#342 - Chapter 342 Hongmen Action

Naturally, Cheng Feng disregarded the meeting at the county office with Wei Zhuang present, knowing that in times of crisis, one could only rely on oneself.

He paid no attention to the urgent meeting concerning the fate of the county, but instead, alone and after careful consideration, made his own decision.

"In this chaotic world, only strength is the ultimate truth," Cheng Feng thought to himself, realizing that under the threat of the Red Lotus Society, any reliance on external forces could be as elusive as a reflection in the water or a flower in a mirror.

Therefore, he decided to rely on his own power to find a way out for his family and those around him.

Using his familiarity with the terrain and his insight into people's hearts, Cheng Feng quietly began to transfer the Hongmen's forces.

War is imminent, what are we waiting for if we don't run???

Waiting to die??

Cheng Feng had also considered Hong Village, but he quickly realized that this place was not suitable as a foothold. Because it was too close to the county town, if any unexpected situation occurred, it could easily be wiped out by the Red Lotus Society.

In comparison, although Black Wind Fortress had suffered severe damage in the past, its geographical location was deeper and the roads were more treacherous, making it safer.

Many Hongmen disciples had participated in the剿匪 (bandit suppression) operations at Black Wind Fortress, and were very familiar with the terrain and environment there. This enabled them to better guide other members forward and ensure the safety of the entire team.

Cheng Feng clearly knew that the current Black Wind Fortress was just a ruin and could not provide actual shelter. Therefore, he needed to make preparations in advance to ensure that everyone could return to normal life as soon as possible.

After clarifying his thoughts, Cheng Feng decisively issued an order to Wei Zhuang: "Immediately lead a group of family members, dependents, and craftsmen to Black Wind Fortress first!"

He especially emphasized prioritizing the protection of the Hongmen's high-level family members, letting them leave the county town first. This would not only ensure the safety of these important figures, but also allow them to play a key role in the reconstruction of Black Wind Fortress.

Once they arrived at Black Wind Fortress, these family members and craftsmen would immediately devote themselves to repair and construction work.

At the same time, Cheng Feng decided to arrange for a subsequent group of people to replace the craftsmen in Hong Village, handing over supplies, so that Hong Village could be used as a transfer point to complete the project as soon as possible, and there was no need to go back to the county town to get supplies.

This would not only ensure that everyone's physical strength was fully restored, but also avoid the risks of being too concentrated in one place.

After careful discussion with Wei Zhuang, the route for the withdrawal of a portion of the Hongmen disciples from Qingxi County was quickly arranged. Their movements were swift and orderly, without causing any unnecessary confusion or panic.

And the destination of this withdrawal was Black Wind Fortress.

As the gang leader of Qingxi County, the county soldiers guarding the city gate did not dare to provoke this local tyrant.

In addition, Wang Hu paid a sum of money every month to grease the wheels, further turning a blind eye to the Hongmen's actions.

"Sanwazi, why are we moving out?" An old lady, hunched over and with a face full of vicissitudes, asked her son, who was already a high-level member of the Hongmen.

A strong man quietly comforted her: "Mom, didn't the sect leader give instructions? The sect leader is doing it for our own good."

"It's the sect leader, ah, then I won't ask. The sect leader is so good to our family, he shouldn't harm us. I'm just afraid that this old woman will be a drag on you," the old woman muttered to herself.

"Don't worry, Mom, maybe we'll need your help then! We won't say anything else, just based on your needlework and the skill of making clothes, who can compare to you??" Sanwazi comforted her.

The old woman smiled, "That's right, no one has ever said a bad word about your mother's needlework."

Watching his old mother being pacified, Sanwazi wiped the false sweat from his head, he had never been so cautious even when fighting with the Black Snake Gang.

He thought: "Fortunately, the reason given by the sect is good, and later they will really arrange for my old mother to do some handwork. The sect leader is really thoughtful!"

Such scenes were not uncommon in Qingxi County. It would be courting death to openly say that the rebels were coming.

Even Wei Zhuang could see that yesterday's meeting was nominal, but at least he had to put in some effort. The Hongmen sent a thousand people as backup in this matter, and they were being integrated and trained by the county commandant.

The superficial work had to be done, and the secret work naturally could not be neglected.

In order to ensure the safety and smoothness of the evacuation process, the Hongmen disciples took various measures.

First, they disguised themselves to avoid causing unnecessary attention and trouble. This disguise may include changing clothes, using aliases, changing routes, etc., to ensure that they were not tracked by official forces during the evacuation process.

At the same time, bringing family members was also an important part of the evacuation operation. The Hongmen disciples knew the importance of family, so they tried to ensure that every family could leave completely when evacuating.

This was not only an expression of responsibility to family members, but also an important measure to maintain organizational stability and unity.

During the evacuation process, the disciples might organize themselves, help each other, and take care of the elderly, children, and the weak, to ensure that they could safely reach Hong Village for rest.

Wei Zhuang's deployment undoubtedly provided a strong guarantee for this evacuation operation. He may have formulated a detailed evacuation plan based on various factors such as terrain, enemy situation, and traffic conditions, and arranged sufficient manpower and material resources to support it.

During the evacuation process, Wei Zhuang may also have collected intelligence information through various channels and adjusted the plan in a timely manner to deal with emergencies.

This evacuation operation was not only a test of the individual abilities of the Hongmen disciples, but also a test of the organization's cohesion and adaptability. Through this operation, the Hongmen disciples demonstrated a high degree of organizational discipline and teamwork spirit.

The Lin family had a good relationship with Cheng Feng, so Cheng Feng had visited the Lin residence. In his spare time, he chatted with Lin Wan'er about the current situation, which was all about preparing to run away or surrender.

The other families also meant the same thing. No matter which dynasty it was, it needed the support of the people below. If it didn't work, they would run away, they couldn't just sit and wait for death.

Cheng Feng wanted to help, but things are accomplished in secrecy, words leak and fail, success comes from the mind, and planning comes from deep thought. Before Black Wind Fortress was rebuilt, it was better not to say too much about this matter.

But he still left Lin Wan'er an address for Hong Village.

Looking at Lin Wan'er's delicate little face, he said solemnly: "Wan'er, if the rebels really enter the city to burn, kill, and loot, you should run to this place, maybe there is still a chance of survival."

Seeing Cheng Feng say this so solemnly, Lin Wan'er was also shocked. It was rare for Cheng Feng to speak so solemnly.

She firmly remembered the address in her mind, and her beautiful eyes flashed: "Brother Feng, you are so good to my Lin family, it's really..."

Before she could finish speaking, a big mouth covered hers. Lin Wan'er resisted without success and quietly enjoyed it.

Lips and teeth intertwined, saliva exchanged.

The two people who had each other in their hearts naturally kissed together.

Just as he was about to take action, Cheng Feng suppressed his impulse.

Lin Wan'er's reputation still needed to be protected, but Cheng Feng had already determined that she was his person.