They suddenly realized that perhaps there wasn't a single living soul in the small town. When they reached the center of the town, where the mayor used to be and people gathered to talk, they found corpses lying on the ground. Every single one was bound, clearly murdered. Wu Caiwei had an idea who the killer might be.
She guessed that the people here had also contracted the plague, and the imperial court, unwilling to let it spread, had sent people to kill everyone in the town to prevent further contagion.
Almost everyone had died from a single blow. He Shen found it unnerving and quickly urged his mother to leave. He didn't want to stay a moment longer, with no living person in sight.
Xia He and her two daughters trembled in the bushes, afraid of what might happen if anyone discovered them. Only when she saw her mother and husband did her heart finally settle. At this moment, she realized how indispensable they had become in her heart, without her even noticing.
Upon returning, Wu Caiwei habitually made everyone drink some medicine as a preventative measure, and then led them further north.
After traveling for a day, they finally arrived at the county seat. Seeing the throngs of people outside the county office, a frown creased their brows. Clearly, the current population had far exceeded the county's capacity, and the magistrate was in a frenzy.
These were all his own people. If he couldn't settle them properly, he would be held responsible by the emperor or if they rebelled. He immediately convened a meeting with the county officials, urging them to donate money and grain to overcome the immediate crisis.
When it was time for the meal, Wu Caiwei led them in line. After a long wait, they finally got their turn. Looking at the meager portion in their bowls, everyone couldn't help but purse their lips. It was worse than what they usually ate.
It was then that He Shen understood why these refugees were so emaciated. They hadn't been eating enough. The grain distributed by the government was barely enough to keep them alive.
Now that they knew the situation outside, He Shen quickly asked his son to pack their belongings and leave through the underground passage, heading back to the capital to hide far away. If they were lucky enough, they might reunite in this life. Of course, if they were unlucky and met their end here, they would accept it, as long as their loved ones were safe and healthy.
Suddenly, Wu Caiwei heard the sound of hurried footsteps and horse hooves. She quickly pulled her family to hide near the edge of a dense forest not far from the city. The reason for hiding here was that if something unexpected happened, they could take refuge in the woods.
Soon, a group of people, carrying banners and weapons, arrived in a panic. Then, screams echoed. It turned out these people had placed their swords at the necks of the refugees, using them as human shields, and advanced step by step.
Behind them were archers, continuously shooting arrows at the city walls. The county magistrate frowned at the scene below, cursing the rebels for their ruthlessness.
He didn't shoot arrows at them and urged them to keep moving forward. The enemy was on the verge of reaching the city walls. Even if he wanted to retreat, the enemy wouldn't agree. However, if he directly ordered his men to shoot, it would mean sacrificing the lives of the common people. He could only watch as arrows pierced their bodies. For a moment, he couldn't make up his mind, wavering back and forth.
The events of the past few days had completely shattered the worldview of He Shen's family. They never imagined that human hearts could be so wicked. He unconsciously glanced at his mother, secretly making a vow to follow her advice in everything from now on. His mother, being older, had more experience.
Finally, the county magistrate closed his eyes, waved his hand, and the arrows flew directly towards them. Faint screams could be heard from below the city walls. The refugees farthest from them instinctively retreated, soon reaching Wu Caiwei's hiding spot.
The battle was exceptionally fierce. Everyone hid in the shadows, not daring to breathe. Watching the fiery scene across the way, they personally witnessed several people fall from the city walls, and their hearts tightened.
After an unknown amount of time, they finally heard the sound of the city gate opening. The rebel army swaggered in. The imperial soldiers inside were engaged in combat, and in the end, they were victorious. Even while hiding in the forest, they heard the cheers, which involuntarily made them frown.
As dawn slowly broke, they looked at the mountain of corpses piled below the city gate. Everyone wore a somber expression, feeling a sense of shared sorrow.
The surrounding area that everyone had been anxiously waiting for did not appear, causing an uproar among the crowd. They had fled from the south and had no food. Staying by the city gate, though hungry, they could at least survive. Now, after a few days of peace, such a thing had happened again. They wondered who the wicked person was who couldn't live a peaceful life. Sudán Novel Network.
Amidst the crowd's grumbling and discussions, the county magistrate's head was hung on the city gate. The people were even more disheartened. Although they had often cursed the magistrate for his incompetence recently, they now had to admit he had done his best.
Some, seeing the situation turning for the worse, were on the verge of tears. Urged by their families, they reluctantly left the county town. Others wanted to wait a little longer, hoping that the new rulers, after taking control, would offer comfort and preferential policies, allowing them to eat and have shelter. Alas, their thoughts were too naive.
The emperor soon received the news. He looked at the urgent dispatch, which was slammed onto the table before his ministers, urging them to examine it carefully.
"Prince Ping has rebelled! He has captured so many people with a clear objective. We implore Your Majesty to immediately send troops to suppress him." The emperor felt that a mere prince dared to commit such an act, showing no respect for him.
"Who is willing to volunteer?" The ministers, who had been so enthusiastic just moments ago, supporting the emperor's decision to suppress the rebellion, now found themselves in a difficult position regarding who should lead the campaign. Everyone fell silent.
The emperor became even more furious. He clutched his aching chest, feeling that these people were all useless. Whenever it came to matters like supporting a prince or implementing major reforms, they were always eager. Now, when asked to recommend a leader, they all fell silent. What was the meaning of this?
In the end, the emperor directly ordered the son of the Marquis of Dingyuan to lead fifty thousand elite soldiers into battle, with provisions to follow. Although the national treasury was somewhat depleted, the emperor had gathered many merchants for this war, urging them to donate funds. He promised that those who donated generously would be rewarded with a change in their status and their descendants would be granted minor official positions.
Although some disagreed, no one dared to express the slightest dissatisfaction with the emperor's command. They knew that as merchants, being able to meet the emperor was the pinnacle of their careers. If the emperor truly wanted to deal with someone, he could easily find an excuse to confiscate their property and exterminate their family. Unfortunately, there was no discussion.
However, the moment the silver left their hands, the hearts of the people bled. The emperor, looking at the feast that had been prepared in a short time, was highly satisfied, feeling that his goal had been achieved.