Mockery and killing intent flashed through Ji Yuzhu’s eyes. “What is Qu Zhao worth now? He’s come to my Chongzhou and actually thinks I’ll be willing to… Hah!”
Though he did not finish, his meaning was perfectly clear.
He looked at Jiao Tai, the corners of his lips curling upward. “I only hope your Jiao army won’t interfere.”
Jiao Tai narrowed his eyes at Ji Yuzhu. A moment later, he threw back his head and laughed. “That suits us just fine. In that case, we’ll be heading back first.”
Ji Yuzhu nodded. “Please.”
Only after Jiao Tai had led his men away and disappeared from sight did Ji Yuzhu give a cold snort and turn back.
After traveling some distance, Jiao Tai’s expression also turned cold. “Return to Kang County at once.”
His deputy frowned. “Is there a problem?”
Jiao Tai shook his head. “I can’t say for sure, but something feels wrong. Kang County and the several counties surrounding Anwu County are to enter a state of alert. Keep a close watch on the movements of Qu Zhao’s army.”
The deputy was startled. “General, do you think Qu Zhao still hasn’t given up on Anwu County?”
Jiao Tai neither confirmed nor denied it. “There’s no harm in being cautious. Send someone to deliver a message to Tian Xiang as well. Tell him to be careful.”
Although Anwu County and Chunyi County currently belonged to Tian Xiang’s forces, in the eyes of Jiao Tai’s army, they were the territory of the Jiao clan. Tian Xiang was merely managing them temporarily. Once they had their hands free, they would take them back.
Tian Xiang had no idea that a struggle over Anwu County had already begun in secret. At that moment, he was discussing with his subordinates how many civilians they should kill.
Chen Ning was indifferent. “What difference does killing five thousand or seven thousand make? They can’t work anyway. Keeping them alive would only waste food.”
Li Wei said helplessly, “Quite a few of them used to be very capable workers. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough grain for more than a year. They had no choice but to eat dirt and tree bark until their bodies were ruined.”
Their grain was given to the Jiao army first. Whatever remained went to those in power, followed by the soldiers.
The soldiers could not eat their fill, but at least they received enough to keep half-fed.
Only after all these layers had been accounted for did any food reach the common people.
With grain in such short supply, the civilians could only search for food on their own after finishing their work—wild greens, tree bark, and grass roots. When they had no other choice, they even ate dirt to ease the stomach cramps caused by hunger.
Over time, many people’s bodies were worn down, leaving them unable to work.
Tian Xiang sighed. “Our people are becoming fewer and fewer. What are we supposed to do?”
Things were different now. In the past, besides the local population, there had also been many refugees fleeing famine. Now, every death meant one fewer person, yet he had no way to change the situation.
There was only so much land, and the grain yield was limited. He had to ensure that he and his soldiers had enough to eat first.
It was not that he was heartless and insisted on killing these civilians. But every additional mouth to feed meant that those who could still work would have less to eat. Resources were limited, after all.
Chen Ning glanced at him. “Alternatively, we could consider letting the civilians eat ‘meat.’”
Tian Xiang froze. He immediately understood what Chen Ning meant and could not help frowning. “No.”
He could not accept eating his own kind.
Sometimes, Chen Ning truly felt that his brother-in-law was a hypocrite. He could order the deaths of ordinary civilians, yet he refused to let himself or the civilians eat human flesh. How contradictory.
Just then, the strategist Wang Chun hurried in. “Your Majesty, the Jiao army has sent word. They say Qu Zhao may move against us and have warned us to be careful.”
Tian Xiang and the others froze. A moment later, Tian Xiang shot to his feet. “What did you say? Why would Qu Zhao move against us? Aren’t they in Fengzhou?”
Trapped in this isolated corner of the world, Tian Xiang had extremely limited sources of information. He did not know that Fengzhou had already undergone a complete upheaval.
Wang Chun wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Fengzhou already belongs to Princess Jinyang. Qu Zhao was driven out of Fengzhou by Princess Jinyang.”
Tian Xiang looked utterly bewildered. “Princess Jinyang? Who’s that?”
Wang Chun explained, “She is the sixth princess of Empress Jile—the one from Yinshan Temple.”
Only then did Tian Xiang remember. “Her? Wait, how did this happen? How could a princess possibly seize Fengzhou?”
Wang Chun shook his head. “I don’t know the details either. Shall we have the messenger from the Jiao army come in?”
Tian Xiang hurriedly nodded. “Quickly, bring him in.”
Anwu County, Wangshan Village.
Inside a low thatched hut, an old man so thin that his original appearance was barely recognizable lay on a filthy, tattered bed.
Several young men and women surrounded him, sorrow and fear flashing through their eyes.
Liu Dachuan spoon-fed the old man the black, unidentifiable gruel in the bowl, his voice thick with tears. “Father, please eat a little. If this goes on, they may come to take someone again.”
This was not the first time the soldiers had come to take people away. Last year, they had first taken Grandpa and his son, then his mother. Now, would it finally be his father’s turn?
The old man was barely breathing, his voice broken and halting. “No… don’t waste it… on me. You eat.”
After saying this, his chest heaved violently. Only after a while did his breathing settle. “When I’m dead… you can eat… my flesh. Stay alive…”
“No, Father.” Liu Xiaomei burst into tears. “Father, please eat a little. We have to stay alive together as a family.”
The old man’s face was gray and ashen, his eyes clouded. All he could see was a vast expanse of white.
Perhaps because of his prolonged hunger, his eyesight had grown steadily weaker. Recently, he had almost completely lost his sight.
He knew his time was near.
King Anwu would not keep anyone who could no longer work.
Since that was the case, the family’s meager supply of grain had to be saved for his children.
It was almost laughable. When King Anwu had first claimed this land and declared himself its ruler, the common people had celebrated, believing that this was at least better than being occupied by the barbarians.
In the end, there was actually no difference.
They had become King Anwu’s people—in truth, his “slaves.” The only distinction was that they wore no chains or shackles.
Perhaps life had been too bitter for him to fear death. He was simply unable to let go of his two sons and daughter.
And then there was his poor daughter-in-law. She had married into the family, borne a son for his eldest boy, Dachuan, and yet last year she had been taken away and killed along with the boy’s great-grandfather. His grandson had been only two years old!
Liu Erchuan clenched his fists, his chest aching with pent-up anguish. “Why does Heaven refuse to open its eyes? Why must ordinary people like us suffer like this?”
Silence filled the room. No one spoke.
Suddenly, Liu Xiaomei said, “Let’s run away.”
Liu Erchuan slumped dejectedly. “Where could we go? There are soldiers everywhere. The last time Daqing’s family tried to escape, they were caught and the whole family was killed.”
It was not that they had never considered resisting, nor that they had never thought about fleeing. Unfortunately, they could not escape. There were more than fifty soldiers stationed in their village alone.
The neighboring villages each had dozens of soldiers as well. If anything happened here, the nearby villages could quickly gather several hundred men.
Liu Dachuan slowly lowered the bowl. His father was determined not to eat anymore.
His eyes were filled with a vague emptiness. He could not say whether he was sad or distressed. He simply did not know where the road ahead lay.
Did they even have a road ahead?
