Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Back in the dugout, the observant Xiao Jingmo sensed that something was wrong with the two men who had been dismissed. He quickly followed them outside. Though they had already gone far, he still could not shake his unease.
He summoned Xiao Jinghao.
“Third Brother, follow those two men and don’t let them out of your sight for even a moment. The instant they do anything suspicious, seize them and take them to Father. Let him and Mr. Xu decide what to do.”
Xiao Jinghao nodded. Taking advantage of the darkness, he quietly followed the two men.
They never noticed that someone was tailing them.
After Xiao Jinghao left, Lu Shuangshuang approached with her medicine chest.
“Second Young Master, I’ve done everything I can for the seriously wounded. Eight of them probably won’t make it through the night. The remaining four won’t last more than a few days either, since we don’t have enough medicine.”
Xiao Jingmo sighed. “Aunt Lu, our resources are limited. If we can keep them alive for even one more day, we’ll have done all anyone could ask of us. It’s fate, and there’s no use forcing what cannot be. All we can do is our best.”
As a physician, Lu Shuangshuang had once made saving lives her calling. But too many things in this world refused to go as one wished. Some people saved lives while others took them, and her two hands could never save everyone. She had accepted that long ago. Without needing Xiao Jingmo’s comfort, she had already come to terms with it herself.
“I’ll go help the Marchioness prepare the travel rations.”
Lu Shuangshuang nodded to Xiao Jingmo, then turned and walked away with her medicine chest.
That night was destined to be anything but ordinary at the Garrison.
Pei Wanqing and the women worked with feverish intensity. Despite the temperature being dozens of degrees below freezing, sweat poured from their bodies. Wearing only a padded jacket, Pei Wanqing methodically directed everyone through an assembly line of tasks.
Some kneaded dough, some boiled water, some fried flatbreads, and others steamed buns. Still others cooked rice and shaped it into rice balls.
In short, they used every method they could think of. As long as the grain could be turned into food and carried away, everyone offered ideas. Pei Wanqing gathered their suggestions and issued the final orders.
At a time like this, Pei Wanqing’s strengths as the mistress of the household were on full display. In the past, she had personally managed every banquet at the Marquis’s Mansion. Now, despite all the work, she remained composed and organized, assigning every person’s responsibilities appropriately.
Though many people were involved, there was no chaos. Everything proceeded in perfect order.
The men were not idle either. Everyone brought together the wolf meat they had received earlier and turned all of it into jerky so it would keep.
Xiao Jingmo oversaw their work.
Even after midnight, they had completed only half of the preparations.
Then Xiao Jinghao found Xiao Jingmo and whispered a few words in his ear.
“Second Brother, those two men are plotting something. They used a trip to relieve themselves as an excuse to slip away just now. I followed them and heard them say they were going to tamper with our food and leave clues behind for Lu Dachang to track us down.”
Xiao Jingmo nodded. Seeing that everyone else was working diligently, he quietly took Xiao Jinghao aside.
“Third Brother, we can’t let those two men live. There’s no need to trouble Father with this. Find some excuse to call them outside. They must be eliminated.”
Xiao Jinghao nodded and headed toward the dugout where the two men lived.
Everyone was busy working, yet those two had somehow found a way to shirk their duties.
Mr. Xu had been right. They truly were no good.
“You two, come outside. It’s time to collect your midnight snack.”
The two men were overjoyed and never once suspected Xiao Jinghao’s words.
It was the middle of the night, and everyone had worked without rest for so long. Of course they ought to receive a late-night meal. Otherwise, who would be willing to keep working?
They tucked their hands into their sleeves, barely concealing their delight. Getting food without having to work-now that was the life.
Completely unguarded, the two men followed Xiao Jinghao out of the dugout.
But Xiao Jinghao led them toward an even more remote area.
The two men immediately sensed that something was wrong and stopped.
“Where are you taking us? There isn’t any food in that direction, is there?”
Xiao Jinghao stopped and turned, casting the pair a cold glance.
“You think you deserve to eat?”
The two men instantly knew they were in trouble. They turned to run and were about to shout when Xiao Jingmo, who had been lying in wait behind them, clubbed each man once. Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed unconscious.
“Third Brother, do it.”
Xiao Jingmo bent down, seized one man, and dragged him toward the distant woods.
Xiao Jinghao hoisted the other man over his shoulder.
The brothers returned in less than fifteen minutes.
“Second Brother, what if everyone notices that two people are missing tomorrow?”
Xiao Jinghao was afraid that if everyone learned the Xiao Family had killed and buried the two men, they would refuse to follow them any longer.
The Xiao Family needed manpower more than ever. If ugly rumors spread at a time like this, morale would suffer.
“Don’t worry. By tomorrow, everyone will learn that they stole food, ran away, and were eaten by wolves.”
Seeing that Xiao Jingmo had everything under control, Xiao Jinghao put the matter out of his mind.
After working all night, they finally finished preparing every last bit of food.
Xiao Che allowed everyone to rest for half the day. They would set out that afternoon.
It was only when they counted heads in the afternoon that everyone discovered two people were missing.
At the same time, Xiao Jingmo came rushing over from the grain storehouse.
“Bad news! Two sacks of food are missing. It looks like someone stole them.”
Food was everyone’s lifeline. Now two sacks were gone, and so were two men. How could that possibly be a coincidence?
“Those two must have stolen the food and run away.”
“Exactly! Mr. Xu refused to let them join our team last night, so they must have held a grudge. Damn them! We should have slaughtered the bastards yesterday.”
Xu Huaijin frowned tightly and looked at Xiao Che. “Marquis, I’m sorry. This all started because of me. I was too softhearted and should have dealt with those two last night. Now everyone has lost two sacks of food because of me. I…”
“Don’t blame yourself, Mr. Xu. This has nothing to do with you. Those men were crooked to begin with. It’s better that they’ve left the group now, before they could cause more trouble later. It’s getting late. Everyone, gather your things. We leave now.”
Xiao Che gave the order.
Everyone emerged from the dugouts and assembled in the clearing at the Garrison.
Those with minor injuries could move freely without anyone’s assistance.
Four seriously wounded people remained, and none of them appeared to be in good condition.
In the end, everyone unanimously decided not to take them along. They left some food behind for them.
Xiao Che divided the group into three sections.
The men formed the vanguard and rear guard, while the women and children traveled in the middle.
Xiao Che and Xu Huaijin led from the front. Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Jinghao brought up the rear.
Everyone turned for one last look at the low dugouts. Many had endured several winters here. Now, as they finally set out on a new journey, not one of them felt the slightest reluctance to leave. To them, this place was hell.
“Move out!”
At Xiao Che’s command, the procession slowly began to advance.
They had walked the road between the Garrison and the Black Pine Forest hundreds of times and knew it intimately.
Only the Xiao Family had never visited the Black Pine Forest before.
The previous night, Xiao Jingmo had several carpenters hastily build a few sleds.
Now, they came in handy.
Old Madam Xiao and Madam Liu were the oldest people in the group.
Xiao Jingmo arranged for them to sit on a sled. This one differed from an ordinary sled because he had modified it himself. It had a cushioned bench and a small canopy, and Xiao Jingmo had fastened hides around the canopy to block the bitter wind.
Old Madam Xiao and Madam Liu sat inside while Xiao Che and his two sons took turns pulling the sled.
Madam Liu held Xiao Jingyu in her arms, sparing him from the wind and snow as well.
Jin Bao sat beside Old Madam Xiao, curiously examining the cramped space.
Suddenly, a piercing eagle cry drew everyone’s attention.
The moment Xu Huaijin saw the enormous eagle circling overhead, his expression changed drastically.
“Marquis, this is bad. That’s a scout sent from Bei’an City. Once it spots us, we’ll be discovered even if we enter the Black Pine Forest.”
Xiao Che had indeed heard that the Northern Frontier had falconers capable of training eagles to serve them.
But now that the arrow was already nocked, they had no choice but to fire. They could only enter the Black Pine Forest first and decide what to do afterward.
They would be far easier to spot out in the open. Inside the forest, the dense trees could conceal their tracks, and they might even have a chance to shoot the scout down.