Later generations may not have a strong understanding of Yi County, but when it comes to apples in Shanxi, I am afraid some people know which ones are the most delicious.
The reason why apples taste so good is because the temperature difference between day and night in this area is very large.
When it's hot, it's scorching to death; when it's cold, it's bone-chilling.
Therefore, the first thing Cao Jun had to face when he arrived at Yi County was not swords and guns, but the severe cold at night.
Before a camp to avoid the cold was built, Cao's soldiers had to use their bodies to resist.
When it's still dark, Cao's soldiers who have been shivering all night will find that some of them will never stand up.
"He's laughing!"
"Oh my god! He...he's smiling!!!"
There was a commotion in the camp.
People in later generations who have some medical knowledge will probably know why people who freeze to death laugh, but these soldiers of Cao's army and ordinary people do not know the reason, so they find this phenomenon very terrifying...
Most of those who froze to death were civilians.
Because the peasants did not have enough clothes to keep warm, and it was not possible to dig a nest in a short time.
"Everyone go away! Get out!"
Cao Jun's military academy came up and coaxed the surrounding civilians away.
There was an indescribable strange smell in the air.
Some people say it's the smell of the dead, while others say it's the smell of the monster that came to suck souls last night.
The sound of wailing sounded, it was sadness for the death of a loved one.
"You! Come here!" Military Academy Cao pointed at Lao Zaotou, "throw these corpses over the mountain!"
Cao Jun's military academy waved his arms as if he was driving away flies or other insects.
The old Zaotou had no choice but to step forward with several other auxiliary soldiers, grab the hands and feet of the corpse, and drag it toward the mountain.
Corpses are like worthless firewood.
It's not even worth cutting it off to make rat meat.
Because most of them are skin and bones without much meat.
The distance on the other side of the mountain was actually not that far away. Suddenly, his pupils trembled and he pursed his lips.
He saw that at the foot of the hillside, there were layers upon layers of corpses.
Those corpses are laughing...
Smiling at him.
At such a moment, Lao Zaotou felt that the hair all over his body seemed to stand on end, and the sound of wind in his ears turned into the wails of those ghosts. His heart was trembling violently, making it difficult for him to breathe.
It's not that he has never seen dead people, but he has never seen so many dead people who died with a smile.
This scene made Lao Zaotou's heart tremble for a long time.
The climate in the Han Dynasty and before the Han Dynasty was very warm. This can be seen from the changes in clothing during the Han Dynasty. In the Han Dynasty, it was common to wear wide robes, large sleeves, and ventilated and comfortable clothes, so in the Central Plains of the Han Dynasty,
The common people's understanding of winter wind and snow is seriously insufficient.
Lao Zaotou endured the discomfort in his heart and threw the body down.
The corpse was like a stiff piece of wood, rolling and falling.
It's like being thrown into the furnace.
The old Zaotou didn't dare to look further. When he turned his head, he saw the man who was beaten yesterday standing beside the pit in a daze.
The old Zaotou gave him a push and said, "What are you doing standing there in a daze? Let's go and dig a nest in the ground."
"That person... that person is still alive..." The farmer pointed to the bottom of the pit tremblingly, "that person... he smiled at me, and his hands were moving..."
"Let's go! These are all dead! Die!" The old Zaotou felt horrified. He didn't dare to stay by the pit any longer. He pulled the man and said, "Let's go! Only by working hard can we survive, and then we can have food! Eat."
If you die, you won’t die!』
"There are still people alive over there..."
"No! No! You are wrong!"
"I……"
"Let's go!" Lao Zaotou dragged the farmer away, not daring to look back. "Work hard and you won't die. You won't die! What's your name?"
"My... my name is Shitou..." the man replied dumbly, then turned to look at the pit, "Old man... over there..."
"Don't worry about that! Don't worry about it! They are all dead!" Lao Zaotou muttered. For some reason, his voice was trembling. "Walk around, work harder, dig a good nest, and you won't die! Stones!"
, your name is Shitou, it’s a good name, it’s a good name, you won’t die, you definitely won’t die..."
Lao Zaotou's hope is very simple.
Their wishes are simple.
Live.
I don’t ask for good clothing and food, but I just ask for a safe life for the whole family...
…
…
"It's done! It's done! Digging is done!"
The old Zaotou watched the sun set in the west, with a relaxed expression on his tired face.
He looked around at the surrounding auxiliary soldiers and civilians, and said: "If you have a nest on the ground, you won't be afraid! Put a layer on the ground at night and cover yourself with a layer, and you will be fine! You won't die, everyone can do it."
Survive!』
After everyone heard this, they also breathed a sigh of relief.
But at the next moment, a group of Cao soldiers armed with swords came over, drove them away, and gathered them together.
They were a little panicked and had an ominous premonition in their hearts.
The crowd began to move, heading in another direction.
"What are you doing?" Lao Zaotou shouted, "What are you doing?"
After a while, another auxiliary soldier replied, "They want us to build the wall overnight!"
"Are you crazy?" Lao Zaotou's head buzzed, "They...didn't they see that so many people died last night?!"
Someone grabbed the old stove and said, "Old Army Master, didn't you say that it would be fine if we dug a nest in the ground? Didn't you say that if we are honest and obedient, we will have food to eat... and we can survive, you said..."
Anyone who wants to die will have died long ago.
The living people have sacrificed a lot in order to live, so much that they don't even dare to die.
If they die like this, then what are they doing and paying for?
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Building a stronghold wall will not necessarily lead to death. If you build a stronghold wall earlier, you can also block some wind and cold... If you build a stronghold wall earlier, you can defeat those thieves sooner... You can go home sooner...
…』
"But the weather is too cold...it's getting dark before my eyes, at night..."
Before he finished speaking, Lao Zaotou heard someone screaming from behind.
"Ahhhh!"
The old Zaotou looked back and saw a few soldiers of Cao Jun dragging out the peasants who were unwilling to leave the dug hole and then hacking them to death...
A member of the Cao Army Military Academy shouted loudly and righteously: "Did you all see it?! Malicious laziness and rebellion against military orders are what will happen! Listen carefully! There is an order from above that the camp wall must be completed tonight! Otherwise, severe punishment will not be neglected!"
』
Several other people who looked like soldiers and sergeants of Cao Jun also shouted loudly——
"If one person is lazy, the whole team will be punished!"
"I would rather work until death than take a break!"
"..."
The expelled peasants were cold, tired and hungry, and many could not help but burst out in mourning.
But when the military academy of Cao Jun heard these cries, they were laughing.
"Haha, look at these unruly people, it's really funny..."
"The boss still has a way, we can have a good sleep tonight!"
"When the captain comes tomorrow, I must praise the boss for his ability in doing things! By then, the boss will definitely be promoted! We brothers will also be able to get some credit!"
"Yes, being able to build such a large camp ahead of schedule shows that our boss is capable, courageous, and responsible! If the boss doesn't get promoted, who can be promoted? Who can?!"
"Yeah!"
"That's right, that's right!"
The military academy’s surname was Zeng. After hearing the flattery from some of his subordinates, he bared his big teeth and said with a smile, "They are all doing things for the Han Dynasty! I don’t care whether I am promoted or not, all I want is peace of mind! After receiving the salary and military pay, of course I must do my best.
Do your best!』
"Ah, yes, yes!"
As for those salaries and military pay, where did they come from? Is it really that the high officials of the court came down from the sky?
They don't know, and they don't want to know.
…
…
That night, Military Academy Zeng, who only wanted peace of mind, received a new order.
"I said...what does this mean?" Military Academy Zeng asked the ordering soldier, "What is "reduction"?"
The messenger was stunned for a moment, and then said: "You ask me?"
"..." Military Academy Zeng gritted his teeth.
"The captain wants you to reply, can you do it?" the ordering soldier asked.
Principal Zeng Jun took a long breath, and then said: "Yes! Let the captain rest assured!"
The messenger nodded and left.
Seeing that the ordering soldier had left, several senior officers from Zeng Military Academy came up to him and said, "Boss, what's going on?"
"There are too many people..." Military Colonel Zeng said a few words through his teeth.
"Ah? What do you mean?" I couldn't understand.
"That's what it means..." Military Colonel Zeng said, "The captain sent someone to send a message that the army rations are insufficient, and we have too many people eating now! Do you understand?!"
"what do you mean?"
"What else could it mean?" Military Academy Zeng said, "There is no food and grass... Rat meat was distributed two days ago..."
"Why is there no food and grass? Didn't you say they were recruited again?"
"What happened?"
"What are we going to do when we run out of food and grass?"
Some of them were still very confused, but some of them understood, and their faces suddenly looked a little ugly.
"Boss, this matter is difficult to handle..."
Military Academy Zeng was silent for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "It must be done even if it's difficult! Otherwise, why would the captain call us here? Go and call all the commanders of the auxiliary army... I am not the only one who has to deal with this matter."
It’s everyone’s business!』
After a while, several auxiliary soldiers including Lao Zaotou arrived.
There is a strict class distinction between regular soldiers and auxiliary soldiers. For example, although in the eyes of the people, these people are all eating public food, the hierarchy is strict. Zeng Military Academy can sit on the horse and lecture, but the auxiliary soldiers are not
Regardless of your age, you must stand still and listen.
"There is an order from above. We now have limited military rations. We don't have enough to eat. We must reduce some of the population!" Military Academy Zeng said in a deep voice, "That's what I'm calling you to do! There is an order from above. Whether you understand it or not, whether it is difficult or not,
Whatever is difficult must be carried out! This is a military order! It is a national policy! It is a major national policy that affects thousands of lives in the Han Dynasty! Tomorrow, the population of each team must be reduced to one...to 30%!"
"'Reduction'?" Lao Zaotou murmured, "This...what does this mean?"
Among the chiefs of the auxiliary soldiers, there was the one with a sinister face who raised his hands and said: "This is a simple matter! Tomorrow we will drive those untouchables to attack the city! The nearest to the left is Yi County! It is best to start attacking the city from midnight.
There’s still one meal left!』
Military Academy Zeng nodded slightly and smiled approvingly at the tall and handsome boy. He was immediately elated, and even the big eyeballs on his face seemed to have a little more brilliance.
"Military academy... This, I'm afraid this is not good..." Lao Zaotou couldn't bear it and said in a low voice, "They are all our fellow villagers... They are all us..."
Before he finished speaking, Lao Zaotou shuddered when he saw Military Academy Zeng's eyes staring straight at him as if he wanted to devour a man alive.
"How dare you disobey military orders?!" Military Colonel Zeng said through gritted teeth.
Lao Zaotou lowered his head, not daring to look at Military Colonel Zeng, "I, I just said... they are all human lives... If you really can't support them, it's better to let them go..."
"Ah? Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Military Colonel Zeng pointed at the old stove and laughed, "So, this old guy is really... really... a ha ha ha ha... he is so brave!"
Military Academy Zeng clapped his legs and shook his head. After laughing enough, he pointed at the old stove and said, "Someone, take it down!"
"Not only did he refuse to accept military orders, but he also wanted to release people to join the enemy!" Military Academy Zeng shouted in a deep voice, "These thieves have ulterior motives! The two crimes are equal to one, push them out and behead them!"
Suddenly some soldiers came up and arrested Lao Zaotou.
The old Zaotou struggled, "We are all fellow villagers... we all have lives. What's wrong with me... ah..."
The old Zaotou was dragged down, and a moment later, the bloody head was brought in and thrown to the ground.
Military Academy Zeng looked around, "Who else wants to go down to accompany him? Come forward!"
Everyone was silent.
Military Academy Zeng nodded, "Very good, do you all know what you are going to do?"
Seeing that no one had any objections anymore, Military Academy Zeng just laughed and said, "It hurts my heart to do this! But this is an order from above! You and I can only obey orders, so what can we do? But
In this matter, you always have to think on the bright side... Well, if the population is reduced, won't the remaining people be able to eat more? And the remaining people must be young and strong. They are no better than that old guy.
Much more efficient? Isn’t it? Ah, now that you say it, the order from above really makes sense! Right? Okay, let’s go to work! Remember, this is an order from above! It’s a military order! It cannot be violated!”
The auxiliary soldiers dispersed one after another.
Military Academy Zeng stared at it, and then said to his subordinates: "Go and keep an eye on them later. These guys... are sneaky and sneaky. You can't be careful! Since you want to do it, you have to do it beautifully!"
Otherwise, how can we show our abilities? If we do not do well, how can we leave all the responsibilities in the future to you and me? Working hard, to put it bluntly, is for the sake of the future! You all know what to do, right? I told my brothers
Clearly, if they are not going to die, then we are going to die! Do you understand?!』
The several officers and soldiers looked at each other and responded in unison.
…
…
Before dawn, the civilians among Cao's army were driven to the outskirts of Yi County again.
When they left the camp again, these peasants may have realized something, and some began to cry and howl.
"What do they want us to do?"
"Didn't we agree that we won't be allowed to attack the city again?!"
"They promised us!"
"The official said he doesn't want us to attack the city anymore!"
"They agreed..."
Some people cried and shouted, saying that it was because someone promised them that they would not drive them to attack the city, so they worked hard, diligently, and uncomplainingly to the east of the river, dug the ground to build camps, and then fought in the ice and snow.
Gritting one's teeth and suffering, otherwise why would one come? Isn't waiting for death in Tongguan also death? There is no need to suffer more.
But soon, these people's cries did not attract sympathy or explanation, but instead attracted sticks, knives and guns.
Perhaps in the eyes of those at the top, the promises made to these ordinary people are like slogans on the wall. As long as they can be scraped off, it can be regarded as nothing happening...
Although the officers and soldiers of Cao's army came from the same place as these civilians, and sometimes they could even stand together and talk and laugh, but at such times, the officers and soldiers would change their identities from the friendship between fellow villagers.
Detach yourself from it and find sufficient reasons for yourself.
Because this is determined by the traditional feudal structure system of "orders from above".
No matter in any feudal dynasty, people rarely come into contact with officials. The people they deal with on a daily basis are officials. These officials are the general grassroots staff of the court. As the saying goes, "County officials are not as good as current officials", "The king of hell is easy to see, kid."
Difficult to deal with." That's right.
The government structure of the feudal dynasty was "officials + officials". There were few officials but many officials. Officials were at the top, and officials were deeply involved among the people. The division of functions between officials and officials was "power + execution".
Corruption in officialdom is not unsolvable, but the authoritarian social structure of the feudal dynasty is inextricable.
unless……
When Tongguan was attacked, many civilians died, but those civilians were mainly from Heluo. There were relatively few civilians belonging to Jizhou and Yuzhou, so these civilians from Jizhou and Yuzhou remained silent. After all, it was Heluosi who died.
The people who were subordinates could not fight with them, so when Cao Jun drove the Heluo civilians to carry equipment and dig ditches and fill traps under Tongguan, the people of Jizhou and Yuzhou just watched and remained silent.
, did not say a word for those Heluo people, at most he just sighed.
Now it's their turn...
They found that no one would speak for them either.
When they are useful, they are called fellow villagers; when they are useless, they are called despicable and cunning people.
When the people need to work hard, they can agree to anything. When the time comes to fulfill the promise...
What? Who promised you, who are you going to find?
Screams suddenly sounded.
Those common people who cried louder were taken out of the queue and beheaded like lambs.
The remaining peasants were like sheep, putting their heads in the buttocks of the peasant in front, pretending not to see or hear anything.
Maybe in their minds, as long as others die first, they might not have to die?
"If I really have to die... I want to die quickly..."
"It would be nice if I could die instantly..."
"If I had known that we were going to attack the city, I would have died earlier, and I wouldn't have had to suffer so much..."
"No... no, I don't want to die... I... we can still perform meritorious service, meritorious service, yes, meritorious service... As long as we perform meritorious service, they, they will let us live, and we can become pawns...
』
The people in front are walking numbly, and the people behind are following numbly.
On the edge of the crowd, there were only a few soldiers scattered in twos and threes. They were much fewer than the civilians. They were driving away with swords and guns feinting.
Yi County is right in front of you.
"dash forward!"
The soldiers of Cao's army who were in charge of supervising the battle shouted.
"You'll be rewarded if you rush forward! You'll have food and wine!"
"Rush up! Don't be afraid! The big man is behind you!"
"Don't be afraid of death! You are all heroes of the Han Dynasty!"
