Chapter 466: Creating a Black Pot
Pingzhou, Liaoxi County, Wencheng County
Wencheng County is located in the westernmost part of the central part of Liaoxi County and is also one of the main gates for Youbeiping County to enter Liaoxi County.
At this time, outside the west gate of Wencheng County, more than ten thousand people from Youbeiping County gathered. These were the people who chose to flee to Liaoxi County at the first opportunity.
"Open the city gate, please, let us in."
"Lord Lu, help me."
"Lord Lu, please save the child."
The magistrate of Wencheng County reported the situation immediately. At that time, Lu Desheng had already arrived in Wencheng County.
Following Lu Desheng was Ji Wuyin, who came to watch the fun after hearing the news, as well as other businessmen of all sizes who had come to Pingzhou to invest in the past two years.
At the beginning of the war, these people wanted to evacuate Pingzhou by boat.
When they came to invite Ji Wuyin, Ji Wuyin refused to leave and told them, "Leaving Pingzhou, it may not be safe outside."
Pingzhou had anticipated the Xianbei's actions long before. Ji Wuyin also knew that Pingzhou had made extensive preparations for this battle. He trusted Pingzhou more than other unprepared places. Furthermore, if the Xianbei really did move south en masse, escaping to the Central Plains wouldn't necessarily be safe, unless they fled south.
But he had just evacuated from the South, and if he returned in disgrace, Xie Zhan would not let him go. As for the other merchants' proposal to go to the Jiangnan area, he also disagreed.
He knew that Xie Zhan was very ambitious. The entire southern Lingnan area was already his territory. He was very likely to expand his power toward the northwest and get involved in the Jiangnan area.
If he retreated to Jiangnan now, wouldn't that mean he'd be left for Xie Zhan to take advantage of? Furthermore, if he left at this moment, would he still want to maintain the relationship he'd cultivated with Pingzhou?
Chang'an is the emperor's place, so perhaps safety can be guaranteed, but Ji Wuyin knows that the emperor has always been eyeing his fat piece of meat.
The southwest was where King Cheng's fiefdom was located, and the surrounding area was also considered his territory. If he went to the southwest, he probably wouldn't have a good time.
After counting over and over again, Ji Wuyin decided to take a gamble. Since old Xue Xu was so afraid of death and hadn't left, it meant he wouldn't die if he stayed in Pingzhou.
So when his son came all the way from Qingzhou to take him away, he refused. Afterwards, he naturally wouldn't leave with the other merchants.
Some merchants stayed because of their trust in him, while others sold their property and left.
At this time, Lu Desheng climbed up the city wall and observed the people outside the city.
These merchants who stayed behind could not get close to Lord Lu at this moment, so they followed behind Ji Wuyin, squeezed together.
"Now it seems that the outside world is indeed more dangerous. I heard that Yanmen in Bingzhou and Jinyang in the northern border have been lost."
"And Youbeiping County. Even though it hasn't been lost yet, isn't it a matter of time?"
"Once Yanmen is lost, the Central Plains will no longer be safe."
"Yes, Pingzhou at least held on and prevented the Xianbei army from invading."
On the city wall, Lu Desheng discussed with the people around him about letting the people in and settling them down.
In the city, some brave people gave their suggestions to Lu Desheng.
"Master Lu, you can't let them in. What if there are spies among them?"
"These people are a destabilizing factor for us in Pingzhou."
"Yes, Lord Lu, we are in Pingzhou at war. If we let them in, what if they have spies who tip us off and cause Pingzhou to lose?"
"Yes, Lord Lu, we don't want to be massacred."
Xu Zhengzheng, who was beside Lu Desheng, wanted to shout them away, but was stopped by him.
Lu Desheng approached and looked into the eyes of the worried people in the city.
"My fellow, where are you from?"
"Me? I'm from the South."
Lu Desheng nodded and asked another person, "What about you?"
"I'm from Yanmen." His voice was low.
"This old uncle?"
"I'm from Nanyang!"
"This lady?"
"I'm a native of Liaoxi County."
Lü Desheng smiled at them and said, "Look, many of you here came to Pingzhou to make a living after your hometowns were hit by disaster. Pingzhou is tolerant and free to come and go. We are willing to provide shelter for you hardworking people. But we can't cross the river and then tear down the bridge once we reach the shore, preventing others from crossing, right?"
"Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine if we were blocked outside the city gate..."
The common people in the city lowered their heads in shame.
The people outside the city understood what was said, and they were all filled with excitement and tears in their eyes.
"Lord Lu, are you planning to let us into the city?"
"Yes, that's what it sounds like."
Xu Zheng signaled the refugees outside the city to be quiet, "Everyone, be quiet! Now let Master Lu speak."
Lu Desheng looked at the people outside the city and said, "You can come in, but you have to obey the arrangements." He had already asked people to make room and prepare to accommodate them together.
"We will be obedient, we promise to be obedient!"
"Also, there may be Xianbei spies among you. Once you enter the city, everyone should monitor each other and report any abnormalities. We will investigate and ensure that no good person is wrongly accused, and no bad person will be let off."
Finally, Lu Desheng said earnestly, "Pingzhou's safety requires everyone's joint efforts. Safe places are few and far between in this world, so everyone should cherish them."
When the common people heard Lu Desheng's initial remarks, they were a little hesitant, but not so much later.
Finally, Lu Desheng ordered, "Go open the city gate."
Liaoxi County, Feiru County
After the news of the Songzhou massacre spread, the atmosphere in the grain transport team was very depressing.
Lu Wei had stopped talking and everyone was busy on their way.
Shortly after leaving Huanzhong, they received news that Songzhou had been massacred.
Lu Wei advised Xu Junfan to turn back and not go any further as it was very dangerous.
But Zuo Yi forbade them to turn back, as they were only a short distance from leaving Liaoxi County. If they turned back, all their efforts would be wasted, and how could he accept that?
Everyone ate their dry food in silence, and after eating they had to hurry on their way.
The members of the grain transport team were all from the military. At this time, they felt a slight vibration in the ground. Those who were scouts immediately lay on the ground and listened with their ears.
"Oh no! It's the sound of a large number of horses running."
"cavalry!"
"They must be here for the food!"
"Go!"
Everyone began to push the grain carts in a hurry and prepare to set off.
At this time, Zhu Peng jumped out and said, "Stop! I opened this mountain and planted this tree. If you want to pass through here, you have to pay me money to get through!"
A group of younger brothers appeared behind Zhu Peng, looking fierce and ferocious, and it was obvious that they had seen blood on their hands.
Lu Wei leaned close to Xu Junfan, "Master Xu, it's over. There are wolves in front and tigers behind. What should we do? We won't die here, will we?"
Cold sweat broke out on Xu Junfan's forehead.
Zhu Peng shouted, "Get out of here if you know what's good for you, or I'll make sure you're not buried alive."
"Master Xu, make a decision quickly. You don't want to live and die with the tax grain, do you?"
Xu Junfan: Live and die with the tax grain? No, he had long wanted to abandon this batch of tax grain and run back to Chang'an.
"Sir Xu, in a critical moment, you have to give up what you have to give up! As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood." Lu Wei urged.
Xu Junfan gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go back!"
Zuo Yi, "You can't leave!"
Zuo Yi roared, "Why should we give up all this food? Let's hold on a little longer and ask Lu Desheng to send troops!"
Lu Wei laughed at his naiveté and said, "Master Zuo, if it were just bandits, we could still fight them off, but the Xianbei army is coming. They are the same brutal people who just ordered a massacre in the city!"
"Lu Wei is right. If you don't leave, I will!" Xu Junfan knew that if he lost his life, he would lose everything.
After saying that, he rushed back first.
Zuo Yi hesitated for a moment and followed.
Lu Wei led his men to cover the retreat.
After Zuo Yi caught up with Xu Junfan, he couldn't help but look back, but this one look made him stunned.
"Lu Wei, what are you doing?"
"Damn it, what are you doing? Stop it!" The bandits were also shouting and rushing towards them.
Lu Wei calmly lit the fire and shouted, "Even if we have to burn all the food, we won't leave it to the bandits and the Xianbei!"
As he spoke, he poured the pine oil in his hand onto the nearby grain trucks one by one. Pine oil was hidden under the grain trucks and in key places around them.
The people he brought with him followed suit and quickly moved around the grain workshop to light the fire.
At this time, the Xianbei army also arrived.
When Tuoba Jin saw Lu Wei and others burning the grain, he got anxious and said, "How dare you, you boy!" All these grains belong to him!
The raging fire spread in an instant.
"Brothers, hurry, hurry, let's grab the food outside!"
"Grab it and run, don't fight!"
The bandits came to the outermost edge of the grain team, and each of them pushed a cart of unburned grain and ran away. The direction they escaped was very tricky.
When the Xianbei soldiers saw this, some wanted to chase after them, but Tuoba Jin stopped them by shouting, "Put out the fire!"
"Don't worry about those people! Putting out the fire is more important!"
So much food!
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