The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Seeing that his duty time was almost up and he still had to eat, Zhang Ping'an bought a portion of sugar-coated rice cakes and ate them while walking.

I was so thankful that I stocked up a few hundred kilograms of food at home yesterday, which is enough to last for a while.

After arriving at the yamen, Zhang Ping'an deliberately approached Wang Jingzhi to talk. Among the lower-level civil servants, Wang Jingzhi was considered to be well-informed.

Zhang Ping'an tactfully inquired about the news in the court, but unfortunately Wang Jingzhi had no idea about the invasion of the border by the northern alien races, and was still sentimental about changing the new emperor.

"Brother Zhang, do you think the current emperor is also a short-lived ghost?" Wang Jingzhi looked around and saw that there was no one around, and muttered in a low voice.

Zhang Pingan didn't respond, and lowered his voice and said, "Brother Wang, I heard that the Tatars and Jurchens have reached Pingzhou and Liangzhou."

Wang Jingzhi was startled when he heard this. He sat up straight and leaned closer to ask, "Where did you get this information? Is it true?"

"pretty close!"

"Oh, what should we do? There are wars everywhere. If Yuezhou gets involved in the war, we're doomed. I'm very satisfied with my current life and don't want to flee everywhere," said Wang Jingzhi with a frown.

"The world is about to fall into chaos, who knows? It's always a good idea to be prepared to escape," Zhang Pingan patted the other person's shoulder and sat back in his seat.

News of war cannot be concealed, it's just a matter of how quickly it is transmitted. Zhang Ping'an also wanted to do Wang Jingzhi a favor in advance, so that if the war really breaks out later, at least the other party has more connections than himself and may be able to help him.

As time goes by, things always develop in the direction that ordinary people least want to see.

The country has been at peace for a long time. Except for the Wei family army on the border, most of the troops are neglected in training, especially in the state capitals far away from the border. Many soldiers' training is just a formality, let alone expecting them to go into battle and kill the enemy!

On the other hand, it was also because the days of peace had lasted too long, and the confidence of those in power had become extremely inflated. They neglected military management, valued civil affairs over military affairs, did not attach importance to military officers, and military salaries were often in arrears. Most of the armaments were decades old and were rusting in the warehouses. Military discipline was lax, and the morale of the army was naturally very low!

The northern ethnic minorities lived in a cold and harsh land all year round, moving wherever there was water and grass, herding horses and sheep. Children grew up on horseback, drinking goat milk and eating goat meat, and generally grew tall, strong and fierce.

Comparing the two, it is clear which one is stronger in terms of military power!

Zhang Ping'an had already anticipated the court's repeated defeats when he heard the news brought by people who came across the river that the Wei army was defeated, and that other vassal kings were watching the fire from the other side of the river without any intention of sending troops to rescue.

There is no point in going anywhere at this time. War may break out at any time. It is better to stay in Yuezhou first.

Now the boat fare to cross the river is more expensive than gold, and it is extremely difficult for ordinary people to take a boat here, but Zhang Pingan feels that it does not affect the increasing number of people in Yuezhou City at all.

There are more and more refugees and beggars. Now the prefect has issued an order that refugees and beggars are not allowed to enter the city, unless they have relatives in the city who can guarantee them and have a fixed residence.

Since these people have lost everything they have and have crossed the river, it is impossible for them to go back easily. It is useless for the government to send people to expel them.

So many large and small straw huts appeared not far from the pier, and people who could not enter the city huddled there to rest.

Fortunately, it is a hot summer day now and people are not freezing to death, otherwise these people would have a harder time.

Because so many refugees could not enter the city, including many virgins and good-looking widows, many bachelors and widowers in the city who could not find wives began to think about it.

When people can't even take care of their survival, marriage is just a business transaction. Now, as long as the girl's family can move into the city, the virgin will not pay any money.

There is a family living two alleys away from Zhang Ping'an's house. The male owner is almost 40 years old and has two grandchildren. His hair is half white, and he has lost two front teeth. His voice leaks when he speaks. He and Zhang Laoer used to be in the same business, both pulling carts to carry passengers at the dock, and the two families have a nodding acquaintance.

Zhang Ping'an knew that this man's wife had died six or seven years ago. When he saw this man dragging a little girl who was at most fifteen or sixteen years old to the yamen to register the household registration, saying that the girl was his new wife, his whole heart was twisted!

It would be so awkward for a young girl to marry an old man with lost front teeth and half-white hair!

The old man recognized Zhang Ping'an and greeted him happily.

"In troubled times, human lives are worthless, a flower stuck in cow dung," Wang Jingzhi sighed when he saw it.

Another older clerk disagreed, sipping his tea and saying, "This family still has some conscience. After all, they are a respectable family. There are many who sell their daughters to brothels just to get more money and get connections!"

Even grassroots civil servants have a stable job after all. No matter how difficult the situation is, people in the yamen can always make a living. Compared with life outside the city, it is like heaven and earth. Don’t be too happy!