Yang Chao squatted on the side of the main road in the town, guarding next to his firewood bundle, and would stand up from time to time and bargain with others.

Generally speaking, in the middle of winter, materials like firewood cannot be used. Although the amount of consumption is very large, every family has to make a fire to keep warm, but in winter they can't do farm work, and they can't collect wild vegetables and fruits in the wild, so everyone is idle. A broken family is worth a lot, who would take the things at home out to exchange for firewood in order to be lazy?

Chai He is a thing that is available in the mountains and fields, as long as you are free, you are willing to spend some effort and go out for a walk.

This year, however, things are a little different.

Due to the virtuous politics implemented by the champion Hou Ye, the people of Qinghe were quite rich, and half of the ears of wheat in the fields became the savings of the people's families. As soon as the people get rich, the people become relatively lazy, and they are unwilling to collect firewood and grass by themselves.

I didn't have the money or the strength before, but now that I'm well fed and clothed, who can not have higher requirements? Anyway, Chai He is not expensive, just take something in exchange, save this strength, recuperate and have a good winter, and wait for a good job after the spring, this is the right reason.

In fact, the gap between the powerful and the common people in this era is not as big as that of the later two Jin Dynasty and Sui and Tang dynasties, and many families are also relying on diligence and hard work to accumulate wealth little by little, and then exchange wealth for the development of their careers, and finally jump over the dragon gate and get rid of the identity of civilians.

For example, the Wei family who funded Cao Cao, Li Dian's family, and the Mi family in the East China Sea, in the final analysis, all came over like this.

It's certainly hard. But if one generation can't do it, just two or three generations, and if we continue to work hard from generation to generation, there will always be hope. And the opportunity for hope to start is often a good year, the good governance of a local official, or some chance, so that everyone can get the first pot of gold, based on this. Little by little it developed.

Yang Chao didn't expect these big truths, but the booming business that came because of this made him very happy. The firewood was picked up by him after a busy day yesterday, and it was only half a day today. has already changed to half a bucket of corn, and there are some small things with needles and threads, and what makes him happiest is that he actually changed to a gourd wine!

The fruitful harvest made him smile so much that he couldn't open his eyes, and it was really a good idea to flee from Anping to Qinghe.

Despite all war zones. But the place where the champion is located is different from other places, and in just half a year, the people have become rich like this. Even the most worthless firewood has become so sought-after, if it is ten or eight years old, then it will be repaid? The legendary world under the rule of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors is nothing more than that, right?

"Little brother. Listening to the accent, you're not a local either, are you? "Talking to Yang Chao. It was the man who exchanged wine with him for firewood. It was a middle-aged man driving a large cart, and he looked like a footman in a market, but there was also a woman and a little girl in a bun in his car, apparently a family. It is not very common to drag the footman with his family.

Yang Chao wiped his green snot and replied with a smile: "Yes, my family is a jujube strong." Isn't there a war going on over there? Yesterday, General Baima's soldiers beat General Yuan's famous soldiers, and today General Baima's soldiers have caused infighting again, and General Yuan's soldiers are chasing General Baima's soldiers together, and I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I heard that Qinghe was quite peaceful here, so I took my mother and sister and fled over. ”

"Heh, then we're still fellow countrymen." The middle-aged man smiled, and his smile was full of kindness: "Our family is also a strong jujube, and Weijiazhuang, twenty miles north of the county seat, is our family." ”

"Ahh When he met his old acquaintance in another country, Yang was surprised: "Weijiazhuang, I know!" When my father was still there, when I went to Xindu to sell goods, I passed through there, and there was a White Horse River at the entrance of the village, right? We're not far away, and my home is in ......."

With a relationship with fellow villagers and similar experiences, the relationship between the two quickly warmed up.

Through conversation, Yang Chao knew that the middle-aged man's name was Wei Sheng, and it turned out that he was indeed a businessman, and since the Battle of Longcuo, Gongsun Zhan invaded Anping in a big way, and the trade route was cut off. After the rebellion of the royal family and the sudden change of the situation, he was even more keenly aware that Anping would soon be in turmoil.

So, he loaded all the remaining goods in the warehouse into the car, and took his wife and children all the way south to Qinghe.

It is a tragic thing to leave home, but if you look at the comparison between the current situation and the past, Wei Sheng's trip to Qinghe can be regarded as a blessing in disguise.

"Before I went south, there was nothing left at home, and I was still wondering if I would be reduced to the point of asking for food when I arrived at Qinghe. I didn't expect it, it's just a few months, and the income is bigger than the previous year, I wondered, anyway, E-Niang and Zhu'er are also with me, and it's not bad to settle down in Qinghe, but ......"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at his wife and daughter, only to see his wife rubbing her hands and constantly breathing on her hands, obviously freezing badly. So he didn't finish this sentence, but hurriedly held his wife's hand, put his hand in his collar, and said softly: "E-niang, you have suffered, hurry up and warm up." ”

The woman showed a hint of a smile, sweet, and even Yang Chao, who was still a single, was stunned with different styles. The woman didn't have time to speak, because the little girl on the side had already pulled her father's shirt, and cried out in a milky voice: "Dad, Zhu'er should also be warm!" ”

"Okay, good, the pearl is also warm." Wei Sheng nodded with a smile as he leaned over and picked up his daughter, letting her daughter's little hand reach into her collar.

The smile on the woman's face was even sweeter, the little girl was dangling her bun, very proud, and the man tightened his neck, shivering from time to time, but while he was grinning at the cold, the smile in his eyes couldn't be stopped.

Family fun, happy and happy. This scene made Yang Chao envious.

When the days get better, I also want to ask for a mother-in-law, I don't have to be pretty, and the most important thing is to feel sorry for people. I must work hard next year, and life will definitely get better.

After sighing for a while, he remembered the topic just now: "Brother Wei, what do you mean by what you just said?" Do you want to wait for Anping's battle to finish before going back? ”

"Not really." Wei Sheng replied with a smile: "Whether it's trading or living." You have to have a good place, and in this world, whether the place is good or not depends not on the water and soil, but on the people. ”

"People?"

"Well, it's people." Wei Sheng nodded, and said very seriously: "Why is Qinghe so peaceful, and it is not the benevolence of the old man?" But ah, will the prince stay in Qinghe all the time? It's hard to say. A while ago, didn't the prince spread to all parts of the country and called on the people to go to Qingzhou Tuntian? Earlier, that Liu Yuanjun also said the same......"

"Do you want to go to Qingzhou Tuntian?" Yang Chao's eyes glared at the boss: "That's Qingzhou, hundreds of miles away!" ”

Anping borders the Qing River. Moving between the two places, although it is also a displacement from home, but after all, the water, soil and customs of the place are similar, and the distance between the hearts is relatively close. There are hundreds of miles between Qingzhou and Jizhou, and there is also a Yellow River, so it feels like a very, very distant place.

So. Although Wang Yu had a very high prestige among the people of Qinghe, he still could not drive the people of Qingzhou to retreat with the army. Not to mention going to Qingzhou, even if Liu Bei planned to take the people to the plains before, the response from the people was not very enthusiastic.

It's not that Wang Yu's charm is not enough. It is the local concept of the Chinese people that determines everything.

"If you don't go, you can't go, the prince is gone, General Yuan is here, it's too dangerous to stay." Wei Sheng glanced at his wife lovingly. said in a low voice: "If it weren't for the wind chill that E-Niang contracted a few days ago, I might have left with the army." When E-Niang is well, I still have to go to Qingzhou. ”

"Not really, right?" Yang Chao didn't believe it, or didn't want to believe it, and muttered: "There is no war again, General Yuan is here, and at most he will pay for food, what danger can there be?" ”

The war-torn people have not only suffered but also gained knowledge. Yang Chao knew that the most terrible thing in the military disaster was not the change of hands in a certain place, but the repeated tug-of-war between the two armies in order to compete for a city and a place.

In the process of seesawing, the vitality of the place will be sawed off little by little, squeezed dry, until one side completely occupies the top, or the place is completely destroyed, and then it comes to an end.

Qinghe's current situation is the most ideal. Although people regret Wang Yu's departure, it is better for Wang Yu to retreat without a fight than for the two armies to fight repeatedly.

Generally speaking, just after regaining the lost territory, the government will more or less compensate the local government and stabilize people's hearts by means such as tax reductions and exemptions, which may be another opportunity to be a blessing in disguise.

This is also one of the important reasons why Qinghe people are not enthusiastic about going to Qingzhou, and they can maintain their native land, who wants to go to another country and start again? This is true even if the policies of the new place are good.

"You don't know yet, do you?" Wei Sheng's voice was lowered, almost inaudible: "The county seat and Dongwu City have posted notices, saying that in order to raise money and grain and attack Qingzhou, General Yuan will collect taxes from the local government, saying that he will pay the taxes for the next ten years!" ”

"What? Why? Yang Chao jumped up in shock. I have never heard of this matter, and it is also unbelievable, and it is unreasonable at all.

"Why?" Wei Sheng sneered: "Just rely on his General Yuan's order!" Brother Yang, why do you think I came here? Just doing business, who still drags the family with their mouths? I just want to escape from Qinghe as soon as possible, to the plains, or to the Bohai Sea, and then to Qingzhou by way before the grain conscription team arrives! ”

"Grain conscription?" Yang Chao was already dumbfounded, and repeated Wei Sheng's words with dull eyes.

He believed most of it.

The village where he is located is between Tobu Castle and Imu Castle. If you want to do business purely in the county, it is naturally more convenient in the county seat, and if you are doing business, there is no need to bring your wife and daughter with you. Listening to Wei Sheng's conversation, he should have read books, some knowledgeable people, and fellow villagers, there is no need to lie to himself about this kind of thing, he said that there is, there should be.

The people of Qinghe are indeed a little rich, and they draw ten times the tax to squeeze the people dry...... I am afraid that it is not enough to use lips and tongues, and this so-called food requisition team is probably ......

"Well, the grain team." Wei Sheng's face twitched unnaturally, even more reactive than when his wife and daughter's hand reached into his arms just now.

"It won't really be ......" Yang Chao looked desperate, he thought hard, trying to find some argument to refute Wei Sheng's statement and maintain the illusory good life in front of him.

However, before he could come up with a reason, he was interrupted by a burst of screams from the entrance of the town. Both he and Wei Sheng were startled, and when they turned their heads to look, they saw an officer riding on a horse, behind him. Followed by a group of heavily armed soldiers with swords and guns, they were driving long.

While advancing, there were still people shouting loudly: "Obey the orders of the general of the chariot cavalry, collect grain and taxes, recruit people, and ensure the supply of the king's division!" Those who refuse to pay taxes will be punished for the same crime as rebellion! ”

While shouting. The officer also pointed with his horsewhip, pointing at the men who looked strong, obviously to arrest the men first, and then grab the food, so as to avoid the riot to the greatest extent. Quite well trained.

When the officer passed by, he also tapped at Yang Chao with his horsewhip, and immediately two soldiers pounced on him violently.

Yang Chao was already dumbfounded, he didn't even hear what the two soldiers said to him loudly, he just froze in place. When they encountered those who did not cooperate, the two soldiers did not care, and raised the handle of the knife and the barrel of the gun was a jerk.

The severe pain caused Yang Chao to jump up from the ground. When he was about to swing his fist, the cold light flickered in front of him, and when he thought of his mother and sister at home, his anger disappeared at once. Don't dare to resist again. Instead, he pleaded bitterly, hoping to find a modicum of mercy and escape the catastrophe.

"Tie up, take away!" The officer waved his hand casually. The soldier skillfully took out the rope from behind and tied Yang Chao up strongly. Pulled to the back of the line, and tied into a long line with the dozens of men who had been captured before.

Don't dare to resist, begging to fail, Yang Chao began to regret, regretted not listening to the big brother's words, thinking of this, he couldn't help but look back, wondering how the very far-sighted big brother escaped this catastrophe. As a result, he saw that the big car was still there, but the person was no longer there, obviously Brother Wei saw that something was wrong and had already run away.

Yang Chao didn't complain that the other party didn't remind him, after all, after seeing the officers and soldiers, he had been in a daze, it was not easy for Brother Wei to take care of his wife and daughter, so how could he take care of himself?

I knew it earlier, so I entrusted Brother Wei to help take care of my mother and sister, Brother Wei is a kind person, and he should be a good support......

Before a thought was finished, not far away, the woman's heart-rending cry sounded, mixed with a familiar roar and cry of pain, and the most worrying thing was the childish cry!

It's Brother Wei! The officers and soldiers did not come from one side, but blocked the entrance and exit of the town!

The appearance of the officers and soldiers caused great panic, and the crying was like a signal, and the town was in chaos.

A lot of people are running, stumbling, not distinguishing between east and west.

Everyone cried out for help, but no one could be sure where the danger was coming from. The two groups of refugees often collided face to face, screaming in fright at each other.

When the horror calmed down, he packed up his own soft and followed the footsteps of others to flee in the opposite direction. On the way, they were wrapped in other groups of people, and they were divided again, clumps, clusters, gathered and scattered, like ants that have lost their leaders.

In the face of chaos, the officers and soldiers were in an orderly manner, and 100 officers and soldiers were divided into two routes, one east and one west, and the town was surrounded by water. They were not in a hurry to quell the chaos, but firmly guarded the intersection out of the town, beating people when they saw them, and arresting men when they saw them.

It didn't take long for the two fellow villagers to reunite, and hundreds of men were all arrested and tied up in a long line. The chaos gradually subsided, and the town, where hundreds of families lived, was soon swept away. The old and weak women and children were still running, still hiding, and some were knocked to the ground and could not get up, but no one paid attention to them.

Yang Chao saw that E-Niang was holding her daughter, leaning on the car, crying helplessly, her tears were frozen, leaving crystal marks on her face.

Among them, there were many like Wei Sheng, who tried to escape, and after being discovered, they resisted, these people were beaten to the point of bleeding, and the final fate was the same as Yang Chao, they were tied up like livestock.

Yang Chao's resistance was low, or those who did not resist, were loosened, and under the supervision of the soldiers, they broke in door to door, moved out all the grain and cloth inside, and piled them up on the original market.

"Do you know how to drive?" Yang Chao nodded mechanically, and following the direction of the Jizhou soldier, he saw Wei Sheng's big car, "You come to set up this car." ”

This is a helpless coincidence, Yang Chao saw E-Niang's pleading eyes, and his steps were stiff. Personal friendship brought him a terrible price, and he received a heavy whip on the back, the whip ripped through his thin clothes, and the pain went deep into the bone marrow.

I'm sorry...... With a silent chant in his heart, Yang Chao stepped forward.

"Master Jun! Master Jun, no! The woman let go of the child, threw herself in front of the soldier, hugged her boots and cried: "Please, military master, it's okay." ”

The cry was bitter and bitter, the husband was taken away, and there was always the possibility of returning, there was a hope, and the mule cart and a little cargo on the mule cart were the hope for the mother and daughter to survive.

Yang Chao felt the same way, and when he peeked back, he saw the soldier with an angry face and raised the spear in his hand...... He closed his eyes, he couldn't fight hard for a person he met in Pingshui, even if he did, it was useless, turning a blind eye was the only thing he could do.

Not hearing the expected pumping sound and screams, Yang Chao opened his eyes, and saw the soldier with an angry face, and touched the woman's shoulder with a smile: "Do you want me to leave the car to you?" ”

The woman's body trembled obviously, but in the end, she didn't make any resistance, but raised her head, and there was already a certain realization in her eyes: "I just ask the military master to be kind and leave the car to the people's women." ”

Before the soldier could reply, the officer on horseback suddenly walked over, frowned and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"This little lady wants to keep this car." The soldier smiled flatteringly, pinched the woman's chin with his hand, and motioned to the officer: "Look, it's not bad, right?" ”

"That's good." The officer looked at it twice and asked, "But who will handle this truckload of food?" Zhao Liang, are you coming? ”

"Uh...... I understand. The soldier was slightly stunned, then came to his senses, took out the rope, and tied up his mother. At this time, I saw the Qing soldiers behind dragging the rope and pulling over a group of women who cried to the sky, and the soldiers tied up the woman who had just been tied up to the team.

In the wars of this era, strong women are also among the conscripts. Although E-Niang's face is sick and her figure is too slim, who cares about this? Anyway, if they are taken away, no one will avenge them.

Of course, there are still people who are not reluctant, and Zhu'er, that is, E-Niang's daughter, is one of them.

The little girl cried and wanted to go with her mother, but was ruthlessly pushed away by the soldiers, on the grounds that she was too small to carry heavy loads or satisfy the beastly desires of the soldiers.

Again and again, the little girl struggled to get up from the ground, crying and trying to squeeze into the line that had been taken away, and every time she grabbed the corner of the clothes of an unknown person in the procession, she clutched it and refused to let go of anything. But her hands were broken again and again by the soldiers, and she was kicked to the side of the road.

In the end, Yang Chao saw that the impatient soldier kicked her up again, her small body flew very high, and she made a loud bang when she landed.

The crying stopped abruptly, and the little body lay on the ground, not moving.

Maybe there is still salvation, but her parents are tied up in the queue, and every family in the town is facing the dilemma of family destruction and property loss, who has the heart to take care of others?

The long queue began to move, with an earth-shattering cry, and what was left behind was an equally earth-shattering cry. But the cry did not affect the elated mood of the soldiers, who laughed and shouted, and waved their swords and guns as if they had won a great victory.

Until......

A rumbling thunder shattered the gloom of the sky!

That's not thunder, it's the sound of horses' hooves!