Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 417

Chapter 417: Chapter 414: Absurd_1

Their marching speed was so fast that they left behind the urgent army heading towards Chunmu Mountain with twenty thousand soldiers.

The closer they got to Chunmu Mountain, the more refugees they saw.

The official government had sealed off the official road, prohibiting refugees from moving south. So the refugees carried dry food and children, navigating through mountain paths.

There was a rumor that the Commander of Daliang, Xun Tianzhang, said every time they entered a city, they would massacre it. The people were terrified and feared losing their lives if they didn’t move south.

Further north, reaching Youhua City, Bai Qingyan and the group passed through the city. The city was in chaos. Every household was loading boxes and other valuables onto carts, ox carts, and donkey carts in the streets and alleys. The cries of children, the shouts of men, and the sharp curses of women who had their ducks stolen intertwined in a cacophony of noise.

Everywhere, Jin soldiers were busily transporting chevaux de frise to the north gate. Squad leaders shouted at the soldiers carrying shovels to the north gate to dig trenches to hurry up.

The entire city was in a state of military chaos.

People carried bundles filled with valuables, grumbling and swearing as they headed south towards the city gate.

A little girl sitting on an ox cart wanted to go back to pick up her dropped doll but was scolded by her father, causing her to cry loudly on the ox cart.

"All you know is crying! If you cry again, the Liang army will come and take you away!"

"Tell me, what kind of situation is this? When the King of Zhen was around, when did our Jin Kingdom ever get beaten so badly? The Liang army probably wouldn’t even pass Chunmu Mountain before being defeated and sent back home!"

"What’s the use of saying these things now! If you want to blame someone, blame Liu Huanzhang, the traitor who colluded with the enemy, and that damned King Xin!"

"Shh! Do you want to die? You dare speak of the prince!"

Bai Qingyan, sitting high on her horse, signaled a guard to dismount and inquire.

The guard to Bai Qingyan’s left swiftly dismounted, stopping the squad leader who was shouting at the Jin soldiers to hurry up, and asked, "Is the Liang army about to attack Youhua City?"

Bai Qingyan was in a rush, barely dismounting her horse. No guard could get ahead faster to gather information. They entered this Youhua City, but they were still in the dark about the situation.

"Let go of my child! Let go of my son!"

"Mom! Mom... save me, Mom!"

"You foolish widow, the Liang army is about to attack Youhua City. We can only bring a limited amount of food if we flee now. If you sell your son to someone else, I can take you along. Otherwise, both you and your son will die!"

The citizens in Youhua City, seeing the scene, glanced at the widow, known for her poor reputation and mixing with local ruffians, shook their heads, sighed at the child’s plight, and went their own ways. Nowadays, not even the official government cared, so who among the ordinary folks would step in?

The child trader grabbed the child’s arm, threw a few taels of silver at the widow’s feet held by the ruffians.

"I don’t want silver! I want my son! Give me back my son!"

Bai Qingyan pulled out a feathered arrow from her quiver swiftly. Her eyes darkened, and the arrow pierced through the child trader’s bun, dragging him to the ground with a scream, terrified.

The ruffian, glancing towards Bai Qingyan’s sharp gaze from atop her horse, felt a chill in his heart and soul.