Chapter 2, Liu Family Village

Liu Qubing shook his head and said: "To be honest, our ancestors were all from Liaodong. After the Battle of Salhu, our ancestors fled into the pass, and after a long journey, they finally settled here, which is how Liu Family Village came to be"

This is his name from a previous life, therefore there are no obstacles in using it

"Is it true?" Liu Qubing's eyes sparkled with a bright light: "Will that day really come?"

This had a significant psychological impact on Zhu Cilang. It is important to note that throughout his journey, he witnessed barren and cracked lands, as well as disaster-stricken people who were inadequately clothed. At times, Zhu Cilang himself would wonder whether the fate of the Ming Dynasty had truly come to an end

Liu Chuanrong, Zhao Xin, and others are no exception; even His Highness the Crown Prince has indulged in them, so what decorum is there to be concerned about

"Yes, I promise," Zhu Cilang said resolutely

By the time they arrived at Liu Family Village, it was already noon. Zhu Cilang looked up at the sky and ordered everyone to take a short break, to have lunch before continuing their journey

Zhu Cilang listened with a sigh, realizing that there was such a story behind this.

Liu Qubing nodded and said: "I have also heard this news, but I do not know whether the bandits have surrounded the city now, or if the royal reinforcements have arrived..."

We are merchants from Shandong, traveling to Yingtianfu for business, and we hope to take a rest while passing through Guizhuang

As he watched dish after dish being served, Zhu Cilang swallowed hard. The journey had been filled with hardships, and it was needless to say that he had rarely enjoyed a warm meal. Therefore, the dishes before him appeared to Zhu Cilang as nothing short of a feast.

Upon seeing the other party clasping their fists in greeting, Zhu Cilang quickly returned the gesture with cupped hands, saying: "I am Zhu Ping, thank you very much for your warm hospitality, Brother Liu"

After everyone had eaten their fill, Liu Qubing then asked, "Brother Zhu, you have come from Shandong, have you heard any news from the north?"

He expressed with emotion: "With the Holy Son of Heaven in power and the soldiers devoted to their duty, the siege of the Divine Capital will surely be lifted."

Zhu Cilang smiled faintly and then followed Liu Qubing as they strolled in

Zhu Cilang was also unpretentious and quickly followed suit. As for the eunuchs Liu Chuanzong and Zhao Xin, along with a group of Eastern Palace guards, they naturally did not dare to leave the side of His Highness the Crown Prince, remaining vigilant at all times to prevent any sudden assassination attempts.

One day, the court will eradicate the Eastern invaders and restore Liaodong.

The villagers behind the stockade immediately began to discuss among themselves. After a short while, a robust young man stepped forward and asked, "Who are you? Why have you come to Liu Family Village?"

Not bad

Their arrival at the gate of Liu Family Village immediately alerted the guards in the watchtower. The guard did not hesitate to sound the horn, and soon over a hundred men, wielding hoes and pitchforks, hurriedly ran to the gate.

Liu Qubing slightly nodded and said: "If this were ten years ago, Jiangbei would still be stable, but recently it has become increasingly chaotic. The bandits and those major robbers go without saying, but small groups of marauders also frequently appear to plunder. If one does not want to wait for death, one must arm oneself. Furthermore..."

Liu Family Village is a large village of this generation, with three hundred households and a population of one thousand five hundred. Like many villages in northern Jiangsu, Liu Family Village possesses a considerable degree of self-defense capability. Not only does it have village walls, but the village chief also calls upon all able-bodied men to train during the slack farming season to guard against the potential threat of bandits and local marauders.

May I ask how you are addressed, esteemed brother? I am Liu Qubing

Zhu Cilang couldn't help but marvel; it seems that the financial resources of Liu Family Village are quite extraordinary. To construct such a large residence with three courtyards requires a considerable amount of silver. If there are no surprises, the person before him should be the young master of Liu Family Village.

Damn the Eastern invaders, if it were not for them, how could we be displaced and forced to leave our homes!

Liu Qubing's face flushed as he said: "We are outsiders, and the locals harbor some hostility towards us, so we must remain vigilant."

Although Zhu Cilang was deeply moved, he had no intention of revealing his identity

Sigh

Zhu Cilang and his companions rode fast horses, quickly leaving the group of displaced people behind

Oh? Is Brother Liu not from Huai'an Prefecture

However, after witnessing the scene in Liujiacun, Zhu Cilang rekindled his hope

Liu Qubing made a gesture of invitation with one arm extended forward, and then he walked ahead to lead the way

The robust young man appeared somewhat hesitant; after conversing with an elderly man beside him for quite some time, he finally waved his hand to signal two strong men to open the village gate

When the fragrant rice was served, Zhu Cilang could no longer care about his manners and began to eat ravenously.

Zhu Cilang and his group of more than ten riders, while not large in scale, are also not insignificant

Before entering the Liu Family Village, Zhu Cilang and his companions dismounted to show goodwill towards the Liu family. As for the previous cautious behavior of the other party, Zhu Cilang considered it quite normal. After all, we are in chaotic times, and caution ensures safety for a long time. Zhu Cilang was already very grateful that the other party allowed them to enter the village for rest.

Coincidentally, it was lunchtime, so Liu Qubing ordered his staff to prepare meals for Zhu Cilang and his party. Fortunately, Liu Qubing's residence was large enough; otherwise, it would have been quite challenging for the kitchen to prepare meals for more than ten people in a short time.

Zhao Xin, the chief guard of the Eastern Palace, sensed the hostility from the other party and spoke as kindly as possible

Brother Liu, are you referring to news from the capital? To be honest, although we are merchants, we have always traveled south and have never been to the capital. However, I have heard that the bandits have reached the capital.

My family's young master merely wishes to enter your esteemed establishment for a brief rest, and harbors no ill intentions

Since the eighth year of the Chongzhen era, the various prefectures in Jiangbei have been in turmoil, with bandits and local thieves emerging like bamboo shoots after a rain. It is impossible to rely on the government to send troops to suppress the bandits; these villages can only rely on themselves to survive.

Brother Zhu, please!

Brother Liu, may I invite you? Dare you not comply

Zhu Cilang felt a sudden jolt in his heart; it truly is the case that what one fears most often comes to pass. He absolutely did not want to expose his identity under any circumstances.

At that moment, someone suddenly stumbled and ran in front of Liu Qubing, looking flustered as they said: "Young Master, something terrible has happened, the Sheta Tian gang is here to raid the manor!"

Zhu Cilang said with a firm expression

He did not intend to linger on this topic, so he changed the subject: "Brother Liu, I noticed that your establishment is heavily guarded. Is it to guard against bandits?"

Liu Qubing spoke of hatred, his eyes reddening, and he clenched his fists tightly

Upon entering Liu Family Village, Zhu Cilang began to carefully observe every scene and object within the village. He discovered that the land was vast and flat, the houses were neatly arranged, the paths were interconnected, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, resembling the idyllic Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming

This time, however, it was Zhu Cilang who spoke up. Of course, he would not reveal his true identity; after much consideration, the identity of a businessman seemed the most appropriate.

Liu Qubing led Zhu Cilang and his companions to a large residence with three courtyards, smiling as he introduced, "This is my humble abode. Brother Zhu, if you do not mind, please come in for a cup of tea. Well, the horses can stay outside."

Zhu Cilang let out a long sigh of relief