This scene was witnessed by other refugees at the settlement, and more people successively requested to join.
Gu Qingcheng did not refuse. What she needed now was a large number of people, the more the better.
After conducting loyalty tests for the newcomers and eliminating two unqualified individuals, another 40 people were taken into the village.
As soon as these 40 people entered the village, they were each given 10 jin of rice, along with meat, oil, and salt.
These people were overcome with gratitude and knelt directly before Gu Qingcheng.
Gu Qingcheng organized them into two small teams, appointing team leaders. This brought the total number of teams to seven, with nearly 250 people.
After everyone had settled down, Gu Qingcheng called out to them, arranging them into a single file by team, and set off towards Yunwu Mountain.
Gu Qingcheng had a navigation device and would not get lost, so she did not ask any locals to guide them.
However, Dai Fa, seeing Gu Qingcheng repeatedly taking out the official document given to her by Zeng Zhubu and studying the terrain and direction of the mountain range from the drawings within, reminded her:
"Young Master Gu, should we hire a local guide?"
"No need, this map is very clearly marked, I can understand it."
Gu Qingcheng said with full confidence.
Map: ...So smug today, scribbled like a ghost, and yet someone can find the correct direction with it...
Although Dai Fa was worried, seeing Gu Qingcheng so confident, he had no choice but to let her lead.
Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo had taken potent pills, and now they drank water infused with them daily, maintaining boundless energy and walking at a swift pace.
The villagers followed Gu Qingcheng, passing through two smaller towns. After an hour, they finally arrived at the foot of Yunwu Mountain.
Looking up, Yunwu Mountain was not particularly steep, but the mountain was densely covered with weeds and thorns, clearly indicating that it was a place seldom visited, with no established path leading upwards.
With so many people needing to ascend, the only way was to hack through the undergrowth and forge a path.
Gu Qingcheng instructed the seven teams to take turns clearing the path, with a team change every half hour, allowing for alternating work and rest to prevent excessive fatigue.
Dai Fa distributed the scythes they had previously purchased to the first team.
Fortunately, with so many people, clearing the obstacles proceeded smoothly. However, by the time it was nearing dark, they had only advanced about five li uphill.
Gu Qingcheng noted that their elevation had already reached 450 meters. If they advanced another five li, they would reach an elevation of nearly 500 meters. She was not in a hurry; after all, the mountain would always be there, waiting for them, and they just needed to keep moving into it.
Gu Qingcheng ordered people to find a gentle mountain hollow, clear the surrounding weeds, and create a resting area, then set up to cook their meals.
The villagers of Phoenix Village, having migrated south, naturally possessed rich experience in wilderness survival. Didn't everyone carry cooking pots, bowls, and utensils?
Upon hearing that they could rest and cook, some began digging stoves, others lit bonfires, and some gathered stones to build stoves, each employing their unique skills.
Water was also not lacking. There were patches of unmelted snow all over the mountain, cleaner than the snow down below. Everyone dug a few basins of snow and melted it for use.
Mi Guo made a pot of savory congee, adding some dried shrimp, seaweed, diced cured meat, and diced bamboo shoots. Under everyone's watchful eyes, the two did not want to appear too extraordinary.
Due to the exertion, their appetites increased significantly, and they finished the entire pot of savory rice.
Mi Guo then heated water, melted the snow, washed their utensils, and heated another pot of water for her sister to wash her face and feet.
Although Gu Qingcheng could not bathe, she maintained her habit of cleanliness and hygiene. After this routine, she felt somewhat more comfortable and refreshed.
Mi Guo added firewood and placed several eggs wrapped in mud into the embers.
Gu Qingcheng looked at the surrounding villagers and felt as if she had returned to the time when she first arrived, fleeing famine with the villagers of Taoyuan Village.
She wondered if the villagers of Taoyuan Village had survived the extreme cold disaster and how many had managed to stay alive.
At this moment, there was a small commotion among the villagers. It turned out that a hunter among them had actually caught a wild rabbit and a pheasant.
Suddenly, everyone seemed to have discovered a treasure and began to rush into the nearby woods, hoping to try their luck.
Gu Qingcheng thought this was a good thing. With wild game in the mountains, they could hunt in the future and supplement their diet.
After the eggs buried in the embers were cooked, Mi Guo took some to give to Dai Fa's family.
Zheng Wuniang had walked for half a day without complaint. When Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo brought the eggs, they saw that she was in good spirits and chatted with her for a while.
It was then that Dai Fa found time to ask Gu Qingcheng:
"Young Master Gu, why do you call me village chief? Aren't you taking on the role yourself?"
"Yes, Uncle Dai, I've made you work hard as the village chief. In the future, all village affairs, big and small, will have to be managed by you."
Gu Qingcheng knew that Dai Fa would become a great city lord in the future, so how could she not make good use of this talent?
She just wanted to be a salted fish, to lie flat, alright?
She could offer strategies from behind the scenes, but she absolutely did not want to be the one charging into battle.
In any case, this land was allocated to her under the Great Zhou Dynasty, so she could be a commander from behind the scenes.
"Then what about you?" Dai Fa was stunned. He hadn't expected Gu Qingcheng's hard work to be a stepping stone for him.
"As long as Phoenix Village develops, I'll be an elder of Phoenix Village!"
Gu Qingcheng said shamelessly.
At the age of 13, to become an elder of a village would break the record of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
An elder was a detached figure in a village, with authority above the village chief. They could decide the village's development direction from a macro perspective but did not need to handle the day-to-day affairs. This was the most suitable position for Gu Qingcheng.
Dai Fa heard this, smiled with relief, and said:
"Alright, then I am at ease. If Phoenix Village can rise, it is your hard work, and I cannot take credit for your achievements."
The power distribution for Phoenix Village was thus decided.
The next day, everyone's drive to travel was even stronger, and the path-clearing teams were much faster than the previous day.
Because they had eaten well for two meals, everyone's strength had recovered. Especially for many who had been deficient in salt for a long time, their stamina had greatly improved after eating salt for these two days.
Gu Qingcheng walked along the way, checking the altitude reports on her map.
500 meters, approximately. But it was not yet the safest place. To solve the problem once and for all, it was best to establish the settlement at an altitude of over 500 meters.
"It's colder on the mountain, much colder than below, I'm shivering! And there isn't a flat piece of land anywhere, it's all weeds and bushes. Is this suitable for us to live in?"
Finally, a burly man among the villagers spoke impatiently.
They had walked through desolate mountains and wilds for almost two days and still hadn't reached their destination.
Everyone had originally thought of living in the prosperous south. Now, moving out from the bustling Wangchun City, all they saw were desolate mountains and wilds, and they had to clear their own path. Some people's hopes had indeed been dashed.
"Ha, this is a typical case of getting confused after eating well for a couple of days."
Dai Fa muttered from the side.
Gu Qingcheng saw that many villagers had stopped, seemingly influenced by the man's words.