Chapter 10: Cruel!
Editor: Henyee Translations
Lin Suisui was a little desperate. Anyway, she had already forgotten about her past and her personality had changed drastically. It was fine if she did things that she usually wouldn't do!
Anyway, she had already exposed herself to the crown prince, so she couldn't be bothered to disguise herself! After today, there might not be a tomorrow. It was more important to live a carefree life!
Seeing that Lin Suisui was so determined, Lu Ze didn't say anything else. Instead, he reached out and turned the rabbit roasting on the bonfire. Then, he took out a rough knife, cut off a rabbit leg, and handed it to Lin Suisui, who was eagerly waiting beside him. "Be careful."
After dinner, the two of them didn't continue their previous topic. Instead, they huddled together in the small tarpaulin tent to rest, just like any other ordinary refugee couple.
They continued on their way the next morning.
After interacting with each other for so many days, many families in the refugee camp began to get familiar with each other. Mrs. Luo was a kind person and had a good relationship with the surrounding families.
With Mrs. Luo's help, Lin Suisui also became familiar with the others.
The journey went smoothly. Soon, they entered Muhe County. In early August, it was still summer in the capital, but after they arrived here, they would have to wear a thin jacket.
What was even worse was the huge storm that blew from time to time. It swept up the yellow sand in the sky. Not only were their appearances indistinguishable, but their mouths were also filled with sand.
Such a harsh environment naturally made many refugees who had been looking forward to it want to retreat. In the past two days, while they were temporarily staying in this deserted town to avoid the sandstorm, a few families had already thought of going back to their hometown, but they were captured by the guards.
The sandstorm raged for two days before finally stopping on the morning of the third day.
As the commander-in-chief who was escorting these refugees to the north, Pei Qian naturally knew very well about the trouble they might encounter on the way. The most troublesome ones were those refugees who might change their minds and escape at any time.
Therefore, when the storm stopped, he wasn't in a hurry to arrange for people to pack their luggage and prepare to set off. Instead, he gathered the refugees and the felons in front of an earthen platform.
The two rows of people kneeling on the platform were none other than the refugees who had been caught trying to run back.
"You all signed the contract with the government office! You received a lot of food when we set off! Who gave you the guts to retreat when you encountered such a small problem?!"
Pei Qian sat on the high platform and spoke slowly. Although his voice wasn't loud, the coldness in his tone still made Lin Suisui, who was in the crowd, feel a little shocked.
She had a feeling that what this person would do next wouldn't be as gentle.
"I hate you two-faced fellows the most! Originally, I could have given you guys a chance to reflect on your mistakes!
But there are so many people watching. If I go easy on you guys, wouldn't I have to do the same if others followed suit?!
That would be too troublesome!
Therefore, it's better to deal with it now! Let the others see that if anyone still wants to escape next, they will all end up the same if they are captured!"
As soon as Pei Qian finished speaking, the soldiers waiting at the side also swarmed forward and dragged the refugees who were howling and struggling to beg for mercy down the platform. Then, like chickens and ducks waiting to be slaughtered, they cut their throats and hung them on the newly erected wooden shelves on both sides of the platform!
Although those people had their throats cut, they wouldn't die immediately because the person who did it was skilled. They would hang upside down from those wooden shelves as they struggled, but they couldn't make a sound. In the end, they would die like chickens and ducks.
Such a tragic punishment was something that none of the refugees had expected.
Many people had never seen such a tragic scene in their lives. They were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they trembled. Some of them even fainted on the spot.
Lin Suisui only got a glance at it before Lu Ze quickly raised his hand to cover her eyes and pulled her into his arms. Although she avoided the visual impact of the cruel massacre, the smell of blood that lingered in the air for a long time still made her face turn pale.
What kind of lunatic was this?!
With this deterrence, no one dared to mention escaping even if they encountered another storm.
As the environment became worse, there was already a shortage of food.
Originally, many people thought that even if there wasn't enough food, they could buy some when they passed by town on the way. However, there were very few people in Muhe County. They often walked for an entire day without seeing anyone. What they saw was only dirt and yellow sand. Not to mention relying on the forest to find some wild animals like before, even greenery was rare here!
The crisis that came at the same time as the food shortage was the lack of water.
Originally, they found drinking water when they encountered rivers and streams by the roadside. They had already been walking for so many days. At first, they could barely make do with the remaining broken wells, but the further north they went, the worse the environment became.
For example, they hadn't seen water for three consecutive days.
Lin Suisui realized that something was wrong and prepared a larger pot. She and Lu Ze had two pots of water. If they saved some, they could last a few more days.
However, few people were as prepared as Lin Suisui. Most of them had walked into this disaster unprepared.
The sergeant in charge of escorting them north kept saying that they only needed to hold on for another two days to get a turnaround, but because he had said this too many times, it was no longer convincing.
However, due to Pei Qian's previous intimidation, most of the refugees were angry but didn't dare to say anything. Although they still looked harmonious, they were secretly in turmoil and could revolt at any moment!
In the past few nights, when they were resting, Lu would always bring Lin Suisui to a place slightly to the side. He always had the long staff that he had found on the way.
"I'm afraid something will happen in the next two days." Lu Ze protected Lin Suisui and whispered into her ear, "Those people don't dare to attack the soldiers, but they won't be polite to their companions."
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