Chapter 1726: Motive (Part 2)

Yuan Qing Shan said: "General, even if he harbors malicious intentions, the measures he proposes can resolve the urgent matter at hand; we can first allow the elderly, weak, women, and children to enter the pass."

"No!" Su Yuchi firmly refused.

Yuan Qing Shan did not expect Su Yuchi's attitude to remain so resolute; he sighed and said: "General, the violent rain is imminent, outside tens of thousands of refugees lack clothing and food, and have no shelter from wind and rain; how can you bear to watch them trapped outside the city to die? The grain Hu Xiaotian sent can only address the immediate need; it will be exhausted in a few days, so the fundamental solution is to give these refugees a way to survive; they are also Dakang's people!"

Su Yuchi said: "Women's benevolence, if we truly let those refugees enter the pass, Hu Xiaotian will surely exploit it." He clenched his fists, resolved: "Without the court's order, we must not allow any refugee into the city."

Hu Xiaotian led his team away from the refugee camp at dusk; Long Xi Yue looked sorrowful, softly said: "How can it be so miserable, Xiaotian? Shall we help these commoners?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I will do my utmost."

The refugees behind knelt down in unison, lamentingly cried: "Prince, Thousand Years, Princess, please let us enter the pass; the wind and rain are coming, we have nowhere to hide; if the Prince shelters us, even if we become oxen and horses we will repay your kindness."

Long Xi Yue hearing the tragic cries for help behind her could no longer bear to watch.

Hu Xiaotian gestured for his subordinates to escort Long Xi Yue and the others away first; he then slowly regained his composure and loudly said: "I am not unwilling to shelter you; you should also know that Yunyang is not my territory; to let you enter the pass, we must first obtain General Su Yuchi's consent. I, Hu Xiaotian, swear here today: as long as General Su agrees to let you pass, for every refugee from Xichuan, I will take one in, treat you equally, help you settle down, and I ask all elders and villagers to be more patient."

Someone among the refugees said: "No need to trust him; he and Su Yuchi are both hypocrites, deceiving us..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I know perhaps some of you do not trust my sincerity; rest assured, relief will not cease; starting today, I will continuously send food and medicine here to help you alleviate your urgent needs."

Those who had doubted Hu Xiaotian fell silent, after all Hu Xiaotian had already put his words into action, and everyone understood that Yunyang now follows Su Yuchi's word, not Hu Xiaotian's say-so.

Su Yuchi stood on the city tower, coldly gazing downward; Hu Xiaotian's words were vigorous and stirring, naturally he heard them clearly; he did not deny that what Hu Xiaotian said were all facts, but speaking thus to the refugees clearly contained an element of provocation; Hu Xiaotian was directing all contradictions toward himself.

When Hu Xiaotian left Yunyang, Su Yuchi still saw him off as usual.

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Su, we will continue to send disaster relief supplies; I hope General Su will allow them passage."

Su Yuchi said: "Your Highness's compassion for heaven and pity for the people is truly admirable, but this concerns defense; I, Su, cannot arbitrarily decide; today's matter is already an exception."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "General Su, don't worry; I will bear any responsibility arising from this."

Su Yuchi smiled: "Some things are not mere words; duty calls; I hope Your Highness will understand. How about this: starting tomorrow, I will station personnel at Bai Lang Dui to receive and forward all the disaster relief supplies Your Highness donates; I will inspect and deliver them personally; what do you think, Your Highness?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at Su Yuchi and said: "If General Su does not trust me, why must I trust General Su?"

The situation did not improve with Hu Xiaotian's arrival; after Hu Xiaotian went deep into the refugee camp to console them, the Yunyang region of Xichuan entered a prolonged rainy season; earthquakes caused many roads in Xichuan to collapse, separating its eastern and western parts; refugees from eastern Xichuan continually streamed to Yunyang; the news that Hu Xiaotian was organizing relief spread among the refugees to western Xichuan; for these refugees, this was a beacon of light in the darkness, giving them hope of survival.

Within just three days, the refugees gathered outside Yunyang's west gate numbered nearly eighty thousand; the rapid increase caused food shortages; although Hu Xiaotian's side did not stop supplying food, the swift rise in refugee numbers made the situation of more monks than porridge not only fail to ease but become even more severe.

Su Yuchi was still awaiting the court's order; he is a stickler for rules; before the court issues an official decree, he cannot allow these refugees into the pass; although Su Yuchi deep down also sympathizes with these refugees, if the over eighty thousand refugees were to enter Yunyang, the situation would become uncontrollable.

Su Yuchi clearly sensed some discontent among his troops; these soldiers are also human, who can be heartless? They feel sympathy for the refugees but are dissatisfied with his handling; Su Yuchi does not blame them; as time passes, he too begins to feel anxious and restless; if this continues, the refugees' plight outside will only worsen.

After returning from the refugee camp, Yuan Qing Shan brought Su Yuchi bad news: the refugees' death toll over the past two days exceeded five hundred each day; hunger and disease are claiming more lives; this prolonged rainstorm shows no sign of abating; Yuan Qing Shan lamented: "General, how innocent the common folk are; how can we bear to watch them hover on the brink of death? Since Hu Xiaotian promised to take in these refugees, why don't we give them a path to survival?"

Su Yuchi said: "Was my earlier statement not clear enough? Without the court's order, we cannot let a single person enter the pass." A blinding flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a series of dull thunderclaps.

Amid the wind and rain, the mournful wails outside the city gate continued; the refugees shouted in unison: "Let us enter the city, General Su; we will not linger in Yunyang; please, General Su, give us a way to survive and flee to the King of Zhenhai."

Yuan Qing Shan looked at Su Yuchi full of hope.

Su Yuchi pursed his lips; at that moment a report came from outside: "General Su, the court has replied." A messenger drenched to the skin hurried into the room; Su Yuchi, without waiting for him to pay respects, urgently asked: "What does the court say?"

The messenger took out the carefully wrapped reply from his bosom.

Su Yuchi received the reply, unfolded it, quickly read it, and his gaze grew dim.

Yuan Qing Shan beside him could not wait: "General, how did the court respond?"

Su Yuchi said: "The court has issued an order: no one from Xichuan may be allowed to enter the central pass."

"What?" Yuan Qing Shan's voice was filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

Su Yuchi said in a deep voice: "Convey this court order; whoever dares to defy the court's command shall be executed without mercy!"

At this moment, a commander responsible for defending the west gate hurried over, only to find that the refugees had felled trees and already built a pontoon bridge on the moat; about a hundred or more had crossed the bridge, now striking and battering the city gate, and the refugees gathered outside the gate were increasing in number.

Upon hearing the urgent situation, Su Yuchi braved the wind and rain, rushed to the west gate tower, looked out, and saw that a pontoon bridge had already been erected on the moat, made of lashed felled trees, linking both banks; refugees along the bridge reached the gate below, where dozens carried logs and repeatedly rammed the gate, intending to break it open.

Seeing this scene, Su Yuchi flew into a rage; if not for the city soldiers' indifference, this could not have happened; he shouted: "Are you all blind? Can't you see these rebels attacking the city?" Everyone lowered their heads, silent, expressing their dissatisfaction with Su Yuchi's handling in this way.

Su Yuchi angrily ordered: "Relay my command: have them retreat quickly outside the moat; if they dare to continue ramming the gate, they shall be executed without mercy!"

A herald conveyed Su Yuchi's order downward.

Yet the refugees below paid no heed; one cried: "Elders and youths, the King of Zhenhai clearly promised to take us in, but this surnamed Su is obstructing from within; he fought against Xichuan, and even we bear a grudge; he intends to starve us to death here!"

Someone said: "Let's fight him; fighting means death, being trapped here also means death; if we must die, let us die gloriously."

The refugees' emotions ran high, they encouraged each other, and again lifted logs to charge the gate.

Su Yuchi roared: "Give them a final ultimatum; if they do not retreat, kill them without hesitation!"

Su Yuchi's ultimatum had no effect on the refugees who had lost reason; seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, he secretly resolved and bellowed: "Archers, ready!"

Two hundred archers on the tower drew their bows, nocked arrows, the icy arrowheads aimed at the refugees below; yet each soldier's expression showed extreme anguish and conflict.

Su Yuchi bellowed: "Release!"

At the command, yet no one loosened the bowstring; Yuan Qing Shan's tiger eyes filled with tears, he cried out: "General!" If they faced invading enemies, they would certainly not hesitate, but below the gate are only unarmed refugees; these civilians merely seek a way to survive, they are not trying to storm the city.

Su Yuchi glared at Yuan Qing Shan, then suddenly lifted his foot and kicked him hard in the abdomen; Yuan Qing Shan fell to the ground.

Su Yuchi drew his waist sword, pointed at the group of archers, and said: "I say again, release arrows!"

"Swish!" "Swish! Swish! Swish..."

Feathered arrows pierced the rain-laden air toward the refugees ramming the gate; from below the gate came mournful wails; Su Yuchi had thought killing a few refugees would serve as a warning, but he did not expect that the blood would not make them retreat; instead, even more refugees surged forward, this time including women and children crossing the bridge... (To be continued~^~)