Chapter 128: Chapter 116: Life Finds a Way_3

It’s quite similar to those grassland people; the large tribes directly manage the smaller tribes, and then these large tribes answer to the royal court deep in the northern desert.

In the countless years of conflicts with the northern tribes, these border people have gradually adopted some habits of the nomads.

"That makes sense."

Du Chengfeng nodded, understanding the principle of picking up habits from close proximity. Moreover, as someone who had experienced it firsthand, he knew how the southern border of Chen had deteriorated. If it could still maintain a county-level governance, Du Chengfeng thought it was already quite good.

"So isn’t stuff like this normal? Why are you feeling awkward?"

"Uh..."

Seeing Liu Bolun, who had turned back, Yang Xuan scratched his head even more fiercely.

"About this matter..."

"There’s no need to beat around the bush about this, I’m not an official in the court now anyway."

Liu Bolun seemed indifferent.

"Isn’t it just about sidelining the county officials? The Yang family did it too."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xuan lowered his head in shame.

Doing it is one thing, being called out on it is another, especially by a former court official, a former imperial student—after all, as the descendants of famed generals, the Yang family has their pride. But precisely because of this, as descendants of famous generals, to participate in undermining the county system and digging at Da Chen’s foundation, it’s really a bit...

But there was no choice. After all, all the families in the northern border were doing it; the Yang family was just participating and could even be said to be the one that benefited the least.

"Hey, don’t think so much about it. It’s all in the past, it’s all over."

Du Chengfeng waved his hand, signaling that the topic could end there.

Indeed, it’s all in the past, whether in Ji Prefecture, Yan Prefecture, or the events of the past, all turned to fleeting memories after a war—no matter what the Yang family had done, they eventually became refugees, a somewhat promising occupation, unsure of what to eat or where to go in the future.

"Wait, do I have something to do in Yan Prefecture?"

Thinking of this, Du Chengfeng’s face stiffened.

His gaze swept over the saddlebags and saw the hilt of the Broken Horse Long Saber, immediately retracting his eyes.

"Just let me have a look at my halberd!"

Trying to lighten the mood, Du Chengfeng simply untied the cloth wrap on one side of the saddle and took out the exaggerated halberd.

Initially, Du Chengfeng thought sayings like ’not returning home with riches is like wearing brocade clothes at night’ were nonsensical, as quietly making a fortune was the true principle. But upon obtaining this halberd, he realized he couldn’t escape the norm—after all, such a ferocious halberd was like a new legendary skin in a game; who wouldn’t want to show off some moves and savor its presence?

"You’ve shown it enough already!"

This time, not only did the folks of the Yang family stronghold shake their heads, but even Cui Yuan, who was meditating at the back, found it hard to bear.

The reason is simple; Du Chengfeng had showcased the halberd too many times in the past few days. He would take it out every now and then for people to see and admire—initially, everyone was amazed; after all, the halberd’s design was extremely exaggerated and ferocious, and its fierce aura was terrifying.

But after several days, having seen it five or sixty times, now seeing it made them want to break the halberd, snap it, and try unscrewing the two skull heads on top.

"You all, really."

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but shake his head continuously; these people didn’t appreciate what was called the aesthetics of violence.

Fortunately, a newcomer emerged who hadn’t seen the halberd before.

"Why is it you again?"

Seeing the grassland military general Zhi’erhuo returning with some highwaymen captured, Du Chengfeng burst into laughter.

The reason is simple; among those captured, some were old acquaintances.

"What’s with calling us bandits! We hadn’t even started robbing! How dare you catch us!"

The person, who looked like a hunter, was thrown to the ground, upon looking up and seeing Du Chengfeng’s big face.

"Why is it you again? Why are you everywhere?"

"Why are you at it again?"

Seeing the tattered clothes on the man and the few sharpened sticks confiscated by the grassland soldiers, Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but sigh.

Even though he’d advised the hunter to reform several times, even providing food and lodging work, the hunter still picked up the sticks and took up the aimless career of robbery again.

Du Chengfeng, kind at heart, couldn’t just ignore this.

Thus, after Du Chengfeng gestured, and with a few punches of persuasion from the grassland soldiers, the hunter and the other highwaymen finally decided to turn over a new leaf and switch careers to become guides.

"Over in Yiyang County, they’re gathering refugees; we were trying to get some food and then find a way to make a living over there."

The battered hunter knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Du Chengfeng.

"We honestly didn’t mean to be thieves, we just haven’t eaten in days, please have mercy and let us go."

But Du Chengfeng had no intention of letting them go.

"I do have food, but I’ll need your help for a few days."

Saying this, Du Chengfeng pointed southwards.

Although the team’s food reserves could stretch a bit longer, with people eating and horses consuming, it wouldn’t last much longer. Moreover, some of the refugees in the team really needed to be settled—not everyone truly wanted to be a refugee. Or rather, aside from some of the Yang family stronghold’s folks having nowhere else to go, many in the team wanted to quickly find a place to settle down.

"So let’s go take a look and buy some food along the way."

After discussing with the group, Du Chengfeng had the hunter lead the way.

With nearly ten thousand people and Du Chengfeng along with over three hundred grassland soldiers watching over, there were no foolish bandits daring to stir up trouble. So in a few days, the refugee team reached Yiyang County smoothly.

But contrary to Du Chengfeng’s expectations, it was not the county government collecting refugees here.

Instead, it was a Mountain God Temple.