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

"We still have to find a way, step by step," Zhang Pingan understood it well.

At this moment, he couldn't help but think of the fire in the granary in Lin'an. It was such a pity to lose so much grain. I wonder how many lives it could have saved if it was put on the front line!

After a few more discussions, they each went to rest.

The next day came in a flash.

Zhang Ping'an started to get busy after breakfast. He asked Lao Tu for 20 elite soldiers. Together with his own group, there were about 30 people in total.

The first step was to count the surviving people door to door and restore the household registration system.

We asked the military doctor for a stack of face towels, which are similar to masks, and had everyone put them on before we set off.

Some soldiers held gongs and shouted to clear the way, while the rest of the people went into the house with long swords to check and drive these people out.

There were many people hiding under the stove, under the bed and in the cellar. It was like a cat playing with a mouse, and it really took everyone a lot of effort.

After being dragged out by the soldiers, most people would just habitually hold their heads in their hands and kowtow for mercy with numb eyes.

They were so thin that their eye sockets were sunken and they looked like skin and bones. Their lips were black and blue, and it was obvious that they were very hungry.

It looked very much like the zombies in the Plants vs. Zombies game that Zhang Pingan had seen in his previous life.

Even more real and terrifying!

When they all looked at me, this emotionless look really made me feel scared!

When Liu Sanlang saw this, his eyes widened, but he didn't say anything. He just picked up the pen and registered as Zhang Ping'an instructed.

When they encountered some middle-aged men with red faces and blisters around their mouths, the soldiers killed them with a single knife.

The leading captain turned around and explained, "These people have been cannibalizing human flesh for a long time. Their hearts have become evil. They can't be saved. Keeping them is useless and will only cause trouble. Lord Zhou has issued an order that all such people must be killed without mercy!"

Zhang Pingan nodded to show his understanding. He had seen this kind of people when he was in Yuezhou. After eating too much human flesh, they became fearless and had no scruples. There was evil in their eyes and they would never be restrained by anyone or any moral system!

Killing him directly is the most straightforward and can save a lot of trouble.

After spending most of the day counting, the current population of Ze County is 2,368.

Among them, the majority are middle-aged men, with a total of 1,596 young and strong men aged between 20 and 30.

The second largest group is middle-aged women, numbering about 600.

The rest are teenagers over ten years old or elderly people over thirty years old, accounting for only a very small minority.

There wasn't a single child under ten years old. It was obvious that they were either dead or eaten.

This statistic is chilling, and it also makes people feel endless anger and compassion from the bottom of their hearts!

At this moment, Zhang Ping'an felt that as long as he could end this chaotic world and bring peace to the world, it didn't matter who became the emperor!

When he returned to the yamen, Lao Tu had just returned. He was also very tired. It took a lot of effort just to set up defenses around the county town and repair the city gates.

Zhang Pingan explained the statistics and then asked, "Two thousand people isn't a lot. I wonder if there's a spacious place in the county where we can house all these people and make unified arrangements. Today, I saw that many of them had lice and baldness, and they were oozing pus and fluid. There was a smell of corruption, and I don't know if they had any other infectious diseases. This is not good.

So I think the first thing we should do is have the military doctors take their pulses one by one, then prescribe some medicine, and give them a soak or spray from head to toe to remove the foul air and disease from their bodies. What do you think?!"

In fact, when doing the statistics, Zhang Ping'an had already toured the county and had a general understanding of where there were suitable vacant large houses.

Asking this way is also a way to show respect to Lao Tu, to have discussions and facilitate subsequent cooperation.

So as not to give people the impression of being autocratic.

Hearing this, the old bald man scratched his head and waved his hand: "Alas, I am a rough man who only knows how to fight. You can decide all the logistical matters. As for resettlement, those abandoned ancestral halls of the big families or schools will do. It's up to you to decide. I have no objection!"

"Okay, then follow my rules," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

He likes this kind of partner, where everyone does their job and cooperates with each other the best!

That afternoon, before dinner, Zhang Ping'an arranged for people to fumigate several of the largest vacant ancestral halls and schools in the county with dry mugwort and sprinkle quicklime for disinfection.

These two items are commonly carried during marches. Although the soldiers have never heard of the word disinfection, they know that doing so can prevent illness.

Zhang Pingan was surprised when he first heard about it, but when he learned that it was a rule set after Lord Zhou took office, he didn't find it so strange anymore.

While disinfecting the houses, Zhang Ping'an also arranged several teams of soldiers to gather these people in the open space at Caishikou according to the statistical roster.

Military doctors took turns taking the patient's pulse and examining his body.

Those who did not have infectious diseases went to the bathhouse on the left to shave their heads and take a medicinal bath. Their clothes had to be boiled in water and dried in the sun before they could be worn.

If he had a choice, Zhang Ping'an actually wanted to burn it and be done with it, as that would be the most thorough way.

But the supplies on the front line are so precious that we don’t have the conditions to burn them!

Those with infectious diseases were sent to the room on the right and took turns drinking a cup of poison. After they died, they were taken outside the city and burned to prevent the spread of the disease.

Although it is cruel, it is the most effective method at present.

No one has any objection!

By the time everyone was settled, it was already dark.

Finally, I took the first step towards Lai Ze County.

Lao Tu felt a little sorry for the firewood, hot water, herbs, mugwort and lime powder consumed today.

"Brother Ping An, you have to use it sparingly!"

"It's already very economical. Our subsequent development of the county depends on these two thousand seedlings. We can't just go farming with long swords and armor on," Zhang Pingan felt distressed, but this was a necessary step.

There is something even more heartbreaking coming next.

Zhang Ping'an discussed the matter, saying, "These people are just hanging on by a thread. I don't think their rations are even real food. Starting tomorrow, let's take out three liters of rice from the military rations every day and cook a pot of porridge for them to moisten their intestines and replenish their strength. It will also show the difference between us and the rebel army. We have to give them some hope!"

"I'm not trying to complain, but our own military rations are very tight, and this is a difficult matter!" The old bald man was really upset. This matter concerned the people's livelihood, and it was much more difficult than fighting a war.

"I understand, but this is only temporary. Three liters of coarse rice a day will not shake the foundation. I will always find a way to deal with the food issue. We really can't skip the step of providing relief to the people," Zhang Pingan advised.

I already have a preliminary plan in mind.