There is a lively crowd in front of the main road, and there are densely packed long sheds with various banners hanging to sell and make noise. The crowds coming and going come from that direction. There is no city gate and no city wall.
A thin man took a few steps forward: "According to the location and map, this is where it is."
He is everyone's most trusted guide. His thin body has led countless people. He also trusts himself, but this time his voice and eyes are a little doubtful.
It doesn't look like much.
"It's not surprising." Another man grabbed his hat and looked forward, "It seems that Dou County was not only massacred by bandits, but the city walls and gates were also demolished."
People passing by on the road heard these words, and they immediately started to curse.
"What are you talking about!"
"Our Dou County was not massacred."
"We in Dou County have strong soldiers, strong horses, and many people."
"You ignorant countryman! This is not the city gate, the county seat is still more than ten miles away."
The thick-looking man, who looked fierce, did not get angry because he was scolded. He was confused and said: "It's not the city gate, what are you checking there?"
He pointed forward. Beyond the long shed of colorful flags, there was a taller wooden frame with even larger colored flags. There were people lining up under the wooden frame. There were more than a dozen officers and soldiers asking questions. There were also straw sheds on both sides, and three small officials were sitting there.
Among them, from time to time, people were brought over by officers and soldiers to stand in front of the officials, asking questions and lowering their heads to write something.
Few of the city gates they visited along the way were so strictly inspected.
"What's more, this is obviously a market." The man pointed out the bustle of the long shed.
As you get closer, you can see that there are restaurants, tea and wine shops under these long sheds, and more of all kinds of goods for sale, ranging from large vehicles, horses and livestock, to small candied silk flowers.
The passerby smiled: "This is a market, but not Dou County."
A passerby with a load passed by and interrupted: "This is Dou County, this is Dou County, this is a town outside the city of Dou County."
"This is what you are yelling about." The passers-by from before were dissatisfied.
The passerby carrying the load chuckled: "If you don't believe me, go and see. People from the county government are taking measurements inside, saying that they want to straighten the streets. Some merchants have arrived, specializing in selling bricks, stones and wood. They are going to build houses.
.”
People with official positions are trustworthy. The passers-by were a little unhappy: "You foreigners have become us Dou County people?"
The passers-by carrying the burden chuckled: "The government said that as long as one person is a soldier, everyone in the family can become Dou County residents."
Two passers-by got into an argument. After hearing these words, Wu Ya'er, who had already walked past, stopped and turned around: "Be a soldier?"
"It's not soldiers, it's just the strength of the people." The passerby from before curled his lips.
"No matter what, the government has said that suppressing bandits and strengthening the people are just like the officers and soldiers who are protecting the home and the people." The passers-by carrying the burden were all in good spirits on happy occasions. They looked at these men and saw that they looked haggard and embarrassed. They couldn't help but think of
My former self was very sympathetic, "You are also fleeing here? Did your family suffer from banditry? I think you young and strong people, why not go to the military camp and serve as civilians? Not only can you kill bandits and take revenge, but you can also
Eat well and wear warm clothes.”
"When the people are strong to suppress the bandits?" Wu Ya'er continued to ask.
"Yes, there were bandits in our Dou County, and the officers and soldiers were killed. At that time, in order to protect ourselves, we people took up swords and guns." The passers-by from before finally had the opportunity to speak and hurriedly said, "Later, the government was kind, and other places
People who are in trouble can also come to support the people, but many people only need a bite to eat."
"We didn't eat for free." The passerby carrying the load retorted, "Although I am old, I can go and burn firewood for the porridge vat every day."
The passers-by started arguing again. Wu Yaer walked forward without asking any more questions. The others followed him and passed through the busy shed. Their expressions became more and more surprised.
Although they are all simple thatched huts, it is easy to tell whether they are a temporary gathering place or a mature market, just by looking at the children chasing each other and laughing.
The children can play in peace without worrying about leaving at any time, and this place has become a place that they can call home.
After crossing the busy market, we arrived at where the officers, soldiers and civil servants were. The officers and soldiers had sharp eyes and a very restrained attitude. They briefly checked their belongings and asked about their origins and whereabouts.
If you are just passing by, you can go by yourself. If you want to stay, whether you are doing business or making a living, you must register and get a simple identity card before entering Dou County.
Several people reported their origins and chose to make a living. They were brought to the shed clerk respectively, where they asked for records and received a sign.
"If you want to be a strong citizen, go west to the military camp from here. If you want to be a handyman, just go around here in the outer towns. Government and merchants will come here to recruit workers if they need people." The civil servant introduced enthusiastically, "And if you are hungry, you want to eat first.
If you want to eat, go east. There is a porridge vat in front of the city gate, so you can drink whatever you want."
The men thanked them, and after walking under this wooden frame, there were no more checkpoints. A city appeared in front of them, and that was Dou County.
Wu Ya'er raised his head and looked ahead: "This is not suppressing bandits and recruiting people, this is stationing troops."
He threw down the sign in his hand. The officers and soldiers made inquiries easily, while the clerks registered in great detail. Coupled with this identity sign, everyone who entered Dou County every day was under the control of the government.
Don't underestimate this small registration. Only by knowing the number of people can you know how many troops there are, how much food and fodder are needed, etc.
Others thought of the strangeness they saw and reacted as soon as they were reminded.
"Crow, the government in Dou County is so powerful, they actually dare to station troops privately." A man was surprised, "We don't dare to seize troops and horses in such a big way."
I thought Wu Yaer was bold enough in Zhenwu Army, but I didn't expect that the government in the hinterland of the Central Plains would be even more unscrupulous.
"With such a powerful government, how could the magistrate and officers and soldiers be killed?" Wu Ya'er frowned, "Things are weird."
Dou County was the first place where bandits broke out, and it was also the worst according to rumors. All the officers and soldiers of the county magistrate were killed by bandits, but standing in front of me, there was no tragedy at all like bandits, nor was it like other people passing by who had bandits.
The town gates were closed and passers-by were in panic.
Dou County is extremely prosperous.
Walking through the gathering of merchants along the way, merchants are the first indicator of whether a place is prosperous.
"It doesn't look like there's a gang riot in a place like this."
"How come a place where there is gang trouble attracts so many people?"
The men discussed.
"It's because there is food to eat." Wu Ya'er whispered, "If you have a job, you have food to eat. Only when you have food to live can you live. Everyone wants to live. Is there anything more attractive than this?"
"They said there is porridge at the city gate, you can drink whatever you want." Another man said, looked up and made a sound, "It can't be that thing!"
What is it? Everyone looked up and saw that the winter mist dispersed, and a large tank one foot high appeared in front of the city gate, like a small mountain.
There was a long queue at the foot of the mountain, surrounding the vat like ants carrying food.
Every ant left the tank holding a bowl filled with fragrant porridge.
A man leaned forward and put his face in front of the porridge. He did not see the reflection of his big face in it, but smelled the aroma of meat besides the aroma of porridge.
"It's meat porridge!" he shouted.
The child who was holding the bowl was so scared that he turned pale with fright. However, he did not cry loudly, nor did he drop the bowl and run away. Instead, he gritted his teeth and shouted: "If you dare to steal my porridge, you will be caught and taken back."
The identity card was driven out of Dou County."
The people next to me heard it and did not avoid it, but they were afraid of getting into trouble.
"Don't be stupid."
"When you're hungry, go get some porridge."
"You can eat once when you steal, and you will be caught and chased away, but you will never have enough to eat again."
The misunderstood man did not defend or yell, but curiously asked: "Is there meat in this porridge?"
Because of this, the topic changed and the atmosphere calmed down. The child took the opportunity to run away with the bowl in his arms. An older man politely pointed out: "You have just arrived. You are lucky. Today I made porridge with bone broth."
The man yelled: "Go and grab it quickly."
The older man stopped him: "No need to rush, no need to rush, everyone can eat, and it won't be eaten up. This porridge tank will never be empty day and night."
The man's eyes widened: "It will never be empty! Did your Dou County government dig up a cornucopia?"
How dare you say such nonsense? What you are cooking is not porridge, but money!
"This was not done by the government. It was an act of kindness by Mrs. Wu." The elder smiled and said, "It turns out that the government only set up porridge vats in the military camp for the families of the strong people to enjoy. It was Mrs. Wu who saw the cold weather.
There were so many people who came to the city to take refuge, so porridge vats were set up at the city gate so that everyone could have a bowl of hot porridge at any time and not go hungry."
"There is meat porridge every fifth day." Someone on the side was holding his own bowl and drinking heavily, his mouth flat, "I want to drink another bowl."
The man's eyes widened even further: "You can drink as much as you want? Anyone can drink it? Isn't it a waste for some people to drink even if they have rice at home?"
"Mrs. Wu said that as long as the porridge is eaten in the stomach, it is not a waste." Someone nearby despised the stingy countryman, "No matter who you are, as long as you can drink it, it doesn't matter how much you drink."
"Of course, Master Registrar asked each person to take only one bowl and wait in line again after finishing drinking." Someone interjected, "Mrs. Wu is kind, but she still has to follow rules."
"Who is Mrs. Wu?" Wu Ya'er, who had been keeping quiet with his hat lowered, asked.
People around with porridge in their hands rushed to answer, but there was a noise from the city gate, and people from afar were running towards this side.
"Mrs. Wu is coming out."
People rushed towards the city gate like a tide. Wu Yaer and others were like stones struck by water. They remained motionless and looked towards the direction where the crowd was running. A group of people came out of the city wall, and a group of officials surrounded a black man.
A little woman in a cloak and a big hat. Beside the little woman is a young man holding a black umbrella.
"Why is this man holding a black umbrella on a sunny day like a ghost?" A man was startled and couldn't help shouting.
"This is Mrs. Wu! Don't talk nonsense." Passers-by rushed forward to retort excitedly, "Mrs. Wu made us eat well and invited us to drink. She is as kind as a god."
The man curled his lips: "What kind of fairy is this Mrs. Wu?"
Passers-by turned to look at the secluded countryman: "Mrs. Wu is the wife of General Wu Ya'er of the Zhenwu Army."
Wu Ya'er, who had lowered his hat, raised his head.