Chapter 159: Alarming News

As the drums of attack sounded intermittently, people frantically dispersed into the town's alleys. With both city gates under siege, escape was futile. Panicked and directionless, their instinct was to return to their makeshift shelters to find loved ones.

Finally able to breathe, Li Shi's hair disheveled, surrounded by cries and wails that seemed distant and irrelevant. Her mind fixated on the stolen meat. Turning to search for it, where could it be?

She cried out loud, slapping her own face repeatedly, her pain and tears unceasing in her despair.

As the crowd thinned, she collapsed to her knees, weeping. Through her tears, she thought she saw a lone soybean rolling near her feet.

Soybeans!

She reached out desperately; it wasn't an illusion.

Indeed, they were soybeans.

Li Shi stopped crying, crawling on the ground, scavenging for the scattered beans.

Amidst the chaos of the food theft, many beans had fallen. Now, as the crowd dispersed, they became visible. Those picking them up, like Li Shi, were mostly victims of the theft, too distraught to flee.

Those who lost their food were the first to start collecting; others joined upon realizing there was food to be gathered, turning the ground into a new battleground.

"This is mine, from my home!"

"It's mine, don't pick it up! That's stealing, you're stealing!"

They were all food-deprived villagers, desperate to the point of frenzy. Li Shi found a larger patch, grabbed two handfuls mixed with dirt, tucking them under her lifted skirt. When she reached for more, someone shoved her aside.

She almost lost the beans she had gathered.

Clutching them tightly, she lunged back into the fray until the scattered grains dwindled. As she and a man both reached for the same beans, she saw his greedy, malicious gaze on her clutching hand. Frightened, she hurriedly stood and fled with her meager collection.

Inside their shelter, the Shen children heard the distant drumming and commotion. Peering outside, they saw people rushing back in panic, yelling about bandits.

After an anxious wait, Li Shi finally returned, disheveled, with swollen eyes and face.

The children rushed to her: "Mother?"

Seeing her four children, Li Shi's tears, briefly held back, flowed again. Unable to speak, she wept profusely until Shen Jin urgently asked what happened.

"The dried meat... it's gone, all stolen. How will we survive, how?"

"Why did I go for the food distribution? Why!" She slapped herself repeatedly, collapsing in a heap, tears and snot streaming down her face. "All we had left, and it got stolen. Those who steal food deserve to be struck by lightning, cursed with a rotten heart and a miserable end."

Li Shi's wails echoed thunderously. While her youngest daughter didn't understand, Shen Tie vaguely did. However, her intense sobbing bewildered him, so the shock struck squarely on Shen Jin and Shen Yin.

The dried meat, all gone?

Observing their mother, indeed, the bundle she had earlier was missing.

The brothers stood dumbfounded, even forgetting to cry in their bewilderment.

But the true despair was when Shen San staggered back, as disheveled as Li Shi, his arms empty.

Li Shi, still buzzing from her own cries, didn't cry anymore. Clutching the handful of beans in her dress, she pushed herself up and lunged at Shen San.

"Where's our food? Our food?"

Shen San, his hair a mess and face stricken with panic: "It's gone. Bandits are about to breach the city. Can the soldiers even hold them off?"

He couldn't even focus on the lost food, fearing he'd be a victim to the bandits' blades any moment now.

Li Shi cried hysterically, feeling as if death loomed just around the corner.

But hers wasn't the only voice of despair. That day, many more than just the Shen family had their food stolen. Around the county school area alone, the wails of numerous women echoed Li Shi's breakdown, composing a symphony of widespread suffering.

Neighbors in nearby shanties, whether acquainted or strangers, looked on or retreated into their shelters, their eyes filled with fear, numbness, or wariness, but void of any sympathy.

In the courtyards nearby, the original residents of the county locked their gates even tighter, barricading their doors with countless objects for fear of the desperately hungry villagers breaking in to steal food.

With bandits surrounding the city and no food inside, everyone felt like an ant awaiting fate's judgment. No one was in any position to fare better than others; all harbored only wariness, lacking the capacity to empathize.

Whether it was Shen San or Li Shi, or even the bewildered or knowing children standing lost, they were merely a microcosm of countless suffering families like theirs across Qiyang County and the entire Dagan Dynasty. This was not just the Shen family's catastrophe but the prologue to the misery of countless others engulfed in this era of chaos.

……

At the newly purchased dilapidated house of the Xu family in the west of the city, hearing the drumbeats, Xu, the family patriarch, left his wife, children, and the old servant to continue digging the tunnel, while he ventured out alone to investigate. Learning about the bandit siege, he rushed to the city gates, where the 1,500-strong garrison was, for the moment, dutifully defending.

Xu rushed back home without delay, sharing the news and causing tension among everyone. Considering the depth of the city walls' foundations and the need to avoid alerting the soldiers and refugees above, the family had started digging almost half a zhang deep underground before moving inward. They also had to be cautious about ventilation and tunnel collapse, limiting the number of diggers to two in the front and two expanding the tunnel, with one more transporting soil.

But now, urgency overrode caution, with three people digging in front and two transporting soil.

Without real architectural knowledge, they weren't sure about ventilation issues, but they understood the urgency: if they didn't make progress before the bandits potentially broke in, their fate would be grim.

For the Xu family, racing against time was a matter of life and death, hoping the 1,500 garrisoned soldiers in the city could hold on as long as possible.

……

While the Xu family tirelessly dug tunnels, the city was engaged in a fierce battle, both inside and outside. Qiyang County had become one of several targets for the bandit horde of over two thousand, proficient in the use of ladders and catapults in their attacks on the city gates.

The city also started conscripting able-bodied men for tasks like moving logs and stones, boiling scalding water and molten iron, and aiding the wounded. Apothecaries and clinics were reopened by soldiers.

News of the conscription quickly spread in the makeshift housing areas, with a day’s work offering a small bun. Many in the city, desperate for food, were willing to undertake the work. Li Shi saw a glimmer of hope, but Shen San, terrified of combat, adamantly refused to go.

Li Shi was willing to work as a conscripted laborer for the sake of her children's meal, but was bluntly told by the official in charge that women were bad luck and to get out of the way.

Until the next day, Shen San still refused to go. Almost nine times out of ten, it meant going up the city tower amidst haphazardly flying arrows, risking getting impaled. He’d rather starve on vegetable soup than risk his life.

In reality, the entire third branch of the Shen family was now desperately hungry.

For three whole months, they had subsisted on meager meals. For the first two, they had some beans to mix in, but the last month was primarily wild vegetables. The day they found the jerky they managed to eat a piece, but the rest was stolen before they could enjoy it. Now, they had neither beans nor jerky left.

It was either boiled dried vegetables or just boiled vegetables – that was all they had. Just thinking about the stolen beans and jerky made their stomachs feel like they were being clawed at from the inside.

The family felt dazed from eating only vegetable soup. Li Shi, afraid of running out of food, dared not eat the small handful of beans she had picked up, saving them for an even more desperate time.

On the third morning, Shen San still refused to work as a conscripted laborer. Li Shi, staggering, took a kitchen knife from their shack, catching Shen San off guard, and held it to his neck, “Are you going or not? If not, it's better we all die together right now.”

Shen San, truly believing Li Shi had gone mad, was nonetheless startled by her actions and drew back from the knife's edge, exclaiming, "Have you lost your mind? Fine, I'll go, alright?"

Under Li Shi's coercion, Shen San grudgingly took on the role of a laborer. However, he wasn't the kind to prioritize his family; starving and overworked, he selfishly ate the allocated bun himself, bringing nothing back for his wife and children on the first day.

The next day, Li Shi, timing it just right, instructed Shen Jin and Shen Yin to stay put with the younger ones in the shack, while she went towards the city gates, waiting for the distribution of buns. As Shen San neared the front of the queue, she rushed over.

The yamen runners mistook Li Shi's approach for an attempt to steal food and raised their whips in warning. Li Shi cried out, "I'm his wife! The bun is for our whole family to share, or else the children will starve."

Her plea was genuine, accompanied by tears.

Some men in the queue cast strange glances at Shen San, now aware of his selfishness.

A man needing his wife to desperately guard and claim his share? Clearly, he hadn't been sharing at home.

This was an unusual sight indeed.

The distributor hesitated, asking Shen San if Li Shi was indeed his wife.

Shen San, unable to lie in that moment, nodded submissively.

Observing Shen San's admission and Li Shi's gaunt appearance, the distributor handed the bun to Li Shi without further comment, calling out for the next person in line.

Gratefully, Li Shi clutched the bun to her chest and bowed repeatedly to the distributor, thanking him profusely.

Infuriated but helpless, Shen San couldn't confront the distributor and followed Li Shi back, grumbling, "I do all the heavy lifting, risking my life from stray arrows. If I can't even eat this bun, why should I bother with such work?"

Li Shi firmly guarded the small bun, saying, “I didn't say you can’t eat it, but the children need to eat first, Shen San, you’re their father.”

Shen San was choked with frustration, never having imagined being so vexed by having so many children.

With such a small bun split among six people, how could he even taste it?

But since the bun was in Li Shi's hands, and meant for the children, he couldn't bring himself to snatch it.

He was too exhausted, having little to eat yet much work to do, and lacked the energy to fight.

That night, each of the Shen children finally had a taste of something other than vegetable soup. Little Sweet and Little Iron, who had been listless all day, were revived somewhat with food and warm soup in their bellies.

……

On the 6th of May, Shen Lian and his group finally arrived at the cave used for exchanging messages with Manager Xu.

They retrieved a bamboo tube and around twenty slim cloth bags from a hidden small stone cave. Opening one, they found it contained salt.

Wei Qinghe was the most delighted.

"There's still news from my brother-in-law, and he's even managed to send us some salt. At least it indicates that it's still safe outside," he said, taking the bamboo tube. "Let me see what's written in the letter."

Unfurling the letter, he read it aloud to Shen Lian and Chen Dashan, feeling relieved himself.

The letter primarily informed Shen Lian about the situation in Shili Village, where people were selling their children, and hinted that Shen San might be planning to do the same. Li Shi suggested that Shen Jin should reveal his hunting skills for self-preservation.

Chen Dashan shook his head disapprovingly, "Your uncle really is no good."

Shen Lian, uninterested in commenting, asked Wei Qinghe, "When was this letter sent?"

After examining the date, Wei Qinghe replied, "About eight or nine days ago."

Shen Lian frowned, contemplating the current situation in Qi Yang County mentioned in the letter. He wondered if the information might be outdated.

"If Manager Xu's news was already delayed, then the current situation in Qi Yang County might not be safe."

Placing the salt bags into his backpack, he said, "Let's go, we've come this far. Let's check out the outskirts to see what's happening."

Chen Dashan had no objections. Roaming around Qi Yang County, for them, was almost like strolling around their own backyard, especially compared to their previous escape from enemy territory.

Wei Qinghe, full of gratitude, bowed deeply to them both.

He was genuinely concerned about the situation outside. Being able to see it firsthand was certainly better than relying on letters from eight or nine days ago. He lacked the ability to venture out himself and felt too embarrassed to ask Shen Lian and Chen Dashan. Fortunately, the two volunteered to check it out, for which Wei Qinghe couldn't help but feel grateful and relieved.

They traveled outward for two hours, causing Shen Lian and Chen Dashan's brows to furrow in concern.

Chen Dashan glanced at Shen Lian, asking, "Notice anything?"

Shen Lian replied with a solemn tone, "It's too quiet."

The inner areas were crowded with refugees, but oddly, the outskirts were deserted.

Both men's expressions grew serious. They stopped and began cutting branches and leaves, ensuring there were no insects before wrapping themselves and Wei Qinghe with vine strips for camouflage.

Wei Qinghe swallowed nervously, "What's this for?"

He hadn't seen such preparations in the forest before.

As Shen Lie wrapped himself in camouflage, he cautioned, "The bandits might already be near Qiyang County. Move carefully and stay quiet. If something feels off, hide in the bushes or behind trees."

Hearing this, Wei Qinghe stiffened.

"Bandits in Qiyang... What about my parents, sister, nephew, and brother-in-law..."

His breathing grew rapid, afraid to ponder the situation too deeply.

Chen Dashan reassured him, "Don't panic. Let's first reconnoiter the villages nearby and then assess the situation."

Wei Qinghe could only nod, "Okay, thank you both."

Initially, it was just his family and the children of Shen Family's third branch at risk. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan didn't need to risk their lives, whether it was for one reason or both, Wei Qinghe was immensely grateful.

Shen Lie glanced at him, "Enough of that, let's go. Stay close behind Dashan and me."

……

They headed first to the familiar territory of Ten Li Village.

Shen Lie's initial destination was the shelter and tunnels he dug for Shen Jin.

They found no one.

The site was deserted, with no food left, only some clay pots and bowls remained.

Shen Lie's hand trembled by his side, and they prepared to stealthily enter the village.

The once lively village now lay desolate, houses empty, poultry gone, vegetable plots dug up, and only scraps of straw left from the villagers' haystacks.

They checked each house systematically.

Chen Dashan observed, “There are no signs of a struggle; it seems they left voluntarily.”

That was perhaps the only good news under the circumstances; at least it wasn't a massacre.

Shen Lie pursed his lips, suggesting, “Let's circle around the mountains and head towards Sanli Village to investigate.”

As they headed back through the woods, a cautious voice called out, “Ah Lie, Dashan?”

The voice was familiar to Shen Lie. Turning towards it, he exclaimed in surprise, “Uncle Zhou, you didn't leave the village?”

The caller was none other than Zhou Laizi, accompanied by Zhou family's eldest son.

Zhou Laizi and his son emerged from the bushes, quickly approaching Shen Lie and his group, their faces alight with the joy of encountering familiar people.

“We did leave the village. Remember you told me to go to your house for a plan? I went at the time you mentioned and found your place emptied. So, I realized what you meant and we fled too.”

Shen Lie nodded, not surprised by Zhou Laizi's family's decision; a man who faced death fearlessly would not hesitate to flee to the mountains. He inquired, “How have you been managing in the mountains, Uncle Zhou?”

Zhou Laizi rubbed his hands, “We're managing alright. We didn't venture too deep, but we found a hidden cave and sealed it with rocks. Most of the time, my family stays hidden inside, and only a few of us venture out occasionally to find food.”

Chen Dashan, noticing the Zhou father and son duo looking gaunt yet somehow more spirited than before, asked, “Uncle Zhou, do you know what’s happening in the village?”

This was precisely what Shen Lie and Wei Qinghe were eager to learn.

Exchanging glances, Zhou Laizi sighed and explained, “You might not be aware, but recently, many soldiers arrived and herded the villagers from nearby villages into the county. Not long after their relocation, bandits showed up. Now, the county is besieged by bandits.”

The news of the bandit siege visibly alarmed Shen Lie and his companions, who immediately pressed the Zhou family for more details, like the specific day of the siege and the number of bandits involved.

Zhou Laizi shook his head, saying, “We usually stay in the mountains and don’t dare to venture out, so I don’t know the exact day. We heard about these events from others who escaped to the mountains. I heard this four days ago when I mustered the courage to return and look for food.”

After a pause, he added, “As for the number, I’m not sure. I overheard that there were many bandits, at least a thousand, but I can’t be certain. We never dared to get too close.”

Hearing of over a thousand bandits, Wei Qinghe’s face drained of color.

“Then, my brother-in-law…”

He was frantic, opening his mouth but unable to articulate his fears.

With over a thousand bandits, who could possibly save them? Even divine intervention seemed unlikely.