Chapter 37

As the boat glided along the river, the sound of the water splashing grew louder, and the city of Qizhou gradually faded from our sight. The sense of danger and risk seemed to be receding as well.

During this time, although there were soldiers rowing boats who came to question and investigate, they only glanced around the deck and made a few loud noises, then left the matter at that, thanks to some lubrication in the form of money and goods. Even though the boat was equipped with bows, arrows, and other weapons right under their noses.

To avoid any possible variables, Su Changsheng and I acted separately. He requested to take a later land route due to his injuries and the need for rest.

Since we had hastily paid a large sum of money to join the trip, we were treated as additional private passengers, and our treatment was not particularly good. We were only given a share of the food when the crew prepared their meals.

The rice was rough and yellow, with a few green leaves that looked like water plants. The only meat was half a boiled fish, lacking oil and salt. I dipped it in some sauce I had brought and forced myself to eat it.

After the days of hardship in the wild, I had grown accustomed to this life. I quietly swallowed the food, and the only leisure activity was lying in the damp and stuffy hold, listening to stories I told to pass the time.

In the sound of the water and the moonlight, amidst the smell of water plants and the mud from the river, we hugged each other to sleep, maintaining enough strength and energy to deal with various situations.

I also took the opportunity to understand the surroundings through daily interactions.

This was a flat-bottomed waterwheel boat, unique to the canal, with three levels of cabins. Two levels were below the deck, and one was above, designed to transport people, goods, and livestock. When fully loaded, it could carry about 300 stones of cargo or dozens of passengers.

The most prominent feature was the large waterwheel at the stern, which could be raised and adjusted. The wet wooden paddles had a nostalgic steam-era style.

The upper deck also had traditional sails, which could be used as assistance when the boat was near the shore or in shallow water. In narrow river channels or when going against the current, the boat used a multi-axle foot-powered waterwheel. In open waters, the wind sails were used to speed up the journey.

The boats usually traveled in groups of three to five, relying on their own supplies and self-sufficiency. With enough manpower, they could complete a journey of several hundred miles independently.

Thus, the people who used to pull the boats along the river banks had become the watermen who operated the waterwheels on the boats. They were hired from local guilds based on the distance, divided into different groups according to the river sections. They came with their own food, and the boat owners only needed to pay their leaders.

Therefore, the canal and its tributaries were always filled with their presence. However, in this era, things were different.

The southern-bound fleet passed through the tributary of the Jishui River, and the water surface suddenly widened, making our journey faster.

Once we entered the broad river, they relaxed their vigilance a bit and allowed us, this "uncle and nephew" pair, to go up to the deck for some fresh air.

Only then did I realize that there were about a dozen other passengers on the deck of this waterwheel boat. They briefly gathered and then returned to their cabins. Clearly, they were all people with secrets or other hidden agendas.

The scenery along the canal was not always as beautiful as the early spring blossoms. Most of the time, the banks of the canal, which should have been densely populated and prosperous, were desolate and even showed signs of being ravaged by fire and looting.

The few towns with some population were surrounded by watchtowers, archers, high walls, and armed guards, patrolling both inside and outside. The sight of suspected floating corpses and other debris in the river was a common scene, reminding us of the harsh reality.

The prosperity and relative peace of Qizhou, in this era of hunger and death, were just a few rare exceptions.

Although we were traveling along the old canal route, the grandeur of the canal, which had connected the north and south for hundreds of years since the Sui Dynasty, was long gone. The tribute ships that once carried valuable goods from the Yangtze and Huai rivers to the积水潭 outside the western gate of Chang'an, during the best years of the empire, were now just a distant memory.

Only the faded and overgrown vegetation along the banks, the docks and wharves hidden in the green moss, and the occasional outlines revealed by the wind, still spoke of the past glory and prosperity.

After more than a hundred years of chaos, the power of time and nature had been strong enough to allow the wild grass to reclaim and retake the traces of human civilization.

In fact, since the Qianyuan period of this timeline, due to the fall of the Central Plains and the chaos in the Yangtze and Huai regions, the large-scale maritime transport that had flourished since the Sui Dynasty had inevitably led to the decline of the southeastern canal.

After the Yiwei Rebellion, the chaos in the court and the turmoil in the country further exacerbated the decline of the canal. The long-term neglect and the destruction during the wars caused the canal system to severely deteriorate.

Unrestrained floods and rivers led to various blockages and changes in course, destroying large areas of fertile land and creating vast wetlands, completely altering the appearance of the canal banks.

With the gradual abandonment of the embankments and water facilities, the water transport artery that once connected the two capitals and the southeastern financial centers had become a series of rivers of varying depths. The tug-of-war and stalemate during the wars further divided the canal region into various spheres of influence.

Moreover, due to hunger and other reasons, the land was filled with refugees and countless bandits, posing a significant threat to the canal.

Therefore, only a few powerful and regionally backed boat guilds, like the one I was on, could continue to use the canal's remaining functions and benefits to maintain their livelihoods in this chaotic era.

However, the risks still existed. While it was possible to negotiate with officials or local strongmen, the unpredictable and numerous bandits and pirates could only be dealt with through luck and personal qualities.

During the journey, I saw at least two times the remains of ships that had been burned after being robbed, stranded on the shore, which made them wary and on high alert for a while.

Every time the boat stopped for a rest, they were the most vigilant, arranging enough people to patrol with bows and arrows, and avoiding shallow waters unless there was a serious reason.

At night, when I walked on the deck, I could see the flickering lights in the distant grass on the shore, said to be from unidentified people following and spying on the small fleet.

Therefore, even though the boat was on the water, it was still well-armed, with large poles, forks, and traditional personal weapons.

These weapons were used to deal with the countless bandits and refugees on the water, who were the most common source of desperados in this chaotic era, and the price of their services might be just a meal.

Therefore, the number of watermen and crew members on the boat was more than usual, to allow for rotation. This way, while half of them were operating the boat and the waterwheel, there were enough people to handle emergencies. Additionally, the fleet had blacksmiths, carpenters, and ship doctors to maintain and improve the fleet's self-sufficiency, avoiding unnecessary stops.

As for the passengers on the boat, whether they were traveling merchants or ordinary people, carrying weapons was normal, as long as they did not draw them in front of others.

However, the hand crossbow that had accompanied me through many experiences was disassembled and brought on board. Every night, I would string it and place it with the short saber on the felt bed.

This was a lesson learned after the recent raid, even in what was considered a safe place, it was not always safe.

Although the boat was operated by a reputable old brand with over a hundred years of credibility, it was theoretically unlikely to commit robbery and murder for a target that seemed to have little value.

Su Changsheng and I, in our male disguises, were a "uncle and nephew" pair, ostensibly rushing home for a funeral. Our public identities were itinerant doctors, and our costumes and props were bought in bits and pieces from Su Jingxian's pawnshop.

She called me "uncle" so smoothly that it somewhat concealed her true gender.

However, this was a powerful force in the chaotic era, and it could not be guaranteed that we would not be abandoned or sacrificed for special needs or unforeseen events, which required us to have the means to protect ourselves.

At least I could swim, I consoled myself. As for Su Changsheng, being a girl in the chaotic era was a tragic fate, if I hadn't found her.

We continued our journey along the Jishui River, passing through Licheng and Shanzhuang counties, and arrived at Changqing County in Jizhou, where we stayed for a day.

A large group of soldiers boarded the boat from the water gate, causing a false alarm for most people. Then they discovered that the soldiers were only taking a batch of supplies, including wine and silk, and then released the fleet.

After the soldiers took the goods, the crew of the fleet visibly relaxed, and our range of activities was expanded to the entire day.

Clearly, they had been transporting military supplies, so they were wary and cautious of us private passengers. The upper deck was off-limits, and the crew members were unfriendly to strangers.

Most of the passengers did not go ashore, but bought some seasonal fruits, vegetables, dried goods, and fresh fish from the small boats that came alongside, then returned to their cabins.

When the owner of the lead boat replenished supplies and new cargo and passengers from a familiar local warehouse, the fleet set off again.

After completing an important business deal and receiving local supplies, the overall food conditions improved. Dishes like pickled bamboo shoots with small fish and sliced cured meat with skin appeared on the menu.

The tight schedule also eased, with the watermen working in three shifts, allowing for more rest and docking time.

Continuing south along the Jishui River, we reached Pingyin County, and then the strategic landmark of Yushan at the border of Huzhou. It was said that a powerful bandit group was based there, but it didn't concern us on the water.

The Jishui River made a large bend southward here, and the water became much more turbulent. The waterwheel was raised, and the sails were fully extended to accelerate.

Rushing downstream, even a 300-stone boat couldn't avoid the rocking and swaying, and Su Changsheng started to feel seasick. I could only stay with her, distracting her to alleviate the symptoms.

After passing Xuchang County in Huzhou, we entered the vast Juye Lake, where the water stretched as far as the eye could see, refreshing both body and mind.

Since the Huzhou government was located by the Juye Lake and had a naval force controlling the key points, it seemed more peaceful than other places, and even some rare fishing boats and villages could be seen.

"Doctor Xia?..."

I suddenly heard a knock on the partition.

"Are you resting?..."

"What is it?..."

I responded loudly, and Su Changsheng, who had been squatting, quickly got dressed and took out a short blade to hide in her clothes.

Then she aimed the crossbow at the partition, making some noise as if she was getting dressed.

"There's a situation, we need your expertise..."

The voice outside the door confirmed it was the boat's captain.

"Isn't there a doctor on the boat?..."

I slightly opened the partition, holding the other end with my foot, looking impatient.

"That old man is drunk again, and can't be relied on now..."

The captain, a short and dark-skinned man, complained to me politely.

"I just thought there was a doctor on the tail boat..."

"I specialize in injuries and bruises, I'm not sure if I can help..."

I tried to decline.

"Just take a look, it's fine..."

He shook his head and responded.

"We're on the same boat, my boss will certainly reward you for this kindness..."

"Alright, I'll take a look..."

Unable to refuse, I signaled Su Changsheng to hold the door and wait for me.

Walking along the narrow deck, I saw a group of people at the bow, mainly the crew and watermen, with pleading voices.

A young waterman who had just boarded the boat was suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea, making the cabin smell terrible and unable to stand. This caused panic among his companions.

As we approached, we heard them discussing whether he had caught an epidemic and whether to throw him into the water to fend for himself.

His brother refused and was pleading with everyone to take the patient to the shore to see a doctor, but the boat owner was unwilling to interrupt the journey for one waterman.

However, the brother had many fellow countrymen among the watermen, so the situation became tense.

"What are you all gathered for? Looking for trouble?"

The short and dark-skinned captain shouted.

"Move aside, let the doctor take a look..."

The word "doctor" seemed to have a powerful effect, and they quickly moved aside.

I took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and picked up my medicine box, ready to play my role.

As I walked over, I saw the young waterman lying on the deck, his eyes rolling and convulsing, and his companions were in a panic.

We walked over, and I heard them discussing whether to throw him into the water to fend for himself.

His brother refused and was pleading with everyone to take the patient to the shore to see a doctor, but the boat owner was unwilling to interrupt the journey for one waterman.

However, the brother had many fellow countrymen among the watermen, so the situation became tense.

"What are you all gathered for? Looking for trouble?"

The short and dark-skinned captain shouted.

"Move aside, let the doctor take a look..."

The word "doctor" seemed to have a powerful effect, and they quickly moved aside.

I took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and picked up my medicine box, ready to play my role.