Chapter 156: No Detour

This calculation method is still based on the condition that the modern road surface is smooth and the traffic is good.

The ancient official roads were no better than modern dirt roads, and in many cases, they were worse.

Many of these paths were traversed through mountain peaks and canyons (refer to some ancient roads preserved in modern times), not to mention that they had families and elderly people with them.

The walking speed of the elderly and children is much slower than that of adults.

Seventy miles may not sound like much, but to actually walk it, it takes at least a day.

If you pack lightly and ride on horseback, the seventy-mile journey is naturally a piece of cake, and you could potentially make it back and forth in the same day.

“It’s such a long detour,” Yang Dashan frowned.

Mr. Wan San nodded, “To go from Qinghe County to Dahe County, you need to walk on a mountain road. The mountain road there is not peaceful all year round.”

The reason he was aware of this was due to the caravan’s past experiences in managing their resources in that area.

Walking for an extra day was already concerning, but now that he heard it wasn’t peaceful there, the risks had increased significantly.

“If we don’t go to Dahe County and go directly to Jiatong County, is there water there?” Yang Dachuan asked.

Wan Sanye shook his head, “I don’t know. No one knows the situation ahead now.”

Nan Wu said, “We are not afraid of those bandits on the way to Taihe County, so there is no need to worry about this.”

They all had experience with fighting, and combined with their daily training, they were not helpless against bandits.

“These are not problems,” Su Yin, who had been silent until now, stated.

Whether it was an extra day of walking or bandits on the road, these issues were minor compared to the need for water.

Nan Jingzhi then said, “Indeed, these are not problems.”

Su Yin and Nan Jingzhi exchanged glances, understanding each other’s thoughts.

“Aside from these two, what other problems are there?” Butcher Yang looked confused.

Li Rui thought of something and his pupils suddenly tightened, “Are you worried about…the plague?”

Su Yin and Nan Jingzhi nodded in unison.

“No one gathers in Jingshan County, and there is a sign specially erected at the city gate.

People who have experienced water shortages now know that there is water in Dahe County.

Guess, those people will choose to go to Dahe County or to the closer Jiatong County?”

Undoubtedly, it must be the former.

Knowing that there is hope for life in Dahe County, naturally no one will stay here to wait for death.

The fact that there are no refugees at the gate of Jingshan County is the best proof.

She had previously worried about the situation in Jingshan County, fearing that it could also happen in Dahe County.

No one knows whether anyone brought the disease to Dahe, and no one can guarantee that the refugees passing through Baiji County will be safe.

The plague poses a significant risk.

Once infected with the plague, given the medical conditions of the Great Yong Dynasty, one could only rely on their body to endure it.

If they survived, there would still be a glimmer of hope. If they could not resist it, there would be only death.

This is not the most terrifying aspect. The most frightening thing is that the authorities may not allow you to carry it; they might cut off all contact.

Butcher Yang responded quickly, “Of course we will go to Dahe County.”

“Refugees from Baiji County will also go to Dahe County. If there is a plague in Baiji County, will any of these people carry the disease?”

Fan’s words made everyone fall silent.

They had been focused on detours and bandits, but they had overlooked the most immediate and significant danger, which was the plague.

Now that a plague had appeared in Baiji County, they had to approach the situation with caution.

Li Rui felt fortunate to have met Su Yin and her party before they arrived in Baiji County.

If they passed through Baiji County alone and arrived at Jingshan County, they would definitely head to Dahe County after seeing this sign.

Once they went there, it was hard to imagine what the road ahead would be like.

“But now if we don’t replenish water, I’m afraid we won’t survive three days,” Zhou Youcai said distressedly.

This concern applied not only to the Zhou family but also to Su Yin. With one more animal, their water consumption would naturally increase.

No matter how much water they stored, it couldn’t withstand the additional demand from another animal.

Nan Jingzhi shook the folding fan in his hand, “The situation in Jinghe County is better than that of Nanshan County and Nanping County.

You can find water sources in Nanping County; are you afraid that you can’t find water sources in Jinghe County, where the situation is better?”

He recalled that such a secret water source had been discovered by Su Yin.

The second uncle of the Li family looked at Li Rui and said, “Yes, our brother Rui is also good at finding water.”

With Li Rui and Su Yin present, there was no harm in going to Jiatong County.

Faced with the sudden burden, Su Yin and Li Rui expressed their gratitude.

“Then let’s…” Butcher Yang looked at everyone.

“I won’t go to Dahe County,” Nan Jingzhi decided.

After confirming the route, everyone returned to the team.

On the way back, Zhou Youcai suggested, “I see that there are no people here, and the place is spacious.

It’s getting late; why don’t we take a rest early today and camp here for the night?”

This suggestion excited many people. Since the beginning of their escape, they hadn’t had a single day off; they walked every day as soon as they opened their eyes.

It would be nice to take a little rest today.

Madam Xu shook her head, “No.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately explained, “Look at the officers and soldiers guarding the city.”

Everyone looked at the officers and soldiers on the city tower. At first, they didn’t notice anything unusual, but soon they saw that some of the guards were scratching their necks and arms from time to time.

Due to the distance, they couldn’t clearly see their physical condition, but it was unusual for one or two officers and soldiers to be scratching their bodies repeatedly.

Su Yin, Nan Jingzhi, and Doctor Li all changed their expressions.

“Let’s go, let’s go now.”

Everyone else reacted, and there was a rush to their feet as they urged their family members to leave quickly.

Seeing Su Yin’s solemn expression, Mother Su asked, “What’s wrong?”

“The plague here has also started.”

Mother Su, Su Baozhu, Yun Niang, and others all changed their expressions.

Su Yin looked at the pregnant Yun Niang and said, “From now on, you should go out as little as possible and stay in the carriage if you can.”

Yun Niang nodded, “Okay.”

She understood that once a woman becomes pregnant, her immunity decreases.

Pregnant women, the elderly, and children are most susceptible to infection during this time.

Once the team learned about the plague, no one dared to delay. They hurried away without needing further instructions, fearing that if they stayed even a moment longer, they would be at risk of infection.

The people on the city tower saw them leaving and joked with their companions: “Look, these refugees know there is water in Dahe County, so they are leaving very quickly, as if there are beasts chasing behind them.”

“Hahaha, if you were like them, thirsty for a long time, and heard that there was water over there, you’d probably run faster than they are.”

After burning incense, another group of refugees arrived.

Among them was an old man’s family who had followed Su Yin and boiled masks in mugwort water.

The old man’s family hurriedly and slowly chased after Su Yin and the others, but the latter walked very fast.

They kept moving without stopping, and despite their efforts, they did not catch up with them all day and night without sleeping.