Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 783 62: Killing to Stop Killing! Extermination of Families and Clans! (Part 5)

Lianzhuo, Cailong.

Guangzhou has the appearance of a major battle about to erupt, yet places like Heipu and Cailong remain very stable.

The Rebel Army easily occupied this region with hardly any real resistance. Liu Chang entrusted eunuchs with control of the military, leading to dissension and desertion within the ranks. Many soldiers surrendered and switched sides directly in battle.

In the distant mountains and forests, Bao Le'an's family of four stumbled out; his wife was ill and unable to walk, so he carried her forward. Their eldest son carried the young girl, and both wore rags and carried some luggage, but it was all just a pile of tattered goods.

They had only recently heard some news from villagers, which prompted their hasty return from the deep forest.

Indeed, they were fugitives.

After Liu Chang took power, the Great Han Dynasty imposed heavy taxes and levies, forcing many civilians into the mountains and forests to live, eventually becoming local bandits.

However, upon hearing the Rebel Army was redistributing land and food aid, and the government was lending seeds and tools, these fugitives couldn't sit still. Even if assisting the uprising meant facing execution, they would try desperately.

Because they truly couldn't survive otherwise.

Bao Le'an's family of four waited a moment by the mud road; soon, several families appeared, all his fellow villagers. However, while thirty-six had fled initially, only twenty-one remained today.

Some died from poisonous insect bites, others from miasma, and some were poisoned by eating mushrooms out of hunger; every family suffered casualties, and Bao Le'an's elderly mother had died three months ago.

In these times, few can survive long in the wilderness, let alone with their families.

These people gathered together and elected Bao Le'an as their leader before cautiously heading toward the town of Cailong County.

Soon, they encountered a group of officers. Then, a man dressed as an official rode up on a horse, his pale face clean-shaven, resembling a eunuch, but they did not dare ask.

"Master!"

"We are originally villagers of this place..." Bao Le'an nervously knelt on the ground at once.

The official-looking man glanced at them and, with a warm attitude, said, "Come here."

"Take them to the porridge shelter in the south of the city."

"Go receive some relief grain first."

Upon finishing, this official rode to a place at the city gate, speaking to an elderly man with a square scarf and flowing long beard: "Old Song. These are recently settled migrants."

The elderly man, dressed like a physician and carrying a needle case on his back, glanced at Bao Le'an and others, and instructed his disciples beside him.

Soon.

Bao Le'an's group was taken to the porridge shelter. As steaming hot porridge was served, his children salivated at the aroma, and even his severely ill wife opened her weak eyes, moved her lips, and uttered the word "hungry."

His old wife, to save the rations, left the food to the children, and ate wild herbs herself, resulting in her stomach bloating, trapped gas, unable to eat for a long time, and even unable to walk.

Bao Le'an looked at the official in front with teary gratitude, knelt again and kowtowed, before respectfully receiving the porridge bowl.

He fed his old wife first, then ate a bowl himself. As he ate, this farmer in his forties suddenly started crying loudly. He kowtowed to the officials distributing relief, his forehead turning bruised.

"Get up."

"Are you full? If not, have another two bowls." Someone raised Bao Le'an.

Upon hearing this, he blushed, his lips trembled, and he finally lifted the chipped bowl; a bowl of thick porridge could hardly fill a grown man.

The starving people ate until their bellies were bulging, as if finding rain after a drought; they scarcely remembered eating such a decent meal.

A few moments later.

Several people appeared, one resembling a veteran, though he was older, about fifty, with calloused hands. Another was dressed as a ranger, carrying a longsword, scrutinizing the group from top to bottom, then approached one person and asked: "Do you know martial arts?"

The man, holding a stick, calloused hands, nodded nervously: "I know some farmer's moves."

The young man examined his physique, satisfied: "Good foundation, you can stay."

"Would you like to join the army?"

"If willing to serve, your family will be allocated good land, and will receive monthly pay and rations."

The man immediately knelt, kowtowing.

"Get up."

"You don't need formalities in the military."

"Follow me."

The young man took out a piece of broken silver, tossing it to his family: "This is for settling, use it to buy some food."

"You don't need it. Supplies are provided in the army."

Bao Le'an watched with envy; the man called Zhou Cheng had learned some stick and hand techniques in his youth. This young man only picked three from the migrants, all with strong physiques, ignoring the others.

Before leaving, Bao Le'an overheard the young man say to the old man beside him: "Old Liu."

"This one is sturdy with foundation, can train the grand halberd."

The other two belong to the army."

These people soon departed.

An hour later, some officials distributed relief grain while all were gathered before a shed. The elderly man with a flowing beard was seated at a long table, accompanied by people dressed as officials.

"Queue up!"

"One by one come up." An official shouted, wielding a fire-water stick; anyone daring to act out was beaten immediately, as the law here was strict, with severe punishment for disobedience.