After working hard to repair, everyone finally managed to re-fix the straw shed before the raindrops turned into a downpour. Although it was quite solid and reliable, under such simple conditions, there was no need to think that it could completely shelter from the wind and rain.
It was raining heavily outside the straw shed, and it was drizzling inside the straw shed.
The soldiers were divided into meals, either wearing straw raincoats or carrying oil-paper umbrellas, and hurried back to the shack to have dinner. Except for the officers, their residence would be worse.
The group was so tired that they were panting. They sat on the wet straw mat and looked dim. However, when each of them held a bowl of oily vegetarian meat in their hands, their fatigue and depression were wiped out.
For some reason, the soldiers all thought that the meal today was particularly delicious.
Of course, it is impossible for rice with "meat" to be undesirable, but today I am sweating and raining all over my body, so I feel so tired that I smell so bad. But eating like this is to make my body and mind comfortable and happy.
But Gu Xiang was in a very good mood.
Afeng quickly packed up a slightly dry haystack and let Gu Xiang sit down on the haystack. At her insight, the child's message was clearly seen.
This young man was an orphan. The beggar father who adopted him used to call him Xiao Guihua, a very feminine name. At this time, he emphasized the humble reputation and was easy to support him. He also thought that women were humble, so he gave him a female name, and I guess he hoped that he would grow up safely and healthily.
Xiao Guihua is twelve years old, with fractures and healing signs of fractures on her right leg and left hand, and many old injuries on her body. At such a young age, she is full of injuries and has suffered heavy physical labor every day, but she does not leave any fatal secret injuries and is also a fortune teller.
Gu Xiang scooped a few pieces of vegetarian meat, picked it up with chopsticks, chewed it slowly, and took it back in the rain outside, frowned and said, "This child doesn't want to join the army? Yongyi's army has sufficient troops, why should he take these children?"
She heard her grandfather chatting that the court now has no shortage of soldiers. Moreover, the court implemented a policy of raising soldiers. Those who were old and weak were all qualified and had to be given half of the salary and silver.
This alone is a huge expense.
The imperial court now has only severe redundant soldiers, but no soldiers are missing.
Afeng was serious on his face and also a gossip inside. He looked at Zhang Li and whispered: "Last year, the imperial court checked the matter of the empty salary of each army, and it was very strict. Our Yongyi Army... also received some empty salary."
Gu Xiang nodded. The young generals of the Huotou Camp usually started to fight after three glasses of wine. She usually heard a lot and saw a lot. Most of the things about Yongyijun were not hidden from her. She also knew that Yongyijun had been paying empty salary for the past few years.
This was also impossible to say to those soldiers. The court strictly controlled the army and was very cautious in providing food and grass every time. There was only a small amount, not a lot.
If you eat some empty salary and reserve more money and food, you will be prepared for any trouble. After all, there are more than a thousand people who want to eat and drink, and once the supply is not enough, it is easy to make mistakes.
"Ahem, in order to look good, the general added a group of soldiers nearby. Most of them were poor and could not afford to eat. After all, there was no disaster or difficulty. Who would join the army? Xiao Guihua was begging on the street at that time. When she just lost her father, she had to raise a pair of disabled younger siblings. Zhang Ziwei picked him up and brought the people back. Taking advantage of the opportunity to replenish soldiers, she falsely reported how old she was to become a soldier. At least she could earn food for herself and her younger siblings."
Afeng sighed, "I think I can't stand the pain, so this kid wants to run away, but at this critical moment, the man who had just gotten angry and ordered the repair of the river. If he became a deserter at this time, his troops would be punished and his superiors would be implicated... No wonder Zhang Xiaowei was angry. Xiao Guihua, the child, is too. When the hard work this year is over, if he doesn't want to do it, he will resign. Who will keep him?"
"shit."
The old dog, who was stuffing his vegetarian meat into his mouth, hummed and muttered, "It's over? I've given it for half a year. I can't finish military law. The knife is hanging on my neck and is waiting to fall! Once the force is over, I don't know how many people will die!"
"Don't say that Xiao Guihua wants to run away, his grandmother, if she wasn't afraid of implicating her mother, I would also want to run away. Xiao Guihua still raises millet and small water droplets. Those two little ones are blind and the other are lame. It depends entirely on his brother's life..."
He didn't dare to speak loudly, Afeng didn't hear it. Gu Xiang's five senses were so sensible that he could not help but frown.
The Yongyi Army was responsible for the river from Shouling to Yang County. It was not particularly long, but it was mountainous and not easy to build.
The six-month time limit is indeed a bit nervous.
A night of storms.
The river channel returned to calm, and nothing seemed to have happened.
Gu Xiang was still cooking for these punished soldiers on the river day after day, and the next day he saw Xiao Guihua again.
He was carrying dozens of kilograms of stones on his thin shoulders, which made his shoulder collapse violently. His expression was dumb and his walking was a little crooked. It was obvious that his injuries last night were not healed.
Gu Xiang couldn't help but think of the old dog's younger brother.
That was also a doll, but there was no childishness on his body.
At this moment, her thoughts flashed, and Gu Xiang gently placed the shovel on the lid of the pot. She seemed to understand why she could not earn enough food orders.
After a little thought, Gu Xiang turned his attention from the taste of the food to the person, and looked over with a pair of wonderful eyes quietly.
Seeing this, a little cold sweat oozed from Gu Xiang's forehead.
At the moment of insight, what she saw was a numb face, her eyes were dull, and she didn't look like a living person.
But under this cold numbness, there seemed to be something terrible hidden. She stood here and felt like she was dancing on the pile of gunpowder!
People with explosives have no intention of enjoying the fun of food?
"Why!"
On this day, Gu Xiang prepared the meal as usual, stared at Afeng and the others and took the time to part, but did not leave. He raised his hand and acted at the little osmanthus children: "Little osmanthus, come, help me wash this basket of green beans, I'll make some snacks for you."
Little Guihua and a group of children hesitated for a while, and finally got closer slowly.
Gu Xiang smiled and gave the children a wooden bucket of green beans. He followed them to the stream and sat down and washed the beans together.
"After the rain, the mountain wind is refreshing, and you have enough food and drink, and you are free. Why not work while listening to me tell you a story?"
Gu Xiang smiled and stretched out his long legs and sat down comfortably.
Little Osmanthus and Wang Ermu did not look up, and washed the beans silently, as if they hadn't heard what she said.
Gu Xiang didn't mind either, so he cleared his throat and slowly spoke: "The story I want to tell happened in Kaifeng City, and its name is "Kaifeng Detective Notes."
The breeze is coming, and Gu Xiang is now full of energy, strong and loud, and he doesn't have any effort to tell stories.
Chapter completed!