“We’re all here! Quiet down, I’m going to start!” Village head Feng cleared his throat and restored order.
He stood on a raised platform, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. The villagers all looked lazy and unconcerned, still chattering among themselves.
The village had been peaceful for more than twenty years. The younger generation had grown up in comfort, and Feng Yuanzheng couldn’t help worrying whether they would be able to survive what was coming.
“I just received word that a notice has been posted in the city. The barbarians will be attacking in two days. This was told to me by that girl Gu Jiu. After I investigated and confirmed it, I can assure you it’s true!”
As soon as he said this, the calm atmosphere among the villagers instantly exploded.
“Village head, are you getting senile? Our place hasn’t seen war in hundreds of years. Even if the barbarians are attacking, we’re not near the border—how could they reach our Dayan County so quickly?”
Li Fugui was usually the village troublemaker, and now he even dared to openly challenge Village Head Feng.
However, Feng Yuanzheng was highly respected in the village.
Immediately, many villagers spoke up in his defense.
“Li Fugui, don’t talk nonsense! Village head Feng has always been careful—how could he report something without confirming it?”
“Exactly! If he says the barbarians are coming, then it must be true!”
The villagers argued with Li Fugui. Outnumbered, he eventually shut his mouth.
“Village head, if things are really going to get chaotic, has the county magistrate given any instructions?”
“Should we go to a safe shelter? I heard that in other places, civilians are evacuated when war breaks out.”
“In that case, we should stock up on food. We’ll probably have to hide for quite a while!”
Listening to the villagers making their own plans, Village Head Feng couldn’t bear to tell them the harsh truth.
His expression turned stern. “Enough. Quiet!”
The crowd was startled by his tone and fell silent.
“The old magistrate has been reassigned elsewhere. He left no instructions. How we survive this disaster—we must decide for ourselves!”
After saying this, a sorrowful look also appeared on his face.
“What?! The old magistrate ran away? He’s been in office for nearly twenty years, and now he’s just abandoning the entire Dayan County?”
“If the barbarians are coming and even the officials won’t care about us ordinary people, what are we waiting for? Pack up and run!”
Panic spread through the villagers like ants on a hot pan.
Gu Jiu stood at the back of the crowd, listening.
Her thoughts naturally aligned with leaving the village first to avoid the war.
Once enemy soldiers arrived, slaughter would be unavoidable.
The barbarians were notorious for their cruelty—wherever they passed, they left no survivors. Men were executed on the spot, and women suffered even worse, often being humiliated and killed.
She absolutely could not let her younger siblings fall into such danger.
“The barbarians are coming… Heaven is going to destroy our Shangxi Village!”
“Heavens, have mercy! My child is still so young—why can’t he live a few more years?”
Women in the crowd began wailing bitterly. Even many men had tears in their eyes. The atmosphere was filled with despair.
“Men of Shangxi Village! A great disaster is upon us—look at yourselves! Where is your courage as men?”
“If you cower like this, who will protect the elderly, women, and children? Your own parents, wives, and kids—if you don’t stand up, who will protect them?”
Village Head Feng’s powerful words made many men lower their heads in shame.
“Uncle Feng, what should we do? The higher authorities don’t care—they’re just letting us die!” Li Fugui shouted anxiously from below, also fearing for his life.
Village Head Feng frowned deeply and looked at the hopeful faces below.
“I have consulted the clan elders. We can only save ourselves now! Rather than staying here to wait for death, we should leave the village and seek another path!”
If they stayed, they would only be slaughtered when the barbarians arrived. That would be a dead end.
It would be better to flee into the mountains and forests. Even if they couldn’t escape far, hiding in the wilderness or caves might give them a chance of survival.
Gu Jiu agreed with the elders’ idea as well—only the mountains offered a sliver of hope.
“I’ve lived here all my life. Where would I even go if I leave? I’d rather die than abandon the village!”
“Exactly! At least we have land and houses here. If we leave, we’ll have nothing!”
“I’m not going! If the barbarians come, we’ll fight them to the death!”
Many villagers refused to leave, more than a dozen households expressing their determination to stay.
Village Head Feng and the two clan elders exchanged looks, both aware this would not be easy.
But as the village head, he still had to try.
“If there are those who refuse to leave, then stay!”
He deliberately pretended not to force them, but still left a glimmer of hope.
“For those willing to leave with the village, once we reach Yunzhou City, I will provide official proof. If we meet a kind magistrate, we may even be allocated land to resettle and rebuild our lives!”
This immediately swayed those who were still hesitating.
“Village head is right! As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. As long as we’re alive, we can rebuild Shangxi Village!”
“I’ll go with everyone! Staying here is just waiting to die. If my ancestors are watching from heaven, they wouldn’t want me to die under barbarian blades and break the family line!”
In the end, those willing to leave lined up to register their names.
Gu Jiu joined the queue, but the person in front was taking a long time.
Looking closer, it turned out to be Old Master Gu trying to add another name—his eldest grandson’s future bride.
But she hadn’t even married into Shangxi Village yet, so she didn’t count as a villager.
Village Head Feng clearly understood what Old Master Gu was trying to do.
His eldest grandson’s fiancée was from the neighboring Yangliu Village. Given the situation, surrounding villages were also likely to flee.
Old Master Gu wanted to include the girl’s name in the registration so he wouldn’t have to pay a bride price—effectively claiming her as a member of the Gu family.
“Gu Youfu! Put away those little schemes of yours. Your grandson has no formal betrothal. That girl has nothing to do with your family!” Village Head Feng lost his patience and sharply warned him.