Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Zhang Cunzheng sighed and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Excellency has considered everything thoroughly; we will certainly cooperate fully."

Lu Qian nodded and added, "If there are those who are unwilling to cooperate, there is no need to force them. First, arrange for those who are willing to relocate, and then gradually persuade the rest."

If all else fails, we should wait until the situation becomes clearer before taking any action.

His eyes were cold. "The most important thing at this time is to avoid causing a disturbance. If anyone dares to disrupt the morale of the troops, we will take extraordinary measures if necessary."

The villagers felt a chill run down their spines. Although they understood the severity of Lü Qian's words, they also knew that they had no choice but to do so due to the circumstances.

That night, Lü Qian led several trusted men to begin their operation discreetly.

According to the plan, they started with the few households in Nanfang that were closest to the city center.

Every household had been notified in advance by Zhang Cunzheng and others, and had packed their belongings in advance, waiting for orders.

As night fell, the streets and alleys of Nanfang were exceptionally quiet.

The streetlights flickered, unable to illuminate the chilly autumn wind, and the occasional bark of a dog broke the somber atmosphere.

Lü Qian, accompanied by his entourage, moved nimbly through the narrow alleyways, his steps light and silent.

At each household, he would personally knock on the door and whisper his instructions.

"The general has ordered that this matter concerns your safety. Get up immediately and come with me to the city to make arrangements."

People had already packed their things, carried a small amount of luggage, and, with their wives and children by their side, quietly left the house under the guidance of their relatives and friends.

Along the way, no one spoke, only the soft sound of robes rubbing against the ground.

The young children were held tightly in their mothers' arms. Some were still asleep, curled up in their mothers' arms, with a hint of fear in their eyes.

The mothers hummed lullabies softly, soothing their children and calming their own tense nerves.

As they walked through a long alley, an elderly man suddenly stopped.

Looking back at the dark night sky and the old house where he had lived his whole life, he murmured to himself:

"I don't know when I'll be able to return after this departure."

Seeing this, Lü Qian approached slightly and said softly, "Old man, once the war is over, I will surely restore a peaceful Hesha City to you."

The old man sighed deeply, leaned against the wall, and continued walking forward with heavy steps.

Just as the group was quietly moving forward, suddenly, a young man rushed out from the end of the alley, holding a short knife tightly in his hand, his eyes fierce, seemingly unwilling to be forced to move.

He shouted, "Why should I leave? I won't leave! My home is here, and I will stay to protect it!"

Lu Qian's eyes turned cold, and he waved for his men to step forward and stop him.

He walked slowly to the man, his gaze icy, and said in a deep voice:

"You may stay if you wish, but can you hold off the enemy's iron hooves if you stay alone?"

The relocation is for the safety of all the city's residents, not for you to flee. If the enemy truly arrives, a general will lead his troops to defend the city to the death; if you stay, you will only increase the casualties.

The man was stunned by Lü Qian's gaze, his short knife fell to the ground, and he slumped down in the alley.

He struggled to his feet, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, but was ultimately led away by his attendants.

Lu Qian watched the man leave, sighing inwardly.

With war looming, no one wanted to leave their home, but for the safety of the entire city, sacrifice was necessary at this time.

He knew in his heart that this was only the beginning of the relocation plan. In the days to come, there would be many more people who needed his persuasion and reassurance, and every decision made in the midst of war might affect the fate of countless people.

With the first night's operation successfully completed, Lü Qian gradually pushed the relocation plan to a deeper level.

He personally led the team every night to evacuate in batches, and the village officials cooperated well to keep the news within a very small scope.

Although the gradual relocation of the people of Nanfang was not without its setbacks, everything proceeded in an orderly manner thanks to Lü Qian's insistence.

Every night, Lü Qian would stand at the resettlement site in the center of the city, watching the people settle down safely, and only then would the heavy weight in his heart be lifted.

But he knew that this was only a temporary resettlement, and true safety and a homeland could only be rebuilt after the enemy troops withdrew.

As night fell, the sky above Nanfang was bathed in the dim yellow moonlight, and the streets and alleys were silent.

Lü Qian, accompanied by several close followers, quietly made his way to an old house in the South Ward.

Outside the courtyard gate, several village officials waited with solemn expressions.

Upon seeing Lü Qian arrive, the village officials hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects and whispered, "Lord Lü, the elderly people inside refuse to move no matter what we say; they are extremely stubborn."

Upon hearing this, Lü Qian frowned slightly and slowly walked to the courtyard gate.

Dim light shone through the window lattice onto the floor inside the room, where several elderly men, all over sixty years old, sat around in the hall, their expressions stubborn.

The atmosphere inside the room was somber. Several old, worn-out weapons hung on the wall, as if recording the hardships these elderly men had endured throughout their lives.

He stood outside the gate and gently knocked on it. The gate creaked softly, the sound echoing in the night.

The old men inside the door were taken aback. One of them, an old man with a long beard, stood up, walked to the door with some hesitation, opened a corner of the door, and saw that it was Lü Qian. Although he was surprised, he still maintained a calm expression.

"Lord Lü has arrived?" The old man cupped his hands in greeting and invited Lü Qian to come inside and sit down.

Lü Qian nodded and stepped inside.

When he entered, the elderly people in the room remained silent and sat upright.

The atmosphere became somewhat somber for a moment.

Lu Qian glanced around and, seeing their grim expressions, remained calm. He bowed respectfully and slowly said:

"Several elderly gentlemen have come today to discuss the relocation."

At this moment, the Black Rock Allied Forces are advancing fiercely. General Zhao has ordered us to evacuate the people of Nanfang to ensure their safety.

The elderly men in the hall remained unmoved upon hearing this.

The long-bearded old man gave a cold snort, stroked his beard, and his expression remained stubborn:

"Lord Lü, we have spent our whole lives guarding this South Ward. We were born here, grew up here, and have seen countless storms and snows."

This isn't the first time the enemy has invaded; why should we leave?

Another elderly man, slightly hunched over, looked up at Lü Qian, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Back when the Black Rock Allied Army first attacked the city, Old Zhang and I even carried knives on the city wall."

After a few exchanges of blows, didn't the enemy retreat? Now that I'm old and my legs aren't strong, I'd rather die here than leave!

Upon hearing this, Lü Qian sighed inwardly.

These elderly men are mostly highly respected figures in Nanfang. They were either veterans of the battlefield or backbone members of the community. Although they are old, they still have the same fighting spirit as before.

At this moment, their persistence stems from their deep affection for their homeland, but precisely because of this, they are the most difficult to persuade.

Instead of offering advice, he stepped forward, carefully examining the old weapons on the walls of the hall, and said softly:

"I admire the courage of these elderly people."

I have long heard of your heroic deeds in defending Hesha City when the enemy attacked.

"You've dedicated your lives to protecting Hersha City; I understand your feelings today."

As Lü Qian spoke, his gaze turned to the old knife hanging on the wall. Although the blade was rusted, it still faintly revealed a sharp gleam.

He reached out and stroked the hilt of his sword, his expression dazed: "Back when Hesha City was in dire straits, it was thanks to old men like you who fought to the death that it was able to survive."

I certainly wouldn't dare force you to abandon your homes.