Shouchun.
A long line had formed outside the city gate, with merchants riding in carriages, woodcutters carrying firewood, scholars of humble birth seeking an education, and down-and-out Wanderers wearing swords.
It was not as cold here as in Luoyang, but it could certainly not be called warm.
Everyone shivered.
Those who did not fear the bitter cold would not have been lining up here.
"Young man! You there, young man!"
Someone suddenly called out.
Liu Lu paused and looked up to see a merchant beckoning to him.
Liu Lu had ridden several fine horses to death and endured countless hardships to reach this place. He really did not want any trouble, so he cautiously walked over and bowed to the merchant. "What can I do for you?"
"Have you come to seek refuge with relatives?"
The merchant sized up Liu Lu. Naturally, Liu Lu would not enter as a Wanderer. That identity would bring all sorts of inconveniences. Officials these days were all unreasonable. When they encountered a Wanderer, they would casually kill him and claim to have caught a bandit.
Of course, no identity really made life easy. Merchants also risked being robbed by officials, and even an innocent farmer could be accused of being a bandit.
Fortunately, after Sima Shi's slaughter, officials everywhere had reined themselves in considerably. At least they no longer dared to act with complete impunity.
Liu Lu owed his swift arrival in Huainan, without encountering too many difficulties, to the Grand General's benevolence.
He had already changed disguises several times along the way. Now, dressed in rags and mingling with the common people, he was utterly unremarkable.
There had been plenty of refugees like these along the road.
Liu Lu nodded. "Yes, I've come to seek refuge with relatives."
People of the sort Liu