#140 - Chapter 140 Black Ear

On the second day after the large house was tidied up, Cheng Feng, accompanied by the Third Brother, Wang Hu, and ten Hongmen disciples, drove a carriage slowly towards that familiar home. This trip was to bring their parents into the city to escape the chaos of these troubled times.

Recently, the situation had been turbulent, and the world was uneasy. According to Wang Hu, the fire started by the Red Lotus Sect had begun to spread to the surrounding prefectural cities. In recent days, there had also been a surge of refugees in the south of Da Zhou, with constant disputes. The government was busy protecting itself, and the security of Qingxi County was barely maintained by the county soldiers.

Several surrounding villages had already been looted, and the people were displaced and suffering unspeakable hardships. Although Liu Village was temporarily peaceful, no one could predict when the chaos would spread there.

Fortunately, Cheng Feng had been prepared for a rainy day. With his wisdom and hard work, he had earned enough money to buy a large house, enough to accommodate his family. Moreover, his own strength had increased his ability to resist future risks.

At this moment, he sat in the carriage, filled with emotion.

When he was insignificant, he worked hard to get ahead, just to escape poverty and have a better life.

Establishing the Hongmen was also to provide sales channels for his refined salt business.

Who would have thought that the situation in Da Zhou would become so riddled with holes?

Localized decay, and the fire was not put out in time, causing the fire to spread.

This made him understand even more that in this chaotic world, only by being strong himself could he protect his family and friends.

On the way home, the group encountered many refugees. They were ragged, their faces gaunt, and their eyes revealed fear of the unknown future. Cheng Feng noticed that there were also children among the refugees, their innocent eyes contrasting sharply with the adults' hungry, desperate, and fierce gazes.

Although Cheng Feng felt pity in his heart, he was even more vigilant. These refugees had lost hope in life, and they were capable of anything to survive. Fortunately, he had rented two carriages, and the group was fully armed with swords and sabers, looking formidable.

As the carriage passed through the crowd of refugees, Cheng Feng noticed several men who looked like leaders exchanging glances. Their eyes revealed a strange light, as if they were communicating something.

Cheng Feng immediately realized that these refugees were not as simple as they appeared on the surface. Perhaps some ill-intentioned people were hiding among them, trying to exploit the kindness of others for their own gain.

Thinking of this, Cheng Feng signaled to continue driving the carriage forward and instructed his men to be more vigilant.

In this chaotic era, protecting oneself and those around you was the most important thing. Excessive compassion would only harm oneself.

The carriage gradually moved away, and the leaders among the refugees seemed somewhat disappointed. But they did not give up, but turned around and led the other refugees in another direction, seemingly looking for new targets. Cheng Feng knew clearly in his heart that in this chaotic world, people's hearts were unpredictable, and he must remain vigilant at all times to ensure the safety of his people.

Cheng Feng looked at the road he had walked alone a year ago, when it was still so peaceful and serene.

However, times had changed, and now there were hardly any pedestrians on this road, replaced by refugees wandering all over the place.

The Third Brother couldn't bear it and said, "Second Brother, these children are so pitiful. Can't we help them?"

Cheng Feng looked at his third brother, whose face was still slightly immature, and replied sternly, "Everything must be focused on picking up our parents. Do not cause trouble along the way. Our own affairs have not yet been properly handled, so where do you have the leisure to spread your love?"

The Third Brother was a little dazed. He had never thought that his second brother, who was usually so kind to him, would treat him so harshly at this moment. He couldn't help but wonder, when did Second Brother become so cold and ruthless?

Cheng Feng also realized that his tone might have been too harsh, so he tried to enlighten the Third Brother, saying, "I only ask you, if we delay our time on the road by distributing food to those disaster victims, causing our parents and eldest brother at home to suffer misfortune because of your delay, then do you think you did the right thing or the wrong thing afterwards?"

Seeing that the Third Brother had listened to his words, and still had a slightly unconvinced look, Cheng Feng continued, "Have you ever thought that if our group distributes food, we are very likely to be attacked by a group of refugees. At that time, how should we respond? Facing those refugees who suddenly attack, should we kill each other? Is it not that the food you send is a gift to give them life, but instead pushes them into the abyss of death?"

These questions may have come too early for the Third Brother, but Cheng Feng no longer regarded the Third Brother as a child.

After all, the Hongmen needed someone to take charge of the overall situation, but Cheng Feng could not always keep an eye on the Hongmen. In this dog-eat-dog world, strength is the most critical factor.

Time is fair to everyone.

Cheng Feng needed someone to keep an eye on the Hongmen for him while he worked hard to become stronger, to ensure that the Hongmen would not deviate from its course.

And the Third Brother was the best spokesperson in Cheng Feng's mind.

In addition to his current lack of strength, whether it was emotions, relationships, or the bond of blood, it could ensure that Cheng Feng's own interests would not be harmed. In addition, the Hongmen could not always rely on Wang Hu to take care of everything.

As for Babai and Cheng Yi, they were also important parts of Cheng Feng's plan... Inserting them into the Hongmen training ground was just to supervise.

Wang Hu knew very well that this was very necessary. Fortunately, he was also a broad-minded person. Since Cheng Feng began to covet the Tiger Head Gang, nothing unexpected had happened until now.

Seeing that the outside world was so chaotic, the Hongmen's previous strategy of maintaining low-key development had gradually become somewhat unsustainable.

In order to prevent any unexpected events, Cheng Feng urgently needed more manpower and financial support. To achieve these goals meant that he had to seize talents, compete for territory, and even experience cruel厮杀 and desperate struggles.

In the training camp, some people could not persevere and had to be eliminated and relegated to the second line; while those who gritted their teeth and persevered would soon be officially promoted to Hongmen disciples.

Cheng Feng planned to build these hundred people into the elite force of the Hongmen, making them the vanguard of the Hongmen in Qingxi County to expand its territory.

At the very least, the South City District must first be completely brought under the control of the Hongmen, and an indestructible base must be established for it.

Wang Hu had been doing intelligence work all along, and he had done it quite well.

He was a naturally well-informed person, and with Cheng Feng's full support, he had successfully established a team dedicated to gathering information.

For those who had already been relegated to the second line but did not want to completely leave the Hongmen, joining this intelligence team was undoubtedly an excellent choice.

On the one hand, they could continue to serve the Hongmen; on the other hand, they could also exert their residual heat in a relatively relaxed environment.

Cheng Feng named this intelligence team "Black Ears," meaning that they were like ears in the darkness, silently listening to all information about the Hongmen, but not easily making a sound.

They lurked in the dark, always vigilant, just to provide the most timely and accurate intelligence support for the Hongmen at critical moments.