Chapter Forty: Departure

Zhao Mu fell into deep thought. He had to admit that Wang Wu’s suggestion was excellent.

If they departed in the middle of the night, most people would be fast asleep, and even if they heard movement, they might not be willing to get up. Moreover, the majority of the refugees were concentrated near the city gates; even if they were discovered by the refugees at that time, it would be much easier to force their way through than it would be during the day. Once they reached the city gates, the refugees would not dare to act recklessly. The fear of official authority was already deeply ingrained in their bones.

"That works! We shall depart at the crack of dawn. Once we reach the city gates at daybreak, we will have Brother Wen notify Shopkeeper Qin so he can come out to receive the fish." Having decided on the transportation of the fish, Zhao Mu glanced at the sun and added, "It is getting late. We must leave the city as soon as possible and find a place to settle."

Hearing this, the group subconsciously looked at the handcart.

Wang Wu’s wife said, "If it were just the cart, it would be fine, but what about this grain? If the refugees see the food, they will certainly beg for it or even seize it."

Upon hearing this, the group felt troubled. While they were grateful for Shopkeeper Qin’s kindness—and the grain would sustain them for several days—if they brought it out of the city in plain sight, the refugees would surely notice. They might be able to harden their hearts against beggars, but if someone led a mob to plunder, they might not be able to hold them off.

Zhao Mu pondered for a moment and suggested, "How about we have Brother Wen pose as a corpse? We can tell people that Brother Wen died of an epidemic, wrap him in a mat, and claim we are leaving the city to bury him. That might deceive the refugees."

The group’s eyes brightened; it was a decent plan.

Wen Zhi blinked and said reluctantly, "Play a corpse? Can someone else do it?"

Everyone turned to look at Zhao Mu. Just as Zhao Mu was about to speak, Wen Zhi added, "I am stronger than you. We don’t know how far we have to walk, so Brother Wang and I should be the ones pulling the cart; that would be better than having you do it."

Zhao Mu was momentarily speechless. When he looked at Wang Wu and Huang Wan, he found that they were nodding with complete seriousness.

"Very... very well! It is decided then!" Zhao Mu slapped his thigh and said, "If anyone asks why we aren't burying the body inside the city, just say that it was I who died of the epidemic, and the corrupt officials in the city forbade the burial for fear of contagion!"

Wen Zhi replied in a muffled voice, "No one ever buries people inside the city anyway."

Zhao Mu opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

Once the plan was settled, they prepared to leave. Before exiting, Wen Zhi borrowed a tattered mat from a friend and wrapped Zhao Mu and the small bag of grain inside it.

Seeing that nothing looked amiss from the outside, the group breathed a sigh of relief and headed out.

When they reached the city gate, they saw Wu Ke, the guard who had lent Wen Zhi a few copper coins the other day, on duty. Upon seeing Wen Zhi approach, Wu Ke hurried over and asked, "Brother Wen, I heard that you ran into trouble?"

Wen Zhi had not expected that even Wu Ke would know of his disgrace; he could only sigh helplessly. It was true what they said: good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

"Where do you intend to go now, Brother Wen?" Wu Ke asked.

"I have no more attachments in the city," Wen Zhi replied. "I am heading out to seek a path to survival!"

Wu Ke opened his mouth, seeming hesitant, but after weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Wen, if you don't mind, would you like to come stay at my home first?"

Wen Zhi was stunned, feeling a sudden surge of gratitude. If he weren't with Wang Wu and the others, he might have actually accepted. "There is no need. I know your situation—you have your elderly mother above and children below. If I were to intrude, it would only make your life harder." Wen Zhi sighed, cupped his hands gratefully, and added, "I will certainly pay you back the coins you lent me in a few days!"

Wu Ke hurriedly shook his head. "Brother Wen, that is not what I meant."

Wen Zhi stopped him, saying, "I know your character. I am already very grateful that you lent me those coins. My mind is made up; you need not persuade me further!"

With that, he and Wang Wu began to pull the handcart toward the city gate. Wu Ke wanted to press further, but several mocking voices suddenly rang out nearby.

"Wu Ke, why bother with this idiot? He is no longer the gate commander; you don't need to curry favor with him anymore!"

"What can a man who is even despised by his own wife ever hope to achieve?"

"Wu Ke, you’d better get those coins back quickly, or you’ll never see them again."

Hearing these words, Wen Zhi, who had already entered the gate tunnel, stopped abruptly and turned back to look at the guards. The guards were startled and looked at Wen Zhi with caution. Although Wen Zhi had fallen from grace, they had all witnessed his martial prowess; if he were to lash out, they would be no match for him.

However, Wen Zhi ignored them and looked only at Wu Ke. "Wu Ke, do you believe that I will return those coins you lent me tenfold, even a hundredfold, in the future?"

Wu Ke opened his mouth and nodded repeatedly. "I believe you!"

Wen Zhi grinned. "As long as you believe me, that is enough!"

With that, he and Wang Wu pulled the cart out of the city.

The moment they were outside, Wen Zhi’s expression collapsed. "Brother Mu, I think I just made a boastful promise." He looked back, dejected, at Zhao Mu, who was wrapped in the tattered mat.

Zhao Mu could not see what was happening outside, so he whispered comfortingly, "Brother Wen, do not be discouraged. I believe you can certainly do it!"

Wen Zhi immediately brightened. "Since Brother Mu says so, I have confidence!"

Wang Wu tapped him and said, "Do not laugh; look sorrowful!"

Wen Zhi immediately changed his expression, pulling the cart forward in silence.

Just as they had anticipated, they had not gone more than ten yards outside the city when refugees began to surround them.

"Have mercy, masters, give us something to eat."

"Sir, please spare a bite; my child hasn't eaten for four days."

The refugees crowded around Wang Wu and the others, incessantly begging for food. Seeing this, Wang Wu’s wife pulled little Xiao Xing closer, watching the refugees warily.

Wang Wu immediately began explaining as they had planned. "We have no food. We are only leaving the city to bury a body."

"Stay back! The person in the mat died of an epidemic; do not get infected!"

Hearing this, several refugees backed away. However, a few of the more suspicious ones asked, "If you are just going out to bury a body, why are so many of you following along? And you don't even have a shovel—are you trying to trick us?"

Under normal circumstances, only a few people were needed to bury a body, and they would usually be able-bodied men. But Zhao Mu’s group only had two adult men, Wang Wu and Wen Zhi. Huang Wan and Wang Wu’s wife were women, while the rest were Hu Zi, a half-grown boy, and little Xiao Xing, still a mere child.