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“Exactly. But alas, many people don’t believe it,” the coachman replied as he prepared to leave. His wife, children, and old mother all sat on the cart with tired expressions.

Seeing them about to leave, Sun Licheng hurriedly asked, “Where are you all planning to go?”

The coachman replied, “I have a relative in Jiankang who trades there. We plan to seek refuge with him.”

Sun Licheng questioned several other coachmen, and they all said the same thing—they were evacuating to avoid the disaster.

He looked blank.

He found it hard to believe that the Jurchens, so few in number compared to the vast population of the Great Qian Dynasty, could have conquered Taiyuan Prefecture.

Jiang Erlang heard this too. He suppressed his worries, called for Nurse Zhang, and confirmed his niece’s diagnosis after she took his wife’s pulse.

Yanru was now four months pregnant and was expected to give birth in October, around the same time as Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu.

Shortly after, Jiang Erlang found his two brothers and told them about what he had learned in town.

“If this is true, I reckon Luzhou won’t escape either,” Jiang Sanlang said after some thought. “Next would be the county seat—our town is right next to the main road and wouldn’t be able to escape either.”

Jiang Dalang asked, “So, what should we do? Should we also head to Jiankang?”

Jiang Sanlang shook his head, “It’s too early. If they really get here, even Jiankang wouldn’t be safe.”

Jiang the elderly took his eyes off the pot he was repairing and said, “You don’t need to panic. If the enemy reaches here, we can hide in the mountains.”

Unless the Jurchens took over the entire Great Qian Dynasty, they wouldn’t bother hunting people down in the mountains.

The three brothers nodded, feeling slightly reassured.

Still, they realised they needed to share this information with the villagers, so they could prepare.

Soon after, Jiang Sanlang left to notify the Clan Leader, Chen Yin.

The women, including Chunniang and her sisters-in-law, were all listening on the side. When they heard that the barbarians were coming, they were terrified.

Yanru was especially scared. Her face turned white.

Now that she was pregnant, dealing with a war would be troublesome.

She glanced at Yingbao, wanting to say something, but then held back.

Yingbao knew what her aunt was worried about and comforted her, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Yanru’s tears welled up in her eyes. She nodded gently.

Yingbao wasn’t exactly worried because in her previous life, the Jurchens didn’t come here.

However, she couldn’t say the same for Beijing and the Prefecture City.

Thinking of her elder sister and her family in Luzhou, Yingbao hurried off to write a letter.

She wanted them to come to the village.

Just as she finished writing the letter, Wei Zhan came running, “Yingbao, I want to return to the Prefecture City for a while. Could you lend me a horse?”

“You’re going home?” Yingbao asked.

“Yes! San Shushu said the barbarians are about to reach Beijing, so I want to bring my mother back here.” Wei Zhan realised that the villages up in the mountains were much safer than the cities in a time of war.

Yingbao agreed, “Okay, I’ll lend you the Red Date Horse. Once you reach the county, leave the horse at the specialty shop by the dock.”

Wei Zhan nodded heavily and headed towards the stable.

As he fitted the Red Date Horse with a saddle, Yingbao went to his room to pack things for him.

Clothing, silver coins, food, and water. Also, a knife for protection.

Wei Zhan took the bag and asked softly, “Yingbao, I’m going to the county first. Do you have any messages for Jiang Dalang?”

“Yes. Tell him to close his shop, bring his wife and children back to the village, and bring back Jiang Jie and Yuanbao as well. Oh, and also, stop by the Medical Bureau to inform my master.”

Wei Zhan promised, fastened the bag to the saddle, and slung the water bottle over his shoulder.

“I’ve added a letter in your bag. When you get to the Prefecture City, give the letter to Lady Wen,” Yingbao told him. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t forget. I will deliver it,” he assured her.

Wei Zhan mounted the horse and quickly left the yard. He headed for the county.

Yingbao watched him from the doorway for a while, then quickly headed for the Deer Garden.

Youyou was now seven years old, a very steady and elegant deer. She, along with the mother deer, had just given birth to a young fawn only a few months old.

The other deer had also given birth, but the fawns were taken after six months.

Recognising her arrival, Youyou hurried over. She nuzzled her head against Yingbao.

Yingbao handed her some tender soybean stalks and started petting her antlers, “If you want to return to the forest, you can.”

Not understanding her, Youyou gave her a puzzled look before lowering her head to eat.

Other deer also ran over when they saw the food.

Yingbao playfully took out a heap of fodder and fed them all.

At this time, Zhang Min and Huzi, accompanied by Jiang Wu, came over to see the deer. When they saw Yingbao, Zhang Min said, “Yingbao, I want to go back to Jingzhou.”

His parents were in Jingzhou and must have already encountered the Jurchens. He had to go back to check on them.

In this secluded mountain village, if it hadn’t been for the passing travellers, they wouldn’t have known about the turmoil the world is facing.

“There’s no use going back. Besides, all the big boats heading to Jingzhou are definitely gone. How do you plan to go back? By horse? Even if you went non-stop day and night, it would take you at least ten days to get to Jingzhou,” she challenged.

It was the truth.

The horses needed rest and couldn’t travel non-stop for twelve hours a day.

Zhang Min knew the situation. Thus, his despair deepened.

Huzi also comforted him. “Brother Zhang, don’t worry. Your parents will be fine.”

Zhang Min remained silent. He patted the deer’s back and turned to leave.

Jiang Wu and Huzi followed him closely, whispering to each other about something.

The next day, they found out that Jiang Wu, Huzi, and Zhang Min had disappeared.

First, Li Xu asked Jiang Sanlang why these three hadn’t come to school.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sanlang hurried to Jiang Wu and Zhang Min’s rooms. He discovered a letter on their table saying that the three of them had gone to Jingzhou together.

Jiang Sanlang was furious. He rushed to his eldest brother’s home to check, only to find that the three had taken the family’s carriage.

“I’m going to chase them!” Jiang Sanlang stormed out of the house angrily.

Seeing her father leave in a rush, Yingbao, too, followed along.

Zhang Min was reckless. He had not only risked his own life but also dragged two children with him. Did he want to kill them?

Jiang Sanlang borrowed a horse from Chen Yin and quickly gave chase.

Yingbao, trailing him, shouted, “Dad! Wait! I’m coming too!”

But Jiang Sanlang didn’t wait for his daughter. Instead, he spurred his horse on faster.

Yingbao stomped her feet in anger and ran back to tell her mother.

No horse was left in the village—all being put to use. Catching up was certainly not an option for her.

Sigh! So annoying!

Upon learning her son had gone with Zhang Min, Chunniang was terrified, “How could he just go to a place so far away at such a young age?”

Ignoring the ongoing war, if they happened to confront the Jurchens, the three of them would undoubtedly meet their deaths.