With the serious matters finally settled, Li Daoxuan turned to face the won and children huddled inside the stone house.
Soldiers stepped forward and distributed military rations.
The won and children ate ravenously. As their stomachs filled, the panic gripping their hearts gradually loosened.
These dozen or so won and children could no longer stay in Houjia Village.
In such turbulent tis, without n to shield them, a group like this had no chance of surviving on their own.
Their hos were already gone.
From this mont on, their only path was to drift.
Li Daoxuan lowered his voice. "Do you have anywhere to go? Relatives, perhaps? Your maiden hos?"
The won shook their heads in unison.
"No."
Li Daoxuan asked again, "Then… what are your plans?"
The won looked up at him.
Their gazes were strange—hesitant, fearful, yet strangely resolute.
Li Daoxuan felt a sharp chill creep up his spine.
Before he could speak again, the won suddenly dropped to their knees as one.
"Please, Master," they said together. "Take us in. We are willing to be concubines or maids. From today onward, we will belong to you."
Li Daoxuan froze for a mont.
Then he sighed and shook his head.
"I cannot take you in," he said gently. "But my territory can. Co back with my people. They will arrange a proper place for you."
The won exchanged uneasy glances, fear flickering across their faces.
One of them gathered her courage and asked softly, "Master… will you go back with us? If you are not there… we are a little afraid."
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"Don't worry," he said. "Once you are within my territory, I am everywhere."
The won did not truly understand his words.
But they had no power over their fates. Fearful yet obedient, they followed the Gao Family Village logistics team as instructed.
Their future lay ahead like a blank page.
They had no idea where they were being taken.
Along the way, the won were extrely cautious, walking with heads lowered, terrified that the logistics soldiers might mistreat them.
But before long, they realized their fears were unnecessary.
The discipline of the Gao Family Village logistics troops far surpassed anything they had ever seen in the Ming army.
Not a single soldier spoke improperly to them. No wandering glances. No crude jokes.
Half a day passed peacefully.
Then ca alti.
The logistics team halted at an abandoned village. After inspecting the well and confirming there was clean water, they decided to camp there.
So soldiers fetched water. Others gathered firewood and set up cooking fires.
Everyone moved with practiced efficiency.
The won and children swallowed nervously.
They were hungry again.
Yet none of them dared to ask for food.
They shrank into a corner, hoping to remain unnoticed. What if the soldiers had forgotten them entirely? What if asking reminded them of their existence and brought trouble instead?
Just as they huddled there, the logistics captain approached.
"Everyone," he called gently, "co over. Dinner is ready."
The won flinched.
The captain smiled kindly.
His na was Wang Chan. Because he had graduated from Gao Family Village School and could read and calculate, he had given himself a courtesy nickna: Zhuge Wang Chan.
"Don't be afraid," Zhuge Wang Chan said. "I won't harm you. Oh—right. Let show you sothing."
He took two steps forward and pointed at his chest.
Embroidered on his tunic was the image of Dao Xuan Tianzun.
The won stared.
At first, they didn't recognize it.
Then realization dawned.
That face… isn't that the sa person who charged into Houjia Village and stood alone at the stone house door?
The embroidery blurred so details, but the resemblance was unmistakable.
Their fear eased, just a little.
Zhuge Wang Chan beckoned again. "Co. We've set aside a separate pot for you. The water is already heating. It'll boil soon. This pot is just for you dozen people. Cook however you like."
He placed a bag of flour on the ground.
After a brief hesitation, he added two bamboo boxes of luncheon at.
Then he retreated several steps.
Like soone feeding wary stray cats.
The thod worked.
The won cautiously approached.
They opened the flour bag. Even less than half a bag was more than enough for all of them.
Their eyes brightened.
Then they opened the bamboo boxes.
Inside were neatly cut cubes of at.
"Ah!" several won gasped. "at!"
Zhuge Wang Chan smiled. "You should cook it yourselves. We n can barely manage edible food. What you make will definitely taste better."
With that, he turned and walked back to his unit.
The won hurriedly thanked him, then gathered around the pot.
Hands flew.
Their cooking skills were leagues above the soldiers'. Before long, a thick flour porridge simred, fragrant and rich.
Though no one taught them how to prepare luncheon at, they instinctively diced it finely and tossed it into the pot.
Soon, steam rose.
When the lid was lifted, the aroma drifted through the camp.
The won first served bowls to their children, then to themselves.
As they ate, tears slid silently down their faces.
Such good food…
If only we could eat like this again tomorrow…
That wish was quickly fulfilled.
When evening ca and it was ti to eat again, Zhuge Wang Chan returned with the sa provisions.
This ti, the won's fear vanished completely.
Watching the logistics soldiers clumsily prepare their own als, several won couldn't help shaking their heads.
One of them stepped forward. "Big Brother, let us help you cook. We cannot keep eating your food for free. It makes us feel ashad."
And so, the logistics camp grew lively.
The soldiers sat to the side, watching as the won busied themselves.
As their courage returned, the won began chatting.
One of them looked at Zhuge Wang Chan curiously. "Big Brother, you seem like a scholar."
Zhuge Wang Chan straightened a little, pride flickering across his face. "All logistics captains in Gao Family Village are educated. Logistics work involves docunts, calculations, and reports. To be a captain, one must at least graduate from elentary school."
The woman blinked. "Elentary school…? Then tell —who is more capable? You, or a xiucai?"
Zhuge Wang Chan laughed heartily. "In literary essays, I'm inferior to a xiucai. But when it cos to mathematics, I'm stronger."
She didn't understand "literary essays" or "mathematics."
But she understood one thing clearly.
This man—
He was a match for a scholar.
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