The sky had been gloomy all the time. In the afternoon, it finally started to snow. The sun was covered by thick clouds, and the sky and the earth became dark. The wind that had been blowing stopped, and it seemed that it was not so cold anymore.

Looking at the sky, Wang Xiaolian 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: "Zhen Fu, there is rain on the south side of the mountain. The road is too slippery and many soldiers were injured. The army is carrying them over, but in the city

There are no vacant houses.”

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 specialize in medical 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. How can I be so decent when I go out wearing a raincoat?"

With that said, he and Zhai Xing left the county government office and walked along the main road in the city.

The county town is very small, with only one east-west avenue. There are lush woods to the south and north of the city, 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 will only 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 is flatter than here, there is not a large area of ​​flat land.”

The two chatted while walking east of the city along the avenue. Most of the residents nearby were collecting firewood to light the 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 Fenniu Village, 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."

For every person who fled, five or six people might have died on the way. This time of war, the Central Plains had ten houses and nine empty houses, which was truly a catastrophe. In the history books of later generations, these are all light and simple.

The three 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. Several horses were tied nearby. One of them had a broken leg and was lying on the ground. There were tears in the horse's eyes and it looked at the people beside it helplessly.

Wang Xiaolie walked up quickly. Separating the crowd, he saw three people sitting in the middle. Two people had broken legs, and the other had his arm hanging down, as if he had been dislocated. A middle-aged man was squatting on the ground, touching with his hands.

The broken leg of a wounded man.

Zhai Xing followed him, took a look, and was shocked: "Isn't this Dr. Wang from Yingyang?"

Wang Xiaolie asked strangely: "So 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 Jingkang period, 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

I was awarded the title of Di Gonglang by the emperor, but refused to accept it. 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 treating the wounded there.

After a while, Wang Zhongmin finished the inspection and ordered the boy who followed him to cut two branches from the side, fix the legs of the wounded person, and gave some instructions before checking another wounded person. By the time the three people were treated, it was already half an hour old.

.

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 from a fall. Because I know a little bit about medicine, I treated them. If there is any offense, please forgive me for my ignorance."

Wang Xiaoxing said: "The doctor is very 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 to 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 saying that, 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 were military doctors in Wang Xiaolie's army, so they should pay attention to their treatment.

Talking about why Wang Zhongmin came to Luanchuan, Wang Zhongmin said: "I was under the rule of Ding Jin, 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 are happy under the rule of the King of Xiangyang, so I went here along the Yi River with my fellow villagers, thinking of going 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: "Now there are soldiers patrolling everywhere in Ruzhou. It's winter again, so it's not easy to climb over the mountains. We came all the way along the Yihe River, under the rule of Taiwei Zhai, so the road is 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 for food, and the village could only provide food.
Chapter completed!