Andrew didn't want to continue fighting either, because the enemy had lost the strength to resist. He still needed people to mine, and too many deaths wouldn't do him any good.
He had already arranged for many people to watch over the valley entrance, so the guards of the valley couldn't possibly escape, and he was also very familiar with the terrain of the valley.
They tried to charge on horseback, but the horses died before they even reached the valley entrance, as evidenced by the countless warhorse carcasses scattered across the ground. Therefore, any resistance was futile.
The archers essentially solved the problem in one battle, leaving no room for the others to contribute.
Andrew walked into the valley, which he now controlled. All the miners stood in the open, watching the man completely encased in armor with fear.
"I need the ore from those warehouses over there. Go and move it all out to the lake outside the valley. Begin now."
Andrew looked at these people up close, his brow furrowing beneath his helmet. The lord had said that anyone willing to go to Graycastle could be taken away.
"Elm, come here. After the ore is transported, if they're willing to come to our area, take some back with you. Anyone can go, as long as they're willing. Understand?"
"Okay, I understand, I'll tell them." Elm excitedly ran off.
"Eric, send those who surrendered to the gypsum mine immediately and keep a close watch on them so they don't escape."
Andrew needed to quickly mine enough gypsum. Their main objective was gypsum.
After explaining all this, Andrew still had to dispose of the horse's carcass and the human carcass.
Lakeside
Some small wooden boats were already loaded with ore, and a large wooden boat was already occupied by people who were about to leave.
Most of them were women, children, and the elderly—people who were relatively vulnerable.
They didn't really know what the next place would be like, but at least here they had black bread to eat, so they wouldn't starve.
But Dingxiang gave them some hope. She said her husband had been there and that it was a wonderful place, its beauty beyond words. They still believed her.
"Elm, when are we leaving?" Dingxiang asked her husband beside her as they watched the departing boat from the lake shore.
Yu Mu watched the departing ship, his eyes filled with longing. He hoped to return to that wonderful place as soon as possible.
"Soon, Lilac. The lord needs those white ores. We need to mine enough of those ores before we can leave."
"What's the use of that white ore? They're not mining there anymore." Dingxiang knew there was an abandoned mine in the valley.
"It's very useful. You'll see when you get there. And there are many surprises waiting for you in that territory." Elm continued to gaze at the wooden boat that was getting smaller and smaller in the distance.
"Can we tell you now?" Dingxiang asked curiously.
"No, we need to go mining now. If we mine the ore quickly enough, we can leave sooner."
Elm withdrew its gaze and ran towards the valley. "Hurry, Lilac."
"Sister Dingxiang, is everything Brother-in-law Yumu said true?" Alice came to Dingxiang's side, also full of curiosity about the place Yumu described.
"It should be true. I know him quite well, and he has no reason to lie to us about something like this."
Dingxiang watched Yumu run off and said, "Let's go, Alice, let's go mining."
A few days later
Andrew looked at the ship filled with gypsum ore and various other materials from the valley and nodded in satisfaction.
"Eric, are the rest of you willing to come back with us?" Andrew stood on the large ship, his eyes gazing towards the valley.
"No, I've already dealt with the few who were unwilling," Eric replied.
"Alright." Andrew stood at the bow of the ship and drew his longsword again.
"We're heading home."