Checkpoints had been set up on many major thoroughfares, with countless barricades arranged in rows. Behind many of the obstacles stood numerous heavy machine guns. These machine guns had very large calibers, and any bullet that struck a person would immediately tear their flesh apart.
For ordinary people, crossing such a defensive line was utterly impossible. Especially since many of the refugees were armed with little more than swords and knives, possessing no firearms at all. It was now impossible to force their way through the checkpoints.
Even in this situation, the refugees understood one thing: if they couldn't get in, they would be left outside. It would then be impossible to obtain food and survive.
Thus, facing death either way, rather than starving to death outside, they decided to charge in. After all, as long as they had enough numbers, they could break through these checkpoints and obtain food. They figured that if they didn't identify themselves as refugees, no one would recognize them.
Consequently, countless refugees, clinging to the hope of survival, forcefully charged the checkpoints, attempting to break through and enter the areas with food, thereby saving their lives.
At this moment, many of the machine guns on the defensive line opened fire. After hesitating for a moment, many soldiers also began to shoot. Although the rate of fire was not fast, it was enough to form a deadly barrage. The bullets flashed through the air, and upon hitting a person, they would immediately cause a burst of bloody light.
"What exactly are we doing? They are our compatriots! Why are we shooting at them?" some questioned themselves internally.
Many of the commanders at the front seemed to perceive the soldiers' hesitation, as this was completely different from their usual training. During training, these soldiers were fierce and ferocious, as this was their profession. However, now, even the soldiers' fingers trembled as they pulled the triggers, indicating their inner turmoil.
Therefore, the commanders at the front immediately began to engage in morale-boosting talks with their subordinates. While it was uncertain if it would be effective in the short term, they had no other recourse besides boosting morale. If they couldn't stabilize the troops, the soldiers would become extremely weak once they lost their faith.
"Listen to me, everyone. It's true that those outside are our compatriots, but you also need to understand that your families live in Yuzhou. Some of them can't even afford to drink congee. If these people rush in, they will compete for food with our families, and your families might starve to death. Therefore, to prevent your families from starving, we can only open fire on them," the commander shouted loudly at the front. Upon hearing these shouts, many soldiers strengthened their resolve.
Everyone has family, and even those without family have a few friends. Therefore, everyone is a social animal. If they are isolated from society, they will feel very lonely, and over time, they will fall ill. For their families, they are willing to do anything.
At this moment, many soldiers were worried about the situation at home, as many of their families lived in Yuzhou. If their families starved to death due to a lack of food, they would regret their momentary soft-heartedness today.
To avoid future regret, to ensure their families could live healthily, and to prevent their friends' food from being snatched away, they could only stop these people from entering Yuzhou.
"Da da da..." As countless guns spewed fiery muzzles, many bullets poured out. Upon hitting human bodies, these bullets immediately killed many refugees.
Blood was always so vibrant and soul-stirring. After the countless refugees in the front rows fell, no more refugees dared to charge the checkpoints. They had been doused by the blood, extinguishing their impulses. They understood that no matter how many people charged forward, they could not break through these checkpoints, as these soldiers had been trained long ago. Human wave tactics were useless against modern weaponry, especially against heavy machine guns, which could kill a large number of people with a single sweep.
The bullets did not stop upon hitting a person; they passed through a string of bodies like candied hawthorns.
Thus, the refugees once again feared death and retreated outside the checkpoints. However, since charging was impossible, many knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, as if begging the soldiers to let them pass. They hoped to be allowed to go through and survive.
"Please, have mercy on us. We haven't eaten for a long time, and we just want to survive. Is such a humble wish too much to ask? Who are you people? Why do you have no compassion?" a refugee asked while kowtowing.
"Stop the nonsense. We have received orders to stop you from advancing. If you go in, many of our families will not have enough to eat. Is it better for one family to cry than for many families to cry? Go find food elsewhere. This road is blocked!" someone shouted loudly from behind the checkpoint.
Many soldiers now showed expressions of reluctance. They knew that by preventing these pitiable people from entering their territory, they were actually protecting their own families. However, acting against their own kind in this manner was a huge blow to their conscience.
Yet, these refugees knew one thing very clearly: there was almost no food left in other places. No matter where they went now, they would not be able to find food. Moreover, they were already exhausted. If they continued to travel long distances, who knew how many more would die on the road.
Thus, the refugees continued to linger outside the checkpoints, showing no signs of leaving.
The soldiers manning the checkpoints ceased their attacks, as they knew that as long as these people did not attempt to force their way through, there would be no problem.
Seeing their many fallen companions, the refugees could only hold back their tears, strip the clothes off the deceased, and eat their flesh, as they had no other food. They had no choice but to resort to cannibalism.
The matter thus came to a temporary end, with millions of refugees blocked outside, unable to enter the Chuan-Yu region.
Many refugees from the north had either migrated south earlier or had perished, so no refugees fled from the north. Only people from many southern regions were heading towards Yuzhou but were blocked.
However, at the same time, Shen Feng's reputation took a sharp downturn. He was once the esteemed Wind God, respected wherever he went, as people knew Shen Feng could save them. As long as he could end this chaotic era, he would undoubtedly gain the support of countless people.
Now, although he had not made any decisions himself, his subordinates had stepped forward to block countless refugees. Therefore, it was impossible for him to be unaware of this matter. His attitude was essentially to treat these people as if they didn't exist, to disregard these refugees, and then the matter would be over. In this light, he was merely a hypocrite, who had previously feigned benevolence and acted as a savior, only to reveal his true colors at a critical moment.
"I think Shen Feng is a hypocrite. In normal times, he can present himself as exceptionally noble, but at critical moments, he reveals his true thoughts. The good deeds he did before were actually for his own benefit. Now that he needs to release grain, he refuses!" someone commented.
Shen Feng had also heard many of these rumors, but he treated these evaluations as if he hadn't heard them at all. He knew that even if he heard them, he couldn't change his previous decision. If an immeasurable number of refugees flooded into the territory under his command, it would inevitably strain their energy and food resources, leading to discontent among his people.
"No matter what others say about me, I will not change my course of action, because I need to be responsible for the people under my command!" Shen Feng thought to himself with a sigh.
If he had enough food, he would undoubtedly help these people without hesitation. However, the reality was that he was already struggling to support all the people under his command, and sometimes he had to expend more grain to help others. Therefore, Shen Feng was unwilling to do so.
Shen Feng had expected that in a few months, these refugees would naturally disperse, and those lacking food would eventually starve to death outside.
However, he never imagined that his decision would give rise to a truly wicked trade.
In the Chuan-Yu region, there were many single men who couldn't find wives. The people living here generally had some financial standing, and no one was willing to marry their daughters to these old bachelors who had no future.
But now the situation had suddenly changed. Because there were many people waiting for rescue outside Yuzhou, they were willing to do anything for a mouthful of grain.
Thus, some bold bachelors seized this opportunity. They brought their entire savings, which amounted to only a bag or two of rice, perhaps ten catties in total. Such a small amount was generally disdained by most people. However, with this small amount of grain, they could go outside, exchange it for a wife, and then lead them along mountain paths into Chuan-Yu.
The established checkpoints would not allow passage. If they let one or two people through, others would find similar ways to enter. Therefore, the army had strictly forbidden the unauthorized release of personnel into Chuan-Yu.
However, many bachelors had seized this opportunity. They knew that finding a wife was very difficult, but fortunately, this was a chaotic era, and chaos brought opportunities. Therefore, even if they had to borrow money, they would quickly buy a few catties of rice, go out, exchange it for a wife, and then have children.
If bachelors could think of this, then many unscrupulous intermediaries could also think of it! Bachelors were fine; they only needed one or two wives. But these unscrupulous intermediaries were much more ruthless in their deception. They would take hundreds of catties of grain outside and then trick dozens of young girls into returning with them.
The unscrupulous intermediaries told the women among the refugees: "If you come with me, you can work in the textile factory, and then you'll have enough to eat. Those who want to leave, take a bag of rice. Those who don't, no pressure, it's up to you."
Consequently, countless women were deceived and followed these unscrupulous intermediaries. It was a pity that after entering Chuan-Yu, they discovered that their job was merely to entertain clients.
These incidents occurred endlessly outside the borders of Yuzhou, and countless pitiable women were deceived and taken away. Even more wicked individuals tricked many men into following them, only to kill them in secluded places and sell their organs for money. The crimes were truly heinous.
Initially, the refugees were shocked upon hearing about these cruel events, as they never expected such terrifying things to happen. But after hearing about them repeatedly, they became accustomed to it. They had become numb. Now, many people chose to commit suicide amidst starvation, as they could not bear the experience of starving to death alive, so they ended their own lives.
"A wanderer far from home misses you, dear mother. The wanderer's steps have traversed the ends of the earth, with no home to call their own. The winter wind, carrying snowflakes, blows my tears down!" Countless people sang wandering songs outside, feeling despair. At this moment, they wished they could die quickly and escape suffering.