The female prisoner was fierce

"Now, do as I say."

Xiao Jianyang immediately spoke, leading the three women outside, and then gave them instructions one by one:

"Lin Qingxue, go and gather all the female soldiers of the Women's Army in the open space we just left, and then begin training."

"Xiao Xing and Xiao Tao, you two have horses, so you can move around easily. Go and keep a close eye on the movements of Black Cloud Village."

"Report to me immediately if anything happens."

The three women were somewhat puzzled, but none of them asked any further questions; instead, they immediately carried out the order.

After Xiao Jianyang had someone guard the Jiangdong dogs, he also prepared to get busy.

The main thing is to make several pulley crossbows; they'll be very useful later.

However, just after giving instructions on how to pick them up, Li Tiezhu arrived with the villagers of Lijia Village.

"Lord Xiao."

With a grateful expression and a firm gaze, he said earnestly:

"Without you, I wouldn't have been able to rescue my sister, and our village would never have been able to wipe out Qinglong Mountain, this bandit stronghold."

"Therefore, I hope that if you don't mind, you can allow me to join you."

After speaking, he clasped his hands together and lowered his head to signify submission.

However, he was the only one; the other villagers didn't share this sentiment, as they had other family members who needed their care.

Xiao Jianyang was somewhat surprised.

He naturally wanted to keep the team's only archery instructor, but after thinking about it, he shook his head.

"Tiezhu, if you come with us, what will happen to your parents?"

"And what about your sister, Xiaoru? She just came out of a bandit's den. What will happen to her now?"

Li Tiezhu replied:

"Don't worry, sir. My parents have actually wanted me to join the army for a long time, but I haven't gone because of my sister."

"As for my younger sister Xiaoru, she said that as long as Lord Xiao is willing to give our parents enough money so that they can live a good old age, she is also willing to go with the army."

Xiao Jianyang:

"..."

That was quite unexpected.

I thought only the brother would be willing to come, but I didn't expect the sister to be willing to join as well.

"Did your sister say this herself, or did you make the decision for her?"

"Reporting to you, sir, it was my younger sister Xiaoru who said it herself. Just now. In addition, most of her older sisters also very much hope to join your women's army."

"This…"

Xiao Jianyang subconsciously touched his chin with his right hand, looking somewhat hesitant.

"grown ups."

Li Tiezhu continued:

"Many of them have been defiled by bandits. Even if they go down the mountain and return to their parents' homes, their families will never accept them back. They might just sell them to brothels."

"Moreover, many of them no longer have a family to support them."

"If you don't take them in, they'll have nowhere else to go."

As soon as he finished speaking, a large group of women slowly appeared not far behind Li Tiezhu, at the corner of a thatched hut on the snow.

He's been peeking around ever since.

Now that things have developed to this point, they've stopped hiding and come out directly.

Thump~~

They all knelt before Xiao Jianyang, weeping and pleading:

"Lord Xiao, please take us sisters in, otherwise we really have nowhere to go."

"Yes, Lord Xiao, if you don't take us in, we'll have no choice but to die."

Xiao Jianyang sighed inwardly.

I originally wanted to let them go, after all, they were different from the sinners. Each of the sinners was burdened with a blood feud and had nowhere to go.

Suppressing his thoughts, he regained his composure and immediately said:

"If that's the case, then I agree. From now on, you will be the Xiao family's women's army."

Upon hearing this, the twenty-odd women were first stunned, then overjoyed.

"Thank you, Lord Xiao! We are extremely grateful!"

"Thank you for taking us in, Lord Xiao! From now on, we will obey your orders and be absolutely obedient!"

The sounds rose and fell, some even kowtowing, creating snow pits in the snow in front of them.

Xiao Jianyang raised his hand, his voice remaining calm:

"Get up, everyone."

"I don't do kneeling around here. From now on, you are all female soldiers of my Xiao Family Women's Army, all of you are one of us."

Upon hearing the words "our own people," the women's eyes shone with even greater emotion, and tears welled up in their eyes. They quickly helped each other to their feet.

"Thank you, Lord Xie Xiao."

They were all very grateful.

Xiao Jianyang sighed inwardly as he looked at the group of women in front of him, who were dressed in rags and smelled bad.

Since we're all on the same side now, we can't continue like this.

"You guys, take them to wash up, change into clean clothes, and then clean up a few of those empty thatched huts so they can stay there for now."

He randomly pointed to a few female soldiers.

"Yes, Lord Xiao."

Several people immediately stepped forward and beckoned the women to follow her.

"Thank you, Lord Xiao."

The women thanked them profusely again before leaving.

After everyone left, Li Tiezhu remained standing there, his lips moving as if he had something else to say.

Xiao Jianyang looked at him:

"I've already agreed to your request. Is there anything else?"

Li Tiezhu scratched the back of his head and said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Lord Xiao, my sister has woken up. She says she wants to see you and thank you in person."

Xiao Jianyang frowned. Why would he personally thank himself?

But he still nodded:

"Let's go."

Li Tiezhu:

"Yes, Lord Xiao."

He quickly led the way.

The two walked one after the other through the snow and soon arrived at a thatched hut on the east side of the village.

Push the door open and go inside.

A small pile of firewood was burning inside the house, and the firelight made the walls appear yellowish.

A girl was lying half-reclined on a bed of dry straw, covered with a tattered cotton-padded jacket.

It was Li Xiaoru!

She had already washed and dressed, her hair was now styled in a simple bun, and her face was much cleaner.

However, his complexion was still very poor, his lips were pale, and there were several scabbed whip marks on his arms, which were shocking to see.

Hearing footsteps, Li Xiaoru turned around and saw Xiao Jianyang. She struggled to get up.

"Don't move."

Xiao Jianyang waved his hand to stop him:

"You can talk while lying down."

Li Xiaoru managed to sit up, leaning against the earthen wall, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Xiao Jianyang.

"Lord Xiao, thank you for saving Xiaoru."

"If it weren't for you leading your men to attack Qinglong Village, Xiaoru would probably..."

At this point, her voice choked up, but she managed to hold it in.

Xiao Jianyang looked at her, trying to keep his voice gentle:

"It's okay, it's all over now."

Li Xiaoru hummed in agreement, but the lingering fear on her face remained.

Seeing this, Xiao Jianyang could only change the subject:

"By the way, your brother said you wanted to see me, not just to thank me, right?"

Li Xiaoru was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head and bit her lip.

When he looked up again, his eyes held a newfound determination:

"Yes."

"Xiaoru wants to ask Lord Xiao, how much longer...how much longer will you stay at Qinglong Mountain?"

Xiao Jianyang, curious, did not answer, but instead asked:

"Just say what you want to say."

Li Xiaoru's expression showed struggle again, but after taking a deep breath, she said:

"Lord Xiao, the Great Wu Dynasty is gone."

"Everyone in our village knows about this. The Northern Di people have invaded, the imperial court is finished, and there is fighting everywhere."

"Although Li Family Village is remote, in this chaotic world, you can't escape your fate forever."

"You destroyed Qinglong Village, but there is still Heiyun Village. If Heiyun Village is destroyed, there will be other mountain bandits and outlaws."

"My brother once told me that you are a person destined for great things."

"So Xiaoru thought..."

She raised her head, looked directly at Xiao Jianyang, and uttered the words that had been hidden in her heart:

"I want to follow you."

"It's not the kind of thing where you just try to make a living."

"I want to follow you and learn your skills so that one day I can be like Miss Lin, able to wield a knife and kill enemies."

"Only in this way can Xiaoru protect herself, protect my brother, and protect Lijia Village."

He spoke for a long time, his tone becoming more and more certain, and his expression becoming more and more serious.

After listening, Xiao Jianyang remained silent for a few moments.

This seemingly delicate and frail young lady has quite a strong will.

After thinking for a moment, he asked:

"Do you know what it means to follow me?"

Li Xiaoru:

"Know."

Xiao Jianyang shook his head, his voice flat:

"I must make it clear to you that Lin Qingxue and the others are risking their lives in every battle."

"Seventeen sisters died in today's battle."

However, Li Xiaoru did not back down:

"Xiaoru knows."

"Xiaoru understood during the two days she was locked in the dungeon."

"In this world, the weak can only be slaughtered by others."

"Xiaoru doesn't want to be captured and forced into being a bandit's wife again, doesn't want to be whipped again, and doesn't want my brother to have to beg for help for me again."

"I beg Lord Xiao to grant my request."

As he spoke, he was about to get up and kowtow again.

Xiao Jianyang immediately reached out to stop him:

"Alright, lie down."

"Once you've recovered from your injuries, go with your brother to report to Defang."

"Start with the basics."

Li Xiaoru's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded with all her might:

"Yes, thank you, Lord Xiao!"

Xiao Jianyang said no more and turned to walk out of the thatched hut.

Li Tiezhu followed behind, his eyes a little red, but he stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.

"Lord Xiao."

"Um."

"My life, Li Tiezhu's life, is now yours."

Xiao Jianyang didn't even turn his head before speaking:

Your life is your own.

"If you want to work here, then practice your archery skills properly and teach them to you."

"What I need is a fighting women's army, not a bunch of stupid women who are just going to their deaths."

Li Tiezhu nodded vigorously, a soaring ambition flashing in his eyes:

"clear!"

……