The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 41 "Encounter"

The flood season has long passed, the river level has dropped, and there are large patches of withered yellow weeds and small saplings growing on both sides of the river.

Occasionally you can see movement in the grass, perhaps a small animal hiding in it, or something more dangerous.

If you part the grass, you can see the moist, decaying matter piled up underneath. The fertile soil provides ample nutrients, and you can only imagine the lush vegetation that will appear next spring and summer.

However, in today's troubled times, all of these have become harbingers of crisis.

The sunshine for most of the day warmed the ground, and even the river water warmed up slightly.

There was some movement somewhere across the river. It was the sound of guards fighting evil creatures on the other side of the floating bridge.

Something fell into the water.

The guards on the pontoon bridge looked over vigilantly, with bows and spears ready at all times.

The strange dark shadow underwater gradually approached the floating bridge.

wow-

The alienated finger bones grabbed the small boat under the pontoon.

Its wet hair, stained with water plants, obscured its entire face. Its tattered clothes were stretched beyond recognition as it climbed, and its exposed limbs were covered in purple-brown markings.

From a distance, it looks like a skinny crocodile.

Smelling the scent of more living people on the county side, its throat gurgled, and it let out a strange, sharp, hoarse roar, and rushed towards the guards on the river bank.

It is now deep into autumn, and even at the highest temperature of the day, it is still too low for these monsters to perform at their best.

The guards on the bridge and the people on the city wall were already accustomed to this scene. They calmly drew their bows and released arrows. After shooting the creature, they pushed it into the water with their spears.

Behind a rock at a distance.

He Da and Yu Er shivered, and the dog sneaked away.

After a while, they returned to where the team was staying and told Wen Gu and everyone in the team what they had just seen in a vivid and emotional way.

"There are water ghosts in the river! Ordinary bamboo rafts and small boats are not safe!"

He Da's teeth were still chattering.

Yu Er's face was also pale. "If you can take the floating bridge, then take it. At least you have time to respond."

Let's put this into context. If they were crossing the river on a bamboo raft or a small boat, and a "water ghost" in the water climbed up and grabbed their feet...

What if, in a panic, the bamboo raft and the boat capsized...

Then he shuddered again.

Although the other people in the team did not see the scene with their own eyes, they already had a visual image just by listening to the two people talk about it.

At this moment, there was silence in the team.

When they arrived near Bailu County, they did not immediately enter the city or cross the bridge. Instead, they first found a place to rest and wanted to get a feel for the situation there.

They now face two problems:

How to cross the river.

How to keep the supplies in hand as much as possible.

Some people originally thought of going around to other places to build bamboo or wooden rafts. If they could make them bigger, they could make more trips to transport livestock and vehicles.

But now we find that there are still risks.

Then, attack at night and cross the floating bridge?
Not to mention that there are people guarding both ends of the bridge, they themselves can't see at night. If they slip into the water, the end will definitely not be good.

County Magistrate Zhou said, "We can make our own rafts and cross the river when the temperature is lower, in the morning or evening, when it will be safer."

Cheng Zhi thought about what he had seen along the way and shook his head: "The larger trees and bamboos around here have all been cut down. We have to go further."

He Da's face wrinkled with worry. "What about taking the floating bridge? I don't know how much the toll is. How about asking someone?"

No one said a word.

Judging from the posture of the guards over there, if you go there, you will probably be detained along with your goods.

Not knowing what to do, they looked at Wen Gu.

Wen Gu smiled soothingly: "Don't worry, let's wait and see here for two days."

The place where they stopped was originally a viewing platform with a pavilion, but the bird droppings on the side showed that no one had been here for a long time.

The survivors in the city spend most of their time in the city, so they don't have the mood to come here to see the scenery.

Bailu County was built by the water and had a moat dug, so it was impossible to sneak into the city quietly.

Judging from the logging outside the city, there should be quite a few people in the city. The supplies in other villages and towns throughout the county have probably been searched out.

There are places with suitable wood that have not been searched, and there is no telling how much potential danger there is.

"Since we can't get in, let's wait for the people inside to come out. Let's get some information first."

Wen Gu walked aside and called Cheng Zhi.

"Brother Cheng, tell me about the tombstones in the cemetery I just showed you."

As they came along, they passed by an abandoned farmland. No one was cultivating the land now. What appeared in the farmland were raised mounds and erected tombstones.

When passing by there before, Wen Gu asked Cheng Zhi to take note of several of the more magnificent tombs, especially the newly built ones.

Now, Cheng Zhi was recalling carefully, repeating every word without missing a word. Wen Gu wrote it down on a piece of paper, listed it, circled two, and highlighted them with a charcoal pencil.

"We're still missing a professional."

Wen Gu looked at Taoist Qingyi.

Master Qing Yi's nerves were tense with vigilance.

Wen Gu: "Master, come, let's rehearse."

Taoist Priest Qingyi: ???
The next day.

Early in the morning, at the gate of the county town, the drawbridge over the moat was lowered, and a few people walked out of the city.

It should be the people in the city who went out to chop firewood.

Wen Gu took a look and called He Da and Yu Er over to give them some instructions.

After a while, the two men, after making some adjustments, headed to the cemetery where county residents carrying baskets were paying their respects.

He Da and Yu Er pretended to be peddlers and went over to inquire about the news.

They said they used to be peddlers, and had been hiding some things at home. Now they couldn't hold on any longer, so they came to Bailu County to seek refuge with a relative, and even gave their name and street.

The county residents, who were originally on guard, relaxed a little after hearing this, but they still kept vigilance in their eyes and held the hatchet in their hands.

Until, He Da, full of thieving, took out a small paper bag and stuffed it into the other party's pocket: "Please help me deliver a message..."

The county resident carefully opened the paper bag. It was so small, it contained too little food to impress him. But it was filled with coarse salt!
In today's world, salt is an even rarer and more precious commodity.

Most people don’t have salt now, which makes He Da’s identity as a peddler more credible.

Driven by interests, the county residents are willing to say more.

He Da and Yu Er used to be in the market, and it was even easier to get information by offering benefits as an inducement.

For the county residents, this was not important news and was shared without any burden.

As for whether to deliver the message after entering the city, that is another matter.

However, He Da and the others were not trying to deliver any message at all, they just wanted to use this as a way to lure people in to gather information.

After completing the mission, the two came back to share the information they had gathered.

"The magistrate of Bailu County led his men north last winter. The county lieutenant is in charge of the city. He and his officers have united with the various forces in the city to control Bailu County..."

As they spoke, they couldn't help but look at Zhou Shan.

Others looked over as well.

Zhou Shan was ashamed and angry.

What are you looking at?

County lieutenants and county lieutenants, county towns and county towns, can they be the same?
They are all officials. How can poor places be compared with rich places?
Look at their walls, moats, and weapons, and then think about my own poor county, and the backstabbing of my brothers...

Zhou Shan felt wronged.

But we have to admit that there are real differences between people.

Zhou Shan gripped the hilt of his knife and took a deep breath. When he reached the North, he was going to fight for his life!

Fortunately, He Da and the others did not focus on gathering information from the county lieutenant.

Two days before they arrived here, a convoy heading north passed by.

"What a convoy..." someone said enviously.

How rich do you have to be to own a fleet of cars!
"No one knows how much the bridge toll is. Ordinary county residents only know that the officials have collected a new batch of grain. Inside the city, you can either exchange firewood for grain or do work in exchange for food. Half of the firewood you chop and the supplies you find outside will be confiscated when you bring them back into the city."

"so much!"

The people in the team looked at their own inventory.

How can I bear to pay half of it! They are just passing by and don’t live here!

"Why not just cross the bridge instead of going into the city?" someone asked.

"Do you think they're stupid? We have so many things and so few people, it's possible that everything will be confiscated! The goods will be taken away, and we'll have to do hard labor."

Even if we don't detain people, I would be reluctant to cut the goods in half unless I have no other choice.

In troubled times, you can't expect these people guarding the border to be merciful. They make money from this!
Of course, you can also directly join Bailu City and become a county citizen here.

However, they went all the way north not just to survive, but also to fight for a future in the north!
Bailu County is a little tempting, but not much.

Wen Gu observed their expressions and comforted them, "Wait a little longer and see if there's a chance."

Another day passed.

The drawbridge over the moat was lowered and carriages were leaving the city.

Four horsemen guarded him on either side, and six warriors on foot followed.

It looks like the configuration of a wealthy family.

Wen Gu felt refreshed and called Taoist Master Qingyi.

"Let's go, Taoist Priest! Let's go have a 'chance encounter'!"

(End of this chapter)