Chapter 0043: The Thrice-Opened and Thrice-Closed City Gate, The Path to Survival Granted by Xie Chengze

On this day, the final wave of refugees from the central-southern region of Yi Province finally arrived at Jiangdu Xian.

With this, all thirty thousand refugees from Yi Province had gathered.

They lifted their weary, lifeless eyes to gaze at the tightly shut city gate in the distance, their hearts filled with trepidation, unease, and desperate prayers that Jiangdu Xian would have enough disaster relief grain.

If Jiangdu Xian had no grain either, it would mean they would lose most of their chances of survival. They would have to drag their exhausted, starving bodies back onto the road of famine escape, heading to the nearest prefecture to seek aid.

Had there been only a few refugees, it might have been manageable. But seeing the dense, pleading crowd at the city gate, the last wave of refugees nearly fell into despair.

Which prefecture would willingly accept so many outsiders?

They had been deceived by the county magistrate. They should never have come to Jiangdu Xian. Had they chosen to go south or to the eastern counties back then, they might have had a sliver of hope…

Many refugees who faced reality knelt on the ground, their expressions sorrowful but afraid to cry aloud. They feared that making a sound would make them hungrier, that shedding tears would make them thirstier—and they had no food left to spare.

“Please, heavens, grant us a way to live…”

“The elderly in my family had their legs broken by rocks from the mountain flood, and our grain is gone. Can I even make it to the next county?”

“My child is so young, just born. She barely escaped the flood, but her mother drowned saving her…”

Some clasped their hands and kowtowed toward the closed city gate, staring at the empty walls, the vigilant Government Soldiers and Yamen Runners, and the rows of barricades blocking the way. Clinging to a faint hope, they yearned for the prefect to take pity on them and find a solution to this famine.

But perhaps only a deity could resolve such a calamity?

“Look, someone’s coming!”

Suddenly, a voice cried out from the crowd.

Countless refugees abruptly looked up, only to be blinded by the scorching midday sun overhead. As their vision cleared, they saw a tall figure in dark red slowly approaching the edge of the city wall.

The noon sun slanted above his head, casting brilliant golden rays upon him as if heaven itself favored him, enveloping him in a dazzling aura that obscured his face and expression.

Yet, inexplicably, they felt he must be extraordinarily beautiful, like a compassionate Bodhisattva bathed in golden light, inspiring reverence and longing.

Those closer could even see him lower his long lashes, his lips as crimson as the blood of life parting slightly. A clear, ethereal voice, like sacred music echoing in their ears or a spring stream breaking through ice to rush down a cliff, like tender green grass struggling free from the earth to reach for the sun—

“Open the city gates!”

Just three words, yet they were the final lifeline. The refugees erupted in emotion, unable to hold back their tears.

Jiangdu Xian had decided to take them in!

“Compassionate Bodhisattva…” someone knelt again, tears welling as they clasped their hands in prayer toward the sacred figure adorned in golden light. “Thank you, Compassionate Bodhisattva…”

The city gate creaked open, its sound still heavy, but this time, it bore the weight of “life.” More and more refugees prostrated themselves, weeping with gratitude for the Compassionate Bodhisattva’s mercy, granting them, the lowly and destitute, another chance to survive.

Standing atop the city wall, Xie Chengze silently took a step back as he watched the kneeling refugees.

What’s going on? Why are so many people kneeling? Isn’t this shortening my lifespan?

Nevertheless, with all thirty thousand refugees finally assembled, his city lockdown plan was now fully underway!

This time, Xie Chengze intended to seal off all thirty thousand refugees outside Jiangdu Xian, preventing a recurrence of the incident from the original text where refugees looted grain carts.

What? Did he misspeak? Shouldn’t they be sealed inside Jiangdu Xian?

Ridiculous!

Wherever the grain carts were, that was where Xie Chengze would be.

And wherever Xie Chengze was, that was the true “inside the city”!

Refugees! You have been surrounded by me, Xie Chengze! Lay down your thoughts, follow the arrangements, and you may attain instant wealth and immediate enlightenment!

Inside the city, villagers who had already memorized their lines to perfection shouldered sacks of steamed buns and converged from all directions. Their eyes gleaming, they rubbed their hands eagerly as they approached the refugees.

“Those needing medical attention, come this way! If you can’t move, we have stretchers over here!”

“Men and women who still have strength to work, come here! Those who help with work can receive an extra portion of rice porridge!”

“Families with children under one year old, come here! We have wet nurses!”

“Fellow villagers! You must be starving! Come, come, come over here for steamed buns!”

“Don’t take his! Take mine! I even have pickled vegetables! Though they’ve only been pickled for a day, these vegetables were freshly grown in a wealthy family’s fields—crisp and tender!”

“Hey, you shameless fool, don’t steal people—”

As the city gates slammed shut once more, a large-scale brainwashing—ahem, labor persuasion campaign—was intensively and fervently underway.

…

At the hour of Hai that day, merchants from various northern regions arrived at Jiangdu Xian.

These merchants had already encountered each other at the Yi Province checkpoint and knew then that there were surprisingly many merchants coming to sell grain in Yi Province. But it wasn’t a major issue—nearly half of Yi Province’s counties were disaster-stricken. Even with many merchants arriving, at worst, grain prices would be slightly cheaper than estimated, but they could still make a hefty profit.

However, standing outside the city gates, smelling the stench of excrement left by lingering refugees and staring at the tightly shut gates with no one entering or exiting, the northern merchants frowned, pinched their noses, and were utterly baffled.

They had specifically come to Jiangdu Xian because a certain Lord Shen had informed them that Governor Liang had gathered the magistrates of all disaster-stricken counties in Jiangdu Xian to facilitate confirmation of each county’s grain requirements. They were supposed to be arranged entry into the city, assigned to various counties, and assured that all the grain they brought would be sold out.

So why were they now shut outside the city upon arrival?

Some merchants went to inquire with the Government Soldiers guarding the gate but received only one word in response: “Wait.”

Fine, they would wait a little longer.

While waiting, the merchants didn’t idle around. They disembarked from their carts and chatted with one another, probing for information, intending to sell their grain at a good price once Governor Liang emerged.

Yet, they waited through the night without any sign of him.

It wasn’t until noon the next day that merchants from Li and Yu Provinces arrived, dragging an endless line of grain carts.

Upon reaching Jiangdu Xian and spotting the northern merchants already waiting there, the Li and Yu merchants also showed confusion in their eyes.

Why were there others here to sell grain?

Both sides visually estimated the number of grain carts the other party had, then their hearts sank as they inwardly thought: This is bad.

Grain… there’s too much of it!

We’ve been fooled by that Liang Wan Da!

As the saying goes, rarity determines value. In a famine-stricken county, grain was supposed to be scarce and therefore extremely expensive. It was precisely for this reason that they had traveled thousands of miles to Yi Province, intending to drive up grain prices and make a huge profit.

But now, merchants from all over had come here to sell grain. Grain was no longer a rare commodity—it might even exceed the amount needed in Yi Province. Consequently, prices would plummet, leaving little room for massive profits.

Having come such a long way, they were naturally unwilling to accept this outcome.

If they still wanted to make a fortune, they had to leave Jiangdu Xian immediately and head to other disaster-stricken counties. They needed to strike first and sell their grain to the wealthy gentry and victims!

The two groups exchanged glances, each recognizing the same thought in the other’s eyes. Without hesitation, they turned and climbed into their carriages. “Let’s go! To other counties!”

No sooner had the words been spoken than a loud voice and laughter rang out. “Gentlemen, please stay! This official is late—my apologies, hahaha—”

The merchants stiffened slightly, pretending not to hear, and ducked into their carriages, refusing to come out.

Liang Wan Da, who had been secretly watching from the corner of the city wall and was then pulled down by Shen Yuan with one hand, casually straightened his loose belt and raised his right hand with an air of nonchalance.

The Government Soldiers behind him immediately stepped forward with their swords, surrounding the merchants’ carriages. The sound of blades being drawn frightened the brown horses harnessed to the carriages, making them stamp their hooves uneasily.

Liang Wan Da stood before the carriages with a smiling face, the curve of his lips appearing both kindly and hypocritical—strangely yet harmoniously so. “Gentlemen, why not step out of the carriages?”