Doomsday: Gain experience by hunting

“I agree!” Queen Xia Qingge was the first to second the idea, then immediately reminded, “Hmm, we can’t go robbing ordinary villages and camps.”

Tang Wen nodded, “Of course, poor people don’t have much food to begin with. Besides, we’re taking food to take care of the poor in our camp.”

“Even if we get the food, we can't just hand it out to them.”

General Zhou was afraid that Tang Wen lacked management experience and his ideas were too simple, so he reminded him.

“Uncle Zhou, don’t worry, I’ve come from hard times, so I naturally understand the principles.” Tang Wen continued, “After we get the food, we’ll use work as a form of relief. As long as they’re willing to work, the camp will provide meals. Those who do well will eat more, and those who slack off will be kicked out.”

General Zhou nodded in approval.

“About the matter of getting food,” Tang Wen mused, “I need to make a plan.”

Seeing everyone’s expectant eyes, he added, “If it works out, we can get food within a month.”

A month's time.

Not too long.

Judging from the reserves of Black Mountain Camp and Five Families City, it should be more than enough to last a month.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The way they looked at Tang Wen seemed to have changed.

The issue of not having enough food was something they encountered every winter.

Relying solely on the camp itself was not a solution.

Externally, there was also the threat of Black Mountain Camp and the alien beasts.

Every winter, conflicts with Black Mountain Camp were inevitable.

Alien beast attacks on the city happened constantly.

After the meeting dispersed, the many commanders left.

Only the Queen, General Zhou, Zhou Bing, and other core members remained in the room.

Tang Wen revealed his plan: “There are two targets, the Huang family and the Shipping Guild, both are major forces. They each have grain-producing camps, so we’ll just go directly to their granaries and take it.”

After speaking, he took out a scroll.

When unrolled, it was a simplified map of the area within a thousand miles of Ganshan City.

It was densely marked with the major and minor camps of the various forces.

The Huang family’s camps were marked with yellow circles.

Written on them were words such as: soldier, agriculture, chickens and ducks… iron mine, etc.

These words indicated the main project of the camp.

The [Soldier] camp was purely a martial arts talent training camp.

The Huang family had been able to dominate Ganshan City for many years, with family experts constantly emerging, which was largely due to their emphasis on talent cultivation.

The [Soldier] camp cultivated orphans and the Huang family’s children.

If a good seedling was discovered, they would immediately be sent to the Huang family’s headquarters for increased resource investment.

Those with average comprehension were left to be trained as ordinary guards.

The [Agriculture] camp, needless to say, was for farming.

The location of the [Agriculture] camp was often a plain with water veins.

If fruits and vegetables were grown, the map would also indicate [Fruit] and [Vegetable].

This map caused those who had grown up in the camp to be somewhat lost in thought.

“The Huang family actually possesses so many resources!” “It should be said that the major forces in Ganshan City all have a lot of territory.”

In addition to the Huang family, the map also marked the territories of the Chen family, the Lü family, the Blackwater Gang, the Giant Rock Martial Hall, and other forces.

Among them, the number of camps of the Chamber of Commerce, the Shipping Guild, and the Horse Caravan were the smallest, but their sphere of influence was very large.

The purple lines representing the Chamber of Commerce were interconnected, perfectly linking the various forces in Ganshan City.

In addition, the lines also extended outside the map.

The Shipping Guild’s green lines were not very conspicuous on the map, but all the rivers and lakes that could be navigated had their docks.

In addition to freight, the Horse Caravan also provided low-level war beasts to the various families.

These were alien beasts used on the battlefield.

Their main territories were grasslands, forests, and mountainous terrain.

These places were not suitable for growing crops, but they were suitable for taming various large riding beasts.

Tang Wen had looked at this map many times, so he wasn’t too shocked at this point, and smiled:

“Our Flame Camp has also begun to develop, and now has jurisdiction over Black Mountain, the Northern Silver Wolf Forest, and Five Families City.”

“How can that be the same? They’re all reaching out for food.”

“Take it slowly.”

General Zhou considered more and said with a solemn expression: “Are we really going to provoke these two major forces?”

Tang Wen recounted Bai Youruo’s experience.

General Zhou thought for a while and nodded: “The infighting of major forces is ruthless, we have to prepare an escape route.”

Tang Wen strongly agreed: “For the time being, the possibility of another force from the Bai family coming to retaliate against us is small. But if someone does come looking for trouble, we’ll retreat to the White Tiger Tribe’s territory.”

The Bai family was even more powerful than the Huang family.

But apart from Bai Youruo and a few others, no one knew of the Flame Camp’s existence.

Even if they did, they wouldn’t take it seriously.

Why would they cross tens of thousands of miles to retaliate against a force that didn’t even have a Fifth Rank expert?

At this crucial moment of the Bai family’s struggle for succession, Bai Ningbing’s faction didn’t have that much time.

The Queen suddenly frowned and asked in front of everyone, “How did you become an honorary elder of this White Tiger Tribe?”

Tang Wen glanced at Zhou Bing, held her hand, and said confidently:

“I have a good relationship with their Holy Maiden.”

The air instantly fell silent, and everyone looked at him.

A smile appeared on Zhou Bing’s fair face.

General Zhou looked at his face and nodded in realization.

Xia Qingge also understood, reached out and patted Tang Wen on the shoulder, with an expression that said, 'Good job, you little devil.'

Tang Wen thought of another problem.

The White Tiger Tribe must be hiding some unknown secret.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it be better for a force with a strong Fourth Rank to directly unify the entire Northwest?

What did it mean that the Huang family of Ganshan City couldn’t leave?

Could it be that the White Tiger Tribe also had similar unknown restrictions?

Xia Qingge, General Zhou, and the others continued to look at the map.

Tang Wen smiled in his heart, clapped his hands, and attracted everyone’s attention: “What I’m about to say next is quite important, it’s an unsolved mystery.”

Old General Xia, who was squinting at the map, suddenly spoke: “Then don’t say it here, come with me.”

The group followed the secret passage to the underground.

Passing the circular plaza, Tang Wen suddenly stopped and looked at the ring of fireplaces here. Through the transparent glass, he could see the deep red embers burning inside.

The presence of the fireplaces made the underground palace warm and comfortable.

Following his gaze, Old Xia casually explained, “I know what you want to ask, this wasn’t built by our camp.”

“Huh?”

“You kid, think carefully, the camp is near swamps, forests, mountains, and a large lake, full of dangers. Who would build a camp here?” Old Xia tapped his tobacco pouch, offering a hint.

Indeed, he hadn’t thought about this problem before.

Thinking about it carefully, he realized that this place was actually not suitable for living.

For a weak force, it was best to settle in terrain similar to Peach Blossom Village, completely hidden in a mountain valley, developing slowly, sending people to explore, and cultivating experts.

The Flame Camp was not close to a water source, had no river, and the reclaimed farmland was originally mountainous, unsuitable for farming. It really wasn’t a good place.

So why did the leader of the Flame Camp settle here back then?

Tang Wen understood and looked up at the old walls of the underground palace: “This was already here?”

“That’s right, it’s a relic!”

Xia Qingge took a sip of wine and uttered a rarely heard word.

“My father told me that my hometown was in the distant East.”

Huh?

Tang Wen’s eyes were filled with surprise.

Xia Qingge looked at him and said, “It is said that my ancestors were from an exploration team of a certain major force. They went all the way west, seemingly to figure out what happened to this world, but later they couldn’t go back for some reason.”

“Have you never thought about finding your way back?” Tang Wen asked.

“Find my way back?” Xia Qingge gave him a strange look: “How can I find it? I don’t want to run around all my life, um, and have to recognize relatives everywhere.”

“Didn’t they leave anything behind?”

“That generation of people did think about going back, and made many attempts. Some people left and never came back, and it’s not known whether they found the way back or died outside. There aren’t many things left behind, don’t think about it, these things are too far away from us.”

Glug glug.

Xia Qingge raised her bright face and took a big gulp.

Suddenly, her hand trembled almost imperceptibly, and a trace of wine dripped from the corner of her pink lips, adding a drop of moisture to her slender neck.

Everyone was walking towards the secret room, and only Tang Wen, who was next to her, noticed this scene.

“What’s wrong?”

The latter asked strangely.

“What’s wrong? It’s just that my hand shook, this wine isn’t good.”

Saying that, Xia Qingge brought the gourd in her hand in front of Tang Wen’s nose.

It was the smell of sweet potato wine.

Tang Wen didn’t think much about it, and took out another wine jar from the empty stone.

“I knew you kid had a stash.” Xia Qingge’s beautiful eyes narrowed, took the wine jar, and looked at Tang Wen’s neck again.

There was a necklace hanging there, and on the necklace, silver metal wrapped a small stone.

She had just felt the fluctuation and knew that the wine came from this small stone.

“How much more is there, take it all out?” Her eyes were burning, and she swallowed.

It looked like she was coveting Tang Wen’s body.

“Hehe, drink less wine.” Tang Wen turned around, then suddenly turned back, staring at her eyes, and asked curiously, “Speaking of which, how did you get addicted to alcohol?”

Experts above the Transcendent level are very difficult to get drunk.

Among the many experts in Ganshan City, apart from the elderly, young people rarely carry a wine gourd with them all the time.

After all, alcohol has some impact on martial arts.

Drinking and relaxing at night is one thing.

But who carries a wine gourd all day long and drinks it like water?

Xia Qingge blinked and said with confidence: “A family addiction to alcohol!”

“Don’t want to say it, then don’t say it.” Tang Wen took the lead in entering the secret room.

Xia Qingge raised her head and poured the turbid sweet potato wine in the gourd into her mouth.

Tang Wen stepped into the secret room.

Her hand shook again, although she immediately controlled it, there was still a trace of wine spilling out, wetting the red clothes on her chest.

The group waited in the secret room for a few minutes before Xia Qingge walked in with a wine gourd filled with Zhuyeqing.

Looking at her slightly flushed face.

Everyone shook their heads.

Zhou Bing said coldly: “Why has your alcohol addiction been getting worse and worse lately?”

“What’s getting worse and worse, this shows that I’ve practiced it. What does a child know about wine!” Xia Qingge shook her head like a rattle drum, driving her upper body to shake with it.

The scenery was very attractive.

Well, among everyone present, only Tang Wen glanced at it twice.

Why was her chest wet?

The Queen was not afraid of the cold or heat.

The red dress was very thin. At this time, it was wet by the wine, setting off the skin as white as jade.

Tang Wen was curious and looked at it a few more times.

“Ganshan City has an underground demon cave, which is very dangerous. Logically speaking, it’s even worse than the environment of our camp. But I don’t know why, they never seem to have thought about moving away.”

Before, Tang Wen had also mentioned the underground issue, but not as thoroughly as today:

“According to normal thinking, even if you want to suppress the demon cave, you shouldn’t have the entire clan and gang, men, women, old and young, move into Ganshan City. Otherwise, if you can’t suppress it one day, it will be a disaster that destroys the gang and the clan.”

“It’s very strange.” General Zhou had considered it in his busy schedule: “If I were to design it, I would build Ganshan City into an internal castle. There’s no need to send people to desperately fight in the underground. Just set up traps on the ground and wait for the enemy to come out.”

Everyone nodded.

Tang Wen also agreed with his idea. If he could get gunpowder weapons from Baishi City, it would be even simpler.

Just surround it with high walls and throw explosives.

At worst, build several more layers of encirclement.

The killing power of gunpowder weapons is enough to be fatal to ordinary martial artists.

The underground demons can’t all be Transcendent level, right?

Even if they are, indiscriminate bombing with gunpowder can take half of a Transcendent’s life.

First, cover it with gunpowder for a few rounds, and then the rest will be easier to fight.

“What we can think of, they must have thought of it long ago. I asked the Blackwater Gang leader, who is also my master. He just said that the water is very deep here, and the specific leaders are the three major families. It seems that they have a reason to desperately fight in the underground.”

Tang Wen had always found this difficult to understand.

“Is there an unknown benefit?” Old General Xia asked.

Tang Wen shook his head: “Before, I also thought so, maybe there are some rare martial arts resources that the Huang family is willing to risk their lives for. But they kept urging me to take the White Tiger Tribe down to guard it. If there really are benefits, they can hide it from the five major forces in the outer city, but they can’t hide it from the Fifth Rank White Tiger. They can’t hide it from the White Tiger Tribe even more.”

Everyone fell silent.

Tang Wen then spoke about the doubts in his heart.

The White Tiger Tribe didn’t come out to dominate one side, but instead stayed in the Shiwan Mountains, living a relatively poor life, which he couldn’t understand.

“Perhaps this is their belief and persistence, something similar to ancestral instructions?” General Zhou guessed.

“That’s not quite right either. People are all different. The White Tiger Tribe has at least tens of thousands of people. It’s impossible for everyone to be completely willing, content with poverty, and adhere to ancestral instructions.”

People’s hearts are very complicated. Who can withstand the temptation of the prosperous world?

The White Tiger Tribe also has ordinary Transcendent and ordinary martial artists.

In the tribe, their status is not high, and they can’t even enjoy any precious resources.

But once they come out, whether they join any force or go it alone, they can definitely live a carefree life and sing every night!

Why doesn’t anyone leave?

“Don’t be in a hurry to explore the truth.” Old Xia coughed, glanced at Xia Qingge, and said in a heavy tone: “You are still young, improving your strength is the most important thing. You must know that the answer to some things may change your life.”

Eh?

Tang Wen looked at the old man, who was puffing clouds of smoke from his tobacco pouch.

Tang Wen and the others were puzzled, but the Queen continued to drink from her wine gourd, seemingly unconcerned about anything.

Night.

Bonfires blazed.

To the accompaniment of lively drumbeats, the young guards and warriors in the camp began to dance simple dances.

The young men and women enjoyed the New Year's festivities.

Caught up in the atmosphere, Zhou Bing pulled Tang Wen into a dance.

After dancing together for a while, Tang Wen went to pull the solitary Xia Qingge into the fun.

But as soon as his hand touched her, Xia Qingge recoiled, saying, "No, no, only children dance." With that, she turned and went up onto the roof.

Suddenly, Tang Wen heard a voice transmission in his ear: "Your female leader, there seems to be something wrong with her body!"

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

He instinctively looked towards Hu Qi's direction.