RWNEFE -Chapter 66 This Cowardly Dog—Daring to Steal Military Funds?

The four village chiefs nodded in satisfaction.

They were assigned to the very end of the convoy. The refugees in front kept talking while glancing back—they were clearly discussing the new arrivals.

“Master, we’ve successfully joined!”

Shen Lanxi said: “Chunxue, pour him a cup of iced tea.”

Soon, Liu Yanhui had a cup of iced tea in his hands. Besides tea leaves, it contained sugar, helping replenish fluids and electrolytes!

He took a sip, and his eyes lit up.

So sweet!

Sugar was expensive, and in these conditions, it was even more precious. Liu Yanhui originally thought about taking it home to share with his mother and sister.

Then he reconsidered—he would drink it himself. In front of the master, he couldn’t appear petty!

He carefully drank the tea, hands cupped around the bowl, and when finished, handed it back to Chunxue with satisfaction.

“Master, on the road, a woman from Liu Zhao Village miscarried. She deliberately fell from the carriage, causing the miscarriage. Luckily, Doctor Zhang was there, and she’s now out of danger.”

It was the child of one of the misbehaving exiles.

Shen Lanxi: “Liu Laohu was in charge of those women and children. Go and thank Doctor Zhang for me.”

“Alright, I’ll go tell him!”

Shen Lanxi closed her eyes. Her cold, clear voice passed through the carriage curtains to Liu Yanhui’s ears: “If they want to make a move against us, it will only be during rest over the next two nights.”

Liu Yanhui: “I’ll arrange them to take turns resting.”

“Good.”

After Liu Yanhui left, he immediately gathered the men and divided them into four small teams based on martial ability.

Those skilled in combat would lead those unskilled.

Those with little skill would be paired with those with basic boxing and wrestling skills.

All the Shen men were split up, some following Liu Laohu, some other officials, and some following the Wei family troops!

Originally, Shen Yuanjing and the others wanted to follow the Wei troops, but they were sorted into the “three-cat” martial arts group (very weak) and assigned to the officials instead.

The older, unskilled Shen men and several children were assigned to the Wei family troops.

One of the Wei soldiers looked at the trembling Shen family members with green eyes.

This cowardly dog dared to steal military funds?

Late that night, over twenty people took advantage of the clouds covering the moon and quietly approached the exile convoy.

They thought they were unseen and unheard, but they were already under surveillance by the lookout squads.

The group split into two teams: one targeting the first two carriages, the other the last two.

Shen Lanxi’s carriage was the last one, right in the shared area of the Wei troops and the Shen family.

“They’re coming over. What should we do?” Shen Conglian asked nervously, holding a wooden stick.

“Shh, don’t speak. If the sky falls, the tall one will hold it up.” They didn’t need to act—someone else would.

“Where are they?”

The Shen men looked back—those Wei troops who had been behind them were suddenly nowhere to be seen.

“We were supposed to be a team. How could they leave us behind?”

“Quiet… they’re here!”

The Shen men trembled in fear, almost dropping their weapons. Some even dropped the stones they were holding.

“What’s that sound?”

“Seems like someone kicked a stone. Who did it?”

No one answered.

“Keep your voices down!”

“Grab whatever you can. They won’t dare say anything. Keep your mouths shut!”

Soon, the dozen or so intruders reached the carriage. Hands fumbled with ropes, carried food, fetched water bags.

All the Shen men pretended to be asleep, not intervening.

The Wei troops, intending to teach the Shens a lesson, stayed hidden and didn’t act immediately. They watched as the intruders loaded the supplies. Once they saw the thieves about to finish, they struck.

One knocked out, then a whispered rebuke to the Shens: “Are you blind? They’re right under your hands, why didn’t you strike?”

The Shen men saw the terrifying, scarred faces of the Wei troops. Intimidated, they dared not confront them and could only turn on each other.

“Brother, that guy’s under your stick! Why didn’t you hit him?” Shen Conglian whispered.

Shen Congwen, terrified, blurted out: “I am a scholar! How could I secretly strike someone with a club?”

“Pfft! Afraid? Then just admit it! Scholar my foot—you’re just stupid from studying too much.”

“Brother, if you don’t dare strike, how did you have the courage to steal military funds?”

Shen Congwen: “I didn’t steal! I am an honest official. Since taking charge of the Ministry of Revenue, I haven’t taken a single coin. If I stole military funds, may I die a bad death!”

“Who would believe that? If you didn’t steal, then where does the family’s wealth come from? Your salary isn’t enough to pay the servants monthly!”

Shen Congwen defended himself: “All the family wealth comes from the Empress Dowager’s gifts and the generosity of the Princess. I am not lacking money!”

Shen Conglian snapped: “You useless bookworm! Better to have been corrupt! Using a woman’s money and thinking you’re proud? Ridiculous!”

Shen Congwen: “I have a clear conscience!”

“Shut up! The family has suffered unjustly. Keep talking and we’ll beat you…”

The Shen men scolded Shen Congwen one by one, frustrated at his stupidity, as if wanting to crack open his head to see what was inside.

The Wei troops remained silent.

If someone like Shen Congwen could steal rations, then they might as well go pick peaches from heaven!

“Keep an eye on them. I’m going to find our brother!”

~

Elsewhere, it went smoothly. The dozen or so intruders reached a carriage and were immediately knocked out.

“Mr. Liu, what should we do with them?”

Liu Yanhui didn’t want to be too lenient, but he couldn’t be cruel to over twenty people.

“Master, what about these people?”

Shen Lanxi: “Those who kill will be killed. Food and water are life. They tried to steal our supplies—they attempted murder.”

Liu Yanhui calmed his mind.

“Master, I know what to do!”

Shen Lanxi nodded. Soon the convoy resumed its journey.

The twenty knocked-out thieves were left behind.

After a night of travel, as dawn approached, the convoy stopped to rest and cook.

The families of the twenty watched nervously all night. Seeing the sun rising, fear finally set in.

They had only gone for some food and water—why weren’t they back yet?

There was only one possibility: they had been caught.

And the consequences of being caught were too terrible to imagine.

“Find the village chief! Quickly, find the chief!”

In the merged convoy of four villages, people from two villages were missing. The chiefs immediately became concerned.

“Why did they disappear together? They weren’t resting at night—what were they doing?”

“Chief, it must be those outsiders! They surely killed them! Chief, you have to make justice for us!”