Chapter 15 Tell the War
It is better to flee early than late. Looking at the crowded hall, "Children, go out first." Looking at Lin Youxiang standing by the door, "Third brother, close the door."
Lin Xianwen and Lin Zisu stood up. They would not leave, and they would add a few words to their father from time to time. They stood up just because there were elders in the room, so they gave up the stool under their buttocks.
Mrs. Feng smiled and said, "Why are you two standing up, kids? Sit down, sit down." Then she pulled the two of them to sit down.
Old Man Lin: "You two can sit down. There are enough stools in the room."
There are many small stools and long wooden benches in the house, as well as straw stools made of reeds.
"Grandpa, we've been on the bus for a long time and just finished eating noodles, so it's okay to stand for a while." Lin Xianwen pulled Lin Zisu to stand next to Lin Youcai.
"Dad, Mom, that guy from last year... didn't he die?" Lin Youcai pointed upwards, "Several capable sons, none of them were willing to give in to the other, fighting for the top spot! Last year, the brothers started fighting!"
"A few brothers fought? We haven't heard of any brothers fighting in our village! Which village's brothers fought?" Old Mrs. Wang stretched her neck, looking gossipy.
"What an unfilial son and grandson! You are brothers, you should talk things out nicely. But now that an elderly person in your family has passed away, you start fighting. How shameful! Fourth brother, which village are you from?" Old man Lin frowned, put away his pipe and put it on his belt.
Lin Youcai: “…”
The eldest brother's wife, Mrs. Lu, approached Shen Xianglan and asked, "Fourth brother's wife, where are you from? From the city?"
Shen Xianglan: “...No.”
Lin Zisu took a deep breath, covered her mouth and nose, looked up at the roof, and almost laughed out loud.
"Puchi! Haha! Ouch! Hiss... Mom... Mom, why are you pinching me!" Lin Xianwen hid behind Lin Zisu.
Old Lady Wang stood up and said, "Fourth Daughter-in-law, why are you pinching the child!!!"
"...No. Last year, the emperor... was gone!! Didn't I tell you? The princes... were fighting for the throne! The war has been going on for more than a year!!" Lin Youcai lowered his voice and spoke slowly, word by word.
"There's a war?!" Old Mrs. Wang was so shocked that her voice changed!
"What? War? Where is the war?" Old Man Lin stared at his fourth son nervously.
"The Emperor... is fighting!!!" Lin Youfu grabbed Lin Youcai's sleeve, "Fourth brother, you can't say that!!"
Lin Youcai hurriedly told all the news he had learned in the city. He rushed back to the village today to tell his family, but he ran into the brother and sister who were fleeing on the way.
Then I learned from the brother and sister that they were abducted and sold to Ancheng last year and sold to a rich man's house as servants. Until 5 days ago, Ancheng was captured. The two brothers and sisters were lucky enough to escape from the city that night and met a wandering Taoist priest outside the city. The Taoist priest felt sorry for the two brothers and sisters and thought it was a blessing to meet him. The Taoist priest lent his car to the two brothers and sisters and showed them the way, so that the brother and sister could come back from a long distance.
Lin Youcai babble on and on, talking a lot until his mouth was dry.
The more the Lin family members listened, the more frightened they became. They sat on the stools in a daze, digesting the information. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly, Old Lady Wang cried out sharply and slapped her thighs with both hands: "Oh my God! Will you let me live?"
The Lin family children waiting in the yard looked at the closed door of the main room with fear, but they did not dare to open the door and go in. They could only walk back and forth outside the door, with the younger one following the older one. The dark night only made them feel more terrified.
Old Man Lin patted Old Lady Wang soothingly and asked in a trembling voice, "Is this... is this... is this really a war?"
Lin Youfu grabbed Lin Youcai's shoulders and asked anxiously, "Fourth brother, is this true? Did you hear it wrong?"
Lin Youcai sighed, "How could I say such a thing! My children had just been found, and I had no time to be happy, but I rushed back to the village! The rich and powerful people in the city have already fled south! It's extremely urgent! Otherwise, why would I rush back so late!"
Old Man Lin said with a worried look on his face, "Youcai, have you seen that all the rich people in the city have fled south?"
"I saw it! I saw it! Really! Really! Really! What good would it be if I lied to you? I also want to escape with my wife and children!" Lin Youcai suddenly felt extremely tired.
"Son! It's not that daddy doesn't believe you." Old Man Lin's eyes were red and he choked up, "It's hard to leave home! It's hard! Our ancestral graves, houses, yards and fields, our roots are all here!"
Lin Youcai felt sad after hearing this. Indeed, for an old man who had worked hard all his life, when he was spending his twilight years, he had to experience war and leave his hometown. The future was unknown, life and death were unpredictable, and no one could accept it!
He softened his voice and said slowly, "Last year, the upper level was gone," he pointed to the sky, "his four capable eldest sons, none of them submitted to the other, and all wanted to sit in that position. The fight has been fierce from last year to this year. Ancheng is gone, and our Nan County is a must-go place from Ancheng. The families in the city who got the news have all left." Pointing to his son and daughter, "The news brought back by Xianwen and Zisu further confirmed that in a few days, the fight will reach our doorstep!"
Lin Youfu frowned, "Fourth brother, there are wars everywhere. Where can we escape to? It's not safe anywhere. Isn't it more dangerous on the road?"
"Yes, away from home, with such a large family, food and drink are always a problem! A penny can make a hero fall!" Lin Youxiang looked at the fourth child with a worried look on his face.
Lin Youcai nodded: "Yes, with such a large family, food and drink alone will be a big problem along the way, and there will definitely be many dangers along the way."
Old Man Lin looked at his sons with hope on his face, "Then... let's find a remote mountain spot and hide there first! When the storm is over, we can move back to the village as a family!"
"Yes, fourth brother, let's pack up and find a place to hide. When things are calmer, we can come back to the village." Lin Youfu felt that the method his father suggested was feasible, so he responded.
Lin Yougui nodded, "I think it's okay. Let's hide first, and we don't have to take the risk of going to other places. What if the situation outside is worse than ours, and less peaceful? Where can we escape to?"
Lin Youcai suddenly smiled and said, "What you can think of, can't others think of it? Those rich people's shops and mansions are not as valuable as our fields and houses? When they got the news, they immediately mobilized a large number of troops and headed south. Are they stupid and foolish?"
Lin Youcai didn't want to waste any more time, and continued, "They must know some news that we ordinary people can't get. That's why they are so reckless and quickly packed up their belongings and left! When we went to tell my father-in-law's family today, they also heard about it a few days ago and asked the people in the county government about the situation. Things like wars can last for 1 or 2 years at least, 3 or 4 years, and as long as more than ten years. Of course, it is also possible for each side to claim its own kingdom. You must be thinking, what if someone takes the throne soon, and the world will be peaceful? I inferred from the news I got that the eldest brother is gone, and there is no... crown... prince, and probably no... edict. The strength of these four brothers is almost the same, and no one is willing to submit to anyone else. When do you think there will be peace..."
The two siblings listened attentively, feeling terrified. What a hellish start!
"This morning, Brother Xu, who works in the government office, told me that the county magistrate quietly sent his wife and children away!"
Everyone in the room looked ashen.
Lin Youfu wiped his face and said, "You said that the four of them were fighting for territory, then... where can we escape to?"
"Go south, we have to go south! They are all going south, there must be a reason! I don't know more specific information. I can't guarantee whether it's good to go south, but we must escape!" Lin Youcai looked at everyone: "It's not just a matter of fighting. The two brothers and sisters are running fast, and there is a large group of refugees on the way! By then, there will be tens of thousands of refugees, plus soldiers coming over, can you handle it? What is a refugee? The more you flee, the harder it is, the less food and water you have, and you become a refugee. Then we have food and drink, clothes and shelter, will they just watch and not do anything? On that day, stealing and robbing will be trivial matters, and murder and arson will be the norm!"
Lin Youfu widened his eyes and puffed out his chest, "We have so many young and strong brothers in our village, what are we afraid of!"
Lin Yougui pulled his eldest brother and said, "I think what Fourth Brother said makes sense. A dozen or so is barely enough. There are probably tens of thousands of refugees. Their spit can flood our village!"