Chapter 22: Wrong Direction

The Old Hunter looked at Bai Lingyu in surprise, "You want to go to Biluo City?"

"It is said that Biluo City accepts refugees, and almost all the refugees we encountered on the way are heading to Biluo City."

Bai Junjun took over her younger brother's words to explain why they asked about Biluo City.

In these times, not all cities are willing to accept refugees,

after all, refugees are not a small number, and the food they consume is not a small amount either.

At the rate of eight liang of food per person per day, a hundred thousand refugees would consume 2667 Shi of food daily, and the number of people fleeing famine far exceeds a hundred thousand.

Which city dare accept so many refugees? Wouldn't they collapse themselves by doing so?

For example, the territory of the Fifth Prince Xuanwei never allowed refugees from the north to enter the city, and although the neighboring Ninth Prince allowed them, the number was strictly controlled.

The refugees who couldn't enter the city were scattered around the North River area, hoping that one day some city lord would take pity on them and let them through.

But that wait has led to the present.

Just when this was happening, a message from somewhere stated that Biluo City, south of the North River, was accepting refugees, so the refugees who intended to move back south now had a destination.

Uncle Qiu raised his eyebrows in surprise,

"Alas, I forgot to ask you where you were headed this morning! If you want to go to Biluo City, you'll have to return the way you came; this road leads to a destination that's completely different from the one to the east."

The old hunter said this as he hurriedly called for his son who was walking ahead to stop, looking anxious enough to offer to escort them back himself.

Bai Sasa, who was pushing the cart, also unconsciously glanced at her elder sister on the carriage.

All the refugees were headed towards Biluo City, and she had subconsciously assumed Uncle Qiu was too, which is why she forgot to ask him.

The Ninth Prince had told her elder sister to wait for him in Biluo City first; wouldn't east and west be tens of thousands of miles apart?

If she were to delay her elder sister's affairs...

Bai Sasa was worried about her elder sister scolding her, so she was cautious and hesitant around her.

To her surprise, Bai Junjun wasn't angry and actually asked Uncle Qiu with interest where he was heading.

In Bai Junjun's mind, standing up the Ninth Prince was reasonable. He was about to go to war, yet he still had the mood for love and poetry... Such a person was better kept at a distance.

Uncle Qiu, seeing the young lady's inquiry about his destination, did not hide it.

"The end of this road is Cold City."

"Cold City?" Bai Junjun quickly reviewed the world map in her mind.

Luckily, the original owner carried the reputation of the world's number one talent girl, and she was knowledgeable in everything from poetry to astronomy, geography, military matters, and agriculture.

Therefore, as soon as Cold City was mentioned, the relevant information quickly came to mind, though even if she didn't know, Uncle Qiu would have explained it to her himself.

"Tsk, when it comes to Cold City, we have to start from major world affairs. I've been a soldier for a few years myself and understand something about military campaigns. Let me tell you about it."

"???" Bai Junjun.

She hadn't realized Uncle Qiu was quite the talker.

"Nowadays, the world is in great chaos. Let's not talk about the Northern Lands for now, since we all have to run beyond the North River, it's natural to first understand the situation there.

As far as I know, south of the North River is divided among three Princes: The Central Plains, including the Old Capital City, is under the control of the Second Prince; the wealthy eastern coastal lands are all ruled by the Third Prince; and only the Eldest Prince is left with the barren lands of the west.

And Cold City falls under the jurisdiction of the Eldest Prince."

Bai Junjun was somewhat puzzled, "Why go there if it's a barren land?"

Shouldn't people fleeing disaster head to wealthy areas? Why was Uncle Qiu an exception, heading deliberately towards the cold and harsh land?

"You don't know the whole story."