I started as an exile, and I relied on space to support my family of loyal heroes.

"Am I dazzled? Look, is that General Xiao?"

"I think so, but didn't the emperor confiscate General Xiao's property and exile him to Ningguta?"

"Look, General Xiao is leading so many cavalrymen. Maybe Xiliang is going to go to war again, and the emperor has recalled General Xiao..."

"Haven't you heard that there's going to be a war in Brahma City recently?"

"With so many cavalrymen, maybe they are going to attack Xiliang to prevent Xiliang from taking advantage of our drought to launch a surprise attack..."

"It's really possible. Go and inform the prefect..."

"..."

Several city gate guards on duty on the gate tower of Pingliang City stretched their heads to look at the rolling dust raised by the huge cavalry team, their eyes full of shock.

They had just heard not long ago that the Xiao family had been confiscated and exiled, and no one believed it at the time.

After all, Xiao Yunzhan had just repelled Xiliang at that time. How could he be accused of treason and then suddenly have his property confiscated and exiled when he returned to Beijing after making great achievements?

Looking at Xiao Yunzhan standing tall and handsome on horseback, they thought that this must be false news released by Emperor Wu of Liang to confuse Xiliang.

Take advantage of Xiliang's relaxed vigilance and capture Xiliang directly.

"Open the city gate!"

Xiao Yunzhan stood at the city gate on his tall horse, looking up at a group of dumbfounded city guards on the gate tower.

The city gate guards were slightly stunned and nodded repeatedly, "Yes!"

After a moment, the city gate guards opened the gate with a confused look on their faces and watched Xiao Yunzhan leading a large number of people into the city.

It was not until they saw the cavalrymen dressed like refugees on horseback that they were startled and realized something was wrong.

The horses were indeed good horses, but it was very strange that the cavalrymen on horseback were not wearing heavy armor.

It's understandable if one or two soldiers didn't wear them, but it's very strange that not a single soldier wore heavy armor.

If you ride such a good horse to war without wearing heavy armor, you will be knocked down by the enemy with just one arrow.

Then the city gate guards saw a line of carts as far as the eye could see, filled with the elderly, the weak, women and children. It was obvious that these people were refugees.

I've never heard of taking so many refugees with you to a war.

The guards at the city gate were suddenly panicked because the person who went to inform the prefect had not returned yet, and they did not dare to speak out to stop him.

They could only watch helplessly as the huge group of people poured into Pingliang City.

The people on both sides of the streets in Pingliang City were lying in the shadows, with pale faces, thin bodies and dazed expressions. Suddenly, they saw a large number of troops and horses. They were all frightened and quickly moved to the sides of the streets for fear of being trampled by the horses.

The people looked at the fat and strong horses with shining eyes and they almost pounced on them to take a bite.

The drought is so severe that they are almost starving to death, but the horses are well kept. After all, human life is worthless.

The people stared at the strong horses with resentment in their eyes.

As for the refugee-like soldiers on the horses, the people didn't think much about it. They must be cavalrymen in disguise. How could the refugees ride horses so well?

When the people saw the refugees sitting leisurely on the carts, they could not lie still on the ground and stood up one after another, looking at the refugees on the carts with envy.

"General Xiao saved so many refugees?"

“But why take refugees with you to fight?”

"Who cares? We are refugees too. Can we follow General Xiao?"

"Yeah, they are dressed like refugees, but they look much more energetic than us..."

"..."

The common people propped up their weak bodies and staggered along the streets, following the large army.

Lin Yiran looked at the increasing number of people on both sides of the street, and turned her head to glance at Zhu Changshou who was a head slower than her.

Zhu Changshou nodded, immediately pulled the reins, turned the horse's head, waved to a few strong young men from Zhujia Village, and they jumped off the horses together, leading the horses to stop the people who were following on the street.

"My Lord, I didn't do anything!"

"Yes, yes, yes, we - the common people just admire General Xiao..."

"Sir, please save the common people..."

"........"

When the people on both sides of the street saw Zhu Changshou and his men blocking their way, they were so scared that they hurried to explain.

Some people who were extremely hungry begged with hoarse voices.

"Don't be afraid, everyone. I am Zhu Changshou, the centurion that General Long values ​​the most. I am here to recruit soldiers on the orders of General Long. Anyone who is willing to serve can come and sign up with me..."

Zhu Changshou straightened his back and spoke in a sonorous and powerful voice, attracting the attention of the people around him.

Soon, Zhu Changshou was surrounded by the people.

........

"Xiao--General Xiao!?"

Prefect He, who came hurriedly, looked up at Xiao Yunzhan on horseback with a look of shock on his face.

When his subordinates told him that General Xiao was leading a large group of troops into the city, he thought they had made a mistake.

Unexpectedly, it was actually Xiao Yunzhan who came back.

Xiao Yunzhan jumped off the horse and clasped his fist towards Prefect He.

"Governor He, how are you?"

Looking at Prefect He's sunken face due to hunger, Xiao Yunzhan knew that the disaster in Pingliang City was extremely serious.

The governor of a city was starving to death, let alone the common people.

Prefect He looked at Xiao Yunzhan excitedly, tears glistening in his eyes and his lips trembling.

"Long time no see, General Xiao is going to fight..."

Prefect He looked towards the huge group of cavalrymen and looked at Xiao Yunzhan in confusion.

The drought was so severe, but Emperor Wu of Liang still wanted to send troops to fight. Was he crazy?

Xiao Yunzhan smiled faintly.

"I wonder if Magistrate He has heard of the rumor of the oracle from heaven."

He Zhifu was slightly startled, glanced around, and nodded.

"But what about the sentence 'Eat his mother, drink his mother, the God King has come to Luofan City, and you can get food if you rely on the God King.'?"

A few days ago, there were many refugees from other cities rushing in. He let them into the city and heard them all muttering this sentence.

He didn't take it too seriously at the time, thinking that the people were just going crazy with hunger and were making up a hope to coax themselves.

Xiao Yunzhan nodded, "That's right, it's God's will, I'm just following God's will."

"The drought in Daliang is so severe, and the court is not doing anything, which has caused the people to be displaced. Lord He, do you think we should rebel against Emperor Wu of Liang?"

He Zhifu's pupils trembled, and he looked around in fear.

"General Xiao, there are still some things to say..."

"Master He, you are worrying too much. Look at the refugees all over the city. Who would expect the court to save them?"

Xiao Yunzhan glanced at both sides of the street.

Prefect He followed Xiao Yunzhan's gaze.

The streets were filled with people who were starving to death. The scorching sun burned the earth like fire. The people were starving to death, but the most important thing was that they had no water to drink.

Now the only place with water in Pingliang City is the well in the yamen yard.

That was the deepest well he had dug, with well diggers from all over the city risking their lives. But it could not provide drinking water for the people for long.

In the past two days, the well water was so scarce that it could not be pumped. Every day, people had to queue for half a day and could only get enough water to wet their lips.