Chapter 2, Zhu Chongba

Suddenly, the little one bit down fiercely, chewing with great enthusiasm, a happy smile spreading across the little face

Zhang's mother was momentarily taken aback, realizing how her husband was using his life to protect them

Do not be afraid, this is yours, we all have it, we all have it

The soldier on guard shouted excitedly

Since we are together, we are one family. Even if there is only a grain of rice, we must cook it into porridge and share it. This is the rule of our family

The cart continued to move forward, and Old Man Zhang occasionally encouraged them, saying there was nothing to fear. He had studied for many years, was able to read and write, could perform basic medical skills, and even understood physiognomy. As long as there was a place to settle down, even if it meant setting up a stall, writing letters for others, or divining fortunes, he could still make a living

The carriage continued to move forward until the afternoon, when Mu Ying finally woke up. At that moment, Zhang Ximeng held a quarter of a pancake and brought it to his lips.

Zhang's mother had red-rimmed eyes; when has their family ever been in such a predicament?

At this moment, a small head poked out from the carriage

With just a few trees, where can three people hide?

Mu Ying did not dare to respond, but instead raised her head, anxiously looking at Zhang Ximeng and Zhang's mother beside her

At this moment, Zhang Ximeng's face was pale, and his eyes burned with anger. He knew the brutality of the Yuan soldiers, but when the slaughtering knife truly fell upon his own people, that kind of rage was simply indescribable. However, at this time, he could barely walk; a gust of wind could knock him down, so what could he do?

Zhang Ximeng was stunned. Has anyone who has come from peaceful times ever thought that a group of officials and soldiers would dare to openly massacre the common people? His parents, one after another, sacrificed their lives to save him.

As long as a scholar does not concern himself with dignity, there is no reason for him to be unable to survive

Madam, you truly laughed out loud, what a thick skin you have. Do not think of beautiful things; it is enough to be safe and sound.

At this moment, Old Zhang felt a chill run down his spine, his hair standing on end. Looking back, he saw the Yuan soldiers drawing closer and closer. How could his broken cart outrun them?

He gritted his teeth, exerting all his strength to crawl up from the ground little by little. After much effort, he finally managed to stand up, but his body was still too weak, and he was about to fall again

The woman reached out and embraced Mu Ying, then said to her husband: "Zhong Ba, today is the Winter Solstice. We have come out to pay tribute to our ancestors. I believe that encountering this matter is also the spirit of our parents in heaven, allowing us to assist. No matter what, we cannot neglect it."

Thank you very much

A burly man was sitting on the cart, driving while anxiously searching. Suddenly, he noticed that something had happened by the roadside. The man slowed down the cart.

Zhang Ximeng's body swayed, tears streaming down. After a while, he turned his head and walked south, the distance tripled, and his father's corpse was also there

On some people's manes, there were actually bloody human heads tied, both old and young, male and female, as if celebrating a triumphant victory. However, whether they have killed the innocent to claim credit for their achievements is something only they themselves know

Not good

As Zhang's mother was looking for a place to hide, the sound of hooves suddenly approached from a distance, startling her once again

The mother pulled Zhang Ximeng and ran into the thicket. She glanced around and was relieved to find some dry grass and leaves to conceal their bodies. Without caring for anything, she reached out with her hand, her fair fingers bleeding, as if she felt no pain, and covered Zhang Ximeng and Mu Ying carefully.

At that moment, a group of soldiers suddenly appeared not far away, escorting the looted goods and provisions back to the camp

It is unclear how much time has passed, when suddenly a horse-drawn carriage appeared on the main road, approaching at a rapid pace

Zhang Ximeng could no longer hold back and cried out loud

Zhang Ximeng wanted to stand up and stop his mother, even if it meant dying, he wished to die together. However, he was too weak; he had only risen halfway when his vision darkened and he collapsed.

... ...

Having finished all of this, it is already dawn

What should be done

Old man Zhang seems to have guessed it

I am hungry, let's eat!

"Young Master Zhu and the young lady have returned, quickly open the city gates"

Ultimately, a single person has their limits. Zhang Ximeng fell to the ground, devoid of any strength.

At that moment, a little fellow hugged him; it was Mu Ying

As the carriage drew closer to Haozhou, Zhang Ximeng's thoughts became increasingly lively

Thank you, benefactor

Upon witnessing this scene, Old Zhang was instantly filled with terror. He hurriedly turned the horse-drawn carriage around and quickly fled from these malevolent spirits.

There is no need to concern yourself with me

Madam, are you trying to mock me? Let me tell you, I have not changed. We are going to Haozhou, not the realm of the Yuan court. If, if the leader of the Red Turban Army is truly a person of great talent and strategy, I, I would assist him, and perhaps we could create a tale as remarkable as that of Liu Bang and Xiao He!

The man's name is Zhong Ba, and his surname is Zhu

Rising from the ground, Zhang Ximeng and Mu Ying set off towards Haozhou. They were uncertain how far they had to go, merely taking one step after another. However, Zhang Ximeng, who was already frail and had difficulty moving, found it increasingly hard to endure after experiencing immense sorrow

It is bad; the husband did not lead those beasts too far, and they have returned again

The words of the old man came from outside the car

Is he still alive?

He actually came back

The man grasped Zhang Ximeng's wrist and after a moment said: "There is still a pulse, but I do not know if he can be saved"

After driving away Mu Ying, Zhang Ximeng fell into a complete coma, awaiting the arrival of death

At this moment, a woman also got off the car and hurried over. Upon seeing Zhang Ximeng's waxen face, resembling that of a corpse, her heart sank.

Zhang Ximeng did not dare to laugh, but he did notice a certain strength in his father: finding joy amidst hardship, which at least showed he was not overly pedantic. It seemed that there were not many civil officials under Old Zhu; as long as they safely reached Haozhou, there would still be opportunities in the future

The words of the old man made the lady in the carriage feel both amused and on the verge of tears. How could such words come from her husband's mouth? Did you not often recite Prime Minister Wen's Ode to Integrity? Did you not frequently say that you would not bow for five pecks of rice? Where has your pride gone?

The man bent down, picked up Zhang Ximeng, while the woman held Mu Ying, and together they got onto the carriage. They then sped eastward, and by dusk, they arrived outside the city of Haozhou

Old Zhang reined in the carriage, turned his head, and grabbed Zhang Ximeng's arm, "Get off the carriage quickly!" The old lady reached out and helped Zhang Ximeng down from the carriage. As for Mu Ying, the little fellow was quite nimble and also jumped down. He kept his lips tightly closed, his small eyes darting around, as the Yuan soldiers drew ever closer.

After twenty years of marriage, her husband is her everything, her world. Yet now, he is willing to sacrifice even his life for her and their son.

Just as Old Zhang was preparing to escape, the Yuan soldiers seemed to have discovered them and actually sent two riders to chase after the carriage. These two Yuan soldiers raised their weapons high and let out strange cries, as if they were beasts that had spotted their prey

It is Mu Ying

In his urgency, Old Zhang discovered a ditch by the roadside, accompanied by several willow trees and a clump of withered grass

The little one recognized Zhang Ximeng, pounced on him, shook him vigorously, and cried out loudly

From morning to noon, and then enduring until the afternoon, Zhang Ximeng could not recall how many times he had fallen, yet each time he got back up and continued to move forward

The old man hurriedly drove away in panic, and both Zhang Ximeng and his mother in the car were also filled with terror

Old Zhang only uttered this one sentence, then jumped back onto the cart's yoke, frantically wielding the whip, causing the old horse to gallop wildly in pain, and the Yuan soldiers, upon seeing the cart, also gave chase.

I want to laugh, yet I feel a pang of sadness

The man nodded and said, "What the girl said is true, we must save people"

Mu Ying immediately stopped her sorrowful cries and looked at the couple with a pleading expression

Xiao Mu Ying has just lost her mother and is crying sorrowfully. Before long, she leans on the carriage and falls asleep. Zhang Mu covers Mu Ying with a piece of clothing.

My husband is already dead; should he have died in vain?

"Son, your mother can no longer take care of you, you must live well!" Zhang's mother stared at her son, as if to engrave his image in her heart, then, with tears streaming down her face, she rushed out of the small grove and resolutely ran in another direction

Zhang Ximeng and Mu Ying slowly emerged, briefly discerning the direction. Zhang Ximeng then proceeded down the path, and not far ahead, a woman's corpse lay across the road.

Zhang Ximeng desperately wanted to bury the couple together... However, he did not even have the strength to move the bodies, let alone dig a grave for burial! Zhang Ximeng was filled with hatred to the extreme; if given the chance, he wished to annihilate Yuan Ting a hundred times over!

In a daze, Zhang Ximeng heard the sound of a scream; his mother was dead. In his grief and anger, Zhang Ximeng fell into a complete unconsciousness. Suddenly, Mu Ying, who was curled up beside him, moved. He hurriedly covered Zhang Ximeng's face with dry branches and fallen leaves, and then remained motionless, curled up next to Zhang Ximeng, his actions so skilled that it was heart-wrenching

You quickly take them inside to hide

Zhang's mother wished she could go and die with her husband, but her son was still by her side, tearing her heart into two pieces.

There is a way!

The little fellow trembled as he took it, staring foolishly as if it were some extraordinary treasure, unable to bring himself to take a bite. However, it was simply too fragrant, causing him to drool.

Zhang's mother was taken aback, "My lord, what about you?"

Helpless, Zhang Ximeng and Mu Ying could only use branches, stones, and clods of earth to cover the bodies of their parents, and Zhang Ximeng solemnly bowed before them

What kind of world is this? Zhang Ximeng feels like he is about to explode; he is angry and sorrowful. He does not want to lose the parents he has just found.

Are they really going to die as a family?

The night was cold and desolate, and Zhang Ximeng slowly awakened, still alive! It is unclear whether the Yuan soldiers had been deceived or were simply too lazy to search; in any case, he had narrowly escaped a calamity

Indeed, this is the last pancake in the car, divided into four portions, one for each person

It is entirely driven by the will to survive, step by step... The hollow abdomen, the emptiness convulsing, the biting cold wind, Zhang Ximeng stumbles forward.

Mother, come back

It is indeed Zhang's mother