Chapter 1019

Chapter 1019: Support

Bang!

The dull roar abruptly shattered the serene tranquility of the prairie.

A wild bull, grazing peacefully by the riverbank, suddenly had its left eye explode in a vivid burst of crimson. Its massive frame instantly lost balance and crashed heavily to the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before the rest of the herd could react, the same thunderous reports echoed across the landscape.

One by one, the wild bulls either fell lifeless or were wounded, driven mad by pain and stampeding in chaos. The entire herd descended into pandemonium.

Yet, the hunters, mounted on swift horses, closed in from all directions. Flintguns erupted in puffs of white smoke, firing deadly spirit pills that struck down the remaining wild bulls.

These wild bulls were a unique feature of the West Sea Prairie. They were massive and robust, with adult bulls weighing over two thousand pounds. Their sheer charging power, coupled with their sharp horns, could send even black bears fleeing in terror.

Since wild bulls traveled in formidable herds and each possessed considerable strength, only a handful of skilled and daring hunters ventured to hunt them, as a single misstep could prove fatal.

However, against the Hunting Team armed with heavy flintguns, these prairie monarchs were reduced to mere lambs for the slaughter!

They bellowed in agony as they collapsed into pools of blood, with only a few cows and calves deliberately spared by the hunters, fleeing in terror into the distance.

"Wansheng!"

Cheers of triumph erupted among the hunters.

Wang Chen allowed a faint smile to grace his lips as he handed his empty flintlock rifle to the guards beside him.

To prepare for the arrival and settlement of the incoming army of refugees, the recently stabilized county capital of West Sea County once again tightened its strings, operating with remarkable speed and efficiency.

Wang Chen dispatched merchant teams to procure livestock and grain from local herders while organizing the Hunting Team to hunt wild bulls and sheep across the West Sea Prairie.

The prairie’s wild bull population was vast, and every part of a wild bull was a treasure. The hide could be fashioned into fur coats, the tendons into bowstrings, and the beef was, of course, a highly nutritious food source.

Cow horns, bones, and hooves also had their uses, and even cow dung could be repurposed as fertilizer.

To swiftly secure these valuable resources, Wang Chen personally led the Hunting Team deep into the prairie to hunt the wild bulls.

At the sound of a sharp whistle, the hunters dismounted, drew their daggers, and began processing the spoils.

Hides, beef, and bones were swiftly separated. After drying the blood, they were rubbed with salt and crushed herbs before being loaded onto different horse-drawn carts.

These spoils would be transported at top speed to the outskirts of West Sea County, where they would be boiled before spoiling. The meat would then be mixed with flour, ghee, and dried wild vegetables, formed into dough balls, and smoked dry.

These would be fashioned into fist-sized military rations.

Just two of these rations could provide an adult with enough energy to march for a full day and night!

A single wild bull could save hundreds of refugees from starvation.

In truth, the prairie wild bulls were no easy prey. Their thick hides could deflect arrows, and their immense strength made them fearsome when enraged.

Yet, against the relentless barrage of heavy flintguns, they were reduced to mere food supplies.

To prevent the wild bulls from being driven to extinction, Wang Chen specifically ordered that some cows and calves be spared, allowing them to reproduce and ensuring a sustainable resource for the future.

Caw~

At that moment, a piercing eagle’s cry echoed from the sky.

Wang Chen glanced upward and saw a dark shadow streaking toward him like a bolt of lightning.

He raised his arm, and a falcon landed steadily upon it.

Wang Chen removed the bamboo tube tied to the falcon’s leg, broke the beeswax seal at the top, and extracted a roll of silk paper.

He unfolded it, and his expression shifted subtly.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Chen took out paper and brush to pen a reply, rolled it back into the bamboo tube, resealed it, and reattached it to the falcon’s leg.

Nearby, his guards sliced off two pieces of fresh beef to feed the falcon. Once it had eaten its fill, the falcon let out a satisfied cry, then spread its wings and soared into the sky.

"Move out!"

Wang Chen commanded in a deep voice, "We shall go to greet our guests!"

He gave a gentle pat to the yellow steed beneath him, and it immediately surged forward.

At the sound of a whistle, dozens of elite cavalry followed closely behind.

Accompanied by his guards, Wang Chen rode northward, galloping swiftly across the vast expanse of the West Sea Prairie.

By midday the following day, he and his guards had reached the northern border of West Sea County.

To the north lay Jichuan County. Though Jichuan County was only half the size of West Sea County, it was far more prosperous, with a population several times larger. It was also one of the few counties that had pledged allegiance to Emperor Yuanjing.

However, West Sea County, which had raised the "rebel flag," faced no hostility from Jichuan County. In fact, they permitted refugees to pass through their territory into the West Sea Prairie.

This, of course, was not necessarily an act of goodwill, as Jichuan County lacked the resources to support such a large number of refugees, and thus was content to pass the burden to Princess Qingyun.

Wang Chen had received a flying eagle message from Qin Qingxuan the previous day, informing him that the first wave of refugees was nearing the border between the two counties, prompting him to ride out and escort them.

This group of refugees was of great significance to both West Sea and Han Sea Counties, which is why Wang Chen had taken it upon himself to lead the mission.

"Taibao, this is the wild hillside," one of the guards said, consulting a map. "Beyond this lies Jichuan County. Should I take a few men to scout ahead?"

"That would be wise," Wang Chen replied. "Take two men and investigate, but proceed with caution."

Wang Chen, along with the remaining guards, set up camp on the flat, open hillside, awaiting the arrival of the refugees.

Earlier, he had dispatched messengers to the county capital of West Sea County, instructing them to mobilize personnel and supplies immediately.

Wang Chen surveyed the surrounding terrain and environment, concluding that this location was ideal for establishing a temporary camp to assist the incoming refugees.

His greatest concern at the moment was the lack of capable individuals who could act independently; otherwise, he would not need to handle so many tasks personally and could delegate them to his subordinates.

Ultimately, the issue lay in Princess Qingyun’s inability to rally sufficient support.

To achieve his ambitions of sweeping across the land, relying solely on Wang Chen was clearly insufficient.

Thus, he hoped that accepting these refugees would bring him more talented individuals.

As dusk approached, a large group appeared on the distant plain, their numbers steadily growing.

The refugees had arrived!

"So many people!"

The guards standing alongside Wang Chen on the wild hillside were awestruck.

The number of incoming refugees far exceeded their expectations!

The scale of the refugee group was immense, their long line stretching endlessly across the horizon. Most were on foot, accompanied by a multitude of carts, their dark forms blanketing the hillside.

From a distance, the sight was overwhelming.

Suddenly, several riders broke away from the refugee group, galloping swiftly toward Wang Chen’s position.

The guards who had earlier scouted Jichuan County had returned.

And Qin Qingxuan was among them!