Chapter 9 Escape

"Who fought with whom?" Song Bai was a little confused. He was fine yesterday, so why did he have to go back to his hometown in the countryside today?

Song Qiao told his brother the news his friend had just brought him: "Boss Ma from the pawnshop just came. His brother-in-law is on duty at the city's military headquarters. He was called away last night to prepare for war!"

Boss Ma and Song Qiao are life-long friends. A few years ago, when he went to Beijing for shopping, he suffered a heart attack. He was lying in the carriage, with no village in front and no shop behind, and he almost died on the way. Fortunately, he met Song Qiao who was traveling with him, who helped him with a few injections and brought him back from the brink of death.

After receiving the news, Boss Ma personally took a car to inform Song Qiao.

"The army is now gathering on a hill forty miles outside the city. If a fight really breaks out, they can enter the city immediately!"

Song Bai was at a loss after hearing this: "What should we do? What will happen to the people in the city if we leave..."

Song Qiao said anxiously, "How can we care about others right now? The most important thing is to save our own lives first! I have asked the butler to prepare a carriage. Let's leave quickly before the news spreads. Otherwise, it will be too late and the city gates will be closed, and we won't be able to leave even if we want to!"

"Oh, I'll go inform Rong'er right away!"

"There are a limited number of carriages, so just pick up the valuables and take them with you. Leave the rest here."

Song Bai nodded hurriedly: "I don't need to worry about that. What about my aunt and elder sister?"

"I've sent someone to notify them. Please send the old lady and children onto the carriage first. I have to go to the pharmacy before I leave." There are many expensive medicinal materials in the pharmacy, and Song Qiao has to go there personally to watch over the storage.

"Then I'll stay and go with you."

Song Qiao nodded tiredly, told him to get busy, and went back to the backyard.

*

"Be careful, don't scratch the screen!" Qin was pinching her waist and directing the servants to pack up things outside.

Song Qiao took a look and found that all the antique paintings, calligraphy and cultural relics had been moved out, and there was even a three-foot square screen.

"What do you do with it?"

"This is a Suzhou embroidery screen, one piece is worth one thousand taels of silver. If I leave it here and someone takes it away..."

"Nonsense! There's no place for you to put it! You're taking everything as if you were moving! Pack up some clothes, take the money and leave!"

Qin still didn't understand the seriousness of the situation: "These things are hard to buy, and the two carriages are about to be pulled down. Take them all back."

"If you don't want to leave, the whole yard is reserved for you!" After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Qin was stunned. What was going on? Was he having a big fight so early in the morning?

Song Yutang tried to comfort her: "The army outside has already gathered. If they break into the city, we will all die. Mom, don't delay!"

Qin was panicked and waved her hand to tell the maid to stop moving the pile of broken copper and iron and to pack up the valuables.

"Where's Yufeng?"

"I just sent someone to call him, maybe he hasn't woken up yet..."

Song Yutang said angrily, "You're almost dead and you still have the heart to sleep!" Then he picked up the bamboo pole next to him and walked towards his brother's yard.

Qin was angry but dared not say anything. She never dared to intervene when her eldest son beat her younger son, otherwise her eldest son would nag her to death.

*

Song Qiao came to the old lady's yard, and the servants were also packing up.

Song Qiao instructed: "Just pick up the useful things, don't take the incense burner or spittoon."

"Qiao'er, what happened? Why do you suddenly want to go back to your hometown in the countryside?" Old Mrs. Song was sitting by the bed, neatly dressed, with a look of panic on her face.

Song Qiao held her hand and said, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Let's go back to our hometown and stay there for three or five days and maybe we will be back soon." He didn't dare to tell the old lady the truth for fear of scaring her.

"It would be nice to go back and stay for a few days. I miss the old house too. We haven't been back for more than ten years. I don't know if the old house has collapsed."

Song Qiao didn't have time to chat with her. He patted his mother's hand and said, "Please wait here. I'll go out and see if the carriage has arrived."

*

The third family had already packed their belongings, and took nothing except clothes, silver, and land deeds.

Song Yuzhu did take a medical box and several medical books, in case they might be needed in case of emergency on the road. He also put several banknotes he had saved between the books.

The three of them went to the front yard together. On the way, they ran into Song Yufeng and his elder brother Song Yutang who had been beaten up, and Song Yumin who was following behind them with his head down without saying a word.

"Uncle and aunt, cousin Yuzhu." Song Yutang greeted them.

Song Bai patted his shoulder and said, "Go to the front yard quickly, don't let your father wait anxiously."

The carriages in the front yard were already waiting at the door. Song Qiao did not dare to find too many carriages, fearing that it would be too conspicuous. There were five carriages in total, each of which could probably take five or six people. The maids and servants could squeeze in almost all the people in the mansion.

Qin finally arrived late, with two maids each carrying a large bag, which she had chosen after careful selection, otherwise the two carriages would not have been able to fit them.

The old lady then realized something was wrong: "Why are you all going? Did something happen? Don't hide anything from me, my second son!"

Song Qiao helped her onto the carriage road: "It's okay."

"Is it because of your elder brother... that the saint wants to raid our house?"

Song Qiao didn't have time to explain to her: "Mom, don't let your imagination run wild. Go in quickly and I'll let Yutang tell you later."

The old lady got on the carriage half-believingly, and then Jiang and Qin also got on the same carriage with her. There was room for two more people inside, and Song Yufeng, Yumin, and Yuzhu stood outside, not knowing who would get on.

The old lady naturally wanted her two beloved grandchildren to sit on the chair, but no one dared! Yumin was still crazy, and if he said something he shouldn't, he would scare the old lady.

Song Yufeng was not polite and simply climbed onto the carriage by grabbing the shaft. Qin waved her hand and let her daughter-in-law Fang get on the carriage for the remaining seat.

Song Yuzhu took Song Quan into the second carriage.

Soon the third and fourth cars were full, and the servants and maids in the family had all gotten on the cars, leaving only Song Bai, Song Qiao and the housekeeper Song Dayi behind.

Song Yuzhu lifted the car curtain and said, "Dad, why don't you and Second Uncle leave?"

Song Bai comforted him, "There's still some work to do at the clinic and the pharmacy. Your second uncle and I will catch up as soon as we're done."

Song Yuzhu nodded, her heart pounding and she felt a little uneasy.

The driver waved his whip, the horse snorted, and the heavy wooden wheels turned slowly, like the wheel of history, carrying a group of people towards the unknown future.

*

More than 3,000 soldiers were setting up camp outside the city, and more than 8,000 reinforcements were coming from Xuzhou for support. Most of these soldiers were local military households, and they sat together in groups of three or four to chat after setting up their barracks.

"Who are we going to fight?" asked a thin soldier beside him.

The man sitting next to him scratched his head: "I don't know, I was still sleeping in bed when I was woken up."

“Who says it’s not?”

In fact, most people are like them, going to the battlefield in a confused state, not even knowing who their opponents are.

Sun Yiren, who was sitting in the tent, knew who to fight. He was the captain of Jiangcheng County. Yesterday, he received an order from the Fourth King Zhao Yuanqi, ordering him to gather troops immediately and make sure to intercept the rebels in Jiangcheng County.

The traitor mentioned by the Four Kings was none other than King Jing's younger brother, the Eighth King Yang Yuanqing.

Yang Yuanqing was no ordinary man. He was two years younger than King Jing, but he had a bad temper. Anyone who provoked him would be beaten, even his own brother was slapped.

However, there is one thing, this man is very protective of his brother. Although he can beat King Jing, others can't! Not to mention that Yang Yuanqi actually robbed and killed King Jing, which angered Yang Yuanqing. After receiving the news, he immediately led 20,000 troops to attack Xuzhou, determined to make Yang Yuanqi buried with his brother.

Jiangcheng County has a special location and borders three places. Although it is under the jurisdiction of Xuzhou, it is closer to Jinzhou. It has now become a battleground for military strategists.

Sun Yiren was sitting in the tent, scratching his head almost to death. He really didn't want to fight. He heard that the Eighth Prince was a brave leader with tens of thousands of cavalry under his command. If a real fight broke out, the few remaining soldiers under his command would not be enough to fill his teeth.

Now he can only hope that reinforcements will arrive soon, otherwise he won’t be able to hold on!

*

Then the Song family rode out of the alley in a carriage and headed towards the city gate along East Street.

Mrs. Song, who was sitting in the car, asked anxiously, "What's the important matter that requires our whole family to hide out?"

Song Yufeng said quickly: "Grandma, my father said that there will be a war."

"Ah?" The old lady was quite surprised. She had not heard of war for a long time and had no idea why there was a war.

Just as he was about to ask, a voice suddenly came from outside: "Yumin, where are you going? Come back soon!"

It turned out that when the carriage was moving just now, Song Yumin suddenly went crazy and shouted, "I want to find my father!" Then he jumped out of the carriage.

He was thick-skinned and was fine after the fall. He just rolled on the ground and ran back to the alley.

The situation was so chaotic, how could such a stupid kid like him survive alone? Song Yuzhu felt sympathy and quickly asked the driver to stop the carriage and jumped out. Seeing this, Song Quan quickly put on his bag and chased after him.

"Yuzu!" Song Yutang shouted anxiously while sitting in the carriage.

"Don't worry about me, we'll go with father later!" Song Yuzhu threw down a sentence, and the two of them chased in the direction Song Yumin left.

Song Yutang had no choice but to wave his hand to let the car continue driving.

The old lady just remembered that someone was missing: "Where's Xianglan? Isn't she going back to her hometown with us?"

Jiang didn't say anything, Qin hesitated and couldn't come up with an excuse. Song Yufeng, the unlucky one, yawned and said, "Grandma, you are confused. Didn't my aunt die a long time ago?"

(End of this chapter)