Every household had someone come out to watch. A few elderly men, upon seeing the second brother, didn't hesitate. They grabbed the nearest door bars and charged out, spontaneously following the second brother.
Fu Xinci hadn't expected the few elderly men to have such spirit.
Then, Fu Xinci saw Meng Qishan and Meng Yutang also come out with sticks.
Seeing the sticks in their hands, Qi He turned and ran back. He had been too anxious before and forgotten to get his stick.
"Brother Qi, wait."
"Sister Fu?"
Fu Xinci thought of her grandfather's steel pipe still in her space and suggested she go home to get it.
"You stay with grandfather, and I'll go get your sticks."
Grandfather Meng immediately added, hearing his granddaughter's words: "Ci'er, bring grandfather's stick too."
"Okay, coming right up."
Watching his granddaughter disappear in an instant, Grandfather Meng loudly and confidently shouted: "Whose family still hasn't sent anyone out? Hurry up."
"..."
Seeing that one courtyard gate remained tightly shut, Grandfather Meng roared again, "If you don't contribute now, when the heavy snow buries the sky and your homes run out of rice, don't even think about coming to my house to borrow grain."
"And I won't lend it," Grandfather Meng added fiercely, the last sentence delivered with a firm tone.
The tightly shut courtyard gate finally opened, and an old man and a young man started arguing at the entrance.
In the end, it was the young man who snatched a door bar and followed the others.
When Fu Xinci returned, two more people followed her, Meng Qicheng and Meng Yiluo. They were both holding sticks, but their eyes were fixed on Fu Xinci's left hand.
Qi He had also noticed the long stick in Sister Fu's hand. It was the same color as his father's saber.
"Sister Fu, is this stick also made of fine steel?"
Before his granddaughter could answer, Grandfather Meng replied with a hint of pride, "Yes. This stick was also found for Ci'er by her master."
"Oh my," Qi He couldn't remain calm. He couldn't lift his father's saber, but he could lift a stick made of fine steel.
He really wanted one. What should he do?
Seeing everyone's gazes gradually converging on her left hand, Fu Xinci didn't give anyone a chance to speak. She quickly walked to her grandfather's side and handed the stainless steel pipe to him.
With this high-end stick in hand, Grandfather Meng immediately became the center of attention on the road.
Not only did the few elderly men ask him questions, but the people from the five villages also gravitated towards him, seemingly ready to follow his lead.
Dan Xiaocong, having experienced the previous incident, felt even closer to the second elder of the Meng family.
Grandfather Meng saw him too and asked, "Why is it you who came from your family?"
"Replying to Second Master Meng, my father is ill and cannot get out of bed, so I had to come."
"Oh, a good child."
Receiving another compliment from Second Master Meng, Dan Xiaocong's lips curved slightly upwards.
...
At the foot of the garrison's mountain slope, Commander Jin had already assembled his men and was preparing to lead them towards the mountain pass at the fastest possible speed.
The sergeant had taken fifty-five elite soldiers from their garrison, leaving only him, ten elderly and infirm, and a raw recruit who had recently joined their garrison.
Even though they were few in number, and most of them were injured or disabled, he still firmly believed they could defend the mountain pass.
"March."
"Yes."
Commander Jin ran at the front, with Qi Xi closely following behind him.
When Uncle Yuan Shan had assigned tasks earlier, Qi Xi wanted to go to the front to meet the enemy. But Uncle Yuan Shan refused to take him, telling him explicitly, "You have no experience fighting enemies and cannot be a burden to everyone."
In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Uncle Yuan Shan, looking valiant, led five squadrons of elite soldiers out of the mountain pass.
(Here, anyone who is strong and healthy is considered an elite soldier.)
When Commander Jin, carrying his saber, and his eleven soldiers reached the mountain pass, he looked back and saw Meng's second brother, accompanied by two village men, also following.
"Second Brother Meng, you're here."
"Old Jin, we all listen to you now. Whatever you tell us to do, we'll do it."
"Good. We people must protect the villagers under the Yingzuoya Garrison safe and sound until the sergeant returns."
"Uncle Jin, does that mean we're not allowed to let the Tartars' feet step into the mountain pass under our garrison's jurisdiction?"
"Yes, Little He is right." After answering Qi He's question, Commander Jin glanced at everyone and said solemnly, "Qi Xi, climb onto that large rock first. It's convenient for observing enemy movements from there. If any Tartars approach, you must give timely warning."
"Yes."
When Qi Xi climbed onto the large rock by the mountain pass, Fu Xinci realized that the top of the rock was hollowed out.
Qi Yuanshan had ordered a small shed to be built on top of it, serving as a lookout post.
She hadn't known about this until today.
Seeing Qi Xi climb onto the large rock, Commander Jin continued his instructions, "Next, we will place the stones outside the mountain pass with their pointed ends facing upwards, lining the road for at least fifty feet."
"Yes."
Fu Xinci, being an eight-year-old girl, didn't need to lift anything. She just stood at the mountain pass and watched everyone busily move the stones, each weighing a hundred to a hundred and eighty catties, from the side of the mountain path onto the road.
Fu Xinci had passed by this place countless times before and never knew that these large stones piled up by the roadside had this purpose.
The few elderly men were quite clever. Knowing that it was difficult to move the stones alone, they paired up and pushed together.
Indeed, their coordination was good, and they moved faster than the reckless youngsters, greatly shortening the time.
Watching the quick movements of the few elderly men made Commander Jin re-evaluate the Meng family.
After everyone had placed the large stones according to Commander Jin's instructions,
Fu Xinci looked over and truly felt it had the effect of a large isolation belt.
The wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated.
Commander Jin quickly inspected again and was relieved to see that the density of the placement met his expectations.
"The world knows that the Tartars are accustomed to fighting on horseback. This time of year when they come to Liaodong, it's mainly for sneak attacks."
"They always seize the opportune moment to raid on horseback, loot, and then flee, making it impossible for our Liaodong garrison to defend against them."
"With the stones placed at this density, it will be impossible for the Tartars to enter the mountain pass on horseback. As for dismounting to fight, it's uncertain who will win."
Commander Jin roughly explained what was about to happen to everyone, so they would have a clear understanding and not panic when the Tartars attacked.
"Does everyone understand?"
"We understand."
"Since everyone understands, I will now divide you into four small teams. Each team will guard for three hours."