Like this urgent official, Liu Ashan saw many of them as he walked from the county government gate. They were everywhere, coming in waves from upstream and along the way.

Although Longcheng County is located in a remote location on Jiangnan Road, it is a large county with nearly 10,000 households. In addition to the people living in Longcheng County downstream, there are also many villages and towns along the upstream, where many villagers gather.

Once the Dickong Gate blocking the Yuenv Gorge in the upper reaches collapses, the floodwaters that have accumulated to a high level will pour out and can instantly submerge the villages and towns along the waterfront. Therefore, the most urgent thing is the officials and people of these local villages and towns.

"Mingfu is not here for the time being, is Brother Yan here..."

Liu Ashan was stunned and rushed to the county government hall along with the emergency officials ahead.

I thought it would be quieter in the county government hall if there was a backbone.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I walked into the courtyard where the county government hall is located, I was drowned by the noise.

In the lobby of the county government office, there was no one at the table at the top.

The familiar figure of the young county magistrate from the past is no longer there.

Right now, Yan Liulang stood directly in front of the empty case table, working hard with his subordinates to appease everyone.

Emergency officials gathered from all over the place, all talking about urgent matters and worries.

Anxiety spread in the county government hall and was difficult to suppress.

Yan Liulang was extremely busy.

"Everyone, please be quiet. I've already sent people to hurry up and notify Magistrate Diao. He will be back soon. Please don't be impatient. Please don't be impatient. Regarding rising water, please follow previous warnings..."

A senior official said anxiously:

"Also a warning, the previous preparations are all useless, this time is really different from the previous times, Mr. Xiaoyan, the water has risen too fast.

"Today...even before the afternoon, by noon, the water level will exceed the previous highest level.

"Most of the plans made by the county government before were useless, and it was even too late. What should we do now? Should we evacuate the people immediately?

"Why don't we activate the Dagushan refugee camp plan and move the people there first?"

"This..." Yan Liulang hesitated.

A young policeman beside him sneered and retorted:

"Without the clerical orders of these two gentlemen, who would dare to make arrangements easily and issue orders to evacuate the people in the city?

"With such a large-scale mobilization, if something unexpected happened during the period, or if there was an investigation by the court afterwards, the Duke Di Gate could have been rescued to resist the flood, but it missed the opportunity. It was the mistake of the chief who was cowardly and abandoned the city. Who will bear the responsibility."

In the lobby, an official looked displeased and stood up:

"After all this time, if you are still obsessed with responsibility, afraid of taking the blame, and if you don't take action, you are really wasting your time."

"Okay, there's no need to wait for you two adults. Mr. Xiaoyan will also listen to you. Brother Zeng, you can take command..."

"you!"

A rather old official stood up and said:

"Okay, okay, don't argue, don't make sarcastic remarks, and don't care what time it is."

After a pause, he suggested again:

"Speaking of which, do we need to first figure out the cause of the sudden rise in water upstream before taking action? Otherwise, we will be in the dark, get half the result with half the effort, and even be counterproductive... Mr. Xiaoyan, what do you think?"

"I think..." Yan Liulang hesitated.

A frustrated voice came from the crowd:

"Find out the reason? In the summer, the water level surged. Who knows why? Soldiers came to stop it, and the water came to cover it up. What else can be done?

"This year has just passed half way through, and there have already been three floods that either came or went. Maybe... maybe the sky is going to destroy us, and there really is a so-called Dragon King in Butterfly Creek..."

Someone was the first to say such words, and the whole place immediately exploded with mixed opinions.

"Okay! Stop arguing!"

Yan Liulang roared violently, turned his head sharply, and shouted in the direction from which the frustrated voice came:

"The Ming Dynasty hates people who believe in the theory of dragon kings, ghosts and gods. I once rescued Zha Shiyun from the upper reaches. Those who deceive people's hearts should be killed. Whoever dares to spread the words of accepting fate and believing in gods again, I, Yan Liulang, will take your head and hang a flag!"

The whole place was silent.

Yan Liulang breathed heavily, holding the knife and looking around, everyone avoided their eyes.

Just when he was silent for a while and was about to speak again, he suddenly felt his sleeve being pulled by someone. He frowned and turned his head, suddenly surprised:

"Brother Ah Shan, why are you back?"

Liu Ashan pointed in the direction of the back hall at the back door of the county government lobby.

Yan Liulang turned around, temporarily appeased everyone, and then followed Liu Ashan to the back hall.

In the back hall, the tired-looking Yan Liulang looked curiously at the dusty Liu Ashan, feeling that something was wrong with his mood.

The dull man's face was surprisingly calm and he asked directly:

"Brother Yan, where is Mingfu? Have you seen Mingfu recently?"

Yan Liulang was stunned and asked:

"Mingfu has taken leave and returned to Nanlong. Don't you know?"

"The Ming Mansion is not in Longcheng? After Ye...Ms. Ye's ship left, the Ming Mansion didn't appear again?"

"I'm sure. Didn't Mingfu take Miss Ye and the others away on the boat that day? You also asked for leave, didn't you go there together?"

Yan Liulang frowned and asked: "Brother Ah Shan, why did you come back from Nanlong? The round trip is so fast? Also, isn't Mingfu with you? Is he in Longcheng?"

Liu Ashan opened his mouth and swallowed some words.

Yan Liulang saw that his expression was wrong and asked worriedly: "Brother Ah Shan, are you okay..."

All the questions he wanted to ask seemed to have answers. Liu Ashan's ears buzzed and were suddenly drowned out by a burst of white noise.

He didn't hear a word of what Yan Liulang said next.

Stand still.

When I found Ye Weilai in the cabin a few days ago, the latter's words still lingered in my ears:

"I don't know where he is going, but I know that Tanlang is leaving... I can see that he is preparing to say goodbye to us forever..."

Liu Ashan lowered his head in shock, staring straight at the moonlight sword at his waist.

This was the night before he boarded the ship to send Miss Ye back to Nanlong. Before leaving after dinner at his house, the master left the last thing he gave him, along with the mirage mask.

Liu Ashan clearly remembered that at that time, he was worried that he would not be able to handle the matter assigned by the master, and he was frightened. The master patted him on the shoulder, turned around and left with a smile, and waved to Liu Ashan from behind:

"I can rest assured that you will do things...

"Ah Shan, you have always been behind me and listened to my instructions, but one day I will be gone. By then, you must learn to be on your own.

"Ah Shan, if you think of it, just do it. Don't hesitate to stand up. We all have to protect the people or things we want to protect. I am like this, and so are you..."

It turned out that Miss Ye was right, the master had been ready to leave a long time ago, and even gave him farewell instructions quietly, but he was the only one who was still clumsy in the dark.

Liu Ashan suddenly murmured: "I am looking at the house, and I am running away... This is what the master said, but why did you fly away and leave your home..."

This was his final confusion.

In the back hall, a dull man wearing a long sword swayed slightly.

"Brother Ah Shan? Brother Ah Shan?"

Seeing Liu Ashan suddenly talking to himself in a daze, with a strange expression on his face, Yan Liulang couldn't help but stretched out his hand, pushed Liu Ashan, and called out twice worriedly.

Liu Ashan raised his head in a daze, looked around, then looked at Yan Liulang, his eyes a little confused, and asked softly:

"Brother Yan, if there is no master anymore, what should we do?"

Yan Liulang wanted to speak, but at this moment, the noise in the county government hall ahead became louder and louder.

"No, I have to go out and stabilize the situation!"

Yan Liulang turned around and said something bad, and shook his head with a sad face:

"I don't know if Master Diao is back. Why hasn't he come back yet? The Ming Dynasty has left all the affairs to him. It's good for him. He's not here at the critical moment and attends some kind of celebration ceremony..."

Liu Ashan didn't respond. He lowered his head and looked at the moonlight sword, seeming to be deep in thought.

Yan Liulang didn't have time to care about Liu Ashan's condition, he didn't even have time to drink the tea on the table, and quickly left the back hall.

Back to the county government lobby!

Noisy waves came.

At the same time, a piece of bad news came from outside the county government office.

Yan Liulang walked out with a big frown on his face.

If Mingfu was present, who would dare to make such a noise?

Yan Liulang sighed. When he followed Mingfu before, he couldn't help but feel something was wrong.

Only now do I realize how difficult it is to be able to calm down the audience and become the backbone of everyone in critical moments!

"Everyone, stop making noise and be quiet!"
To be continued...