On the city wall, tall and strong soldiers were hammering away, working in full swing. If you got closer, you could even hear a few laughter and chatter. The content was roughly about their respective construction progress, what to eat next, and what style of eaves they wanted...
"...Hahahaha, do you think my craftsmanship has improved? Look at the wood, it's smoother and smoother than when I chopped off people's heads on the battlefield... Where's my hair?"
"Has any of you seen my hair?"
The companion said: "I'm being pressed by your butt!"
As he finished speaking, several people nearby burst into laughter.
In addition to this harmonious scene, from time to time you can see someone among them carrying a piece of wood two to three feet long and jumping up from the base of the city wall to the tower with the help of strength. There seems to be a flash of light under their feet, and the thieves look like they are brave warriors. gas.
Dozens or hundreds of people built it there, putting together a simple prototype of the long-burned city tower and sentry tower.
The flags on the city wall were also changed to the unfamiliar "Shen".
The city gate that had been smashed to pieces before was also closed again, half-closed. A group of refugees did not dare to come forward. They found a place to hide and crouched until their legs were numb. They waited until a few Common people walked out of the city carrying poles. Bamboo baskets at both ends of the poles were loaded with heavy objects, which bent the ends of the poles.
At this time, another whistle was heard on the city wall.
The soldiers who were working stopped their work one by one, and gathered around a few common people one after another. They lined up in an orderly manner, received the steaming dry food and warm soup one by one, and found a place at random, or Eat while standing, squatting or sitting.
The aroma of food floated into their noses along the air.
Gulu gulu——
The Five Zang Temple sang about the empty city plan.
Saliva overflowed from their mouths, and their stomachs began to ache. Driven by hunger, some people bravely walked out of their hiding places. As a result, the soldiers did not look at them, nor did they chase them away or scold them until they were close——
"What to do?"
Someone suddenly appeared from behind.
The thunderous sound made the man tremble.
He held his head with both hands and tried to bend down to escape, but was grabbed by the collar: "Sneaky, but a spy?"
"Why are you trying to scare him?" Just when the common people were shouting "I want to die" in their hearts, another person came over.
This man was equally unruly. Perhaps because it was too hot to work, he took off half of his sleeves and stuffed them into his waist, exposing half of his arms.
"Hey, I've been paying attention to him for a long time."
The man named "Shou Sheng" put the person down.
"...Look at his appearance, he is either a refugee living here or a commoner in Ruyao... If you scare people away, be careful that Mr. Shen will cause trouble for you." Zhao Feng wiped away the sweat and put it in his mouth. Pancake, smiled.
As soon as he heard the word "Shen Jun", the man's attitude changed completely, and his smile was a little cautious.
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding."
The captured common people: "..."
Although Zhao Feng and Zhao Feng spoke with foreign accents and did not look like locals, the mere fact that they did not use violence on him allowed the common man to regain some sense. He looked at the two of them carefully.
"Where did these two soldiers... come from?"
Lu Jue said: "Come from Heyin."
The common people don't know where He Yin is.
I wanted to ask clearly but was afraid that it would anger them both.
Seeing his embarrassed and pitiful look, Lu Jue also knew what he wanted to inquire about, so he took the initiative and said: "I am the warden of Shen County in Heyin County. I am following my lord and being transferred to Longwu County by the king's order."
When he said this, the people understood.
Co-authored by The New Sheriff Has Come.
Although they were not very optimistic about the fate of the new county governor, being surrounded by two tall and strong men on one side and one on the right, and with hundreds of people nearby, the common people still felt a little safer in their hearts and secretly hoped that he would be able to survive. Live a peaceful life for a few days.
Seeing him staring longingly at the pancake in his hand, Lu Jue asked immediately as he was skinny and skinny.
"Are you from Ruyao? Live in this city?"
The common people seemed to have been stabbed in a sad place, and nodded gloomily: "If you return to Bingye, I will live in the west of the city."
However, it was already in ruins.
When a group of horse bandits broke into the city, that area bore the brunt. All the property he had owned for many years was gone. He, his wife and a pair of children were the only ones left in his family. Everyone else was dead!
Just a few days ago, my old wife also died of illness.
The children relied on the food the couple saved through their teeth and hid in the ruins of the city. It is not known whether they starved to death.
Thinking of this, the common people are even more miserable!
"Looking at how young you are, do you want to stay and work for half a day with two pancakes as wages..." After Lu Jue said this, he paused and added, "I can pay you half a day in advance."
The common people thought they had heard wrongly.
It wasn't until Lu Jue called someone to share two cakes with him that he woke up as if from a dream. He couldn't wait to grab the cakes and wolfed them down, like a hungry ghost reincarnated. If Lu Jue hadn't handed him another bowl of warm soup, the cakes would have been eaten. It got stuck in his throat and choked him to death.
Looking at the red eyes of the common people hidden behind the mist, Lu Jue sighed softly in his heart, and then followed closely: "There is an urgent need for people at the construction site. If you know the people nearby, you can ask them to come over and work together. The same wages apply to both men and women."
"Yes, yes, I know a lot of people."
The common people only ate one and hid the other in their arms, with a plan in mind - maybe the two children hadn't starved to death yet, so they could share the pancake. Thinking of the children's ecstatic eyes, they felt strong all over their bodies. .
The other refugees also saw this scene in their eyes, and with the shouts from their accomplices, they all had the courage to come out on their own initiative and get half a day's "wage" in advance from Lu Jue.
When the cake with the aroma of food enters your mouth, the tears you hold back make the tip of your nose sore and your eyes red.
Lu Jue looked at this scene and sighed.
At this time, the people of Longwu were much more difficult than the people of Heyin back then, but Lu Jue was even more grateful that they were stronger than he was back then, both in terms of strength and financial resources. Otherwise, looking at this scene, he would only feel "powerless" in his heart. Two words.
It was difficult for these common people to even walk, let alone do heavy work. Lu Jue only arranged for them to do light tasks, such as delivering things and cleaning up the small gravel under the city wall.
In the blink of an eye, twilight gathers.
The common man dragged his tired body back to the west of the city, carrying the pancakes with his body temperature in his arms. Only then did he realize that most of the ruins along the road had been cleared away and the foundations had been redivided. It was very different from what he remembered. Soon, he returned to his old house.
To be precise, it is the ruins of an old house.
The hearts of the common people were mostly cold.
There is no trace of the child here.
He was confused and flustered. He called the child's nickname loudly and shouted. Strong grief and grievances came to his heart. He fell to the ground and cried loudly. He kept calling "my baby" and burst into tears.
Sihengliu.
Only after my voice became hoarse from crying did someone come.
"Why are you crying?"
The common people sat slumped on the ground and patted their thighs.
Wow wow wow, "My baby..."
The man pointed in a direction.
"Don't cry yet. Go to that shelter first and see if your baby is there."
How can ordinary people still have the strength to stand up?
In the end, he was supported by this kind man and limped to the so-called "shelter". He saw a small, clean face. Who else could it be if she wasn't his daughter?
I suddenly experienced great sorrow and joy, and fainted. It took me a while to catch my breath, and I cried bitterly while holding my two children.
From the mouths of the two children, I learned that when they were about to starve to death, they were rescued and woke up in a "shelter".
And this "shelter" was built by the new county governor.
Specially designed to house homeless people.
After the buildings in the city are completed, we can arrange to go there.
Upon hearing this, the common people bowed and bowed in the direction of the official office, thanking Shen Tang for protecting his only two relatives.
The people around him didn't stop him, it was a life-saving grace, and he could bear all the courtesy.
But those who were as lucky as him were in the minority after all, and many more people lost almost all their blood relatives in that catastrophe. Those who survived by chance also died of starvation, freezing, or illness...
at the same time--
Yongguguan.
The atmosphere in the pass was heavy, and the clothes worn by the soldiers were almost useless against the cold. They were cold and hard, sticking to their bodies as if they were stuck to a piece of ice. Even so, every one of them had to work hard to patrol without daring to slack off...
I can only breathe a sigh of relief when my shift changes.
Hiding in a damaged military camp tent.
It's cold in the tent too, but at least it's better than outside.
When a group of colleagues gather together, there is also a lively atmosphere.
At this time, someone's stomach rang.
【GuluGulu】
All the soldiers looked gloomy.
In the past month, we have received less and less food, and the corn porridge has become thinner and thinner. The military pay has not been supplied in time, and it is difficult to even provide clothing to keep out the cold. Some brothers couldn't bear it and sneaked away, but the rest are still there
Be patient and patient.
"...Oh, this Shiwu who suffered a thousand blows..."
Someone cursed.
Everyone agreed in their hearts.
But not——
If it weren't for Shi Wu's group of grandsons, they wouldn't be facing the current situation. Those grandsons seemed to see through their predicament, and would come to the pass every now and then to show off their power or feign an attack, scaring them so much that they didn't dare to slack off on duty all night long.
After coming and going again, my spirit couldn't bear it.
Coupled with the lack of resources in all aspects...
They don't know how long they can last.
But you have to hold on even if you can’t.
If Yonggu Pass is lost, Shiwu's group of grandsons will be able to send troops and march straight in. How can the crumbling national border barrier stop them? By then, Longwu will not be the only one to suffer.
Just when they were itching with hatred, a cry of ecstasy came from outside the tent, startling everyone to get up.
"The food is coming!"
"The rations are here!"
I thought it was a hallucination, but I found out it was real after leaving the camp, and a full two thousand stones of grain and grass were delivered. After hearing the news, the military chief hurriedly rushed, opened a few bags of grain, and saw that it was indeed grain. The grains were full and lying in the palm of his hand.
, emitting a unique aroma.
"Open the others and take a look!"
Bag after bag, not a single bag is adulterated.
Judging from the quality, it should be the new grain produced this year, not the old grain that has been accumulated in the grain warehouse for a long time. Good stuff!
Two of the carts also contained dried meat and pickles.
"Where were these seized?"
This is the first thing that comes to mind.
Immediately, doubts arose again. There were not many wheat planting classes in Longwu County, and 90% of the two thousand stones were wheat...
The food transport soldier shook his head and replied: "They were not captured, they were all sent from Ruyao Administration Office..."
The chief clerk was surprised: "Ruyao governs the office?"
Wasn't that place massacred by horse bandits?
They even sent people to come back for help, but unfortunately it was too late.
The chief clerk asked again: "Are you sure?"
The grain transport soldier nodded heavily: "I'm sure."
As he spoke, he took out a lacquered document from his arms and handed it to the chief clerk with both hands. The chief clerk hurriedly took it and opened it to take a closer look. Inside was a detailed record of each truck of military rations.
Not only did they have the food they were in urgent need of right now, but they also had hundreds of sets of winter clothes, hundreds of arrows and several jars of wine.
Although it is not much, it is written on it that the rest will be delivered in batches, and the signature is the Sheriff of Longwu County——
Shen Tang, Shen Youli.
The chief clerk closed the documents: "When did the new governor of Longwu County come? Are these sent by the new governor?"
The soldiers transporting food thought carefully.
"About five days."
The chief clerk's face turned gloomy.
He had heard that Zheng Qiao transferred a new governor to Longwu County, but that happened a long time ago, and he never took office. Both he and the general believed that the other party was greedy for life and afraid of death, and was unwilling to come to Longwu County——
It's best if you don't come. Zheng Qiao's lackeys, ears and eyes, can they have other abilities besides being a hindrance?
When the time comes, they are fighting bravely at the front, while the guy is flirting with Shi Wumei behind his back.
Zheng Qiao's lackey is really capable.
The chief registrar had long forgotten about the new county governor.
I didn't expect that people would come out of nowhere.
When he arrived, he was given two thousand stones of baggage.
The soldiers transporting the grain were cautious and carefully observed the chief clerk's face changing again and again: "Master chief... this grain..."
The master chuckled inwardly and said: "Take it."
Who would dislike too much food?
I just don’t know what the other person’s purpose is.
The garrison at Yonggu Pass is not as large as it was in its heyday, and with the increase in deserters these days, two thousand stones of grain will be enough for the remaining soldiers to eat for a while. The chief secretary ordered that there be an extra meal today, and everyone will have a full meal.
Send someone to deliver several jars of wine to the general so that he can satisfy his craving and write another letter.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
(???)
I was sad today and suddenly wanted to eat a spicy casserole. As a result, I had a stomachache for a long time and I broke out in a cold sweat...