Chapter 180: The magistrate’s child is releasing a dog.

The wind whistled, and the boat rocked violently.

Zhang Xianzong also became anxious, forcefully suppressing the matter concerning King of Zhou, and quickly said, “Come up with a solution quickly.”

The old boatman remained calm and said, “My lord, there is no ferry nearby, and the boat cannot approach the shore. We can only anchor and wait. After the wind weakens a bit, we can continue our journey.”

“If the wind doesn’t weaken, can we just stay on the boat indefinitely?”

Pan Xing asked.

The old boatman shook his head and said, “Summer storms come and go quickly. If nothing unexpected happens, the wind should weaken within two hours. By then, we can continue north with the favorable wind, which is the fastest route.”

“My lord.”

Song Li looked at Zhang Xianzong, hoping he would make a decision.

Zhang Xianzong pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, “Drop the anchor!”

“My lord, this man has malicious intentions. How can we trust his one-sided words? We should immediately find a shallow bank, anchor the boat, and hand him over to the local yamen. Then we can head to Kaifeng,” objected Gao Wei loudly.

Zhang Xianzong glanced at Gao Wei and said to the boatman, “You’ve worked hard. Regarding what you mentioned, I have taken note of it. I hope you can assist us in safely reaching Kaifeng. After that, I will report this matter to the court and let the Emperor decide. What do you think?”

The old boatman bowed deeply and exclaimed, “Thank you, my lord!”

The sail was lowered, the anchor was dropped, and although the wind was strong, it posed no major threat.

Inside the cabin, everyone fell into silence.

The Yellow River’s diversion to the Huai River in the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu was considered a natural disaster, a consensus agreed upon by the court. However, whether there was also human wrongdoing after this natural disaster was unclear.

“I’ll go out and take a look.”

Gao Wei put on his raincoat and walked out of the cabin.

The wind and rain were intense, instantly soaking Gao Wei’s face.

At the stern, the old boatman was measuring the water’s depth with a long bamboo pole.

Gao Wei wiped the rain off his face, took a few steps forward, and observed carefully. Then, he walked over and coughed softly, saying, “Do you know that your words may cause the death of many people, including yourself and your grandson?”

The old boatman glanced at Gao Wei, raised the bamboo pole, and replied, “I don’t know much. I just know that those who shouldn’t have died all died, and none of those who should have died did.”

“Don’t you consider yourself and your grandson? Accusing a prince is a capital crime. I advise you, don’t mention King of Zhou again in the future. Otherwise, not even God can save you!”

Gao Wei warned.

The old boatman shook off the rainwater on his body and sat at the bow of the boat, letting the wind and rain beat down on him. He said desolately, “If there really is a God, so many people wouldn’t have died.”

Gao Wei’s gaze turned icy; if he let this man live, the Ming Dynasty would face even more turmoil!

One person’s death stabilizes the world, that’s true!

Gao Wei walked behind the old boatman, about to take action, when footsteps came from behind. Gao Wei turned around to see Xue Xia standing not far away, weighing a stone in his hand.

“Damn it!”

Gao Wei gritted his teeth inwardly and turned to walk toward the cabin. Passing by Xue Xia, he said in a low voice, “I hope you can think it through. If he lives, the Emperor will be in a difficult position, and the Ming Dynasty may collapse! It’s better for an unknown person to die. I, Gao Wei, am loyal to the current Emperor with no selfish motives!”

Xue Xia’s gaze was profound. He watched Gao Wei enter the cabin, then turned around and looked at the old boatman.

Gao Wei’s words were not without reason.

If what the old boatman said was true, then King of Zhou, Zhu Su was guilty and unforgivable!

If the Emperor dealt with Zhu Su, how would Zhu Di, Zhu Su’s older brother react?

What actions would he take?

Currently, Zhu Di was a person the Emperor heavily relied on. Zhu Di was needed for the training of the Three Camps and the defense of the northern border!

Xue Xia raised his hand, and the stone in his hand suddenly flew out, grazing the old boatman’s hair, and landing in the river.

“Ah, my skills are rusty.”

Xue Xia sighed, turned around, and walked into the cabin.

The old boatman only touched his head, feeling something strange but didn’t pay much attention due to the wind and rain.

In less than Four hours, the wind did decrease a bit, and even the rain weakened a little.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Xianzong immediately ordered the ship to set sail. The boat took advantage of the southeast wind and headed northwest along the river.

After arriving in Suqian, Zhang Xianzong and his companions braved the rain to go ashore. They inquired with local officials, but to their surprise, the officials seemed unconcerned, thinking it was just an ordinary summer rain.

Infuriated, Zhang Xianzong reprimanded several officials, commanding them to mobilize all constables and recruit laborers to inspect the river embankment.

One day after leaving Suqian, the weather gradually cleared up. Zhang Xianzong and his companions visibly relaxed, thinking that as long as the weather cleared, there would be no major issues. However, on that same evening, heavy rain struck again, even more intense than before. The water level of the Yellow River reached its highest point in years during the flood season.

Unable to navigate in such pouring rain, the boatmen decided to stop the boat.

In this predicament, Zhang Xianzong and his party, along with the old boatman, disembarked at Pizhou, heading to the relay station to change to horses and braving the rain as they rushed towards Xuzhou.

Huaiyuan, on the embankment of the Wo River.

Li Wu, the head of the constables, led twelve laborers, wearing raincoats and patrolling the embankment.

“Head, when will this rain stop? It’s been three days, hasn’t it?” one laborer, Wang Jiu, asked anxiously.

Li Wu spat out a mouthful of rainwater, looked up at the overcast sky, and said, “If I knew, would I still need to accompany you poor folks on this embankment?”

“Everyone keep quiet!”

An old man in his fifties suddenly shouted.

Li Wu and others immediately stopped, watching the old man, Li Laosan.

Li Laosan walked to the side of the embankment, put his hand under the canopy, squinted at the Wo River, and suddenly lay flat on the embankment, listening intently.

“Li Laosan, don’t scare me.”

Li Wu was somewhat nervous.

Li Laosan stood up, his face covered in mud, and solemnly said, “Something’s wrong. This embankment is not safe. We need to evacuate immediately. Go and call everyone, tell them to run to higher ground.”

Li Wu stared at Li Laosan in disbelief and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? The embankment is perfectly fine. Do you know you could be beaten to death by the county magistrate if you’re wrong?”

Li Laosan angrily shouted, “Killing me means nothing! I still have a family! Why are you all standing there? When have I ever lied to you? Hurry up and leave!” “Beating me to death means nothing! I still have a family! Why are you all still standing there? When have I ever lied to you? Hurry and go! The embankment is going to breach; run!”

“Uh, Head, what should we do?”

Li Wu swallowed hard, staring at Li Laosan, and said, “What makes you say the embankment is not safe?”

Li Laosan shouted angrily, “Damn it! When I was fishing in this river, you guys were still wearing open-crotch pants! Get back and call for help! The embankment is breaking, run for your lives!”

Li Wu watched as Li Laosan ran away, gritted his teeth, and sternly ordered the people around him, “What are you still doing? Listen to him! Shout, even if your throat breaks, you must shout to get everyone out!”

“The embankment is breaking! Run!”

The voice echoed through the rain curtain, spreading on both sides of the embankment.

In less than an hour, Huaiyuan City fell into panic. The people wailed and dragged their families, desperately running east.

“Li Laosan, you’ve got the wrong place. Everyone follow me to Gui Mountain!”

Li Wu saw Li Laosan leading his family to the east and many people following suit, shouted.

Li Laosan stopped and shouted sternly, “Go to Tu Mountain and Jing Mountain, follow me!”

“What are you doing?”

Li Wu angrily walked up to Li Laosan and shouted, “Do you know that there is no shelter on Tu Mountain and Jing Mountain at all? It’s fine for us men to get wet in the rain, but what about the women and children? You will kill them!”

Li Laosan sneered at Li Wu and said, “Going to Gui Mountain is what will kill them!”

“What nonsense! Gui Mountain has the Dragon King Temple! At least some women and children can find shelter!”

Li Wu clenched his fists tightly.

Li Laosan raised his head and sneered, “See that? No one listens to you. Do you know why?”

Li Wu turned around and saw the surrounding people all looking at him in silence. “Listen to me, go to Gui Mountain. There’s a Dragon King Temple there. Grandpa Wang, you have a high status, say a word.”

Li Wu shouted anxiously.

“Child, Li Laosan is right. We can only go to Tu Mountain.” Grandpa Wang, leaning on a crutch, shook his head helplessly.

Li Lao San called on everyone to go to Tu Mountain, while Li Wu gritted his teeth, taking his family and a group of people to Gui Mountain.

Gui Mountain is only three miles away from Huaiyuan City. Because there are more women, children, and elderly people, it took them almost an hour to reach Gui Mountain. Li Wu was about to lead the people up the mountain, he was arrested by the rushing constables personnel.

“I’m the leader, what are you doing?”

Li Wu shouted at his two subordinates.

“What are we doing? Heh, Li Wu, you have a lot of guts!”

The magistrate of Huaiyuan came over and shouted to the people who wanted to enter the mountain, “The embankment of the Wo River is not broken at all. It’s this guy who falsely reported it. Come on, tie him up and beat him! If he dies, it’s his own fault! Falsely reporting a disaster is a serious crime!”

Li Wu was hung on a nearby tree. He looked at the people who had come with him, all soaked. He was full of pain and shouted, “Lord Magistrate, even if you kill me, I won’t complain, but please let the people take shelter in the temple!”

“Shelter from the rain? This is the Dragon King Temple. With these ragged beggars, dare to come here? When the Dragon King sees them, he’ll be angry too! Whoever dares to climb the mountain and enter the temple, beat them back!”

The magistrate ordered with authority, and then shouted to everyone, “All of you go home. There is no flooding at all! Liu Si, what are you standing there for, beat him!”

The whip cracked on Li Wu’s body. He trembled violently, gritted his teeth, and shouted, “Let women and children into the temple!”

“Beat him hard, beat him to death!”

The magistrate shouted with determination.

The sound of whips became more and more intense. Just when Li Wu was weak and almost unconscious, a sound like the gathering of countless thunderbolts echoed from a distance. The distant sky became even more vast.

“The embankment has collapsed.”

Li Wu lifted his head weakly and looked into the distance. There was bitterness at the corners of his mouth: Li Laosan was right.

The strong movement also shocked the magistrate. In less than a quarter of an hour, someone shouted in despair, “It’s bad, the embankment has collapsed, magistrate, it has collapsed!”

The people looked at the magistrate in despair, shivering all over. Some middle-aged men were even gnashing their teeth and approaching step by step.

The magistrate’s face turned pale and he quickly shouted, “Gui Mountain has been requisitioned by the government. Anyone who dares to rush over will be attacking the government office and will be punished! Vice magistrate, you guard here and don’t let anyone enter the temple!”

After that, the magistrate took his people and ran towards the Dragon King Temple without looking back.

Outside, heavy rain poured, cold and chilling.

In the temple, it was carefree and warm.

Before the magistrate set foot in the temple, he saw his wife and children coming to greet him, full of spring breeze.

“Daddy, the rain is so much fun.”

The boy ran over, stepping on the rainwater.

The magistrate hugged his son and looked at his wife holding an umbrella, smiling, “Since our son likes it, let’s go and ask the Dragon King to make it rain for a few more days, shall we?”

“Great!”

The boy smiled and heard the commotion outside. He pointed outside and said, “Daddy, why is it so noisy outside? What happened?”

The magistrate shook his head and said, “Nothing, just a group of peasants who don’t listen. They ran over trying to snatch the place where my son sleeps.”

“That won’t do. Where will I sleep if they come? Daddy, beat them back, just like last time, let the dogs bite them. It’s so much fun.”

The boy gestured excitedly.