Subsequent arrangements

The crowd dispersed.

Villagers with children beside them hurriedly covered their children's eyes because the scene was too bloody.

Those more than fifty garrison troops and constables could be said to have been hacked beyond recognition; all were lifeless.

On Tran Mac's side, there were also casualties. After all, the opposing side consisted of armored regular soldiers. This kind of disorganized siege resulted in the deaths of thirteen villagers and injured more than twenty.

Looking at the thirteen dead villagers, Tran Mac frowned.

There was sympathy, but more so worry. Clearly, even with a numerical advantage, dozens were still killed or injured. This was under the circumstance that the garrison troops numbered only a few dozen and were not carrying long-range lethal weapons like crossbows.

If the entire garrison force from the county seat were to mobilize, fully equipped, and come out of the city to suppress them, then based on the current situation, they wouldn't be able to withstand a frontal assault at all.

But Tran Mac could only show the good and hide the bad. Moreover, at this moment, having just slaughtered these government soldiers, the villagers were filled with confidence. If he were to pour cold water on them now, it would only cause the hard-won morale to collapse.

"All are brave good men. I have decided, for these thirteen deceased brave fellows, their families will be compensated with an additional mu of farmland, a pension of one liang of silver, and three jin of meat. For the injured, a pension of three hundred wen cash, and one jin of meat. Future casualties among our brothers will all be compensated according to this standard."

Tran Mac said after some deliberation.

Given the current situation, this was all the compensation he could offer.

"Immortal Master Tran is righteous!" Han Vu shouted at the top of his lungs, then continued, "Brothers, Immortal Master Tran owes us nothing! We were all burdened with capital crimes, yet Immortal Master Tran not only did not abandon us but sheltered us, rescued our families, and led us to slaughter the government soldiers! Now he even gives pensions to our deceased brothers! Such a loyal and righteous person, I, Han Vu, am willing to protect Immortal Master Tran with my life!"

Truong Ha: "..."

To prevent Han Vu from stealing the limelight, Truong Ha also immediately said, "Only by following Brother Mac can we have a way to live!"

"Follow Brother Mac!"

"Follow Brother Mac!"

The villagers of Phuc Trach Village chimed in.

Han Vu frowned, gave a meaningful glance to the Dai Han Village men, and soon they also started shouting.

All sorts of praises like "Immortal Master Tran is righteous" and "magnanimous" were heard.

In an instant, everyone present was infected and started shouting along.

Some even shouted, "Long live Immortal Master Tran!"

Tran Mac: "..."

Good heavens, he inexplicably felt like someone had draped him in a set of clothes, it's just that these clothes were a spectacular failure.

Just as everyone was in high spirits, a cold laugh suddenly came.

"A bunch of ignorant peasants, actually tricked by a few flowery words. Ridiculous, ridiculous."

Only then did everyone realize Banh Thanh was still alive.

Many people here had been conscripted by Banh Thanh.

The villagers, one by one, gnashed their teeth, glaring at Banh Thanh who was kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, Banh Thanh's right arm was severed. He had lost too much blood, and his face was pale, but a cold smile played on his lips as he looked at the crowd, as if mocking their ignorance.

Banh Thanh then looked up at Tran Mac and said, "I admit I underestimated you. But just with you and these ignorant peasants, you think you can fight the yamen, fight the imperial court? It's simply wishful thinking! There are thousands of garrison troops in the city, thousands of members in the Qinghe Gang. Annihilating you would take no effort at all."

"That doesn't require Head Constable Banh's concern," Tran Mac said coldly. "Does Head Constable Banh wish to live?"

"Do you think I can still live?"

Banh Thanh was not a martial artist like Tran Mac who had started halfway; he also understood some medical skills. He knew that with his current physical condition, he wouldn't live much longer. Besides, with a broken arm, he was like a cripple. Even if he could return alive, he wouldn't live long.

"Don't even think about getting anything out of my mouth. My family is all in the city; I won't say anything."

Seeing the determination to die in Banh Thanh's eyes, Tran Mac narrowed his eyes, knowing it was impossible to get anything out of his mouth.

Swish!

The Tang saber slashed across Banh Thanh's neck, giving him a quick death.

Wiping the bloodstains from his saber on Banh Thanh's body, Tran Mac looked towards Truong Ha, Han Vu, and the others, and ordered, "Strip the armor off these government soldiers."

"Yes, Brother Mac!" Truong Ha replied loudly.

Han Vu added another, "Yes, sir!"

"Are there any among you who can read?" Tran Mac scanned the crowd and inquired.

"I... I can read."

An honest-looking sturdy man walked out, scratching the back of his head, and said, "Immortal Master Tran, I used to be an apprentice in a pharmacy in the city for several years. The pharmacy shopkeeper taught me basic literacy."

"What's your name?"

"Vuong Binh," the sturdy man said.

Tran Mac nodded: "Vuong Binh, you record the brothers who were killed or injured just now, then come to my house to get money and meat to distribute to their families. Starting today, I'll give you a monthly salary... three hundred wen."

Hearing there was money to be had, Vuong Binh's spirits lifted: "Thank you, Immortal Master Tran!"

"I can also read."

"Me too."

Hearing Vuong Binh's treatment, two more villagers came out, stating they could read.

Tran Mac's eyes lit up. He looked at the crowd and said, "Anyone else who can read? All who can read, step forward! There's money to be had!"

"My mother can. She used to be a wet nurse for someone, and her master taught her some characters. Is she eligible?" a voice came from the crowd.

"Yes," Tran Mac said.

The immediate crisis was resolved, but more crises lay ahead. Tran Mac had too many things to deal with at the moment and had to find people to help him. Capable people were his first choice.

But even though he said there was money, among these several hundred people, only four could read, including the one who mentioned his mother.

Tran Mac put them under Vuong Binh's charge, offering them a monthly salary of two hundred and forty wen, a bit less than Vuong Binh. He had them first tally how many people were currently willing to follow him, how much armor and weaponry had been obtained, and also to record the money looted from the corpses.

Afterward, he directed the villagers to clean up the village.

The corpses of the government soldiers were dragged to a wasteland, and a pit was dug to bury them.

It was early spring. If these corpses were not dealt with, it was hard to guarantee a plague wouldn't break out.

The bloodstains on the ground were covered with soil to avoid attracting flies and mosquitoes.

Later, Tran Mac had the villagers from Lieu Thon and Tieu Cao Thon bring their families to stay in Phuc Trach Village and Vuong Gia Trang for the time being.

These villages were too scattered; Tran Mac had to centralize this group of people for management.

...

On the other side,

At the village entrance.

Ngo Son and his few men still hadn't left.

"Big brother, if we just go back like this, will it really be okay?"

"Yeah, boss, so many people died. Now just the three of us are going back, how do we explain it to the higher-ups? Or should we defect to Tran Mac?"

"Then what about our families in the city?"

Ngo Son thought deeply for a moment, intending to go back and ask Tran Mac if he had a solution...