Zhou Yu surveyed the convoy, making out the five carriages in the firelight, with what appeared to be over fifty guards. “Let’s leave now.”

Third Yang followed suit, turning to leave. Turning back, he realized something was wrong. When had Yan Bing disappeared?

The Zhou and Wu families quickly left; they weren’t planning on staying the night. This group was too overbearing; it was best to stay away.

Half an hour after the carriages left, Third Yang approached Yan Bing’s donkey cart. “Was there someone you know in the convoy just now?”

This was the only explanation that made sense.

This time, Yan Bing didn’t keep silent and directly said who the leader of the guards was. “The leader of the guards just now is from the family of King Jiang’s eldest son-in-law.”

Third Yang, “Do you know you?”

Yan Bing, “Our two families have some dealings. My father took me to a birthday banquet.”

Third Yang guessed Yan Bing’s background in his heart. He didn’t ask if Yan Bing wanted to talk about it. Anyway, he would know it sooner or later. “Then we have to hide for a while.”

Yan Bing was very irritable. He was also afraid of being discovered. His family was wiped out. Not only were they abandoned, but their wealth was also being targeted. They must be anxious because they haven’t found out for so long!

Thinking of this, Yan Bing felt happy!

Third Yang returned to the carriage and told Yang Xi what he had inquired. Yang Xi touched her chin and thought, “If Yan Bing hadn’t teamed up with us, he would still be in Bozhou. We changed his fate.”

If he hadn’t met them, Yan Bing could not leave Bozhou. He would either be drafted or recognized by others. Either way, he would die!

Third Yang nodded in agreement, adding, “King Jiang’s sons can’t be moved, but his son-in-law is active out there. I wonder how many daughters King Jiang has.”

Zhou Yu knew a little, “King Jiang has many concubines, and it’s said he has over twenty children.”

With half sons and half daughters, that means he had more than a dozen daughters. Yang Xi was concerned, “It’s King Jiang’s eldest son-in-law who’s traveling south this time, so he’s obviously going for something big.”

Third Yang’s eyes sparkled, “There are many wealthy merchants in the south, so he must be after wealth.”

Capturing so many laborers meant the daily expenditure was enormous, even at its lowest cost. How long could Bozhou sustain itself? King Jiang needed money and food!

Zhou Yu praised Third Yang’s reaction, “Let’s find a county town to stay for a few days to avoid King Jiang’s son-in-law’s troops.”

After traveling all night, the two families stopped to rest in the morning. They soon encountered the two families they had rested with the previous night. They had also traveled all night, having traveled together for two days. They nodded to each other.

After breakfast, they set off together. Yang Xi understood that the two families were following them for a sense of security.

In the afternoon, they arrived at Zhang County. Jiazhou was quite interesting, with many county towns named after surnames. Zhang County was close to the Jiazhou border.

Yang Xi discovered that many people who were planning to migrate south had gathered in Zhang County.

They looked for an inn, but there were no rooms left, only large bunk beds. In the end, they spent a little more money to rent a small courtyard.

Third Yang took Zhou Xiaodi to inquire about the news. Under Third Yang’s guidance, Zhou Xiaodi learned a lot of social skills and became more and more cheerful. Now he especially liked to follow Third Yang.

The two returned quickly. Third Yang said, “I don’t know who spread the rumor, saying that a lot of refugees from the northwest have gathered ahead. The northwest has been emptied of houses due to the plague. The people are scared, so they stopped and are waiting for news to come back.”

Zhou Yu frowned. Plague? Without definite news, he didn’t dare to move forward.

Wu Shan couldn’t help swallowing, fearful.

“There were refugees from the northwest fleeing to the capital at the time, but,” Third Yang continued, “the refugees from the northwest were taken away separately. It is said that they were all killed.”

Wu Shan nodded. “The refugee camp was in chaos for a few days; everyone was in danger.”

Only after hearing they’d all died did peace return to the area. There were nearly five thousand refugees there. Many said they were glad to die, while others cursed why they’d come to the capital.

Yang Xi was afraid, too. This wasn’t modern times. Even modern plague was terrifying, let alone ancient ones. Oh, and there were diseases like smallpox. Yang Xi couldn’t help but hug her son tightly!

Third Yang asked, “Jiefu, do you think the rumors are true?”

Zhou Yu said, “Whether true or not, we don’t have a second life to gamble with.”

He didn’t dare gamble, so he’d better wait for accurate information from the front.

Yang Xi asked, “Do you think the troops last night believed the rumors?”

She thought, if it was a rumor, King Jiang was the most likely one!

Zhou Yu instructed Third Yang, “Go to the city gate and keep an eye on it.”

Third Yang said, “Okay.”

Zhou Yu and his wife also went out. Yang Xi was going to buy more cotton cloth to make some thick masks and gloves, some strong liquor, and a lot of vinegar.

Yang Xi wanted to equip her family from head to toe. After buying things, she muttered, “Please help me think about what else to buy.”

Zhou Yu, “Buy some radish to make soup. Don’t they say we eat radish in winter and ginger in summer?”

Yang Xi looked at Zhou Yu with a serious look and saw Zhou Yu nod, “Then buy some for backup, and buy some Ban Lan Gen for backup.”

“I don’t think you can buy the herbs.”

Yang Xi did not give up. In the end, she did not buy anything. All the herbs that could be sold in the county were gone, which showed the people’s fear of death.

In the afternoon, after the city gates were closed, Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi returned. Third Yang said cheerfully, “Jiefu, last night’s troops didn’t enter the city.”

Wu Shan said, “Perhaps they were just moving slowly. We traveled all night.”

Zhou Yu said, “We’ll hold out another day tomorrow.”

After dinner, Yang Xi listened to Third Yang bluffing at Yan Bing, “It must be tiring to drive the carriage by yourself. You didn’t hire a servant in Qijia Village. We’re quite far from Qijia Village now. Why don’t you consider hiring a couple of servants?”

Yan Bing half-smiled, “You’re the richest among us. Why don’t you hire a couple of servants?”

Third Yang said, “I have Li Zheng, and that’s enough for me. You’re different. I’m worried you won’t be able to endure it.”

Yan Bing snorted. He didn’t mind spending any money on his adopted sister, and he was trying to take advantage of him!

The next day, many more people entered Zhang County, and the streets were bustling with people. Yang Xi stopped going out, and the two families huddled together, awaiting news.

Third Yang and the Wu brothers took turns guarding the carriage for a day, but there was no sign of yesterday’s carriage.

(End of this chapter)

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