RWNEFE -Chapter 54 Ungrateful!

Wei Dongzhu stared blankly at the sky. The oppressive heat reminded him of the great fire in the northwest—a fire that had taken his family, the Wei army, and almost himself.

If it weren’t for the relentless drive for revenge keeping him alive, he would have died long ago on the way seeking medical help.

“Young General…” a soldier called again.

Wei Dongzhu drew back his gaze. “We’re already as good as dead. To avoid revealing our identities, just call me ‘Big Brother’ from now on.”

His men, as if following a military order, all responded in unison: “Yes!”

Wei Dongzhu’s face showed thoughtfulness. “Yesterday, there must have been a skilled strategist behind the scenes. Otherwise, there’s no way those displaced people could have escaped so easily.”

“B-Big Brother… When we reached the mountain, a huge fire broke out at the summit. Many guards went up to fight it!”

“We followed the Shen family back to the city gate and saw thick smoke rising over Cangzhou City.”

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes flickered. “Lure the tiger away from the mountain, strike east to distract west!”

The soldiers around him were his personal guards, trained in military strategy. They immediately understood why the displaced people had escaped so easily.

Thinking of the battles in the northwest, regret flickered in Wei Dongzhu’s eyes.

“If it were before… anyone who understood troop movements and tactics like this, I would have invited them into the army even if I had to make three visits to recruit them.”

After speaking, the regret in his eyes slowly dimmed.

How laughable—what Wei army? There was nothing left. Only a handful of nameless men, neither fully living nor fully dead.

“Apply the medicine!”

The only thought keeping him alive now was to avenge the Wei army, his family, and the civilians who had died or been injured.

Until that great revenge was fulfilled, he absolutely could not die.

…

The farther southeast they traveled away from Cangzhou, the hotter and drier it became. The rising heat felt like a furnace, baking everyone, drenched in sweat and rapidly dehydrating.

“Master, our water will only last two more days at most,” Chunxue said, her voice tight with worry.

Qiushuang added, “Humans might manage a little longer without water, but the horses can’t! Carrying supplies in this heat is exhausting them. Their mouths are foaming from thirst—if this continues, the horses will dehydrate before we do.”

Shen Lanxi said, “All prisoners get off and walk. Anything unnecessary on the wagon, throw it away. Set aside water for the horses to drink!”

“Yes!”

After Chunxue informed them, the officials drove the prisoners off the wagon.

Already hot and thirsty, the prisoners grumbled and resisted.

Liu Laohu cracked his whip several times; grudgingly, they obeyed.

“We all got off. Why doesn’t he get off?” one prisoner shouted, glaring at Shen Lanxi’s wagon.

The others quickly joined in:

“Yeah! We all got off, why does he get water for his horse when ours have none?”

“Yes! Everyone gets off, no exceptions!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang stomped angrily.

“These ungrateful bastards, forgetting who saved them… I should have saved a dog instead!”

“I’ll go deal with them!” Qiushuang stormed toward them but heard Liu Laohu’s angry shouts and whips before even reaching them.

“Do I need to remind you? The wagon and horses aren’t yours! You shameless exiles, freeloading, and now biting the hand that fed you! People like you, if not exiled, who else would be?”

“You should have been food for the refugees, exhausted to death in the mountains! Another word, and my blade won’t show mercy!”

The prisoners suddenly realized—they weren’t in charge. Everything—the wagons, food, water—wasn’t theirs. They wanted to argue but didn’t know what to say.

Liu Laohu’s eyes blazed. “I’ve spoiled you all the way here, letting you exiles live too comfortably. You refuse to walk the easy way and want to push the wagon? Anyone slacking, I’ll chop you—consider it saving food and water!”

This pace wasn’t sustainable. Liu Yanhui, drenched in sweat, hurried to Shen Lanxi.

“Master, it’s too hot. We’re wasting energy traveling this way. I suggest resting during the day and traveling at night.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Fine. There’s an abandoned village ahead—we’ll rest there.”

Liu Yanhui tiptoed to look, but saw nothing.

How did Master know? Surely he was scouting with the eagle.

Upon hearing there was an abandoned village ahead, Liu Laohu’s anger flared as he glared at the defiant prisoners.

“Unload the horses, let them rest. The prisoners push the wagon!”

The officials immediately obeyed, long annoyed at the prisoners’ insolence. In past transports, no prisoner dared defy them. Now, emboldened, it was time to show who was in charge.

The prisoners grumbled again; the officials cracked whips.

No matter if they were Shen family or others, beat them anyway!

Under the officials’ violent enforcement, the prisoners outwardly complied—but inside, what they thought, who cared?

Shen Lanxi first led the wagons to the abandoned village. Using the excuse of scouting the area, she sent Chunxue and others aside to give the horses water.

The horses were now the primary labor force—without them, carrying supplies, these people would die too.

Humans can endure thirst, horses cannot.

To avoid suspicion, each horse received only half a bucket of water. Before Chunxue and the others returned, she cleaned up the water and buckets.

The village wasn’t completely ruined. Most houses were semi-new but appeared empty and desolate, no vegetation left—the former villagers had harvested everything as food during hard times.

“Master, there’s no one in the village. All wells are dry and cracked. We checked several houses—no food at all. The villagers must have fled the famine,” said Liu Yanhui.

Shen Lanxi: “Clean out two of the houses.”

“Yes!”

Not long after these two houses were cleared, Liu Laohu arrived with the prisoners.

The prisoners clamored for water, forcing Liu Laohu to crack his whip several times before seeking Shen Lanxi.

Nanny Li had prepared the meager meal: due to the lack of water, all was rationed—just a few slices of baked bread, a little roasted meat, two pieces of pickled vegetables, and one bowl of water.

When Liu Laohu arrived, Shen Lanxi was stuffing pickled vegetables into the bread, taking a bite, washing it down with water—showing no hint of disgust.

He was a rough man, not good with words, but he felt even more convinced by a Master like this.