Xiao Xian's pupils constricted, "Be alert!"
He was escorting relief grain all the way. At the beginning, he met many victims who came up to rob. He jumped onto the carriage with a sword in hand and told them that if they robbed the grain, they would die.
If they want to survive, they should follow him. He can at least ensure that they have enough to eat.
These disaster victims were not scared by him, but because they trusted his character.
Therefore, the first wave of disaster victims did not grab the relief food, but followed him all the way north.
The next few waves of disaster victims, under the persuasion of the first wave of disaster victims, quickly gave up stealing food and followed them all the way north.
However, this wave of disaster victims is obviously different from the previous ones.
Xiao Xian could feel the murderous aura emanating from them.
"Your Highness, is there any problem?" Zou Tao asked in a low voice.
"They don't look like ordinary disaster victims."
Zou Tao looked into the distance, his eyes gloomy. "Could they be bandits? They're so wicked! At a time like this, they're still thinking of making money from refugees?"
"Maybe there's another purpose."
He had received news from the capital that his ritual to pray for rain had failed and that the people were resentful.
Many people believe that Emperor Kang was punished by God. The capital is currently stable, but as the people head north, once they are instigated by someone with ulterior motives, the conflict will easily intensify.
These bandits may want to benefit the people. After all, there are indeed righteous bandits.
Or perhaps he was instigated by someone and wanted to stir up trouble at this time.
Until he figured it out, he could only keep everyone on guard.
The victims obviously saw those people running over, and they looked at the carts of relief food with some concern.
There is only so much disaster relief food, and they can only get a little every day. If another group of people comes, won’t they get even less?
They had been starving before, but now they can finally eat rice soup and really don’t want to suffer anymore.
"Here it comes!" Xiao Xian opened his thin lips slightly and tightened the sword in his hand.
When the victims ran over and saw the carts of relief food, their eyes lit up, like wolves seeing their prey.
"If we grab these foods, we can survive!" The leading man had a ferocious look on his face, and his voice was like a loud bell.
Xiao Xian narrowed his eyes, staring at him darkly.
The man noticed Xiao Xian's gloomy gaze, swallowed his saliva, and organized those people to rush forward.
Xiao Xian said to Zou Tao, "Protect the people and don't let them get hurt."
They had fled from the north, and were already skin and bones.
Although they would have food to eat if they followed him, there was only so much relief food, and he couldn't let them eat as much as they wanted. If they ate it all and the second batch of relief food from the court had not arrived, the situation would probably become even worse.
His voice was loud and urgent, and the people heard his words clearly.
These days, they followed Xiao Xian all the way here, and they knew very well how he treated them.
At first, they thought that the prince Xiao Xian would definitely be able to eat and drink enough.
But that’s not the case!
They drank rice soup, and Xiao Xian also drank rice soup.
And the same goes for the soldiers under his command!
Soon, Xiao Xian lost a lot of weight and a blue stubble appeared on his chin.
They didn't mind sharing the food with their fellow sufferers, but they couldn't tolerate them stealing the food that would keep them alive.
These people picked up stones and branches from the roadside. If these people dared to rob, they would risk their lives to stop them from stealing food!
Xiao Xian's lips curled up slightly.
It really is true that hearts are exchanged for hearts!
This group of people were obviously a little surprised. They didn't expect that Xiao Xian would see through their attempt to steal food, and they didn't expect that these victims would actually help Xiao Xian.
The leading man rolled his eyes and shouted to the disaster victims protecting their grain, "The capital's prayer for rain has failed. This is Heaven's punishment for the emperor's incompetence! Don't fall for Prince Chen's tricks! He's coaxing you back so he can wait for the right moment to kill you all!"
Everyone's expression changed several times.
The way King Chen transported disaster relief grain this time was indeed different from previous disaster years.
They had originally fled all the way from the north to the capital, and Xiao Xian coaxed them back to the north with just a few words.
If the imperial court's disaster relief grain cannot be delivered, their fate will be either to be killed by Xiao Xian or to starve to death!
Some of the victims who were not very determined had already begun to doubt, and the way they looked at Xiao Xian was no longer as respectful as before.
Zou Tao was furious and shouted, "Prince Chen has been eating and traveling with you all along the way, and he's never done anything special. Open your eyes and take a good look at how much weight he's lost! If you insist on listening to my instigation, get fooled, and lose your life, then when you become a wronged ghost, don't go to the King of Hell and complain about Prince Chen and the Emperor's inhumanity!"
Those disaster victims who had followed Xiao Xian all the way north a long time ago witnessed with their own eyes how Xiao Xian protected them along the way and how he did not give them any special treatment. When they heard what Zou Tao said, they immediately agreed.
"Prince Chen is not a treacherous man! He is devoted to Dagan. Ten years ago, when the Southern Qi cavalry set foot on Dagan's land, it was he who led the troops. Otherwise, we would have become slaves of a conquered nation long ago!"
"Yes, if it's really as he said, how could we live this long?"
As soon as one person spoke, countless people followed suit to defend Xiao Xian.
Xiao Xian's troubled mood due to the divorce and Rong Yehua was actually soothed a lot by these words of trust.
His eyes turned red, he took a deep look at these simple people, and made a decision in his heart.
If he ascends the throne one day, he will definitely care about the people and put their interests first in everything.
Zou Tao brought another team of elite soldiers and took advantage of the fact that the people were protecting Xiao Xian and quietly went around behind them.
When these people rushed forward to grab food regardless of anything, Xiao Xian and Zou Tao attacked them from the front and back. Soon, the leader was hit on the neck by Xiao Xian's sharp sword.
"Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"
The man never expected that Xiao Xian would be so simple and brutal. In just a few rounds, he was defeated so miserably.
“Tear—”
His clothes were torn open, and a wolf head totem suddenly appeared on his arm.
"Are you from Xiling?!"
Although it was a question, the tone was quite affirmative.
Seeing that the truth was revealed, the man was about to bite the poison sac, but was cut off his jaw by Xiao Xian.
Unable to die, he could only become a lamb to be slaughtered under Xiao Xian's sword.
"People from Xiling?!"
When those bewitched victims heard that he was actually from Xiling, their faces turned pale.
"Prince Chen, we didn't know he was from Xiling! He said the reason we're experiencing such a drought is because the emperor is incompetent. Otherwise, how could the court not send relief food for such a long time?"
Those victims who participated in the food grabbing knelt on the ground and explained in fear and trepidation.
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