"My lord, why don't you light a fire so that the little ones can warm up while passing by?"
While Chu Mu was wandering around, an old corvee stepped forward cautiously and prayed.
"OK."
Chu Mu glanced at the old man in front of him, and then pointed to the tree where he usually sat.
"I also have some firewood piled up there. You can take it and light it."
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir."
The old corvee nodded and bowed hurriedly, as if Chu Mu had done a great good deed.
Chu Mu waved his hand and said no more.
He did not mind granting these corvées some convenience within the limits permitted.
Of course, it is only within the allowed range, and he will not do more.
As for using his skin to show off his authority over these poor people and gain a sense of presence, he really couldn't do it.
"I don't know if I can survive this winter."
Chu Mu looked at the busy laborers. If he remembered correctly, the laborers he was responsible for were all recruited at the end of summer. According to the custom of half-year labor, as long as he survives this winter, he can feel at ease. Go home.
If nothing else happens, they will no longer have to do corvee labor in the next two years and can live their own lives comfortably.
"I hope..."
Chu Mu took a long breath, looked around the mine that was covered in snow, and then silently returned to sit in front of the fire.
The old corvee who had just arrived seemed to have added some firewood to the fire. The bonfire was blazing, the heat wave was steaming, and all the chill was gone.
Chu Mu moved his body, found a comfortable position to sit on, took out the book in his arms, and read page by page.
The whole morning also passed by.
At meal time, several corvees gathered around the fire and wolfed down the hard-frozen cornstarch.
Compared with the food of the corvee, which has not changed for thousands of years, the food of the inspection is naturally much richer.
Five dishes and one soup, unlimited food, only costs three coppers, which is almost like giving it away for free.
"Brother Mu, why do you eat so much?"
Chu Mu ate the food with big mouthfuls, and Xu Yuan couldn't help but muttered.
"well enough."
Chu Mu glanced at the food in front of him. After practicing martial arts for a long time, his appetite seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.
But eating more means growing faster.
In more than a month, he seemed to have grown stronger, and the thin appearance of the original owner was almost a thing of the past.
"By the way, I'm going to my house for dinner tonight. I have something to do with you."
Chu Mu took a mouthful of food, suddenly raised his head and said.
"Okay, but what's the matter?"
"Sparring partner!"
Chu Mu swallowed his food and said, "Practice martial arts with me!"
Xu Yuan quickly explained: "I have never practiced martial arts..."
"fine."
Chu Mu waved his hand: "Who doesn't know how to hit someone with a stick?"
"All right."
Xu Yuan responded, still looking around dishonestly after eating.
Chu Mu was a little helpless: "You just eat when you eat, why are you looking around?"
Xu Yuan hurriedly pointed outside the dining hall: "No, Brother Mu, look, someone is dead again!"
"Dead?"
Chu Mu was startled, and as Xu Yuan pointed, he saw several corpses wrapped in straw mats piled together, which was very dazzling.
"I guess there was another accident somewhere."
Chu Mu glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze and continued to eat.
It's not unusual for people to die in accidents every now and then in this mine.
"I gonna go see."
Xu Yuan couldn't restrain his curiosity, dropped a word and trotted away.
After a while, Xu Yuan ran back panting again and approached Chu Mu mysteriously: "Brother Mu, he froze to death. There is frost on the body!"
Chu Mu's heart tightened, and he subconsciously looked outside the door again, only to see that there was another layer of straw mat covering the piled corpses.
"impossible?"
Chu Mu frowned, obviously a little surprised.
How long has it been since the heavy snow came? It only took a day or two, but so soon a corvée froze to death?
Xu Yuan quickly explained: "I'm definitely not wrong, it's really frosty..."
"I gonna go see……"
Chu Mu stood up, and as soon as he put down the bowls and chopsticks, rapid shouts sounded outside the dining hall.
"Everyone from the third and fourth teams, come out!"
"Come out and gather!"
"What happened?"
"Why don't you let people eat?"
"I just made a meal, and I haven't even eaten a bite!"
With this shout, the entire dining hall suddenly became chaotic.
Chu Mu was slightly startled, but without stopping, he greeted Xu Yuan and then walked quickly outside the dining hall.
"The two adults from hundreds of families are here!"
As soon as he arrived outside the dining hall, Xu Yuan immediately leaned next to Chu Mu and spoke.
Chu Mu glanced at the two figures from hundreds of households shouting outside the dining hall, with a look of confusion on his face.
The inspection station has a total establishment of two hundred households, and naturally there are only two adults from one hundred households.
As far as he knew, the two adults from one hundred households also had different responsibilities. One was in charge of the mine, and the other was in charge of the town's enforcement.
It's rare to see one of them on weekdays, but two of them appeared together today?
If the team is long, the inspection team will inevitably ask a lot of questions, but in such a scene where two adults from a hundred households gather together, it is obvious that not many people dare to make jokes.
One by one, they gathered in front of the dining hall, and then headed down the mountain under the leadership of a hundred households.
When we arrived at the foot of the mountain, there were dozens of patrol inspectors waiting. When they saw the team approaching, a team leader led by him stepped forward to talk to Baihu, and then led dozens of patrol inspectors to join the team.
With such a change, the team, which was already talking a lot, became even more noisy. Everyone was asking around, obviously at a loss.
"Brother Mu, I feel something is wrong. I am heading out of town!"
"What on earth are you going to do!"
"have no idea."
Chu Mu shook his head, then seemed to think of something, and turned to look at Xu Yuan: "Don't run around, remember to follow me!"
"Brother Mu, don't worry."
Xu Yuan was obviously a little nervous. He changed his usual lively appearance and followed Chu Mu closely.
When the team left Nanshan Town, the noisy team suddenly became quiet. Chu Mu looked away and saw a very conspicuous figure in a Chinese armored cloak surrounded by several riders at the intersection ahead.
This figure was obviously the reason why the team was instantly quiet.
For ordinary inspections, Baihu is already at the top, and Lord Qianhu, who is the county captain of Qinghe County, is naturally the unquestionable leader of all inspections!
The figure in front of him is obviously the county captain of Qinghe County, Qianhu Li Jinghong from the inspection station.
"Tell the brothers the news so that they can have some confidence in their hearts."
"lets go!"
He Pinggang, who was leading the team, trotted up to Li Jinghong. Li Jinghong waved his hand carelessly, relaxed the reins, and rode past He Ping.
"I humbly obey my orders!"
He Ping clenched his fists in response, then turned to look at the inspectors, and with an order, the team set off again.
But at this time, following Qianhu's order, the noise resounded again in the team, and the reason for such movement was also introduced to the ears of every inspection officer.
…
