Fu Chang thought to himself that once the rice was harvested, he would arrange for a group of young and strong n to go out of the mountains, both to purchase supplies and to gather news from the outside.
The old man was very afraid of Fu Chang leaving, so he hurriedly asked, "Is the County Lord going to lead the team?"
Fu Chang shook his head, "No, let Zisong lead the team out."
Fu Yong, courtesy na Zisong, was given the na by Fu Chang not long ago; once he had a courtesy na, he was considered an adult.
The old man was relieved to hear this. Fu Chang didn’t plan to abandon them, so he said, "County Lord, you are wise," and turned to go harvest soybeans.
Before the calamity, Fu Chang was the He Yin County Magistrate. When He Yin City fell, he could only lead the people in fleeing, resulting in them scattering in different directions. With refugees from other places joining them, the number of He Yin citizens still following him beca very few.
Although there weren’t many, their presence was proof of Fu Chang’s identity, so they called him County Lord, and everyone followed suit.
Fu Chang always wanted to decline the title.
But everyone knew that Fu Chang was the only one among them capable of leading them to survive in the deep mountains, so they weren’t willing to let him go, hence they all called him County Lord.
Even though this was rely a village with thirty-nine households, he was effectively a village chief now, but still, everyone called him "County Lord, County Lord."
Halfway through, Fu Yong’s shoe broke, so he could only carry his straw shoes in one hand and carefully avoid the thorns on the ground as he walked over, "Father, today is July 8th, the fifth year of Yongjia."
Fu Chang frowned, "We planted our beans too late, and the temperature in the mountains is also sowhat lower than outside, so the harvest of beans has been delayed until now."
"I see the rice ears already drooping, and when touched, they feel full. As long as the sun is good for the next half month, they should turn yellow." The leaves, once they start to turn yellow, would indicate that there’s at least half a month more before harvesting.
With this calculation, the rice harvest ti is indeed later than outside.
"It’s mainly due to the lack of farming tools," Fu Chang looked around. Many people, because they had no sickles or stone knives, used their hands to pull the soybeans up by the roots, which was not only inefficient but also labor-consuming. He bowed his head in thought. Last year’s rice harvest was very arduous, and the previous wheat harvest was the sa; many people were still using their hands to harvest.
"Here’s what we’ll do: don’t wait until after the autumn harvest. Prepare tonight to choose fifteen people to go out of the mountains with you," Fu Chang said. "You mainly go to buy farming tools and seeds, and also gather news about the imperial court, and make sure to return before August 1st."
That’s just in ti for the autumn harvest.
Twenty days should be enough, but...
"Father, we have no money."
Fu Chang said, "Take so things out and barter."
But what do they have to exchange?
Besides food, they only have so dicinal herbs found in the mountains, animal skins, bones, and the like.
The whole village got busy, packing baskets full of goods for them.
Fu Yong was worried, "If we et refugees or disorderly soldiers out of the mountains, won’t carrying so many things get us eaten alive?"
"Are you foolish? If you can’t win, can’t you run?" Fu Chang said. "Don’t be reluctant to abandon the goods; save what you can, abandon what you can’t—life is most important. Ultimately, if you take fifteen people out, bring fifteen people back."
Fu Yong answered solemnly.
In front of everyone, Fu Chang took out a string of copper coins and a jade pendant to give to him, "This is the last of our family’s money. Buy more brushes, ink, and paper. Pawn the jade pendant to buy a hoe for the house and two more sickles."
Their family had only one sickle, which was traded with another family for food when they first entered the mountains.
Upon seeing this, the villagers imdiately pulled their sons or nephews to go ho and discuss. Those without sons or nephews going out approached Fu Yong directly, offering their savings and said, "This is the money we saved before entering the mountains; it’s useless here, so please help us to buy so things."
Most wanted farming tools, but the items requested most were needles and thread.
Thread is manageable since they can make it themselves, but needles are in short supply. Currently, many families in the mountains have made needles from animal bones and teeth, but they are quite thick and not easy to use.
They still prefer needles from outside.
Fu Yong’s mory wasn’t as good as his father’s, so he could only find a used piece of paper and jot down their requests in the blank spaces at the corners.
Seeing him so attentive, Fu Chang felt relieved but couldn’t help but sigh, "It would be great if Dalan were here; he wouldn’t forget anything after hearing it once."
Fu Hong, standing nearby, wasn’t pleased to hear this, "But it’s my older brother who is here. That clever cousin is in Yu State mourning his wife’s grandfather."
Fu Chang glared at him, "Don’t even think about having a wife. If we stay in the mountains all our lives, you won’t be able to marry a wife in this lifeti."
Fu Hong opened his mouth wide.
Fu Chang furrowed his brow in thought, "Zhao Hanzhang is quite influential in Yu State. Considering the ti, they’ve long finished mourning and are likely married. Zisong, once you’re out, see if you can find a rchant heading to Yu State and ask them to deliver a letter, informing Dalan of our current location."
"Sigh, who knows how things are in Luoyang, how Your Majesty is doing, and what has happened to your grandfather?" Fu Chang didn’t have much hope for Fu Zhi, knowing his father’s determination. Seeing the Xiongnu army’s nacing advance with Luoyang being unguarded, it’s likely the city couldn’t be defended. If the emperor encounters trouble, his father would likely follow suit to the end.
And there’s his elder brother and sister-in-law, trapped in Chang’an, where there is famine; their fate is also unknown.
There were also his third and fourth brothers, who were out studying; over a year has passed without contact since before He Yin was attacked. Their safety is unknown too.
Fu Chang was preoccupied with worries, leaving him no mood to educate his sons anymore.
Yet his words stirred Fu Hong’s rebellious side, prompting him to buzz around, "I want to go out too! Can I help you find a daughter-in-law?"
Fu Chang agitatedly waved his hand, "Go, go, go! Outside, it’s either refugees or chaos soldiers. Where would you find a wife?"
"Why not? No matter the chaos, there are still gentry and Wu Castles, right? Perhaps there’s a young lady who finds handso and wants to be her husband?" Fu Hong threatened, "Be careful, or I might beco a live-in son-in-law."
Fu Chang stroked his beard and said, "If you manage to survive out there, being a live-in son-in-law wouldn’t be bad."
Fu Hong froze, "You wouldn’t mind?"
"What would I mind? Great heroes don’t care about origins. In this chaotic world, the point is just to stay alive, no matter the thod." Fu Chang paused here to add a condition, "Without violating humanity."
Humanity, aning the fundantal principles of being human.
Fu Chang said, "Today, beasts run rampant, but you must remain human. If you don’t even want to be human, then cut yourselves off early and don’t let others know you co from the Northern Fu Family."
Fu Yong and Fu Hong solemnly agreed.
After agreeing, Fu Hong sowhat reluctantly said, "Father, do we look like people who wouldn’t act human?"
Fu Chang praised, "Naturally not, I’m just saying it, and rember, teach this to your descendants."
Only then did Fu Hong brighten up, "Then Father, will you agree to let follow Brother out of the mountains?"
Fu Chang hesitated for a mont, seeing the excitent and anticipation on his younger son’s face, and ultimately nodded.
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