Preparations

It had to be said, Han Tam's words made a lot of sense.

Those masters in the yamen wouldn't treat their lives as lives at all.

Now that such a thing had happened, if the authorities found out, they definitely wouldn't let them off.

Even their family members and children...

Thinking of their family members and children, some people immediately panicked, saying, "I heard that this kind of capital crime will implicate family members. Now that I've run, what about my wife and children back home..."

"And my wife and children, the authorities will definitely arrest them."

"No, I have to go back and bring my parents to run together."

"..."

The crowd instantly became agitated.

Seeing the situation was getting out of control, Han Tam shouted loudly, "If you go back one by one like this, you're just willingly walking into a trap. Who knows, the authorities might already know and are just waiting for you to deliver yourselves to their doorstep."

"Then if we don't go back, what's the solution? We can't just watch helplessly as our wives and children are taken away by the yamen people," a middle-aged man said.

"That's right, we can't just ignore our relatives at home," the crowd chimed in.

"What are you clamoring about? What are you clamoring about?"

The people from Dai Han Village shouted, then stood beside Han Tam, boosting his presence.

These twenty people from Dai Han Village were all stained with the blood of government soldiers. Not only that, but they were also wearing the armor of government soldiers and carrying sabers.

When they stood together, they indeed intimidated the three or four hundred people.

Han Tam was well-built, wearing armor and carrying an official saber, giving him a very oppressive aura. He patted his chest and said, "Rest assured, I have a way. If you go back one by one like this, it definitely won't work. We'll go down the mountain together, then bring your family members up the mountain to become bandits. With so many of us, even if the authorities have an ambush, we can look out for each other."

The crowd exchanged glances, feeling that this was feasible.

Han Tam then took the opportunity to say, "Since you feel it's feasible, then from now on, you must also listen to my words. Don't worry, the Heavenly Master Army from the north is about to arrive here. We'll stay on the mountain for a period first. When the Heavenly Master Army comes, we'll join them. At that time, who knows, not only might we survive, but we might even live a good life."

"Han Tam, as long as you can bring my wife up the mountain, I... I'll follow you."

"Me too."

"Same here."

"..."

"Good, since all you brothers think so highly of me, then I, Han Tam, will absolutely be duty-bound. However, since we've decided to go up the mountain and become bandits, then grain is definitely indispensable. Tell me, which family outside the city has enough grain?" Han Tam said after a few loud laughs.

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd was once again shaken.

In these current times, who outside the city would have a lot of grain?

"There's a household in my village that definitely doesn't lack grain." At this moment, a person walked out from the crowd and said, trembling.

Han Tam glanced at that person: "What's your name? Which family in your village has a lot of grain?"

"My name is Luu Thu, from Phuc Trach Village. The Tran family in the village, they have meat and fish every day, they definitely don't lack grain," Luu Thu said.

"The Tran family of Phuc Trach Village?" Han Tam narrowed his eyes.

A kinsman beside him seemed to recall something and whispered, "Third Brother Han, isn't An Nuong married to the Tran family of Phuc Trach Village?"

Hearing his companion's reminder, Han Tam gradually remembered, then said, "The Tran family you speak of, is it Tran Hong's family?"

"Tran Hong..." Luu Thu muttered, then suddenly remembered that Tran Mac's older brother was indeed called Tran Hong, and immediately said, "That's right, it's Tran Hong's family."

But who knew that as soon as he finished speaking, Han Tam immediately turned hostile: "F*ck your mother, that's my niece's husband's family!"

Hearing this, Luu Thu's face changed, turning pale. Just as he was about to beg for mercy, Han Tam spoke again, "However, now that you mention it, the Tran family does seem to be quite wealthy."

Han Tam didn't care much for Han An Nuong, so his memory of the Tran family was still stuck on the Tran family spending a lot of money to marry his niece, Han An Nuong. Therefore, in his eyes, the Tran family was indeed a "wealthy household."

Then, Han Tam put on an air of awe-inspiring righteousness and said, "However, for the sake of my brothers not going hungry, so what if it's my niece's husband's family? I'll borrow some grain from Tran Hong; they should agree."

Saying this, Han Tam also remembered something and said, "But I heard Tran Hong is dead, isn't he?"

Han Tam looked at Luu Thu, his expression full of doubt.

"Tran Hong is dead, but his younger brother is still alive. It's just that I don't know what happened, his younger brother Tran Mac seems to have become a different person. The villagers all say he's become a martial artist master," Luu Thu said, then shifted his gaze to his fellow villagers.

"That's right, Brother Mac has become really formidable recently. Not only can he fight a dozen men at once, but he can also kill wild boars and bears," a fellow villager said.

Regarding this, Han Tam wasn't concerned. So what if he was a martial artist master? The centurion they had killed before was also a martial artist.

With so many of them, were they still afraid of one person?

Besides, they were relatives. Perhaps at that time, he could get that Tran Mac fellow to join him.

...

The Tran Residence.

In the cellar.

The two families had just finished dinner.

The environment in the cellar was definitely not as good as above ground.

To conserve water, after eating, the bowls and chopsticks were only wiped clean with a cloth. They also had to be kept separately to avoid being mixed up and used by others the next day.

Han An Nuong still had her apron on and was talking with Luu Thi, Truong's father, and Truong's mother.

Tong Man was playing with Truong Ha's child, Bap.

Tran Mac was instructing Truong Ha in saber practice.

As the Tang saber moved, it carried a gust of strong wind, causing the candlelight on the side to flicker slightly.

After practicing the saber, Truong Ha took advantage of a break and said, "Brother Mac, since Han Tam Lang killing the official has implicated you, then those people who fled to the mountains with him, won't their families also be implicated..."

Tran Mac nodded lightly.

"Then how many people will the yamen arrest? Our village..." Saying this, Truong Ha fell silent.

They were hiding in the cellar, but there were still so many villagers above.

Not to say save them, but Truong Ha felt they could at least warn them beforehand.

Tran Mac knew what Truong Ha wanted to say. He lifted his Tang saber, the blade parallel to his eyes, his fingers gently caressing it, a pair of cold eyes reflected on the smooth blade: "Rest assured, I will take action."

"Schick..."

The blade was sheathed.

Tran Mac looked at the flickering candlelight.

To win people's hearts, one must act at the most critical juncture for it to be effective.

Just then.

Soil fell from above.

The cellar was built to bear weight, so there was no worry of collapse.

Tran Mac's eyes focused, and he narrowed them: "Someone is above."

Truong Ha was shocked: "Yamen people? That's too fast. We just talked about it this afternoon, and they're here at night..."

Han An Nuong and the others, who were talking, quickly shut their mouths.

The sensible Tong Man covered Bap's mouth, while making a "shush" gesture with her other hand.

Tran Mac frowned. Given his intimidating presence in the village, few villagers would dare to come to his house, especially when his house was currently dark. It could only be people from the authorities.

This action was indeed a bit too fast.

"Sister-in-law, you all wait here and don't move. I'll go up and take a look." Tran Mac picked up his Tang saber and said to Truong Ha, "Brother Thuy, come with me."