Chapter 899: Ruthlessly Mad
Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi arrived at the tent where the military doctors were stationed and wrote down a new prescription. “Immediately send people to collect these medicinal ingredients, and start preparing the medicine as soon as they return.”

The person in charge of the medical supplies, Official Luo, took the prescription from her hands. “Yes, Miss Chu.”

After leaving the tent, Chu Qingzhi headed towards Tang Jinghong’s tent.

Finding the tent empty, Chu Qingzhi turned and asked a guard standing outside, “Where is General Tang?”

The soldier kept his gaze forward, “The general has gone to the stronghold and has not yet returned.”

“What was he doing at the stronghold?” Chu Qingzhi inquired further.

The soldier replied, “I do not know.”

Chu Qingzhi returned to her tent and contacted Tang Jinghong through the Jin Yu Phoenix communication device to find out his whereabouts.

Tang Jinghong quickly informed her of his situation.

He had discovered a place where the poppy plant was cultivated, which turned out to be a front for a drug production site masquerading as a simple village.

Clever tricks by the ancients!

Since Tang Jinghong was returning soon, Chu Qingzhi decided not to go there. She left her tent and walked towards the area where the displaced people were gathered.

This area was now under the supervision of Tang Jinghong’s personal guards, with Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia assisting.

The displaced people had initially been in chaos and diseased, but now they were organized and settled. Once a suitable village or location was found, they could be moved to recuperate and rebuild their lives.

Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia approached her, “Miss, you’re back?”

“Is everything running smoothly?” Chu Qingzhi asked.

“There were many problems at first, but it has gotten much better now,” Jia Liyu reported.

Chu Qingzhi responded, “You have been working hard during this time…” She continued talking as they walked forward.

Ying Shengtian, sitting under a tree, hurried over when he saw Chu Qingzhi. “Miss, Miss…”

Chu Qingzhi stopped and looked at him, “What is it?”

Ying Shengtian said, “Miss, I was wondering when we could settle down? Everyone is almost recovered, and we don’t want to burden you any longer.”

Chu Qingzhi was somewhat surprised that a displaced person would say such a thing. “Do you wish to return to your original village?”

Ying Shengtian shook his head, “We have no homes to return to after fleeing; any nearby arrangement would suffice.”

Returning might lead to problems with village chiefs or the local magistrate; it might be better to start anew.

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “Wait a little longer. General Tang is currently looking for places to resettle you, and arrangements will be made soon.”

Ying Shengtian expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Miss, thank you, General.”

…

On the plains, Tang Jinghong had gathered a thousand soldiers to uproot the poppy plants, and after a day’s hard work, they managed to eradicate the menace.

Looking at the ashes of the eradicated crops, Tang Jinghong led his men to a nearby village.

Xia Lan asked, “General, what are we doing here?”

Tang Jinghong looked at the nearly deserted village and counter-asked, “Don’t you think this area is suitable for resettling the displaced people?”

Xia Lan, as if enlightened, replied, “Yes, General, you always think ahead.”

There were about a dozen villages nearby, all virtually unpopulated, making them ideal for resettling the over ten thousand displaced people. The success now depended on whether Qi Kaiming could bring back the original villagers.

Usually, displaced people do not return, but these villagers were driven out under different circumstances and might come back if found.

However…

Qi Kaiming returned on horseback, his expression grim. “General, we’ve found the villagers.”

Tang Jinghong urgently asked, “Where?”

Qi Kaiming hesitated, then said, “Follow me, General.”

They arrived at a cliff.

Qi Kaiming dismounted, walked to the edge, and pointed down. “General, the people are below, now turned to bones.”

Tang Jinghong’s face darkened instantly, “You mean, all the villagers died here?”

Qi Kaiming nodded, “Yes.”

“Ruthlessly mad!” Tang Jinghong cursed fiercely, feeling a surge of uncontrollable rage.

The soldiers accompanying him also cursed the perpetrators as beasts, too cruel for their brutal acts.

Qi Kaiming asked, “What do we do now, General?”

“Get some shovels; let’s bury the bodies right here,” Tang Jinghong said, closing his eyes briefly as he grappled with the heavy reality. The thought of so many lives lost was overwhelming; how could anyone commit such a heinous act?

“Yes, General.”

The soldiers brought shovels, and Tang Jinghong joined them in burying the bodies. Thousands of lives, men, women, elderly, and children, none had been spared in this cruel act. The scene was more harrowing than any battlefield he had witnessed, truly a mountain of bones.

Qi Kaiming, filled with righteous indignation, declared, “General, we must make those responsible suffer the most severe of punishments!”

The soldiers agreed, “Indeed, General. These people are not human.”

Tang Jinghong, heartbroken, commanded, “Let’s head back first. We will not let those who did this go unpunished!”

…

Meanwhile, the soldiers who had been sent to investigate the disappearance of the second batch of supplies returned. Chu Qingzhi prepared to interrogate them, eager to recover the missing supplies and head back to the military camp. As she was about to leave, Tang Jinghong returned, his expression somber and dark—a look she had never seen on him before.

“Jinghong!”

Seeing Chu Qingzhi, Tang Jinghong’s mood lightened slightly, “Qingzhi, let’s talk inside the tent.”

Inside the tent, they exchanged updates.

Chu Qingzhi, who was accustomed to scenes of violence, was shocked by the news of the massacre. “They’ve slaughtered an entire village… they’ve lost all humanity!”

“Jinghong, let’s first take care of resettling the villagers,” Chu Qingzhi suggested, bringing his focus back to the immediate needs.

Tang Jinghong rubbed his temples, “You’re right. I’ll immediately arrange for the resettlement of the villagers. We’ll sort out the rest after stabilizing the situation here.”