My lord, spare his life!

Xiao Sui thought so, and she asked the same question.

Zhang Yang answered Xiao Sui's question seriously: "There is a difference. Even if there is very little fabric, it won't be completely naked."

This is not a game rated 30+.

Game developers not only can't tolerate players running around naked, but they also have to find ways to outsmart them and prevent them from exploiting modeling bugs to see nudity. Speaking of which, the sample size is quite interesting; they seem to find feudal conservatism in R-rated games and freedom and unrestrained expression in non-R-rated games. They crave what's scarce.

Xiao Sui tried her best to imagine the scene using her existing knowledge.

However, the imagination failed.

She exclaimed, "It truly is a land of plenty."

"How did things jump from having little clothing to having plenty?"

Isn't this a huge leap in topic?

According to current logic, Xiao Sui shouldn't be lamenting, "What kind of place is this? So poor that they can't even afford to use more fabric when making clothes."

The clothing styles of scions of noble families differ from those of ordinary commoners. People like Xiao Sui can wear loose robes and wide sleeves as they please, as long as they are neat and proper, because she doesn't have to work and doesn't have to worry about not being able to afford the fabric. Zhang Yang never saw her wear the same clothes more than three times; she would basically wash them a few times until the color was half faded and then never wear them again.

Ordinary people are different; they have only a pittance at home. An ordinary person can easily pawn a worn-out winter coat stuffed with tattered willow catkins. The wealthier the family, the more lavish they are with the materials used to make clothes.

Xiao Sui smiled but remained silent.

She simply tore off a large section of her muddy skirt after sitting down, changing its length from just covering her feet to covering her calves.

He smiled nonchalantly: "That makes things much easier."

Zhang Yang: "..."

Xiao Sui seemed to know what she was speechless about, and smiled, "Usually when it rains, I travel by carriage, and the places to get on and off are connected to the inner corridor, so I rarely end up in such a disheveled state. Please forgive me, my lord."

She wasn't unaware of how uncomfortable it was to have her clothes soaked, but in this extraordinary situation, she had no choice but to endure it. Since her lord had said that this outfit could be made into a dozen or twenty dresses, tearing off the soiled parts to expose her legs wasn't exactly indecent behavior.

"How short is the skirt that the master is referring to?"

Zhang Yang couldn't help but complain, "Planning to wear that?"

Enjoy it at home.

Xiao Sui was willing to try anything that could showcase her beauty. After a brief, lighthearted chat between the ruler and his minister, Xiao Sui steered the conversation back on track. Han Wo's suggestion of a despicable method of deliberately flooding the area was not accepted by their lord, but they needed to be wary of the enemy using such a tactic.

The army should move to higher ground as soon as possible.

The waters of the Fangjiang River flowed into the mountainous region. The section from Dongxian to Liesi County had been carefully maintained, but outside the Liesi County area, the riverbed dredging situation was not good. In the past few hours of torrential rain, the river level had risen rapidly. Xiao Sui ordered people to dive into the river to investigate the accumulation of silt, as the flooding was expected to occur sooner.

Besides--

In more remote sections of the river, dikes have collapsed and silt has accumulated, the water is turbid and yellowish, and the shallows are flooded up to ankle-deep. Old earthen embankments have been eroded and soaked by torrential rains, with mud clods collapsing. These are all the consequences of the prefectural government's neglect of repair and prevention.

Xiao Sui presented the detailed investigation results to Zhang Yang.

Looking at the high-risk sections of the river meticulously marked by Xiao Sui in the drawing, and then at the river's course, Zhang Yang could almost picture the devastation these places would suffer after a flood. Some sections were too narrow, and in others, the riverbanks were practically non-existent due to illegal land reclamation by commoners... These places couldn't withstand several major floods. Zhang Yang gazed at the drawing, lost in thought for a few seconds.

Zhang Yang asked, "How many villages are there nearby?"

Xiao Sui: "What does my lord mean?"

Zhang Yang said, "Send someone to remind them."

Fortunately, the autumn harvest was already over.

As long as they survive, there's still hope for them to return next year and start cultivating the land again. Zhang Yang pointed to a spot Xiao Sui had marked: "You mean this fork in the road has too much silt?"

Xiao Sui nodded: "Yes, the water flow is stagnant."

Given this situation, it's only a matter of time before the water overflows into nearby villages.

Zhang Yang said, "Take a headcount of the troops. Ordinary soldiers will stay in the camp to guard the base. The rest will be divided into platoons, changed into ordinary clothes, and sent to deliver news of the flood. Also, gather the stronger soldiers and see if they can clear the silted-up sections of the river to buy some time. In addition, just in case, order men to quickly cut down trees and make rafts."

Xiao Sui: "What if that scoundrel Sun launches a sneak attack?"

Zhang Yang said, "How could they find us? Even if they did, how could they deploy their forces in such a torrential downpour? The rain doesn't just affect us; Sun Ban is affected too. Besides, we didn't send out all our forces; we left some people behind to guard the house."

Xiao Sui: "But..."

Zhang Yang lowered his eyelids, his eyes somewhat vacant.

Her mind went blank for a moment.

Only when he met Xiao Sui's gaze did his expression gradually brighten: "I know it's not entirely appropriate, but... but we also need to consider our foothold in the mountain prefectures. Sun Ban has been operating in Dou Prefecture for many years; what a good reputation she has! Ba Feng and the others say her reputation isn't good, but that little bit of bad reputation is insignificant to ordinary people. Ordinary people only know that Sun Ban is a good lord despite her short stature, while I'm an outsider, and I have no idea whether she's good or bad. If we want to surpass her, we need to find an opportunity to establish a good reputation and solidify it completely. What better opportunity is there than this flood relief effort?"

Zhang Yang brought this up to persuade Xiao Sui.

She also deliberately added elements that strategists would like to see—not because she was particularly kind, nor because she was acting on a whim, but because she wanted to take advantage of people's misfortune and win their hearts.

Xiao Sui: "Yes, my lord's considerations are not without merit."

She agreed, but insisted on prioritizing the supply of provisions for the military camps.

Even if the camp only has three or four days' worth of rations left, they cannot be allowed to be destroyed by the rain. Besides rations, warhorses and weapons must also be moved first. The entire army will move to higher ground to reinforce the camp, preparing to build earthen walls around the camp's edges to block water.

Zhang Yang's order caused quite a stir.

"Does the lord really want us to go?"

They thought they had misheard.

Shouldn't we normally view floods as a boon?

They thought they were going to breach the embankments, adding further obstacles to the already clogged river channel, such as dumping all the felled trees into narrower sections of the river to artificially block it and exacerbate the flooding. Before they captured it, this place was enemy territory.

What's there to feel sorry about in enemy territory?

"An order is an order. Do what you're told. What are you whispering about?" The squad leader snapped at the whispering soldiers, his voice drowning out the sound of the downpour. Looking around, the soldiers were either wearing heavy raincoats or strange raincoats made of unusual and lightweight materials.

They braved the rain, carrying timber and bamboo as they moved through the downpour.

The tinkling sound continued.

Under the coordination of Xiao Sui, Han Wo, and others, several orders were executed in an orderly and synchronized manner. The logistics medics were also busy, but instead of caring for the wounded, they were taking stock of medicinal materials and preparing prescriptions for the epidemic in advance, just in case.

Compared to the readily available bamboo and timber, medicinal herbs were in short supply. Some soldiers even took off their raincoats and straw raincoats and covered the boxes containing timber with them, looking hurried. Xiao Sui, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked quickly and encountered Han Fulong on the way.

The latter's expression was quite interesting.

Xiao Sui comforted her, "It's a good thing to win people's hearts."

Han Wo said, "It's not because of that."

Throughout history, it's not uncommon for armies to rush to disaster relief during wartime, but most of these efforts occurred on their own territory or when the disaster was already severely threatening their own interests. Rescuing ordinary people was merely a matter of convenience. Few in history have made such a sudden decision as their lord to intervene in a disaster. Han Wo found it surprising, but not unacceptable.

Xiao Sui: "Then you—"

Han Wo said, "A group of people who went to eliminate the danger have returned."

Xiao Sui: "Has the situation improved?"

Han Wo gritted his teeth and cursed, "That bastard Sun is sabotaging us!"

She was starting to wonder who the away team was.

Xiao Sui: "..."

Considering their own safety, Zhang Yang only sent out a little over a thousand men, the elite of the elite. Even a quarter of them could escape unscathed if they encountered a small number of enemies. The rest of the battalions remained to guard against any unforeseen events. The arrangement of the military officers was even simpler.

Guan Zong: "What do you mean I stayed behind again?"

He and Zhe Meng stayed behind.

Zhe Meng was chosen because she was steady, and Guan Zong was chosen because he was bad at the game.

As soon as Xiao Sui arrived at the camp, she saw Guan Zong complaining with a face full of resentment, his anger practically overflowing. She selectively ignored Guan Zong's nonsense and asked, "General Guan, where is our lord?"

She wasn't very willing to call Guan Zong that.

It seems to be somewhat disparaging of a certain martial arts master.

But he was unwilling to call Guan Zong by his courtesy name; he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Guan Zong said unhappily, "They went out a long time ago."

"Did they go out?"

"She flew away stepping on her broken bird. I really don't know if she came here to fight or to do good deeds. She does things haphazardly, and if it weren't for my patience and willingness to comply, who could have put up with her for so long?" Zhang Yang even said he was incompetent.

Xiao Sui's expression changed, and she turned and left.

Guan Zong: "...Look, I've been stuck with such a lord."

Why shouldn't he join her in disaster relief?

He may not be good at fighting, but he's certainly no worse than Guan Si at clearing waterlogged debris and dredging silt.

The torrential rain continues, and the river flows swiftly.

Visibility is easily obstructed at night.

A troop of soldiers arrived at a village by the riverbank. One of them beat a gong and drum, while the others knocked on doors and shouted, "Is anyone home? Wake up! The river is swollen! Quickly pack your belongings and go to the mountains for refuge!"

dong dong dong-

The knocking was almost drowned out by the downpour.

"Is anyone there?!"

Someone, impatient as ever, kicked open the wooden door. A clap of thunder suddenly erupted, and a flash of lightning illuminated half the room. Inside, a woman clutched her young child, both screaming in terror. They had only seen a tall, muscular figure burst into their home, and were instantly terrified. As the figure drew closer, they realized it was a woman's face, weathered by rain and slightly rugged. She cried out anxiously, "Is anyone else in the house? What are you doing hiding here?"

The thunder almost drowned out the woman's voice.

The woman trembled like a quail, her teeth chattering.

"Where are the others?"

"...The head of the household went to check on the riverbank."

Fleeing is not so easy. People can escape, but how can they escape their fields and houses? There are always people who take chances and stay until the situation gets out of control.

This is pretty much the situation for the people in this village.

"Still watching the riverbank? Aren't you afraid of being swept away?" The woman grabbed the woman's arm, pulling her and the child in her arms up. She took off her raincoat with one hand and draped it over the mother and child. Under the woman's dazed gaze, she said quickly, "Don't dawdle. Survival is the priority. The nearby river is doomed. If you don't want to die, come with us."

The village is mainly populated by the elderly and infirm, with few young and strong people.

They were genuinely afraid of strangers who suddenly appeared.

The villagers didn't think that the people who dragged them out of their homes with gongs and drums and claimed to be government officials were actually thieves; they thought they were thieves. However, these thieves were all tall, strong, and powerful; their fists, as big as sandbags, could kill a whole group of them with a single punch, so they dared not resist.

Before long, the people on the riverbank were also violently dragged back.

Among them were men from women's households.

Since time wasn't too tight, the group of "thieves" gave them only fifteen minutes to pack up their valuables. More than a hundred people from the village braved the torrential rain and made their way forward. They could vaguely see dark shadows surging in the direction of the riverbank, like terrifying beasts that could devour them whole.

"Hurry up, we still need to get to the neighboring village."

The villagers shrank back, their faces pale, and quickened their pace.

Most people didn't have rain gear, and these "thieves" not only gave their raincoats and raincoats to young children, but also stole raincoats from villagers when they didn't have enough. The villagers were angry but dared not speak out. Through the rain, one could vaguely hear the thieves muttering curses.

"...You idiot, this kid's brain is about to fill with water..."

The heavy rain had little impact on the long-range vision system.

Passing a riverbank, Zhang Yang suddenly leaped a hundred meters into the air, and Guan Si, no matter how fast he was, couldn't stop her. He braced himself against the back of his telescope and peered down, vaguely seeing Zhang Yang's striking red, round-necked outfit bobbing in the rushing river. That splash of red was like a nimble fish, capable of leaping several meters through the rapids with a single, graceful flick of its tail.

"Zhang Boyuan!"

The long-range vision device rapidly lowered its flight altitude.

As the river drew closer, Guan Sicai finally saw what Zhang Yang was holding and threw it violently onto the bank.

is a person.

The riverbank was either lush with aquatic plants or a muddy riverbed, so the fall didn't hurt much. The man, still shaken, lay on the ground spitting out water.

When she was swept away by the rushing river, a large amount of water filled her mouth and nose. Just when she thought she was going to die, a huge force threw her out. A large amount of humid air rushed into her mouth and nose. As soon as she recovered, she looked up to see who had saved her.

A moment later, another dark figure descended from the sky.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an uncle from the same village.

Both families' fields were near the riverbank, and since there wasn't enough arable land, they had to secretly cultivate wasteland towards the river. Not long ago, they heard the sound of sand and soil collapsing and falling into the water, so the two went out to investigate. However, it was too dark, and they accidentally stepped into the water and nearly lost their lives.

"Uncle! Uncle! Wake up!"

The other person had fallen into the water earlier than her, was older, and less physically fit than the younger woman; their situation looked much worse. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a red shadow leap out of the water, making her heart clench. She cried out in a desperate voice, "A water ghost!"

Zhang Yang looked around.

"Water ghost? Where is the water ghost???"

Guan Si jumped off the back of the Thousand-Mile Eye.

He roared angrily, "You almost became a water ghost!"

Zhang Yang: "Tsk, you underestimate my swimming skills?"

There are many underwater dungeons in the game world.

Zhang Yang is someone who can fight freely in the water for hours without diving equipment or taking mermaid breathing pills!

Guan Si: "..."

On the other side, Wang Qi also carried a tree that had been swept into the river by its roots and was stuck at a bend in the river. The water leopard beside him helped him carry the load, its tail curled up high around the trunk.

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