Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

After answering so many questions, the soldiers naturally understood that Xia Hong was a powerful outsider. Realizing he was unfamiliar with the local routes, they immediately bowed down, pleading for mercy, each vowing to guide him.

”Want to stay alive, huh...”

A cold smile appeared on Xia Hong’s face as he continued: ”I’ll ask you one last question. How did you all get those tolls?”

The soldiers’ expressions froze upon hearing this, and they stiffened for over ten breaths, with none daring to answer.

”My... lord... my lord...”

Su Jing, who was kneeling on the side, couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke up.

He was visibly still afraid, trembling as he called out, and seeing Xia Hong remain silent, his courage grew. He cupped his fist and said, ”Reporting to the lord, the camp in Evergreen Valley, although under the jurisdiction of Bai Shui County, never treated us as their own. Every year, besides sending people down to collect tributes and occasionally recruiting some slaves, they don’t manage anything else.

We all come from Qingtan Village. Three days ago, they came to Qingtan Village, demanding 500 people under 25 to go to the County City for labor. We eagerly signed up, only to find out later they were forcing us to the Bone-Eroding Path to die.”

Upon hearing Su Jing’s words, all the soldiers bowed their heads.

Xia Hong’s face showed a hint of coldness, sneering: ”Using human lives as tolls shows you aren’t good people ordinarily. I, too, haven’t paid any tolls yet, so you can be my tolls!”

”Run!”

Hearing Xia Hong’s final words, the soldiers knew they were destined for death, and with a hysterical scream, they frantically attempted to flee.