The deputy shook his head. "We've already sent out scouts dozens of miles ahead, but so far, no sign. According to the intelligence from Jingzhe, Captain Mu should be taking a narrow path through this stretch."
Han Lu held the map she had drawn and pointed to a spot. "With so many civilians moving slowly, let's push a bit further ahead. If we can intercept them here and then take a detour to Green Rope Bay, it would be a shorter route."
It wasn’t until dusk that Han Lu finally caught sight of Mu Ning’s group.
The people of Hua Ruo were stunned—yet another Gofeng faction planted in Haijia Prefecture!
And all women, once again!
Han Lu, already aware of the situation in Hua Ruo, gave a friendly smile before turning to Mu Ning. "Captain Mu, the Lord is concerned for your safety and has decided to send ships to pick you up."
Mu Ning had no idea about Jiang Jin’s recent moves. Hearing Han Lu’s words, her heart stirred with excitement.
She hadn’t expected that after just a few months away, the Lord would already have ships ready!
Her face remained calm as she cupped her hands respectfully toward the Gofeng direction. "Thank you, Lord, for your kindness."
Leading so many civilians over such a long journey was truly challenging. The entire route ran through territories controlled by barbarian tribes.
Since their last encounter with the patrol cavalry of the Jiaojun, they had come across two more patrol squads. Whether it was because the cavalry had been killed or they had simply increased their patrols, Mu Ning couldn’t tell.
Fortunately, Jingzhe and the others were familiar with the terrain and scouted ahead, allowing them to avoid danger in time.
Still, for safety, they stuck mostly to mountain trails—rough paths that slowed their pace considerably.
Mu Ning sighed, "This will make transporting goods to Sizhou much easier and safer in the future."
In this era when the navy was underdeveloped, sea transport was indeed the safest option.
In the Jian Kingdom region, ships only needed to sail close to the coastline—no need to cross vast oceans or worry about losing their way.
Han Lu nodded. "Exactly. The Lord has ordered us to meet you at Green Rope Bay. The fleet will be waiting there."
"How long will it take to get from here to Green Rope Bay?" Mu Ning asked.
Han Lu pulled out the map. "About two days."
She glanced at the sky. "It’s nearly dark. There’s a spot just ahead where we can camp for the night."
Two days later, Mu Ning and her group arrived at Green Rope Bay, where the fleet awaited them.
Since the island was still under construction and Jiang Jin couldn’t leave, Dong Si and Shuangjiang had been sent to receive them.
Except for the massive warships that couldn’t dock, the rest of the vessels could all come ashore. The fleet chose several suitable spots along the coast and moored one after another.
Boom, boom, boom, boom...
Large wooden planks, three to four meters long, were laid from the ships to the shore. Rows of them stretched out, forming an impressive sight.
Hua Ruo stared at the towering giants lined up by the sea, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite name.
She had always thought Gofeng was a minor faction—it was, after all, just a small city.
But after witnessing Gofeng’s true strength, she had to reassess. Now, it seemed she had been too conservative.
Judging by the number and size of these ships, Gofeng’s power wasn’t much behind Sizhou’s.
She was genuinely curious—who was the mastermind behind Gofeng? How had they grown so vast and powerful without Sizhou even noticing?
Mu Ning smiled warmly at Dong Si and Shuangjiang standing on the deck, a feeling of seeing loved ones flooding her heart. "It's been so long."
Shuangjiang nodded in response, "Indeed, it's been a long time."
Dong Si’s eyes curved into a gentle smile. "The Lord sent us to welcome you. Please organize the people to board the ship as soon as possible."
Mu Ning nodded excitedly and directed the Jinyang soldiers to line up the civilians in an orderly fashion, helping to load large items like carts onto the ship.
Dong Si turned to Han Lu. "Thank you for your hard work. Was the journey smooth?"
Han Lu bowed respectfully. "Thanks to the Lord’s blessings, it went quite well. How is the Lord?"
Dong Si smiled warmly. "The Lord is well and very pleased with your performance."
At that moment, several soldiers approached carrying bundles and packages, placing them on the deck before stepping back.
Dong Si opened one of the packages. "These are the new cotton clothes made this year. Since you can’t return, the Lord asked me to bring them for all of you."
Han Lu touched the soft, fluffy fabric, a wave of indescribable emotion welling up inside her. Just holding the clothes made her feel warm.
Her voice quivered with a thick nasal tone. "The Lord’s kindness is overwhelming. I was only doing my duty and feel undeserving of such generosity."
Dong Si shook his head. "The Lord sees all your achievements and hardships. This winter is expected to be harsher than before. She worries about your safety out there."
"Gepeng happened to plant cotton this year, so she made these cotton clothes, pants, and heavy coats for you. Please take good care of yourselves."
He then pointed to a few other clearly different packages. "Now that the Lord has a dock, there’s plenty of fresh sea fish. She wanted you to try some."
Han Lu’s eyes reddened as she felt the depth of care and trust.
Originally, she was bought as a female slave by the Lord, but the Lord not only had her trained in martial arts and military strategy but also taught her to read and write.
She, a woman like her, could now choose her own path with dignity and live with honor.
She lowered her head, unwilling to let anyone see the tears welling up in her eyes.
She was now the head of the Anchi County liaison point—how could she afford to cry?
Dong Si clearly saw her mixed feelings of gratitude and embarrassment and teased, "Don’t you dare keep these supplies to yourself. There’s also Jingzhe and the others’ share."
"Both your liaison points are in Haijia Prefecture. When you have time, send their share over."
Each liaison point escorted supplies in relay. Once Jingzhe and her group reached near the Anchi County liaison point, they parted ways.
Han Lu pressed her lips into a smile, holding back her tears. "I definitely won’t keep anything for myself. I’ll send their share over as soon as I return. It won’t take more than two days on horseback."
Dong Si nodded in approval. "We’ve also replenished some other supplies for you. Take everything and head back while the daylight lasts."
Ma Feng stood in line, barely containing his excitement. At his age, it was his first time on a ship—such a large one, no less. He had never even seen one before.
His youngest son watched the Jinyang soldiers standing tall and straight on deck and whispered, "So mighty. I wish I could join the army too."
The days of traveling and interacting with the Jinyang soldiers had filled him with admiration.
It wasn’t just that the Jinyang soldiers were well-fed and well-cared for; it was because they carried a certain aura—one that no other army seemed to have.
Such an army filled him with a profound sense of security, naturally inspiring respect.
He wanted to become such a person.
At this moment, seeing the soldiers of the Jinyang Army on the ship, all dressed uniformly and exuding a heroic and dignified aura, he couldn’t help but feel a restless excitement within.
Ma Feng glanced at him but didn’t object.
He didn’t understand grand principles, but from Master Chen, Lady Mu, and these soldiers, he could sense something different.
Fengzhou truly was the right destination. Master Chen’s lord was definitely an extraordinary figure.
He even felt that life in Fengzhou would surely be better than in the Crown Prince’s Sizhou.
Serving in such a force might be a promising path.
Moreover, this faction had saved their lives, offered them a way out, and had come all this way by ship to pick them up—clearly valuing their lives deeply.
It was worth dedicating oneself to such a power.
With so many people, boarding the ship took quite some time.
Fortunately, the civilians had already developed the habit of obedience, following orders without any trouble.
By dusk, all the civilians were aboard.
The horses were last; their eyes were blindfolded as they were led across the gangplank onto the ship.
The fleet set sail, heading straight for Fengzhou.
