Chapter 50: That city, those people
The city wall was made of rammed clay and was no more than ten feet high. On the simple city gate tower, a large flag with the character "Xiao" rustled in the wind and snow.
There was a heavy snowfall yesterday, and the snow on the ground was half a foot thick, but the city wall was still dark in color, and there was not a trace of snow in sight. It was obvious that someone had moved the snow on it. Cleaned up.
Heavily armed soldiers with guns and knives were walking back and forth on the city wall, looking energetic.
In fact, in such a world of ice and snow, not even a single wild dog could be seen, let alone a human being, but these soldiers still seemed meticulous.
Even though it was Xiao Dongwei who came, the most useful general under Chariot General Xiao Changchao, the city gate guards still registered according to the rules, especially the strangers Zhang Ruo and Yuan Rong, who even described their appearance. down. Although the vocabulary is said to be poor, the writing is inseparable.
When I look at the description of Zhang Ruo, he has the image of a weak scholar, while Yuan Rong looks like a big man with a proud head. The two names Yuan Rong and Yuan Tong are also circled. Obviously this thing They have to be handed in. Heroes like the Yuan Rong brothers must be the focus of surveillance.
It was a long time to have a cup of tea at the gate of the city.
As their boss’s boss, Xiao Dongwei didn’t show any hesitation on his face.
This is the rule,
Everyone must abide by and respect it.
Xiao Changche only has three thousand cavalry under his command, but his combat effectiveness is second to none among Linghuye’s 100,000 troops. Xiao Changche’s face in front of Linghuye is bigger than others. Just from these things Accumulated drop by drop.
You can see the whole thing with just one glance.
Cold as a mountain and as resolute as iron, this was the first impression that Yuan'an City left on Zhang Ruo.
Finally we entered the city.
There is not a tall building in the city. The walls are all rammed earth, covered with thatch, and a layer of mud is spread on top of the thatch. At this time, many residents in the city are poking at the snow on the roof with sticks, tinkering. As soon as it fell, large amounts of snow poured down, and then the men, women, and children all laughed loudly.
Seeing Xiao Dongwei's group of people, everyone greeted them loudly, and Xiao Dongwei also responded to them enthusiastically.
It seems that the military and civilians are like a family.
This is somewhat different from the inherent image in Zhang Ruo's mind.
People like Zhang Ruo have never had much favorable impression of the army.
However, whether it is common people or gentry in Guan, when it comes to the army, they frown and have nothing good to say.
The people here seem very happy and relaxed.
Although it looks like they are very poor.
"Yuan'an City is the real frontline fortress!" Zhou Dongwei, the one-eyed general who led his horse after entering the city, said to Zhang Ruo: "Xueshi Zhang, do you know? Our place is less than fifty miles away from the border of Beiyuan. The cavalry can arrive in an instant! However, on the entire border, our Yuan'an City is the place least attacked by the Bei Yuan. In the past two years, the Bei Yuan army has not dared to come. Do you know why?"
"Of course it's because of your Xiao Chaqi!" Zhang Ruo replied.
Xiao Dongwei slapped his crotch and laughed and said: "This is the main reason. The other reason is that the Yuan'an people can't take revenge overnight! If the Beiyuan people dare to come and plunder one of our villages, we will attack them and slaughter ten of their villages. He will kill them." We alone will never stop until we kill ten of them!"
"Retaliation will only get deeper and deeper!"
"So you people, there is nothing wrong with you! You don’t understand the reality of the frontier!” Zhou Dongwei snorted: “Here, if you want to retaliate with kindness, they will just slap your nose and face, and make the other party afraid, and the other party will not dare to provoke you. As for the Beiyuan people, if they offend us, we will kill them. If they don’t offend us, we will kill them. Even if they beg us for mercy, we will still kill them!”
Zhang Ruo doesn’t want to fight with them! Xiao Dongwei discussed such things because he knew very well that playing the piano with the cow was a waste of effort and might even make the cow kick his head in anger.
Xiao Dongwei may not have read many books, but he definitely has a good eye. Just by looking at Zhang Ruo's expression, he can tell what the other person is thinking. He is not angry, he chuckles and says: "I'll wait for you to stay here for a long time." Then you will understand whether what I said makes sense. Maybe you will be more ferocious than me by then. Our magistrate of Yuan'an City is also educated. Now, that guy's murderousness is comparable. I am heavy.”
After half a stick of incense, the group stopped in front of a house. It was the same rammed-earth thatched house, but much larger than the previous ones. A long rammed-earth wall surrounded a large piece of land. Anyway, it was outside the customs. The most indispensable thing is land. You can enclose as much land as you want.
In front of the gate, there is a sign of Yuan'an County Government. There are some notices posted on the wall to the left of the gate. The ink marks are now blurred by snow and water. There is a big drum placed on a shelf on the right. However, there was a big hole in the drum head and it became a piece of shit.
There were no government servants or soldiers standing guard at the door. The door was open, and it seemed that everyone but not everyone could get in. "Let's go and let you see what our scholars in Yuan'an City look like!" Xiao Dongwei said with a smile.
All county government offices all over the world probably look similar. After entering the gate and walking through the snow-covered yard, you will find the county government office lobby. There is also a bright mirror hanging high. The plaque, but the plaque was originally supposed to be painted with gold paint, but now it has faded badly, which immediately reduces the solemnity of this lobby.
The lobby of the county government office was naturally ventilated from all sides and was as cold as an ice cellar. Zhang Ruo even saw long icicles forming on the edge of the big case at the top and couldn't help but shake his head.
"There are basically no lawsuits in Yuan'an City, so this lobby is rarely used. It only receives people from above a few times a year. In line with the principle of not wasting, it is also Don't spend more money here. Use it wisely." Xiao Dongwei said.
Zhang Ruo naturally has a strong sense of saving money. When he was in Chang'an, he felt that the troops outside the Pass were spending money like water and it was a bottomless pit. But when he arrived in Yuan'an County and saw the current situation here, I can’t help but wonder, where is the money?
"Let's go and meet the county magistrate Liu Yi here. He is a good scholar!"
Xiao Dongwei's words made Zhang Ruo roll his eyes, which meant that he was not a good scholar. Luo!
After bypassing the lobby and arriving at the second entrance, there is still a rammed earth thatched house, but it is much smaller. At this moment, there is a roof filled with smoke. At first glance, it feels quite fairy-like.
"Liu Yi!" Xiao Dongwei's Po Luo voice roared, and the door opened immediately. The person who came out immediately made this fairy feeling disappear.
Wearing a large cotton-padded jacket, it was rare that there were no patches on it. The thick coat was tied in the middle with a belt, which immediately made it look much more snug. Her hair was messy, tied up randomly with a green cloth belt, and then pierced with a wooden hairpin. Her eyes were red and tears were flowing.
"Liu Yi, what are you doing?" Xiao Dongwei glared with one eye: "Are you smoking meat?"
"There is not enough charcoal!" He held it in one hand Liu Yi, who was holding a writing brush and an account book in one hand, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, making his eyes redder: "Most people in the Yamen went to the village to learn about the situation today. Didn't it snow heavily yesterday? I'm afraid Dead man. There are only two or three of us left in the house, so we didn’t burn the firewood. Hey, why did you come back early?
"Of course something happened if you came back early!" Xiao Dongwei said.
"Have you got any money? Have you got any materials?" Liu Yi looked like a creditor suddenly got money when he saw someone who owed money.
“It doesn’t matter who our cavalry is. Of course we got it, but it will still take this time to transport the materials, money and food!” Xiao Dongwei laughed and said, “Wan Feng was killed by the commander-in-chief!”
"A third-grade officer, you're going to kill him?" Liu Yi just expressed his surprise for a moment and then returned to his normal state. He didn't seem to have any problem with Linghuye killing a third-grade officer. Nothing special, this made Zhang Ruo's heart sink.
The laws of the imperial court are really worthless outside the customs.
This Liu Yi is still a scholar!
Even he is like this, let alone those warriors and ordinary people outside the customs who cannot read a single word.
But overall, Liu Yi gave him a good feeling. Although he looked sloppy, he was a dignified county magistrate, but he was willing to be smoked like this in order to save some charcoal by not burning the earth dragon. His appearance is a model for officials.
"Come on, let me introduce to you. This person named Zhang was very impressive in the past. He was a bachelor and a minister!" Xiao Dongwei pulled Zhang Ruo in front of Liu Yi.
Liu Yi's eyes lit up, "Scholar Zhang Ruozhang, haha, the marshal didn't chop off his head, but he actually sent it to us?"
"Hey, do you have any objections?"
Liu Yi shook his head repeatedly, "No objections, no objections. Chaqi asked you to send him to me. Are you going to let him replace me as the county magistrate?" ! Great, great, haha, hahaha! I can serve in the army. I can still do my job as a logistics officer."
I saw him putting the pen to his ear. He folded the account and inserted it into his waist. With his hands at the level of his eyebrows, he performed a standard scholar's courtesy: "I entered Liu Yi at the end of my studies and met Zhang Ruo!"
Zhang Ruo returned the gift: "The sinner Zhang Ruo , I’ve met Liu Zhixian!”
Liu Yi laughed, “Let’s not talk about whether you are guilty or not. Come on, come on, help me take a look at these accounts. You are the assistant minister of the transfer department. If you are well-informed, these things should not trouble you.”
Seeing Liu Yi dragging Zhang Ruo into the room where the smoke was still coming out, Xiao Dongwei refused to go in and shouted outside: "I leave it to you, Bachelor Zhang. All the food, clothing, housing and transportation have been arranged. What else?" , Don’t even think about running away from the position of Magistrate of Yuan’an County, Bachelor Zhang has his own arrangements!”
After leaving these words, Xiao Dongwei turned around, looked at the dumbfounded brother Yuan Rong, and said with a smile: "Scholar Zhang is settling down here for the time being. Aren't you two going to join the army? Let's meet the general first. You two are very skilled in martial arts. Speaking of which, our army really lacks experts like you."
(End of this chapter)