Bianshanhan [farming]

The wind and snow that they encountered when they came here was still fresh in their memories. When Li Qingwen and the others walked south, some people couldn't help but feel cramps in their calves.

But no matter how scared you are, you have to move forward. The whole family is there. If there is nothing wrong, they will take it as a waste of time. If there is something wrong, it will be a matter of life and death.

They planted saplings as they walked, and took a look at the ones planted last year. Most of them survived. Such a small sapling is so tenacious, which is really not to be underestimated.

When passing by the post station, some postmen are idle and have nothing to do, so they talk to them.

On the road from Border Town to Yuanbei City, few people pass by. These postmen usually don't see outsiders for several months or half a year, and they talk non-stop when they see Li Qingwen.

Mentioning the big snowstorm at the beginning of the year, they also turned pale.

Li Qingwen asked them about things in Bingzhou or other places, but these people shook their heads without knowing.

It's too far away here, most of the fodder and food in the post station are harvested from their own land, and only a small amount of things will be specially delivered and distributed. The people who replenished things this year haven't come yet, and they don't know.

All the saplings were planted, and the remaining seeds were buried in the soil. They walked southward for more than 500 miles. From a distance, they saw a long group of people ahead.

Li Qingwen's heart skipped a beat, and he urged him to go immediately.

When they got closer, they found that the officials were escorting the convicts. They were both disappointed and relieved.

He didn't know whether he should look forward to seeing his family, although he missed it in his heart, but if the people of Yangshu Village appeared here, they must have suffered a catastrophe and must have suffered a lot.

The officials were also very surprised that they encountered so many people on the way. At first they were a little scared, fearing that these were robbers.

Jiang Cong, who came over, got off his horse, first told his identity, then handed over water and dried meat, greeted the officials, asked them where they came from, whether they passed Liushan County on the way, and how it was there.

The official scolded "bad luck", "Bingzhou is in chaos, there are refugees fleeing everywhere, and there are many people who are hungry and dizzy on the side of the road. We went to the two yamen and didn't get any dry food. If it weren't for the more food in the car , I’m afraid everyone will starve to death!”

These people passed through Liushan County, but the yamen was empty, and no one was found to stamp, and there was no delay, so they had to continue northward.When they were in Bingzhou, they encountered several groups of road robbers.It may be that the knives and ragged criminals on their bodies made those people feel that there was nothing to grab. After a confrontation for a while, they left on their own.

Hearing from the officials, Li Qingwen and the others were all terrified. After inquiring, everyone immediately quickened their pace.

It should be the season when all things grow, but there is hardly a touch of green on the loess of Bingzhou, and the soil blown up by the hot wind hits the face, making people cry in pain.

A few wild crows landed on the old tree, shouting loudly, adding a bit of sadness.

Most of the people in Liushan County have fled, and the people in Yangshu Village have packed their bags.

In the whole yard, the only thing that can be taken away is a shelf cart and two loads.

The house is empty.

Mrs. Chen took a rag and wiped the corners of the house carefully. Seeing the imprint carved on the edge of the kang, she couldn't help but think of all the troubles her sons had when they were young. She smiled and murmured: "Mom, this time, I'm also going to see the place that reminds you..."

Before he finished speaking, Dou Da's teardrops fell down.

Houses, water tanks, cabinets, pots and stoves...everything that is cherished so much should be left in this home that I built with my own hands.

Li Maoxian and Li Qingrui put the firewood stacks on top of each other. Li Zhengliang asked, "Grandpa, Dad, when we go out this time, when can we go home?"

Jiang Shi heard this, sniffed, and hugged her little daughter tightly in her arms.

Li Qingrui wiped his son's snot with his hand, "That depends on when you want to come back, I'm afraid that you will be just like your little fourth uncle when you arrive at the border town, reluctant to leave."

"It's really nice." Li Zhengliang's little face that was still a little bit disappointed just now became a little more hopeful, "Then let's leave early."

After finishing speaking, he ran to the shelf car with a "stomping and staring".

Li Zhengming sat on the other side with his brother, and his uncle told him that the horse hair in the border town is so thick that people can't see anything when they go in. He wanted to sleep on the horse with his brother.

When the time came, the crying in the village suddenly became louder. Men pushed carts and carried burdens, and women walked out of the house with children in their arms and burdens on their backs.

The tablet from the ancestral hall was taken down and placed in a box, and the two young men carried the box up while wiping away their tears.

After kneeling in the direction of the ancestral grave, the villagers helped the old and the young, and left the village, turning around step by step, wishing to moisten the land under their feet with tears.

In order for themselves and their descendants to survive, they have to cut off the roots with their own hands and find another place to tie down.

Li Maoxian was at the front, walking, walking, and more and more people behind him, not only people from the village, but also people from neighboring villages. They went further north, and joined the fleeing people from other counties.

Too many people don't know how to flee inwards to find a way out. They ask around as they walk, and follow them in which direction they think there is a live head.

Various reasons are mixed together, and their team going north is getting longer and longer.

The more people there are, the more people will not dare to do it easily, but they have to be more vigilant when they sleep at night, who knows what the people who are walking together are thinking.

Passing through several villages and county towns, most of them are desolate. Occasionally, you will see a few corpses on both sides of the road, some starved to death, and some with horrible wounds. of.

The wind that blows away the rain came from the north, so most of the refugees fled to the south. There was a lot of rain in the south, so there must be no drought. Few people would go north. Li Maoxian and his team were particularly conspicuous.

If you meet people fleeing famine on the way, someone will persuade them to turn around, but if you go further north, there will be no one. Where can no one get food? !

Li Maoxian will explain a few words to those who are sincerely thinking about them, and he will not say too much when he encounters people who are inquiring with all kinds of thoughts.

He stopped and walked, but when he was about to reach Yuanbei City, he heard a bad news. The imperial court sealed off the North Pass and did not allow the refugees to go north.

Hearing this from many people, it doesn’t look like a lie. Many of them are stupid. They left their hometowns and dragged their families with them. There is only one thought in their hearts. One order will cut off their way of life. ? !

Some people scolded, some were at a loss, some cried loudly, originally planned to go to the border town to reunite, but now they are separated by thousands of miles, this, this is what to do!

Li Maoxian asked people to rest at the same place first, and he and a few people from his clan rushed to Yuanbei City to find out the truth.

Martial law in Yuanbei City, when they arrived, they didn't even enter the city gate, let alone ask questions.

Hundreds of officers and soldiers in light armor had solemn faces, and guarded the city gate as strong as an iron bucket. The refugees couldn't get close, and those who forcibly entered would die!

The few men who followed Li Maoxian squatted on the ground with despair on their faces, this, this is over.

Someone saw this, and said to go back and tell the villagers, and then discuss where to go. Li Maoxian touched the letter in his arms, but he didn't take it out. He thought there should be other ways...

Just when they were at a loss, a group of people came towards the city gate. Li Maoxian saw the leader, stepped forward quickly, and said, "Master Chen!"

Chen Wen turned his head and saw Li Maoxian, with a look of surprise on his face, he got off his horse, "You, who are you?"

On the way back from the capital, Chen Wen had already seen the tragedy of the drought. Hearing what Li Maoxian had said, he showed indignation and intolerance, "You guys wait here, I'll go to the city to ask someone, no matter if it works or not, I will I have a letter for you."

Li Maoxian solemnly thanks.

Chen Wen and his men entered the city with tokens, and immediately went to the city defense army in Yuanbei City, and told about Li Maoxian and others, saying that they were going to join relatives in the border town, and they were different from other refugees.

The people in the city defense army kept shaking their heads, and they had to obey the order given by the higher-ups, and there was no room for change.

Li Maoxian asked others to wait here for news from Chen Wen, and he and Li Qingrui walked along the high wall of the city gate.

If Chen Wen can talk, then he is lucky, if not, he has to find another way.

Yuanbei City is an important fortress against the powerful enemies in the north. The city walls are tall and long, as if they can't go to the end.

At intervals, there were people patrolling the walls.

Li Maoxian walked fast without stopping. He didn't believe that there were people guarding every part of such a long city wall. As long as they found an opening, they would carry people over one by one and go to the border city! !

The farther they walked, the fewer people were on the city wall. Some places were badly damaged, but they were not repaired. Li Maoxian and his father memorized these locations, and then turned back.

When they arrived at the city gate again, it was almost dark, and Chen Wen came out, cursing loudly that those city defense forces were unreasonable dogs.

No matter what the scolding is, he also understands that the order is issued from above, and they are just following orders.

The imperial court banned refugees from going north. Chen Wen can probably guess the intention of this. In the past, the north was powerful, and the oppressive south could not breathe.

Strength lies in people and food. A large number of refugees go north to multiply in this vast land, or join Puju and other tribes, which are hidden dangers for Daliang.

They must kill this hidden danger early.

The hope that the people of Yangshu Village had kindled just now was extinguished again.

When they were scolding fiercely, Li Maoxian and his son came back and met with them. When they told them what they found, the big guy was happy but also a little nervous. There are so many of them, and they climbed over this city wall, what if they were discovered?

Taking risks is a bit risky, Li Maoxian decided to give it a try.

Chen Wen clapped his hands and said: "Then you take people there, and we will go to the wall to meet them after we leave the city. If some soldiers find out, they will be knocked out. I don't believe it. Let's go north, and they can keep chasing us!"

After the decision was made, Li Maoxian led people to meet with the villagers immediately, while Chen Wen led people into the city, had a full meal first, and then left the city, avoiding the officers and soldiers, and leaned towards the west.