Chapter 76: The True Man, Fearless. Part One

ke one's heart tighten.And the note he left also simply said, not too different from what she had guessed.As for Xu Chang's reaction and the others, she didn't really care. Just looking at his carefre...Gu Huanxi might not know that Xu Huaiyi had once again helped her gain favor in front of the villagers. After setting off in the afternoon, she lay down and fell asleep. Her daughter was on her left, and her son on her right. The 1.8-meter bed was covered with a thick mattress, so comfortable that it wasn't uncomfortable at all. Because they were traveling on an official road, it wasn't bumpy either. The slight shaking was like a cradle, almost unbelievably comfortable.

She slept all the way to Qingzhou City before waking up. She stretched lazily, pushed open the small window and glanced out, the languid expression on her face gradually fading, replaced by an unyielding heaviness and unspeakable sadness.

In her past life, she visited the ancient city of Qingzhou. Back then, what she saw was a bustling scene filled with commercial atmosphere, crowded with people, and tourists from afar busy taking pictures and checking in. She regretted that although the city walls still stood, they lacked historical flavor.

At this moment, the taste of history overwhelmed her, yet she couldn't help but shy away from it.

At this time, the city walls of Qingzhou had not yet been eroded by the passage of time or ravaged by war. They stood tall and imposing. However, not far from the city gate, it seemed like another world altogether. It was as if a vibrant five-colored painting had suddenly transformed into a black and white photograph. Wherever one looked, there was only gloom and emptiness, with no sign of life.

The impact was too strong. Even Gu Huan, who prided himself on his cold and hardened heart after years of cultivation, couldn't help but feel a twinge of heartache when faced with it directly.

Tens of thousands of refugees, mentally broken, lay or sat there in rags, their bones protruding, as if only a breath kept them going. The despair and numbness on their faces were so chilling that it sent shivers down one's spine.

This is not a movie scene, they are not extras, this is living hell.

On the road, there are no barren miles, no bodies littering the ground. I thought that was luck, until now.

If this is the case for someone who was already so eager, one can only imagine how others felt. Their last shred of hope was utterly destroyed, leaving behind nothing but a tempestuous storm in their hearts.

Some wept silently, heads bowed. Others were pale with terror and trembling. Some stumbled about, barely able to stand, while others sobbed uncontrollably. A tapestry of human emotions played out before our eyes.

Xu Huaiyi's goal has been achieved.

He would rather not achieve his wish, such a reference object is really a nightmare.

Back on the road, the team was much quieter. Most people were silent, only occasionally murmuring to each other, sharing their anxieties and seeking comfort from their companions.

In the car, Gu Huanxi asked, "Xiaoyu, what are you feeling after seeing all this"

Gu Xiaoyu sat stiffly, her face slightly pale when she heard this. She pursed her lips and a look of guilt and embarrassment filled her eyes, "My chest feels tight..."

Gu Huan touched his head and said, "Sighing with tears suppressed, lamenting the multitude of hardships in human life. The ancients probably wrote these words after seeing such a tragic situation as this. You now, do you still think this is just a natural disaster, something the court had no choice but to do"

Gu Xiaoyu shook her head, pondered for a moment, and then seriously asked, "Mother, do you have any good countermeasures"

Gu Huanxi pondered and said, "Specific measures depend on the specific situation. It's difficult for me to tell you more so that you don't fall into dogmatism later. However, in my opinion, at the very least, we shouldn't treat refugees like dogs, right Using a bowl of porridge to appease them, confining them, and fearing they might cause trouble is merely treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause. Moreover, for the refugees themselves, it's like drinking poison to quench their thirst. They won't last long before their vitality and spirit are completely drained. Once the government and wealthy citizens in the city can no longer provide them with food, all that will be left is to drive them away and let them fend for themselves..."

Gu Xiaoyu listened thoughtfully, her expression serious and composed, not at all like a five-year-old child.

Gu Huanxi looked at him, her tone heavy with meaning as she continued, "You tell me, are the government and wealthy families doing this out of compassion to help the refugees, or are they pushing them into an even bigger fire pit"

Gu Xiao Yu's face changed, involuntarily clenching her sleeves, "Could it be, could it be that they are... using a strategy of no bloodshed, slowly draining the lives of these refugees"

Gu Huanxi said lightly, "They might not be that ruthless, but they will certainly let things take their course. Otherwise, the local government would have come up with effective disaster relief measures long ago. Even if the imperial court didn't provide relief grain, wouldn't the local yamen really have no emergency preparations If arranged properly, with the whole city working together, not only those refugees at the gate, but even us, perhaps we wouldn't have to abandon our homes and property to flee."

Drought does objectively exist, but she always felt that it wasn't the primary cause of the current situation. She believed human activity also played a significant role.

Could it be that after only thirty years of founding the country, the palace is already in chaos

Miles apart, with information cut off, she couldn't guess what the imperial court and officials were up to. Why were they blind to the disasters in the ten or so prefectures of Central Plains But now, seeing the chaos in Qingzhou, she couldn't help but worry. Upon arriving in the capital, beneath the Emperor's feet, with countless high-ranking officials, what if those in court were unreliable and the emperor was foolish What would her family do then

You can't just live like this forever, can you

Compared to her profound thoughts and myriad worries, Xu Huaiyi's mind was much simpler and purer. Why think about things that haven't happened yet Taking care of the present is what truly matters. He always believed that there was a way out for everyone, and if he ever reached a dead end, well, then it was over.

Even the most careful thought is no match for a leap of faith.

So, at this moment, he was a unique presence among the team, exuding an air of calm and composure. The whip in his hand even seemed to carry a hint of joy and ease.

Xu Changsong was greatly stimulated, he couldn't help but walk over and ask, "Huaiyi, why aren't you worried or afraid"

Look everyone, things are so frustrating that I don't even know where to start. Please tell me how he did it! I'm so curious and want to learn from him. My mind is racing, I can't sit still, it's like a rabbit has kicked me!

Xu Huaiyi glanced at him, "A real man fears nothing."

Xu Changsong, “...”

I want to slap myself twice, he shouldn't have asked.

In a while, Village Head Xu came to him again, his face looking rather heavy. “Waiyi, there are some villagers following us, just about seven or eight meters behind. Lao Gao scared them off a couple of times, but they still won't leave.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Huaiyi immediately thought of the overwhelming black mass outside Qingzhou City. "Did they follow from the gate of Qingzhou City How many are there Do they have any belongings"

"Looking at them, they really seem like the refugees who were waiting to receive porridge at the gates of Qingzhou City before. They're so ragged and their numbers are considerable, over thirty of them. There are two carts, with people even lying on top. There are bedding, cooking utensils... As for food I didn't see any. Maybe they all have it strapped to their backs," said the village head.

Xu Huaiyi pondered for a moment, "It seems these people have realized that there's nothing good left for them in Qingzhou, so they decided to join our team..."

"Elder Xu frowned, 'Are they trying to use our power and protection'"

Xu Huaiyi waved his hand dismissively. “If they want to follow, let them. Anyway, this official road isn’t ours. We can walk it, and so can they. If we run into any trouble, maybe we can even use them. Just tell everyone not to talk too much or be kindhearted. They have thirty people; could they really threaten us”

Xu Chang thought about it, too. This time the Xu family village came out with more than half their people, adding up to two or three hundred. Taking away the women and children, there were still seventy or eighty able-bodied men. Unless they encountered bandits or thugs, there was really nothing to be afraid of.amThe Yao family was also dumbfounded. Could this village woman be crazyOnly Gu Xiaoyu seemed to be there, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her mother was so imposing!As the target of insults, Yao...