Three Kingdoms

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

Outside the city gate, people queued up to receive disaster relief supplies.

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

The group of people closest to the city gate were said to have arrived during the day yesterday and failed to get in line. As a result, they were reluctant to go back, so they waited all night again...

Although their faces are slightly different, if you look carefully, they actually look like Niu Sixia. All of them have dark skin, not a mark due to accidental sunburn, but the result of working under the scorching sun for a long time, the torment that goes deep into the bones year after year.

Niu Sixia pinched the wooden sign hanging around his neck as if holding his lifeblood, even more important than his lifeblood. The person next to him did the same, 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 and the fingers are short and flat. It seems that even the surface of the nails is cracked, and the cracks are filled with dirt.

Although the officials responsible for distributing grain and maintaining order have not yet arrived, Niu Sixia, like many other farmers, sat silently on both sides of the road and lined up. No one was grabbing or fighting.

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

Therefore, Niu Sixia and others did not dare to jump in line.

Originally, this autumn was supposed to 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 an extra 10% of this year's harvest, and maybe he can spend it during the Chinese New Year. At this time, let the whole family eat corn porridge for once, a serious meal of corn porridge!

The New Year's Eve dinner does not include wild vegetables or much water. It is a meal of corn porridge cooked slowly over low heat. It can be regarded as the first luxurious meal in so many years...

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

That day, Niu Sixia and his whole family fought in the fields for a whole day and night. They killed countless locusts, but they still watched helplessly as the locusts swaggered in his fields and ate up all the locusts. The millet also ate up all the hopes of Niu Sixia.

Later, the hussar general came with his soldiers and horses to resist the locusts.

But Niu Sixia's own fields were almost barren of harvests. Just when Niu Sixia thought that her family was about to embark on the road to escape famine again, she heard that General Hussar had provided food for disaster relief, which rekindled Niu Sixia's hope.

Maybe, can you still survive?

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

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

In the small town, it seemed that as the sky became brighter, it gradually began to wake up, and then there were the sounds of people and dogs barking. An official, escorted by two soldiers, walked to the city gate, glanced around with both nostrils, and then said lightly: "Teach the rules first..."

Then he left, leaving two county soldiers behind.

The county guard coughed, pulled his neck and shouted: "Everyone should get in a fucking line!" Don't line up, don't open the door! Register with the sign to receive food! Get out of here if you don't have a sign! Remember it all, the ugly words come first! No loud noises allowed! No pushing or making trouble! No disruptive queue-jumping allowed! Don't pretend to be someone else! No need to stay for no reason! Not allowed..."

County Soldier A seemed to have forgotten his words. He turned around and asked County Soldier B, "What else is prohibited?" 』

County Soldier B scratched his head and said, "I can't remember either... Anyway, be damn honest!" Get out of here after receiving the food! Anyone who makes trouble will receive fifty sticks! Don't blame me for being rude! 』

The county soldier nodded and said, "That's right!" All lined up! What the hell are you looking at? ! Stand on the roadside! Is this road meant for you to stand? You bitch with exposed balls! Get out of here! 』

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

Niu Sixia was in a daze, always feeling like something was not done, and feeling a little panicked. He lowered his head and looked at the sign in his hand. The sign was still there. Then he touched the bag in his arms. The bag was also there. Well, all the important things were there. Niu Sixia felt a little relieved, so... What hasn't been done?

Niu Sixia's turbid eyes wandered, and then he suddenly realized that at this time, according to normal times, he should have already gone to the fields, and then he was inhaling the earthy smell and sweating in the fields, but now he can only I'm standing here waiting in line, so naturally I feel a little uncomfortable...

The city gate creaked open a crack, and then a dozen county soldiers with knives and guns filed out, shouting and yelling, their voices shaking the sky, and then pushed the farmers, and even Beat them with weapons to make these farmers behave. County Soldier A and County Soldier B walked in the front, holding their scabbards and whipping the farmers who they thought seemed to be out of line or not in good order.

Niu Sixia was also hit on the back, causing burning pain. Niu Sixia looked at his feet. He was indeed standing on the roadside and not in the wrong position, but he didn't say anything, not even a word.

The rest of the farmers were the same, without saying a word or resisting. Even after being knocked down, they got up with blood and then lined up, like a group of sheep trapped by an invisible fence.

Then some more people walked out of the city, followed by County Soldier A and others, smiling shyly.

The county soldier raised his head slightly, and the dozen or so people bent down and moved towards the front of the queue. Then the soldiers began to beat the farmers who were originally in the front, and forcefully beat a dozen more people. Some spots were squeezed out...

A group of "sheep" lowered their heads silently, without even making a sound.

Another half an hour passed before some soldiers brought the mats and tables. They spread them out on the wooden platform and put up cloth umbrellas to protect them from the sun. Then the officials, who were full of belly, slowly walked up to the wooden platform and drank first. He took a sip of water before starting to sharpen the ink. He took out a brochure bag from his sleeve, took out his brush and dipped it in the ground ink. He seemed to be completely ready, but suddenly he stopped and put the tip of the brush in his hands. He brought it close to his eyes, stared at it for a long time, and after pulling off a half-unbroken hair from the tip of the pen, he coughed and said feebly: "Come...come..."

The process is very simple. You need to register with the wooden sign at the city gate to get the ticket, then go to the first rice shop at the street entrance to collect the food. After collecting the food, go out through the other city gate.

The dozen or so people in front arrived very quickly and didn't seem to say a few words. The clerk looked at the sign and then registered directly. Everything seemed to go smoothly, but what he didn't expect was that after the first dozen or so people passed by, they unknowingly It slowed down...

"Name? ” asked the county soldier.

"ah? ’ One farmer didn’t react.

"What the hell?" ! What's your name? ” shouted County Soldier B.

"The little one...the little one is called a dog..." The farmer replied frightenedly, wondering if something was wrong with him. The farmers in front have been waiting since yesterday, and then stayed up all night again. Although autumn is not as cold as winter, but after staying up all night and having nothing to eat, it is naturally impossible. Very sober.

The clerk glanced at the wooden sign, then threw it down, "The name doesn't match...retreat..."

"No! No! Little one, little one, little one remembers, the little one’s name is Sheep Sandong! Sheep Sandong! "The farmer grabbed the wooden sign and shouted in sudden realization.

"Retreat..." the clerk said expressionlessly, "Next..."

The farmer wanted to fight for it again, but the soldiers on both sides had already pulled their spears backwards and beat him head and face!

"Someone is coming!" Disrupt the queue! Fifty sticks! ” The county soldier shouted, “You can’t even remember your own name, what the hell! Next! Why don't you get over here and wait for me to invite you? Name! 』

"Small...small, also called sheep, sheep Sandong..." The next farmer presented the wooden sign, swallowed his saliva, and said dryly.

Names such as Niu Sixia, Sheep Sandong, Ma Yuanchun, etc. are the new names of these farmers who came to Guanzhong, and they are also the memories engraved on the wooden plaques.

"How many people are in the family?" ” asked the county soldier Yi.

"Three, no, four people..." the second sheep Sandong replied. The rations for four people were naturally more than those for three people, but the subconscious change of mouth caused trouble.

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

The second sheep, Sandong, was more flexible. He bowed quickly and said: "My little wife just gave birth to a baby in the summer. I don't know if she can survive, so I didn't report it... Noble man, noble man, I have pity on the little one... The little one is three." People are counted as three..." Han law stipulates that children before the age of fourteen must pay oral money every year. Adults' "mouth money" is called fortune calculation.

"snort! ” The county soldier snorted coldly, and said with a crooked mouth, “Wait until you get through the autumn tax before you pay, you will save a year’s money, right?” Someone come! Beat this thug out! Next! 』

The third, the fourth...

The queue moved slowly. From time to time, some farmers could not answer a question, or made mistakes in their expressions, and were beaten out. Some of them staggered back dejectedly, while others gritted their teeth and grabbed handfuls of dirt. The wound on his face was covered with mud, and then he walked back to the end of the queue.

It's Niu Sixia's turn.

Niu Sixia gingerly handed over his wooden sign.

"Name? 』

"Niu Si Xia." ” Niu Sixia responded.

"population? 』

"Four" Niu Sixia stretched out four fingers.

"Hmm..." The clerk casually glanced at the numbers marked on Niu Sixia's sign, then turned over the bamboo slips on the side to check. Suddenly he frowned and smashed the wooden sign onto Niu Sixia's head, " Brave and unruly! I received it the day before yesterday, but I’m pretending to claim it again today! Hold on! One hundred sticks! 』

According to regulations, disaster rations can only be received once every fifteen days, and no more can be received. Of course, if you are willing to take the initiative and receive less automatically, that is okay.

Niu Sixia felt that her heart had skipped several beats, and then she couldn't help but call out: "No, little one!" This is my first time for the little one! It's really the first time! 』

The clerk slapped his hand on the table, and even the pen and ink jumped up, "Tricky people!" The world is clear, greedy for small profits, sophistry, and deception of superiors! Pull it out! Heavy punishment! 』

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

Niu Sixiayou shouted to himself: "Noble one!" This is really my first time here..."

"How dare you quibble!" beat! Hit him hard! ” County soldier Yi pointed and shouted with an angry look.

The wooden stick smashed down and hit Niu Sixia's body. Different from the ordinary driving and beating, the force of the whipping on Niu Sixia's body was obviously much greater, and Niu Sixia was beaten until blood flew everywhere.

"Small... injustice, injustice..." Niu Sixia was beaten and rolled all over the floor. At first, she could shout twice about injustice, but then she gradually became unable to 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 lowered, and he nodded and bowed, not daring to look directly at Cai Yan. After all, it was rumored that General Hussar had some interest in Cai Yan. If he took a second look and was reported to the Hussar, would he still want the hat on his head?

However, on the other hand, it is also an opportunity. If Cai Yan can say a few nice words in front of the cavalry, wouldn't it be more useful than all the things he has done?

Therefore, the county magistrate of the small town naturally accompanied ten thousand people and rushed to the inn early in the morning. He greeted Cai Yan and asked about his welfare. He said that the small town was simple and the hospitality was not good, which made him very uneasy...

Cai Yan actually didn't value much external things, so he didn't object to the relatively simple inns in small counties. Instead, he was thinking about his responsibility in coming here and went to see the distribution of disaster food.

Seeing the rice shops in the city distributing disaster grains in an orderly manner to those who had taken the lottery, everything seemed to be so orderly. Cai Yan asked again about the number of disaster grains distributed. The county magistrate also knew clearly, and he opened his mouth to tell the number. , nothing happened and I had to ask the boss or anyone else about it.

All seem good.

Cai Yan was about to ask someone to write down all these and form a file, when he heard Wang Shu on the side said: "How about distribution outside the city?" Will the county magistrate be willing to take us to have a look? 』

The smile of the county magistrate of the small town seemed to freeze for a moment, and then he cupped his hands and said, "Haha, this... I'm reporting to Supervisor Cai, this... there are people outside the city who don't know etiquette, their clothes are ragged, their bodies are exposed, and their hair is unkempt. It's inevitable that they will be dirty." In the eyes of all you ladies, this... I'm afraid this may be a little inconvenient..."

Wang Shu glanced at Xia San Road, the county magistrate of Xiaocheng, and sneered, "What's the inconvenience?" Xiu even cut it with his own hands back then... Could it be that now, he is still afraid of some filth? 』

"..." The county magistrate swallowed, glanced at Wang Shu secretly, and then took a breath, "In this way, I will lead the way for you ladies..."

Although it is said to look outside the city, it is not possible to actually walk outside the city gate. Instead, it is just to go up the city wall and take a look at the city gate.

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

One by one, a well-known farmer in ragged clothes lowered his head. Although some people saw Cai Yan and others boarding the city gate, they did not dare to stare more than once, and they all squirmed forward silently. With.

Go forward, inquire, register, issue a visa, then enter the city gate, go to the rice shop to collect the disaster food, and then leave through the other city gate. There seems to be no problem.

"What's over there?" ” Wang Shu said, pointing to some gray-brown marks on the road.

Chunyu Ying took a few glances and said calmly: "It looks like blood stains." "Although Chunyu Ying is not old, she is a doctor and has seen a lot of filth and blood stains, so naturally she can tell them at a glance.

Wang Shu turned back to Cai Yan and said, "I'll go down and take a look." 』

"ah? It’s a must! ” The county magistrate waved his hands repeatedly and said, “There are all unruly people down here. The noble girl has a delicate body. If these unruly people don’t know what to do and start making trouble, there are two reasons...”

Wang Shu whipped out a dagger from his sleeve with a "swipe" sound, spinning two blades up and down. The blade shone with a cold light under the sun, and then disappeared into the sleeve in an instant, and then pointed and followed. Behind Cai Yan, more than ten guards from the guard camp directly under Fei Qian looked at the county magistrate sideways, "It's too long, is it too short... not to mention there is a Tiger Guard camp here... What did the county magistrate just say?" Coming? 』

The county magistrate couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead and said, "My lady, if you please, please..."

After leaving the city gate and walking to the bloodstains, Wang Shu naturally saw Niu Sixia's body hidden behind the bushes on the roadside because of the change of perspective, and asked coldly: "What's going on?" 』

The clerk nodded and bowed and told the story, saying how arrogant, cunning, unreasonable, and greedy this unruly man was, how he dared to waste the goodwill of General Gu Hussar under the bright sky, and how greedy, deceitful, and presumptuous he was. After receiving disaster food, and even after being discovered such a criminal act, he did not repent, especially when he resisted violently and tried to do evil. Then he was naturally beaten to death on the spot by soldiers who upheld justice and order...

"False claim?" Wang Shu said, "Where is this person's nameplate?" Bring me the roster again! 』

The clerk realized that he was not wrong. He had indeed discovered that Niu Sixia was pretending to be the leader, so he was not very panicked. He quickly brought the name list and presented it to Wang Shu.

Wang Yan looked at Niu Sixia's nameplate, which was stained with blood and sand, then shook off the bamboo slips of the roster and checked it according to the number on it. Then she suddenly smiled and asked the clerk warmly: "What do you mean? Did the person receive it the day before yesterday and come to claim it again today? 』

The clerk nodded and said, "Exactly!" 』

Wang Yan unfolded the roster, then pointed to one of the bamboo slips marked "four thousand four hundred seven hundred and two" and asked, her voice turned cold, "There is no record under this person's name!" Why did you pretend to be the leader? ! 』

The clerk's head buzzed, almost exploding. With his eyes distracted, he saw that the bamboo slip with the words "Niu Si Xia, Si Qian Si Bai Qi Shi Er" was indeed blank, with nothing written on it. , but on a bamboo slip next door that says "四千四百七十三", is the mark that was received the day before yesterday!

"No... Xiao Xiao..." The little official rolled his eyes, "Xiao Xiao did remember that this person has received... This, on top of this list is Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, I remembered one person..."

Wang Shu still sneered: "Oh?" Do you want someone to send someone to find this "four thousand four hundred seven hundred and three" person now and ask when he received the disaster food? 』

Beads of sweat rolled down from the clerk's forehead. Knowing that he could no longer hide it, he knelt down on the ground with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly: "Little one, I was wrong for a moment... I thought, I thought..."

"You bastard!" ” The county magistrate, who was worried, followed him. When he saw the situation, he rushed up angrily and kicked the clerk until he rolled on the ground several times. “I saw that you are quite talented, so I asked you to temporarily take over this post.” , fulfill this important task! I never thought that you would be so arrogant and negligent. What crime should you be guilty of? ! Someone, take it down! 』

Turning around, the county magistrate smiled again and said to Wang Shu, "Cangcao had been working hard for many days and his eyesight was dim, so he asked this person to temporarily take over the accounting post for a few days. He never thought that this person was so sparse that he could not be used, but it turned out to be like this. It was careless...but I don’t know how Wang Xiuzuan thought this matter should be handled..."

Wang Shu smiled and said: "Shu is only responsible for Zhiyin. Naturally, the county official has the final say in this matter..."

Seeing that Wang Shu could not be tricked, the county magistrate smiled sadly and said, "Of course, of course..." He turned around and pointed angrily at the limp official, "Put him in jail!" Wait for someone to be punished according to the law! 』

The county magistrate said with gritted teeth and fire in his eyes. He obviously hated this little official to the core. He obviously saw that everything was arranged well and the momentum was good, but he was suddenly screwed up by this little official's momentary negligence. How could he feel in his heart? No hatred?

There was noisy farce at the city gate, chickens were flying, dogs were flying, dust was flying, but Niu Sixia, who was lying quietly behind the bushes, was quiet and motionless, looking at him with a pair of cloudy eyes open all his life. I haven’t even taken a good look at the blue sky. Perhaps he could only stare at the turbid earth while alive, and only after death could he see the clear blue sky...