The villagers all looked tired or sad, their eyes full of confusion and worry about the future.
The village chief stood in the middle of the crowd, cleared his throat, and then raised his voice and said, "Everyone, I just made some inquiries and found out that we can't enter Xixia County."
At this point, the village chief paused for a moment, observing the villagers' increasingly dim eyes. He then spoke loudly, "However, I've just found out that it only takes five days to reach Ganquan Prefecture from here. Let's continue on our journey and discuss everything once we reach Ganquan Prefecture."
After hearing what the village chief said, the villagers looked at each other. Although their faces were still filled with fatigue and worry, a glimmer of hope gradually appeared in their eyes.
Now that the village chief has pointed out the way, everyone now has a backbone and knows where to go next.
At that moment, no one hesitated any longer and began to pack their luggage and prepare to set off.
Cuiyun and her group were originally at a loss. They looked at the movement of the village chief and after hearing the arrangements made by the village chief, they looked at each other. Without hesitation, they immediately packed up their few luggages and followed closely.
They knew that in this situation where they had no relatives and no future, following the village chief and his team would at least give them more care and hope of survival.
In this way, this group of people set out on their journey again, slowly moving towards Ganquan Prefecture which was beyond the five-day schedule, leaving behind only a series of footprints, some deep and some shallow, on the land outside Xixia County.
Seeing the villagers of Sujia Village gradually disappearing into the distance, their figures becoming smaller and smaller until they disappeared at the end of the road, the servant beside the old man finally couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Master, those villagers just now were just random passersby. Why did you tell them the news you gathered?"
As the servant spoke, he frowned slightly, his eyes full of confusion. He really couldn't understand what the master's intention was.
When the old man heard the servant's question, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile, and he said lightly: "Why so many reasons? I just like them."
After saying this, the old man said no more, bent down slightly, and got into the carriage with swift movements.
After settling down, he raised his voice slightly and said, "Let's get going too. We've been delayed here long enough."
After hearing the master's instructions, the servant hurriedly responded "Yes" and then got into the carriage swiftly.
He skillfully sat in the front seat, held the reins firmly with both hands, shook them lightly, and shouted. The horse then obediently took a step and slowly pulled the carriage forward.
At the back of the carriage, the thirty guards who had been waiting in an orderly line did not dare to slack off even a little when they saw that the carriage had already started.
They all stood tall, looked serious, held weapons in their hands, and followed the pace of the carriage in an orderly and steady manner.
The guards' figures looked particularly majestic in the sunlight. They guarded the carriage tightly and moved forward steadily.
Inside the carriage, the old man Mu Lin sat quietly on the soft cushion with his eyes slightly closed, but his thoughts were running wild like a wild horse.
The news of telling the people of Sujia Village about going to Ganquan Prefecture was still lingering in his mind. He couldn't help but wonder: Why should I tell them?
The images of the people from Sujia Village whom he had just met kept appearing in his mind. Those simple faces, yet filled with fatigue and anxiety, and especially the unity they showed in the face of difficulties, inexplicably made him feel a sense of familiarity.
Looking at them, Mu Lin couldn't help but think of his fellow villagers far away in his hometown.
He was born into a poor farming family with a difficult financial situation. He often had no food to eat.
In those difficult days, if the villagers had not extended a helping hand and helped him selflessly time and time again, he probably would not even have the opportunity to read and write.
It was with the support of such warm friendship among neighbors that Mu Lin, with his hard work and study day and night, finally stood out in the imperial examination, passed all the hurdles, and finally successfully passed the examination and became a Jinshi.
From then on, a new chapter in his life began. Relying on his talents and abilities, he worked his way up the officialdom step by step, and now he has been promoted to the rank of Shangshu (Second-rank Minister).
But even though he holds a high position now, he still feels deeply grateful to his fellow villagers in his hometown, and has an inseparable attachment to the warm rural life.
Perhaps, it was because he saw the unity of the people in Sujia Village that he felt as if he saw the shadows of his fellow villagers in his hometown, so he inadvertently told them the news he had found out.
Mu Lin sighed slightly and slowly opened his eyes, his eyes revealing a hint of nostalgia and emotion for the past years.
This time, Mu Lin was on an unexpected business trip ordered by the court. After a long journey, he finally completed the task successfully.
On his way back to Beijing, he happened to pass by Ganquan Prefecture. He thought to himself that he must go to visit his youngest son who was the prefect of Ganquan Prefecture.
Thinking that I haven't seen my son for a long time, I don't know how he is doing in this position and how he is living. My heart is full of worries.
Who could have expected that the situation outside he saw as he walked along would be so terrible.
On those vast fields, crops should have been growing vigorously and the scene was full of vitality, but now, due to years of famine, the land has not yielded a single grain.
The people lost their source of food for survival, and had to leave their homes with their families. Their sad faces were filled with helplessness and despair in life.
But the capital city was still a scene of prosperity and joy, and the dignitaries were still enjoying themselves in their luxurious mansions, not at all disturbed by the miserable situation outside.
Mu Lin sighed inwardly. If he had not come out of Beijing on business and witnessed the tragic conditions outside with his own eyes, he would probably still be kept in the dark and would not have known that the outside world had become such a miserable situation.
He sat in the slowly moving carriage, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with deep worry and helplessness.
After a long silence, he finally couldn't help but sigh deeply, thinking silently in his heart: "Alas, the current emperor is obsessed with the art of alchemy. He spends all day either refining pills in the palace or discussing the method of immortality with those so-called alchemists, and ignores state affairs.
In the court, the ministers all closed their eyes and ears, thinking only of how to please the emperor and preserve their own wealth and glory, completely ignoring the suffering of the people.
If this continues, the world will be in chaos, and the people will suffer in the end." After saying this, he sighed heavily, his eyes dimming, and he was filled with worry about the world situation.
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