Chapter 363: Refugees and Bandits (Part Two) [Two-in-One]
Although the crisis was approaching, the atmosphere in Heyin, especially in Fugu City, was not very tense.
Work when you should work, do what you should do.
Everything seemed to be as usual.
It wasn't that these commoners were heartless; rather, they firmly believed their prefect would defeat the enemy. A miracle can happen once, and it will surely happen again, won't it?
Ever since the news was announced, shadowy figures have been frequently seen loitering outside the government office. They would often sneak up under the cover of darkness, quickly drop a bag of millet, some dry rations, or a few sets of men's clothing made of hemp cloth, and then run away.
Some people with mobility issues were also captured by the guards.
It took repeated persuasion before they finally allowed the person to take the items back.
This matter also reached Shen Tang's ears.
Gu Chi smiled and said, "The people of He Yin have won over the hearts of the people."
Having experienced the hardship of not having enough to eat, they realized how rare it was to have a prefect who was wholeheartedly devoted to the people, ensuring they had land to cultivate, food to eat, and clothes to wear. Whether out of simple-mindedness or purely for their own benefit—if Shen Tang fell, their hard-won peaceful and prosperous days would come to an end, and both would suffer—these commoners would wholeheartedly support him.
But most of them are the elderly, women, and children. How can we support them?
It was nothing more than donating military supplies.
Gu Chi knew that the latter factor was the main one.
Before their lord arrived, He Yin was a desolate and treacherous place, teeming with villains. In their lord's words, Tang Sanzang would arrive in the morning and be on his way to the Western Paradise by the afternoon, while the Bull Demon King would have to plow two acres of land and be made into beef noodles.
So-called simplicity...
Sigh, as long as no trouble arises, that's fine.
Gu Chi was happy to say what Shen Tang wanted to hear.
Shen Tang paused, his hand holding the pen still, and said, "Although this year is a bumper harvest, every household is struggling to make ends meet. Instruct the officials and guards not to accept any goods. By the way, Wangchao, have you found a safe mountain to take refuge in? We need to make arrangements as soon as possible, just in case."
That night, when she got back and thought about it, she realized that she had been fooled by Kang Jishou. The number of refugees and bandits she was actually facing was far more than just 30,000 to 50,000. She wasn't afraid of these refugees and bandits carrying wooden sticks, carrying poles, and hoes, but she couldn't withstand their numbers and power. Once they broke through and rushed into the county, the common people under her jurisdiction would be the first to suffer.
Shen Tang made several preparations.
One of these measures was to have ordinary people retreat to the mountains.
They used the mountainous terrain to defend against a group of refugees and bandits.
If they can't scavenge enough food for the winter within the territory of Heyin, these people will naturally retreat and turn to plundering other places. But this is a last resort, and Shen Tang doesn't want to do it unless absolutely necessary, because it would be too risky for his teammates.
If He Yin can't find grain, the unfortunate ones will be a few neighbors, such as Shangnan, Tianhai, and Yiru.
The best strategy is to take the initiative and launch an attack;
The middle strategy is passive defense;
The worst course of action is to avoid direct confrontation.
When the conversation turned to business, Gu Chi's relaxed smile vanished, and he said seriously, "Rest assured, my lord, the location has been found."
Shen Tang: "So fast?"
Gu Chi replied, "If it's readily available, it's naturally faster."
Before taking control of the He Yin region, they had been suppressing bandits along the way. The abandoned defensive military facilities in the bandit strongholds could still be repaired and used. Each bandit stronghold was well-located, easy to defend, and well-hidden. Among them, the most heavily fortified was the bandit stronghold that He Yin Zhang had secretly funded the construction of, which was the one that their lord had personally led the team to take over. There was also an iron mine workshop nearby.
The previous year, however, was spent focusing on restoring people's livelihoods. They wished they had three heads and six arms, and had no energy, financial resources, or manpower to manage these matters. They only sent a few people to be stationed and guarded.
"Heh, those families did at least do something decent." Shen Tang scoffed indifferently, then remembered something else, "Have Gu Ziyi and Zhang Yongqing replied?"
In times of crisis, we must stick together as one.
Gu Ren and Zhang He are not fools; they cannot possibly be unaware of the situation. They will most likely send troops over.
Gu Chi said, "It's only been two days."
The implication is that it won't happen that quickly.
Shen Tang rubbed her aching temples, took a sip of hot tea to clear her mind after working non-stop, and said, "How come it's only been two days? Tsk, it feels like an eternity."
Lately, she's been counting down the days.
Before they could even receive a reply from Gu Ren, they received a letter asking for help. Accompanying the letter was a string of very ominous news—this group of refugees and bandits, fleeing for their lives, had banded together to ambush towns and counties along their route.
That unfortunate county town was completely caught off guard and overwhelmed. The government office was captured, and people were killed and money was looted indiscriminately. Regardless of whether the victims deserved their fate or died innocently, everyone who was alive was silenced.
Blood flowed like a river in an instant, and the entire city fell silent.
After resting for two or three days, they used this looted town as a base to launch organized attacks on neighboring counties. With the autumn harvest just over and most households still having some surplus grain, they weren't in a hurry to flee. Instead, relying on their superior numbers and the element of surprise, they captured another county. They are currently besieging a third county, but haven't been able to take it, and the situation remains deadlocked.
It wasn't that they were particularly capable, but rather that they received advance warning a day or two in advance, yet the situation was far from optimistic.
_(:з)∠)_
Because they were besieged.
There were tens of thousands of people swarming outside the city!
It's embarrassing to say, but it's true.
Don't be fooled by the fact that these refugees and bandits are mostly ordinary people, emaciated and starving, armed only with hoes, sickles, and carrying poles. When they come together, they can still strike fear into people's hearts, causing them to flee in terror. The local official also thought of sending out brave warriors to kill indiscriminately, hoping to break their spirits and drive them away. As a result, two went out, one dead and one wounded.
Among these people were also brave and skilled martial artists.
They're quite strong!
Left with no other option, they had to find a way to call for help.
Send out seven or eight people to cast a wide net.
Of these seven or eight people, some were captured alive, some were killed, and the rest managed to escape capture and head towards their respective destinations. Their relatives were all in the besieged city, and even though they were afraid of death, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and go on.
One of the letters was delivered to Shen Tang.
The messenger was a young man.
He hadn't slept for two days and two nights. His lips were dry, cracked, and peeling, and his straw sandals were worn through, revealing his bare feet. To ensure the message could be delivered smoothly, he had disguised himself as a refugee, his clothes tattered, revealing the taut muscles beneath. A close sniff revealed a strong stench of blood and sweat emanating from him.
This person was targeted the moment he appeared.
Shen Tang asked, "He was beaten by Shao Xuan?"
Bai Su: "We didn't gain the upper hand."
It turned out that the messenger dared not take the main roads, but instead ventured into deep mountains and forests, deliberately choosing secluded paths with few people. Unfortunately, Bai Su happened to be cultivating in those very spots, and thus ran right into her.
The messenger was skilled with a bow and arrow and was also a brave and courageous warrior.
The two then started fighting.
The young man, clearly wary of something, dared not fight openly and was eventually captured by Xianyu Jian, who was leading troops in a nearby training exercise. After some interrogation, he learned that the young man was a messenger, not a spy.
Xianyu Jian was undecided: "What should we do?"
Bai Su said: [Take him to see the lord.]
Xianyu Jian said to the young messenger: "Excuse me."
The messenger guessed that the two were under the command of Shen Jun, the River Governor, and did not resist. However, as he was being escorted, his eyes kept glancing at Bai Su, who was dressed in plain white. Xianyu Jian, who was escorting him, kicked him in the shin with annoyance: "What are you looking at?"
The messenger said, "This young man is quite handsome."
She has fair and delicate skin.
At first glance, I thought it was a woman.
Xianyu Jian: [Enough with the nonsense!]
The messenger's identity has not been verified yet, and he's already harassing people. Is he courting death? Since the young Xianyu Jian came to Fugu City, he has been working with Zhao Feng and Gong Shuwu every day, struggling on the front lines of building houses, cultivating fields, and repairing roads. He has also had a lot of contact with Bai Su.
Knowing that Bai Su hated it most when people talked about his face, this little thief had better keep his mouth shut if he didn't want to get his face smacked by Bai Su's twin sword tassels. Xianyu Jian's warning was effective; the messenger behaved himself, and Bai Su came to the government office to inform Shen Tang of the matter.
The above conversation ensued.
She comforted Bai Su when she learned that Bai Su had suffered a loss.
"Shao Xuan has only been cultivating martial courage for a short time, unlike those who started from childhood. Just because he can't gain the upper hand today doesn't mean he can't in the future. Did that messenger announce his name?"
Bai Su shook her head: "No."
The messenger acted with considerable caution.
He would only tell the truth after seeing Shen Tang.
"Okay, come with me to take a look."
Bai Su followed behind, wielding two swords, clearly in a guard-like posture.
"My lord, you must be careful of this man."
Who knows if he's a real messenger or a fake one? Bai Su is worried that this fellow might steal the real messenger's letter and use it to assassinate Shen Tang.
Shen Tang said, "Don't worry."
Assassination?
Or should I assassinate her?
Heh, they're probably just here to get themselves killed.
The autumn harvest had just ended, and the weather had not yet turned completely cold.
Shen Tang was as fiery as a small furnace, still wearing a thin summer shirt. In addition, he had grown taller and taller in the past year, and now he was a handsome and dashing young man. His smile could make spring flowers bloom.
The messenger had long been repeatedly reprimanded by Xianyu Jian.
But when he saw Shen Tang, he couldn't help but be lost in thought.
Shen Tang took her seat in the main seat.
He asked, "Who sent you?"
The messenger came to his senses and was surprised by Shen Tang's youth. This Shen Jun's brows were full of the immaturity of a young boy, which made him doubt the value of the letter he had gone through so much trouble to deliver—was it a waste of time?
He thought this in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.
He bowed deeply in respect.
They gave their address.
Just as Chu Wuhui had guessed, the first few places to suffer were all members of the Allied Forces. The one that was besieged had even clashed with Shen Tang, creating a minor conflict, but Shen Tang later generously "lent" them a lot of food and supplies, thus resolving the conflict. Sending someone to ask for help was perfectly reasonable.
Shen Tang read through the letter of appeal presented by the messenger word by word. The bamboo slips were limited in length, and the content was repeatedly condensed. However, it was not difficult to see the anxiety in the writer's heart.
She put down the letter seeking help, her furrowed brows remaining furrowed.
“I have read the letter you sent, but it is not very detailed. There are some questions I would like to ask you.”
The messenger secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It's a good thing that they didn't refuse right away.
Shen Tang feigned doubt and said, "I remember that we formed an alliance in Sibao County last year. Duke Lu's troops and provisions are plentiful, and he has no shortage of skilled warriors. It may be difficult to repel the besieging refugees and bandits, but holding the city is not a problem. There is also autumn grain in the city, so there should be no shortage of military supplies. The rebels are short of food and clothing, and they will retreat in a few days... Why do we need to ask for help?"
The messenger hurriedly said, "Lord Shen, you may not know this... This band of rebels is not entirely made up of ordinary rioters. Among them are highly skilled and courageous martial artists who serve as their leaders. Duke Lu dispatched his trusted generals to quell the rebellion, but one was killed and the other wounded."
Shen Tang's expression changed drastically.
"A martial arts master with courage?"
The messenger nodded.
Shen Tang then asked, "Do you know their strength? How many are there?"
The messenger was unaware of the enemy's exact strength.
However, judging from the slain Martial Warrior, the enemy side must have at least one eighth-rank Duke-level commander. The high-ranking Martial Warrior was secondary; what truly terrified Duke Lu was that among the rebels were over a thousand elite warriors with strength at the upper second rank.
Shen Tang: "...Over a thousand people? Second-class superior craftsmen?"
The messenger nodded emphatically.
Shen Tang: "..."
Thousands of second-class superior works...
Could this really be just a rabble?
Even Shen Tang couldn't help but speculate that this elite group was orchestrated by Zheng Qiao himself, with the aim of eliminating all rebels who opposed him. But then he thought again, the possibility was practically nonexistent. Because the first to be impacted was Ganzhou, where Zheng Qiao was located.
If it weren't for the Imperial Seal, they really wouldn't have been able to withstand this suddenly rising rebellious force. Suppression failed, so they could only drive them away.
Where did these people come from?
Shen Tang asked questions in detail, not letting any detail slip by.
The messenger could only suppress his anxiety.
But he knew in his heart that a thousand second-class superior warriors, plus the high-ranking martial artists leading them, would not be easy to deal with. He had vaguely heard some rumors about the River Governor, and Shen Jun's governance ability was superb, but he had never heard of his military command and training abilities.
He could only speak frankly and without reservation.
They even described the general attire of the more than one thousand second-class officials.
Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand and pondered deeply.
The messenger, however, could not wait.
He gritted his teeth, performed another deep bow, and slammed his head heavily on the ground with a dull thud that made Shen Tang's head ache.
"Currently, the rebels are causing havoc and harming the region. Duke Lu is in distress and isolated, and the common people of Luxia County are living in constant fear. This is a life-or-death calamity. If we cannot overcome it, Luxia County will fall into the hands of the rebels, who will then use the county's grain supplies to launch a large-scale invasion in all directions. At that time, I fear even Heyin County under Lord Shen's rule will not escape this calamity. I earnestly request Lord Shen to send troops to help us!"
The messenger must persuade Shen Tang.
His family members were all in his hometown in Luxia County.
He had witnessed the horrific scenes of people being slaughtered by rioters. Once the city fell, his own relatives and fellow villagers would also become innocent souls lying on the ground—this was something he absolutely could not tolerate!
The messenger looked anxious.
Little did they know that Shen Tang was also in a difficult situation.
How many people does she have under her command?
That guy surnamed Lu really thinks highly of her.
But we can't refuse when people ask for help.
If she refused, there would be no allies to help He Yin next time he was in trouble. She took a deep breath and gave a gentle yet confident smile: "Thieves are causing chaos and harming lives; we certainly cannot stand idly by..."
Hope welled up in the messenger's eyes.
Shen Tang changed the subject: "However—now is not the right time to send troops. Can we wait a little longer, at most two days?"
The messenger asked urgently, "Why?"
Shen Tang sighed and said, "To be honest, I received intelligence a few days ago and immediately sent letters to Tianhai, Shangnan, and Yiru requesting troops, hoping to combine the strength of the four families to repel the refugees and bandits..."
()σyou
This year, I took the bus to sweep the tombs, a two-hour round trip. I felt drowsy and disoriented.
In consideration of all the hard work, I hope our ancestors will bless the Mushroom Novel so that it doesn't get stuck on its own.
(End of this chapter)
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