mtl008 Chapter 779: Among the refugees there is a surname called Jiangnan
Chapter 779: Among the refugees there is a surname called Jiangnan
She heard the soft voices of Wu Nong coming from the crowd.
"Why are even the people from Jiangnan fleeing? What on earth happened?" She was sure that among the refugees there were people from the wealthy Jiangnan water towns, which made her feel even more heartbroken.
Looking at this tragic situation, I'm afraid that Jiangnan must have suffered a major incident, and there might not be enough food. Her voice trembled a little, but her eyes were fixed on the dead mother and child, refusing to look away.
"I haven't heard of any disaster anywhere!"
The guards sent to spread the news had already returned, and Green Shadow and his men came running over. His words didn't sound real.
"Why would so many people migrate south when there is no disaster?" Xu Zize's voice was full of confusion.
It is hard to leave one's hometown, and leaving one's hometown for an unpredictable future is not something ordinary people are willing to do.
Jing Chunxi thought of the simple tenant farmers near Qingshan Villa, the twinkle in their eyes when they spoke of the land their ancestors had cultivated. Who would be willing to leave their homeland if they could survive? A pang of pain pierced his heart.
"The imperial court is constantly collecting taxes. Some people say that the land tax and head tax alone have been increased three times this year." A guard said angrily, his fists clenched tightly.
"Military service and labor service are also continuous. Now they are not conscripting soldiers based on households. They arrest any male they see, and we don't know where they are taken." Another guard added, his voice trembling slightly with anger.
"If you can't pay the taxes, they will just plunder the land and drive people off the land."
"So, if you don't flee south, you won't be able to protect your wives and children. Some will be arrested and used to offset your taxes." Green Shadow said these words while gritting his teeth, with flames of anger dancing in his eyes.
After hearing their reports, Xu Zize and Jing Chunxi looked at each other in surprise. The others were even more indignant. They didn't expect that the Daqing Dynasty would become so chaotic in such a short period of time. It was like hell on earth. Were they going to kill the people?
Xu Zize's face was terribly gloomy, and his jawline was tense.
"Everyone's gone, so where will the farmers come from? So, Jiangnan won't have any food left, right?" She looked at Xu Zize, a little worried, regretting that they'd made the promise so early. Jing Chunxi's voice grew quieter, until he practically muttered to himself.
Xu Zize was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "If the people can't even survive, how can the soldiers protect the country?" There was suppressed anger in his voice, and his hand unconsciously pressed on the sword at his waist.
Unexpectedly, Kuaijiao said, "They said that the land is still being cultivated, but they are all being cultivated for others. The land is almost entirely controlled by government officials, wealthy businessmen, and landlords. The old people and women who were plundered or used as collateral for debts are forced to help them farm the land." His voice was low, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.
"They also say," Green Shadow's eyes were red with anger, and his words were almost gnashed out through gritted teeth, "that the granaries of government offices, landlords, and wealthy merchants are all full. The people are constantly clashing with them, but this only leads to greater bloodshed."
As he spoke, he kicked a stone on the side of the road so hard that it flew far away. "Why don't these people go to the war to protect their country, but instead kill their own people?"
"The further we go, the more dangerous it will be, master..." Qingfeng looked at the two of them with a little worry, and swallowed the words he wanted to dissuade them halfway through.
His eyes flickered between Xu Zize and Jing Chunxi, hesitant to speak. The others were just waiting for their decision.
"We must go," Xu Zize looked at the girl with a stubborn face, "If we can't solve the problem of food for the soldiers, the country will be destroyed." His voice was firm and powerful, and it was particularly clear in the empty wilderness.
In this season, having clothes that are a little torn is not a problem, but how can we fight the enemy without food? Jing Chunxi thought of the soldiers fighting on the front lines. She wondered how many of the original Jing family army were left. She felt a knot in her stomach like a lump of lead.
"Get on your horses, rest for a day, and then make plans." They had to go. The two of them had already issued a military order to King Yan, so they had to prepare military supplies and could not retreat in the middle of a battle.
Otherwise, all plans might be disrupted, and it would be difficult to start over in the future. Xu Zize's voice sounded particularly firm in the night.
However, considering the emperor's inaction and the government's brutal oppression and killing of the people, they feared that if these twenty or thirty people rashly entered, they would not only fail to obtain food, but might even never return.
Jing Chunxi looked at the village ahead where lights had already been turned on, but his heart felt heavy, without a trace of relief.
As night fell, it brought with it the faint cries of refugees not far away, like a fine needle piercing the hearts of all of them.
Unexpectedly, when the world was in chaos, even the postmaster and the yamen servants of the post station ran away, leaving only a groom to guard the huge post station.
The mottled vermilion-painted door was half open, with a plaque with the words "Qingfengyi" hanging diagonally on the lintel, and the copper bells on the eaves made sporadic crisp sounds in the twilight.
Dead leaves piled up in the yard, and a skinny horse was lazily chewing hay in the stable. The groom heard the noise, came out and squatted at the door, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
After hearing the silver clink and roll twice on the bluestone slabs, the groom slowly stood up, picked up the silver with his cracked fingers, and turned to open the door.
"There are plenty of houses, you can live wherever you want, but there will be no food and hot water." His hoarse voice was filled with a strong sound of phlegm. After he finished speaking, he turned around and went into his own house, dragging his worn straw sandals. The wooden door creaked closed, and the pungent smell of cheap tobacco wafted out from the gap.
Fortunately, they were many, otherwise they would not dare to stay in such a lonely post station. The evening breeze swept across the empty manger, making a mournful sound.
I don’t know how long it has been since I had any guests. The window papers in some rooms are mostly torn, like countless black eyes peering at the courtyard. There is a row of houses on the west side with half of their thatched roofs collapsed, revealing the hideous rafters.
The guards were all accustomed to long journeys, and sleeping outdoors was commonplace. Without being called, some unloaded packages, while others held lanterns. The flickering flames in the cast-iron lamps stretched the figures long, distorting and swaying on the faded couplets.
Some people found a well and started drawing water, while others brought wet firewood and started a fire in the middle of the yard. The crackling sparks scared away the crows roosting under the eaves.
Jingyi tied up the horse and went to work without even looking for his own room. "Help two people bring down some rice and grain. Tangshuang, go and help me light the fire." He rolled up his sleeves swiftly and prepared to wash rice and chop vegetables.
"Brother Yi, I'll go! Chuyi and I will go," Xiaoman responded proactively. The brightest light in the entire inn was the bonfire. Although there were a few lanterns lit in other places, they made the entire room appear pitch black, and the kitchen was no exception. It would have been terrifying for anyone to see it.
"That's right, I still have to help the young lady clean the house! There are so many grown men among you, can't anyone light the fire?" After hearing Xiaoman's words, Tangshuang reluctantly pushed Jingyi back.
Because of Xiaoman's meddling, Jingyi lost the chance to be alone with Tangshuang, and he was discouraged. He glared at Xiaoman unhappily, picked up a lantern, and walked towards the kitchen angrily.