Three Kingdoms

"You are you, your father is your father, you are not your father, and your father is not you..."

"I know, I know...but we have rules and we can't mess with them. This is a matter of losing your head. I've made it easier for you, but who can make it easier for me?" When I lose my head, will you come and do it for me? 』

"There's nothing you can do about it. It's not that I won't help you, it's that I'm not responsible for this... I'm just in charge of distributing coal on behalf of you, and the rest..."

"Unless you get your brand, we can't send it to you..."

"These are the rules, the rules set by the Cavalry General..."

"..."

Niu Dalang's head was buzzing, and he walked back with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

The little girl came out happily, but when she saw the empty bamboo basket, she hesitated for a moment, and then didn't ask anything.

Night falls.

In the village, if it is summer, you can hear some crickets, frogs and owls at night, one after another, making it lively. But now there is only the sound of the wind, whistling, as if it is squeezing and penetrating through the cracks in the earth-walled huts, trying to widen the cracks, and then blow the houses away.

Niu Dalang couldn't sleep. He sat and stared at the roof made of thatch, dead branches, and stones, listening to the wind blowing on the roof. There was also the sound of crunching and rustling as the snow pressed against the roof. They were afraid that the roof would go away with the wind at the next moment, be blown away by the wind, or be crushed by the snow and destroy them. All were buried alive in it.

As if being alarmed by the whistling wind, a series of cooing sounds also came from the corner of the house.

In the corner of the hut, there are a few piles of wheat straw piled messily. A small part of them are withered and yellow, and most of them have turned black. Lying on top of the pile of wheat straw that exudes a musty smell, the little girl curled up and covered her stomach with both hands. It took a long time to calm down the violently protesting stomach again.

The feeling of hunger finally eased a little. The little girl ignored the dirt and grass stuck to the corner of her mouth and quickly lay down again, trying to suppress the rhythm of her breathing. If you move less and breathe less, the feeling of hunger will come on slower and you can stay up longer.

Niu Dalang sighed silently, walked over, hugged his little sister, and hugged her shoulders, which seemed to be so thin that only bones were left, "Go to sleep... I'm at home... It's okay, it's okay... 』

Niu Dalang secretly made up his mind to go to Zheng County early tomorrow morning to deal with the replacement of the brand, and then go to get the coal back. He must, must go, even if it means Niu Dalang has to go back and forth in the winter. Need to walk more than twenty miles...

Niu Dalang was secretly cruel to himself, just like his father Niu Sixia was cruel to him.

Early next morning.

Zheng County.

Lazy, yawning, and shrinking his head, the veteran slowly opened the city gate, and then faced the cold wind. He shivered immediately, and quickly wanted to go back, but was suddenly hit by an icy cold wind. His hands grabbed his feet, and he almost jumped up with a cry of fright!

"Straight bitch!" "The veteran resisted the urge to almost kick him out and yelled, "You coward, you are doing it here..."

Niu Dalang got up shivering, his whole body shivering from the cold, "Bo, wave, wave...de, de, teta..."

"Hi! ” The veteran sighed, pulled Niu Dalang into the city gate, which was only opened a crack, and then pointed to a corner inside the city gate and said, “Look at how cold the baby is... warm it up before we talk...”

Although the corner inside the city gate was not necessarily very warm, at least it did not have to be blown directly by the cold wind. After curling up and shaking for a while, Niu Dalang finally regained his breath and told the veteran his intentions.

The old soldier looked at Niu Dalang with something indescribable in his eyes. He was silent for a moment and then said: "My son, listen to your uncle and don't go. When the sun gets higher, you can go home and count balls..." …』

Niu Dalang hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and then shook his head very hard.

The veteran sighed, and then pointed to the streets in the city, "Jiangwazi, it's up to you... Go north on this street, and when you see the red gate, it's the county government... You need to change your brand over there..." 』

Niu Dalang struggled to get up, and then wanted to thank the veteran, but the veteran was already shaking his head with his hands behind his back, ignored Niu Dalang and walked away.

In winter, there were not many people on the street, only a few who were obviously laborers, holding wooden shovels and wooden prods, pulling and pulling...

Niu Dalang staggered past, but these laborers didn't even raise their eyelids.

The two sides passed each other in silence.

Then the laborer silently scratched away the snowy ground where Niu Dalang had stepped on his footprints.

The red door of the county government office was closed tightly, and no one came in or out. However, there was a row of rooms on the side wall, and many petty officials came and went. They were the official houses that handled general affairs.

Indeed, the county government was not difficult to find, and there were many officials coming and going, but Niu Dalang didn't know who to look for. In the Han Dynasty, there were not many rules for the people. When Huang Lao's government was implemented in the early Han Dynasty, certain Spring and Autumn customs were even retained. Farmers could come to the court to discuss politics, so Niu Dalang went to the official house of the county government. At that time, it was not like the feudal dynasties of later generations who strictly prohibited getting closer to more than a few meters or else they would be shot to death.

Even so, Niu Dalang still ran into obstacles everywhere.

"What? Change brand? I don’t care about this, you find someone else..."

"Go away!" Go away! Don't block the road! Don’t you see it’s busy here? Go away! 』

"what brand? I don’t know...walk around, don’t wander around here..."

"Are you blind?" This is the county government lobby. Can anyone enter? roll! 』

"..."

Niu Dalang held the sign and looked at the neatly dressed officials coming and going, feeling confused and helpless. The blood on the brand has dried up and looks a little black. I don't know if it was stained by sweat or snow, but it seems to be darker and wider.

"You want...well, what are you here to do?" "A young clerk walked back and forth several times and saw Niu Dalang standing stupidly beside the aisle. He couldn't help but stop and asked.

Niu Dalang hurriedly recounted his story as if he had seen a savior.

The young official blinked and said, "You said you are... Niu Sixia's son?" 』

Niu Dalang nodded.

The young official frowned slightly, looked around, and said softly: "To make a sign, you need to find a household official... But... hey, I advise you to wait until next spring when the county revise the roster again... Do it now... I'm afraid it won't be appropriate..."

Niu Dalang held the sign tightly and shook his head, "No, I have to do it..."

The young official took two steps back, glanced left and right quickly a few times, and then forced a smile, "It's up to you, it's up to you... I have something else to do, so stay with me, stay with me..." He said the last two words. By that time, the young clerk had already stayed away, just like Niu Dalang was the source of the plague and could not be avoided.

"Hu Cao..." Niu Dalang didn't know what "Hu Cao" was. He thought it was someone named "Hu Cao", so he just stubbornly looked for one after another, and then arrived at the official residence of "Hu Cao".

"What are you doing?" Change brand? Why doesn't it come to the head of the local pavilion? 』

"You want coal?" Oh, give it to me, wait here..."

The clerk who was on duty outside Hucao didn't look at the Niu Dalang sign seriously. He lazily took it and turned around and went in.

Niu Dalang took a deep breath, handed over the sign respectfully, and then huddled in the corner outside Hucao's gatehouse. He seemed to have seen the hope of obtaining coal, and a smile appeared on his frozen face.

In Hucao's room, the chief officer frowned and stopped writing, "Change the nameplate?" Why can't we wait until spring? 』In order to better collect taxes, every spring, when preparations for farming and sowing begin, special personnel will go to each village to find out and update the household registration status. Most household registration changes and revisions are carried out at that time.

"Haha... for the sake of mere coal, these unscrupulous people..." After hearing the report of his servant, the chief official of Hu Cao sneered with disdain. However, the coal distributed to the households was directly allocated by the Hussar General, and the Hucao of Zheng County was not qualified to say that he would not be allowed to receive it, so he said, "Put it aside until I finish handling the matter first..."

Slope westward day by day.

Hu Cao finally finished all the matters on the table. He couldn't help but stretch, and then glanced at the wooden sign beside him. He frowned slightly, reached out and took it, and his eyes suddenly focused.

"Niu Si Xia!" 』

The chief officer of Hu Cao can't forget this name!

If it weren't for this damn Niu Sixia, how could there be so many things happening today!

If it weren't for this untouchable who deserved to be cut to pieces, how could his brother-in-law have lost his position as county magistrate!

If not...

Damn these unscrupulous people, you actually want to change the brand, what kind of coal will you get? !

Chief Hu Cao's face was throbbing with anger. He almost wanted to throw the wooden sign out, but he finally endured it. Then he laughed twice, gently put the wooden sign aside, pushed it away from him, and sat down again. After sitting down, he took back the finished text, unfolded it, looked at each word carefully, and read slowly...

Dusk gradually came over, and the cold wind came and went.

The number of petty officials running back and forth around the official house gradually decreased. Finally, the cloud sign sounded, and the officials of the official house, big and small, began to leave the hall and go home one after another...

Niu Dalang was trembling, and finally saw the clerk who took away his sign. He quickly dragged his numb and stiff legs and stepped forward to ask.

"What? "The clerk said impatiently, "I have handed it over to the head of the household for you...how should I know? If it hasn’t been done yet, it’s just that it’s still being done. What’s the rush? Your things are important, but other people’s things are not important? Do you think you are the only one in the world? ah? Just wait a little longer... Don't hold me back, start driving! 』

Niu Dalang was confused and helpless. He felt that what they said seemed to make sense, but he also felt that it didn't make sense. But what is the difference between what makes sense and what doesn't make sense? Niu Dalang couldn't express it, or even think clearly.

what to do?

Before Niu Dalang could come up with any idea, the soldiers on duty at the official house had already begun to rush out, preparing to clear the place and close it.

The night wind howled, and the cold winter showed its majesty inexplicably.

A team of patrolmen came carrying angry wind lanterns. Although these veterans had left the battlefield, they still walked steadily. Even if the cold wind was biting, they could not make them timid. They patrolled three times during the day and twice at night. Meticulous.

"Who is here?" ! "Under the flickering lights, the patrol leader noticed that there seemed to be a dark figure at the corner of the street.

The shadow didn't move.

Several patrol inspectors drew their weapons, held up the lights, and moved forward.

Since General Hussars was assassinated twice, although they have little to do with the inspection leaders, these Guanzhong inspection leaders feel that they have been slapped several times. If they talk about it in private, they will grit their teeth, so for The abnormality in my daily life is that I am more cautious by 12 points, lest I make any mistakes again.

Approaching the black shadow, the patrol leader was stunned for a moment, sheathed his weapon, "Why is there a baby..."

The inspection leader stretched out his hand with the missing ring finger and little finger to push Niu Dalang, but found that the tentacles were cold and even Niu Dalang's body was a little stiff, as if he was frozen on the street corner.

"Bring me some wine!" This baby is freezing to death! 』

The inspection leader shouted, and someone immediately handed over the warm wine bag in his arms, and someone else took off his cloak and covered Niu Dalang's body. The inspection leader gave Niu Dalang a few sips of wine, then grabbed a few handfuls of snow lying aside, and started rubbing it on Niu Dalang's face, hands and feet...

After a while, Niu Dalang finally groaned and regained some consciousness.

"Baby, why are you here?" ” asked the inspection leader.

"Pazi, crawl...papa..." Niu Dalang's teeth were chattering and he was fighting up and down, unable to explain clearly.

"Put it on your back first!" Take it back and talk about it! 』

The inspection leader waved his hand, and someone came forward and carried Niu Dalang on his back.

Under the flickering lights, snowflakes were flying.

Niu Dalang lay on the back of one of them, as if he had returned to his childhood. He also lay on his father's back, warm and strong...

"Woo..."

Niu Dalang bit his lip, a tear slipped from the corner of his eye, and flew into the night, seeming to turn into a piece of crystal snowflakes, floating in the air, and falling on the footprints made by this group of people.

Early next morning.

The inspection leader took Niu Dalang to the official residence again, "Where is Hu Cao?" 』

A small official came forward, nodded and bowed and reported: "Hucao is taking a rest today..."

"Um? ha! ” The inspection leader sneered.

After retiring from the battlefield, the inspection leader gradually changed from a man who only knew how to fight to a grassroots official who was more or less aware of the dark side of officialdom. After hearing what the junior official said, he naturally understood what was going on, but he also He did not indicate that he must call Hu Cao back, but nodded and left the mansion with Niu Dalang.

Although Niu Dalang was puzzled, he still believed in the inspection who saved his life last night and followed him out of the mansion.

"Do you know what the rules are? ” The inspection leader looked at Niu Dalang walking forward. As he walked, he said, “There are many rules in this world... The general will distribute coal to you, and you will be led by the brand. This is a rule. If your brand is wrong, I can’t give it to you. This is It is also a rule... The brand is under the control of the household Cao, and ordinary people are not allowed to tamper with it. This is also a rule... You can rest once every ten days, this is also a rule..."

"Rules, in fact, most of them can't be said to be particularly good or bad... Just like this knife... Some people use it to commit crimes, and some people use it to save people..." the patrol inspector said nonchalantly, laughing. "Speaking of which, generals have more rules... Haha, at that time in the army, there were rules even for pooping and peeing..."

"The Cavalry General is a good man, and his rules are good..." Niu Dalang couldn't help but said.

The inspection leader paused for a moment, then laughed and patted Niu Dalang on the shoulder, "You... haha... ah, we're here..."

The inspection leader arrived in front of a courtyard and asked, "May I ask if the agricultural bachelor is here?" 』

After the soldiers on duty at the door announced, a man came out and bowed his hands in greeting, "Inspector Sun, what are you looking for?" 』

The inspection leader pointed at Niu Dalang and gave a brief explanation. The agriculturist understood, smiled and stroked his beard and said, "What's so difficult about this?" Come with me..."

The inspection leader bowed his hand in thanks, and the Agricultural Scholar waved his hand and said, "It's okay to have free time in the winter..." This is true. If we wait until the spring of next year, even if we really come to see the Agricultural Scholar again, he may not have time. To do such trivial things.

After returning to the official residence, the agricultural scholar showed his official seal, retrieved the household registration document, and then added and modified the contents of the household registration based on the changes in Niu Dalang's family, and stamped his own small seal on the modified text, and then He also asked the craftsmen in the county government to carve new wooden signs. It took less than an hour to complete them. When the brand-new sign was handed over to Niu Dalang, Niu Dalang was still a little unbelievable... …

At present, in the counties and villages under the rule of Qiaoqi, those who have the right to change the household registration information, apart from the Hucao, are the agricultural bachelors. Of course, most of the time, the agricultural bachelors will not take the initiative to compile the household registration, but exist as supervisors and supervisors.

"It's still early, so go back early!" "The inspector smiled and stopped Niu Dalang from thanking him, "Go, go..."

Niu Dalang walked a few steps, hesitated, turned back, lowered his head and said, "Uncle Sun... what if I join the army next year and my mother and little sister at home have no one to take care of me?" 』

"You want to join the army?" Why? ” asked the inspection leader, “You seem to be an only child?” 』

Niu Dalang nodded and said: "Yes... But I think, I want to be like Uncle Sun, join the army, go to the battlefield, and perform meritorious service, so that I can be a patrol inspector in the future... Only in this way can I know more rules and use these rules... instead of... ...And my farm cattle were used to pay off the debt, so we will be able to farm next year... I'm afraid..."

"I understand... you are an only son. If you join the army, your family's civilian land will become military land, with tax exemptions and exemptions... There is no need to worry about farming and harvesting. Naturally, someone will farm for you, and your wife will harvest the harvest." The girl gets a share, and has money and food to settle down... In this way, it's not bad..." The inspection leader nodded and said, then waved his incomplete palm a few times in front of Niu Dalang, "But on the battlefield, swords and guns have no eyes. If you go up in one piece, even if you survive, you may not be able to come back intact... You have thought about it... And the rules in the military are stricter. Just like last night, you violated the curfew... The first time you violated it, according to Rule 5 whip! I think you are young and there are reasons for the incident, so I am exempted for the time being... But if you want to join the army, you will no longer be a common people, but a soldier! Military law in the army shows no mercy. If you want to surrender to the army, you must first receive these five whips! Do you dare! 』

After talking about it, the inspection leader's face darkened and his voice became stern.

Niu Dalang was silent, holding the wooden sign for a long time, then raised his head and looked fixedly at the inspection leader, "I dare!" 』

The inspection leader's brows moved slightly, and then like ice and snow melting, the coldness turned into a smile, "Okay, I know, after the New Year, if you still have such determination, just come and find me..."