Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 295 - 287: Chaos Erupts in Luoyang City

Initially, they believed Liao City was under King Yu’s control, making it unlikely for them to go there, but they analyzed it incorrectly. However, the good news is that at least Miss Cheng and her party were safe at that time; he must immediately send the message back and quickly find the people to be assured.

The message received by Leng Er was also the same: they found traces but had not found the people.

Han Yi also learned from the Bai Family members that Miss Cheng might be heading to Yuan Yang City for business, so it seemed more likely they would go to Yuan Yang City than Liao City, with Liao City just a decoy and the final destination being Yuan Yang City.

Now that the Bai Family is also fleeing, with nowhere else to go, since their benefactors are heading to Yuan Yang City, they too decided to follow Han Yi to Yuan Yang City.

Unexpectedly, the snow began falling heavier, posing a significant obstacle to the group. The members of the Bai Family had to abandon their carriage, using horses to carry their belongings, trudging on foot through the snow.

With every step they took in the snowy landscape, they left deep footprints. Deep in the winding mountain paths, they even came across a mountain village. But before they could rejoice, reality shattered their fantasies, as much of the village had collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow due to the old and derelict houses. The villagers were still waiting for relief; what help could they provide to them?

The only consolation was that most of the men in the village survived by hunting and frequently chased their prey, which allowed them to discover a shortcut to Yuan Yang City.

Now the group is resting in the village, preparing to take the shortcut to Yuan Yang City as soon as possible to avoid being snowed in and cut off.

...

Dayi Continent, located over 100 li east of Daxing Mountain, is currently experiencing sporadic bloodshed, with an uprising on the verge of eruption.

Due to the cold weather and heavy snow, it hampered the commerce of caravans traveling from north to south. Especially the grain merchants from the Capital City have not delivered grain to Dayi Continent for over a month.

Dayi Continent belongs to Hanbei Mountain City, known for its rugged populace with rampant issues of banditry and nomadic raiders. They excel at smuggling artifacts, surpassing even Dingzhou in chaos. Dingzhou still has Governor Ke overseeing it, but here, every guardian sent meets their demise, a constant headache since Tianqi founded the nation.

Two hundred years ago, Dayi Continent was still a region nurtured by water, with mountains and rivers, valleys and peaks, serving as natural fortifications. But an earthquake drastically changed its terrain, transforming it into today’s northern mountain city.

The land is strewn with small patches of yellowish rocks, scattered throughout the arid terrain, making it difficult to grow crops. The inhabitants of the city rely on their skills in fur trading and brewing to attract outside merchants, leading to a relatively prosperous life. Their staple food mainly comes from purchases. Now, after continuous snowfall for half a month, many families’ rice jars are empty, yet they still await supplies.

The aged grain being sold by grain merchants at high prices is nearly sold out. The citizens demand that the government open the granaries to release grain, or at least sell it. Alas, the government remains inactive for too long, driving some short-tempered individuals to lose patience and start stealing and looting clandestinely.

The city is filled with shops selling warm fur clothing. In the past two days, they too are anxious, as most local residents possess various animal furs for warmth. However, the fur shops depend on traveling merchants for income. With business dwindling, the once bustling grain shops are now closed. Crowds of people gather in front of grain stores, and if the food issue cannot be resolved, civil unrest and bloodshed events will likely escalate.

What the citizens do not know is that even without the heavy snow, merchants from the Capital City cannot come to trade either. The regime change at the Capital City caused immense upheaval, unsettling the populace. People in various levels of society are still embroiled in infighting. People live in fear, with no grain merchant daring to openly trade.

Denied any new grain supplies, Dayi Continent’s people face tough days with food prices soaring and no grain to buy. The continuous heavy snow drives the mountain animals either into hibernation or retreat deep into the mountains. Often, even veteran hunters return empty-handed from the mountains.

The citizens are forced to search for wild vegetables in the mountains. Though Dayi Continent is nearly surrounded by mountains, the snow-covering has swallowed the once lush peaks, leaving little usable food, which often comes with dangers.

They risk stepping into hidden pits or sliding down slopes, and the only greenery could well be poisonous leaves.

Not only do the people fail to find much edible food, but many are also injured or even dead. Still, many venture into the mountains, for injury is better than starving to death.

Now the city sees rising numbers of robberies, thefts, and disturbances. Reporting to the authorities brings only thunder without action, mere lip service.

Dayi Continent’s Prefectural Governor has held office for over 30 years. Though he’s no villain, he is cowardly and timid, already siding with the local Aristocratic Family for his safety.

In Dayi Continent’s main city, Luoyang City, a young man in his twenties pushes a cart towards the city gate, avoiding the unruly crowd. The distant, tightly shut gate provokes the waiting citizens to shout and curse why the gate remains closed.

The government has withheld grain, the grain shops are closed now too, and citizens are also forbidden to scavenge the mountains for food. Are they expected to stay at home and await death?

"What should we do? The city gates won’t open either," Lady Yuan, disguised as an old woman, anxiously speaks to her husband who is pushing the cart.

"Seems the city gates won’t be opening from now on. Let’s go back first!" Chu Qianyun, feeling helpless, grips the cart handle with his frostbitten hands and turns around.

A tall boy nearby, dressed in patched pants and jacket that are too short, with a clean yet chapped face full of worry, is unwilling to return, asking, "Uncle, are we really going back? Without dry wood to sell, how can we cure Mother’s illness?"

They not only had to find wild vegetables in the mountains but also needed to chop wood to sell to wealthy families for medicine money.

"Ah Yi, we’ll think of another solution. The people cannot contend with the government. Look at all those people causing trouble; have those in power cared?"

Liu Chanyi glances again at the city gate; a group of furious citizens are eager to leave, while the guard soldiers bear arms, pushing and subduing them. The situation worsens, with the soldiers now drawing their weapons, and several citizens have already been injured.

Is fighting the government an act of futility?

What will happen with Mother’s illness?

He has already lost his father; if he loses his mother too, he does not know how he will continue living.

His younger siblings are still little, and he cannot shelter them from hardship. Now he cannot even maintain the simple life of eating coarse food; he is truly useless.

Ten years of hard studying are of no use given their current conditions.

Gazing at the face of the guilt-ridden, youthful Ah Yi, Chu Tianyun wants to offer comfort but cannot find words. His elder sister has been sick with a cold for a month without improvement, and delaying further may jeopardize her lifespan.

Lady Yuan strokes the jade bracelet on her wrist, torn for a moment before suppressing tears in her eyes and making a decision.

All their valuable possessions have been pawned; only the bracelet on her wrist remains, a relic left by her mother. But no matter how precious, it cannot outweigh life itself.