81 Trapped
"You're fucking insane!"
The group continued south and entered Anping County.
Shen Suqin followed the group into the city. As far as the eye could see, everything was desolate and devoid of any human presence.
Xiao Pingchuan dismounted and walked alongside her, with guards surrounding them to protect them.
"Where did everyone go?" Shen Suqin asked.
“They’re dead, they’ve escaped, they’ve rebelled—no wonder there are three paths,” Xiao Pingchuan replied. “Go check the city center; if there’s still no one there, leave the city and continue on your way.”
Shen Suqin nodded.
Judging from its size, this Ping'an County town is not small. The main street is wide and tidy. Although there are some items scattered around, it can be seen that this place used to be very popular.
Suddenly, Xiao Pingchuan gestured for the group to stop, and the group cautiously halted.
Everyone stared intently ahead for a closer look. Suddenly, Xiao Pingchuan grabbed Shen Suqin, pulled her face towards him, and pressed her head against his chest to prevent her from turning her head.
"Leading the team out of the city, they traveled through the night."
Shen Suqin heard him say that.
Without a single question, everyone turned around and headed out of the city.
Throughout the journey, Shen Suqin remained unusually quiet. After an unknown amount of time, she softly asked, "Were those human heads carried on those wooden stakes just now?"
Xiao Pingchuan replied softly, "Yes."
"Who did this?" she asked.
"I don't know. Perhaps Liangzhou holds secrets that even we don't know."
Xiao Pingchuan had a guess that the Shatuo spies might have bypassed Jinzhou and infiltrated Liangzhou, because the actions just now were completely unlike what the gentle Liang people would do.
He somewhat regretted bringing Shen Suqin along.
"Next, we need to hurry to Liangzhou Prefecture. Can you manage that?"
Shen Suqin nodded.
The group set off again, and Xiao Pingchuan ordered everyone to change out of all the equipment that could be identified as belonging to the Black Flag Army, and into the clothes of ordinary people, traveling discreetly day and night.
Two days later, they arrived at the capital of Liangzhou.
Along the way, there were few people around. But a few miles from the state capital, they began to see refugees sitting on the ground.
They were ragged and emaciated, watching them approach and then walk away with numb expressions.
“How could this be? The news of the drought in Liangzhou just came out!” Shen Su said.
"Go to the prefectural capital and ask," Xiao Pingchuan said.
He gave the reins a flick, ordering everyone to speed up and run towards the prefectural capital.
Once inside the city, refugees were sitting on the ground everywhere, crowding together and filling the streets.
Xiao Pingchuan and the others could no longer ride horses, so they had to dismount and lead the horses forward.
“The previous governor of Liangzhou was Lei Sheng. Last year, Lei Sheng gained military power in the Black Flag Army and led the state troops to the Shule River. Later, the Shatuo invaded, Lei Sheng disappeared, and the position of governor of Liangzhou has been vacant ever since.” He explained to Shen Suqin in a low voice.
Why doesn't the imperial court send someone to fill the vacancy as soon as possible?
"The Marquis of Anping's group is fighting like dogs; everyone wants to get involved, but no one is willing to break through."
Shen Suqin was speechless for a moment.
Marquis Anping himself has already died under Xiao Pingchuan's blade, but his faction has not been extinguished. It is understandable that they would be eyeing his son-in-law Lei Sheng's position. However, for some reason, it has dragged on for so long without a clear winner, which has caused suffering for the people of Liangzhou.
After finally arriving at the government office, it was packed with people, but surprisingly, there was no chaos; everyone was just sitting quietly together.
Xiao Pingchuan sent someone in to report, and soon a quiet-looking old man came running out of the government office.
"General, General." Tears streamed down his face, and he wished he could hug Xiao Pingchuan and cry his heart out.
Xiao Pingchuan took a step back and clasped his hands in greeting: "And you are, sir?"
The man sniffed, withdrew his outstretched arms, and awkwardly returned a fist-and-palm salute, saying, "I am the registrar of the prefectural government, my name is Wen Tingyun, and I am temporarily in charge of Liangzhou. It is my overstepping of authority."
It turned out that after Lei Sheng got into trouble, the officials in Liangzhou who had been promoted by him were afraid of being implicated and punished, so they either resigned or asked to be transferred, and most of them left.
As a result, when drought struck Liangzhou and chaos ensued, only a minor clerk could take over the task.
"Did you let these disaster victims in?" Xiao Pingchuan asked, scanning the room.
The registrar replied tremblingly, "Yes."
How much do you know about the disaster situation in Liangzhou?
Wen, the registrar, rubbed his hands together, took out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, and presented it to Xiao Pingchuan with both hands, saying, "This is the disaster situation and food shortage in various counties of Liangzhou. Please take a look, General."
Shen Suqin could read ten lines at a glance.
Liangzhou has four prefectures and thirteen counties, with a total population of over 800,000.
"The two counties in the north were the hardest hit, with a total of more than 300,000 people affected."
Shen Suqin found it strange. Logically speaking, it's not yet autumn harvest time. Even if the spring drought prevented the planting of grain, there should still be last year's surplus grain to tide them over. If there really is a shortage of grain, it shouldn't be at this time.
When Wen, the registrar, heard her ask this question, he explained, "Last year, Lord Lei led his troops to the Shule River. Before leaving, he levied a large amount of grain and fodder, emptying the people's coffers."
"The Ever-Normal Granary is also out of grain?"
Ever-Normal granaries were grain storage warehouses built by the imperial court in various prefectures and counties to stabilize grain prices and provide disaster relief.
"There were hardly any grains in the Changping Granary. Even if there were, they were burned by some unknown person."
Xiao Pingchuan suddenly became alert.
He suddenly remembered that the Shatuo had lingered in Liangzhou for a long time last year, and before he arrived, Zhu Xiegebo had led his men to wander around.
At the time, they thought he was plundering grain, but was it really that simple?
"I ask you, as we traveled south, why were there so many counties where countless people died and the land was deserted? On the contrary, the prefectures were full of refugees, with nowhere to even settle down."
The registrar's face changed, and he stammered for a long time, unable to speak.
Xiao Pingchuan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, signaling his men to be on alert.
Suddenly, the clerk's aura changed. He straightened his back, stared straight at Xiao Pingchuan, and said, word by word, "I didn't expect the general to be so vigilant, but... it's too late!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the ragged refugees around him stood up abruptly, their eyes flashing with malice as they surrounded Xiao Pingchuan and his group.
Xiao Pingchuan gripped his heavy sword tightly, pulled Shen Suqin behind him to protect her, and asked Wen Tingyun, "Who exactly are you?"
Wen Tingyun: "I never expected Xiao Pingchuan to come to me like this. I didn't even go looking for you. Well then, I'll leave my life here today to avenge my fallen brothers."
Xiao Pingchuan glared at him sharply: "You are a Shatuo!"
"So what if it is?"
How did you incite these refugees?
"Refugees? No, no, no, they are just a group of people who want to survive. Your officials in Daliang are inactive, taking away their food supplies. I happened to have some food, so I helped them earn a way to survive. Was I wrong?"
grass!
No wonder Zhu Xie Ge Bo went straight to Liangzhou after heading south, but then lingered here and didn't go any further; it turns out he had other plans.
Once he understood this, Xiao Pingchuan was filled with regret.
Although it is unknown what Zhu Xie Ge Bo is plotting by planting spies in Liangzhou, such an idea is clearly beyond his comprehension; there must be a mastermind behind it.
If he deliberately let him go back, wouldn't he be losing more than he gained?
It's unbelievable that someone as arrogant as him would be willing to relinquish the throne so easily; what a miscalculation.
"Protect the lady and break out!" Xiao Pingchuan said coldly.
“Wait a minute,” Shen Suqin’s cold voice rang out, “I’m a little curious, if we hadn’t come, could you really afford to support so many people?”
"Who are you?" Wen Tingyun asked.
"Since you're not from Daliang, you probably haven't heard of it. I run a restaurant called Xingyuan Restaurant, which is also located in your Lingwu Royal City."
"Oh?" Wen Tingyun raised an eyebrow. "Then you must be very rich?"
Shen Suqin chuckled: "That depends on who you compare it to. Compared to the treasury of your Shatuo royal court, it's more than enough. Besides, I own more than just restaurants; I also have a soap workshop that brings in more than ten thousand taels of gold a day."
Wen Tingyun's eyes lit up instantly.
He was worried about not having enough food to feed these refugees; without food, no one would listen to him.
He waved his hand, signaling the people around him to put down their weapons, and said kindly to Shen Suqin, "Shall we talk?"
Shen Suqin also pressed down on Xiao Pingchuan's heavy sword, and said with a half-smile, "Let's chat."
“Then please,” Wen Tingyun gestured, “I just don’t know if General Xiao dares to go in.”
Xiao Pingchuan snorted coldly and took the lead in walking towards the government office.
He had considered that although they could protect Shen Suqin and rush out, they would also alert them, making it difficult for them to bring more people to wipe them out.
Therefore, he supports Shen Suqin's approach.
Once inside, the burly Shatuo men who had been hiding stopped hiding and came out from the back hall, staring at the group menacingly.
Xiao Pingchuan and the others consciously formed a circle facing outwards, protecting Shen Suqin inside.
Shen Suqin patted his shoulder, walked out of the protective circle with a nonchalant air, and stood in front of Wen Tingyun, saying, "In business, as long as the price is right and there is profit to be made, it doesn't matter who you do business with."
Wen Tingyun looked her up and down and exclaimed, "Not only is the young lady beautiful, but she also has a fiery temper. I like her."
Shen Suqin smiled and said, "Thank you. Come, let's see what Lord Wen can offer me?"
Wen Tingyun waved his hand, laughing shamelessly: "Look at my tattered clothes, what can I give you?"
"Then let's talk about what I can offer you, sir: one million taels of gold and five hundred thousand shi of millet. How about that?"
Wen Tingyun's eyes widened, and she asked instinctively, "Are you serious?"
"nature."
Wen Tingyun narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "I want two million gold coins and one million shi of millet."
Shen Suqin chuckled: "My lord, I am sincere in my offer, and you are sincere in your offer. The number I can give is already the maximum; any more would be to fool you."
Wen Tingyun was speechless; he had never seen such a free and easy woman.
He glanced at Xiao Pingchuan, then at her, and a sudden surge of gossip arose within him. He asked, "I heard that General Xiao got married. You wouldn't happen to be his wife, would you?"
Shen Suqin shrugged: "Otherwise what?"
"Then he is not good enough for you."
Shen Suqin turned to Xiao Pingchuan and said, "General, I didn't say that. If you want to hold a grudge, hold it against him. It's none of my business."
Xiao Pingchuan glanced at him indifferently, clearly not taking him seriously.
Wen Tingyun sneered, "He can't even protect himself now, what else does he want to do?"
"Sir, you know that this million taels of gold is the life-saving money for all of us, right?" Shen Suqin reminded him.
Wen Tingyun's eyes darted around: "Of course. I'll release you whenever you bring the gold."
"make a deal!"
"How should I give it to you?" Wen Tingyun reached out her hand.
Shen Suqin thought for a moment: "Is Xingyuan Restaurant in the city still there?"
Wen Tingyun looked at the person next to her, and that person nodded.
“It’s still here,” he replied.
Shen Suqin took out a small gold seal from his sleeve, held it in front of Wen Tingyun and turned it around, saying, "This is the seal of the manager of Xingyuan Restaurant, and it is also a certificate of identity. With this, you can draw money and grain from restaurants in various places."
Wen Tingyun's eyes gleamed with greed, and he reached out to snatch it.
Xiao Pingchuan swung his heavy sword, which slammed down at Wen Tingyun's feet with a bang, shattering the bluestone floor into pieces instantly.
Shen Suqin peeked out from behind the heavy sword, tossed the seal to Wen Tingyun, and said calmly, "Why are you in such a hurry, sir? I know you're worried that we'll tip you off and won't let me go to collect the money. Why don't you take the seal and go yourself?"
Wen Tingyun was on guard; he felt things were going too smoothly and didn't bother to investigate Xiao Pingchuan's offense.
Shen Suqin calmly met his gaze and added, "If you are not at ease, I can go myself. It all depends on whether you can afford to take the risk."
Wen Tingyun remained silent for a long time, then, holding the golden seal, said, "I'll bet. Anyway, everyone within a few miles is under my control. I don't believe you can grow wings and fly away. But before I gamble, I need to add some insurance."
“General Xiao, break your right arm yourself,” he said to Xiao Pingchuan. “I know your skills. If your hands and feet are both intact, I wouldn’t dare to gamble.”
A chill ran through Shen Suqin: "Lord Wen, this is not included in our deal."
Wen Tingyun sneered: "Then you can refuse and let General Xiao lead you out. I also want to see how General Xiao will get you out of the encirclement of thousands of people unharmed."
"you!"
Shen Suqin was about to say something more when she saw Xiao Pingchuan decisively twist his right arm against the wall, snapping it backwards.
Throughout the entire process, apart from the crisp sound of bones breaking, not a single sound was heard.
Wen Tingyun said with satisfaction, "General, you have great courage. I have high hopes for them."
After saying that, he took the seal and went out.
Shen Suqin was on the verge of losing her mind!
She gritted her teeth and glared at Xiao Pingchuan, saying each word clearly, "You're fucking insane!"
Xiao Pingchuan: "I will support whatever you want to do, and besides, I also think it's a good idea."
"Even if it means losing an arm?"
"Just one arm."
After saying this, he sat down on the ground, his severed arm hanging loosely at his side.
Shen Suqin was furious. He went to a corner, picked up a thin wooden board, and broke it in two in a few strokes. He then tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and used the wooden board to fix his severed arm, and then tied it up with the cloth strip.
There's no use dwelling on it now.
Shen Suqin sat down next to him and explained, "That seal will go to Ju Tao. You know she's my second steward, she won't abandon me."
"I know."
He roughly knew how Xingyuan Restaurant operated. He also knew what Shen Suqin was trying to do by stalling for time and looking for people.
Before long, Wen Tingyun returned, followed by several people, each carrying grain on their shoulders.
“I searched so many times before, but I couldn’t find a single grain of rice. I never thought that a small seal would make them hand over so much grain willingly.” He said, “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t touch you before I get the grain. But you’d better pray they act quickly, because I’m not going to feed and care for my enemy.”
Shen Suqin calmly replied, "Don't worry, sir, they will come to rescue me."
In the following days, Xiao Pingchuan and others were trapped in the Liangzhou government office along with Shen Suqin.
Shen Suqin's side is doing alright; she has three meals a day with water and food, although they are not very good, they are enough to fill her stomach.
But Xiao Pingchuan and his men had nothing.
Shen Suqin distributed the food and water equally as soon as she received them, not wanting to leave anyone out.
At first, no one wanted to take the food, but Shen Suqin said to conserve energy, and that's how the food was successfully distributed.
Only Xiao Pingchuan refused to eat, no matter what.
"Are you planning to starve yourself to death?" Shen Suqin asked in a low voice. "If you become too weak to move from hunger and they come to take you away, how will you deal with it? Don't cause any trouble for me."
Xiao Pingchuan remained unmoved. Others might not care, but he was Shen Suqin's husband, and there was no reason for him to take food from her.
Xiao Pingchuan: "They will definitely come in five days at most. I can handle it."
"That's a load of rubbish."
In the end, Shen Suqin couldn't persuade him. So, apart from occasionally drinking a few sips of water, Xiao Pingchuan remained hungry and ate nothing.
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