AMLFS Chapter 70
by VolareUpon hearing this, Song Lianyu and Zhao Qiongwan exchanged glances.
Seeing his lost soul appearance, they sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.
They knew he missed Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, but there was nothing they could do. Counting the days, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district should be arriving in Hanzhou soon.
Meanwhile, in Hanzhou.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district led his troops to set up camp on an open space outside Hanzhou city. They were still unaware of the situation within the city.
It was not advisable to enter rashly.
Beside the tents, two people were securing the tent ropes into the ground while chatting idly.
One of them was swinging a sledgehammer, driving wooden stakes tied to the ropes.
“Oh man, these past few days of rushing day and night have really taken a toll. I feel like my soul was about to be shaken off my horse. Tonight, I can finally get a good night’s sleep.”
The other immediately chimed in agreement, having accumulated quite a few grievances from the continuous journey.
“Yeah, yeah. Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district truly lives up to his reputation as a commander. He’s too ruthless, making us rush without stopping these past few days, exhausting the brothers.”
“Why is he in such a hurry, you think? The epidemic in Hanzhou won’t be cured in a short while.”
“Who knows? What was originally at least a half-month journey, we arrived in just ten days. He’s just eager to claim credit, not caring about our lives.”
The two were speaking in the shaded area behind the tent when a sudden noise came from behind.
“Who’s there!”
The two were startled, as discussing the imperial family behind their backs was a great disrespect.
Looking closely, a little girl was standing behind them. Her clothes were tattered, and beneath her dirty hair were a pair of very wary eyes.
On closer inspection, the child’s face looked like it was covered in sores, she was infected with the epidemic!
Seeing the sores on her face, the two immediately scolded, “Don’t come over!”
Then, they quickly pulled out masks from their sleeves to cover their mouths and noses.
One of them looked at her: “What are you doing? Who allowed you to approach the camp here?”
The little girl stood there, startled by his fierce tone, but did not back down.
With a thud, she knelt on the ground and pleaded, “Please, give me some food… My…my sister is dying, please give me some food.”
Seeing her miserable appearance, the two took out some dry rations from their pockets and threw them to her, unable to offer any further help.
Picking up the dry rations from the ground, the little girl scurried away.
Following her receding figure, a bleak and miserable world appeared in the eyes of the two men.
Not far away, the city of Hanzhou had long lost its former prosperity.
Floods had eroded the homes upon which the locals depended for their survival.
Tens of thousands of acres of fertile land were destroyed, and the people’s hard work yielded no harvest. Houses were washed away, and silt piled up at the foot of the city walls.
Homeless people built temporary shacks from the ruins to live in.
The shacks clustered together, the people living there with haggard faces, their eyes looking at the tents with covetousness and ferocity.
If it weren’t for the presence of the army, those refugees would have pounced on them long ago.
Inside the camp, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district sat at the table, listening to his subordinate’s report.
As his understanding of the situation in Hanzhou deepened, his expression grew increasingly grave.
The situation in Hanzhou was far more complicated than he had imagined, and if measures were not taken soon, it would become even more troublesome.
He had promised Song Huaixi that he would return as soon as possible, so he wouldn’t spend too long here.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district ordered, “Immediately send people to gather all the surrounding disaster victims and distribute food and medicine.”
Hearing this, the subordinate frowned: “Your Highness, is this too hasty? The brothers have been rushing for days and haven’t had a good rest.”
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s brow was cold as he stood up: “The situation is urgent, and no delay is permissible. Divide the troops into two teams to alternate shifts. Go!”
Having said that, he put on his cloak and walked out of the tent with a team of personal guards.
The subordinate looked at his back and quickly went to make arrangements.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district arrived at a shantytown area beneath the walls of Hanzhou.
As soon as he entered, a strong stench hit him in the face. Even with a mask, it was difficult to avoid.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s expression remained unchanged. The pampered life in the capital did not prevent him from condescending to step into the refugee shacks.
Having fought on the battlefield for many years, there was nothing he hadn’t seen.
Looking around, he saw rows of simple shacks scattered about, filled with ragged and haggard disaster victims.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district walked into a shack where an elderly couple and their young grandson lived. Their spirits seemed alright, and they didn’t appear to be infected.
Seeing a group of people entering, the old woman quickly stood up and protected her grandson behind her, her eyes full of vigilance.
“Who are you?… We don’t have anything… Please leave us alone…” she pleaded in a hoarse voice.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district glanced at his personal guard.
The personal guard understood and immediately took out some food and gave it to the old woman: “Old woman, this is Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district. The imperial court sent him to provide disaster relief, so you don’t need to be afraid!”
Upon hearing that it was Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, the old woman immediately knelt on the ground and said with tears in her eyes, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your great kindness! We haven’t eaten for several days, and the child is starving.”
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district helped the old woman up: “Old woman, this Prince has some questions for you.”
“Your Highness, feel free to ask, I will tell you everything I know!”
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district asked her some questions and returned to the camp, his expression even more grave than before.
The main issue was the epidemic in the city, a thorny matter.
The officials of Hanzhou had long since embezzled the disaster relief funds and fled with their families to some unknown place.
Leaving a city of disaster-stricken people without treatment, food, or shelter, coupled with the rampant epidemic. For a time, it triggered unrest and even instances of cannibalism.
However, later, a young man surnamed Feng stepped forward to stabilize the order in the city. It was he who incited the riot against the imperial court, and his power was still growing, entrenched in the county government office within Hanzhou city.
The local refugees regarded him as their leader.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district felt that this man was an ambitious person, and if he could be used for his own purposes, it would not be a bad thing. If not, then he would have to be annihilated.
As he was thinking, a subordinate came to report: “Your Highness, there is an old man with white hair outside, claiming to be Ouyang Tongji, saying that he wants to see Your Highness.”
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s pale eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately got up and walked outside.
As soon as he exited the tent, Ouyang Tongji stood outside the door with his medicine chest on his back.
“Doctor Ouyang.” Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district looked at him: “Why are you here?”
Ouyang Tongji stroked his beard, his eyes flashing with excitement: “To tell you the truth! I recently came up with another chess game. I wonder if you can solve it this time!”
Ever since his chess endgame was solved by Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district last time, he had been thinking hard about it. His addiction to chess grew more and more uncontrollable. It would have been fine if Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district had not played chess with him.
But that one time had made him unable to stop.
And so he hurriedly left the mountains to find Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district to solve his chess game.
Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district chuckled: “It seems you’ve come at the right time, Doctor. If you are willing to help, I would be happy to accompany you in this chess game.”
“Hmph! Do you think I didn’t know?” Ouyang Tongji patted his medicine chest: “See, isn’t this a case of receiving a pillow when you’re falling asleep?”