The sky has been gloomy. In the afternoon, it finally started to snow. The sun was covered by thick clouds, and the sky and earth became dark. The wind that had been blowing stopped and it seemed not so cold anymore.
Looking at the sky, Wang Xiaolie said: "The clouds are so thick. It looks like it's snowing heavily today. I'm afraid we won't be able to walk tomorrow."
Zhai Xing and Wang Ruohai left the official hall together, looked at the sky, and frowned.
At this moment, an officer ran over quickly. He crossed his hands in front of Wang Xiaolie and said, "Zhenfu, it's raining on the south side of the mountain. The road is too slippery and many soldiers were injured. The army is carrying them over, but there are no free houses in the city."
Wang Xiaolie said to Wang Ruohai: "Go and make arrangements. Pick out empty houses in the city that no one lives in, clean up a few of them, and give them special treatment."
Wang Ruohai promised and hurried out. Wang Ruohai is now in charge of all these chores in the army.
Wang Xiaolie said to Zhai Xing: "Let's go to the city and have a look. In Luanchuan County, there are only one or two hundred households in the city, which cannot accommodate a large army. Most of my troops are camped outside the city. When the snow melts, it will be unbearably cold."
The soldiers on one side brought bamboo hats and raincoats to put on Wang Xiaolie and Zhai Xing.
Wang Xiaolie pushed away and said, "It's just snowing, why are you wearing a raincoat? The soldiers outside are soaking in the snow, and I'm going out wearing a raincoat. How can I look like this!"
With that said, he and Zhai Xing left the county government office and walked along the main road in the city.
The county is very small, with only one east-west avenue. To the south of the city and to the north are lush forests, with mountains not far away. Wang Xiaolie's army cut open spaces in the woods, set up tents, and were busy everywhere.
Zhai Xing said: "For this small town, there are too many troops to suppress it. How can it accommodate them?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "I led 5,000 people ahead, and there are 10,000 people behind me! There are only more than 2,000 people entering the city. The vanguard has arrived at Baodu Village, and the rearguard is still in the south of Shannan. The mountain roads in this area are rugged, and there are even columns. I can’t find it anywhere in the formation.”
Zhai Xing said: "Zhen Fu came to such a mountainous area, so he was not used to everything. Mountains are different from plains. When the two armies are fighting, one or two thousand people are too many, and no more can form an array. With nearly ten thousand troops, there are only a few people in the mountains. I’m afraid it won’t last for dozens of miles.”
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "When I rescued Shaanzhou at the beginning of the year, I once walked through the mountains. It was just that I was marching at that time and there was no fighting. I didn't know that it was like this in the mountains. Lushi County is beside the Luo River, in the Luo River Valley. Although it’s flatter than here, there aren’t large stretches of flat land.”
The two of them were chatting while walking along the avenue towards the east of the city. Most of the residents nearby were collecting firewood for a fire. Some people stood under the eaves, looking at the sky and stamping their feet.
Zhai Xing said: "Wushu made a trip from the north. In the past few months, many people have fled south. Even in my Fengniushan stronghold, there are many people from the north. In the years of war and chaos, it was really difficult for the people."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Yes, in the past few months, there have been many more people in the Dengzhou area of Xiangyang. But more people have arrived in Tangzhou and Ruzhou."
When one refugee is received, five or six people may die on the way. This time of war, all ten houses in the Central Plains were empty, and it was truly a catastrophe. In the history books of later generations, these are all frivolous. The three simple words "people eat each other" actually represent countless tragedies.
When I walked outside the city gate, I saw a large group of people surrounding it. There were several horses tied nearby. One of them had a broken leg and was lying on the ground. With tears in its eyes, the horse looked at the people next to it helplessly.
Wang Xiaolie walked up quickly. Parting through the crowd, I saw three people sitting in the middle. Two had broken legs, and the other had his arm hanging down, as if it was dislocated. A middle-aged man was squatting on the ground, touching the broken leg of an injured person with his hand.
Zhai Xing followed him, took a look, and was shocked: "Isn't this Dr. Wang from Yingyang?"
Wang Xiaolie asked strangely: "It turns out that the governor knows this person. What's his background?"
Zhai Xing said: "This man's name is Wang Zhongmin, from Yingyang in the north. He has been practicing medicine for generations and is well-known in the countryside. During the reign of Jingkang, he once wrote to the court. His words were very reasonable. The court was full of calls, but he was determined not to serve. Last year, Privy Council Zhang heard that His name was awarded to him as Di Gonglang, but he declined. I didn't expect to escape here, I don't know the reason."
Wang Xiaolie nodded and stood quietly with Zhai Xing, watching Wang Zhongmin treat the wounded there.
After a while, Wang Zhongmin completed the inspection and ordered the boy who followed him to cut two branches from the side, fix the legs of the wounded man, and gave a few instructions before checking another wounded man. By the time the three people were treated, it was already half an hour away.
Wang Xiaolie's body was already covered with snowflakes. He shook his head and stepped forward and said, "I, Wang Xiaolie, have met Doctor Wang."
Wang Zhongmin hurriedly saluted: "I have seen Zhen Fu. Today I saw someone injured by a fall. Because I know a little bit about medical skills, I treated them. If there is any offense, please forgive me for the sin of ignorance."
Wang Xiaolie said: "The doctor is too polite. If Zhai Zhenfu hadn't come with me, I wouldn't have known that the doctor was here. It's getting late, so please come to the county office and sit down. Prepare some food and wine, and thank the doctor for helping the soldiers." "
Zhai Xing stepped forward, chatted for a few words, and invited Wang Zhongmin into the county government office together.
Everyone sat down, Wang Xiaolie said: "I see that those three soldiers all injured their legs and arms. I wonder if they are serious?"
Wang Zhongmin said: "Fortunately, the bones are dislocated and not broken. I gave them medicine and fixed them with branches. They should slowly recover in a few days. They must not do heavy work while they are recovering from their injuries."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I will just tell them to rest in peace and recuperate. Thank you doctor."
After speaking, he ordered the soldiers around him to convey Wang Zhongmin's words. It snowed suddenly and the roads in the mountains were slippery. Many people were bound to be injured in the next few days. There are military doctors in Wang Xiaolie's army, so pay attention to the treatment.
Talking about why Wang Zhongmin came to Luanchuan, Wang Zhongmin said: "My place was originally under Ding Jin's rule, and life was fine. In the first two months, Meng Bangxiong of Yong'an surrendered to Liu Yu and sent troops to Yingyang, but Ding Jin was temporarily defeated. If we retreat, life will be difficult. I heard that the people were happy under the rule of King Xiangyang, so I went here along the Yi River with my fellow villagers, hoping to go south to Dengzhou."
Wang Xiaoxing said: "Yingyang and Ruzhou are only separated by a mountain. Why doesn't the doctor go to Ruzhou?"
Wang Zhongmin shook his head: "There are soldiers patrolling everywhere in Ruzhou now, and it's winter again. It's not easy to climb over the mountain. We came all the way along the Yihe River, under the rule of Taiwei Zhai, and the road was peaceful."
Zhai Xing understood in his heart that Wang Zhongmin passed through Yiyang instead of defecting to him, obviously because he felt that he was not safe there. In winter, due to lack of food, Zhai Xing dispersed more than 3,000 of his subordinates to the Yihe River Valley to get food, leaving the village with only 1,000 people. In the eyes of the people, it is obvious that his power is not strong enough. Compared with surrounding forces, it cannot give them a sense of security.
