Hei Zi and the other men who hadn't left the camp due to their injuries roughly pushed the prisoner up the mountain.
"Brother Hei Zi, is this far enough? We've already come so far."
Hei Zi said impatiently:
"Enough? We sometimes have to patrol and hunt around here. Do you want to die here and gross yourself out? Further, go beyond the mountain."
The four men pushed the prisoner over a mountain. The prisoner felt he was about to die even before they could kill him.
"Bro, I need to take a piss."
"Lazy people always have more shit and piss."
"Brother Hei Zi, my stomach hurts a bit too, I need to take a dump. Wait for us."
Hei Zi said angrily and kicked out with one foot:
"Get lost."
The two men left, laughing and joking. But Hei Zi suddenly stumbled, lost his balance, and tumbled down the slope.
"Brother Hei Zi?"
The others exclaimed in shock and hurried down to rescue him. The sole remaining prisoner on the slope watched them run further and further away. Without a second thought, he dragged his lame leg and ran into the distance.
"Not good, he's running. Don't blame me, go chase him quickly..."
Seeing the prisoner escape, Hei Zi shouted loudly, craning his neck.
Watching the prisoner's figure disappear over the slope, Hei Zi lazily stood up, even cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice:
"Chase him quickly, he ran that way!"
After shouting, he made a gesture to the other three, and they all gave chase at a leisurely pace.
The prisoner wasn't running fast, but they 'chased' with 'great difficulty', falling over from time to time, taking wrong turns now and then. In this 'pathetic' manner, they 'chased' for the better part of an hour, 'losing' sight of the prisoner right before their eyes.
Seeing their goal achieved, Hei Zi and the others exchanged a glance and quickly vanished into the mountain forest, not a trace of their previous pathetic state remaining.
Having escaped with his life, the prisoner felt like he was dreaming. He had actually returned alive.
Thinking about these past few days, people from Tianjia Village would come over from time to time, holding white-flour Pancakes to munch on, gulping water from cups. Even a little brat called Daner would stand in front of him eating a boiled Daner, asking:
"Eldest Girl sister, is this person already dead?"
The prisoner thought of those Pancakes and water, those Daners and wild boar meat. His throat involuntarily constricted, and he swallowed hard. A fierce light flashed in his eyes:
"Just wait until I find my unit, you'll see how you die."
After Hei Zi and the others returned to the camp, they went to the old village chief's house.
"Aunt, mission accomplished. That prisoner, following the route you specified, was chased off by us."
"We left plenty of traces along the way. We believe they won't disappear for a while."
"Aunt, when do we set off?"
The village chief's house now also had a main hall. At this moment, the hall was filled with the elders of Tianjia Village, but their eyes were all fixed on Qin Sang.
Qin Sang spoke up:
"Hei Zi, you all did very well. Since he has already taken our predetermined route, we will set off this afternoon."
Hei Zi and the others looked faintly excited. After all, watching everyone else have their own tasks these past few days while they couldn't go due to their injuries had been frustrating. It wasn't until Qin Sang found them and asked them to complete an important task that they were happy to feel useful again.
"Good, we'll go prepare now."
Qin Sang nodded, watching them leave. Then she turned to the old village chief:
"Chief, the camp is entrusted to you. If... if anything unexpected happens, everyone must leave from the route I designated, understand?"
"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood."
The old village chief, leaning on his cane, tottered over to Qin Sang:
"Those words are more for you all. If things cannot be done, do not force them. It will take them some time to find this place, enough for everyone to escape."
"Rest assured, I will take good care of Si Jin, Wen Mo, and Eldest Girl."
Qin Sang didn't linger any longer. Carrying the village's remaining Pancakes, water, Wooden Spears, and Wooden Arrows, she left the camp.
When Qin Sang reappeared in the mountain valley where the prisoner had escaped, it wasn't long before more and more refugees, led by Tian Yougen and the others, arrived.
Those who came were all men. As soon as they arrived, they followed orders and started digging pits.
Others set up Wooden Stakes in the forest, and there were still logs and Large Rocks to be carried, all requiring manpower.
By nightfall, the number of men in this mountain valley had reached over four hundred.
Qin Sang didn't expect the hundred or so men from her village to be able to eliminate so many Rebel Soldiers, which is why she had thought of seeking help from other refugees.
Fortunately, no one wanted to become ghosts under the Rebel Soldiers' blades. After hearing Tianjia Village's plan, and with Tianjia Village promising to provide rations for these few days, they all agreed to lend a hand, resulting in today's large numbers.
"Da Zhuang's Mother, will those Rebel Soldiers really come this way?"
Tian Yougen was still somewhat worried and asked Qin Sang beside him.
Qin Sang smiled:
"I specifically had Hei Zi and the others bring the prisoner to escape from here. Since they can't find the entrance to our camp, they will definitely come here."
"Moreover, I've already had Hei Zi and the others deliberately block the way and use some Misdirection. Unless one is very familiar with the area, our camp won't be easily discovered."
"Of course, besides this, we can't be one hundred percent sure they will come. So starting today, I will have people Set Up Cooking Fires over there. This area isn't blocked by high mountains, and the terrain is relatively low. I believe they will definitely notice it."
Seeing Qin Sang so confident and well-prepared, Tian Yougen felt much more assured:
"Alright then, I'll have everyone work hard through the night."
Qin Sang was also worried the Rebel Soldiers might not follow her plan. So she barely slept that whole night.
She believed others were the same, because although many people were lying or leaning around, no snoring could be heard.
The traps and ambushes were all set. Now they only waited to Lure the Enemy In. This wait lasted two days.
Fortunately, Qin Sang had prepared sufficiently. Those Pancakes were enough for everyone to eat for three or four days, and the water was sufficient. So everyone waited here patiently.
Especially the refugees. Here, they didn't have to do anything, yet could eat three Pancakes a day and drink Meat and Egg Soup. They wished they could wait here forever.
Qin Sang felt unbearably hot but couldn't very well take out the Palm-leaf Fan, so she could only fan herself with her hand.
That stifling feeling made her breathless. She thought she was just too nervous.
The plan was her idea. If it failed, more than one or two would die.
In her heart, Qin Sang both hoped the Rebel Soldiers would come and faintly wished they wouldn't. This conflicting emotion grew more severe and intense as the hours passed.
As another day darkened, Qin Sang knew some people in Tianjia Village were already talking about returning to the camp, because Tianjia Village had contributed the most effort and provisions this time.
When Hei Zi came running, Qin Sang was considering how many more days to wait before giving up and returning if there was no result. Hei Zi gasped breathlessly:
"Aunt... they're... they're coming."
Everyone around immediately held their breath and looked at Hei Zi.
Hei Zi pointed towards the mountain:
"We brothers originally planned to scout ahead tonight, but we almost ran into them. They were carrying torches, and the one leading was that prisoner."
Qin Sang nodded:
"Good. Da Zhuang, San Gui, go quickly and notify your Paternal Cousin Uncle. Have everyone prepare according to the plan."
Da Zhuang and San Gui immediately left. Qin Sang said to the people around her:
"Everyone, hide quickly. Wait for the command before acting."