In the evening.

After Xu Mu inspected the city wall defense measures in the morning, he kept thinking about how to deal with the internal affairs of Yangcheng.

Due to the wars several times, there are only more than 200 households in Yangcheng.

Xu Mu counted all the more than 200 households, and they were all over 60 years old.

Most of their children left home because of Yang Guang's corvee and military service, and have not returned for more than ten years.

In this era, it can basically be equivalent to death.

Regarding this group of lonely and widowed elderly people, Xu Mu was thinking about where to use them.

When Dugu Sheng was in charge of the military and political affairs of Yangcheng, the role of these old men was to wash clothes and cook, and do logistics for the Xiaoguo Army.

But it's the kind that doesn't have wages.

Although they did not blame them too much, they were also treated as free labor.

"It is definitely not possible to build a nursing home now. Wanmincheng has not yet developed to this stage, but what do they need to do?"

Xu Mu walked on the streets of Yangcheng, looked at the withered shops on both sides of the main street, and shook his head.

Then he walked to the residence of the people. When a group of people saw him coming, they were tremblingly kneeling down and bowing.

Everyone's face was thin and had no appearance. When they saw the solemn Tiefutu behind Xu Mu, they were so scared that they lay on the ground and shivered.

In the chaotic times, they encountered too many wars and had seen all kinds of chaotic troops.

Even the genuine Xiaoguojun of the Great Sui brand is not very good to them.

On weekdays, I come to eat and drink freely. Even this time, the food that the Xiaoguo Army guarded the city uses the old grain privately stored by each household.

"By the way! The first phase of Wanmincheng residential area is completed in one month. There will be more than ten residential buildings at that time, so they can be used as dormitory managers!"

Looking at the old people standing tremblingly, Xu Mu suddenly thought of a way to make a living.

In ancient times, the elderly, weak, women and children were usually abandoned, especially in troubled times, and their lives were as good as grass, and they were not even as good as a cow and sheep.

While Xu Mu was thinking, in the dark crowd of old people kneeling down, an old man with a cane couldn't help but look up at Xu Mu.

There have been too many changes in Yangcheng these days.

First, Pei Qiantong's Xiaoguo Army moved in, and later Pei Qiantong took advantage of the night to abandon the city and fled. Dugu Sheng defended the city to death. When the city was broken, these people were even ready to die.

Born in a chaotic world is a sad thing.

What's more, they are facing the Wagang Army, which has always been famous.

That was a group of bandits who made their fortune!

But who would have thought that the black armored army in front of us suddenly appeared and killed all the Wagang army on the city wall.

He was even more unfair to them!

That’s right, at Xu Mu’s request, the Tiefutu army was forbidden to say a word to these people, and those who violate the orders were engaged in military laws!

He did not set up all kinds of messy rules. This alone is a great kindness for these people.

In the chaotic times, all their children were dead, helpless and had no support. They were old. On the one hand, they were unwilling to leave their hometown, and on the other hand, they were unable to leave.

They cannot accept it when they are bumpy outside and die in a foreign land.

So they are all the kind of... whoever occupied Yangcheng would serve them carefully and obey their orders.

"Old man, how dare you ask about your surname?"

Xu Mu also saw the old man who was trying to look up and sneak peek at him. His face was full of nervousness and panic.

"Old...Old...the little man is named Cui Ping. He is a custodian in Yangcheng, or a grant from the former emperor when he was in power..." He stood up tremblingly at Xu Mu's instructions, lowered his head and said humbly.

Xu Mu's eyes lit up when he heard this.

When Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, he established three levels of clan, village and security in the countryside. Cui Ping, the chief of the security guard, seemed to be able to count among the old people.

Xu Mu nodded, asked the soldiers to move a stool for Cui Ping to sit down, and asked seriously: "Let me ask you, how many people are there in Yangcheng now?"

Cui Ping was forcibly pressed on the stool, and was quite flattered. He only dared to sit on half of his butt, and replied nervously: "Now, there are more than 200 households in Yangcheng, a total of 317 people. These Dugu Generals were counted when they were there."

Xu Mu nodded, asked Tiefutu to set up a large iron pot, temporarily built a honeycomb coal stove, and started cooking porridge in the open air in the village.

And the grain was all taken out of the stock of Wanmincheng, and the wheat that had just been harvested this fall.

"Go and call everyone out, bring your own bowls and chopsticks, and say that you have porridge today, open your belly and be full." Looking at these old men who were not covered in clothes and had no face, Xu Mu felt mixed feelings.

Cui Ping looked at the big pot and the busy figures of the black armored soldiers, and was stunned.

This group of soldiers seems to be a little different from the past.

I didn't tell them any great truths, and I didn't even say a word to them.

On the contrary, this young man, like a leader, made a brief investigation and then asked someone to set up a pot and cook porridge.

"Lord... lord... this is..." Cui Ping lowered his head, also imitated Tiefutu's name, and stammered.

"What's the matter?" Xu Mu turned around and looked at the chief security officer.

"No, nothing." Cui Ping's heart was also very complicated at this time. His wife died early, and all three sons conscripted military service a few years ago and went on a expedition to Goguryeo.

Then no news came back.

Most of them died on the road.

Over the years, he has been living alone, but in Xu Mu, he seemed to feel something indescribable.

Xu Mu clearly didn't say much or issued any orders, but he just felt it.

The person in front of me is completely different from Pei Qiantong and Dugu Sheng before.

There is no such thing as being arrogant and domineering, nor is it regards them as a burden or free labor.

It seems to be something... called respect.

With a complicated mood, Cui Ping used a cane to visit the house and shouted out all the 317 elderly people in Yangcheng.

And let them bring their own dishes and chopsticks.

Then an incredible scene appeared in Yangcheng. A group of old men in their sixties and seventies sat on the ground, lowered their heads and drank porridge, while a group of mighty black-armored soldiers stood in front of the big pot and kept making porridge.

"The little old man... has a big belly. Can Jun Ye..."

"I...I want to drink more..."

...

The free porridge meal made these elderly people choose to refill them one after another.

However, facing Tiefutu, who looked solemn and mute, the fear and uneasiness on their faces never disappeared.

When choosing to ask for porridge, everyone lowered their heads and was cautious, for fear of being rejected.

The men of Tiefutu felt compassion when they saw these poor people and tried to show a kind expression.

But the military orders were as high as a mountain. Xu Mu had not released the ban, so they could not say a word to the group of old people.

Xu Mu issued this order because he realized that the people in Yangcheng had become so afraid of the soldiers.

"Please have some more baked potatoes."

Xu Mu sighed lightly and said to Wang Zhao beside him.

This time Kong Xingyue did not enter the city with the army, and he was still training the army in Wanmin City.

So it was Wang Zhao who was always responsible for guarding his safety.

Wang Zhaozheng focused on the head, then brought a few soldiers, set up a fire stove again, and roasted potatoes with honeycomb coal.

Two hours passed as they swallowed and stuttered.

These elderly people have bad stomachs, but they also show amazing appetites.

In troubled times, it is only one day to live more.

Xu Mu let go of porridge for free, so they opened their stomachs to eat.

Want to save more in your stomach.

Many people have even run out of food at home and have been feeding on weeds.

After eating, Xu Mu asked Tiefutu to put away the fire stove and deal with the scene, but heard the sobs of the old people holding bowls.

I got a meal in a chaotic world, which made them cry.

"What's wrong?" Xu Mu pulled Cui Ping over and asked with a frown.

"The lord doesn't know that we are all preparing to die. Who would have thought that we could have such a full meal today? They are expressing their kindness..." Cui Ping wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said with great emotion.

"Also, the Xiaoguo Army in the city had no food for a long time and was taken away by Pei Qiantong. Dugu Sheng defended the city this time and ordered all households to take out all the food, so they..."

Cui Ping said, and the corners of his eyes became wet again: "They are also crying for their death..."

"But no matter what, the lord is unparalleled and righteous, and he is in love with the people. We are all in a state of poverty and are willing to work hard for the lord. But the lord has his own destiny and will do everything."

As he said that, Cui Ping prostrated himself to the ground, and tears in the corners of his eyes could no longer be curbed, and he was rushing.
To be continued...