The sudden drop in weather finally caused the first snowfall in the inner city.
Even though he was wrapped in a thick winter robe and sat in the carriage warming himself by the stove, Xu Mu still felt chilly.
Not to mention the people who fled all the way from the border.
"Brother Mu, many people died."
The refugees staggered on foot, wearing only ragged linen robes. They were so thin from hunger and so cold that their faces were blue. They accidentally fell down and could not get up again.
Then, other refugees came in groups, took off the tattered cloth from the corpse, and wrapped it around themselves.
The captain who was on patrol slowly walked by with the battalion soldiers. He did not show any mercy. Instead, he laughed playfully and asked people to carry the body into the dug pit and set it on fire.
The smell of fishy meat soon filled the entire official road.
There was an old refugee who was fainting from hunger. He howled and walked towards the fire pit. He kept sniffing, as if he was possessed by an evil spirit, and even reached out to touch the pit.
Bang.
An officer raised his head and laughed, then kicked the refugee into the pit of fire. The screams suddenly rang out.
"Guys, he fell, he fell on his own."
He walked back, laughing and clapping hands with his colleagues. Not a single face among the twenty or thirty people showed any sign of pity.
Beside the official road, Xu Mu's face turned cold.
"White bones are exposed in the wild, and there is no rooster crow for thousands of miles."
"Brother Mu, what does this mean?"
Xu Mu did not explain, but his expression became serious and he asked Si Hu to continue driving. This time, Yuan Tao asked him to enter Changyang, and he did not want to delay.
It's not to please, but deep down in my heart, I have a feeling of admiration for the loyal and righteous people.
"Boss, that team of officers and soldiers is here." Wei Feng, who was accompanying him, frowned.
"Si Hu, if they dare to block the car, just whip them down with a riding crop."
Normally, Xu Mu didn't want to cause trouble, but the group of officers and soldiers in front of him really made him angry.
In the blink of an eye, the captain on horseback came with a few people, shouting and raising his sword. But before he could reach out, Si Hu angrily raised his whip and whipped him hard.
Due to the freezing cold weather and Si Hu's strength, a bloody scar that penetrated three-thirds of the flesh immediately appeared on the captain's face.
The officers and soldiers behind him were so frightened that they wanted to chop with their swords in horror.
Xu Mu took out the official viscount badge from his sleeve and handed it out coldly.
In an instant, several officers and soldiers paused on the spot, hurriedly returned their swords, and did not dare to move again for a long time.
Si Hu excitedly raised his whip again and whipped each of them. Amidst the screams of pain, he calmly urged the horse and continued towards Changyang.
"Wei Feng, send two of you to buy some old clothes and food to give to the poor."
There were seven or eight people accompanying him. After hearing Xu Mu's instructions, two horsemen and horses immediately rushed towards the nearest Weicheng with their horses under their belly.
Xu Mu responded silently. Even though he was warming up on the stove, he still felt that the chill in his heart enveloped his whole body.
About one day, Xu Mu and others entered Changyang. They did not stay much and went straight to the Hou Mansion by Xiaowang Lake.
"Little boss." Outside the door of the house, Gu Ying glanced down from the eaves, his voice was deep.
"Could it be that Mr. Hou is seriously ill?"
"After taking some medicinal decoction in the past few days, Mr. Hou's condition was better, but when he encountered the cold snow again, his condition suddenly worsened."
Xu Muxin's hair was thick, and he followed Gu Ying, leading Wei Feng and Si Hu into the depths of the Hou Mansion.
The young marquis Yuan Tao seemed to have calculated the time and was waiting in front of the hall early. Beside him, there was another old man with a face as sharp as a knife. Even though he was wearing a Confucian robe, he still couldn't hide the murderous look all over his body.
The spirit of cutting.
Two or three maids began to file in, bringing plates of delicacies to the banquet table in the main hall.
The scalded wine has a faint aroma that hits your nose. Just one sniff, Xu Mu knew it was his own drunken fairy.
"My dear boss, it's been snowing all the way, please come in." Yuan Tao's face was pale, and even though he was wrapped in a big cloak, he seemed to be cold and chilly.
The old man with a cold face rarely raised his head seriously and glanced at Xu Mu a few more times. Then he put his hands behind his back and walked into the main hall coldly.
Yuan Tao coughed twice and wrapped himself in the cloak.
"My dear boss, do you know who this old general is? Speaking of which, you have some connections with him."
Xu Mu pondered for a while and shook his head. In his impression, he did not remember that this person existed. The veteran he was most familiar with was General Lian Yong.
"Li Rucheng, the Marquis of Daji Dingbei...ahem, is Li Xiaowan's grandfather."
Listening, Xu Mu was slightly startled. No wonder, a while ago, Chang Silang, the grandson, said something weird and asked him to date Li Xiaowan, hoping that it was the Marquis of Dingbei who returned to Changyang.
"Knowing that I am seriously ill, I came here to visit you." Yuan Tao closed his eyes, his expression a little complicated, "Besides, he also wants to come and see you."
Xu Mu couldn't figure out the meaning and wanted to ask again——
At this time, Wei Feng, who was behind him, suddenly walked forward and without saying a word, knelt down in front of Yuan Tao.
"Hou, Lord Hou, Wei Feng, the captain of Qinglong Camp, pays homage to Lord Hou!" Wei Feng knocked his head heavily on the snow, making a thumping sound.
"I remember you. When you left Qinglong Camp, you followed Feng Qiu as a personal guard." Yuan Tao covered his mouth and coughed twice more.
"Get up on your own. I'm sick now and am a little weak."
Wei Feng hurriedly raised his head, wiped away his tears, and stood up straight.
"When I return to Horseshoe Lake, tell the other brothers for me that I will no longer be able to fight on the battlefield in this life. Just follow my little boss."
"Don't worry, Lord Marquis!"
Xu Mu was slightly moved in his heart and understood that Yuan Tao was helping him to appease his people.
"Little boss, come into the house with me."
Xu Mu clenched his fists and followed Yuan Tao into the main hall.
The Marquis of Dingbei, Li Rucheng, was sitting in his seat without paying any attention to politeness. He only raised his eyes again when Xu Mu walked in, his eyes a little cold.
"Xu Mu, pay homage to Marquis Dingbei." After hesitating for a moment, Xu Mu still raised his hand.
Li Rucheng did not respond, but turned his head again, leaving Xu Mu on the spot.
Xu Mu cursed secretly in his heart. He didn't know where he was and had offended the Marquis of Dingbei.
"My dear boss, please take a seat first."
"Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Yuan Tao coughed twice and sat down. Gu Ying, who was beside him, had already picked up the hot wine and filled a cup for all three of them.
"Come, it's freezing cold, let's have a drink together." Yuan Tao held the cup with two fingers and greeted each other from afar.
Xu Mu raised his glass in toast, but it was a pity that the Marquis of Dingbei still didn't bother to look at him.
After finishing the wine, Xu Mu felt unhappy. He couldn't figure out why Yuan Tao called him here this time.
Shen Mo turned his head, and when he saw Yuan Tao's pale face and sunken eyes, a bad premonition suddenly enveloped his whole body.
He had heard earlier that the young marquis Yuan Tao was poisoned in his heart and might not survive the winter. Therefore, the young marquis, who had only a short time left, most likely wanted to drag him into the court.