"Get out of the way, get out of the way! The bandits are coming! Get to your death! Don't stand in the way of the military lords!"
At the east gate of Wancheng, where the city wall was the tallest and where the largest number of refugees took refuge, a group of officers and soldiers armed with guns waded into the water and rushed up to the city wall. Seeing the refugees in ragged clothes carrying the old and supporting the young on the city wall, without saying a word, they picked up their guns and started beating them and driving them away.
"Dear fellow villagers, I also know that it is unfortunate that our city, Anhui, suffered from this natural disaster, and there is nothing we can do about being homeless! But after receiving the news, the bandits are coming soon, and they will be there in less than half a day. You If you hinder us here, the bandits will attack the city without blinking an eye. Can you please go somewhere else to hide for a while, and wait until our officers and soldiers defeat the bandits and it is safe for everyone to come and take refuge again, okay?"
An official with a big belly and a black gauze hat staggered up the stairs to the city wall behind the officers and soldiers. His words were polite, but judging from his demeanor, he didn't look at the people on the wall at all. From time to time, he had to look back at the soldiers behind him who were carrying large boxes. Seeing the laborious expressions on the soldiers, the box was very heavy. The soldiers who were opening the way in front did not stop with the gun barrels and scabbards in their hands because of the polite magistrate, and continued to beat them away.
When the crowd heard what the official said, they all fell into a panic. "Where can we hide in this city? It's just higher here at the east city gate. Where can we go?"
"That's right, the water in the east city is almost up to the waist, and you can't even see the moat outside the city. How about we take a look from the north city gate?"
"You can't go, you can't go, where can you go! Our family just came over there, and the water over there is already as high as the city wall!"
"Don't hit anyone. I'm holding a child. The old man is so old. How can you do it?"
A gray-haired old man stood up with the support of his son, daughter-in-law and others. He leaned on the crutches in his hands. The crowd gradually calmed down. Several soldiers who were swinging their guns stopped when they saw this. Stand next to the official. Obviously this old man is very prestigious in the Wancheng area.
The old man bowed and saluted: "Mr. Zhang, we also know that the county magistrate is thinking about us, but now the Yangtze River is flooded and with the heavy rain for days, there is really nowhere to escape in the city. We will never cause trouble to you, if The bandits are really here. Even though I am old, I can still throw a stone and knock down the city wall!" As he said this, he leaned on the crutch in his hand vigorously. He seemed a little impassioned. As soon as he finished speaking, he coughed violently, which made his children sigh again. The anger hit my back again.
Magistrate Zhang calmly turned around after the old man finished speaking, "Mr. Sun, your hands are shaking so much... let alone throwing rocks, you can be considered a good man if you can hold your 'dog beating stick' firmly." Okay...Okay, okay, this county won't talk nonsense to you anymore. Go wherever you fall in love with. Anyway, this city wall is not a place for ordinary people like you. Leave quickly. If you have the strength, why not go to the city? Wouldn't it be better if the floodwaters were dredged? Come here, escort the villagers down to take refuge!"
As soon as Magistrate Zhang finished speaking, the soldiers gathered around again with guns in hand, and drove away the refugees regardless of the old man who was still coughing. The refugees suddenly became noisy again. The refugees in the front row had begun to push and push the soldiers. Some people had already started to pick up the poles carrying the goods and confront the officers and soldiers.
"Master Zhang, it's not good! The bandits are here! They came from Beicheng! They are all good at water. They swam directly from outside the city and climbed up the city wall. They started robbing things on the wall of Beicheng, and they were still killing people! The old man over there What a tragedy! Go quickly, it will be over if they all rush in! Come on, everyone, stop arguing and go to Beicheng to kill the bandits!"
At this time, a young man with patched clothes ran up from the city and shouted breathlessly.
This young man looked panicked, his clothes were ragged, and he was wet all over. He might have swum from the water, but his face was clean. Although there was a light mole at the end of his left eye, he could not hide his heroic spirit.
Magistrate Zhang looked at the "battle situation" between the officers and soldiers and the refugees, and replied absently: "Well~ everyone has heard it, the bandits are really going to start from... Huh? What? There are bandits in Beicheng? How many are there? When will they come? "?" Mr. Zhang was startled, trotted over quickly, grabbed the young man and asked.
"I don't know how many people there are. I saw the bandits coming, and I ran away. I only saw forty or fifty, and there were many more behind me. It was so dark that there was a large group of people. Sir, please hurry up! If you don't go, The bandits have entered the city! I guess they have crossed the city wall now," the young man said anxiously, grabbing Magistrate Zhang's sleeve and trying to drag him down the city.
Magistrate Zhang has big arms and a round waist, how can this young man pull him? Holding the young man down with his backhand, "Yi Xiaodao, I tell you this is not a joke. The bandits really came from Beicheng? If you dare to talk nonsense, I will not let you go lightly!"
After hearing what the young man said, the restless crowd stopped arguing and looked over, wanting an accurate answer.
The young man named Yi Xiaodao was so anxious that he jumped up and down, "How dare I lie to you about such a thing? I usually only lie to buns and steamed buns. How dare I lie to you about such a big thing?"
Magistrate Zhang let go of Yi Xiaodao and walked around thinking. Suddenly, he grabbed Yi Xiaodao again, "You lied! You just said you saw the bandits swimming over and ran away, but later you said the bandits killed people. Isn't this contradictory? ! You fooled officials and spread rumors. You dare to lie about such a big matter. How brave you are!"
"Sir, look over there..." Before Yi Xiaodao could explain, an officer and soldier observing the situation on the city wall pointed to the north of the city and shouted loudly.
Magistrate Zhang looked along and saw that the city was still full of waves. The water waves hit the city wall from time to time, and dead branches, worn-out furniture and other items floated in the water from time to time. However, in the water to the north of the city, there was a deep reflection of blood red, which was slowly drifting away. Come on.
It's okay not to look at it. Seeing this scene, Magistrate Zhang's fish eyes widened, his mouth widened and he was so surprised that he couldn't speak. Seeing this scene, everyone on the city wall was dumbfounded and looked quietly at the slowly spreading red area.
Only one person was not looking over there. Yi Xiaodao lowered his head, looking scared, but glanced at Magistrate Zhang from the corner of his eyes, waiting for his reaction.
Magistrate Zhang stood stunned for a long time, and suddenly shouted in a high voice, "All soldiers, listen to the order! Escort me out of Wancheng! I want to go to Wucheng in person to ask for reinforcements!" After that, he was the first to rush to the city wall. Running was so fast that it was hard to believe that such a fat person could run so fast.
"Don't leave my box behind. It's my official memorial and official document. It can't be lost!" He shouted over his shoulder as he ran. He didn't forget the official document in the box. He was really dedicated. If it was really an official document...
The other soldiers were stunned for a moment and ran down the city wall one after another, following behind Magistrate Zhang. "Sir, it's not easy to start a battle in the water. How can we fight? Let's go up to the city wall to defend." A soldier advised.
At this time, the water in Dongcheng had reached his chest and abdomen. Magistrate Zhang was fat and simply gave up walking in the water. He floated up, his two small hands slid rapidly on both sides of his body, and shouted loudly, "You Are you stupid? The city gate is right in front of you, and you go up to the city wall to defend yourself. Then you go out immediately and head eastward without looking back!"
"The people on the city wall..." Another soldier also imitated Magistrate Zhang and started paddling, but without Magistrate Zhang's unique conditions, he was not as fast as him.
Magistrate Zhang ignored him, focused on paddling, and paddled out of the city gate in a blink of an eye. I don’t know if I didn’t hear it or if I had made up my mind and had other plans. When the other soldiers saw this, they immediately understood and stopped asking any more questions. They followed Magistrate Zhang and swam out of the city gate and swam towards the east.
From the confrontation between officers and soldiers to the moment Magistrate Zhang swam out of the city gate, everything happened so fast in just a quarter of an hour that no one else on the city wall had time to react.
Old Man Sun had stopped coughing a long time ago. At this time, he was the first to react, "Folks, hurry up, the county magistrate has abandoned the city and fled. How can we ordinary people be a match for those bandits..."
Yi Xiaodao grabbed Old Sun and said, "Old Sun, don't be too busy, don't be too busy, don't shout, the thief didn't come, I just wanted to scare the dog officer, everyone, don't be afraid."
Old Man Sun threw Yi Xiaodao away, "You kid, we were all very grateful to you for coming to report just now. Why are you talking crazy now? The water is stained red with blood and you still say it's fake!"
Yi Xiaodao grabbed Old Man Sun again, "How can I joke about the lives of so many villagers? I really didn't come. I saw the dog officer packing boxes in the Yamen early in the morning. They must be all gold and silver. I just saw them again. When he rushed this way, I guessed that he must drive away the villagers, so I scared him." After that, I walked up to an aunt and bowed my hands, "Aunt Li, I'm sorry, I'll take your dye vat. I took apart a jar of red paint and poured it into the water. Just to scare that dog official. When I, Yi Xiaodao, get rich, I will definitely compensate you!"
It was only then that everyone suddenly realized it and felt relieved. "Hey~ A jar of paint is nothing. I really scared my aunt to death just now. I can't swim. If the county magistrate really drives me away, I don't know where to go!"
"Well done to Yi Xiaodao. I didn't give you that steamed bun for free last month. Next time you come to my house, the steamed bun will take care of you!"
"Are you ashamed to mention Wotou? Xiaodao, I just caught two big fish in the water, and here they are! Let's grill them and eat them when it gets dark!"
"Take me one! Take me one! I still have two bottles of wine here!"
After everyone relaxed, they began to invite Yi Xiaodao enthusiastically, and they donated generously, promising to give him a share of their only remaining food.
Yi Xiaodao laughed. He had grown up eating the food of his neighbors for more than ten years. On weekdays, he stole a melon from his employer's house and a date from his west's house. Although the neighbors scolded him, no one really drove him away. He Yi Xiaodao died, and he was looking at being unable to repay them. Fortunately, the water quality is very good when we visit lakes and rivers on weekdays. During the floods in the past few days, he had been in the city to salvage the belongings of the villagers and the bodies of the victims. He happened to bump into the county magistrate packing his luggage, and that was how the scene happened.
"No, that dog officer is back again!" Before everyone could rejoice, another shout came from the crowd. Everyone was lying on the city wall and looking outside the city. In the distance, a group of officers and soldiers were approaching Wancheng.
Yi Xiaodao's eyesight was very good. He lay on the city wall and looked, and his heart suddenly sank. This group of officers and soldiers were moving in an orderly manner, with guns in their hands and knives on their waists. There were dozens of people on horseback. The leader was wearing armor and dressed as a general. , a long gun was held in his hand. The gun was sharp and bright, with a cold light shining faintly. Riding a tall horse, the water just reached the horse's belly.
When Yi Xiaodao looked at him, he happened to meet his eyes. The general smiled at Yi Xiaodao. Yi Xiaodao vaguely felt that this smile was a bit chilling...
"Xiao Dao, you have good eyesight, did you see anything? Is that dog officer back again? If he comes back and chases us, I will fight with them!" A big brother who looked like a farmer waved the pole in his hand and asked Xiang Yi knife.
"Yes, fight them! Even if we go to the emperor, we can still have something to say!" Some other strong men followed suit.
Yi Xiaodao didn't answer, and stared at the general closely. As they got closer and closer, the uneasiness in his heart became stronger and stronger.
On the officer's side, the general turned around and asked, "Can you hear clearly?"
A cavalry reined in his horse and followed closely, and said, "We have found out clearly that Wancheng was hit by the disaster and a large number of refugees fled. There are refugees in Wucheng, Changcheng, Feicheng, Wucheng and other places. The refugees in the city have already been Not many, the other three city gates have sent people there, most of them are on the East City side."
The general nodded, turned around and continued to stare at Wancheng as it advanced.
After a while, the officers and soldiers entered the city from the east gate. The leading general dismounted and led the officers and soldiers up the city wall. The refugees did not know where they were and slowly retreated to make way for the officers and soldiers. Soon, the soldiers were all on the city wall, and the number increased to four to five hundred, making the crowded city wall even more crowded.
Seeing this posture, Old Man Sun felt a little unsure. He stepped forward with a cane and was about to salute and ask. The military general stabbed Old Man Sun in the heart with a gun and stabbed him down on the spot!
Everyone was shocked, but the general who stabbed Old Man Sun had no expression on his face, and said one word "Kill!" from between his teeth indifferently.
