My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 213 New Strategy
Inside the manor, Li Xuanba sat in the seat of honor, while Zhai Rang, Shan Xiongxin, and others sat in the seats closest to him.

"I have heard the name Captain Shan many times. Everyone says that Captain Shan is skilled in martial arts and has the courage of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Seeing him today, I can confirm that it is true."

Shan Xiongxin smiled and repeatedly said he dared not.

After exchanging pleasantries and chatting, Zhai Rang finally began to report on the situation in the area.

"My lord, before I set off, Qingzao Village had more than a dozen strongholds and three large villages in Yeniu Mountain. The total number of laborers in each village was more than 6,000. After Lord Dugu arrived, he built more blast furnaces to forge weapons and armor. There were no more bandits or dead in Yeniu Mountain."

Since Loufan established contact with Xingyang, Qingzao Village's development momentum has become increasingly fierce. Large amounts of grain, ironware, livestock, craftsmen, and scholars have been transported to Qingzao Village, which has increased their strength several times over. With these things, their expansion has become even faster. There are almost no other people left on Wild Buffalo Mountain, and people from Qingzao Village are guarding every mountain pass.

Li Xuanba felt quite gratified upon hearing Zhai Rang's report.

After rewarding many meritorious individuals, Li Xuanba then spoke of some of his plans.

For example, lecturing.

Back in Loufan, the scholars under his command were cautious in recruiting people and dared not speak frankly. But in the mountain stronghold, there was clearly no such concern. They could speak freely and let the people know why they wanted to overthrow Yang Guang.

Zhai Rang and Shan Xiongxin stayed in Luoyang for two days, carefully noting down Li Xuanba's many orders before hurriedly leaving.

They still have a lot to do.

Qingzao Village needs to officially send people to areas such as Hedong to establish its influence there.

After Zhai Rang and the others returned to Wild Buffalo Mountain, Qingzao Village underwent another transformation.

First was Zhang Sengyuan, who was no longer the village head. Due to the increase in the number of people and the establishment of strongholds in various places, Li Xuanba believed that the position of village head was no longer appropriate. Therefore, Zhang Sengyuan was officially changed from village head to county magistrate.

Many people in Qingzao Village also received corresponding promotions and rewards. The former leaders of the strongholds became the new village heads, and the several fellow disciples who assisted Zhang Sengyuan also received some county-level official positions. The large number of people who were promoted and rewarded made the atmosphere of the entire village even more lively.

After making appropriate adjustments and reorganizations, Qingzaozhai sent people to various places in Hedong to prepare to set up more mountain strongholds along the way towards Loufan.

The main targets are the Taihang Mountains, Wangwu Mountains, Bailu Mountains, Gongshan Mountains, Jiaoshan Mountains, Baodushan Mountains, Yangtoushan Mountains, Huangfushan Mountains, Lutaishan Mountains, Zhibushan Mountains, Liaoshan Mountains, etc. In Hedong, there are the most mountains, which are connected to each other and have varying heights.

This is probably why Li Xuanba asked everyone to develop in the Hedong area.

Li Xuanba's bestowal of honors this time greatly encouraged the people of Qingzao Village.

Shan Xiongxin personally led his men, disguised, and charged toward their first target, Taihang.

The two previous large-scale corvée labors of the sage mobilized the labor of millions of people in the Central Plains and Hebei region. In addition, with other projects such as building the Great Wall and palaces, the number of people who fled over the years is countless. In the mountains and forests everywhere, there are countless poor people who have been forced to abandon their families and have no choice but to hide in the deep mountains and forests, waiting for someone to take the lead.

Qingzao Village dispatched more than ten groups of people, each led by a different person, to various destinations in Hedong to contact local bandits and the dead, and actively try to win them over. The restaurants that were originally set up in various places also came in very useful at this time, participating in the reconnaissance work.

For a time, the official road in Hedong became increasingly bustling.

Li Jiancheng rode his tall horse, squinting as he stared at the merchants in the distance who had voluntarily given way to him, lost in thought.

He is now leading his family towards Luoyang.

At that very moment, Li Shimin, beaming with joy, spurred his horse forward.

"Brother, I'm here!"

"What do you want from me?"

Li Jiancheng pointed to the traveling merchants in the distance, "Don't you find it strange?"

"strangeness?"

Li Shimin countered, "What's strange about it?"

“In the past ten days, we have encountered seven or eight groups of merchants. They all have the same setup, about the same number of people, and are all strong men. Don’t you find it strange that even their carriages look very similar?”

Upon hearing Li Jiancheng's question, Feng Li whispered, "I have a feeling that these people are not good people. They are not carrying any weapons, but when they pass us, I find that most of them are not afraid. They don't seem like merchants at all."

Li Shimin suddenly spoke up, saying, "Brother, there's nothing strange about it."

"These people go their way, we go ours, why should we worry?"

Li Jiancheng's expression grew increasingly puzzled. He stared at Li Shimin for a long time before asking, "In the past, whenever I took you out, you were always watching your surroundings. If you saw anything unusual, you would want to lead people to investigate, always hoping to catch thieves and have a good fight. Why are you so obedient this time when we went to Luoyang, even advising me not to pay attention?" Li Shimin laughed again, "Brother, I was still young in the past."

"You talk as if you're all grown up now."

Li Jiancheng was somewhat displeased. "Tell me the truth! Do you know something? Or have you already sent someone to investigate?"

Li Shimin scratched his head. "Brother, how could I dare to hide it?"

He glanced at Feng Li and the others.

Feng Li was taken aback and looked at Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng originally wanted to reprimand Li Shimin, but then remembered something and said, "Come with me."

The two brothers rode their horses a little further away, and Feng Li and the others did not follow.

Li Jiancheng then lowered his voice and angrily questioned, "Are these the thieves you colluded with?"

Why would you ask that, brother?

"Ha, you saw so many suspicious people, yet you neither followed them nor inquired about them, nor even reported them to me. I'm certain you know the inside story!!"

Li Jiancheng was quite familiar with his younger brother. Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled wryly, "Brother, I originally planned to have Xuanba tell you this when he came to greet me, but since you have doubts, I will just say it directly."

"You said."

"These people are not enemies."

"Is he one of yours??"

"No, he's my brother's man."

"Ok??"

Li Jiancheng looked at him blankly, and Li Shimin said seriously, "A few days ago, Xuanba sent someone to deliver a letter to me, saying two things. The first thing was about Xihe County, and the other thing was about my elder brother."

"About me?"

“Brother, after Xuanba arrived at the Imperial Academy, some people tested him, trying to find out if you had any dealings with bandits. These people were led by Yang Xuangan. They seemed to believe that you had supported many bandits in Xingyang, Loufan and other places, and wanted to use this to murder you.”

"I'll support you??"

Li Jiancheng's voice involuntarily rose, but Li Shimin gestured to him, and he lowered his voice, saying somewhat angrily, "This is all your fault! It was clearly you who did it, but everyone else thinks it was me!"

"Brother, actually, I didn't do this. I'm just like you, burdened with a bad reputation. The truth is... well, never mind. No matter what I say, you won't believe me anyway. Once we get to Luoyang, you'll know for sure."

Li Jiancheng frowned. "Why did Xuanba send someone to inform you about this, but not me?"

"I'm probably afraid that some of these things might frighten my elder brother, and he wouldn't believe me even if I told him. Once we get to Luoyang, he'll understand naturally."

Li Shimin repeated the same statement.

Li Jiancheng still didn't quite understand. He pondered for a moment, "It's not surprising that Yang Xuangan wanted to attack me. Before I set off, my mother told me many times to be careful of Yang Xuangan and those noble sons who were close to him."

"I'm worried about Xuanba. He's a kind person, and although he's incredibly brave, what if he gets tricked by bad people?"

“I think you don’t need to worry, brother. Xuanba is just kind, not stupid. He is different from Yuanji.”

Li Jiancheng agreed, nodding again.

He quickly realized, "So, those passing merchants were all bandits you supported?"

"Well, I guess so."

"What are they going to do?"

"Go and capture the thieves."

"Ok??"

(End of this chapter)