novelraw Chapter 206
Chapter 206
Chapter 206: Disaster Victims Along the Way
Rather than saying the Third Prince was an old-fashioned stiff, it was more accurate to say he simply didn’t like to waste words.
This realization only became clear to Wei Yu when the team entered Huzhou and met a group of disaster victims along the way.
Huzhou consists of thirteen counties. Previously, the Prefect of Huzhou had reported in an official memorial that three counties had suffered from flooding. However, the time of that report was nearly a month before Wei Yu arrived in Huzhou.
A month’s time could bring significant changes.
At the very least, floodwaters that had surged and breached riverbanks wouldn’t just improve on their own without any intervention.
Originally, only three counties in the southeastern part of Huzhou experienced flooding, but because local officials failed to handle the situation promptly, some rivers changed course, and the floodwaters spread to other areas, such as the lower-lying Donghai Commandery.
If nothing went wrong, after entering Huzhou, the disaster relief team’s first disaster-stricken county should have been Xinshan County.
Unfortunately, because the flooding hurt downstream severely in the southeast, many people whose homes had been destroyed by the water and were left homeless had no choice but to head north in search of a better place to settle down temporarily.
The disaster relief team met this group of northbound disaster victims head-on before even arriving at the designated area. Hundreds of disaster victims were walking along the official road, their clothes tattered and insufficient, their steps feeble. Most were gaunt, with sallow complexions and exhausted expressions.
Before the relief team could halt their formation, quick-reacting disaster victims saw the banner of the team and immediately realized these were likely the ones sent by the Imperial Court to offer aid. They hurried forward, kneeling before the horses, begging the officers for food.
“Please, sir, we beg you for something to eat! I haven’t eaten for days, we beg you…”
For the common people, dignity was the least useful thing in such moments.
When facing starvation, even the cruelest could resort to eating human flesh—living or dead—just to fill their bellies.
At this moment, with so many disaster victims, if the officers and soldiers hadn’t been carrying swords, it is likely these people would not be kneeling and begging but forcibly grabbing what they could.
Fang Sheng, who was riding at the front, drew his sword and shouted sharply as the flood of people came surging forward.
“The provincial governor has come with relief supplies—step back immediately!”
This relief mission included not only the guards accompanying Wei Yu and the Third Prince but also two thousand elite soldiers and two Imperial Physicians sent by Emperor Wei.
The head of the relief effort was the Third Prince, with Wei Yu as his deputy.
Since Fang Sheng had once held rank among the Gray Guards, he was designated as the lead of the entire team.
When Fang Sheng drew his sword, the other soldiers behind him also drew their weapons, assuming defensive stances.
However, the disaster victims did not care about that. Upon hearing the Governor had come to provide aid, even more people pressed forward.
No matter how much Fang Sheng and the others shouted, they remained tightly packed around the team, refusing to back down.
Their homes had been swept away by the floodwaters, and with no money or provisions, and no aid being handed out by local officials, they were starving to death. How could they worry about the sharpness of soldiers’ swords?
“Sir, please, please give us some food!”
“Please, sir, just a little food…”
“Grandfather, I’m so hungry…”
The group consisted of men, women, young and old, all skinny to the point of skin and bones, utterly miserable, each staring at the mounted officers with desperate longing.
When Fang Sheng saw a woman holding a child in her arms, he pursed his lips involuntarily.
The child was far too thin, with a bluish-black complexion and pale lips—a state between life and death.
Someone riding beside him frowned and said, “Lord Fang, there are so many disaster victims here; something unexpected could happen. I should quickly report this to His Highness.”
This man was Attendant Mo, the Third Prince’s personal attendant.
Fang Sheng nodded politely. “Thank you.”
Looking around at the disaster victims, Fang Sheng did not act rashly. His gaze was less on the victims themselves and more focused ahead.
After all, that fellow Yi Shisan had been sending people ahead to scout the situation.
With so many disaster victims showing up, why hadn’t he sent any report back yet?
What exactly was going on?
Fang Sheng pondered silently.
At the rear of the team, as the carriage stopped, Wei Yu realized the halt.
However, thinking the team had stopped to rest, he paid little attention and continued watching drama on his tablet until Attendant Mo came over to report.
“Reporting to the masters, Ninth Highness, there are hundreds of disaster victims on the road ahead. They have stopped the team demanding food; Lord Fang is unable to disperse them. Should we forcibly drive them away?”
Hearing the news of the disaster victims, the two inside the carriage paused their activities.
Wei Yu came back to his senses, and the Third Prince looked up. Their gazes met mid-air briefly, then both turned their heads.
Wei Yu lifted the carriage curtain. “Hundreds of disaster victims? Did anyone ask where they’re coming from?”
Attendant Mo shook his head. “Nothing has been asked yet. Shall the two lords go take a look?”
Of course, they needed to take a look. Yet Wei Yu looked back at his Third Brother. “Third Brother, shall we go see?”
The Third Prince frowned slightly, placing the book he’d been reading down on the small table. Unspoken, he merely flicked his clothes aside and glanced at Wei Yu.
That gesture—oh, Wei Yu understood.
He immediately jumped down from the carriage to make room for his Third Brother.
Once the two prince appeared, the guards around them tightened their defenses. Wherever they passed, mounted officers dismounted.
Wei Yu saw the disaster victims ahead.
He felt sympathy, of course—not heartless—yet hearing the victims were asking for food, Wei Yu felt a bit troubled.
Because they had little food themselves.
Although the team numbered over two thousand, the troops were lightly equipped and carried only enough provisions to last them on the road.
Relief grain for the disaster area would only be drawn from the surrounding granaries after Wei Yu completed assessment and the Imperial Court approved funds.
Thus, if the disaster victims wanted food, it would truly come from the soldiers' own rations.
Wei Yu looked at the Third Prince. “Third Brother, what do we do?”
This time was unlike the previous trip to Jiaozhou.
Here, the commanding officer was not himself, and given the difference between Third Brother and Eighth Brother, Wei Yu could not simply act without consulting Third Brother’s opinion.
The Third Prince frowned as he surveyed the scene of disaster victims, then immediately instructed Attendant Mo:
“Order the team to set up camp here. Send people to calm the disaster victims and start fires to boil water. Have each soldier give half their ration to the victims. Call the Imperial Physicians over to treat the sick.”
Hmm, not bad.
Having heard the Third Prince’s arrangement, Wei Yu couldn’t help but nod approvingly.
Although Third Brother kept silent on everything outside of his studies, when it came to the people, he was quite caring.
After orders were given, the attendants sprang into action.
Hearing that food would be distributed, the disaster victims were overjoyed and no longer crowded around, quickly moving aside to give way to the officers.
Everyone went about their chores. After looking around, Wei Yu headed toward Fang Sheng.
“Where’s Yi Shisan? Where has he gone?”
With so many disaster victims, and Yi Shisan scouting ahead alone, he had to ask what was going on.