novelaction Chapter 556 Thankless
Chapter 556 Thankless
These dangerous individuals, mingling with the refugees, were difficult to identify. The river had swallowed up too many people, leading to widespread resentment. The navy at Yujiang Pass had encountered many strange incidents, with dozens of soldiers mysteriously disappearing while on patrol. All of this happened in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness—the easiest time to sneak across the border—so most people took advantage of this time to head to Yan Dynasty.
While the Lin Kingdom hadn't collapsed, it wasn't nearly as bad. The emperor, powerless to reverse the situation, had simply begun to fight. Some ministers wanted to salvage the situation, but they didn't know where to begin. From top to bottom, the people, corrupted by extravagance, were utterly broken. Had it not been for the war, they wouldn't have known that even military equipment was being traded for ornate ornaments. Armor, originally meant for life-saving combat, was now crafted into extravagant garments at the general's behest. Inlaying gold, silver, and jewels was a minor expense; some, for the sake of aesthetics, even replaced protective chainmail with tulle and satin—a truly unbelievable feat.
Such flashy armor would be incredibly conspicuous on the battlefield. It would be like publicly announcing "I'm the commander." Such absurdities were not uncommon. And turning the tide couldn't be accomplished overnight. This act of self-destruction only hastened his demise. Even without this incident, others would have noticed, and it was inevitable. After all, the country was already doomed.
Staying here means death, so why not give it a try? They've heard countless stories of peace and prosperity during the Yan Dynasty. The pursuit of beauty is innate in all people. This includes, of course, some lunatics and the envious. Why is it that a river separates us, like two different worlds? While the majority of the refugees are impoverished civilians, there are also extremists and opportunists.
You have to know, even if it were completely destroyed, it was still a nation that once rivaled the Yan Dynasty. Its wealth and interests can be imagined. It's impossible for the people of the Yan Dynasty not to be jealous. And those who looted many treasures and came to the Yan Dynasty wouldn't have a bad life either. This is bound to be a shock. Therefore, at this moment, the river bank and several cities are full of monsters and demons.
Chaos, absolute chaos. The Yan Dynasty could barely contain it. This war had actually increased the rare exchanges between the two sides. Some sought to enter the neighboring states, some to escape. And some factions, both good and bad, were vulnerable to war. The only way to survive was to leave or take a gamble. But few chose to take a gamble. Why? Because the Yan Dynasty—a prosperous nation. Even if they eventually drove out those small states and re-established a new regime, what would it matter? Restoring everything would take time, and time was in short supply.
Could Yan Chao resist taking a bite of such a large piece of fat? Don't even think about it. It all depends on how big Yan Chao's appetite is. By then, the new regime would lose prestige, which would be a minor matter; becoming humble would be a major one. The goal of risking one's life is, of course, to be second to none. If even if one succeeds, the stakes won't lead to second to none, so what's the point? Surrendering would be quicker, and the results would be the same.
While outrageous, this was the prevailing sentiment among the people of the neighboring kingdom. The emperor was playing dirty, and the ministers were acting as his own. Suddenly, the cities along the riverbanks became highly sought-after destinations, with vast sums of gold and silver being shipped in, hoping to capitalize on the situation.
When Shenlong explained the situation, everyone sighed. Yan Chao clearly wanted to control the situation, but facing the massive number of refugees, it was clearly a drop in the bucket. Wei Ming had been incredibly busy lately. He also had to manage food supplies, prevent plague, and coordinate the refugees; he couldn't leave them idle. He also needed to find a few reliable guides among this group. They wanted to understand the current situation in the neighboring country.
The area along the river would become a lawless zone. Too many forces were intertwined, and it wouldn't be cleared overnight. It was becoming increasingly chaotic, and it would remain so for a long time, until Yan Chao was ready. Yan Chao had a similar idea. Since they couldn't stop it, they could use the riverbank as a buffer zone, a good opportunity to screen for available talent.
People are sometimes an asset. Talent is scarce everywhere. In the face of such human disasters, even the most talented need to make a living.
Seeing that he had almost finished talking, Shenlong said to the others, "Besides asking me for food, Wei Ming's main purpose is to let us stay and take charge. Too many people have died, and the Demon Slayer Division can no longer handle it. This isn't just a death toll of 10,000 or 20,000, but 10,000 or 20,000 people dying every day. The stench of corpses can already be smelled on the river. The fish in the river have grown a lot bigger recently, and the river, which was once relatively calm, has now become turbulent and foggy."
Several people felt a chill at hearing this. Over the past six months, tens of millions have died just crossing the river. How could that even be possible? Even in the fierce fighting within the bordering nation, not that many people died. How many actually died on the battlefield? Even a hundred thousand was a lie.
Wei Ming had seen the world, too. But think about it: the riverbed was littered with corpses of those who had died in vain. These corpses would inevitably attract monsters or give rise to something terrifying. The Demon Slayers were already overwhelmed. Every day, they had to deal with water ghosts that had crawled ashore and monsters that had been blinded by resentment. They didn't even dare approach the center of the lake. According to people who had drifted in from the neighboring country, they had seen a whirlpool of corpses in the center of the lake.
Su Mu knew that if it were before, this situation wouldn't have happened. Now, the rising concentration of spiritual energy has given rise to many plants and animals with intelligence. Monsters are increasingly numerous, especially in the depths of certain dense forests. And what's more, those who died unjustly, already possessing intelligence, didn't die peacefully. Their deaths were long and painful, before they drowned. Willpower can be good or bad. Good willpower can provide positive protection, while bad willpower is still willpower, like unwillingness to give up, like the desire to survive. When combined with the concentration of spiritual energy, it can easily breed resentful spirits and evil spirits.
"Are we going?" asked the Mirage Dragon.
"Why not?" Su Mu didn't have anything to worry about. And since Wei Ming had said that, it was clear the situation was serious. There was no other way. This area along the riverbank was a powder keg. A single spark could blow it up.
No one wants to see things develop like this, so they can only try to mediate as best they can. It's a troublesome matter. But if it's Wei Ming, it makes much more sense. Only Wei Ming would take on such a troublesome matter. But how can I put it? He's doing it for the country and the people. Just like his name. Such people are foolish in officialdom, but also admirable. It's a thankless task, but someone has to do it.