Two officers and soldiers lifted the latch on the city gate.
The cold wind rushing in through the crack in the door, mixed with sour gas, rushed into the carriage.
Meng Changqing had already changed into official uniform. She folded her overly long sleeves inside, jumped out of the carriage and shouted back: "Lai Cai, bring my horse."
The people blocking the door wanted to take advantage of the opening to rush in, but the officers and soldiers were already prepared and came out in formation with spears in hand.
No one has the guts to hit a sharp weapon and come here to ask for it, not just for a bite of food, not just to survive.
"Master Guan, let my father go in this time, he..."
Before the man could finish his words, he was drowned out by more requests.
"Please let me go in..."
"Have mercy on me, my toes are all frozen..."
"Back off!"
The officers and soldiers guarding the city did not select and release people as before, but forced everyone to retreat with spears and knives.
"Everyone retreat! Otherwise, shoot to death!"
Meng Changqing got on his horse and rode it to the front of the team.
At this time, the officers and soldiers guarding the gate had separated the refugees in the middle and cleared a path.
Her horse passed through the doorway, walked out of the city wall, and stopped in the middle of the open space separated by the defenders.
"My name is Meng Changqing, and I have been appointed by the imperial court to be your county magistrate. From now on, if you work for me, I will take care of your food and drink. Anyone who is found guilty of cheating or committing a crime will have his or her hands chopped off in the lightest form, or chopped off in the worst case. Then behead your head, do you understand?"
The cavalry and guards behind her came out with swords in hand, and the refugees immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Meng Changqing continued to give orders, "Everyone lined up against the wall."
The refugees looked at her blankly.
"Stand against the wall one by one." Meng Changqing said loudly: "Don't make me say the same thing several times. Those who disobey will have nothing to eat."
When the refugees heard that there was food, they decisively stood close to the city wall one by one. Those who couldn't stand climbed over and sat down.
As the last car in the convoy walked out of the city gate, the gatekeepers retreated behind the gate.
The city gate slowly closed.
Several cars covered with tarpaulins were parked not far from the refugees. Some people speculated that they contained food. The refugees who heard such speculation were a little ready to act.
But in front of them were soldiers on horseback, staring at them with murderous swords in their hands.
Who dares to touch a weapon with their neck?
Everyone who came out with Meng Changqing, except the Royal Forest Army, knew their mission.
Thirty people, represented by Yang Zheng, were divided into three groups. The cavalry group guarded the refugees and maintained order. The rest were divided into two groups. One group set up tents and the other group prepared dinner for the refugees.
As for the Royal Forest Army, Meng Changqing did not dare to work.
Meng Changqing's family members helped in the middle, and they went wherever they needed help.
Only Xi Bei and Bafang followed Meng Changqing step by step.
"Master, do you think there are too few people at this time? The master complained to my wife that day, saying that you were being too polite and only needed thirty people."
"You deserve a beating!" Xi Bei aimed at Bafang's butt and kicked him.
Bafang jumped forward and took the pressure off Xi Bei's foot, "Hey, I didn't kick it."
“It’s convenient to have more people,” Meng Changqing said, “but we can’t afford it now.
Those who do not follow me voluntarily will inevitably complain if I cannot give them better treatment.
When the time comes, they will follow my orders and disobey them, which will mess up my plan. "
Xi Bei nodded, "You are still thoughtful."
Seeing that the refugees were no longer looking around, Meng Changqing ordered Bafang, "Go to the carriage and get the baggage I prepared."
Soon Bafang ran over with the package in hand, "Master, what's in this?"
There was no need to answer him. The next moment Meng Changqing opened the package, he knew it.
There were pens, inks, paper, inkstones, and official seals. In addition, there were engraved knives and a lot of identity tags.
"Where did these come from? Did we take this with us when we left the capital?" Bafang asked.
"My mother prepared it on the day we went to the military camp." Meng Changqing roughly clicked on the ID tags. It should be enough for the people on the wall.
"Is dinner ready?" Meng Changqing asked again.
Laicai, who was helping to prepare dinner, replied: "We just finished pounding the rice, we still have to wait a while."
"Don't remove the rice husk too cleanly." Meng Changqing was worried and had to go over to see it in person and told them to add more water and not to cook the porridge too dry.
She only had thirty shi of food, so she had to save some.
When the porridge started to cook, Meng Changqing moved a table, sat down in front of the refugees, and took out the things in the package and put them on them.
"Come to me one by one, starting from the door."
There was a tall and thin man standing next to the door. Hearing Meng Changqing's words, he stooped and walked up to Meng Changqing.
He was still two meters away from Meng Changqing when he was stopped by Yang Zheng, "Kneel down and say what the county master said."
The man immediately knelt down.
Meng Changqing asked: "What is your name? How old are you? Do you have any family members here?"
"Reporting to the county master, the villain's name is Ma Laifu. He is twenty-three years old this year. He originally had an old lady." He lowered his head and touched the clothes on his body. "A month ago... he froze to death."
While he was speaking, Meng Changqing's record had been prepared.
Seeing that he spoke in an organized manner, Meng Changqing called Lai Fu, guessing that he was probably a servant of a wealthy family, "Why did you come to Beishan County?"
"Returning to the county uncle, the villain was originally a servant of the Ma family in the Central Plains. The Ma family was convicted of collaborating with the enemy five years ago, and the villain was sent here."
Five years ago, the Ma family in the Central Plains was convicted of collaborating with the enemy. Meng Changqing had an impression of this case.
This was a rare case in which a businessman was convicted of collaborating with the enemy.
At that time, the Taifu mentioned the case in the East Palace and asked the Prince what he thought.
"Take your identity tag." After Meng Changqing checked it, he handed it to Xi Bei.
Xi Bei then handed it over to Ma Laifu.
Xi Bei: "Take the sign and use it to eat from now on. Go to the big pot and eat your dinner."
Ma Laifu held the sign and kowtowed in thanks.
When he walked to the big pot and handed over the sign in his hand, the fierce-looking officer and soldier actually gave him a bowl of hot porridge.
"Don't go far, just eat here and wash the dishes after you finish."
Malay Fu nodded his head.
The refugees standing against the wall craned their necks to watch. Seeing that they could get something to eat if they knelt over there, some people immediately tried to jump in line.
"Don't move!" The cavalryman who maintained order came forward with a knife. "Whoever moves, I will chop off the head."
People who wanted to jump in line were really frightened.
The cavalryman continued, "Everyone who comes in order will be able to eat. If it is crowded and noisy, and bumps into the county magistrate, none of you will survive."
Meng Changqing looked at the cavalryman who was talking and thought he was a good person.
"Captain Yang, what's the name of that eldest brother?"
"He is my corps commander, his name is Zuo Datou."
"Very good." Meng Changqing picked up the pen and said, "Call the next person over."
The refugees shrank under the guard of the cavalry, and came to Meng Changqing one by one to register.
Some don’t know how old they are, and some say they don’t have a name.
The main purpose of Meng Changqing's ID badges is to count the number of people and facilitate management. Names and ages are not important. What is important is the number behind the badge.
