zhang Fei, we didn't dare surrender. But... we've been hiding nearby, watching secretly for days. You're different from other bandits. You're building a camp, even providing work..."
As he spoke, everyone understood: they had come seeking refuge.
Zhan Seng pressed his palms together. "Amitabha! Evil deeds instill fear and drive people away, but good deeds attract them. These people have been drawn by Commander Xing's benevolent actions. This humble monk believes they can be trusted."
Xing Honglang also recognized their Shanxi accent. Since they weren't from Shaanxi, they must be local Shanxi commoners who had been coerced. "They can be trusted, but not entirely. I think it's best not to let them into the camp yet, to prevent them from starting fires at night or coordinating with outsiders. Let them work outside the camp, digging and transporting limestone for us. We'll pay them wages."
Lao Nanfeng and Zao Ying both nodded, agreeing the plan was sound.
Gao Chuwu grinned. "Sounds good!"
As commander of the Shanxi "expeditionary force," his approval settled the matter.
Xing Honglang leaned over the camp wall and shouted, "Understood! You don't want to be bandits anymore, right?"
The farmer outside replied, "We never were bandits to begin with."
"Alright! That simplifies things," Xing Honglang said. "Then we'll keep you here to work. Your job is to dig stone and transport it back to our camp. We'll give each of you three catties of flour per day."
The people outside cheered. "Wonderful! We'll have food!"