The distribution of relief grains has also been stopped, and even the moldy coarse grains mixed with sand are gone. The situation is tense.

The severe situation has little impact on the really wealthy people. It is not difficult to sell the first crops of vegetables in the pits, and they are all taken over by a few restaurants.

Dongming Ziyu and Dong Chunlei decided to buy all the money they earned into food, and they separated the food as they did on the way to escape famine, giving some to each family, hiding some in the East and some in Tibet, so as not to give people the illusion that they had a lot of food.

At the end of the year, a row of five stone houses were built in the east of the village, which were ordinary residential styles. Everyone unanimously stated that these five houses were for Dongming Ziyu and his family to live in.

Dongming Ziyu was not polite. The four brothers plus Mr. Dong and Mr. Qian lived in one family. Although it was a bit crowded, it was better for the family to be together than to sleep on the big kang with outsiders.

Whether you have money or not, you have to celebrate the New Year. In order to express his gratitude to everyone for letting his family have a house to live in, Dongming Ziyu took a group of young adults and half-grown adults into the mountains and hunted a lot of prey. He could definitely have a good New Year.

.

Everyone was happily boiling water to kill wild boars, pheasants, and hares, and discussing how to eat the meat. Suddenly they heard the sound of gongs in the village to the west.

Everyone immediately became quiet and looked to the west, "What happened?"

"It's probably not a good thing to hear the gong sound so fast."

"Don't talk nonsense, celebrating the New Year must be a good thing!"

"In these days of war and chaos, what good can come of it?"

Someone from the west of the village came to inform, "Hurry and go to the threshing floor at the entrance of the village. Someone from the Yamen will post a notice announcing the imperial decree."

Everyone had a bad premonition, so they put down their work and left the children to look after the house while the adults went to the threshing floor at the entrance of the village.

Many villagers had gathered there, and some were already sitting on the ground crying.

As soon as he heard the cry, Dongming Ziyu already had a guess.

When I got closer I heard it, and sure enough, it was a conscription.

They, untrained commoners, are still small soldiers when they are recruited into the army, and they will be killed at the end of the war.

The yamen officer posted the notice on the big locust tree, said loudly with a solemn face: "The emperor's order cannot be violated! If there are two men in one household and there is no discretion, whoever fails to comply will be beheaded!"

Shuan Zhu’s mother burst into tears with a cry, “There are only two orphans and a widow in my family. If Shuan Zhu Zheng is taken away, how can my old lady live? I won’t live anymore! Uuuuuuuuu...”

There were also people in Nanbeixi Village with a small population who cried out.

Several government officials pulled out their sabers, "Thinking like you, just waiting for the rebels to come in, capture all the strong men, and massacre the entire village!"

Many people looked at the villagers in the east of the village, wondering if they should flee too?

Mrs. Qian grabbed Dongming Ziyu's arm and asked with her eyes: How about we continue to escape?

The yamen officer seemed to understand everyone's thoughts and said coldly: "Don't even think about escaping. There are nowhere else as good as here. In some places, a man has to go to the battlefield.

Don't even think about going to the mountains, unless you never come out for the rest of your life. Otherwise, once the household registration is checked, you will be treated as a deserter, paraded first, and then beheaded!"

The Jiang family is wealthy, and someone asked: "Can we use it at our own discretion? I can pay for it with money, or with food."

The officer said: "No!"

He tapped the notice with his scabbard and said, "It's written there! If there are no men aged between fifteen and forty in the family, you can use money and grain to pay for military service. If you only have one man, and only the elderly, women and children are left behind, don't conscript them."

Oh, by the way, if you have the reputation of being a scholar, you do not need to perform military service. If you have the reputation of being a scholar, in addition to not having to perform military service, your family will also be exempted from military service."

When Shuan Zhu's mother heard this, her eyes widened in surprise. She hugged Shuan Zhu and cried again, "Son, did you listen? You don't have to go, you don't have to go!"

Many people cried in despair. They were reluctant to let go of their men and sons.

Mrs. Qian was anxious. Her four sons, as well as Da Lang, were all included in the conscription range. Who of these two would be allowed to go? They were all her sweethearts, and she would not be willing to let anyone go.

Dongming Ziyu's eyes were calm, he supported Mrs. Qian and said, "Let's go back."

Dong Chunlei also said: "Let's go back and discuss it."

After all, this group of people had escaped from famine and experienced life and death. They quickly calmed down and accepted this fact. You supported me and I supported you, and we went back one step at a time.

The atmosphere was heavy but calm.

Jiang Hongda looked at their backs, turned to the villagers in Beixi Village and said: "Go back and discuss it, and report the names within three days!"

Jiang Haoguang also said: "Let's all go back and discuss it."

He had to go to the county seat and ask if he could be accommodating. His two sons couldn't both join the army!

Jiang Hongda went to Li Chang's house and wanted to ask if there was any way.

People in the east of the village gathered under the dining shed. After walking all the way, everyone calmed down and accepted this fact.

Dong Chunlei said: "I think we should go and beg the Second Young Master Chen."

Mrs. Qian also said: "Yes, please Rongchuan, he will definitely be able to help us!"

Shangguan Ruoli said: "This is not necessarily true. Rong Chuan is the emperor's grandson. The country and the world belong to his family and need to be defended by his people. But we went to tell him that we don't want to defend the imperial court. We are afraid of death. He

What do you think?"

Dongming Ziyu said: "I will definitely feel uncomfortable."

Old Man Dong said: "That's right. If we are the landlords and someone comes to grab the land, and the people under Changgong don't want to work hard and don't care, we will definitely not be willing either."

Shuan Zhu said: "And the people from Prince Chen's Palace used money to buy out their love."

Mrs. Sun said anxiously: "Then you have to try it! No matter if he is happy or not! We saved his life, and now we are going to die. If we beg on his face, we have to do it even if he is not happy!"

Dong Youyin is not popular, his parents will definitely let him apply for the army.

The eldest brother is the eldest son and has to serve the old man. The fourth brother is the most favored, so he probably has to let the second brother and his own men go!

Old Mrs. Qian spat: "You know nothing! If Si Liu doesn't understand something, if you can't speak, just shut up!"

However, she also thought so in her heart, and said to Dongming Ziyu: "Si'er, now it's not about face and people's happiness or displeasure. Life is at stake, so I have to give it a try!"

Many people echoed: "Yes, yes, you have to give it a try."

Wulang hugged Dongming Ziyu's thigh, tears streaming down his face, "Dad, Wulang doesn't want you to go to the army!"

Ling Yue held Shangguan Ruoli's hand tightly, with a look of anxiety on her face.

She used to be a princess. When the country is in danger, of course she hopes that all the people will unite as one and join the army enthusiastically. The soldiers will fight bravely to kill the enemy, defend the country and the court.

However, her position is different now. She is just a refugee who has just moved into the house. She does not want her father and her family to serve as soldiers and die.

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Chapter completed!