Li Yan and Li Daozong actually just returned to the Protectorate of Xizhou yesterday. For almost half a month and nearly twenty days, they have been running around every corner of Xizhou, visiting various orphans, elderly people, children, and poor herdsmen in Xizhou. , more than a dozen families of herdsmen who sacrificed their lives for the Tang Dynasty, etc.
During the entire construction last year, about a dozen herdsmen died in Xizhou. Two of them were caused by the transport team encountering wolves. In order to save His Highness's goods, they fought the wolves alive. The goods were They were saved, but the two people were seriously injured and were not treated after they came back.
Although His Highness has emphasized more than once that protecting people is the most important thing, when these herdsmen face His Highness's things, they will protect these things with their lives.
Just from the actions of these herdsmen, Li Daozong and the others knew that Xizhou had become an integral part of the Tang Dynasty.
For these dozen families of herdsmen, Xizhou gave them the title of "martyrs" according to His Highness. They are all people who have made great contributions to the construction of Xizhou.
During these nearly twenty days, Li Daozong felt more deeply. He understood why His Highness went to offer condolences. It can be said that after these twenty days of condolences, not only the reputation of His Highness, but also the reputation of the people in their Xizhou Protectorate were lost. The herdsmen's minds have risen to a big level.
It's just that Li Daozong was okay and was used to hardship. When he led his troops to fight, the conditions were very harsh, and it was Li Yan who suffered.
Li Yan now seems to be two different people than she was more than 20 days ago. Her hands were frostbitten due to frostbite, and the biting cold wind made her little hands no longer tender. They were covered with dry cracks, and her face was covered with cracks. It was also extremely rough due to the cold. The skin on my face often peeled off in patches, and the skin between the eyebrows was extremely dry and cracked due to lack of water.
They need to rush every day, but when they are on the road, the water bladders on their bodies cannot keep warm for too long. The water inside always freezes and cracks. Even if it is stuffed in their arms, it is still cold water when they drink it. Therefore, due to lack of replenishing moisture during this period, her skin became a lot dry and cracked.
If this continues for another year, it is estimated that Li Yan will not be much different from the women on the plateau, and the plateau red on her face may not be able to be removed.
Li Daozong saw it, but he couldn't say anything. Fortunately, he finally came back this time. The problem is that the New Year is coming soon. Li Daozong doesn't know if His Highness has any other arrangements for the New Year. Even if His Highness doesn't, he's afraid. What plans does his daughter have?
"Yan'er, you..." Mrs. Li sighed. He knew when Li Yan left that when he came back, Li Daozong would make some decisions to Mrs. Li, so Mrs. Li naturally knew about it and watched her raise him. Mrs. Li was also very distressed for her eldest daughter.
"Auntie, it's okay. My skin is easy to take care of. It'll be back in a month." Li Yan said with a smile.
Mrs. Li stroked the frostbite on her hands. The sores on them would not heal at all for a while. The originally white and tender little hands were covered with frostbite on the outside, and the inside became rough as well. Because of the daily rush, her hands were covered with frostbite. Both hands must hold the reins. Although leather gloves are provided, the gloves should not be too thick. If they are too thick, it will be dangerous to hold the reins firmly.
There were layers of calluses on the palms of her hands. Li Yan had never suffered like this in her entire life.
Mrs. Li burst into tears of distress and said, "I'm going to help you get some milk. Just take a milk bath. The skin on your body will be ruined after a long time."
"Mom." Li Yan's expression became serious, "We can't waste milk. Milk is used by herdsmen to eat and drink and to survive. They are willing to provide it to us. They use their own rations to get it. How can I use it? bath."
"But we didn't get them for nothing. We bought them with money, and they can also use the money to buy food." Mrs. Li couldn't help but said, wasn't it the same when they were close to the Turks? ? how? Can they still spend money?
"Aniang, it's different. On the grassland, this winter, unless spring comes, most of the time, if you have money, you won't be able to buy these things to survive, unless you exchange for grain, but grain is originally transported and stored in Xizhou The quantity is not large. Although we have money, we cannot waste it. When next winter, the supply of materials for next winter will be sufficient, then our life will be easier."
"At that time, Aniang, you could buy whatever you wanted. But this year, there are not many supplies in Xizhou. Many of the things we can buy are provided by the herdsmen. Otherwise, we will not be able to buy them. And the herdsmen We are willing to give in because of His Highness's reputation, and we cannot damage His Highness's reputation here." Li Yan said softly.
"Hey... I know, grandma, I will listen to you." Mrs. Li sighed, she didn't care, the problem was Li Yan's body...
In fact, it is not that serious, but Li Yan knows that this gap cannot be opened. His Highness has worked hard and spent more than half a year to achieve such success. He always has to help His Highness maintain this result. He cannot leave. They people should hold us back.
By next year, Xizhou's supplies will be greatly enriched. At that time, it doesn't matter what A Niang wants to buy, because at that time, in the words of His Highness, they who are rich are willing to consume, which can be regarded as driving Xizhou's economy. But this year no.
"Auntie, I'm fine. It's just that I drank less water during this period and the wind was strong. Now there's nothing to do before the Chinese New Year. If I rest for a while, I'll be fine." Li Yan said softly.
"Well... then you go to bed early. I'll ask someone to ask the doctor tomorrow." Mrs. Li sighed.
"Okay." Li Yan smiled and did not refuse.
After Mrs. Li left, Li Yan stuffed the little toe of her right foot under a chair leg and pressed it, using the pain to relieve the itching.
She also has frostbite on the little toe of her right foot. Although it is not that serious, it is very red and swollen. If the weather is cold, it will not matter. But now that the room is warm, the toe is extremely itchy. Instead, she presses it with the leg of a chair. It hurts a little, but it hurts. But it's more comfortable than itching.
After pressing the little toe on her foot, Li Yan resumed working at her desk. She had been out for nearly twenty days, and Xizhou had accumulated a lot of work that she needed to deal with. Although she was not in a hurry, after all, it was winter, and many jobs could not be done at all. , but it is better to deal with these things as soon as possible, otherwise it will be bad if new work comes later and piles up, and it will be delayed.
