Chapter 1918 Disaster food distribution, thick soil and blue sky


    Niu Sixia''s face was wrinkled like a ravine on the Loess Plateau, with an unbelievable, timid expression, and then silently lined up.


    Outside the city gate, waiting in line to receive disaster food.


    The dark sky has just revealed some twilight, and everything around seems to be still sleeping, but many farmers like Niu Sixia have been waiting outside the temporary grass shed outside the city for a long time.


    The group of people closest to the city gate is said to have come during the day yesterday, but they didn’t make it to the line. As a result, they were reluctant to go back, so they waited for another night...


    Although their faces are slightly different, if you look closely, they all look like Niu Sixia. All of them are dark-skinned, not a blot due to an accidental sunburn, but a long-term toil under the scorching sun, the torment that goes deep into the bones year after year.


    Niu Sixia pinched the wooden sign hanging around his neck, as if pinching his lifeblood, even more important than lifeblood. The same is true for the person next to him, holding it carefully with one hand, not daring to use too much force for fear of breaking the wooden sign, but also daring not to let go, for fear of accidentally dropping it. Even the cracks and dirt on the hands seem to be exactly the same, the joints are thick, the fingers are short and flat, it seems that even the surface of the nails are cracks, and the cracks are full of dirt.


    Although the officials responsible for distributing grain and grass and maintaining order had not yet arrived, Niu Sixia, like many other farmers, sat silently on both sides of the road, queuing up without anyone robbing or arguing.


    It''s not because people like Niu Sixia know the rules so well, but because they have seen those who jumped in line, their legs were broken on the spot with thick wooden sticks by the soldiers maintaining order, and then they rolled and howled on the muddy ground, and then dragged their wounds, Most of them will die eventually...


    So Niu Sixia and the others dare not jump in line.


    Originally, this autumn should be very happy.


    At least in Niu Sixia''s heart, he is happy enough. He has rented the land from the government for three years, so he can keep 10% more of the grain harvested this year, so maybe he can use it on the New Year''s day. At that time, let the whole family eat the corn porridge last time, a serious meal of corn porridge!


    For the New Year’s Eve dinner, there are no wild vegetables and no water, and a meal of corn porridge cooked slowly over a low fire is the first luxury meal in so many years...


    However, such expectations turned into nothingness under the flying locusts.


    On that day, Niu Sixia led his whole family in the field for a whole day and night, killing an unknown number of locusts, but he still watched helplessly as the locusts swaggered in his field and ate up all the locusts. The millet also ate up all of Niu Sixia''s hopes.


    Later, the Hussar General came and led his soldiers to resist the locusts.


    But Niu Sixia''s own fields are almost barren. Just when Niu Sixia thought that his family was about to embark on the road of fleeing famine again, he heard that General Hussars had released food for the disaster, which rekindled Niu Sixia''s hope.


    Maybe, still alive?


    Here, after all, there is the fence of the wooden house that I have built by myself in the past two or three years, as well as the vegetable field and melon shed behind the house. If it is not a last resort, who would wander around?


    But Niu Sixia was also worried that this rumor was false, so even now, he was still very uneasy, tightly holding the small wooden sign hanging around his neck, the wooden sign engraved with his identity, like He is pinching his own future.


    In the small town, it seemed that as the sky brightened, it gradually began to wake up, and then there were some human voices and dogs barking. An official walked up to the city gate under the guard of two soldiers, stared at the two nostrils and swept around, and then said lightly: "Teach the rules first..."


    Then he left, leaving behind two county soldiers.


    The county guard coughed, stretched his neck and shouted: "Everybody line up the **** thing!" If you don''t line up, don''t open the door! Register to receive food with the brand! **** without a brand! Remember it all, ugly words come first! Don''t make any noise! No pushing and shoving! Don''t disturb the queue! No impersonation! Do not stay without reason! No..."


    County soldier A seemed to have forgotten the words, and turned to ask county soldier B, "What else is not allowed?" 』


    County Bingyi scratched his head and said, "I can''t remember either... Anyway, be honest with your mother!" Get the food and get out! Those who make trouble with moths will be given fifty sticks! Don''t blame me for being rude! 』


    County Bingjia nodded and said, "That''s right! All lined up! What the **** are you looking at? ! Stand by the curb! Is this road for you to stand on? You eggless dog mud legs! Get out of the way! 』


    Another hour passed, and the sun had already climbed above the treetops.


    Niu Sixia was in a daze, always feeling like he hadn''t done something, and panicked. He lowered his head and looked at the sign in his hand, the sign was still there, then touched the bag in his arms, the bag was also there, um, all the important things were there, Niu Sixia felt relieved a little, then yes What is not done?


    Niu Sixia''s turbid eyes drifted away, and then he suddenly realized that at this time, according to usual, he should have already left the field, and then he was soaking in the smell of soil and sweating in the fields, but now he can only I''m staying here and queuing, so I''m not used to it...


    Amidst the creaking of the city gate, a crack was opened, and then a dozen county soldiers with knives and guns came out in a file, screaming and roaring, and their voices were as loud as the sky, and then pushed and shoved the farmers, even Beat with weapons to make these farmers obey the rules. County Soldier A and County Soldier B walked in the front, holding scabbards and beating the farmers who they thought seemed to be in a crooked or improper row.


    Niu Sixia was also hit on the back, causing a burning pain. Niu Sixia looked at his feet, he was indeed standing on the side of the road, and he was not in the wrong place, but he didn''t say anything, not even a sound.


    The rest of the farmers were the same. They didn''t make a sound or resist. Even if they were knocked down, they got up with blood and lined up, like a group of sheep trapped by invisible fences.


    Then some people walked out of the city, and they followed Xian Bingjia and others, smiling shyly.


    The county soldier A raised his head slightly, and the dozen or so people bent over while heading towards the front of the queue, and then the soldiers began to beat the farmers who were originally in the front row, and forced another dozen people Squeeze out some places...


    A group of "sheep" lowered their heads silently, without even saying a word.


    Another half an hour passed before the soldiers brought the mats and tables, laid them out on the wooden platform, and stretched out the cloth umbrellas to shade them from the sun. Only then did the officials with puffy stomachs slowly walk up to the wooden platform and drink first. After taking a few sips of water, he began to grind the ink. He took out a kit from his sleeve, took out a brush and dipped it in the ground ink. It seemed that he was completely ready, but he stopped suddenly, and took out the tip of the brush. He leaned in front of his eyes, stared at it for a long time, and tore off a piece of pen hair that could not fall off from the tip of the pen, then coughed and said weakly: "Come... come..."


    The process is very simple. Register at the city gate with a wooden sign and get a lot, then go to the first rice shop at the entrance of the city to receive grain, and then go out through another gate after receiving the grain.


    The dozen or so people in front were very fast, and they didn''t seem to say a few words. The little official saw the sign, and then registered directly. It seemed that everything was going well, but what he didn''t expect was that after the first dozen or so people passed by, they would unconsciously slowed down...


    "Name? ’ asked the county soldier Jia.


    "what? 』A farmer didn''t respond.


    『What the hell? ! What is your name? ’ the county soldier B roared.


    『The little one... the little one is called Gouzi...'' the farmer replied in fear, wondering if his place was wrong. These farmers in front have been waiting since yesterday, and then stayed up all night. Although autumn is not as severe as winter, but after staying up all night, there is nothing to eat. Naturally, it is impossible. Very sober.


    The clerk glanced at the wooden sign, then threw it down, "The names don''t match...retire..."


    "No! No! Small, small, I remembered the small one, the small one is called Yang Sandong! Yangsandong! ’ The farmer grabbed the wooden sign and shouted suddenly.


    "Back..." The little official said with a blank expression, "Next..."


    The farmer still wants to fight again, but the soldiers on both sides have already pulled their spears backwards and beat them head-on and face-to-face!


    『Come on, man! Disrupt the queue! Fifty sticks! "The county soldier Jia shouted loudly, "The **** can''t even remember his own name, what a fart!" next! Damn, why don''t you just roll over here and wait for me to invite you? Name! 』


    『Small... small, also called sheep, Yang Sandong...』 The next farmer presented the wooden sign, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said dryly.


    Niu Sixia, Yang Sandong, Ma Yuanchun, etc. These names are the new names of these farmers who came to Guanzhong, and they are also engraved on the wooden plaque.


    『How many people are there in the family? ’ asked the county soldier B.


    『Three, no, four...』The second Yang Sandong replied. The rations for four people are naturally more than three people, but the subconscious change of mouth caused trouble.


    The clerk threw down the wooden sign again with a "snap", "The number of people does not match, retreat..."


    The second Yang Sandong was more flexible, and hurriedly bowed and said: "The little woman just gave birth to a child in Xia Tian, ??and she didn''t know if she would survive, so she didn''t report it... Your nobleman, you should pity the little one... There are only three young ones, It counts as three people...” Han law stipulates that children before the age of fourteen must hand over their mouth money every year. The adult''s "money" is called a fortune.


    "Humph! ’The county soldier A snorted coldly, and said with his mouth crooked, ‘I’ll save a year’s money after the fall, right? Come on! Beat this troublemaker out! next! 』


    Third, fourth...


    The queue moved slowly, and from time to time some farmers couldn''t answer, or made mistakes, and they were blasted out. Some staggered back in dejection, and some gritted their teeth, grabbing dirt to their heads. The wound on the upper face was a paste, and then walked to the end of the queue again.


    It''s Niu Sixia''s turn.


    Niu Sixia tremblingly handed over his wooden sign.


    "Name? 』


    『Niu Sixia. ’ Niu Sixia replied.


    "population? 』


    『Four』Niu Sixia stretched out four fingers.


    "Hmm..." The clerk casually glanced at the number marked on Niu Sixia''s sign, and then checked the bamboo slips on the side. Suddenly, his brows frowned, and he smashed the wooden sign on Niu Sixia''s head, "Boldly Trouble! It was claimed by the Japanese side the day before yesterday, and today it is falsely claimed again! Hold on! One hundred rods! 』


    According to the regulations, the disaster food can only be received once in 15 days, and no more can be received. Of course, if you are willing to take the initiative and automatically pay less, that is okay.


    Niu Sixia only felt that his heart missed several beats, and then he couldn''t help calling out: "No little one!" The small one is here for the first time! Really the first time! 』


    The little official slapped the table with his palm, and even his pen and ink jumped up, "Troublemaker! The world is clear, greedy for small profits, debating with cunning words, and deceiving the superiors! pull out! Heavy punishment! 』


    Several soldiers rushed over like wolves and tigers, held down Niu Sixia and dragged them out.


    Niu Si Xia You called to himself: "Your Excellency! It''s the first time for the little one to come...」


    『How dare you argue! hit! Hit hard! ’ County Bing Yi shouted, pointing with fury.


    The wooden stick smashed down and hit Niu Sixia''s body. Different from the normal blows and beatings, the force of the whipping on Niu Sixia''s body was obviously much stronger, and Niu Sixia was whipped to the point of bleeding.


    『Small...injustice, injustice...』 Niu Sixia was beaten and rolled all over the floor. At first he could shout two grievances, and then gradually he couldn''t move in the chaotic dust.


    …_(:з」∠)_…


    The county magistrate of the small town was accompanying Cai Yan, with a flattering smile on his face, his eyes downcast, nodding and bowing, he dared not look directly at Cai Yan. After all, it was rumored that General Hussars had some interest in Cai Yan. If he took a second look at this and was reported to the Hussars, would he still want the hat on his head?


    However, the other way around is also an opportunity. If Cai Yan can say a few good words in front of the hussars, isn''t it more useful than how many things he has done?


    So the county magistrate of Xiaocheng was naturally accompanied by 10,000 caretakers. He rushed to the post station early in the morning, greeted Cai Yan, greeted his health, and said that the small town was simple and poorly entertained, so he was very uneasy...


    Cai Yan doesn’t really care much about things outside of him, so he doesn’t have anything against the relatively simple post stations in the small county town. Instead, he is thinking about his responsibility to come here, so he wants to see the distribution of disaster food.


    Seeing that the rice shop in the city was distributing disaster food in an orderly manner to those who took the lottery, everything seemed to be in order. Cai Yan asked about the amount of disaster food distributed. , and nothing happened to ask Zhu Bo or anyone else.


    seems to be good.


    Cai Yan was about to get someone to record all of these and form a file, but he heard Wang Zhen who was at the side say: "How about distribution outside the city?" Is the county lord willing to take us to have a look? 』


    The smile of the county magistrate of Xiaocheng seemed to froze for a moment, and then he cupped his hands and said, "Hehe, this... Qi Jianxiu, this... outside the city are some people who don''t know etiquette, ragged clothes, naked bodies, unkempt people, they will inevitably pollute you. Girl’s Eye, this... I’m afraid it’s a little inconvenient...』


    Wang Zhen stared at Xiasan Road, the county magistrate of Xiaocheng, and sneered, "What''s the inconvenience?" He even cut it with his own hands back then... Could it be that he is still afraid of being dirty now? 』


    『…』The county magistrate swallowed a mouthful of saliva, glanced at Wang Zhen secretly, and then took a deep breath, "So, this subordinate will lead the way for you ladies..."


    Although it is said to look outside the city, it is impossible to really go outside the city gate, but to go up the city wall and take a look at the city gate.


    Outside the city gate, the order seems to be in order.


    One by one, a farmer with a disheveled face and ragged clothes lowered his head. Although some people saw Cai Yan and others boarding the city gate, they didn''t dare to stare more, and they all moved forward silently. with.


    Go forward, inquire, register, issue a visa, then enter the city gate, go to the rice shop to receive disaster food, and then leave through another city gate, it seems that there is no problem.


    『What’s over there? ”Wang Heng pointed to some gray-brown marks in the road and said.


    Chunyu Ying took a few glances, then said calmly, "It looks like blood. 』Although Chunyuying is not very old, she is a doctor, and she has seen a lot of dirt and blood, so she can tell it at a glance.


    Wang Zhen turned to Cai Yan and said, "I''ll go down and have a look. 』


    "what? must! The county magistrate repeatedly waved his hands and said, "The following are all unscrupulous people, and the noble lady has a delicate body. If these unscrupulous people don''t know what to do, they will make trouble, there is a problem..."


    Wang Zhen threw a dagger out of his sleeve with a "swipe", and spun two knives up and down. The blade shone coldly under the sun, and then disappeared into the sleeve for an instant, then pointed to follow Behind Cai Yan, more than a dozen guards directly under Fei Qian''s guard battalion squinted at the county magistrate, "Is it too long, is it short...not to mention that there is a Tiger Guard camp here... What did the county magistrate just say?" ? 』


    The county magistrate couldn''t help but wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Your lady, please go ahead, please go away..."


    Out of the city gate, he walked to the blood-stained place. Because of the change of perspective, Wang Zhen naturally saw Niu Sixia''s body hidden behind the bushes on the roadside, and asked coldly, "What''s going on?" 』


    The little official nodded and narrated it again, saying how arrogant, cunning, unreasonable, and greedy this unscrupulous man is, how dare he disregard the goodwill of General Hussars, how greedy, deceitful, Received disaster food, and after being discovered such a criminal act, did not know how to repent, You Zi violently resisted and wanted to do something wrong, and then naturally he was killed on the spot by soldiers who maintained justice and order...


    『Fake claim? ’ Wang Heng said, ‘Where is this man’s nameplate? Let me see the roster again! 』


    The little official felt that he was not at fault, and indeed found out that Niu Sixia had pretended to be the claimant, so he was not very alarmed, and quickly brought the roster and presented it to Wang Zhen.


    Wang Yan looked at the nameplate of Niu Sixia, which was stained with blood and sand, then shook off the bamboo slips of the roster, and checked the number on it, then suddenly smiled, and asked the little official in a warm voice: "What do you think?" The person had already claimed it the day before yesterday, but came to pretend to claim it again today? 』


    The little official nodded and said, "That''s right! 』


    Wang Yan unfolded the roster, and then pointed to one of the bamboo slips marked "4,040,712" and asked, her voice turned cold, "There is no record under this person''s name!" Where is the claim of impersonation? ! 』


    The little official''s head buzzed and it was about to explode. With scattered eyes, he saw that the bamboo slip that said "Niu Sixia, Siqian, Siqian, Siqian, Baiqishier" was indeed blank, with nothing written on it. , but on a bamboo slip next door that says "four thousand four hundred seventy three" is the mark that has been received the day before yesterday!


    『No... small one...』 The little official rolled his eyes, "The small one really remembers that this person has received... Well, on this roster, there is a small one, small one, remember, miss one..."


    Wang Zhen still sneered: "Oh? Do you want someone to send someone to find this "four thousand four hundred seventy three" people now, and ask when they received the disaster food? 』


    Beads of sweat rolled down the little official''s forehead. Knowing that he couldn''t hide it, he knelt down on the ground with a thud, and kowtowed repeatedly: "Little one, I just got confused for a while... I thought, I thought..."


    『Asshole! ’ The worried magistrate followed up, but when he saw the current situation, he rushed up angrily and kicked the little official and rolled him on the ground several times. , to do this important task! I never thought that you would be so contemptuous and negligent, what should I do? ! Come on, take it down! 』


    Turning his head, the county magistrate smiled and said to Wang Zhen, "Before, Cao Cao had been working hard for many days, and his eyesight was dim, so he asked this person to act as an accountant for a few days. Negligence...but I don''t know how Wang Xiuzhuan thinks this matter should be dealt with...』


    Wang Zhen smiled and said, "You are only in charge of Zhi Yin, so the county lord is the one who decides..."


    The magistrate saw that he couldn''t find Wang Zhen, so Shi Shi smiled sullenly and said, "Well, naturally, naturally..." Turning his head and angrily pointing at the limp little official, "Put him in the prison!" Waiting for someone to be punished according to the law! 』


    The county magistrate really gritted his teeth and his eyes were angry. He obviously hated this little official to the bone. He clearly saw that everything was arranged and the momentum was good. He was suddenly messed up by this little official''s negligence. How could he be upset? Don''t hate?


    The hustle and bustle at the city gate, chickens flying and dogs jumping, dust flying, and Niu Sixia lying quietly behind the bushes, but quietly, motionless, with a pair of cloudy eyes open, looking at his life. Did not take a good look at the blue sky. Perhaps he could only stare at the muddy earth during his lifetime, and only after death can he see the clear blue sky...


    (end of this chapter)