owlsbooks Chapter 27 Remodeling
Chapter 27 Remodeling
Dozens of refugees had gathered here. After a few days of rest and a full meal, the sallow complexion on their faces had faded, and their eyes had become more lively. They were no longer the numb and desperate people they had been at the beginning.
Lin Mo stood before the crowd, his posture upright, his gaze calmly sweeping over each face.
Shi Yong, A Fei, and several others he had designated to handle specific tasks stood at the front, their expressions solemn.
"Everyone," Lin Mo began, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "you've all worked hard these past few days. Mo Garden has been initially cleared, and we now have a place to stay. But from today onwards, what we need to do is not just clearing and repairing."
He paused, then turned his gaze to Shi Yong: "Shi Yong, the men you selected will be organized into the 'Guards,' and you will be their captain. They must train daily without slacking off. They will not only train in formation and physical strength, but also begin to familiarize themselves with basic fist, foot, and staff techniques."
"Yes, leader!" Shi Yong clasped his hands in acceptance, his voice booming. The twenty strong men standing behind him also straightened their backs.
"Ah Fei," Lin Mo looked at the sharp-eyed young man, "you and your men will be part of the 'Patrol Team,' responsible for guarding the manor day and night. Not only will you be on guard against wild animals, but also against people. If you spot any suspicious activity, alert them immediately."
"Understood!" Afei nodded emphatically.
"The rest of you will be divided into two groups," Lin Mo continued. "One group will continue to be led by Zhao Xiaosi, responsible for daily chores, cleaning the remaining area, and repairing the houses. The other group will be under my personal command and will begin constructing defenses."
A slight commotion arose among the crowd. Building defenses? This was clearly beyond the scope of ordinary repairs. But no one questioned it. Lin Mo's ability, demeanor, and promise of "full meals and wages" displayed over the past few days had convinced these refugees to obey.
Lin Mo said no more and began assigning tasks. He had already surveyed the area around Mo Garden and had a preliminary plan in mind.
"First, there's this wall." Lin Mo led a group of people responsible for the defensive construction to the earthen and stone wall surrounding the manor. The wall was mostly damaged, with several large cracks. "Fill the damaged areas with a mixture of stones and clay and compact it. On top of the wall, build a simple watchtower every five steps, enough for one person to stand and observe."
He personally demonstrated how to select suitable stones and how to tamp the clay with a wooden mallet. Everyone followed his instructions, and the clanging sound of hammering soon echoed around the perimeter of the wall.
In the afternoon, Lin Mo led the group to the foot of the cliff behind the villa. The terrain here was treacherous, a natural barrier, but not without its dangers. He pointed to several protrusions and cracks that could be used for climbing: "In these places, set up tripwires and alarm bells. The tripwires must be concealed, and the bells should be suspended from the rock crevices by thin threads. If anyone touches them, the bells will ring."
He selected two nimble young men and personally taught them how to set it up. This seemingly simple task required patience and skill, ensuring both effective triggering and minimal traceability.
In the following days, the area inside and outside Moyuan was bustling with activity. Shi Yong's guards drilled daily in the cleared ground, their shouts and footsteps injecting a rare vitality into this abandoned place. Afei's patrol team, like vigilant lynxes, disappeared among the trees and ruins surrounding the manor.
Meanwhile, the construction of the fortifications was progressing steadily. The walls were gradually repaired and reinforced, and the watchtowers atop the walls were beginning to take shape. A network of tripwires and alarm bells was also quietly being laid out beneath the cliffs. Lin Mo not only directed the work but also personally participated. His strength far surpassed that of ordinary people, and he moved boulders and rammed earth walls with remarkable efficiency, leaving the displaced people responsible for the heavy manual labor speechless and even more convinced of his abilities.
That day, Lin Mo turned his gaze to the only entrance to the manor—the dilapidated gate and the relatively open slope in front of it.
"We need to set up a pit here." Lin Mo drew a sketch on the ground with a twig. "The pit should be ten feet deep, with sharpened bamboo spikes inserted at the bottom. The surface of the pit should be covered with twigs and loose soil. We'll also reinforce the sides with chevaux-de-frise to reduce the impact."
This project was far more complex than repairing the wall. Digging the pit required a large workforce, and shaping the bamboo spikes also took time. Lin Mo mobilized most of the manpower, working in shifts. He himself jumped into the pit, wielding a pickaxe, and the soil was quickly dug up by his hands. His movements were efficient and precise, seemingly tireless, once again demonstrating his extraordinary abilities to everyone.
During the excavation, Lin Mo noticed the scarred old man surnamed Li. Although he was also assigned to this group, he always stayed silently in the corner, doing his assigned work without communicating with anyone. When his eyes occasionally swept over Lin Mo, they carried an indescribable scrutiny.
Lin Mo didn't point it out, but just kept an eye on it secretly.
After the pit was dug, the bamboo spikes were arranged, and it was covered with loose soil and camouflage turf, it looked almost identical to the surrounding area. Lin Mo then directed the placement of several wooden chevaux-de-frise that had been made in the narrow passages on both sides of the pit.
Several days later, Lin Mo stood on the watchtower of the repaired and reinforced courtyard wall, looking down. Hidden pits, menacing barricades, and an invisible network of alarm bells beneath the cliffs resembled a spiderweb. Although still rudimentary and far from impregnable, it was a world of difference compared to the undefended state when he first arrived.
"Chief," Shi Yong reported as he walked up the steps to the observation deck, "the guards have basically mastered the staff techniques you drew, and their movements are starting to look somewhat natural."
Lin Mo nodded, his gaze falling on the largest cleared area within the manor: "Next, we need to level a field there to serve as a dedicated training ground. We'll need to set up archery targets, wooden dummy dummies, and dig a few sandpits."
"Yes!" Shi Yong replied, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. As a former sergeant, he naturally understood what a dedicated training ground meant.
The construction of the training grounds was also proceeding at a rapid pace. The refugees, especially those incorporated into the guard, were full of enthusiasm. They vaguely sensed that this young leader had grand ambitions, but following him seemed to offer a path different from their previous lives of displacement.
As the sun set, it bathed the Silent Garden in a golden glow. The training ground was taking shape; archery targets were erected, wooden dummies were fixed in place, and several sandpits had been dug. The refugees, weary from a day's work, gathered around the campfire, eating hot meals and chatting quietly, the atmosphere much more relaxed than usual.
Lin Mo climbed the gate tower alone once more. The night wind brushed against his slightly tired but still sharp face. He looked down at the nascent defensive fortifications and training grounds, and at the figures gradually gathering around the campfire.
The framework of defense has been erected, and the seeds of training have been sown.
This mountain villa, named "Silent Garden," is gradually transforming from ruins into his stronghold, a nest where he can hide, train his troops, and accumulate strength.