I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 584: Great Official Power
Lao Niu is actually not that old, just over 30 years old. If you really compare him, he is two years younger than the village chief Fang.

However, the wandering life left him with too many traces of suffering.

As a result, he looked old and frail, like a man in his sixties, even though he was in his prime.

He used to be a wealthy man with 60 to 70 acres of thin land in his hometown in Hebei. He had healthy parents, a sensible wife, and three children, a son and two daughters. The family lived an ordinary and stable life.

However, the situation was turbulent and the Yellow Turban Rebellion swept through the entire Han Dynasty like a storm, completely turning his life upside down.

Caught up in the chaos of war, he joined the Yellow Turbans and fought against government soldiers; he was also a deserter, escaping overnight with his wife and children, leaving his hometown.

Finally, like countless refugees in the war, he came to the capital Luoyang, the capital city at the feet of the emperor.

In Luoyang, Lao Niu witnessed the desolation behind the prosperity.

Although the capital is large, it is difficult to accommodate a displaced person.

The land here has long been monopolized by the wealthy and powerful families, and there is not an inch of space left for them.

However, although they had no land, those wealthy families would take in refugees, and as long as they signed a contract to sell themselves, they would be able to find a way to make a living.

However, selling oneself is an unattainable dream for Lao Niu who lost a hand in battle.

No one would be willing to take in a disabled beggar, no matter how hardworking and tenacious he was.

Lao Niu, with his wife and children, wandered the streets of Luoyang, looking for even the most humble job opportunities day after day, but he was repeatedly rejected.

They can only live in cramped shanty towns with their families, competing with many refugees for limited resources, and their lives are difficult.

In the end, in order to survive and have something to eat, he first sold his eldest daughter, who was about to grow up, to a wealthy businessman in Beijing as a concubine, in exchange for some food to solve his temporary problems.

At that moment, Lao Niu's heart was broken and tears flowed silently. He hugged his young children tightly and swore in his heart that no matter what, he would never let the two children suffer the pain of separation again.

However, it is counterproductive.

How can an old man who has no place to live and has almost lost his ability to work keep his little food supply in the chaotic life of refugees?

On a dark and windy night, Lao Niu encountered betrayal.

His neighbor who also lived in the same shack betrayed him. He found a few thugs from somewhere and sneaked into their hard-built shack in the dead of night, trying to take away his family's support - the food he had bought with his daughter's sale.

The old cow was awakened from his sleep by the noise. He tried his best to keep the food, but how could he resist these villains with only one arm?

Not only did he fail to stop those people, but he was pushed to the ground in the chaos, and his head hit the hard ground. For a moment, he saw stars and the pain was unbearable.

When he struggled to get up, he saw that the villains had already walked away with the food, scolding him for being ungrateful as they went. They left behind his wife and children who were crying in fear and crying for food.

After their food was stolen, life for Lao Niu's family became even worse.

He did not wait for the turnaround in the situation to improve. In order to prevent his children and himself from starving to death, he could only take his most precious son to the market outside Luoyang again and hand him over to the wealthy families as a slave, in exchange for some food, hoping to survive these difficult days.

Lao Niu handed his son over to those indifferent servants of the aristocratic family. Watching them take his son away, he felt as if his heart was hollowed out.

He knew that this farewell might be forever, but he had no choice. He couldn't let his whole family starve to death.

However, this damn world seems like it will never get better.

Although he carefully hid the food he exchanged for his son this time, he still had no source of livelihood and was once again faced with the desperate situation of running out of food.

Therefore, Lao Niu was always prepared for danger and did not dare to live off the fat of the land. He begged every day, got up early and went to bed late. He not only learned how to steal, but also learned some cunning survival skills.

For example, picking up vegetable leaves left behind by others in the market, or sneaking into the backyards of wealthy families in the dead of night, hoping to find some abandoned food.

However, these actions are often accompanied by huge risks. If you are not careful, you may be beaten or even arrested by the government.

However, life did not become gentle because of the old cow's strength.

This summer, when the temperature was high, a severe fever broke out in the shacks where they lived outside the city.

Some people said that it was because the masters in the capital city fought each other and killed each other so fiercely that even the emperor had to flee. This angered the gods, so they sent down a great plague to punish the world.

Some people also said that this was a sign that the Blue Heaven had died and the Yellow Heaven should be established, and that the Han Dynasty was about to end. They, the people who were struggling to survive in the capital, were just sacrifices used by God to pay tribute to the flag. The epidemic was a sign that the turmoil of a change of dynasties was about to come.

Lao Niu listened to these rumors, he didn't understand much, he didn't care about the heavens, nor did he care about the change of dynasties. He just hoped that his family could survive this disaster safely.

However, the raging epidemic left him helpless. People died of the epidemic in the slum area every day. Their bodies were hastily wrapped in rags and thrown into the distant wilderness. Even Lao Niu's wife and daughter fell ill one after another.

However, perhaps it was God’s mercy, but his daughter recovered soon. However, his wife’s illness was not cured and she was struggling to stay alive.

Today, he heard that the imperial army had won a great victory and wanted to come here to ask for some food, but he did not expect to meet the head of the village, Fang, who coveted his daughter. Frankly speaking, for Lao Niu, who had already sold his two children, he had actually let it go and was not opposed to selling the girl.

At the very least, in this hopeless life with no end in sight, if a child could go to a wealthy family, even though he would be a slave, at least he would be able to have food to eat and would not die of hunger or cold.

However, the village chief Fang in front of him was definitely not capable of that.

Lao Niu knew clearly that Captain Fang had a bad reputation. He was mean and ungrateful to his soldiers and often whipped his subordinates.

He is a sex-hungry ghost who robs women and gets bored with them easily. He also always abuses them.

Right behind this granary, he knew that the emaciated bodies of two poor farm girls were buried.

And his little daughter was only ten years old, how could he hand her over to this man? !

Therefore, facing the questioning of Village Chief Fang with ulterior motives, Lao Niu retreated again and again and hurriedly refused:
"Captain Fang, I appreciate your kindness, but my daughter is too young to bear it."

"We don't want the food anymore. We don't want it anymore."

However, Lao Niu did not expect that his refusal would further arouse the evil intentions of Village Chief Fang.

Originally, he had only heard his subordinates mention it in casual conversation and didn't take it seriously. But now, seeing how protective and cherishing the old cow was, his possessiveness suddenly became stronger.

My goodness, this old guy, could it be that he really has a beautiful girl hidden?

Suddenly, Captain Fang licked his cracked lips, and a light of desire flashed in his eyes.

He grabbed the old cow's shoulder as it turned to run away, and with a simple tug, the old cow fell to the ground:
"Why are you running? I like your daughter, it's her blessing!"

Village Chief Fang glared at Lao Niu fiercely, his tone full of threats.

Seeing this, several Xiliang soldiers around him also gathered around him, all of them smiling and looking like they were enjoying a good show, and it was obvious that they were not surprised by this.

The other refugees were so frightened that they ran away in panic, fearing that they would get into trouble.

The old cow was filled with grief. He struggled to get up, but was stepped on on the back by the village chief Fang. He could not move and could only plead with a trembling voice:
"Captain, please show some mercy and let our family go."

"My little girl is young and ignorant, she..."

"Young and ignorant? That's great. I like to teach ignorant little girls a lesson."

Captain Fang interrupted Lao Niu and turned to the soldiers around him with a lewd smile and said:
"Go, bring that little girl to me."

When the soldiers received the order, they immediately understood it and rushed out to work.

the reason is simple.

Their village chief has always been fickle. If this girl is really pretty, it would be fine. But if she is just an ordinary girl, the village chief will get tired of her after two days.

Then the rest will be the turn of those who have made contributions to enjoy the benefits.

Although Lao Niu didn't know these tricks, he felt cold and desperate when he looked at the backs of those soldiers.

He struggled desperately and stretched out his hands to beg these Xiliang soldiers not to do this.

But the plea of ​​a pariah is naturally insignificant.

Desperate.

Watching those tall Xiliang soldiers disappear outside the dark door, Lao Niu burst into tears, while the captain stepped on him and nodded proudly, not forgetting to take a sip of wine, waiting for his younger brothers to bring the girl to the door.

Unexpectedly, before he finished his drink, he heard a "DUANG! DUANG!" sound outside the door. Several soldiers who had just gone out flew in somersaulted, fell heavily to the ground, and did not move.

"What the hell?!"

Village Chief Fang was so shocked by this scene that he almost spit out his wine. He screamed and coughed violently.

At the gate, an uninvited guest in black was seen striding towards me.

He clapped his hands, dusted off his body, and had a look of disgust on his face:

"Master, you have great authority."

"It is so vulgar, so vulgar, to bully men and women under the emperor's feet!"

(End of this chapter)