Xu Jin closed the door and led him to the backyard.
“This morning, someone escaped from the city and said it was attacked by bandits. The county magistrate also fled,” Xu Jin indicated towards the kitchen, looking serious. “Since this morning, my mother and Ah Yoon have been in the kitchen.”
“My father is packing things in the study.”
“I just came back from the county. The bandits have left, but the situation in the city is dire. Most wealthy families have been robbed, and the granary has been looted,” Lin Ya took a couple of sips of water to calm himself.
“…the granary.” Xu Jin was not surprised; once the bandits entered the county, the granary would certainly not be spared.
“If it doesn’t rain anytime soon, there is a fear that chaos will follow.” Once it is known that the granary is empty, it means that the only food available is what each family has stored, and once it runs out, there will be nothing left.
Even if the court sends disaster relief food, it would take several months. If it rains, it may help, but if it doesn’t, the people here might have to leave against their will.
The entire prefectural city has about a million people. If they all become refugees, it would be a huge shock to the court. And with so many people gathered in one place, a rebellion could have unimaginable consequences.
“We should leave early; it won’t matter if we don’t have travel permits. If we don’t avoid this now, it will be dangerous once the number of refugees increases.”
“However, if we leave, where can we go?” Xu Jin had keen insights, but he was still a young man who had just passed his coming-of-age ceremony. The farthest he had been was the county city, and he had never been to the prefectural capital, so he felt a bit lost.
Lin Ya was not familiar with this world either, but as long as he headed south, he believed he wouldn’t go wrong. Several years ago, he had gone to take the provincial examination and had visited the prefectural city, although he was not well-acquainted with it.
“Just head south; the south has plenty of water and abundant resources. As long as we reach somewhere with water, we won’t have to worry about food and water.”
“But…”
“Zi Xiu is right. In the face of drought, we must head south,” Xu’s father entered from outside with a grave expression, sighing as he paced back and forth in the dimly lit room before finally sitting down.
As if recalling something, Xu’s father looked pained and reminisced, “Decades ago, a drought occurred here, not only drought but also a locust plague. Food and tree bark were wiped out within a year, and countless people starved to death. My grandparents were nearly starved as well, but fortunately, the court’s relief food arrived just in time, allowing those who survived to settle down here.”
“Now, the court probably has no time to care for us. Ever since the border wars intensified, conscription has become more frequent, and taxes are heavier each year. Food… it seems very difficult now…”
He took a breath and continued speaking.
“We need to plan ahead and pack our belongings to leave in the coming days. The bandits are ruthless and greedy; with no guards in the large county city, they will surely come to plunder again. The town is nearby, and if they decide to act, it will be too dangerous here.”
“Leaving will undoubtedly be perilous, but staying here only leads to a dead end.”
Xu’s father had never left Tianyan Prefecture in his life, but he had experienced the chaos during famine in his childhood. He knew that without the court’s control, this place would undoubtedly turn into a riot.
Drought is the most deadly threat; once it occurs, it means crops won’t be able to grow. Even if they don’t starve this year, they will starve next year.
When people are desperate, they can resort to anything. Without food, they’ll gnaw on tree bark and roots. The gnawing hunger can drive people to lose control.
By that time, cannibalism wouldn’t be surprising.
Lin Ya remained silent, somewhat surprised by Xu’s father’s foresight. However, upon reflection, having long-term vision was quite commendable; even after he departed, they would still be able to live well.
“Dad, is it really that serious?” Xu Jin hesitated, wondering what if the court sent troops to attack the bandit lair? What if it rained in a few days?
Although he hadn’t personally experienced the malice of human nature, he had heard stories of people being robbed and harmed by mountain bandits on their way to take exams.
In this unstable world, if they encountered bandits on the road, his old father, young sister, a few weak scholars, and frail ladies would have no means to defend themselves.
“You always, I told you not to just bury yourself in books. It’s not just the classics but also travelogues you should read to broaden your horizons,” Xu’s father scolded him, lowering Xu’s head in shame, then looked at the silent student-and-son-in-law.
“Zi Xiu, what are your plans?”
Lin Ya hadn’t anticipated Xu’s father’s openness about leaving; he had been thinking about how to convince them.
“I think what Dad says makes sense; we should leave as soon as possible. In a few days, it won’t just be us leaving.”
“Isn’t it better to go together if there are more people? With a larger crowd, those mountain bandits wouldn’t dare to stir trouble,” a soft female voice suddenly came from outside, revealing Xu Yue with a face dusted with flour, peeking in with a puzzled expression.
At that moment, Xu’s father didn’t reprimand her for being inappropriate but instead coughed and shot her a stern look, explaining, “More people can complicate matters. You must remember that in times of crisis, you should never test human nature.”
“Don’t underestimate the malice of humanity.” Xu’s father shook his head, somewhat regretting that he hadn’t taught them about the unpredictability of human intentions earlier.
But it’s not too late to teach now.
Lin Ya looked at the two naive siblings from the Xu family, feeling a mix of emotions; being a bit foolish isn’t such a bad thing. If they were too clever, he would have to worry.
Xu Yue pondered for a moment before returning to help her mother prepare rations, while Xu’s father and Xu Jin planned to go out and see if they could buy a donkey or mule. This would make it easier to transport their belongings later on.
After spending half a day at the Xu family, discussing the departure time, Lin Ya decided to head back home while it was still early to gather his things. Tomorrow, he would prepare provisions, and the day after they would set off early.
“Dad! Are you going home?” The two small children came out of the kitchen, their noses smeared with soot, and their rosy cheeks appeared healthier and chubbier.