In the dark primeval forest, two Tertun people fled together.

They didn't dare to light a fire or take a rest. The tree canopy that blocked the sky made it impossible for them to identify the direction - the direction was not important anymore, only the way to survive was important.

However, they were still overtaken, the hounds followed the scent, and a dozen farmers surrounded them.

At dusk, the farmers returned to the village, carrying the two heads and other things ripped off from the barbarians on tree branches.

They did not go home directly, but went to the village hall first.

Firewood crackled in the hearth. It was a freezing winter outside the wall, but it was warm inside the village hall.

A middle-aged man who was obviously not a farmer inspected the two heads, frowned, and asked: "Is there no helmet, armor or anything else?"

The leader of the farmer, whose cheeks were red and bloodshot from the cold, replied awkwardly: "No, would a hat do it? And earrings?"

The middle-aged man smacked his lips, turned around and continued to warm himself by the fire. He only gave the farmers a side look: "That's not possible. There is no evidence. Who knows whether this is the barbarian's head or whether you stole it from somewhere?"

Another tall farmer suddenly became furious: "What are you talking about? How could we steal this? How can any of our people look like this?"

The middle-aged man sneered and didn't say anything, or even look at the other person seriously.

The two heavily armed men sitting in the corner of the room stood up, their hands already on the hilts of their swords.

The tall farmer fell silent.

The leader of the farmer was silent for a long time, then spoke with difficulty: "Then what do you think we should do?"

"This kind of head that you don't know is true or false..." The middle-aged man paused for a moment and spit out a number.

"How much?" The tall farmer suddenly became anxious: "A barbarian head is worth a large piece of land! How much do you give me?"

"You heard me clearly, you don't need me to repeat myself." The middle-aged man spread his hands with a clear attitude - whether he likes to sell or not.

The farmers were so angry that they did not want to agree and could not leave.

Until a sturdy farmer who usually spoke few words suddenly said: "That's it, my family is still waiting for me to bring back the flour."

The sturdy farmer asked calmly: "What else can we ask for?"

The deal was concluded and the payment was made in flour.

After all, the middle-aged man couldn't suppress his inner pride. Looking at the farmer taking the flour, he couldn't help laughing and said: "Hey, don't think that [head] is [ground], who knows the rebels can still be in Tiefeng?"

How long will the county stand? If the rebels collapse tomorrow, wouldn't your heads be smashed into your hands? Are you right?"

This seems to be a relief, but in fact it is a way of showing off by rubbing salt into the wound.

The farmers quietly took the flour and left the town hall without saying a word.

They divided the flour with the barbarians' clothes and boots outside the door. The clothes were given to the farmers who were still at home, and the farmers with hounds got an extra share.

"Mesa won the lottery." The sturdy farmer whispered: "Give him an extra share."

Everyone had no objection to this. The tall farmer asked: "What do you want, Dad?"

The sturdy farmer took half a bag of flour and a machete.

[Note: Dad here is a term of endearment for older men]

So everyone went home - and all this happened to be seen by several passing riders.

When he opened the door, a smile appeared on the sturdy farmer's face.

He rubbed the thin hair of his son and daughter, handed the flour to his wife, then found a whetstone and sharpened the knife in the backyard.

"No matter what you want to do." A young man stood outside the courtyard gate: "Please don't go."

The sturdy farmer was startled at first, then calmly held the machete and asked: "How do you know what I am going to do?"

The young man did not answer directly, but patiently explained: "Those two are both good players, you alone can't do it."

"Who are you?"

This time it was the young man's turn to fall silent.

The daughter ran out of the house and threw herself into the arms of the sturdy farmer. The sturdy farmer hugged his daughter, and when he was distracted for a moment, the young man disappeared.

"What's the matter?" the sturdy farmer asked his daughter.

"Mom said someone left two bags outside the door." The girl replied in a milky voice: "Mom asked dad to take a look."

…

The middle-aged man answered all questions with a respectful attitude, and Winters didn't even need to reveal his identity.

The thing is very simple. The middle-aged man comes from Gevaudan and comes here to acquire the head.

In Tiefeng County, barbarian heads have become a tradable commodity.

The middle-aged man couldn't compete with his peers in the towns, so he rushed to rural areas where no one was paying attention - obviously, he was not the only speculator who smelled the smell of gold coins.

Small players buy heads from militiamen and farmers, but they do not keep them to wait for cash, but sell them to big players.

The big players are betting heavily on the Montagne tribune not breaking his promise and on the future fate of Tiefeng County.

Winters and his party were passing by the small village of Shima and unexpectedly encountered such a scene.

Charles was so angry that he gritted his teeth: "The war hasn't ended yet! Why are there such people? In the end, it actually gave them an advantage?"

Several other people accompanying him were equally indignant, but Winters was the only one who was thoughtful and silent.

Seeing that Winters was silent, Charles thought it was because his brother was inconvenient to speak. He took off his saber and said bitterly: "I'm going to teach that guy a lesson!"

"Teach them a lesson - for what reason?" Winters stopped Charles: "The county government has not stipulated that heads are not allowed to be traded."

Charles was startled and replied loudly: "I can't see it!"

Winters slowly gathered his thoughts: "Killing all the speculators will stop the starving people from starving. No, I'm afraid it will cut off their last way of survival. The sale of heads will allow some people to take away their hidden treasures."

All the grain was taken out, allowing more grain to flow into the market."

Charles and the others listened with half-understanding.

Later, Winters and his party camped outside the village.

Charles retraced his steps with Winters' secret message and rushed back to Shenk Town overnight.

…

…

Anna discovered that the town of Shengke had completely changed.

When I passed through Shengke Town a few times before, it was just an ordinary rural town: two streets, a few rows of houses, and some homes, quiet and ordinary.

Today's Shengke Town is completely a military camp: the land has become muddy and dirty, and there are tired men carrying weapons everywhere, and obscene words are intertwined with the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs.

Through the car window, Anna saw someone urinating in the alley on the street, and several men wearing white armbands rushed into the alley to chase and beat the urinator.

Anna also saw someone whistling at her and looking obscenely into the car. If she hadn't been frightened by the accompanying guards, they might have taken further actions.

She quickly closed the car window.

The fat Mr. Leo who was riding in the car smiled and commented sharply: "The war is over, but many people have not been able to recover. It is not easy to return to normal life."

Another passenger nodded and comforted Anna: "Miss Navarre, don't be afraid, they actually don't mean any harm."

"Thank you." Anna expressed her gratitude politely: "Colonel Kino."

Knowing that Anna insisted on coming to see Winters, Mr. Leo asked to go with him.

The fat partner kept silent about the purpose of his trip, and treated Anna as if nothing had happened. He only said that he wanted to meet Mr. Winters Montagne.

Anna also felt guilty and did not take the initiative to ask her mother's attitude.

In contrast, another Veneta man traveling with him - [Colonel Buca Chino] treated Anna more kindly.

As a colonel of the Veneta Army, Chino undoubtedly came to Tiefeng County on behalf of [Antonio Serbetti].

In other words, Colonel Chino is half of Winters' family. Thinking of this, Anna's cheeks felt a little hot.

After all, Anna's false identity as "Mrs. Montagne" could be deceived by others, but it could not deceive the Hailan guests. Elopement without even getting engaged should not be done by a lady in any case.

The blockade in Tiefeng County has been temporarily lifted, not only internally, but also externally.

I have to mention [Good Luck Gold] here, the old pirate has actually returned from Hailan a long time ago.

The timing of his return was unlucky, just after the joint encirclement and suppression effort by Baishan County and Wargne County failed. Therefore, as soon as the old pirate entered Baishan County, he was immediately arrested and imprisoned by Colonel Gesa.

So, Gold stared at the gallows in the prison yard every day, ate hard and black bread with his fingers for more than a month, and was suddenly taken out of the cell.

The old pirate thought his luck had finally run out, but what happened next was extremely dramatic.

He was brought to a big bald man, who asked him to bring a letter to Winters and then told him to get out.

The old pirate found that he not only got back the confiscated horses and luggage, but also had several more escorts. Although he couldn't figure out what happened, but since the favor of Lady Luck had not disappeared, what about Good Luck Gold?

Not afraid either.

There is no need to repeat what happened next. The story returns to Anna.

After Anna arrived in Shenk Town, she first went to see Father Carman.

Father Kaman's medical clinic is located next to the church and is a temporary shack occupying a large open space.
To be continued...