Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Natural Disaster and Refugees

It was already three days later when Huang Lingxiu went to Jinliu Village.

The continuous rain was still falling. In the past few days, Shen Yuan and his wife, Hu Yufen, had found a hidden and dry cave not far from Black Water Pool. They transported two carts of grain into it.

At noon, to show hospitality to Huang Lingxiu, Hu Yufen stewed a pot of meat.

After the meal, she began to brew a medicinal dish, preparing it for Shen Wen’an to enhance his health.

“Husband, later take some silver taels and give the money for the sword and the medicinal dish to Lingxiu girl.”

“Even if she and Shi Tou are not married, or even if they were, we should not take advantage of them.”

Shen Yuan nodded, agreeing with his wife’s perspective.

Even though Huang Lingxiu’s family was better off than theirs, once they became in-laws, they should not act like parasites. It wouldn’t be right.

As evening approached, after watching Shen Wen’an take the medicinal dish and giving him some instructions, Huang Lingxiu prepared to return to town.

Shen Yuan approached with a money pouch.

“Girl, this is the money for the sword and the medicinal dish, you must take it.”

After some back-and-forth, during which Huang Lingxiu tried to decline politely, she finally accepted the money pouch.

“Uncle Shen, Wen’an, I’m leaving now.”

“I’ll come back in a few days.”

…

At the Border Army Camp in Yunzhong County.

After a day’s training ended, Zhao Jinhua hurriedly arrived at the entrance of a military tent.

The two soldiers guarding the entrance immediately stopped him.

“Brothers, I… I’m here to see Shen Wenxing…”

Looking anxious, Zhao Jinhua refrained from forcing his way in and politely greeted them with cupped hands.

“Are you the fellow countryman of Shi Tou?”

One of them looked at Zhao Jinhua and found him somewhat familiar, asking suspiciously.

“Yes, yes!”

Zhao Jinhua responded quickly.

“Wait.”

The soldier said and then turned to enter the tent.

A moment later, Shen Wenxing, dressed in a black strong suit and red leather armor, looking quite imposing, came out of the tent.

“Brother Jinhu, what’s the matter?”

After both of them arrived in the army, it was no surprise that Shen Wenxing became a squad leader in Zhang Bin’s Personal Guard Camp.

As for Zhao Jinhua, due to his robust build, he became a sword and shield soldier in the Sword and Shield Camp.

“Shi Tou, I heard from the camp soldiers that due to continuous heavy rain, floods have already occurred in the three counties of Anyang, Yingyang, and Lishui.”

“Could Jinliu Village be…”

Floods?

Shen Wenxing frowned slightly, he hadn’t paid attention to this matter.

“Brother Jinhu, don’t worry just yet.”

“Our Jinliu Village has experienced floods before, Father and Uncle Zhao should know how to handle it, nothing will happen.”

“I’ll write a letter home later, you should write one too, together we’ll send them back to check on the situation.”

Zhao Jinhua nodded repeatedly.

“I had the same intention, but it’s not the time for the army to send letters home now, so I came to find you.”

Shen Wenxing nodded: “Go write it first, don’t make it public, I’ll find the General later to help send the letter back.”

After reassuring Zhao Jinhua, Shen Wenxing returned to the tent.

At this moment, Zhang Bin was contemplating before a map, and upon seeing him return, casually asked: “What happened?”

Shen Wenxing immediately replied with cupped hands: “Forgive me, General, it’s a personal matter.”

Zhang Bin sneered and said, “Stop pretending to be noble with me!”

“Speak!”

Shen Wenxing laughed sheepishly.

Due to Huang Yunxiao’s relationship, and his reaching the peak of the Postnatal Realm, after joining the army, Zhang Bin grew fond of him.

In private, they were more like uncle and nephew.

“General, my fellow countryman said floods occurred in Anyang, Yingyang, and Lishui counties due to continuous heavy rain, worried about the safety of family members.”

After hearing this, Zhang Bin pondered for a moment and said: “I seem to have heard about this too.”

“Are you also concerned about your family?”

Shen Wenxing did not hide and nodded.

“Hmm, it’s human nature to worry about family, you should write a letter home to check the situation, but we’re at a critical time now, and no messages are allowed out of the army.”

“How about this, I will ask someone to inquire with Brother Huang to see if there’s any news from your hometown.”

Messages stopped from transmitting?

Shen Wenxing was slightly startled, vaguely surmising that the army was likely preparing to take action.

At such a time, Zhang Bin’s willingness to help him inquire about his family was already quite benevolent.

“Thank you, General!”

Zhang Bin waved his hand and said firmly, “Order all units, the Grand General commands that our army must break camp tomorrow and march to a post eighty miles from Fengxian County by the start of the month.”

Shen Wenxing quickly bowed, receiving the order and left.

June.

The devastating flood that wreaked havoc on the four counties of Yunzhong County and the seven counties of neighboring Yan County began to recede.

This flood was more ferocious than the one ten years ago, turning the land of eleven counties, spanning over two thousand miles, into a vast ocean.

Although the water had started to recede, the crops in the tens of thousands of acres of fertile fields in these counties were destroyed in an instant.

For a time, famine was widespread, and countless disaster victims emerged.

“Ah Yuan, it’s fortunate we had you this time.”

In front of the cave above Black Water Pool, Shen Yuan’s family, Zhao Shuan’s family, Master Lu, and Uncle Ya sat together.

The hexagrams in the sea of consciousness had indicated rain for several days, with an increasing trend in rainfall.

Shen Yuan realized that this monsoon season would likely lead to flooding, so he warned Zhao Shuan and others, and they bought a large amount of grain from the town in advance, transporting it up the mountain for storage.

Huang Qingzhou’s family also moved out of Yunshui Town in the rain.

Later, the Laishui River broke its banks, flooding eleven counties along the way.

“Now that the floodwaters are starting to recede, let’s hope it doesn’t delay the planting for the next season,” Shen Yuan said in a deep voice.

Flood disasters are beyond human control, but fortunately, they had prepared in advance, ensuring no casualties and only losing one season’s crops and property.

“The disaster is followed by man-made calamities.”

Lu Zhiyuan sat on a blue stone, looking into the distance and speaking solemnly.

“In my early travels, I personally saw the tragic scenes of people exchanging children for food during a famine.”

“Now that the Laishui River has inundated more than a dozen counties along its banks, millions of common people are displaced, forming migrant refugees.”

“These refugees will become man-made calamities following the natural disaster, Younger Brother Shen, stay vigilant.”

Shen Yuan nodded.

He had already considered this.

The virtues and vices of humanity are the greatest variables. After disasters, refugees desperate to survive will do anything.

“Brother Shuan, in the coming days, we’ll have to take turns keeping watch at night.”

In the cave behind them was the food that everyone, including Lu Zhiyuan, depended on for survival.

If someone took note of it, it would be troublesome.

Time flew by, and another half month passed.

As the flood receded, some famished refugees began to appear on the ground.

One day, as Shen Yuan was on watch outside the cave, he suddenly saw a figure staggering toward him.

“Master!”

“Master!”

“Something terrible has happened!”

The person was Fu Gui, his head was covered in blood, clothes tattered, looking wretched.

“Uncle Fu, what happened?”

Shen Yuan quickly stepped forward, supporting him to sit down.

Fu Gui looked as if he was about to cry, his voice trembling: “A group of people discovered the orchard and are now crazily looting the fruits from the trees!”

“The leader seems to be a young man from your Jinliu Village with the surname Li.”

“I tried to stop them, but was hit with a stick, there were too many of them.”

“Master… uh uh…”

Hearing Fu Gui’s tearful complaint, Shen Yuan’s face instantly darkened!

Behind him, Zhao Shuan and others, hearing the commotion, also hurried over.

“Ah Yuan, what’s going on?”

Without answering, Shen Yuan squinted his eyes slightly, then picked up a hoe beside him and headed towards the orchard.

Zhao Shuan, seeing this, hesitated slightly but still grabbed a shovel and followed.

No sooner had they both left that a figure darted out closely behind.

“Wen’an!”

Hu Yufen saw this and hurriedly shouted!

But the little guy didn’t turn back, clutching a long sword, he disappeared into the forest.

“Ah Nu, go bring your brother back quickly!”

Hu Yufen looked anxiously at Shen Wenyan.

“Mother, don’t worry, with father there, besides, that kid is already in the Postnatal Realm now, he’s powerful.”

Although still uneasy hearing this, Hu Yufen, knowing that Shen Yuan was there to protect him, could only wait patiently.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep