She picked up the young prime minister while fleeing famine

The night passed quickly, and everyone got up early the next morning to pack and set off.

After passing this mine, there were probably no more mines. Apart from a few scattered, almost invisible paths that the laborers had made while searching for food, the area was overgrown with weeds.

Fortunately, the area at the foot of the mountain is quite spacious, and there are many rocks, so it's not difficult to walk.

It just takes a lot of trouble to have someone cut down the thorns and weeds in front of it so that the oxcart can barely pass.

Even so, Lian Chengmo has no intention of abandoning the oxcart for the time being.

Since they were traveling between mountains, Lian Chengmo would have people light a fire around their resting place at night. After all, firewood was never in short supply when traveling in the mountains.

In addition, they outnumbered each other and carried gleaming weapons, which would attract wild animals.

There was no shortage of food in the mountains, so even though they occasionally heard the howls of wolves and bears, they never saw any wild beasts coming down from the mountains.

They did encounter quite a few pheasants and rabbits, and those with good aim could catch a prey with just one arrow.

Even Banxia and Lianchengmo each caught some game, and their families were able to eat fresh meat again, instead of having to eat salted fish anymore.

To be honest, they had almost finished the salted fish they had dried before, and the dried meat they had made before was also almost gone. If they didn't replenish their supplies, they would run out of meat to eat, so Banxia became interested in hunting again.

Fortunately, Banxia's injuries have improved a lot, and new flesh has grown back at the most serious wounds; otherwise, Lian Chengmo would not have allowed her to run around.

During her daily rest, Banxia would go hunting with the hunting team. The mountains were sparsely populated, and there was a lot of prey.

Each time they went, they brought back something, more or less; they were almost never empty-handed, which was the only bit of hope in such a difficult journey.

Originally, the villagers of Yaoli Village were quite apprehensive about settling in a barbarian land, but after entering the mountains, they not only didn't go hungry but also ate meat every day, which gradually put their minds at ease.

After traveling for about ten more days, a large mountain suddenly appeared in their path.

This was the largest mountain they had seen in all the time they had been in the mountains. A huge waterfall cascaded down halfway up the mountain, and a wide river flowed down at the foot of the mountain.

The river did not flow straight towards the front of the mountain, but instead, following the terrain, it meandered around the foot of the mountain and flowed to the other side, with many twists and turns, and its end could not be seen at a glance.

When Lian Chengmo saw the great waterfall, he breathed a sigh of relief and then called Yao Lizheng to have everyone set up camp and rest on the spot.

Banxia watched Lian Chengmo go to find Yao Lizheng, lost in thought.

She always felt that Lian Chengmo wasn't just wandering around aimlessly; it seemed like he had a very clear purpose. Every time he gave directions, it was as if he had walked those roads before.

Is this really something you can do just by looking at a map?

Banxia scratched her head. She was completely baffled by this ancient map and couldn't tell which part was which at all.

Just then, Wu suddenly called out and asked Banxia what she wanted to eat tonight.

Banxia turned her head slightly and responded, then went to the oxcart to get the grain, temporarily putting her earlier doubts behind her.

Meanwhile, Lian Chengmo, unaware that he was being suspected, was discussing the next steps with Yao Lizheng.

"The waterfall blocks our way here, and to the east are steep cliffs that are difficult to climb. The only way is to go south."

“Uncle Village Head, climbing over the mountain is too slow. I want to build two rafts and go downstream to see what the road ahead is like.”

"If a more suitable place comes along, we'll go and settle there."

"If not, this place is spacious and by the river, making it a good place to settle down."

“However, I’m worried that this place is too close to Huayang Prefecture, and we’ve left traces along the way. I’m afraid people might come looking for us,” Lian Chengmo said seriously to Yao Lizheng.

Sure enough, when he mentioned that they could settle down here, Yao Lizheng looked delighted, probably already rejecting the suggestion to continue exploring.

It wasn't until he mentioned that this place was too close to Huayang Prefecture that Yao Li's expression turned serious again.

Strictly speaking, Yao Li Village residents were not disaster victims, but rather deserters. If they had settled in Huayang Prefecture or Vietnam Prefecture, it would have been fine, and they wouldn't have been held accountable by King Cheng.

But if they hide and don't come out, it's hard to say what the consequences will be if they are found later.

Therefore, in order to save the lives of everyone in the village, Yao Lizheng thought it over again and again and finally agreed to Lian Chengmo's suggestion.

“Alright, young master, I’ll have someone cut down trees and make a raft right away.” Yao Lizheng bowed to Lian Chengmo and was about to go to carry out the task.

But before he could get up, Lian Chengmo called him back.

“Uncle Village Head, there’s no need to rush. Everyone must be tired after traveling for so long. Let’s rest for today and go tomorrow,” Lian Chengmo said calmly.

"Alright, we'll do as the young master says." Yao Lizheng agreed and suppressed his thoughts.

After finishing his business with Yao Lizheng, Lian Chengmo got up and left, but instead of going back immediately, he walked towards the waterfall alone.

He stood by the river and looked south for a while, confirming that this was exactly as he remembered. His dark eyes darkened, and he turned around, put one hand behind his back, and walked back to the camp.

In his previous life, when he was investigating a corruption case in the Southern Canal, he was chased into this place. At that time, this place was already the territory of an enlightened ruler and was no longer a barbarian land.

However, the Ten Thousand Mountains were still sparsely populated. He originally wanted to take advantage of the complex terrain of the mountains and forests to shake off his pursuers, but he did not expect to accidentally enter this place.

When they were being pursued, climbing over the mountains was too slow, so he had his guards build a simple wooden raft and float downstream to a secluded place.

But in the end, he couldn't escape. All his guards sacrificed themselves to protect him, and he himself fell off a cliff, dying without a burial place...

As he walked, Lian Chengmo was filled with mixed feelings of bitterness, sadness, joy, and lingering fear, and his throat felt dry.

Fortunately, heaven took pity on him and gave him a second chance. This time, he will definitely protect Ayu and Xiaoshuang'er and will not let them repeat the same mistakes.

If given the chance, he would also protect his former guards and servants.

Oh, and there were also a little girl and her brother...

As he walked and pondered, Lian Chengmo was interrupted by the voices around him, and he listened intently.

There, a dozen or so boys from Yaoli Village were seen chopping up firewood they had gathered to prepare for a fire that would burn that night. This was something they did every day before setting up camp.

Only when there is enough firewood burning can the wild beasts in the mountains be deterred from coming down; this is the most important thing of all.

However, they were still chattering about getting sturdy vines for the women to weave fishing nets for fishing in the river the next day.

There must be fish in such a big river.

Lian Chengmo nodded inwardly. These young men from Yao Li Village were all useful. The little girl had taught them once, and now they knew how to do it without needing to be told.