Unexpectedly, Qin Sang suggested letting Osmanthus and Er Hua serve as the village's Accountants. The Old Village Chief was hesitant at first, so Qin Sang suggested calling the two over to assess their abilities.
Furthermore, a one-month probation period could be given. Whether they were suitable or not could be decided after a month.
The two girls had been notified the night before and were mentally prepared. When the Old Village Chief called for them, nothing went wrong.
The Old Village Chief was very satisfied. He agreed to a one-month probation period and let the two of them manage the village's accounts together.
The villagers didn't offer much opposition. After all, there was a much more important matter waiting for everyone to decide on; who was chosen as the Accountant was truly a minor issue.
If everyone in the village was killed by Rebel Soldiers, what would be the point of choosing anyone?
"In my opinion, why don't we all leave the mountains and go to Songbai Town to seek the protection of the Government Soldiers? At least it would be safe."
Someone proposed the idea they had been considering all night.
This method gained the approval of many people:
"Right, the Government Soldiers won't just stand by and watch us die. These Rebel Soldiers definitely won't dare to go to the Town to hunt us down."
"I think it'll work."
Qin Sang asked:
"Are you sure the Government Soldiers are the good guys? Will we be the only ones trying to seek asylum? How many refugees are there in the surrounding areas? The Government Soldiers might not be able to accommodate everyone."
"If the Government Soldiers drive us back to Tianjia Village at that time, and the back mountains are the base for the Rebel Soldiers, then we would truly be walking into the lion's den."
It wasn't that Qin Sang was being an alarmist; these were all problems that had to be considered after leaving the mountains.
"Moreover, if we leave the mountains, we will inevitably pass through areas where Rebel Soldiers are rampant. It's a journey of a day and a night; who can guarantee nothing will go wrong?"
"If we are discovered by Rebel Soldiers while traveling with our families, I'm afraid we'll be caught before we even reach Songbai Town."
With every sentence Qin Sang spoke, the villagers' expressions sank a bit further.
It wasn't that they were unhappy with Qin Sang for shattering their illusions, but rather the disappointment of feeling that the road ahead offered little hope.
"Then what should we do? Our camp is still considered hidden; they won't find this place for a while."
"Hiding from them might not be a bad idea. Anyway, we have food and water; we can afford to wait them out."
"Right, if we can't beat them, we can hide from them."
Qin Sang, however, was not so optimistic:
"That man said these Rebel Soldiers intend to occupy the mountains and crown themselves kings. Can we hide for a lifetime?"
"And most importantly, I'm afraid the number of Rebel Soldiers will only increase."
The villagers asked in surprise:
"Didn't they say there were only six or seven hundred? How could the number increase?"
Qin Sang explained calmly:
"Has everyone forgotten who these Rebel Soldiers originally were?"
Everyone was stunned:
"They were originally refugees."
Qin Sang nodded:
"Yes, they were originally refugees, and these mountains are full of refugees. If they are coerced by the Rebel Soldiers who entered the mountains, perhaps those who were originally refugees will become Rebel Soldiers just to survive. By then, I'm afraid it won't be as simple as just a few hundred people."
This conclusion dealt a heavy blow to everyone present.
"Then what do we do? We can't leave, and we can't stay. Is it possible we have to become Rebel Soldiers too?"
"The heavens aren't leaving people a way to live."
"If that day really comes, we'll just take up knives and fight them. Killing one breaks even; killing two is a profit."
No one had a better idea. The Old Village Chief looked at Qin Sang with a worried face:
"Da Zhuang's Mother, do you have any ideas?"
Reminded by this, everyone looked toward Qin Sang:
"That's right, Da Zhuang's Mother, you've always had the best ideas. You must have a way to solve this, right?"
"Da Zhuang's Mother, we all trust you. We'll do whatever you say."
"Yes, we'll listen to you."
Qin Sang looked at the trusting gazes from the villagers, her fingers involuntarily clenching into fists.
After thinking for a long time, she finally voiced the thought in her heart:
"I think, rather than waiting for death, it's better to take the initiative and attack."
Everyone was puzzled:
"Take the initiative and attack?"
"Da Zhuang's Mother, do you mean for us to actively go and kill those Rebel Soldiers? That's too dangerous."
"Exactly, we don't even know where those Rebel Soldiers are hiding. How can we kill them?"
Qin Sang shook her head slightly:
"What I mean is, let them come to kill us, while we ambush them along the way."
Everyone's eyes lit up. Ambushing others sounded like something they could actually win. Everyone asked curiously:
"Da Zhuang's Mother, tell us the details..."
Qin Sang spoke:
"This time, some of them escaped. Knowing we have water and food, they will definitely find a way to gather all the Rebel Soldiers to find our camp..."
Everyone discussed Qin Sang's plan for a full half-day, then they took a vote by a show of hands and passed it unanimously.
Next was the implementation.
Everyone in Tianjia Village began to divide the work and cooperate.
The Patrol Team members all set out, leaving the camp in batches and spreading out in all directions.
They were in small squads of ten, carrying Camouflage Suits and maps made by Qin Sang and the others, to find the refugees deep in the mountains.
Fortunately, when Qin Sang was trading, she had asked those people for information. Otherwise, searching blindly would be no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.
With maps and the landmarks they had asked about, it was much more convenient.
The three brothers, Da Zhuang, San Gui, and Tian Yougen, all led teams away, leaving the entire camp much emptier.
The Hunting Team also assembled at one location. Their task was to dig traps and set up mechanical devices. This was what Hunter Xu and his son were best at, so the two of them led the team.
The women, elderly, and children in the village were not idle either. Except for the children who had to attend classes at the scheduled times, they spent the rest of their time following the adults to make Wooden Spears and arrows.
The smaller children picked up stones to prepare as ammunition for Slingshots.
The girls, meanwhile, made various Pancakes and roasted flour, preparing dry rations for everyone for the upcoming battle.
They also prepared clean linen for treating wounds and bandaging, following Qin Sang to practice suturing and first aid.
The people of Tianjia Village had already grown accustomed to this tense yet efficient atmosphere of dividing labor and cooperating in their respective roles.
Three days later, on the village's open ground, Wooden Arrows and spears were piled up like small mountains.
The fragrance of roasted flour drifted far away. Pancakes were placed in ceramic basins, which filled a small courtyard basin by basin.
Two batches of the outgoing Patrol Team returned. The next day, they left again, using the village's old oxen to carry a load of Wooden Spears and Pancakes.
Qin Sang had been very worried about whether Da Zhuang and San Gui would be in danger. Fortunately, they also returned safely to the camp five days later.
"Mother, we aren't hurt. We kept your instructions firmly in mind; we didn't move when we encountered Rebel Soldiers, only acting after they left so as not to alert the enemy."
Seeing his Mother's eyes constantly checking their bodies, San Gui comforted her.
Da Zhuang also nodded:
"We encountered Rebel Soldiers on the way back and waited for two nights before they left, which is why we're back late."
"How many Rebel Soldiers did you encounter?"
"We spotted them from above using the Binoculars; there were over a hundred of them."
Qin Sang nodded:
"Good. Eat your fill and get some good rest."
After personally watching her two sons sit at the table to eat, Qin Sang went out to find the village chief.
All the Patrol Teams that went out had returned. It was time for the most important part of their plan.