Chapter 39: Secrets of Yu County, Shadows of Famine

As Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng’s party drew closer, the mysterious and harrowing silhouette of Yu County became increasingly distinct. They had assumed that only Yu County was mired in the quagmire of drought, yet the surrounding counties that came into view were equally desolate and bleak.

In the fields, the once-vibrant scenery of rolling wheat had long since vanished. In its place were deep, shocking fissures in the earth, like the gaping maws of monstrous beasts, ruthlessly swallowing the land’s vitality and hope. Within the villages, broken walls and crumbling ruins were everywhere; the once-cozy homes were now mere tottering skeletons, emitting low, mournful wails in the desolate wind, as if recounting a tale of endless sorrow and misery.

Li Chengyin sat tall upon his horse, his posture erect yet his brow deeply furrowed. His profound eyes betrayed a sense of gravity and doubt. He muttered to himself, "There have been no reports of drought in these surrounding counties. Why have they fallen into such decay? This is highly irregular; there must be some hidden trickery afoot."

Just as the group was lost in contemplation of the scene before them, a cacophony of human voices surged toward them like a rising tide. A crowd of ragged, gaunt-faced people swarmed from all directions, instantly blocking the road completely. Their eyes were hollow and desperate, their steps unsteady yet driven by a frantic urgency. They cried out, "Kind souls, please save us! We have not had a meal in such a long time." The miserable wailing was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the hearts of the travelers.

Seeing this, Li Chengyin immediately pulled on the reins. His stallion let out a long neigh, reared its front hooves, and came to a steady halt. Looking down at the crowd from his vantage point, his expression was cold and authoritative. In a firm, steady voice, he asked, "From which counties do you come, and why have you fallen into such a state?"

The people began to respond in a chaotic flurry of voices.

An old man trembled as he stepped forward, tears shimmering in his clouded eyes. "My lord, I am from Taihe County. Our lives were never wealthy, but we could at least scrape by. Yet, for some unknown reason, in these past few months, the crops in our fields have seemed cursed. They withered inexplicably, and then we had no harvest at all. Our stored grain is long gone, and now I can only watch my family starve. My lord, you must save us!"

Beside him, a young woman clutching a frail child wept uncontrollably. "Official, I am from Li County. The situation there is the same. The village wells have all dried up, and we have no water to drink. My child’s father went out to find food and has not returned; I do not know if he is dead or alive."

"I am from Luo County, and the situation there is even worse," a sturdy young man said, his face filled with grief and indignation. "The wealthy have hoarded all the grain and are selling it at exorbitant prices. We poor folk cannot afford it at all. Now we can only survive on grass roots and tree bark; many have already died of starvation."

Li Chengyin listened silently, his face growing increasingly grim. The suspicions in his heart grew like a snowball. These surrounding counties encircled Yu County, and for them to all fall into such a desperate state simultaneously could not be a coincidence. Was someone doing this intentionally? Or was there a more complex cause hidden beneath the surface?

Watching the miserable state of the people, Xiaofeng’s eyes turned red, and tears welled up. Her heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, aching painfully. She could bear it no longer and tugged gently at Li Chengyin’s sleeve, her voice choked with sobs and pleading, "Li Chengyin, let us share half of our food with them. They are truly too pitiful."

Li Chengyin turned his head and spoke softly to Pei Zhao, "Pei Zhao, have the men distribute our dry rations."

Pei Zhao accepted the order and quickly directed the attendants. They began unloading the food from the carriages, carefully handing it out to the people. As the villagers received the rations, a spark of hope ignited in their previously hollow eyes. Their faces were filled with immense gratitude, and they knelt on both sides of the carriages, bowing repeatedly. "Kind people, truly kind people! We are saved!"

The sincere words of gratitude echoed in the air, deeply moving all who heard them. Watching the people wolf down the food, Xiaofeng felt a mixture of relief and heavy concern.

She turned to Li Chengyin and said, "Li Chengyin, you must uncover the reason behind this and help these people escape their plight."

Li Chengyin clenched his fist slightly, his gaze resolute. "Do not worry; I will get to the bottom of this. Such a tragedy must not be allowed to continue."

As Li Chengyin comforted the people, he pondered his next move. He knew well that this was not a simple disaster relief mission, but a dangerous journey into the lion's den. Only by unraveling the truth behind this dense fog could he fundamentally save these suffering people. Xiaofeng stood firmly by his side, providing him with silent support and strength.

In this moment, they were no longer just lovers; they were partners fighting side by side for justice and the well-being of the people.

After the rations were distributed, Li Chengyin decided to hasten their pace to reach Yu County as soon as possible. He knew that only by entering the heart of Yu County could he find the key clues to solve this series of mysteries.

Thus, the group set out once more. The sound of horse hooves echoed across the barren land like war drums beating upon the stricken soil, signaling the onset of a confrontation with an unknown, malevolent force.