Chapter 239

"The tasks of the spiritual world generally follow the principle of equivalent exchange. The benefits will be different if the degree of completion of the tasks is different."

Bai Xiaowen said thoughtfully, "I guessed a possibility, but I can't confirm it, so I won't say it for the time being. Anyway, we should finish this main task well... If the possibility I guessed becomes a reality, the benefits we can get will be very amazing."

Li Shuyi nodded and then raised a question: "but the fat man just said that we have no income and are poor. How can we recruit soldiers?"

"Go step by step," said Bai Xiaowen. "The young Lord doesn't know government affairs. Although I inherited some of his memories, I still have a black eye on the situation in the territory. Go out and have a look first."

When they opened the door, a cold wind from the North blew.

There are only two words in my eyes: desolation.

There is a muddy road less than two meters wide ahead. It is hard and frozen by the cold wind, which saves the travelers from the pain of mud - if any travelers come to this place.

In the distance of the Lord's house, there are several thatched huts scattered and broken. A ragged collar people passed numbly.

Not far from the roadside, there were several people wrapped in straw, lying on their backs behind a stone pier to avoid the cold wind.

Bai Xiaowen frowned and walked over. When he approached, he found that these people were old and young. They had no clothes on them. Most of them were only wrapped in a dark linen in their crotch. No wonder they had to use straw to keep out the cold.

"What's your name? Are you a refugee passing through here?"

After a panic among the people wrapped in straw, one of them looked like the leader and whispered:

"Lord, my name is Anton... This is my wife Molly, and the others are my neighbors..."

Bai Xiaowen looked at the man named Anton. He was obviously different from ordinary people. Although he was not tall, he was very strong. His knuckles were thick and calluses were still growing. He was a labor force used to heavy work.

"Anton, why are you and your neighbors here?"

A thin old man nearby pulled Anton and said in fear: "sorry, Lord, we shouldn't appear in your noble sight. We'll leave right away..."

Bai Xiaowen is a little helpless. The old man will obviously be wrong. He could only wave his hand to appease the frightened refugees.

Anton sighs: "Lord, we were not refugees, but miners digging silver in the mine in the West... We were not rich, but we could barely eat and wear. However, last week, Heifeng robbers raided the mine, killed the guards, looted the mine and us, and burned up our home... We had to leave there and wander..."

"Wait, silver mine?" Bai Xiaowen's eyes brightened slightly. "Is there a silver mine in Baishi town?"

Anton looked at Bai Xiaowen strangely: "Lord, isn't it the owner of the mine? BAISHILING is famous for its rich silver. Although Baishi town is remote, there is also a small silver mine..."

"I am the owner of the mine?"

Bai Xiaowen looked down at the patch of his noble dress, shook his head and said, "who did you give the silver you usually dig?"

"Of course, it's to job. He is the most trusted housekeeper of the Lord..."

Bai Xiaowen's face turned black.

Job didn't say a word about silver just now.

"You're too cold here. Come to my house, at least you can keep out the cold wind." Bai Xiaowen sighed at the miners shivering with cold wrapped in straw.

Several people hesitated to promise.

"This is an order from the Lord." Bai Xiaowen accentuated his tone.

Obviously, these miners' families, including Anton, are more used to the command tone. They help each other to stand up, thank each other, and then follow Bai Xiaowen to the Lord's house.

Li Shuyi originally wanted to light the fire in the fireplace, but she didn't actually operate it, so she made a mistake for a while. Fortunately, Anton's wife Molly was good at doing this, and soon lit a fire and dissipated some cold.

After thanking her, Li Shuyi took out two old clothes from the closet on the second floor and handed them to Molly to hide her shame.

This kind act quickly calmed the minds of several refugees.

"Now, tell me about the Heifeng robber." Bai Xiaowen said.

Several other refugees were afraid to speak to Lord Bai Xiaowen. Based on Anton's description, others added that the bandit situation in Baishi town gradually appeared completely in front of Bai Xiaowen.

There are more than ten bandit forces in Baishi Town, large and small. Most of them are gathered by several bandits, not even the "crowd" of Wuhe, and they barely survive by half robbing and half hunting. There are three medium-sized bandit forces, each with more than a dozen or even dozens of people. They take Baishi town as their dens and commit crimes, mainly plundering other surrounding territories.

This also led to the criticism of Baishi town territory, because Bai Xiaowen was ineffective in suppressing bandits - the Lords of the surrounding territories had no right to drive troops into Baishi town territory.

The largest bandit gang in Baishi town is known as "black wind" and is famous for its ferocity. It is said that this bandit force has a scale of more than 100 people. Note that these hundred people refer to the elite robbers who can carry knives and cut people, excluding the small number of auxiliary soldiers and servants.

Moreover, Heifeng bandits are different from other bandit gangs. They rob a wide range of targets, even the poor Baishi Town, and are prone to murder and arson. There were thousands of people in the territory of Baishi Town, and most of them fled to other territories.

After listening to the story, Bai Xiaowen asked, "what's the name of the leader of Heifeng bandits? How many strong are there among them?"

Anton stares and shakes his head to show that he doesn't know. As soon as Bai Xiao speaks his words, he also knows that he has asked the wrong person. Anton is just a small miner and has limited information.

With a bang, the door of the Lord's house was pushed open.

"Lord, why did you let in a group of Dalits? This is your residence hall! My God, you will disgrace the whole skelbum family! Don't you always hate these mud legged Dalits?"

Fat Joe Bu crowded in and said hurriedly. Then he drove Anton and others with a disgusting look on his face: "you Dalits, get out of the Lord's residence quickly, or I'll hang you under the eaves to dry!"

Bai Xiaowen tapped the table gently.

"Don't worry, job..." Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "I just heard something interesting. Let's talk about the silver mines in the territory... I'm curious. Where are the silver mines handed in by the miners?"