All sects work

Chapter 197 What Kind of Reward is It
Although most of the people picked up by Lu Xi were women, most of them were in their prime, while at least half of the people brought back by Shi Xuanying were old, weak, sick and disabled.

Is this what they call “removing the dross and retaining the essence”?
County Magistrate Cao didn't understand, but he firmly believed that Master Xuanying must have her reasons for taking the trouble to bring those people back, so in the next few days, he ordered people to count the situation of these more than 30,000 people.

You know what, there are quite a few things in it that can be used!
In addition to the more special potters, blacksmiths and carpenters, there are also many people who can raise livestock. Those women are all strong and fierce, and can all be used as laborers, which is completely different from the local women.

When County Magistrate Cao saw the result, he said excitedly, "Sir, these people are perfect for being sent to Xinxian County!"

It is no coincidence that two counties appeared in that deep mountain basin.

The reason why Piaoyun County is called Piaoyun County is because there are herds of wild horses there. A hundred years ago, someone braved the dangers and went deep into the herd to capture the king horse and presented it to the palace. The horse was snow-white all over, but the tip of its mane was shining with golden light. It galloped with great power and majesty, like sunshine on the clouds. The emperor named it "Piaoyun", and the small village where the horse was discovered was also named Piaoyun Village.

This incident caused a sensation, and countless people flocked to the Piaoyun horses. One prince was determined to train a brave Piaoyun cavalry, and he did succeed, but turned around and rebelled...

However, in the period before his rebellion, although Piaoyun Village was far away in the mountains, there was a constant stream of merchants and travelers coming and going. In just twenty years, it developed from a small village into a small county town!

It’s a pity that although the Piyun horses that came out later were also fat and strong, none of them could compare to the Horse King. In addition, due to the subsequent rebellion, no one dared to buy Piyun horses, and Piyun County quickly became deserted.

After losing its value, it was forgotten by the world in the following decades and soon declined.

County Magistrate Cao had been the county magistrate in Tao County for a long time. He went to inquire about this matter after hearing about it from the locals.

"Piaoyun County had a horse farm decades ago!" County Magistrate Cao said excitedly, "These people from the northwest understand animal husbandry, and some of them can raise and train horses. If we can rebuild the horse farm in Xin County, we can raise cavalry!"

It was the first time that Master Xuanying learned about the history of Piaoyun County. After hearing this, she decided, "Let's follow your suggestion and build a horse farm in Xinxian County and Piaoyun County."

She was curious and asked about Qingshan County.

It is even more remote than Piaoyun County and is almost isolated from the outside world. The fact that it has become a county town must have some special reason.

"Qingshan County... I'm afraid it can no longer be called a county now."

After the decision was made to build a new county, County Magistrate Cao sent people to check it out. Qingshan County had long since become a small village, with only broken walls and ruins left to give us a glimpse of its former prosperity.

County Magistrate Cao said, "It is said that a silver mine was discovered there two hundred years ago. Later, the mine dried up and the imperial court closed the mine. Most people moved away with their families, and Qingshan County was abandoned not long after."

"Oh?" Shi Xuanying took note of the matter and decided to check when she had time to see if there were any "fish that slipped through the net".

It would be great if there was an empty city where we could just move in and live! Unfortunately, the urban area of ​​Qingshan County has been abandoned for too long. Once no one lives in the houses in the mountains, they will quickly be overgrown with weeds and collapse within a few years. Moreover, the place has been abandoned for more than a hundred years.

Although Qingshan County has a sparse population, Shi Xuanying did not arrange for the disaster victims to go there. The more closed the place is, the more xenophobic it is. They are now intimidated by her military force, and she cannot just oppress them. The rest still depends on inducement.

With nearly 70,000 people left homeless, building a new city is urgent.

The next day, Shi Xuanying went into the mountains, selected a piece of unowned wasteland, and started working in a hurry with Xiao's army.

The Xiao family army is now just borrowing a place to hide temporarily. Shi Xuanying has agreed with General Shao that they will provide food and fodder, but it cannot be given for free. If she provides one day's food, the Xiao family army will do one day's work for her.

General Shao thought that the so-called "working" was just a euphemism, and that the other party must want Xiao's army to defend the city. Several other generals and lieutenants also thought so. But they found out the next day - working was really just working!

They want to open up wasteland and build a new county town! The disaster victims are old and young, and most of the pillars of the family are women. Young and middle-aged men are extremely rare. They are still staying at the mouth of Tao County for a few days. It is just right for Xiao's army to take over first.

General Shao stood halfway up the mountain, looking at the busy but energetic soldiers below, and couldn't help but sigh.

Many soldiers in the Xiao family army have settled down in Pingchengguan. They have families here, and now they are building a new city with their own hands. If they can still make a living to support their families in the future, they probably won't want to leave then.

It's not that he didn't notice Shi Xuanying's plan, but he didn't stop it.

"Why is General Shao sighing?" Shi Xuanying appeared beside him out of nowhere.

General Shao's body tensed for a moment, but soon relaxed again: "Master Chen."

Shi Xuanying looked in the direction he had just been looking at, and saw a woman leading a little girl of about six or seven years old carrying a basket and following a man. The family of three were talking and laughing, and it was particularly warm: "General Shao's relatives are still in Qudu."

"Yes." If he had no worries, he would not hesitate. "I and other generals must return to Qudu to answer for our crimes."

"Heh." Shi Xuanying said sarcastically, "Qudu is in chaos right now. Emperor Qu is so angry that he has nowhere to vent his anger. He even sent several imperial edicts from afar to reprimand Xiao Hongfan. If you go back now, you will undoubtedly run into a knife. It may not be easy for General Shao to go back to apologize and save his family."

"I know this, but if I go back and apologize, I still have hope of saving my family. If I don't go back... I may not be able to save my family, let alone my entire clan."

Shi Xuanying smiled and said, "I have a way to rescue the families of the generals, but I wonder if you are willing to pay for it."

General Shao couldn't help but wonder: What kind of reward is this?

Before today, he might have been certain that Master Xuanying wanted to recruit Xiao's army, but after experiencing the "work", he was a little unsure: "What reward does the master want?"

"I want the Xiao family army to be loyal to me." said Shi Xuanying.

Her tone was too brisk, and General Shao was stunned for a moment before he reacted.

Seeing that he did not seem to reject it, Shi Xuanying took advantage of the situation and said, "If you agree, within seven days, I will bring all of your family members and even your clansmen here without exception."

Even though Qu Du had countless mystical practitioners and martial arts masters, General Shao did not doubt her words. After arriving in the south, although they walked through many remote paths, they did not go into the deep mountains and old forests. Under such circumstances, no one actually discovered the existence of their 70,000 people!
General Shao guessed that this must be some mysterious technique used by Master Xuanying to conceal her whereabouts. Since she could easily protect and hide 70,000 people, rescuing their families should be even easier.

"Okay." General Shao agreed immediately, "I will also agree on behalf of the other generals."

This time it was Shi Xuanying's turn to be surprised: "Why don't you ask more questions?"

"I just need to know that you won't harm the people." General Shao observed Shi Xuanying's attitude towards ordinary people along the way, and what happened in Tao County in a short time was enough for him to make a judgment.

Shi Xuanying is a grandmaster. If she didn't have these ant-like mortals in her eyes, she wouldn't care about their lives, nor would she go to such great lengths to build it.

"I believe that if General Xiao knew what you have done, he would follow you without hesitation." General Shao knew that the mystics paid the most attention to astrology and divination. The person she really wanted to recruit might not be the Xiao family army, but Xiao Hongfan, the "star general".

Talking to smart people is worry-free. Shi Xuanying laughed: "Hahaha! Then I'll borrow the general's good words!"