The leaders were truly enraged as Liu Changfu, still spewing nonsensical words at this critical juncture, continued his foolishness. The leader shouted, "Drag him out and behead him! This good-for-nothing who can't accomplish anything but ruin everything. Yuzhou is the most likely force to support us, and also the closest. Yet, this scoundrel dared to insult Fengshen to his face. He deserves to be torn limb from limb."
Liu Changfu, the troublemaker, was thus taken out and executed. Liu Changfu's head was then preserved in lime, intended for use on a special occasion.
The leaders then commenced their deliberations. Although Chengdu had agreed to support Jiucheng and accept its allegiance, this support would only arrive after spring. However, Jiucheng could no longer hold out. Especially since cannibalism had already begun within the city. The granary had been set ablaze by Xue Ba, and when the fire finally died down, they had managed to unearth a meager amount of grain from the charred remains – only a few thousand jin of dried grain. This tiny amount was far from enough to sustain them.
Without food, people would starve. It was rumored that the human limit for survival on water alone was twenty-one days, but that was under ideal conditions. In the current deep winter, one could not endure a single day without food. After three days without eating, even if they survived on water, they would freeze to death.
Therefore, after careful discussion, the leaders reached a conclusion: in the current dire situation, only Shen Feng of Yuzhou, Fengshen, could save Jiucheng. It was crucial to obtain Shen Feng's forgiveness.
Consequently, the leaders decided: "Immediately dispatch someone with Liu Changfu's head to Yuzhou. When meeting Fengshen, you must be humble and avoid provoking him. Furthermore, all previously discussed conditions are now waived. What we need most at this moment is Fengshen's forgiveness."
Upon receiving the order, the new envoy felt the immense weight of responsibility, as if the very survival of Jiucheng rested on his shoulders.
Before his departure, the envoy asked the leaders, "I heard that in Jiangyang, Li Xiang has prohibited anyone from Jiucheng from entering. Soldiers are patrolling the roads there day and night. What should I do if I cannot pass?"
This was a very practical concern. Liu Changfu had only been in Yuzhou for a few days, but he had managed to infuriate Shen Feng. Shen Feng had instructed Li Xiang to guard against any actions from Jiucheng. Li Xiang, being inherently timid, had immediately dispatched troops to seal off the road from Jiucheng to Jiangyang, even issuing a slogan: "Jiangyang does not welcome rude individuals."
In Yuzhou and Jiangyang, Shen Feng's prestige was unparalleled, even surpassing that of Chang Jianyi, who had resided in Yuzhou for years. After all, Shen Feng had saved countless lives, allowing many to survive the apocalypse. While their quality of life had diminished, simply being alive at this moment was a significant achievement. Now, with someone openly threatening and insulting the city lord, public outrage was ignited.
After the envoy voiced his concerns, the leaders seriously considered the matter. This was indeed a problem. If they could not reach Shen Feng, then obtaining his forgiveness would be impossible.
Subsequently, one of the leaders recalled something and stated earnestly, "If we cannot enter Jiangyang, then go to Chengdu. Shen Feng's parents and sister are in Chengdu. In that case, we can only seek forgiveness from Shen Feng's family."
This suggestion was unanimously agreed upon. The envoy could only set off for Jiangyang, hoping to successfully obtain Shen Feng's forgiveness. Otherwise, Jiucheng would be completely finished, and it was uncertain how many would survive until spring.
The envoy immediately departed. Traveling by car was no longer feasible for Jiucheng. Bicycles had become the most convenient mode of transport. Coincidentally, the envoy rode a pink mountain bike, the very bicycle confiscated from Xu Xing. Seeing that this was the newest model, the envoy chose this new bicycle.
However, as the envoy reached the border of Jiangyang, he was met with soldiers standing ready. At the intersection, people were also being blocked. These were individuals from Jiucheng, attempting to flee to Jiangyang, but they were being held back.
The soldiers' response was simple: "Your Jiucheng envoy insulted our City Lord. Our City Lord is the Dragon of Yuzhou, the God in the Wind. He is respected everywhere he goes, yet he was subjected to insults here. This is utterly unacceptable. No one from Jiucheng will be allowed to pass."
The refugees pleaded desperately but were still denied entry. Helpless, they were forced to enter the nearby mountains, hoping to find some food in the wilderness. However, the wild boars in the mountains were also hungry. Those who entered the mountains, it was unknown whether they found prey or became prey.
At this moment, the envoy also rushed to the checkpoint, unable to pass. He simply held up the box in his hands and said earnestly, "I am an envoy from Jiucheng. Our leaders know they were wrong and have brought the head of the disrespectful villain Liu Changfu to seek forgiveness from Fengshen. Please grant us passage."
However, the guards at the checkpoint merely sneered at this response and mockingly retorted, "Your leaders? Didn't you say you had five thousand soldiers? If you have so many soldiers, then come and attack Jiangyang! I'd like to see how your Jiucheng plans to capture our Jiangyang."
In fact, when this dispute arose, the people of Yuzhou were not the most angered. Instead, it was the people of Jiangyang who were initially furious. This was because Liu Changfu had repeatedly spoken of attacking Jiangyang, which was the closest city to Jiucheng, as if Jiangyang were already within Jiucheng's grasp.
Upon hearing of this, the people of Jiangyang were enraged, thinking, "Your Jiucheng now only has two hundred thousand starving citizens. Our Jiangyang is prosperous, with a population of five hundred thousand alone. At this time, you still think of defeating us? What a pipe dream!"
Therefore, even though the envoy was prepared to apologize to Yuzhou, the Jiangyang soldiers, filled with indignation, directly blocked him, saying, "What if you're an envoy? Envoys are not allowed to pass either. We let one envoy pass before, and what was the result? This envoy, upon entering Jiangyang, demanded lavish meals and wanted courtesans at night. When we couldn't fulfill his demands, he started complaining loudly. Later, in Yuzhou, he even dared to insult the City Lord and threaten us! Since that's the case, then be defiant to the end. We won't target you, just don't come to Jiangyang. What is this about coming to beg for mercy now?"
The envoy pleaded and reasoned, but the soldiers refused to let him pass. The previous envoy they had allowed through had no good character. To prevent Fengshen from becoming enraged again, it was better to send the messenger away.
Seeing this situation, the envoy wept bitterly but could do nothing. He rode his bicycle towards Chengdu, hoping to seek help from Shen Feng's family. As long as Shen Feng's family was willing to help, Jiucheng would be saved.
Meanwhile, at the border between Jiucheng and Jiangyang, a large number of refugees were being blocked. After being stopped, they could only cut down trees on the spot to build makeshift shelters, at least having a place to hide. They also unexpectedly received food at the border!
It turned out that Jiangyang's population had not increased naturally in a short period but was supplemented by people from surrounding areas. After all, Jiangyang had become a stable place after resolving the zombie threat, and people from surrounding areas flocked to Jiangyang. Furthermore, during Xue Ba's occupation of Jiucheng, tens of thousands had fled to Jiangyang. Now, among the refugees were those with relatives living in Jiangyang, and they had accumulated some grain over the past two years.
Currently, Jiucheng was in ruins, even more desolate than before, and people could only flee. Upon hearing of this, people originally from Jiucheng who were now in Jiangyang spontaneously brought food to the border.
"Uncle, thank you so much. We haven't had a full meal in years in Jiucheng. It's wonderful to have corn porridge now." A cordon had been set up at the border, with soldiers patrolling at all times. On both sides of the cordon, relatives and fellow villagers conversed.
The refugees from Jiucheng, just by their appearance, conveyed a sense of despair. They wore dirty, patched clothes. It was the dead of winter, and people had put on all the clothes they could wear, some even wrapping themselves in quilts. While this did provide warmth, it was, in fact, their last remaining possessions.
In contrast, the people on the Jiangyang side looked much better. They wore clean clothes and had a visibly different demeanor and spirit compared to those across the line.
"I told you to come to Jiangyang with me before, but you didn't listen. Now the border is sealed, and I can't save you anymore. However, I will try to give you some food. Wait here for a few days. When the City Lord takes pity, he won't forbid you from entering Jiangyang anymore," the uncle at the cordon said earnestly.
"We truly have no disrespectful thoughts towards Fengshen. It was the previous scoundrel envoy who spoke nonsense, which is why we are implicated."
"Then why did you find such an envoy to come to Yuzhou? He was completely clueless, shouting orders before even meeting the City Lord. Besides the City Lord, many people were also dissatisfied with this envoy. So, be more discerning next time."
"Next time? When will there be a next time?"
A cordon had effectively separated the people of Jiucheng and Jiangyang, and the disparity was clearly visible.
At this moment, Li Xiang, leading a group of his subordinates, was patrolling the border. Upon seeing the scene before him, someone immediately asked Li Xiang, "City Lord, didn't Fengshen order us to guard against potential attacks from Jiucheng? With so many refugees at the border, won't this cause unrest?"
When Li Xiang heard what his subordinate said, he immediately shook his head helplessly and replied, "You truly don't understand. Why did the City Lord seal off Jiucheng? It's to make those people in Jiucheng starve. Only by making them go hungry will they learn to obey. In my opinion, the more the refugees lack food, the more likely they are to come to the border between Jiangyang and Jiucheng. And in this way, whose side will the people's hearts be on? It's obvious, isn't it?"
"Fengshen's strategy is truly brilliant. If we don't give them food, they will naturally come begging. And in this way, our annexation of Jiucheng will become much easier," Qiao Xianwen couldn't help but praise.
"You're only realizing that now? From the day I started following Fengshen, I knew he was deeply cunning... No, I mean, resourceful," Li Xiang said proudly.
"City Lord, you are truly remarkable. Following Fengshen step by step to reach this point. I heard you were among the earliest followers of Fengshen, is that right?" someone immediately inquired.
Li Xiang said proudly, "Of course. Back then, Fengshen and Madam Chang Jianyi had not yet formed any factions, and I was already following the City Lord. It was indeed luck. Because of my loyalty, I have progressed step by step to where I am today. All other traitors have been killed by Fengshen. While I may not be as capable as Yang Chang and Guo Pinming, I am loyal. Otherwise, the City Lord would not have entrusted me with managing Jiangyang, the place where he built his fortune."