"If there truly is great turmoil, it is the Imperial Court’s matter."
"The Court’s affairs are the world’s affairs, and thus the common people’s affairs. Do you think we can escape unscathed when the world falls into chaos?" the young man shouted:
"Restoring order, for the Court, for the people, is also for ourselves!"
He clasped his fists:
"Zhang is willing to be loyal to the Imperial Court, even to the death!"
"Bullshit!"
Soone growled:
"Look at this main road, all these years, every single day of the year, isn’t it always filled with disaster victims?"
"Ask the passersby, on this road, by the river, isn’t there soone dying every single day? Are there not more corpses in the river every day?"
"When has the Imperial Court ever cared about the life or death of the common folks?"
"Young brother, you’ve read quite a few books and seen the suffering in the world. Ask yourself honestly, is such a Court, such officials worthy of loyalty?"
"Worthy..."
"To die for?"
Upon hearing this, silence fell among the crowd.
"Clatter..."
Fang Zheng put down his chopsticks, frowning slightly:
"No peace with all this clamor, pack up, we’ll eat on the road."
"Young Master?" Xiang Xiu looked up, surprise on his face, intending to say sothing just as several Governntal Officials entered. He nodded imdiately:
"Alright."
They packed up and the carriage moved forward again, behind them the Post Station erupted with commotion, as if the officials had started arresting people.
Fang Zheng lifted the curtain, looking toward the sides of Shangguan Dao.
He recalled.
When he first arrived in this world, the White Lotus Sect was still hunted by everyone, lurking in shadows to gather followers, truly an Evil Cult.
And now...
In broad daylight, they openly recruit followers, and bystanders don’t even try to intervene, rely watch as these events unfold.
Even Governntal Officials appear not to notice, only daring to establish their authority over common folks.
’The end of a dynasty indeed!’
’With a foolish Emperor, incompetent officials who allow aristocrats to oppress the people, chaos and demons prevail, truly a scene of a world in turmoil.’
’The suffering...’
’Only the common people endure it!’
Shaking his head, Fang Zheng let down the curtain, ceasing his wild thoughts.
The flood affected several counties’ people but didn’t impact near the Prefecture City. As they approached Zhaonan Prefecture, there were fewer disaster victims along the main road.
Gradually.
More travelers appeared on the road.
"What’s your business here?"
In the middle of the road, soldiers set up a checkpoint, questioning passersby, checking travel docunts, carefully comparing them with personal descriptions.
If anything seed off, they would detain travelers.
"Young Master, this is a temporary checkpoint, often set by local soldiers to extort money from travelers,"
Xiang Xiu, familiar with traveling, explained:
"Although they seem strict, you can pass by paying a fee."
"Mm," Fang Zheng nodded, asking:
"What about the disaster victims?"
The disaster victims barely have enough to eat, let alone money to pass through.
"That’s another function of the checkpoint," Xiang Xiu said:
"Checkpoints can block disaster victims, confining them to a fixed area, preventing them from wandering. Forcing through is a surefire way to get killed on the spot."
"Young Master."
"After passing this checkpoint, there won’t be any more disaster victims ahead, and we can finally have so peace."
Saying this, he urged the horse towards the checkpoint, presenting a waist badge that clearly had an exemption status.
The soldiers rely glanced at it and waved them through, without collecting road fees.
"Despicable!"
A short distance later, soone muttered curses:
"They’re just a bunch of robbers, setting up checkpoints every few days. All the money they make goes into their pocket. How are we supposed to live?"
"If they anger enough, I’ll even join the White Lotus Sect!"
"Careful with your words." Soone hurriedly grabbed the person cursing, cautiously looking around.
The carriage passed by, with the two passengers unmoved.
As Xiang Xiu ntioned.
After the checkpoint, disaster victims almost vanished from the road, occasionally spotting young n in fine clothes in groups.
Ti slowly passed.
Darkness began to fall.
Travelers on the road beca sparse.
"Rustle..."
Sounds ca from the nearby forest, a man and a woman erged, their eyes revealing panic, as though chased by so beast.
The man’s appearance was quite handso yet dressed in worn coarse clothing, his feet in ragged grass shoes exposing his toes.
In contrast, the woman’s attire was lavish, forming a stark contrast.
After rushing onto Shangguan Dao, the man glanced back, gently pushed the woman, and shouted:
"Sister Rong, you go first, I’ll hold them off!"
"No!" The woman cried out in distress, her hair disheveled. Upon hearing, she shook her head desperately:
"Brother Gu, we’ll leave together!"
"Thud..."
"Wheeze!"
An arrow shot from the forest, striking the ground before them, burrowing several inches into the hardened road.
The power of the arrow was apparent.
Simultaneously, a group of people erged from the forest, led by a man with a jade-like face dressed in luxury, who tossed a steel bow to soone behind him.
"Chang Rong!"
He fixed his eyes on the woman, speaking in a muffled voice, leaving no room for doubt:
"Co ho with !"
"No!" The woman shouted, clutching the sleeve of the handso man beside her desperately, tears welling in her eyes as she pleaded:
"Third Brother, Gu Chong and I sincerely love each other. For the sake of our sibling bond, let us go. I don’t want to marry that fool from the Han Family."
"Third Brother Chang," ’Gu Chong’ tightened his grip on the woman’s wrist and said:
"Though I’m a servant of the Chang Family, aware of my humble status, my love for the lady is genuine and unwavering. I hope Third Brother Chang can allow us."
"You..." The nobleman’s expression changed, instinctively glancing at the passersby on Shangguan Dao, his face darkening as he lowered his voice:
"First, co back with , we’ll discuss this further at ho!"
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