She picked up the young prime minister while fleeing famine

After saying this, Lian Chengmo began to observe everyone's reactions.

Actually, there's something else he didn't mention: if we hide in the mountains, we'll all be unregistered residents, and going to the city won't be so convenient.

If war breaks out and the government investigates strictly, those who cannot produce household registration might be arrested as spies.

However, how could a child think of so much? Giving these suggestions is already quite an achievement.

Lian Chengmo didn't want to overdo it.

As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Lizheng frowned.

"Young master, is the place you mentioned a barbarian land?" Yao Lizheng hesitated for a moment before asking.

Yao Li had heard of such places before; they were places where the imperial court exiled criminals, and the garrison in Huayang Prefecture was used to defend against the various barbarian tribes in those remote lands.

The garrison in Yongzhou was also to resist the Japanese pirates at sea. Otherwise, the vassal kings in these two places would not have been able to hold military power. If the court were in chaos, they could immediately declare themselves kings!

“Exactly.” Lian Chengmo nodded in affirmation.

The Great Xia Dynasty has always referred to that place as such, but Lian Chengmo knows that it is not a barbarian land. In fact, many people who could not stay in the Great Xia Dynasty lived there. Later, it was subdued by a wise ruler and became Huadong Prefecture.

He was being watched because he was investigating the Southern Navy and officials, which is why he passed through Huadong Prefecture, but he never expected to lose his life there.

However, the common people don't know this yet, so let's just call it that for now.

"What? A barbarian land? Isn't that like the Northern Frontier? How can anyone survive in a place like that?"

"Yes, yes, we only fled because we couldn't survive in the northern border region. Isn't this like escaping one tiger's den only to fall into another?"

"Good heavens, this is leaving no way for people to survive!"

"What are we going to do? Where can we find a way to survive...?"

"..."

The uncles and elders started discussing amongst themselves again, but Lian Chengmo didn't interrupt them and let them decide for themselves.

Originally, he wanted to take Yaoli Village to Yongzhou Prefecture, but as everyone just said, it's too far from here to Yongzhou Prefecture, it would take at least half a year to get there.

But the Great Xia Dynasty will soon be making a death throes. The crown prince will kill the emperor and seize the throne, and with no hope of recovering the northern frontier, he will move the capital south.

At that time, not only will they have to fight against Shan Cong'an of Hedong Prefecture, but they will also have to fight against King Thanh of Vietnam Prefecture. As a result, Yongzhou Prefecture will also be under martial law, and it is hard to say whether it will accept refugees.

In that case, their journey will definitely not be peaceful. It would be better to find a place to hide first, and then make plans slowly when things calm down a bit.

Lian Chengmo thought about it silently, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that it made sense. He had been too anxious before, only thinking about getting to the wise ruler's side as soon as possible, and he had become attached to appearances.

Who knows what the wise ruler is doing now? He's already gone. How much credibility can the words of a ten-year-old child have?

Thinking of this, Lian Chengmo clenched his fists slightly. It seemed he had to adjust his strategy; Yongzhou Prefecture was not an option for the time being.

Just then, Yao Dahe, who had been silent all along, spoke up.

"Uncles, please don't worry. Didn't the young master say that the place is mountainous and infested with wild beasts?"

"Since there are ferocious beasts, there must also be small prey. With the resources of our village, hunting is not difficult."

"If we really can't grow crops, then we can sell our game as the young master suggested. If all else fails, there are always wild vegetables on the mountain, right?"

"I heard that even in winter, it doesn't snow in the South, and the trees on the mountains are always green. We can survive by eating tree bark."

"Have we eaten enough tree bark along the way?"

“I think the young master’s idea is good. I am willing to go to that barbarian land to find a place to stay first, and then we can talk about settling down when things are more stable outside.”

This was the first time Yao Dahe had spoken such a long speech, which stunned his uncles.

Yao Dahe has always been a man of few words and rarely speaks at such length. How could he not be surprised?

"Dahe is right. We can't resist the army, but can't we beat the bears in the mountains?"

"At worst, we can still hunt together as a group and not starve to death. Our priority now is to avoid the ravages of war and not be conscripted into the army."

“I agree with the plan to go to the Yellow River. My family is willing to go to that barbarian land, but I wonder if you could point us in the right direction, young master? We don’t know the way further south.” Yao Lizheng said, then looked at Lian Chengmo.

In fact, they asked for directions as they went, so it didn't matter whether they knew the way or not.

Yao Lizheng wanted to get Lian Chengmo to cooperate, hoping he could help them so that Yao Li Village wouldn't be conscripted into the army in Vietnam.

The young master is capable, a fact that Yao Lizheng firmly believes, and this belief has only grown stronger after Yao Dahe brought the news back to the county town.

“I’ve looked at the map, and I can lead everyone around from the edge of Vietnam Prefecture,” Lian Chengmo readily agreed.

Anyway, Yuncheng is in that direction, so he's not afraid of Yao Lizheng asking questions. As for why he stayed with them when they arrived, he'll just make up an excuse later.

Lian Chengmo didn't expect that not long after, he wouldn't need to make excuses anymore.

"Since the young master has said so, what are you still hesitating about?"

"Those who don't want to go, step forward. I'll have Dahe send you to the city to settle down," Yao Lizheng said directly, seeing that everyone was still hesitating.

The uncles and elders he summoned could basically represent every household in the village; once they made a decision, it was equivalent to the whole village making a decision.

As expected, Yao Lizheng was not disappointed; everyone chose to give it their all and continue heading south.

With that, the question of whether Yaoli Village should stay or leave was settled, and everyone dispersed.

Lian Chengmo was in a good mood and walked back with a slight smile on his lips.

Just as dawn broke, he spotted the small figure in the camp.

Banxia was taking the cooked yam porridge down from the fire. When Lian Chengmo got closer, he could see the beads of sweat on the little girl's face.

It was already late May, and being roasted by the fire for half a day was quite hot. Without thinking, Lian Chengmo took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the little girl's face.

"I'll do it myself. Have you finished discussing it? What's going on?" Banxia paused for a moment, then naturally took the handkerchief and wiped her face herself, asking casually.

Lian Chengmo had been back for half an hour, but he only glanced at Xiao Shuang'er and A Yu before Yao Lizheng called him away. Banxia didn't ask the others how the trip went.

However, she also knew that Yao Li Village wanted to find a place to settle down, and she just hoped that Qingyang County was not a good place to settle down, so that it would be easier for her to continue to abduct these people.

The next moment, Banxia heard what she wanted to hear, but only the first half of the sentence.

"The plan may change. Yao Li Village will continue south with us, but we won't be able to go to Yongzhou Prefecture for the time being."

"Huh?" Banxia paused in wiping her face, looking up in bewilderment.