Chen Xiaobei was staying at the inn during this time. Although Liu Tie and others repeatedly urged him to temporarily stay at Liu Xiangnan's mansion, Chen Xiaobei did not want to.
Because seeing Liu Xiangnan reminded him of Liu Rumei.
Meanwhile, miles away, Liu Rumei also felt the pressure. In the past, they could impersonate the identity of soldiers from the Great Tu Kingdom, wander around, and finding food and drink was not difficult. They could also buy directly from people, but now it was different. Now she had to be vigilant and avoid encountering actual soldiers of the Great Tu Kingdom who were searching. So she hid in the mountain ravine, afraid to go out. The food accumulated in the early period was quickly running out.
Xiao Qing once again suggested going out to buy grain, but Liu Rumei directly rejected it, saying the risk was too high to go out now.
"Miss, if we don't go out to find food, the food will run out in two days, and then we'll truly be finished, in this cold weather."
How could Liu Rumei not know this? But she didn't want to take any more risks. The people around her had all survived through untold hardships.
Just then, the sound of hooves approached again, followed by a clamor. Zheng Hai quietly went out to investigate. Soon, he returned with a joyful smile on his face. "Miss, an opportunity has arrived. There are twenty to thirty people ahead, escorting more than ten horse-drawn carriages. Shall we intercept them!"
Liu Rumei thought for a moment. "No, we cannot intercept them. If we do, they will search along the way!"
"The risk of intercepting here is too great. I think it's better this way: a few of you put on the uniforms of the Great Tu Kingdom and go out with me. We'll first try to figure out what's in the carriages, and then act according to my signal."
Zheng Hai took more than ten people, put on the uniforms of the Great Tu Kingdom, and followed Liu Rumei out of the mountain ravine in a swaggering manner.
The soldiers escorting the goods on the distant official road initially became nervous when they saw people emerging. After they clearly saw that they were also wearing the uniforms of the Great Tu Kingdom, they loudly asked, "Under which general are you? What are you doing?"
Liu Rumei waved her hand and said loudly, "Under the order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we are searching for remnants of the Great Cang Kingdom."
"What are you doing? Where are you going?"
Clearly, Liu Rumei's answer did not arouse any suspicion from the other party. The other party immediately responded, "We are subordinates of General Yelü Chuang, setting out from the capital, heading towards the banks of the Xiaoqing River."
Yelü Chuang. Liu Rumei was certainly no stranger to this name.
Hearing that they were his subordinates, Liu Rumei felt relieved.
"We've searched for a while and are tired. We've also run out of water. Can you give us some water to drink?"
Liu Rumei said as she led Zheng Hai and others forward. These soldiers had no suspicion. Someone reached into the carriage and soon brought out two large water skins, one handed to Liu Rumei and the other to Zheng Hai.
Liu Rumei took it and drank a few sips, then handed it to the soldiers behind her. Zheng Hai did the same.
After drinking the water, they returned the water skins. The relationship between the two sides seemed to have become closer. As Liu Rumei walked with them, the leader of the soldiers asked her, "In such cold weather, you must have suffered a lot hiding in this mountain ravine."
Liu Rumei sighed, "Alas, we've been searching for days with no progress. By the way, where will you be staying tonight?"
"Ah, we'll stay wherever we reach. Soldiers aren't that particular."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Then you must have suffered. By the way, do you have any food? Give me some ready-made food. Our camp is on the other side of the mountain, another half-day's journey."
Liu Rumei pointed to the mountain behind her.
These soldiers of the Great Tu Kingdom were completely unguarded. They lifted the curtain of the awning again and took out a cloth bag from inside. It contained flatbreads.
After distributing two flatbreads to each of them, the soldier put the bag back.
"You guys, every day you follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and eat and drink well, while we only have flatbreads!"
Liu Rumei broke off a small piece and put it in her mouth. The two flatbreads were precious, and she had to save them to take back for the brothers in the mountain ravine to eat.
Zheng Hai and the others reacted similarly, eating slowly, putting small bites into their mouths.
Liu Rumei cupped her fists at them and said, "Thank you very much. We shall meet again."
The leader waved his hand and called his men to leave.
Watching them go, Liu Rumei turned to Zheng Hai and said, "What they had in their carriages was wine."
"It doesn't make much sense for us to snatch it. However, they said they were going to Xiaoqing River just now, which means Yelü Chuang is still guarding Xiaoqing River. We really can't get out."
Zheng Hai sighed and looked at the two flatbreads in his hand. "But in a few more days, our food will be gone."
Liu Rumei looked up at the sky. "Yes, the food is gone. What should we do next?"
After returning to the small mountain ravine, everyone shared the flatbreads.
Each of the dozen or so people brought back no more than two flatbreads, totaling only thirty. Three people had to share one, and each person only got a few bites.
This was like a drop in the bucket.
Liu Rumei looked at everyone present. "Brothers, what do you think we should do next?"
They looked at each other, and no one spoke.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Qing spoke, "Miss, I think we should just sneak to the vicinity of Xiaoqing River and charge across the stone bridge. When will waiting end?"
Liu Rumei shook her head. "For us, dozens of people, to force our way across Xiaoqing River would be like hitting a rock with an egg."
"We must preserve our strength."
"Everyone, this is what I think. We are easily exposed in this wilderness."
There is a town fifty li in the direction of the capital from here.
We will go to the town and find a few inns to stay in.
Hearing this, Zheng Hai's eyes widened in surprise. "Miss, the Great Tu Kingdom is looking for us, and we are still running towards their capital. Isn't this throwing ourselves into a trap?"
Liu Rumei smiled faintly. "I don't think Qiao Na would have imagined that we would dare to go to a crowded place. So, his main energy will still be focused on searching the wilderness. After he searches for a while and finds nothing, perhaps he will gradually calm down."
"Alright, it's decided. Everyone rest, and we will set off after dark."
Everyone ate a little something, hid in the mountain ravine until dark, got organized, and set off.
For greater concealment, they dared not light torches or lamps. This way, if they encountered a search party, they could see the light from afar and hide.
Fifty li was just an hour's journey for them.
From this Yujia Town to the capital, it was 150 li, roughly a day's journey, so the town was quite prosperous.
In the town, there were many inns and restaurants. However, it was winter, and in the dead of winter, business was naturally not as good.
Liu Rumei ordered everyone to act separately, with a dozen or twenty people staying in each inn, finding multiple inns, and maintaining contact. This would also prevent them from being wiped out by the enemy in one fell swoop.