At the beginning, Emperor Yang of Sui was kidnapped

Chapter 38 The Old Man of Yangcheng
at dusk.

After Xu Mu inspected the defense measures of the city wall in the morning, he has been thinking about how to deal with the internal affairs of Yangcheng.

Due to several times of war, there are only about [-] households living in Yangcheng.

Among the more than 60 households, according to Xu Mu's statistics, all of them are elderly people over [-] years old.

Most of their children left home because of Yang Guang's corvee and military service, and have not returned for more than ten years.

In this day and age, it can basically be equated with death.

For this group of lonely old people, Xu Mu is thinking about where they can be used.

When Dugu Sheng was in charge of Yangcheng's military affairs, the role of these old people was to wash and cook, and to do logistics for the Xiaoguo army.

But it's the kind that doesn't get paid.

Although they were not too harsh on them, they were also used as free labor.

"It is definitely not possible to build a nursing home now. Wanmin City has not yet reached this stage of development, but what needs them to do?"

Xu Mu walked on the streets of Yangcheng, looked at the withered shops on both sides of the main street, and shook his head.

Then he walked to the place where the common people lived. A group of common people, in their sixties and seventies, tremblingly knelt down and saluted when they saw him coming.

Everyone's face was thin and pale, and when they saw the solemn Tiefutu behind Xu Mu, they were so frightened that they lay on the ground trembling.

In the troubled times, they encountered too many wars and saw all kinds of chaotic armies.

Even the authentic Xiaoguo Army of the Sui Dynasty did not treat them very well.

On weekdays, they would come here to eat and drink at every turn, and even this time the food for the Xiaoguo army defending the city was old food stored privately by various households.

"That's right! The first phase of the residential area of ​​Wanmin City will be completed in one month, and there will be more than ten residential buildings by then. They can be used as dormitory management!"

Looking at these old people who were standing tremblingly, Xu Mu suddenly thought of a way for them to make a living.

In ancient times, the old and the weak, women and children were usually abandoned, especially in troubled times, their lives were like nothing, even worse than a cow or sheep.

While Xu Mu was thinking, in the dark crowd of old people who had knelt down, an old man on crutches couldn't help looking up at Xu Mu.

There have been too many changes in Yangcheng in the past few days.

First, Pei Qiantong's Xiaoguo army moved in, and then Pei Qiantong fled the city in the dark, while Dugu Sheng defended the city. When the city was broken, the people like them were even prepared to die.

Living in troubled times is a tragedy.

What's more, what they are facing is the Wagang Army, which has always been notorious.

That was a group of bandits who made their fortunes!

But who would have thought that the black armor army in front of him suddenly appeared and killed the Wagang army at the top of the city.

Even more innocent to them!
That's right, at Xu Mu's request, the Tiefutu army is forbidden to say a word to these civilians, and those who violate the order will do so according to the military law!
He didn't set up all kinds of messy rules, and this one alone was a great kindness to these people.

In the troubled times, all their children were dead, they had no one to rely on, and as they got older, on the one hand, they did not want to leave their homeland, on the other hand, they were unable to leave.

Traveling outside and dying in a foreign country are also unacceptable to them.

So they are all the kind... whoever occupies Yangcheng will serve them carefully and obey their orders.

"Old man, dare to ask your surname?"

Xu Mu also saw this old man who was trying to look up and take a peek at him, his face was full of apprehension and panic.

"Old... old... the little man's name is Cui Ping, he is a security chief in Yangcheng, and he was bestowed by the previous emperor when he was in power..." He was leaning on a cane, trembling under Xu Mu's gesture. Standing up, lowering his head, he said humbly.

When Xu Mu heard this, his eyes lit up.

When Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty came to the throne, he set up three levels of clan, Lu, and Bao in the countryside, and Cui Ping, the Baochang, seemed to be the one among these old people who could count his words.

Xu Mu nodded, asked the soldiers to move a stool for Cui Ping to sit down, and asked seriously: "Let me ask you, how many people are there in Yangcheng now?"

Cui Ping was forcibly pressed on the stool, he was quite flattered, he only dared to sit on half of his buttocks, and replied anxiously: "Now there are more than two hundred households in Yangcheng, with a total of 310 and seven people. These General Dugu once counted them when they were here. "

Xu Mu nodded, and asked Tiefutu to set up a large iron pot, temporarily built a briquette stove, and started cooking porridge in the open air in the village.

And those grains are all from the inventory of Wanmin City, the wheat that has just been harvested this autumn.

"Go and call everyone out, bring your own bowls and chopsticks, just say you have porridge to drink today, open your belly, and keep full." Looking at these scantily clad, disheveled old people, Xu Mu felt mixed feelings .

Cui Ping stared at the cauldron and the busy figures of the black armor soldiers, and was stunned.

This group of soldiers seems to be a little different from the past.

I didn't talk to them about the truth, and I didn't even say a word to them.

On the contrary, it was this young man who seemed to be the leader. After a brief investigation, he asked someone to set up a pot and cook porridge.

"My lord... my lord... this is..." Cui Ping lowered his head, imitating Tie Futu's address, and stammered.

"What's the matter?" Xu Mu turned around and looked at the security chief.

"No, it's nothing." Cui Ping was also very complicated at this time. His wife died early, and his three sons were all drafted for military service a few years ago, and went on an expedition to Goguryeo.

Then no message is sent back.

Most of them died on the road.

For these years, he has been living alone, but in Xu Mu, he seems to feel something unspeakable.

Xu Mu obviously didn't say much, didn't issue any orders, but he just felt it.

The person in front of him is completely different from the previous Pei Qiantong and Dugu Sheng.

There is no such thing as arrogance and domineering, let alone treating them as cumbersome and free labor.

Seems like a... called respect.

With complicated emotions, Cui Ping leaned on a cane and went from house to house, calling out all the old people in the whole Yangcheng, seven from 310.

And let them bring their own bowls and chopsticks.

Then there was an unimaginable scene in Yangcheng. A group of 70-[-]-year-olds were sitting on the ground, drinking porridge with their heads down, while a group of mighty and majestic black-armored soldiers were standing in front of the cauldron, cooking porridge continuously.

"Little old man... has a big belly, can Master Jun..."

"I...I want to drink more..."

……

The free porridge food made these old people choose to refill their cups.

It's just that facing the serious and dumb Tie Futu, the fear and apprehension on their faces never disappeared.

When choosing porridge, everyone lowered their heads, cautiously, for fear of being rejected.

When the men of Tiefutu saw these poor people, they also felt pity in their hearts and tried to show kind expressions.

But the military order was like a mountain, and Xu Mu hadn't let go of the password ban, so they couldn't say a word to this group of old people.

Xu Mu issued this order because he sensed that the people in Yangcheng were terrified of soldiers.

"Have some more baked potatoes ready."

Xu Mu sighed softly, and said to Wang Zhao beside him.

Kong Xingyue did not enter the city with the army this time, but was still training the army in Wanmin City.

So Wang Zhao has always been responsible for guarding his safety.

Wang Zhaozheng nodded, and then brought a few soldiers, set up a stove again, and baked potatoes with briquettes.

Amidst all kinds of swallowing and murmuring, two hours passed.

These old people have a bad stomach, but they also show an amazing appetite.

In troubled times, one more day to live is one day.

Xu Mu let go of the porridge for free, and they ate with their bellies open.

I want to store some more in my stomach.

There are even many people who have run out of food at home and have been eating weeds.

After eating, Xu Mu asked Tie Futu to put away the stove and deal with the scene, but he heard the sobbing of the old people holding the bowls.

Getting food and clothing in the troubled times actually made them burst into tears.

"What's the matter?" Xu Mu asked Cui Ping, frowning.

"My lord, I don't know. Our group of people are all ready to die. Who would have thought that they could eat such a full meal today? They are feeling sorry for the lord's kindness..." Cui Ping wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes , said with great emotion.

"Besides, the Xiaoguo army in the city has long run out of food, and they were all taken away by Pei Qiantong. Dugu Sheng is defending the city this time and ordered every household to bring out all the food, so they..."

As Cui Ping spoke, the corners of his eyes became moist again: "They are also crying because they are about to die..."

"But no matter what, the lord is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness, and has a heart for the people. I am a cripple, and I am willing to do the work of the lord, but the lord has orders and will do everything."

As he said that, Cui Ping prostrated himself on the ground, and the tears in the corners of his eyes could no longer be contained, rushing down.

Not only him, but the rest of the three hundred or so old people followed him, bowed to Xu Mu together and said: "I wish to do the work of a dog and a horse, but my lord has an order, and I will do everything."

Crouching and kneeling in darkness.

Xu Mu's heart was touched again.

It's just porridge for hundreds of people.

But for them, it is the grace of life.

"Don't worry, I will definitely end this damn troubled world as soon as possible."

Xu Mu stepped forward, helped Cui Ping up, sighed softly, and made all the people stand up.

"I just want to recruit some old people to work. It's not far away. I wonder if you would like to go?"

Cui Ping heard this, without any hesitation, nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Willing to go, willing to go."

A smile gradually appeared on Xu Mu's face, looking at these old people whose eyes had not yet dried their tears, he added: "There is a wage."

As for the old people like Cui Ping, after hearing Xu Mu's supplement, they were taken aback for a moment, and the tears in their eyes couldn't help but flow down again.

In Cui Ping's mind, Xu Mu asked them to help with work, just like Dugu Sheng, asking them to help the Heijia army guarding the city with laundry and cooking.

And it's free.

As for wages, they have never expected it.

"The lord is benevolent and righteous, and the lord of the prince will live forever, and his happiness and longevity will be boundless."

The old people headed by Cui Ping, after recovering their senses, bowed their heads to Xu Mu again.

(End of this chapter)