Chapter 41: "Chance Encounter" |
Chapter 41: "Chance Encounter"
The flood season was long past, and the river had receded, leaving vast stretches of withered yellow grass along its banks, interspersed with newly sprouted saplings.
Occasionally, something rustled in the grass, perhaps a small animal hiding within, or something far more dangerous.
If one were to part the grass, they would find piles of damp, decaying matter beneath. The fertile soil would provide ample nutrients, hinting at a scene of lush vegetation next spring.
However, in these chaotic times, all of this served as a premonition of crisis.
The sunshine for most of the day warmed the ground, even causing the river water to slightly thaw.
On the opposite bank, there was some commotion. The sounds of guards battling evil creatures at the far end of the pontoon bridge could be heard.
Something fell into the water.
The guards on this side of the pontoon bridge looked over warily, their bows and spears at the ready.
*Splash!*
Mutated finger bones gripped the small boat beneath the pontoon bridge.
Wet hair, tangled with water weeds, obscured its entire face. Its tattered clothes were beyond recognition, stretched taut as it pulled itself up. The exposed limbs were covered in purplish-brown markings.
From a distance, it resembled a starved, emaciated crocodile.
Smelling the scent of more living people from the county town, it gurgled in its throat, emitting a strange, sharp, and hoarse roar as it charged towards the guards on this bank.
As the weather had turned deep in autumn, even at the warmest part of the day, these monsters were not at their full strength.
The guards on the bridge and the people on the city walls were accustomed to this scene. They calmly drew their bows and loosed arrows. After shooting it, they used their spears to push it back into the water.
Behind a rock a short distance away.
He Da and Yu Er shivered and slipped away stealthily.
After a while, they returned to their group's resting place and animatedly recounted what they had witnessed to Wen Gu and everyone in the group.
"There are water ghosts in the river! Regular rafts and small boats are unsafe!"
He Da's teeth were still chattering, *clack, clack, clack*.
Yu Er's face was also pale. "It's better to use the pontoon bridge if possible. At least there's time to react."
Imagine if they were crossing the river by raft or small boat, and the "water ghost" from the river climbed up and grabbed their legs...
And what if, in their panic, the raft or small boat capsized...
They shivered again.
The others in the group, though they hadn't seen the scene firsthand, had a vivid picture painted in their minds just from the two of them describing it.
A silence fell over the group.
They had arrived near Bai Lu County Town but had not immediately entered the city or crossed the bridge. Instead, they found a place to rest, intending to first understand the situation here.
They currently faced two problems:
How to cross the river.
How to preserve their supplies as much as possible.
Initially, some had considered going to another area to make rafts or log rafts to cross. If they made them large enough, they could transport livestock and carts across in multiple trips.
But now they realized this was still risky.
What about a night raid across the pontoon bridge?
Setting aside the fact that the bridge was guarded at both ends, they themselves couldn't see at night. If they fell into the water, the outcome would be dire.
County Lieutenant Zhou said, "We can build our own rafts and cross when the temperature is low. Morning or evening would be safer."
Cheng Zhi, thinking about what he had seen along the way, shook his head. "The large trees and bamboo in this area have all been cut down. We'd have to go much further."
He Da's face was contorted with worry. "Then the pontoon bridge? I don't know how much the bridge toll will be. Should someone go and ask?"
No one spoke.
Judging by the stance of the guards over there, going there might result in them and their goods being detained.
Unsure of what to do, they looked to Wen Gu.
Wen Gu smiled reassuringly. "No rush, let's observe here for two days first."
The place where they stopped was originally a viewing platform with a pavilion. However, judging by the bird droppings nearby, no one had been here for a long time.
Most of the survivors in the city stayed within its walls, with no inclination to come here to enjoy the scenery.
Bai Lu County Town was built by the water, and a moat had been dug. It was impossible to sneak into the city secretly.
Judging by the logging situation outside the city, there should be quite a number of people inside. It was likely that all the supplies from other villages and towns in the county had already been looted.
As for places with suitable wood that hadn't been looted, who knew what hidden dangers lay there.
"Since we can't go in, let's wait for people to come out. First, let's gather some news."
Wen Gu walked to the side and called Cheng Zhi over.
"Brother Cheng, tell me about the tombstones in that cemetery I asked you to look at earlier."
As they had traveled, they had passed a field of abandoned farmland, now uncultivated. In that field, there were mounds of earth and erected tombstones.
When they had passed by earlier, Wen Gu had asked Cheng Zhi to note down some of the more impressive tombs, especially recently repaired ones.
Now, Cheng Zhi recalled diligently and repeated it word for word.
Wen Gu wrote it down on paper, listed them, circled two, and marked them with his charcoal pencil.
"We're still missing a professional."
Wen Gu looked at Daoist Master Qingyi.
Daoist Master Qingyi's nerves tensed with vigilance.
Wen Gu: "Daoist Master, come, let's rehearse."
Daoist Master Qingyi: ???
The next day.
Early in the morning, at the city gate, the drawbridge over the moat was lowered, and a sparse number of people emerged from the city.
They were likely residents of the city going out to cut firewood.
Wen Gu observed, then called He Da and Yu Er over and gave them a few instructions.
A moment later, the two, having made some adjustments, headed towards the cemetery. Some county residents with baskets were there to pay their respects.
He Da and Yu Er, posing as peddlers, approached them to inquire for news.
They claimed they were once peddlers who had some goods stored and had been hiding. Now they could no longer hold on, so they were coming to Bai Lu County Town to join a relative, even stating the street and surname.
The county residents, originally full of caution, slightly relaxed their expressions upon hearing this, but their eyes remained vigilant, and they held their wood-cutting knives.
Then, He Da, with full confidence, took out a small paper packet and handed it to the other party: "Please help send a message..."
The county resident cautiously opened the paper packet. This small packet contained too little grain to impress him. But inside was coarse salt!
In the current times, salt was an even rarer and more precious commodity.
Ordinary people wouldn't have salt on them now. This lent more credibility to He Da's peddler identity.
Under the lure of profit, the county resident was willing to say more.
He Da and Yu Er, having worked the markets before, and now using profit as enticement, found it even easier to extract information.
As for the county resident, this was not important news, so he spoke without reservation.
Whether he would actually deliver the message after entering the city was another matter.
However, He Da and his companion had no intention of delivering any message; they were merely using it as a pretext to inquire for news.
Upon completing their task and returning, the two relayed the information they had gathered.
"The County Magistrate of Bai Lu County led people north last winter. The one in charge of the city is the County Lieutenant, who, along with his constables and the various factions within the city, controls Bai Lu County Town..."
As they spoke, they unconsciously looked towards Zhou Shan.
Everyone else also looked over.
Zhou Shan was both ashamed and angry.
What are you looking at!
County Lieutenant and County Lieutenant, county town and county town, are they comparable?
They were all officials, but could a poor place be compared to a rich one?
Look at their city walls, moat, and weapons, then think of their own small, impoverished county and the betrayal of a brother...
Zhou Shan felt wronged.
But he had to admit, there was a gap between people.
Zhou Shan clenched his sword hilt and took a deep breath. When they reached the northern lands, he would definitely prove himself!
Fortunately, He Da and Yu Er's focus in gathering information was not on the County Lieutenant.
Two days before their arrival, a convoy heading north had passed through.
"A convoy..." someone exclaimed with envy.
How wealthy must one be to assemble a convoy!
"I don't know how much bridge toll they'll charge. Ordinary county residents only know that the officials have collected a new batch of grain. Inside the city, you either trade firewood for food or work for food. Half of the firewood cut or supplies found must be surrendered upon entering the city."
"That much!"
The people in the group looked at their own provisions.
Giving up half, how could they bear it! They were just passing through, not living here!
"If we don't enter the city, can we just cross the bridge directly?" someone asked.
"Do you think they're stupid? There are few of us and many things, they could potentially detain everything! Not only would the goods be confiscated, but we'd be forced into labor!"
Even if they weren't detained, having half their goods taken would be unbearable unless there was no other choice.
In these chaotic times, one could not expect those guarding the passage to be merciful. They relied on this to gain supplies!
Of course, they could also directly join Bai Lu City and become its residents.
However, their journey north was not just about survival; they also wanted to forge a future in the north!
Bai Lu County Town held some allure, but not much.
Wen Gu observed their expressions and comforted them, "Let's wait a bit longer and see if an opportunity arises."
Another day passed.
The drawbridge over the moat was lowered, and horse-drawn carriages exited the city.
Four riders escorted them, with another six accompanying them on foot.
It looked like the setup for a wealthy family.
Wen Gu's spirits lifted, and he called Daoist Master Qingyi over.
"Let's go, Daoist Master! We're going for a 'chance encounter'!"
(End of Chapter)