Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 401 - 393: Counter Every Move

"I also can’t bear to see innocent civilians lose their lives in vain, so I am merely making a suggestion and cannot guarantee anything. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. In short, I still say that I hope the rescue operations will stop here to prevent more casualties."

Someone suddenly appeared in front of the Governor’s son, gesturing and making demands. Anyone would doubt their intentions, especially since she hadn’t revealed her identity or background, making her words, no matter how reasonable, much less credible.

If it weren’t related to the mission, and those civilians weren’t having such a hard time surviving, she wouldn’t bother wasting her breath. The person in charge here is the one in front of her, otherwise, she wouldn’t bother speaking.

It’s a pity that the person in front of her, though seemingly gentle and harmless, is actually very vigilant and is clearly not easy to fool.

"How could the young master, with such great righteousness, not have a plan? Why don’t you tell us more?"

The elegant young master still looked calm and composed, neither hurried nor impatient. Does he have some backup plan? Was she just making unnecessary efforts?

After all, this is a city in a prefecture, and the Governor is a knowledgeable and practical person, unlike previous tasks where there either were poor civilians fighting desperately, or scattered small groups easy to deceive, or businessmen with something to gain, or martial arts heroes eager to fight, and once they won, everything could be discussed.

Gaining trust in the face of power-manipulating authorities is harder than she imagined. These people are the sharpest of the sharp, and even telling the truth hardly earns trust, let alone trying to deceive them.

Rescuing the survivors and ensuring they don’t make futile efforts will probably require a change of plans.

Thinking of this, she had to suppress her previous plan.

"You’re too kind, young master. I think you are the one with a plan in mind, and I assume you have a strategy in place. I won’t disturb you then."

Cheng Xiaoxiao turned to leave, only to find the guards on both sides drawing their swords, crossing them in front of her to block her way.

As she turned, Cheng Xiaoxiao’s expression turned cold, and she asked in a harsh tone, "What is the meaning of this, young master?"

"Nothing much, Zhao believes the young master is quite reasonable. However, the one giving orders is Lord Governor. If the young master can persuade him to abandon the rescue mission, that would indeed be a meritorious deed."

Ha, what a well-played game.

They want her to persuade Lord Governor; if she succeeds, that’s fine; if she doesn’t, all the responsibility will fall on her.

And so, Cheng Xiaoxiao was detained by the Governor Mansion’s young master.

To Zhao Wuling, Cheng Xiaoxiao was a mysterious person who spoke ambiguously. As for credibility? It’s a mix of truth and falsehood, impossible to discern.

Still, her remarks on disaster relief had some merit, aligning with some of his views. However, her excessive caution and lack of identity declaration made him suspicious of her intentions, and he dared not trust her easily.

Hence, he decided to keep her there and explore her background further.

As for the rescue missions, he pulled back some personnel to support behind the scenes.

Listening to their conversation, Yang Bingbing was still a bit confused. It seemed the other party had some relation to the Commandery Chief Mansion, so perhaps she could entrust her child to them?

Seeing the noble young master being difficult to converse with, she dared not rashly speak the truth.

After all, the other party hadn’t admitted anything; this wasn’t the Governor Mansion, nor had she seen the Governor. Everything was unknown. She couldn’t reveal her identity prematurely; what if they weren’t who they seemed? That would be handing over leverage.

It seemed she could only take it one step at a time.

In a simple and tidy guest room, Cheng Xiaoxiao sat cross-legged, in a meditation pose, while the system in her mind reported the conversation between the father and son.

"Did that person really say that?" The Governor stroked his goatee, unsure.

"Yes, Father. There’s no doubt that standing out doesn’t lack reason. I still maintain that preserving strength doesn’t mean being cowardly and idiotic. With the current shortage of personnel, further losses inside would be more harm than good."

The Governor took a sip of tea, resting his wrist on the table edge, tapping rhythmically and contemplating his son’s words.

"How much grain do we have in reserve now?"

"About... 50,000 dan or so."

"Grain isn’t a major issue; it’s the winter clothing that’s important. We can’t source materials for winter clothes, and the embroiderers aren’t martial artists, just ordinary women. They can’t keep sewing under such extreme conditions. Also, when the earth dragon turned over, a lot of people’s food and clothing were buried. Even if unearthed, they’ve been soaked by rain and snow and are unusable."

"Have the surviving civilians been settled?"

"Many houses have collapsed, those standing are barely livable with large cracks, especially in the old southern district where about eighty percent have collapsed. It’s not possible to live there.

The eastern city has developed over the past few years, about half of the houses there are livable. In the west district, where there are many workshops, the collapse is less severe, but the buildings aren’t solid either. They can barely keep out the snow, but the courtyard walls leak wind, offering no real warmth."

At this point, Zhao Wuling glanced at his father sitting in the main position.

He spoke mockingly, "As for the northern district, you’ve tried it. Those are high-status dignitaries; how could they let refugees in to seek refuge? They’re already doing you a favor by not giving you, the Governor, trouble."

Hearing his son’s words, Governor Zhao felt somewhat embarrassed.

After the earth dragon’s upheaval, he rushed to the northern district, only to be met with demands for more hands to save their goods and repair their walls, offering no aid at all.

As for accepting refugees, that was his responsibility as the Governor, not theirs.

What could he do?

He could only return empty-handed.

"Someone, bring those three up here."

He wanted to see what else that person could say.

The guard at the door responded and quickly departed.

Cheng Xiaoxiao opened her bright eyes, slowly stood up, and began to pace slowly around the room.

It wasn’t so difficult after all.

Since there’s a need, there’s a flaw.

They lacked winter clothes... and she had them!

But what should she trade them for?

This Dayan City was mostly destroyed and there wasn’t much left.

Qiqi had also scanned, and there weren’t any valuable minerals here.

She couldn’t just give them away for free, that would be too disadvantageous.

No, no, in the officialdom, they believed in exploiting every resource. They wouldn’t believe there’s a free lunch. The more you try to give it away, the more they’d doubt your intentions. But if you asked for something difficult in return, they might think you reveal your cards and would be easier to handle.

Cheng Xiaoxiao sat cross-legged again, resting her cheek on a hand, deep in thought.

With a click, the locked door was opened.

Cheng Xiaoxiao hadn’t figured out what specifically to ask for, and they had already come to get her.

She could only follow them and deal with whatever came up.