Chapter 400: The Ten Crows' Calamity (Part 10)

On the city wall, tall and strong soldiers were hammering and banging away, working with great enthusiasm. If you got close, you could even hear a few laughs and chatter, mostly about their respective construction progress, what they would eat for their next meal, and what style of eaves they wanted...

"...Hahahaha, look at my skills, haven't they improved? Look at how I whittled this wood, it's smoother and neater than when I chop off heads on the battlefield...Where's my short stature?"

"Has any of you seen my short stature?"

My companion said, "Your butt is pressing down on me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several people nearby burst into laughter.

Besides this harmonious scene, you could occasionally see some of them carrying logs two or three zhang long, leaping up from the base of the city wall to the top of the city tower, with a flash of light under their feet, making them look like martial arts masters.

Dozens or even hundreds of people were there to set up a simple prototype of the city gate towers and watchtowers that had long been burned down.

The flags on the city wall were also changed to the unfamiliar character "沈".

The city gate, which had been completely destroyed, was re-installed, half-closed and half-open. A group of refugees dared not approach, and instead found a place to huddle and hide, squatting until their legs went numb, before a few commoners carrying loads on bamboo baskets emerged from the city. The baskets at both ends of the carrying poles were heavy with loads, bending the ends of the poles under the weight.

Just then, a whistle sounded from the city wall.

The soldiers stopped what they were doing and gradually gathered around the commoners. They lined up in an orderly fashion, each receiving their still-steaming rations and warm soup. They found a place to eat, whether standing, squatting, or sitting.

The aroma of food wafted into their nostrils.

Glug glug—

My stomach is rumbling with hunger.

Saliva dripped from their mouths, and their stomachs began to cramp. Driven by hunger, some of them mustered their courage and stepped out of their hiding place. The soldiers neither looked at them nor chased or reprimanded them, until they were close enough—

What are you doing?

Suddenly, someone appeared from behind.

The thunderous sound startled the man, making him tremble.

He covered his head with his hands and tried to duck to escape, but someone grabbed his collar: "Sneaking around like that, are you a spy?"

"Why is Shousheng scaring him?" Just as the commoner was thinking "I'm going to die," another person came over.

This man was equally unrestrained. Perhaps because it was too hot while working, he took off half of his sleeve and tucked it into his waistband, exposing half of his arm.

"Hey, I've been watching him for a while."

The man named "Shousheng" put the person down.

"...Judging from his appearance, he's either a refugee who has fallen on hard times here, or a commoner from Ruyao...If you scare him into a serious condition, be careful that Lord Shen doesn't come after you." Zhao Feng wiped his sweat, put a piece of bread in his mouth, and smiled.

Upon hearing the name "Shen Jun," the man's attitude changed completely, his smile now tinged with caution.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding."

The arrested commoner: "..."

Although Zhao Feng and his companion spoke with accents from other regions, unlike the locals, the fact that they hadn't become violent towards him restored some of the commoner's sense of reason. He cautiously observed the two men.

"Where did these two soldiers come from?"

Lü Jue said, "I came from He Yin."

The common people did not know where the River Magistrate was.

I wanted to ask for clarification, but I was afraid of angering the two of them.

Seeing his distressed and pitiful appearance, Lü Jue knew what he wanted to know and took the initiative to say, "I am under the command of Prefect Shen of He County. I followed my lord and was ordered by the king to be transferred to Longwu County."

Once he said that, the common people understood.

So it turns out a new prefect has arrived.

Although they were not optimistic about the new prefect's fate, the common people still felt a sense of security, surrounded by two tall and strong men on their left and right, and with dozens or even hundreds of people nearby. They secretly hoped to live a few days of peace and tranquility.

Seeing that he was staring longingly at the pancake in his hand and was so thin that he was skin and bones, Lü Jue asked him a question.

"Are you from Ruyao? And live in this city?"

The commoner seemed to have been touched on a sore spot, and nodded with a gloomy expression: "Replying to the soldier, I live in the west of the city."

However, it is now a ruin.

When the bandits stormed into the city, that area was the first to be hit. All the possessions he had built up over the years were gone, and only he, his wife, and their two children remained in his family. Everyone else was dead!

Just a few days ago, my wife also died of illness.

The children, relying on the food that the couple had painstakingly saved, hid in the ruins of the city, and it was unknown whether they had starved to death.

Thinking of this, the common people felt even more heartbroken!

“You’re not that old, why don’t you stay and work? Two pancakes for half a day as wages…” Lu Jue paused here, then added, “I can pay you for half a day first.”

The common people initially thought they had misheard.

It wasn't until Lü Jue called for people and shared his two pancakes that he snapped out of his daze. He eagerly snatched the pancakes and wolfed them down like a starving ghost. If Lü Jue hadn't handed him a bowl of warm soup, the pancakes would probably have choked him to death.

Looking at the red-rimmed eyes of the commoner hidden behind the misty fog, Lü Jue sighed inwardly and then said, "The construction site is in dire need of people. If you know anyone else, you can ask them to come and work with you. They will be paid the same, regardless of gender."

"Yes, yes, I know a lot of people."

The commoner ate only one piece, hiding the other in his bosom, with a plan in mind—perhaps the two children hadn't starved to death yet, and this pancake could be shared between them. Just thinking of the children's ecstatic eyes gave him strength.

Other refugees also witnessed this scene, and with the encouragement of their companions, they mustered their courage and stepped forward to receive half a day's "wages" in advance from Lü Jue.

As the fragrant pancake entered my mouth, the tears I was holding back stung my nose and my eyes turned red.

Lu Jue sighed as he watched this scene.

The common people of Longwu were in far more difficult circumstances than the common people of Heyin back then, but Lü Jue was even more grateful that they were stronger than he had been back then, both in terms of strength and wealth. Otherwise, looking at this scene, he would only feel powerless.

These commoners had difficulty even walking, let alone doing heavy work. Lü Jue only assigned them light tasks, such as passing things or clearing small stones under the city wall.

In the blink of an eye, dusk descended.

The commoner dragged his weary body back to the west of the city, clutching the pancake still warm from his body. He learned that most of the ruins along the way had been cleared away, and the foundations had been redrawn, making it vastly different from what he remembered. Soon, he returned to his old house.

To be precise, it's the ruins of an old house.

The hearts of ordinary people were chilled.

There is no trace of children here.

He was bewildered and panicked, calling out his child's nickname loudly. As he called out, a strong sense of grief and grievance welled up in his heart. He collapsed to the ground and burst into tears, repeatedly calling out "My child!" with tears streaming down his face.

I cried until my voice was hoarse before anyone came over.

Why are you crying?

The commoner slumped to the ground, slapping his thigh.

She cried out, "My child..."

The man pointed in a direction.

"Don't cry yet. Go to that shelter and see if your child is there."

Where do ordinary people find the strength to stand up?

Finally, this kind person helped me, and I limped to the so-called "shelter-in-waiting," where I was greeted by a clean-shaven little face. Who else could it be but his daughter?

Having suddenly experienced both great sorrow and joy, she fainted immediately. It took her a long time to catch her breath before she held her two children and wept bitterly.

It was from the two children that I learned they were rescued when they were starving to death, and woke up in a "shelter-in-waiting facility".

This "refugee shelter" was built by the new county magistrate.

It was specifically for resettling homeless people.

We'll arrange for them to move there once the buildings in the city are completed.

Upon hearing this, the common people bowed repeatedly in the direction of the government office, expressing their gratitude to Shen Tang for protecting their only two relatives.

The common people around him didn't stop him; it was a life-saving grace, and he was willing to accept any amount of courtesy.

But those as lucky as him were few and far between. Most people lost almost all their blood relatives in that catastrophe, and those who survived starved, froze, or died of disease...

at the same time--

Yonggu Pass.

The atmosphere inside the pass was heavy. The soldiers' clothing offered almost no protection from the cold; it was stiff and cold, clinging to their skin like blocks of ice. Even so, they had to force themselves to patrol, daring not to slacken their efforts in the slightest…

The only time we can relax is when we change shifts.

They hid in a damaged military tent.

It was cold in the tent too, but at least it was better than outside.

When a group of comrades gather together, there is a warm atmosphere.

Just then, someone's stomach rumbled.

【Gurgle gurgle】

The soldiers looked worried.

The amount of food they received over the past month has been decreasing, the millet porridge has become increasingly thin, the military pay was not being delivered on time, and even warm clothing was difficult to obtain. Some brothers couldn't bear it and secretly ran away, while those who remained were still enduring the hardship.

"...Ugh, those damned Ten Crows..."

Someone cursed.

Everyone silently agreed.

Surely—

If it weren't for those bastards from Shiwu causing trouble, they wouldn't be facing this situation now. Those bastards seem to have seen through their predicament, and every now and then they would come to the pass to show off their power or launch a feint attack, scaring them so much that they had to keep watch all night and dare not slack off.

After a while, my mental health couldn't take it anymore.

In addition, resources are scarce in all aspects...

They didn't know how much longer they could hold out.

But we have to persevere even if we can't.

If Yonggu Pass falls, those bastards from Shiwu will be able to lead their troops in and march straight in. How can that crumbling border barrier stop them? At that time, it won't just be Longwu that suffers.

Just as they were seething with hatred, a joyful shout came from outside the tent, startling everyone into jumping up.

"The food has arrived!"

"The military rations have arrived!"

He initially thought it was a hallucination, but upon leaving the camp, he realized it was real—a full two thousand shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain had been delivered. The army clerk, upon hearing the news, rushed over, opened several bags of grain, and saw that it was indeed grain. The grains were plump, lying in his palm, emitting a distinctive fragrance.

"Open the others and take a look!"

Bag after bag, not a single one was adulterated.

Judging from its quality, it should be new grain produced this year, rather than old grain that has been piled up in the granary for a long time. It's good stuff!

Two of the trucks contained dried meat and pickled vegetables.

"Where were these seized from?"

This was the clerk's first thought.

Immediately, doubts arose again. Wheat was not widely grown in Longwu County, and ninety percent of these two thousand shi (a unit of dry measure) were wheat...

The soldier transporting the grain shook his head and replied, "It wasn't captured; it was all sent from Ruyao's administrative office..."

The registrar asked in surprise, "You are in charge of the Yao administration?"

Wasn't that place massacred by bandits?

They even sent people back to help, but it was too late.

The registrar asked again, "Are you sure?"

The soldiers transporting the grain nodded emphatically: "I'm sure."

As he spoke, he took out a document sealed with sealing wax from his bosom and handed it to the clerk with both hands. The clerk hurriedly took it, opened it and looked at it carefully. Inside was a detailed record of each cart of military rations.

In addition to the food they urgently needed, there were also a hundred sets of winter clothes to keep warm, several hundred arrows, and several jars of wine.

Although it wasn't much, it stated that the rest would be delivered in batches, and it was signed by the Prefect of Longwu County.

Shen Tang, Shen Youli.

The registrar closed the documents: "When did the new prefect of Longwu County arrive? Who sent all these?"

The soldiers transporting the grain thought it through carefully.

"It's been about five days."

The registrar's face immediately darkened.

He had heard that Zheng Qiao had transferred a new prefect to Longwu County, but that was a long time ago. The new prefect had not yet taken office. He and the general both believed that the new prefect was afraid of death and unwilling to come to Longwu County. It was better that he did not come. Zheng Qiao's lackeys and spies could only be a hindrance.

Don't let them be fighting bravely on the front lines while that guy is secretly flirting with Shiwu.

Zheng Qiao's lackeys are really capable of doing such things.

The registrar had long forgotten about the new prefect.

I never expected them to suddenly appear.

They also brought two thousand shi of supplies.

The soldiers transporting the grain cautiously observed the registrar's ever-changing expression: "Registrar... this grain..."

The registrar chuckled inwardly and said, "Take it."

Who would complain about having too much grain?

I just don't know what their intentions are.

The garrison at Yonggu Pass was not as large as it had been in its heyday, and with the recent increase in desertions, the two thousand shi of grain would be enough to feed the remaining soldiers for quite some time. The chief clerk gave the order to have an extra meal today, so that everyone could have a good meal. He also sent several jars of wine to the general so that he could also enjoy it, and then wrote another letter.

()

I was feeling down today, and suddenly I really wanted to eat a spicy hot pot, but then my stomach started hurting for ages and I was sweating profusely...

(End of this chapter)