Scientific Travel

Thirteen days ago, the old imperial advisor announced that a pair of boys and girls born in the year, month, and hour of Yin (a concept in Chinese astrology) would be sacrificed every day.

Very few people were born at this time, especially girls, whose numbers were less than a third of the boys.

To prevent anyone from concealing information, the government conducted a population census before making arrests.

The old national advisor's original words were to sacrifice a pair of boys and girls born in the yin year, yin month, and yin hour every day, but in practice it became that a pair of boys and girls born in the yin year, yin month, and yin hour were sacrificed in every place every day.

Everyone fears that natural disasters will continue. What if, because other places have made sacrifices but you haven't, natural disasters continue only in your area?

Xiye City is a small city with a small population, let alone people who meet the requirements.

The dates for sacrifices were also divided into different ranks. The first to be sacrificed were the powerless and insignificant members of the family, then the wealthy, and finally the powerful and influential.

Ordinary people don't understand what "yin year, yin month, yin hour" means; they only know that anyone the officials and soldiers want to arrest is someone who meets the criteria.

Wang Moyu and Li Pingle had some spare money, but neither of them knew anything about the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. It wasn't until the government soldiers sent people to arrest Wang Xi that they learned their daughter was born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour.

The two spent 100 gold coins to temporarily protect Wang Xi.

Li Pingle frowned and said, "We can't stay any longer. We've already paid them off this time, but what about next time?"

Wang Moyu's expression was also not good; she had more to think about. "We are going to leave, but you need to go to Wang Shoujie in the East City first and ask him to make a new travel permit for Wang Xi and change the date. The city can't let someone like her go out now."

Li Pingle acted quickly, driving his carriage there and returning in less than half an hour.

"Why are you back so soon?"

This is quite far from the East City. A round trip, plus the time needed to get a travel permit, will take more than half an hour.

Li Pingle said with a gloomy face, "Wang Shoujie has been arrested. I heard he was arrested for tampering with someone's travel permit."

Wang Moyu remained silent for a long time before speaking again: "In that case, I'll try to see if I can forge a travel permit. Let's go back to the village and hide for a while."

This was Wang Moyu's first time doing this kind of work, which was evident from the finished product she made.

Li Pingyue examined it carefully and thought it was very good.

Anyone with eyes can tell it's a fake.

"How about I give it a try?"

"That's fine..."

Li Pingle's craftsmanship was slightly better than Wang Moyu's, but it was still so good that anyone with eyes could tell it was a fake.

The two of them worked like they were in a competition, forging documents from morning till night. To make sure they could see clearly at night, they each lit three kerosene lamps beside them.

In the end, Li Pingle came out on top, his forgery was more convincing.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, the two, without even taking a break, immediately prepared to leave the city with Wang Xi.

The city gate was completely blocked by people trying to leave the city.

"They even dared to forge travel permits! Arrest them all!"

The cries pierced through the crowd and reached their ears.

"Please, please let us go. My child is still young. If you're willing to let him go, I'm willing to give you all my money."

The baby, who looked only a few months old, was crying loudly in the woman's arms.

"Let you go? What will happen to the rest of us if we let you go? Your child's life is precious, but other children's lives aren't?"

"Exactly, how can they be so selfish? It's just the death of a child. He's so young anyway, we can just have another one."

"Get her!"

The onlookers were filled with righteous indignation, but the officers and soldiers raised their hands, signaling them to quiet down.

"See? That's what everyone thinks. If you had handed over your child obediently, you could have earned a reputation for being selfless and altruistic. But you refused to be arrested and even forged travel documents. Your child would rather die than be convicted because of you!"

"Pah!" The woman stood up, holding her child, her tear stains long since dried. "You people all speak so righteously, saying such nice things, but why don't you sacrifice your own children?"

“My child wasn’t born in an unlucky year, month, or hour, so sacrificing him wouldn’t help.”

"Exactly! If it were my child, I would definitely make him sacrifice himself so that everyone could survive! My child would definitely think the same way!"

"There are plenty of people willing to sacrifice their own children. Don't be unwilling yourself and then drag everyone else down with you."

There were many such voices, and all those who spoke up said that the child was not within the scope of the sacrifice.

The woman, her face full of resentment, pointed at each of the people who had spoken.

"I curse you all to die a horrible death! And that old charlatan, the Imperial Preceptor, I won't let you off the hook even after I'm gone!"

Her expression was manic, she looked like she had gone mad, it was somewhat eerie.

The leading officers and soldiers quickly ordered their men to arrest her.

The woman pulled a dagger from the baby's swaddling clothes and swiftly slashed three soldiers who approached her.

Those around quickly retreated, and for a moment the only sound was the soldiers' cries of pain.

The leading officers and soldiers quickly retreated, fearing that they would be the next ones to get hurt.

"What are you doing? Kill her with your swords, but don't hurt the baby in her arms!"

The dagger was no longer than a blade, and before it could even touch the enemy, it plunged into the woman's abdomen. The woman, enduring the pain, raised the dagger.

The soldiers were still vivid in their minds as they watched her slash three people. Fearing that she might hurt herself, they quickly drew their knives and retreated.

The knife was drawn too quickly, and blood drew an arc in the air.

The woman coughed up a mouthful of blood but managed to stay upright.

The dagger in his hand fell heavily, its target the baby's neck.

Her original target was not the soldier she had just met.

"Useless! All of you are useless! Quickly pull her away and check if the child is alright!"

That last stab had used up all her strength. She didn't know where her heart was and was afraid of missing, so she chose the neck.

A child's neck is very flexible, and the dagger was long enough to pierce through his entire neck.

I'm so sorry, baby, Mommy can't protect you.

But you are someone I brought here, and you will surely be someone I take away as well.