On the stretch of the official road, the dust was flying, rolling up streams of turbid, thick yellow smoke and dust, and a team of fast horses galloped across the official road.

Yu Xiang sat in the open-top carriage and watched the situation on the side of the road seriously. I saw that the grass and trees were withered and yellow, the fields were cracked, the ponds were bottomed, the streams were cut off, and the occasional gust of wind passed, raising gusts of loess.

In Xinyang, you can still see busy people carrying water, guarding canals, digging wells, replanting, etc., and everyone is busy with a purpose. But as soon as he came out of Xinyang Realm, the situation changed completely, there were scrawny beggars everywhere, everywhere you could see the disaster victims helping the old and the young, and the strong people carrying baskets and pushing wheelbarrows to escape the famine. Many refugees in the mountains are digging grass roots, peeling tree bark, and from time to time some refugees are seen lying dying on the side of the road.

As far as the eye can see, there is an apocalyptic scene.

Through what he saw with his own eyes, Yu Xiang completely understood why Li Zicheng was able to rise in Henan so quickly after the defeat of Shaanxi, because there were too many refugees in Henan, and these refugees could not get relief, as long as they gave them a little food, they could work for you, and these people became Li Zicheng's inexhaustible source of soldiers.

Through word of mouth, the refugees memorized that the red, blue and white Taiji flag was a new village, where there was a protector of refugees, and now when they saw the flag, the refugees gathered one after another.

Liu Guoneng has been dealing with refugees for many years, and his original army is basically composed of refugees, and he is very experienced in refugee relief.

He organized the refugees, incorporated some young and strong soldiers into the New Guard, and transferred some soldiers from the New Guard to organize and help the refugees, so that although some of the soldiers of the New Guard were assigned to be responsible for the relief of refugees, the ranks of the New Guard did not decrease, but grew larger and larger.

Wherever Yu Xiang passed, the refugees were organized in an orderly manner and moved towards their intended destinations according to Yu Xiang's command.

Two days later, the cavalry vanguard led by Yu Xiang arrived in Queshan County.

Queshan County is located in the south of Henan Province, between Zhengzhou and Wuhan, known as "the hinterland of the Central Plains, the throat of Henan and Hubei", since ancient times it is a traffic artery, and merchants who come and go from Zhengzhou and Wuhan must pass through here.

Forty miles of road to the south from the county seat of Queshan, you can reach Boshan Lake, the surrounding of the lake, surrounded by mountains, the peaks and peaks loom, the canyon is vertical and horizontal, the pine and green bamboo, the lake and the mountains, the morning light and fog, the forest is quiet and the birds are crying, the pavilions are shining, and the fishing songs are singing late. It is a tourist attraction for later generations. Boshan Lake irrigates a large area of grain fields and is an important grain production base in eastern Henan. Considering that water is extremely precious at the moment, Yu Xiang plans to rely on Boshan Lake to implement the "Special Law in Wartime".

Leshan in the territory of Queshan County is as famous as Wudang Mountain in ancient times, and it is a Taoist and Buddhist resort. There are a lot of Taoist priests and monks living on the mountain. But here, since the bandits entered the mountain, these mountain bandits often went down the mountain to rob and plunder, and went up the mountain to harass the Taoist temple, they killed or drove the monks and Taoists, and regarded the Taoist temple and the temple as their bandits' nest.

These pieces of information came into the hands of Jia Binjiu, and Lao Jia sent this information to Yu Xiang, who made up his mind that with the help of this parade, he must clear out all the remnants of the bandits in Queshan County and create a peaceful environment for the construction of the grain production base in Boshan Lake.

Coming to the county seat of Queshan, Yu Xiang changed to the official government, the team raised the evasion, quiet card, although the form is simple, the pomp is not big, but it still makes people look at the official government patrol, Yu Xiang hopes that through this form, show the official authority, use the power of the system to suppress the county order, and pave the way for the smooth implementation of the wartime special law. After all, a small county order is still several levels smaller than him, the governor, and this kind of forcing a special wartime law with the big to suppress the small will save a lot of trouble, and besides, he doesn't have time to delay in this small county town.

I didn't expect that I hadn't gone far, but there was a big man with a black face holding a wooden sign with the word "wronged" written in blood, kneeling on the side of the road and shouting injustice.

The horse team in front immediately stopped their formation, and Liu Guoneng yelled: "Who is coming, why are you shouting grievances on the road, you don't want to die?" ”

The black-faced man knelt on the ground, kowtowed to the horse team, and said, "Lord Qingtian, are you wronged?" Save the villain, the villain really has no way to live, so he came to cry out for injustice. ”

Liu Guoneng was very sympathetic to the poor people, jumped off the horse, and reported to Yu Xiang: "Your Excellency, there are people shouting grievances in front, what should I do?" ”

Yu Xianghao said without hesitation: "Let him come close and tell his grievances." ”

After speaking, Yu Xiang stepped out of the carriage and found a shade to stand.

Liu Guoneng was very careful, he asked Liu Xiangzhong, Liu Xiangyong, Gui Xinshu, Huang Zhen and other masters to line up on both sides of Yu Xiang to protect Yu Xiang's safety, and then brought the black-faced man to the shade of the tree.

When the black-faced man saw Yu Xiang, he knelt down again and kowtowed.

Yu Xiang fixed his eyes and glanced at the black-faced man, this man is tall, strong, in the current world, it is very rare, wearing a short coat and shorts, his clothes barely cover his body, there are injuries on his legs, they have suppurated, and they emit a foul smell, causing flies to fly around him.

Yu Xiang asked: "This strong man, if you have any grievances, you just have to say that this government is in charge of you, but you are not allowed to exaggerate and exaggerate." ”

The black-faced man wept bitterly and recounted what happened to him.

The black-faced man's real name is Zhang Heiniu, a native of Shangluo, Shaanxi, twenty-five years old this year, his grandfather is still a local squire and a wealthy family, his father also does some business, and his family is well-off, but since the disaster in Shaanxi, a year is not as good as a year, bandits are rampant, the dealer has not yet collected, it was looted, the family was robbed for three days, they really can't stay, with the daughter-in-law who has just passed the door and the sister who has not left the cabinet to escape through the desert and pass through Queshan County.

But when I arrived in Queshan County, the coiling was almost spent, and the three of them discussed, put the remaining money together, and sold some potstickers, barely able to earn a few copper plates a day, remove the cost, and barely make ends meet.

The morning before yesterday, his daughter-in-law and sister went out to sell potstickers, and it was almost noon, and they had not yet seen them back, so they were very anxious, so they went out to answer.

He stepped forward to reason with the officials, and was beaten by them, saying that they had violated the "Curfew Law", and if they wanted to take people, they had to pay ten taels of silver, otherwise, his wife and sister would have to be confiscated. But he was penniless and desperate, so he went out of the city this morning to find a place to finish himself.

Speaking of this, Zhang Heiniu cried bitterly, couldn't cry, and continued: "I lost my daughter-in-law and didn't take care of my sister, what hope is there in this world." Fortunately, God has mercy on me and let me meet adults, please save my sister and lady. ”

Yu Xiang clenched his fists, he tried his best to remain calm, and asked Zhang Heiniu: "What's going on with this Xiao Forbidden Law?" ”

Zhang Heiniu said: "It is said that this county county is often troubled, after the county official took office, it was stipulated that before noon, all trading and business must be closed, and after a while, no one is allowed to move around on the street, this is called 'noon pass is not clean', once someone violates, they will be put in prison, look at it, if you want to come out, you have to take money to redeem yourself." My lady and sister-in-law were arrested by them because they didn't close the stall in time before noon. ”

Yu Xiang listened to it with half a doubt, this summer, it was dark at seven or eight o'clock in the evening, and people were put to sleep at three o'clock in the afternoon, what year and month is this, go to bed at three o'clock, what does the family eat and drink? In this way, what else does this Queshan County rely on to make a living?

Yu Xiang ordered someone to take Zhang Heiniu down, give him some food, and help him treat his wounds, and the accompanying army camped on the spot, and he wanted to go to Queshan County to find out.

Yu Xiang was dressed as a businessman, Liu Xiangzhong, Zhuge Shanzhen, and Shenquan Invincible Gui Xin Shu were the followers, and the four of them came to the front of Queshan City before they arrived.

The gate of Queshan County is wide open, but it is deserted, no one enters or exits, and when you look in through the city gate, the streets are empty.

As soon as a few dozing guards saw someone coming, they immediately became refreshed, their eyes lit up, and they consciously stood up straight, with a strange smile on their faces.

Yu Xiang walked up to a doorman and asked, "May I ask this military master, is this Queshan County?" ”

The doorman had a happy look on his face: "Yes, you are a foreigner?" ”

Yu Xiang said: "Yes, I am a businessman, passing by here. ”

The doorman said happily: "We like foreign businessmen the most, please come in!" ”

Yu Xiang saw this person talking upside down, thinking of Zhang Heiniu's words, he understood a little in his heart, and whispered to the three people around him: "If there is any abnormal situation later, you are not allowed to do anything, wait and see what happens." ”

All three nodded in agreement.

Yu Xiang flicked his umbrella and swaggered into the city.

As soon as I entered the city, I didn't take a few steps, but I heard the city gate squeak shut, and from the sentry posts on both sides of the city gate, more than a dozen catchers poured out, and they couldn't help but say, and put iron ropes around their necks.

I only heard a red-faced official shouting: "Bold bandits, in broad daylight, dare to openly violate the curfew law, you have been arrested, your belongings have been confiscated, and if you want to be released, you must pay another twenty taels of silver per person." ”

After speaking, he snatched the package from the hand of the invincible Gui Xin Shu of the Divine Fist, opened it on the spot, and rummaged in it for a long time, only to have less than two taels of scattered silver.

The red-faced official was so angry that he stepped forward, and couldn't help but say, facing Yu Xiang is two big mouths, and yelled: "You. He. Mother. He claimed to be a merchant, and he took this little bit of loose silver, and he also did business, he was simply a liar, and he tarnished the reputation of the merchant. Mother. The distinct is the soil. Bandits. With that, he drew his saber with a click.

Liu Xiangyong, Zhuge Shanzhen and Shenquan Invincible Gui Xin Shu looked at it, and their faces were shocked, but they didn't dare to make a move, because there were too many people, if they did it, in case Yu Xiang was injured in the melee, it would be troublesome, everyone secretly clenched their fists, and their hearts were extremely anxious.

Yu Xiang was beaten by this person, and the folding fan was also knocked to the ground, he was a good man who didn't eat the loss in front of him, and hurriedly said: "This official, please stop your anger!" Listen to me, listen to me! ”

The red-faced official snorted coldly and said: "What do you have to say, it's better to be honest, dare to have half a lie, Ben Zhu will tell you to move your head quickly." ”

Yu Xiang said to him: "The official spares my life, I am the young owner of the caravan, but I am responsible for coming to explore the way, I didn't carry any silver with me, just ask, how much silver do you want, I will send it to you tomorrow morning." After speaking, he pointed to the folding fan on the ground and said: "This sandalwood fan is extremely precious, please don't break it." ”

The red-faced official picked up the fan from the ground, put it next to his nose and smelled it, sure enough, the sandalwood was on his nose, and he looked at Yu Xiang carefully, and saw that he had a ruddy complexion and delicate skin, and he must be either rich or expensive, so he believed what Yu Xiang said, and snorted coldly: "For the sake of your sincere attitude, the fan will be confiscated, and one of you will need to pay another one hundred taels of silver, and four people will have to pay another one hundred taels of silver, and four people will have five hundred taels." ”

Yu Xiang asked: "I said official, the four of you should be four hundred taels, how can it be five hundred taels?" ”

The red-faced official glared at Yu Xiang and said, "Less him. Mother. Waste. Words, Lao Tzu spent a long time talking to you, wasting a lot of energy, and a hundred taels of spiritual compensation. ”

Yu Xiang was almost happy, and there was mental compensation, but he pretended to be extremely cooperative, and he said to the messenger: "I have to send someone back to send a letter to raise money, otherwise, the caravan will not know my whereabouts." ”

The red-faced officer thought about it, felt that it was right, and said to Yu Xiang: "You can only send one person back except you." ”

Yu Xiang pointed to Zhuge Shanzhen and said, "Let him go back, go and tell the caravan to deliver the silver as soon as possible!" Go and come back quickly! ”

The red-faced official waved his hand and signaled to let it go, Zhuge Shanzhen understood, immediately went out of the city, walked a few steps, and saw that there was no one around, so he launched the land flying technique and rushed back to the camp.

Yu Xiang was escorted to the county government on the way, and looked around, the city was dilapidated, broken walls could be seen everywhere, and the streets were empty, like a ghost town.

When he arrived at the county office, the red-faced official excitedly trotted all the way to report to the prefect. Yu Xiang was imprisoned.

The people inside were very curious when they saw that a new prisoner had been locked in, and they were still intact, so they saw a person who looked like a scholar stepped forward and asked, "May I ask Childe, what crime did you commit and was imprisoned?"

Yu Xiang said: "I have committed the crime of not being purified at noon. ”

The man sighed: "Hey, what a sin, the troubled times are faint, it is simply forcing the people to rebel." ”

Yu Xiang became interested in this person: "If you say that, aren't you afraid of losing your head?" ”

This man said: "I can't hide it, I am a talent in this county, seeing that the local bandits are endless, and the people are not making a living, I wanted to offer advice to Gou Zhi County, but I didn't expect to be accused of being accused of bewitching the public and imprisoned." ”

Yu Xiang became interested in this person and asked, "What do you call it?" ”

The man said: "My name is Cheng Guoxiang, the word Wenxuan. ”

"What plan do you have for Gou Zhi County?" Yu Xiang asked.

Cheng Guoxiang said: "At present, there is a drought, wars are frequent, bandits are rampant, and there is an urgent need to fight drought and disaster relief, and to resist bandits, but this Gouzhi County not only does not act, but also implements this kind of goose plucking fees, which will only lead to the withering of local people's livelihood and force more people to be bandits." Although there is a great drought, the county has sufficient water sources, if it is properly organized, production is developed, and the people have something to eat. But this Gou Zhi County did not say that it was peaceful today, and said that I was lying to confuse the public, and arrested me and threw me into prison. ”

Yu Xiang looked at Cheng Guoxiang carefully, and saw that he was born quietly, with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and at first glance he was a kind person at the bottom of his heart, so he talked with him heart-to-heart.