After listening to several of the villagers, Fang Hao began to understand the situation.
West of this fiefdom, many human villages were regularly preyed upon by bandits made up of humans and the beast clan.
Residents of villages that had been wiped out would look for human cities to join.
This is one reason why there were so many refugees.
Now that he understood the situation, Fang Hao came up with a plan.
Looking at the people below, he said, "Some of you may already know, but for those who don't, I have no intention of starting a war. It was your lord who challenged me."
Although Fang Hao was powerful, he did not want to be branded a warmonger.
It was Li Teng who had provoked him; Fang Hao was merely reacting.
The crowd below remained silent.
Fang Hao continued, "From today onwards, I am the lord of this fief. You can live here as usual; the fief will provide you with food and shelter."
All the farmers looked lost, glancing at their companions nervously.