He said: "The small ones fled from Dingxian County. Pen %Fun %Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Speaking of this, he seemed to remember something, and a few tattered young men, women and children behind him were a little sad.

He continued: "Originally, there were a few acres of land in the small family, and it stands to reason that this year's wind and rain should be a harvest year, but I don't know why, this whole year is not a drop of rain, and this lack of things, ploughing cattle and other more people has passed, but the drought is so, and the imperial court has increased taxes, and we really can't pay it......"

Xiao Yi sighed after hearing this, what this old man said was the same as the situation in the late Ming Dynasty written by Gu Yanwu, even if the wind and rain were smooth, the output value of one mu was only six or seven taels, but the various taxes to be paid were more than ten taels, even the people with land at home could not live, let alone those landless people.

There was also a drought, followed by a locust plague that stretched throughout the province, and the imperial court paid extremely heavy taxes, no wonder.

Xiao Yi looked at these people very unbearable, as far as he knew, there will be a big drought in a few years, this drought will last for several years until the fall of the Ming Dynasty, and it may also be accompanied by plague and other plagues that swept the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, that is even more starving people, starving all over the wilderness, what can they do at that time?

Huang Yang sighed, squatted down to help the old man, and asked softly, "Old man, where are you going?" ”

A young man behind the old man said: "I heard that Lord Xiao, the defender of Taohuabao on Datong East Road, is benevolent and righteous, everyone has land to grow and have enough to eat, and I hope to go there to find a way to survive." ”

The old man cried: "I'm afraid we will starve to death on the road if we can't get there, these days we all pick the grass and eat, the grass is exhausted and peel the bark and eat, the bark is eaten, yesterday I was really hungry and unbearable, someone dug up the stone and eaten, the stone smelled fishy and greasy, less food and full, today we all fell to death!" ”

A middle-aged man in the back said hatefully: "The rich in official clothes refuse to release grain, and I have seen many people gather together to be thieves in the past few days, but although we have never read the books of sages, we also know that being a thief is a shame for our ancestors, and I would rather die than be with him." ”

The homeless people behind him were all crying and talking about their own affairs, and Huang Yang and the others all sighed after hearing this, when will this disaster have an end?

They are all glad that they have met Xiao Yi now, otherwise they would probably all be among the outcasts.

Xiao Yi sighed heavily and turned his back, he no longer dared to look at the expressions of those people and their skinny bodies, he just turned around, Huang Yang said warmly over there: "Old man, don't worry, Peach Blossom Fort Xiao is benevolent in defending the house, and the Yong'an Army has exterminated all the thieves in the territory, and you can live a peaceful and happy life when you get there." ”

Then Huang Yang motioned to a soldier of the war team to give the old man a few liters of rice each, and these homeless people all bowed down with thousands of thanks, and went north happily.

"Are you gone?" Xiao Yi's inquiring voice came, Huang Yang sighed and said, "It's all gone." ”

Looking at those homeless people going away, everyone in the Yong'an Army was full of emotion, although life in Peach Blossom Fort was still a little hard, but at least everyone could have enough to eat, there was land to cultivate, and there were no bandits in the territory, compared to the Peach Blossom Fort here, it was really a paradise.

They are used to living a good life with Xiao Yi, and they have even forgotten the hard days they lived at the beginning, and their hearts are deeply touched when they see these people.

Xiao Yi didn't know that his reputation had spread so far, it seemed that it was caused by the poor and homeless people spreading ten, ten by hundred, and the news spreading so quickly probably also showed what the people were thinking, which strengthened Xiao Yi's thoughts.

Shi Gang's eyes turned around, and he suddenly said: "I heard that this Taiyuan Mansion is rich and healthy, but the people I saw along the way are so poor, these are all caused by the improper governance of local officials. ”

Liu Tong said with a smile: "What Lao Shi said is extremely true, and he also thinks so about his humble position. ”

Wang Dayong smiled and patted Shi Gang on the shoulder, and said, "Lao Shi's words today make me impressed with you!" Shi Gang scratched his head embarrassedly, and then everyone agreed, and everyone's eyes flashed brightly.

Now Xiao Yi's subordinates have already been a little arrogant, after all, the Yong'an Army has not been defeated since the formation of the army, although the extermination is some bandits, but in Datong East Road Xiao Yi has been regarded as a strong soldier, everyone thinks that Xiao Yi should not be limited to Peach Blossom Fort, should be planted in more places with the banner of the Yongan Army, so that more poor people can live the same life as the people of Peach Blossom Fort.

This is still a secondary reason, those veterans from Liaodong naturally hope that Xiao Yiguan will do higher and higher, and the territory he will take over will become bigger and bigger, and these old brothers will naturally rise with it.

Even those recruits who have not been in battle for several months or veterans who have been on the battlefield several times, they have already regarded themselves as a part of the Yong'an Army, and it is difficult for Xiao Yi to make meritorious contributions if he does not fight, and it is even more difficult for those who come in later to stand out in the Yong'an Army.

When everyone was discussing, suddenly the sound of horses' hooves in the distance was loud, and everyone saw from a distance that two people were riding horses, these two were Wang Dayong's subordinates who did not collect at night, everyone was well-equipped for a long time, and when they passed through the queue, their fierce eyes swept over each person.

The two got off the horse and said a few words to Wang Dayong, Wang Dayong asked them to continue to investigate, and whispered a few words to Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi immediately took out a map and said: "Pass the order, speed up the march, there happens to be a small county town in front, we will go there to repair for the night." ”

Everyone lined up one after another, and even in the field, their marching ranks were still in order.

After a short time, the soldiers of the Yong'an Army came to a forest not far from Dingxian, and there was a small stream in the woods, which could provide everyone with a short rest and drink water for the horses at night.

This road passes through many villages and forts, and naturally there are also villages built by villagers for self-protection, but most of them are ruined and broken, full of wind and sand, and the population is also sparse.

It was not until here that you could see a little human population, and Xiao also saw that there were many acres of land around here, but most of them were dry and barren, and the fields were full of yellow sand along the wind.

With Xiao Yi's order, everyone dispersed to rest, the sergeants either took out the prepared dry food and took it out to eat, and some took out the cakes made by the little daughter-in-law from their arms and ate them on the stream, or they were relieved, lying in groups of three or five to rest comfortably around a big tree.

At night, the sergeant dragged the mules and horses to the water, a little farther away and let them drink, and because of the diligent training on weekdays, everyone was a little tired at this time, but they were not very tired.

Wang Dayong, Shi Gang, and Liu Tong were eating dry food by the stream, looking at the soldiers who were gnawing cakes, there was envy in the eyes of several people, Wang Dayong made a few jokes, and Shi Gang and Liu Tong laughed.

Suddenly, Shi Gang's face was stunned, and he listened attentively, Liu Tong frowned and asked, "What's the matter?" Got a rogue coming? ”

Wang Dayong waved his hand, got up and said, "How can I hear the voice of a child?" ”

Shi Gang suddenly said at this time: "I also heard it, it's still a girl!" ”

Wang Dayong and the three of them stood up and followed the sound, and the sergeant behind them saw it and also divided some people to follow the three of them.

Walking into the depths of the woods, Shi Gang gasped, the woods were actually full of big pits, dirty and smelly.

The main thing is not this, but the corpses everywhere on the edge of this pit, and it is initially estimated that there will be at least 20 people.

These corpses are all skinny and skinny, and they all have the appearance of a person, everyone has opened their mouths wide, and it is unimaginable to see them shockingly.

Shi Gang screamed as if he had discovered something, and rushed into the pit despite the drag of everyone, shouting as he ran: "There is a living girl here!" ”

Wang Dayong and Liu Tong glanced at each other, alive?

Hurriedly rushed in with Shi Gang with the soldiers. (To be continued.) )