Disaster victims are just disaster victims. What strange disaster victims are there?
Chief Yang was the first to rise from the black awning boat. He left the cabin, asked where they were, and looked in the direction pointed by others. Sure enough, there was a group of disaster victims diagonally ahead.
Zhan Muchun, who was silent inside the black awning, sighed lightly. He put away the silver notes, stood up and went out to see what was going on with these so-called strange disaster victims.
That group of disaster victims was clearly heading towards Shangwan city.
This patrol boat was also returning to Shangwan city after an inspection trip outside.
The group of disaster victims had clearly set off before them. However the victims were trudging through the muddy floodwaters, one foot deep and one foot shallow. They were obviously much slower than the boat rowing on the water, so the boat caught up with them from behind.
When the two sides were almost parallel, the strangeness of this group of disaster victims became clear to see.
Because these disaster victims were actually dragging dozens of simple stretchers, not carrying them, but truly dragging them along.
One end of each stretcher was lifted while the other end dragged on the ground. The people on the stretchers were lying at an angle, heads up, feet dragging in the mud.
Perhaps to save effort, six or seven people dragged one stretcher together while walking.
Outsiders hearing this might not think much of it, but for people in the disaster area, this scene was simply a rare miracle in the world.
It was an unbelievable miracle.
People in the disaster area, if they knew anything, all understood that those who could not walk basically had no choice but to wait for death.
There was also a cruel reality that people did not want to face or mention. They would become food for others.
When people were hungry to a certain extent, there was no etiquette, righteousness, or shame. All moral teachings became empty air. They would become the most primitive animals, with obtaining food above everything else.
In this situation, those who could not walk would not be helped even by the government or the court, because they could not be saved.
It was even less possible for any disaster victims to rescue them.
The reason was simple. Saving one person like this, carrying one person like this, required physical strength. When one could barely survive oneself, where would there be strength left to carry another person on a long journey? It was simply unrealistic.
Even the instinct for survival did not allow a person to do this.
Yet the actions of the refugee group before them completely overturned their imagination and went beyond their understanding. They did not know why these people had such strong willpower.
Could they be some fallen military troops or something? Otherwise how could they have such good discipline?
Upon closer inspection, everyone found that this was clearly not the case. The men and women were of various ages, almost all staggering and leaning on chopped wooden sticks as crutches. They were obviously gritting their teeth and holding on. They could not be organised military personnel.
Therefore the shock this scene brought to everyone could be imagined.
The few officials standing at the bow of the boat could only show faces full of disbelief.
When the moving boat overtook the refugee group, Chief Yang saw Yu Qing leading the way at the front. He could not help but exclaim, Eh. That little-moustached leader looks a bit familiar, as if I have seen him somewhere.
He had indeed seen him. After passing the imperial examinations, when the new jinshi rode horses in parade, they had passed by the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue. Chief Yang had also watched from the entrance and had seen Yu Qing.
But now Yu Qing had a ponytail, had grown a small moustache, carried a sword at his waist, had a large leather bag slung on one side, and carried a small half-bag of dry food on his shoulder. His head was slightly tilted, and his body was covered in mud and water. He looked extremely dirty, so it was normal not to recognise him.
Hearing this, the others also looked carefully.
Sure enough, Zhan Muchun also felt this person seemed familiar. He felt puzzled and strange. How could there be an acquaintance here, and one who had become a disaster victim.
Yu Qing, holding a staff and probing the ground ahead from time to time, shouted loudly backwards again, Everyone be careful. There is a ditch on the right. It seems to be a slope. Do not step into empty air and slip down. Follow me and go a bit to the left. Stay close. If anyone falls behind do not blame me for not caring.
His spirits were still very high. He had suddenly earned so much silver. He felt that for reasons of both emotion and reason he should properly deliver these disaster victims to Shangwan city. Then, well, he could earn that more than eighty thousand taels of silver with peace of mind.
The young couple had probably eaten quite full. They might have gradually gained some energy, or perhaps they had seen hope of survival. The two stayed tightly behind Yu Qing and helped pass on the words backwards.
As soon as he heard Yu Qing speak, Zhan Muchun’s expression shook violently. He recognised the voice at once. Setting aside Yu Qing’s greatly changed appearance, he stared at Yu Qing’s face and looked closely. It matched. He recognised him instantly. Who else could it be but Brother Shiheng?
He checked several times. Yes, it was indeed Brother Shiheng. How had he come here?
He immediately understood. What else could it be but disaster relief? The facts were already before his eyes.
So much time had passed. The news of the top scholar resigning from office had long spread here. When he had heard the news before he had also been shocked. Why? Was what everyone sought after ten years of hard study not this? Did he really resign because he did not get first place and harboured resentment?
In short he could not quite understand it.
Today he suddenly saw Yu Qing rescuing people in the disaster area. His heart was indeed somewhat impacted.
That talented top scorer who had full marks in four subjects, how had he ended up like this?
Yu Qing also noticed the boat over there. He thought to himself that if he had known there was such a waterway earlier, would it have been more convenient to build some wooden rafts to carry the disaster victims?
Then he felt he was thinking too much. How many wooden rafts would be needed for over a thousand people? Not to mention whether materials could be gathered. By the time they were built, with that time they would probably have arrived by walking.
Besides at the beginning he really did not know about such a waterway, and he did not understand the terrain of the waterway.
He also saw the few officials wearing official robes on the boat. He could not be bothered to deal with them and did not even want to greet them. He no longer placed any hope in these corrupt officials.
If these corrupt officials had even a tiny bit of conscience they should have taken the initiative to offer to get down and walk, letting the people who could not walk board the boat. However they did not. They clearly passed by yet not one made a sound.
He did not see Zhan Muchun.
Zhan Muchun had wanted to call out at first, but then thought of some issues and turned his head away with some guilt. He did not dare to greet Yu Qing.
It was for no other reason than that he could not open his mouth and did not know how to speak.
The matter was obvious. Brother Shiheng was leading these refugees towards Shangwan city, but he knew that Shangwan city had already set emergency disaster regulations. Without money one could not enter the city. After the man had worked so hard to bring such a large group of disaster victims here, if he greeted him, should he tell him the truth or not tell him?
He felt guilty in his heart and was ashamed to meet.
The other officials who did not speak actually had similar mindsets. They watched silently. No one dared to tell the truth to these people struggling bitterly in desperation.
The boat soon pulled ahead, getting farther and farther from the group behind.
Everyone stay close. All follow me. We will try to reach Shangwan city before dark…
Yu Qing’s loud and energetic shouts still came faintly.
Zhan Muchun stood in front of the black awning looking back. His gaze fixed on the figure leading the group and could not move away for a long time. His heart was full of guilt and also full of admiration.
He discovered that this Brother Shiheng was indeed an extraordinary person, truly someone who could create miracles. He had actually managed to organise this group of starving victims. He really did not know how it was done.
The idea of arriving before dark was dashed. The disaster victims’ marching speed was too slow. The originally planned two-hour journey actually took a full three hours. Only then did the over one thousand beggar-like disaster victims drag themselves to the foot of the city.
Of course the bad road was also a reason, plus these disaster victims had been hungry for too long and their physical strength really could not keep up.
The half bag of flatbread dry food that Yu Qing carried had already been distributed on the road. Those doing heavy work dragging stretchers received more. The others each got one quarter of a flatbread.
Eating flatbread easily made one thirsty. With no mountain spring water available, they could only drink the muddy water from the ground.
Whether it was dirty, clean, or would cause illness, no one could care anymore. Yu Qing could only allow it because he was powerless to do anything.
Shangwan city was on higher ground. Reaching the foot of the city meant coming out of the water, though it was still mud full of footprints everywhere.
Torches were lit all over the city walls. At the base of the city wall by the moat, spaced bonfires were also lit.
Outside the moat, a dense black crowd of people had gathered. Those who could not stand were sitting or lying on the muddy ground.
From time to time people knelt and begged the soldiers inside the city to let them in. However the soldiers carrying out orders were truly cold-hearted.
Yu Qing, who had arrived outside the city, was speechless with a heavy heart. His heart turned cold. Only then did he realise that the thousand or so people he had brought were nothing at all. The disaster victims gathered outside the city hoping to enter were the majority, far exceeding those he had brought.
Go. Yu Qing turned back and called out. He led over a thousand people and forced their way hard into the crowd.
The group carved out a path to the edge of the moat. Facing the raised drawbridge, Yu Qing shouted loudly, Lower the drawbridge quickly and let us enter the city.
The defending general on the other side of the drawbridge shouted, Any unauthorised intruders who dare defy the emergency disaster regulations will be killed without mercy.
Yu Qing pulled open a gap in the large leather bag, grabbed a handful of silver notes and shouted, I have money.
As soon as these words came out, a group of disaster victims outside the moat saw so much money and their eyes immediately glowed green.
No need to call out. The crowd suddenly became chaotic. Someone immediately rushed over, followed by a group of people rushing over.
It was obvious they wanted to rob.
Clang. Yu Qing faced the city wall with his back to the crowd and drew his sword. A cold glint reflecting the firelight from opposite swept in his hand. Without even looking he swung towards the back. The first man who rushed over had his head instantly fly into the air. Blood sprayed from his neck and he fell with a thud.
This did not scare the others. The other rushing people continued to pounce.
Sword light flashed like a rainbow, fast, very fast.
He slashed at anyone he saw. He killed anyone who charged. Blood flew like rain.
A few fell, yet there were still those unafraid of death charging.
A dozen fell, yet there were still those charging for their lives.
Only after dozens had fallen did it finally take effect.
Bodies lay in piles on the ground. These people had no ability to resist in front of Yu Qing at all, just like being chopped melons and vegetables.
Yu Qing showed no mercy at all. His moves were simple and neat killing strikes.
The one saving people was him, and the one killing people was also him.
No disaster victim with ill intentions could get close to Yu Qing’s body. Those who approached died. Some who were restless yet terrified finally did not dare to advance anymore.
Yu Qing, covered in blood with bloodstains also on his face, stood on the piled corpses. One hand held a blood-smeared sword and the other still grasped the handful of silver notes now stained with blood. Like an evil ghost he waved the bloodied silver notes and shouted fiercely, Come. Come and rob again.
No one dared to come forward anymore. The defending soldiers on the other side of the moat were also stunned.
Yu Qing turned around with a ferocious expression and shouted, I have silver notes. Lower the drawbridge.