Exiled 3,000 miles away? Don't worry, Madam has space.

Ye Qinglin nodded and handed a roasted chicken to Liu Shitou. Liu Shitou gave him one or two taels of silver, took the roasted chicken back, and then distributed the roasted chicken to several escorts with whom he had a good relationship.

The escorts were very moved and kept thanking Liu Shitou.

Liu Shitou didn't say anything, but there was a meaningful smile on his face. The scene of Xie Xu's conversation with him that day emerged in his mind.

Xie Xu looked at him quietly and said, "Master Liu, I heard that every time the escort is sent to Cangzhou, one person must stay behind. I hope that the person who stays behind this time is you."

At that time, Liu Shitou was slightly startled: "According to the rules, it is not my turn. After all, there are still a few seniors here."

"They all have families, and you are single. If you say you want to stay, I think they will be willing." Xie Xu smiled at Liu Shitou.

"I only trust Lord Liu, so I hope Lord Liu can stay and become a constable in the county."

Seeing Xie Xu's sincere eyes, Xie Xu agreed without hesitation. He wanted to repay the favor at the beginning, but he didn't help the Xie family much along the way.

He had no attachment to the capital, so if he could help the Xie family and let them settle down in Yongcheng, Cangzhou, he would be willing to do so.

Because of this decision, Liu Shitou specially bought a roast chicken to share with his close friends.

When Liu Zi saw this, he became displeased on the spot.

"Liu Shitou, why did you only share the roast chicken with a few people and not with the boss?" Liu Zi said this deliberately to make Li Dali unhappy with Liu Shitou.

Liu Shitou looked at Liu Zi calmly and whispered, "The boss already has a roast chicken, so he doesn't need mine. After all, we have nothing to eat. We finally bought a roast chicken, so we can't go hungry."

Several escorts who had eaten the roasted chicken agreed with Liu Shitou's words and looked at Liu Zi with displeasure. They felt even more dissatisfied with Li Dali and Liu Zi.

Because Li Dali was their leader, any delicious food or drink was usually given to him and Liu Zi, or to those who tried to please him.

As for them, Li Dali always ignored them and would only think of them when he had extra food.

When hunting, they put in the most effort but got the least food, so they didn't hunt carefully.

Liu Zi didn't expect Liu Shitou to say that. He was very angry and ran to Li Dali to add fuel to the fire.

Li Dali was naturally unhappy, but he did not cause trouble for Liu Shitou. After all, he could see that Liu Shitou and a few others were dissatisfied with him. If a quarrel broke out now, he would be the one who would suffer.

Because among the escorts, those with better fighting skills are on Liu Shitou's side.

"Shut your mouth." Li Dali glanced at Liu Shitou, tore off a piece of chicken wing and gave it to Liu Zi, then ate the roast chicken in silence.

Ye Qinglin and Xie Xu saw what happened on Liu Shitou's side and looked at each other.

"The escorts are about to split into two factions." Ye Qinglin couldn't help but say.

Xie Xu chuckled and said slowly: "That's good, otherwise we wouldn't be able to go to Youzhou."

Ye Qinglin naturally understood what Xie Xu meant.

Now Hongcheng has closed its gates, it must be because of the plague.

If news of the plague spread, Li Dali would definitely not want to enter Youzhou and would go around Youzhou.

They need to go to Hongcheng in Youzhou to get the Sui Xin Grass, so they can't not go in, so the best way is to let Liu Shitou go with them.

It would be even better if Liu Shitou could persuade some escorts to follow him.

Ye Qinglin knew Xie Xu's plan and nodded with a smile: "You are right."

*

The next day.

When Li Dali woke up, he went to the city gate and saw a soldier coming out. He walked forward quickly.

"Why didn't you see the soldiers guarding the city yesterday?"

The soldiers guarding the city looked at Li Dali and asked, "Are you a bailiff?"

Li Dali smiled and nodded: "Yes, we want to go into the city, I hope you can help us."

When the soldiers guarding the city heard this, they frowned and asked, "Didn't you hear the news?"

Li Dali paused, looking confused, waiting for what was to come.

The soldiers guarding the city did not hide the fact that there was an epidemic in two villages under Hongcheng. Although the situation in those two villages was under control, the people were in a panic and many wanted to leave. However, their superiors had already said that the people could not leave.

When Li Dali heard this, his face turned pale: "Plague? How is that possible!"

"You are from Yongzhou, right? It's normal that you don't know. If you want to go to Cangzhou, it's fastest to start from Hongcheng and go through Yaocheng to Cangzhou. You can also go around Hongcheng to Cangzhou, but it will take half a month."

Li Dali swallowed his saliva and asked, "Can we go into the city?"

"Yes, people from outside can come in, but it is impossible to go out." The soldier guarding the city told Li Dali truthfully.

Li Dali hurried back to the exile team and said sternly, "Let's leave now and don't go into Hongcheng."

"Boss, why?" Liu Zi asked in confusion.

Li Dali pouted and panicked: "There are two villages in Hongcheng that have been hit by plague, and the people inside are not allowed to leave."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

"Should we go into the city then?"

"If we don't go into the city, how can we get to Cangzhou?"

"Take a detour? But it will take a lot of time. What if we don't arrive in Cangzhou on time?"

The escorts spoke one after another, and then looked at Li Dali one by one, hoping that he would make a choice.

Li Dali gritted his teeth and said, "Let's take a detour! Even if it takes an extra half month, it's better than losing everyone's lives. Now is not the time to act rashly. Everyone, pack up quickly and head up the mountain."

As he spoke, Li Dali led a few escorts up the mountain. The Feng family followed, and the farmer's son also followed. Only the Xie family, the Liu family father and son, and Liu Shitou stood where they were.

Liu Zi looked back and frowned at them: "What are you doing? Didn't you hear what the leader said? There is a plague in Hongcheng, do you want to enter the city?"

"Yes."

This was said by Ye Qinglin.

"Xie Xu said that taking a detour is also dangerous. There are many wild animals in the Hongcheng area. If so many of us walk together, it will easily attract the attention of wild animals."

"That's better than going into the city. There's a plague there! You can die if you're not careful." Liu Zi retorted, glaring at Xie Xu with disdain.

Ye Qinglin continued, "Lord Li just said that the two villages where the plague occurred have been sealed off, and the people inside are not allowed to leave. Doctors have been sent to treat them, and I believe they will find a prescription to cure the plague."

Liu Zi laughed, full of sarcasm: "You think it's too simple."

At this time, Li Dali looked at Ye Qinglin coldly, and then his gaze fell on Liu Shitou.

"Liu Shitou, are you planning to stay with them?"

Liu Shitou nodded and turned to look at the escorts who were on good terms with him: "Do you want to come with me?"

The escorts hesitated and shook their heads. They all knew that Liu Shitou wanted to repay his kindness, so they were especially nice to the Xie family along the way. However, no matter how nice they were, it was not worth risking their own lives.

They think Liu Shitou is so stupid!

Seeing this, Liu Shitou sighed, thinking that he had given them a chance, but they failed to seize it.

Li Dali snorted coldly and asked impatiently: "Liu Shitou, let me ask you again, do you really want to be with the Xie family?"

"Yes." Liu Shitou answered very straightforwardly.

Li Dali pulled the corner of his mouth, smiled sarcastically, and glanced at the Xie family: "Okay, then go separately. If you have a chance to survive, you can meet up in Zhulin Town."

After saying this, Li Dali took his men away.