Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 108 The Enemy's Treacherous Scheme

After reading the letter, Zhao Lingfeng's expression turned grave, and he said coldly:

"It seems the enemy has indeed extended their reach into the city. If it weren't for Lord Lü's careful vigilance, we might have fallen into their trap this time."

Lu Qian cupped his hands and said, "I am ashamed that I failed to identify all the spies in time."

Now that we have leads, I am willing to continue the investigation and bring the remaining accomplices to justice.

Zhao Lingfeng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Starting tomorrow, all resettlement sites in the city must be staffed with additional personnel and undergo rigorous screening."

All those leaving the city must be examined, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach the military camp.

After saying that, Zhao Lingfeng handed a roll of defense map to Lü Qian.

He whispered, "This map shows our adjusted defense strategy for this deployment. If necessary, we can also deliberately release false information to confuse the enemy."

Lu Qian took the defense map, his expression calm, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your subordinate obeys."

This operation will ensure the stability of the city and leave the enemy with no opportunity to exploit the situation.

After the people moved to the city center, Hesha City was bustling with activity.

The city center squares, corridors, and residential areas were designated as resettlement areas, where women, children, and the elderly were properly accommodated.

The once peaceful streets and alleys of the city are now filled with the figures of relocated people, but under Lü Qian's meticulous arrangements, the scene is orderly.

Lu Qian stood in the city center square, while several civilian officials beside him were busy organizing the resettlement list.

The people who came to report were uneasy, their eyes revealing their fear of the future.

To avoid chaos, he specifically assigned several close associates to guide and arrange for the people at each resettlement site, ensuring that each family was settled, and guaranteeing that their accommodations were safe and that they had enough food.

On the east side of the square, an elderly woman, looking haggard, was supporting her granddaughter.

Lu Qian personally stepped forward and led them to a resettlement house in the city, where he whispered words of comfort:

“Auntie, don’t worry, there are people guarding this place. You just need to rest and let us know if you need anything.”

The old woman nodded gratefully and said softly, "Thank you, Lord Lü. I am so old, if it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I wouldn't have survived this escape."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, and she gripped her granddaughter's hand tightly, a hint of relief in her eyes.

Lu Qian sighed, his gaze gentle: "Don't worry, madam, the general has made all the arrangements. Hesha City is impregnable and will not allow the enemy to enter the city easily."

Please stay here safely. If there is any disturbance, I will be there to protect you immediately.

The old woman thanked him gratefully. Lü Qian then ordered a close attendant to stay and look after her, while he continued to inspect the various resettlement sites to ensure that the people were properly settled.

At the entrance to the city center, several militiamen, holding long spears, stood guard at their posts, strictly controlling all entrances and exits.

Lü Qian ordered the guards to stay at their posts and not to let anyone leave without permission.

To avoid chaos, all residents entering and leaving the city center had to undergo strict checks. This order was both to prevent enemy spies and to maintain order during the resettlement process.

As night fell, a young man, looking nervous, tried to sneak out of the city center.

Upon seeing this, the guards immediately stepped forward to stop them.

The man looked flustered and stammered, "I just... I just wanted to check if my valuables that I left at home were still there."

The guard's face turned cold, and he said sternly, "The general has given the order that the people who have been relocated to the city are not allowed to leave at will."

"Are household belongings important, but isn't life important too?"

Seeing that he could not escape, the man had no choice but to retreat.

Upon hearing the news, Lü Qian immediately went to the entrance and once again instructed the guards:

"Your duty to guard this place is of utmost importance; do not be soft-hearted and let them pass."

If anyone insists on going out, they must be strictly controlled to prevent them from taking the opportunity to disrupt order.

The guards responded in unison, their eyes even more determined. Each of them gripped their long spears tightly, stood in a row, and their expressions were as solemn as stone sculptures.

Seeing this, Lü Qian nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved. He knew that stabilizing public morale was the key to defending the city.

The following morning, Lü Qian personally supervised the distribution of the grain and fodder.

Several officials lined up in the city center to register the people who were to receive the rations, distributing them according to the number of households and people to ensure fairness.

Each recipient must sign and stamp the register before they can receive their rations.

At this moment, a ragged man squeezed to the front of the line, his eyes filled with anxiety, and shouted loudly to an official in charge of allocation:

"My lord, my family is large, and this amount of food is not enough for me!"

The official frowned, about to respond, when Lü Qian stepped forward to reassure him:

"Please be patient. This distribution is done on a household basis. If you have any special needs, please explain them to the distribution officer and register them. They will be supplemented later."

The rations distributed to each person are now sufficient to ensure that every household receives a share.

Upon hearing this, the man's expression softened slightly, and he nodded in agreement.

Lü Qian continued to instruct the officials: "The distribution of grain and fodder is a matter of great importance and must be handled with care. We must ensure that every household receives some and avoid any disputes."

He also specifically ordered people to supervise the city's granaries to prevent any embezzlement or misappropriation during transit.

Under Lü Qian's arrangement, the distribution of grain and fodder was completed smoothly. After receiving the grain, the people returned to their respective resettlement points, and the streets and alleys gradually calmed down and returned to normal.

As night fell, the moonlight was hazy, and the streets and alleys in the city center exuded a sense of peace in the silence, as the people fell asleep one after another.

However, Lü Qian, accompanied by several civilian officials and militiamen, inspected the resettlement sites in the city with lanterns, carefully examining every corner to ensure that the resettlement sites were in good order.

As I walked to the entrance of an alley, I suddenly heard a few whispers.

Lu Qian stopped to listen, and heard someone whisper, "Can Hesha City be defended?"

The enemy's forces are overwhelming; I'm afraid even General Zhao might not be able to withstand them..."

Lu Qian frowned slightly and quietly approached with his entourage.

He noticed several people huddled together, looking tense and whispering amongst themselves. He knew that if these doubts were allowed to spread, they could once again shake the people's spirits.

He stepped forward and said slowly, "Everyone, you can rest assured now. General Zhao's defenses are solid, and Hesha City will not fall easily."

Upon hearing Lü Qian's voice, the commoners hurriedly bowed their heads. An old woman raised her head and asked with a fearful expression:

"Lord Lü, can you really stop the enemy army?"

I've heard they have a large army; can our small town really hold out?

Lu Qian's gaze was steady, and his tone was gentle: "Auntie, there's no need to worry."

The walls of Hesha are strong, and the garrison is well-trained. General Zhao is personally overseeing the battle; he will not allow you to move into the city unless victory is assured.

We soldiers are all on the front lines, and ensuring your safety is our duty.

Upon hearing this, the old woman's eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, "Thank you, Lord Lü."

These days, with so much fighting, I'm really uneasy, but with you here, I feel much more at ease.

Lu Qian smiled slightly, patted the old woman's shoulder, and gently comforted her, "As long as you work together, guard your own home, don't believe the rumors, and don't waver, we have a chance of winning."

"Auntie, sleep soundly. There are guards patrolling the city."

The old woman nodded, exchanged glances with the others, and gratefully returned to the house.

Lü Qian continued his inspection with his entourage, and only left after confirming that everyone was safe and sound.