Chapter 570: Reaching the Yellow River Bank Means Food! |
As soon as Cheng Xu issued the order, Zheng Daniu showed a bitter expression: “Ah! Such a cruel command? We have to hand over our rations and starve for a day? How painful! I don’t want to go hungry for a day.”
Zao Ying tugged at Zheng Daniu’s arm: “Daniu, you had no rations left anyway, and I’ve also used up all mine feeding you. Even if we don’t give the rations to the civilians, you’d still starve for a day.”
Zheng Daniu suddenly understood, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground, Orz, unable to get up.
Cheng Xu ignored this clown. The order was issued, but the other soldiers gladly accepted it. They immediately took out their last remaining rations, piled everything together, and handed it to the civilians.
Ma Xianglin saw how harsh they were and couldn’t help thinking to himself: When it comes to “loving the people,” I am no match for them.
He gritted his teeth, turned to Zhang Fengyi, and asked: “Shall we simply hand over our rations too?”
Zhang Fengyi lowered her voice: “Are we really getting supplies when we reach the Yellow River?”
Ma Xianglin: “Seeing how they act, they must have it. Though I don’t quite grasp where they get this shipping capacity on the upper Yellow River.”
Zhang Fengyi: “If mother were here, she would also pitch in to help the civilians, wouldn’t she?”
“Then let’s send it!” Zhang Fengyi said: “It’s better than watching people starve to death.”
Thus, the white pole troops from the river also generously offered their aid, took out their last bit of food, and gave it all to the representatives of the civilians, letting them share and eat it themselves.
After the distribution, Cheng Xu finally spoke: “Gentlemen, it is no longer safe for you to stay in Daining City. Here, there is no food and no city walls. Bandits could strike again anytime, and you would face fresh danger. Why not just come with us? We can find a settlement place for you.”
The civilians had no reason to disobey. Having narrowly escaped death, they were eager to follow this “people-loving as a parent” army and all agreed together.
Thus, soldiers and civilians merged into a huge force of nearly ten thousand people. They abandoned Daining City and began advancing westward, heading toward the Yellow River bank.
The heavy rain was still falling, and didn’t your heart quail with fear…
That forty-li journey was truly tough for these emaciated civilians. Luckily, they had just eaten army rations and gained a little strength, barely managing to trudge along.
They followed the course of the Xin River westward, struggling through the arduous trek.
They passed several villages charred by bandits and wide stretches of vacant land.
It was deep winter, and with the downpour, everyone grew wearier and hungrier as they marched.
The midday meal could just about be endured, but by dinner time, whether civilians or White Standards Troops, or even the Gaojia Village Militia, all felt chilled, exhausted, and starved, near the edge of collapse.
“It’s close! The Yellow River lies not far ahead,” Cheng Xu rallied his spirits and shouted: “Only two li to go, the Yellow River is almost here.”
“Once we reach the Yellow River, will there really be food?” The civilians dared not believe it fully.
Ma Xianglin also doubted, but he had to place his faith now: “Everyone, push through, hold on, just two more li.”
“Ah! Someone has collapsed here.”
“Put him on a horse!” A cavalryman under Zao Ying dismounted, gave his own horse to the limp man, and led the steed on foot.
“Another collapse over here.”
“Put him on a horse!” Yet another rider became a walker.
At last, they arrived at the Yellow River bank…
Ahead spread the junction where the Xin River met the Yellow River.
The exhausted civilians sank down by the Yellow River, unable to stir another step.
Ma Xianglin walked to the riverside and stopped. “So, we can get grain right here?”
Gao Chuwu grinned. “Soon, some ships will arrive.”
Ma Xianglin: “???”
Gao Chuwu pointed south along the river. “Look!”
Ma Xianglin looked south. Before he knew it, he got a huge shock—three cargo ships came sailing upstream toward them.
The Yellow River’s waters were turbulent, making sailing difficult. But those three ships had no sails, not even a single oar. Yet they cruised upstream on the rapid Yellow River effortlessly at high speed.
The ships were flat-decked freight carriers with cargo stacked like small mountains on the decks. But the goods were covered in oilcloth, so the contents were hidden.
Still, they could guess, couldn’t they?
Ma Xianglin said excitedly, “Are those three ships full of grain?”
“No, not all of them,” Gao Chuwu chuckled. “Two carry grain, and one has military supplies, like gunpowder, bullets, tents, and beans for warhorses.”
Ma Xianglin said in astonishment, “You’ve been with us this whole time, with no messengers giving you any tip-offs. How did you know exactly about this fleet’s movements? And how did the fleet know we’d be at this riverbank stretch now?”
Gao Chuwu continued chuckling but spoke no more this time, leaving behind a strange, lingering laugh.
As it turned out, the puppet deity had told him to stop talking. It wasn’t the time yet to explain things to Ma Xianglin.
The three large ships slowly docked. Then, a very young soldier, around seventeen or eighteen years old, jumped down off one ship. The soldier wore no armor, carrying only a single firearm on his back. He had a clear, fair complexion and a refined, scholarly demeanor.
At first glance, he looked like someone not cut out for battle.
Cheng Xu laughed. “Yo, Wang Tang, why are you here? Are you ready for field missions already?”
Wang Tang smiled. “The village is short of hands. Us younger generation should come out and gain experience. Also, the deity said that part of the materials delivered this time need to go to the white pole troops from the river and must be logged accurately. The army’s payment ledger can’t be sloppily recorded like before; illiterate folks can’t manage it. It has to be someone good at writing and arithmetic, so here I am.”
As it turned out, Wang Tang was the adopted son of Principal Wang from Gaojia Village School.
He was also an outstanding figure among Gaojia Village’s second generation.
He enlisted young and, relying on his greater learning than ordinary soldiers, mainly handled logistical duties.
Though he hadn’t seen real combat, his position in the militia was substantial, equivalent to the rank of company commander.
Wang Tang held a notebook in his left hand and picked up a pen with his right, then gestured at the ship crew. “Unload!”
The crew responded and immediately began moving goods off the ship.
Wang Tang stood nearby and tallied. “One basket, two baskets, three baskets…”
Only after the crew paused briefly did he scribble decisively: “Currently handing over two hundred baskets of flour and fifty baskets of luncheon meat to the front-line forces, to be verified by Instructor He.”
After writing, he held the paper out to Cheng Xu. “Instructor He, please sign here to confirm receipt of two hundred baskets of flour and fifty baskets of luncheon meat. Then I can settle this with the village treasury.”