Immortal Master Tran, the government soldiers have left the city!

Previously, when the Qinghe Gang raided the villages, every village outside Binh Dinh County suffered. (Translator's Note: "Binh Dinh County" was mentioned in a previous chapter, context implies these are the affected villages).

The twenty-odd Qinghe Gang underlings stationed at Dai Dong Lake were immediately surrounded and beaten to death by the villagers.

When they first started killing the Vuong family guards, they were still a bit scared. At this moment, that fear had dissipated, replaced by a passion emanating from their very core.

Having not slept all night, their eyes were somewhat bloodshot, yet they didn't feel the slightest bit of exhaustion; on the contrary, they were full of spirit.

"Hey, come quickly, there are two horses here!"

After killing the Qinghe Gang underlings, some villagers discovered two horses.

As soon as this was said, the crowd immediately felt their stomachs growling with hunger.

Someone suggested slaughtering the horses for meat.

Someone suggested taking the horses into the city to sell them; in the Great Song Dynasty, a horse was very expensive.

But the person who suggested selling the horses was quickly scolded by others.

"Are you f*cking stupid? The authorities are hunting us right now, and you still want to take them into the city to sell? Are you willingly walking into a trap?"

"All of you, stop shouting! Ask Tran Mac... Young Master." Suddenly, Han Vu shouted loudly, suppressing the noisy crowd. (Translator's Note: Han Vu starts to say "Tran Mac" then respectfully changes to "Young Master" but the narrative will soon show they call him "Immortal Master").

The crowd members all looked towards Tran Mac.

At this moment, the entire sky was filled with myriad rays of light, dazzlingly colorful. Bathed in the beautiful dawn light, under the gently drifting clouds, the sun slowly rose, instantly illuminating the surroundings with immense brilliance.

Tran Mac sat cross-legged by the lake, bathed in an expanse of purple qi.

In everyone's eyes, Tran Mac seemed to be draped in a purple, cloud-like robe. Recalling his various previous displays, it made them regard Tran Mac as an immortal deity descended to save them.

Some of the older people even began to kowtow to Tran Mac, praying for blessings for themselves.

Even Han Vu, who somewhat disbelieved in ghosts and gods, seeing this scene, his eyeballs almost popped out.

The scene before them was not the work of a mortal.

Conversely, the people from Phuc Trach Village were not so surprised.

Because when Tran Mac had killed the bear previously, there were already people in the village spreading rumors that Brother Mac had a golden light protecting his body and could split stone with one palm.

Now, seeing it with their own eyes, it was confirmed.

Involuntarily, a bit of excitement rose in their hearts; this was an excitement stemming from being fellow villagers with Tran Mac.

The crowd's reverence then transformed into adoration.

And many people had already begun to address Tran Mac as "Your Excellency, Immortal Master."

Tran Mac opened his eyes, looked at the crowd, stood up, and walked over: "What is it?"

The purple qi followed Tran Mac, seeming to form a halo behind his head, like a shadow following form, making him appear even more like an immortal deity.

For a moment, the crowd dared not speak. Only Han Vu, summoning his courage, cupped his hands and said, "Tran... Immortal Master, we discovered two horses. We ask... ask how you wish to deal with them?"

Tran Mac, however, didn't answer him directly but curiously sized him up a few times. He currently had enough deterrent power among these people; for this man to dare be the first to step forward and ask, he still had some courage.

He remembered that previously in Phuc Trach Village, although this man was frightened, he hadn't retreated in fear like the rest of the crowd.

Quite interesting.

Han Vu felt his hair stand on end under Tran Mac's gaze. Just as he was feeling a bit unsure of what to do, Tran Mac said, "What's your name?"

"Han... Han Vu."

"Dai Han Village?"

"Mm."

"According to seniority, what would my sister-in-law Han An Nuong call you?"

"Paternal Uncle. An Nuong's father, I called him older brother. We are kinsmen; our ancestors were brothers." Han Vu said in detail. (Translator's Note: This clarifies Han Vu is of a senior generation or close collateral line to An Nuong's father, making him an "uncle" figure to An Nuong by clan relation).

Tran Mac nodded lightly, then suddenly said, "You were on good terms with Han Tam?"

As his voice fell, Han Vu's expression immediately changed, cold sweat pouring down, his voice trembling: "No... No, Han Tam and I were just... just clan relatives, that's all."

Han Tam was Tran Mac's sister-in-law's Third Uncle, and even he was cut down by Tran Mac.

He, who wasn't even a direct relative, wouldn't he be...

Seeing Tran Mac extend his hand, he was so scared he directly knelt. The dozen or so Dai Han Village men behind him did the same, begging for mercy while disavowing any relationship with Han Tam.

"What are you doing?"

But who knew, Tran Mac merely patted Han Vu's shoulder, pulled him up, and said with a smile, "I'm not blaming you for anything."

"Thank you, Your Excellency Immortal Master Tran, for your magnanimity." The moment Tran Mac had extended his hand, Han Vu felt like his breathing had stopped.

"From now on, this Dai Dong Lake is under your management. How many men do you have now?" Tran Mac said.

"Ah..." Han Vu was stunned, not understanding what Tran Mac meant by these words, then hurriedly said, "We have 21 people."

Tran Mac nodded lightly, then shifted his gaze to the crowd and said loudly, "Those who are from Lieu Thon, all stand out."

Hearing Tran Mac, more than sixty people quickly stood out from the crowd.

"Those who are from Tieu Cao Thon, also stand out," Tran Mac said.

Soon, another fifty or sixty people walked out from the crowd.

Tran Mac's gaze shifted back to Han Vu and said, "From now on, these people will be under your charge, responsible for the fishing work at Dai Dong Lake. Any problem?"

"No, but... isn't this Dai Dong Lake the Qinghe Gang's..."

"It's decided just like that." Tran Mac scanned the crowd and said, "From this moment on, this Dai Dong Lake belongs to us."

By taking Dai Dong Lake, Tran Mac had preliminarily solved the food problem.

The grain he had in the cellar couldn't feed these several hundred people.

And these villagers, originally facing capital punishment, now not only did Tran Mac shelter them, but he also gave them a means of sustenance, allowing their lives to improve. The villagers would spontaneously support Tran Mac.

Next, Tran Mac looked towards the people from Lieu Thon and Tieu Cao Thon, his eyes like an eagle's: "Do you have any objections?"

"No... None." The people from the two villages said sparsely.

Tran Mac knew they were unconvinced in their hearts, but this depended on Han Vu's methods. At least for now, under his intimidation, they wouldn't dare disobey him.

"Since there are no objections, then you will call him Han... Village Head," Tran Mac pondered for a moment and said.

This was just the beginning; there were some things he hadn't established properly yet. It would come slowly.

"Oh right, what were you saying just now?" Tran Mac turned his gaze back to Han Vu.

"Tran... Immortal Master, we discovered two horses and asked how you wished to deal with them?" Han Vu's tone already carried a hint of fawning. He had instantly become the leader of over a hundred people. It could be said that among this group, he was Tran Mac's staunchest supporter.

"Horses..."

When he had killed Tran Ho before, he had obtained two horses, but at that time, he didn't dare to possess them.

Now, he wasn't afraid.

Horses were important strategic resources; they couldn't just be killed for food. Tran Mac wanted to keep them for other uses.

"Send someone to take them to my house," Tran Mac said.

"Yes... Sir!" Han Vu emulated the respectful response taught by government soldiers at the military camp.

"Not good, Brother Mac, not good..."

Just then, Truong Ha ran over in a panic, saying, "Brother Mac, people from the authorities have left the city to arrest people! They've already entered Tieu Cao Thon!"

Upon hearing this, the people from Tieu Cao Thon immediately panicked. People from other villages also became agitated; they knew the government soldiers were coming out of the city to arrest their family members.

Tran Mac narrowed his eyes.

He knew clearly, to make these people completely listen to him.

The crucial point lay in this step...