Sifang City is six or seven days' journey from the village. There were seven people on this trip, including Qi Qi. From their conversation on the way, Qi Qi learned that two months ago, a man surnamed Wu successfully started an uprising in Sifang City. He led the rebel army to kill all the local officials, seize the land, and declare himself king. Because of its proximity to the capital, the imperial court is preparing to send troops to suppress this rebel group.
Sifang City is located in the south, with a mild and humid climate, lush vegetation, and crisscrossing rivers. Its water conservancy projects are relatively well-maintained. Although its resources cannot compare with those of larger cities, it is definitely a good place. The imperial court may ignore those uninhabited areas, but Sifang City must never be lost.
Gu Siyan's purpose in making this trip was to get close to this Lord Wu and see if he was as good a person as the legends said. If he could be recruited, that would be ideal; if not...
Even a starving camel is bigger than a horse; there's no need to clash with the imperial court now for the sake of a future enemy.
A person won't die if they don't eat or drink for a day, but a horse can't; it runs for a while and then rests.
During times of turmoil, firewood, rice, oil, and salt were expensive. Nobles had their own production, and their lives were simply a matter of earning more or less. The price of grain was several hundred coins per kilogram, which ordinary people absolutely could not afford. Even a plain steamed bun cost ten coins.
In recent years, floods and droughts have come one after another, there has been no harvest in the fields, and it is no exaggeration to say that people are starving to death.
On the way out of the city, they would occasionally encounter dead bodies, emaciated skeletons. Gu Siyan and the others had long since become accustomed to this and talked about the refugees.
Almost all cities would not let refugees in. These people had left their land and wandered around. When they were starving, they would do anything. If they were allowed into the city, not to mention what they would eat and drink, Sifang City is an example. The refugees around it were people who had farmed all their lives but still couldn't get enough to eat. They couldn't stand it anymore and stormed into the city to take over.
In Qi Qi's opinion, this was entirely deserved. These powerful officials made a fortune off the common people, yet they couldn't even provide them with a meal. When the court levied taxes, the officials forcibly collected them. It was normal for these refugees to think that since they were going to die anyway, they might as well have a full meal before they died.
They ate dry rations on the road, very dry flatbreads, so dry they could be used as bricks. Qi Qi had to drink some water to soften the flatbread before swallowing it.
They had been traveling since morning until night. The roads were all dirt roads, which were difficult to travel on. They couldn't just find any place to sleep at night, as it was easy to have an accident. Seeing that it was getting dark, the group found a dilapidated earthen temple to rest for the night.
The temple was really dilapidated; it only had a roof, and many parts of the walls had collapsed. Qi Qi wondered if he would find himself buried in the ground when he woke up in the morning.
As soon as he dismounted, Qi Qi headed into the grove of trees. Gu Siyan saw him immediately and asked, "Where are you going?"
Qi Qi: "I need to relieve myself."
Bearded Brother put the things on the ground and said, "I'll go with you. It's getting dark, and the woods aren't safe."
The others, of course, also went; after all, everyone needs to use the restroom sometimes.
Qi Qi didn't really want to squat down and pee next to a group of people.
Although I don't think there's anything shameful about being a eunuch, it's strange that he's the only one pulling down his pants and exposing his buttocks.
Seeing his gaze gradually harden, Gu Siyan said, "I'll go with you. The rest of you, start the fire first, then go in pairs. Don't be alone. Sixth Brother, you lead the horse to a place where we can all see it."
Bearded Guy: "Yes!"
Qi Qi didn't say anything more and ran to the side. Seeing that Gu Siyan was only five meters away, he found a place with leaves to cover him and squatted down.
As he stood up, a withered hand suddenly landed on his shoulder...
Qi Qi got goosebumps and immediately rushed towards Gu Siyan without looking back, shouting, "Gu! Gu! Gu Siyan!"
Gu Siyan turned around, pulled him behind him, and scrutinized him. "Who is it?"
Qi Qi peeked out from behind him, his belt tucked in. He saw an old woman with a sallow complexion, wearing tattered clothes, and looking extremely haggard.
What are you doing behind my back?
At this moment, several soldiers from the Zhenbei Army who had heard the noise also rushed over, all looking on alert.
The old woman said sheepishly, "I didn't mean to. I just came into the woods to look for wild vegetables and accidentally saw you, so I came up to see what was going on. I'm really sorry, young lady."
Upon hearing this, everyone instantly turned to look at Qi Qi, their gazes sweeping over him from certain areas to his skin and eyes, thinking to themselves, "No wonder!" He was short, never relieved himself with other men, had a fair complexion, no beard, soft facial features, a gentle voice, large, watery eyes, and arched eyebrows...
Qi Qi: "??? I'm not."
The old woman looked disapproving: "Although I'm old, my eyesight is still excellent. Look at your butt when you squat..."
Are you crazy?! Looking at someone's butt?!
Qi Qi immediately stepped forward to block her: "Alright, alright, what nonsense are you talking about? I am a man. Auntie, you haven't even said anything to you yet. Are you all alone here? Are there any villages around here?"
The old woman looked sad: "Yes, of course I have some. My mother's village is just ahead. This year's harvest is really bad. My grandson is starving, so this old woman came to the woods to look for food."
Someone nearby said, "But as far as I know, there aren't many people living in these mountains."
The old woman's eyes flashed: "Things have been tough these past few years. Everyone's gone up to the mountains and into caves to hide, and they don't come down here much anymore..."
Another person said, "If that's the case, it's so late, and you can see in the dark, yet you're still out in the woods picking wild vegetables at this hour. Aren't you afraid of wild animals?"
Another person said, "Grandma, you're skilled in martial arts? But didn't you say the village was nearby? This place is clearly at the foot of the mountain, yet you said everyone is on the mountain?"
The poor old woman's attempt to deceive him failed miserably. Her trick was really clumsy. If she had said that she was just passing through while fleeing famine, it might have been somewhat believable. But her clothes were so tattered, and she still had some flesh on her face and body. Not much, but still quite different from the emaciated people that were common in this era.
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