Chen Xiliang reported that the two meat sellers were brothers, slaves of a large family on the Khitan side, and when they saw that everyone in the Song Dynasty had moved away, they happily moved over and herded sheep to live. At the end of the year, because he saw the excitement of Shengzhou, he drove the sheep and came here to kill and sell for money.

Du Zhongxiao listened and frowned: "Only they said about this matter, there is no witness, who knows whether it is true or false?" Let's take it first and make it up to the prison camp in Fengzhou. What happens to his family, then it can't be controlled. Now Yelu Chongyuan is waging war against Hongji, and there are many spies sent to act carefully. ”

Chen Xiliang said yes. The Khitan fought wars and was very concerned about the attitude of the Song Dynasty, and recently sent out a lot of spies, especially in the border areas.

Du Zhongxiao stood up and sighed: "Sign the judgment, this incident has reminded us that many things should be actively taken seriously." Since last year, there have been many big victories and laid the land of the river meandering road, and there are some slackness up and down. This winter, the Khitan will go to war, and we will redouble our precautions for our activities. Order all localities to carefully check the personnel, and if an unknown person is found, report to the official in time. ”

Chen Xiliang said: "Jieshuai, Shengzhou is the gateway to Hequ Road in the Central Plains, and there have always been many outsiders. Careful checking, I'm afraid it's not easy. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "People who come from afar always come by train, and there are companions to witness it. If you haven't been on a train, it's easy to ask. If you come by train from the mainland, there is always an accent, and looser is the indigenous people around Shengzhou. ”

Chen Xiliang nodded, it was much easier.

After chatting about a few other things, Chen Xiliang said goodbye and left, and Du Zhongxiao sat alone thinking about his thoughts.

In addition to the garrison, there are less than 10,000 households in Shengzhou, most of them are battalions and fields, and there are only two or three thousand real people, so it is not difficult to govern. What is really difficult is that all the households have only been here for a long time, and there is a lack of native population.

With a sigh, Du Zhongxiao got up and stood to look at the mountains to the north. The mountains are majestic, white and golden in the sun. The mountains block the cold winds from the south, creating a relatively comfortable climate for the meandering road.

Everything on the meandering road is mostly caused by the mountains in the north. The mild climate, coupled with the irrigation water brought by the Yellow River, is suitable for human survival. If there were no mountains, it would be the same place as the northern steppes, and would only be the territory of nomads.

The Chinese New Year is coming, the wind is not as sharp as the previous days, it is much milder, and everything seems to be getting better. After a long time, Du Zhongxiao returned to the side of the case and meditated on what he wanted to do in the coming year. At this time, if you don't like many things to look at, then try to see as little as possible. At the beginning, everything was like this, as long as it looked positive on the surface.

At this moment, a soldier came in and crossed his hand to Du Zhongxiao and said, "Jie Shuai, yesterday's Ma Liulang has been found out. ”

"Oh, let's go into details." Du Zhongxiao straightened up and said to the soldiers who came.

"Ma Liulang has been a soldier outside a few years ago, and he was originally a soldier on Linfu Road, but then he didn't know where to go. He himself said that he had lost the battle and could not find the original troops, so he worked for others. Later, he got the opportunity and fled back to his home in Lanzhou. However, many people speculate that in the days when he was lost, maybe Ma Liulang would be a soldier in the party army, and it is not certain. These things are not witnessed, and it is difficult to say. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, no wonder it was so strange to see him yesterday. As a new place to open up Hequ Road, in addition to the camp field army formed for various reasons, the rest of the people who came to camp the field have various problems in their hometown. Now there is still a lot of land in the mainland, and it is not a difficult place, who will travel thousands of miles to come here. The people of the Song Dynasty did not pay attention to the countryside and migrated everywhere, so it would be like this.

After thinking about it, Du Zhongxiao said: "Ma Liulang's matter, forget it like this." The doctor saw it and told him to go back to his hometown and live a good life. ”

The soldier said yes and turned to leave.

Since it is a matter of the past, there is no need to investigate carefully, and the past will follow the wind. There is a shortage of people on Hequ Road now, as long as there is no major fault, there is no need to pursue it. Willing to take the orphan son to reclaim the famine for a living, no matter what Ma Liulang has done before, it will end here.

Back at the residence, Xiaoqing was bringing two maids to make some noodles and prepare to enjoy them during the New Year. Seeing Du Zhongxiao coming back, he hurriedly saluted.

Du Zhongxiao said: "There are only a few people in the family, so you don't have to be too troublesome, just celebrate the New Year." ”

Xiaoqing said: "Official, you are the marshal, the master of the road, and you want to set an example for the people, how can it be simple?" If you do too much, it's nothing more than giving it to others to say good. Do you say yes or no? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "If you think so, then do it." I was new last year, and I passed the New Year casually. ”

Xiaoqing said: "The official is here alone, just do whatever you want." This year, there are people to serve, so it will be different. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, didn't say anything more, and went back to his study. Sitting down in the study, Du Zhongxiao flipped through two books casually, but couldn't read them. Looking out the window, Xiaoqing was busy with the two maids, and couldn't help but think about what Han Yueniang meant by letting her come, and she was a little upset for a while.

The days passed like this, and soon the end of the year was approaching. In the border areas, family members cannot follow the army, and the atmosphere of the New Year in the army is not strong, but it is lively outside every day, and gradually the gongs and drums do not stop every day.

Du Zhongxiao, Fu Bi, Zhang Sheng and others stood in the verandah, watching a few soldiers carrying firecrackers, and they finished playing. lit a few more fireworks, and watched the flames soar into the air, Du Zhongxiao said: "If there are a few children, it will be lively at this time." ”

Fu Bi said: "Naturally, this is the case. The Shuai Mansion is full of outsiders, there are no children, and no matter how lively it is, it feels a lot more deserted. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, and the army has prepared wine and dinner and dined together. It's cold, so use it up early and go back early to rest. ”

Zhang Sheng said: "Jie Shuai, today's day, many people have made an appointment to fight wine, how can it be possible to run out of rest early?" Once a year, it's what should be lively. I have ordered all the people in the army to enjoy themselves tonight, except for those who are on duty and have trouble. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "It makes sense to say so. Okay, a few of us, we don't get drunk and don't go home! ”

After speaking, he watched the fireworks for a while, and then went to the back office with a few people. At this time, the weather was cold at night, and the courtyard was surrounded by a curtain and divided into tables one by one, each drinking and eating meat. Du Zhongxiao and others were arranged in the house.

When I sat down at the main seat, after a while, I arrived one after another. In addition to Du Zhongxiao, Fu Bi and Zhang Sheng, there are also Li Fugui and Tian Jing, two strategic judges, as well as Zhang Qi, the commander of the Anbei Army. The rest of the people were all seated outside.

Pouring the wine, Du Zhongxiao said: "At this time last year, when I first came to Shengzhou, everything was simple. In a year's time, if you look around again, there is no one of the old people from last year. Those who went to the capital went to the capital, and those who were on duty outside were on duty outside, and they were promoted one after another. I'm the only one here, drinking and eating with you. When I wait until the next year, I don't know who will be promoted. Let's have a drink, and I wish you all an early promotion! ”

The crowd applauded and drank together.

Fu Bi and Zhang Sheng persuaded them to drink, so they stopped, and talked about gossip while drinking. The current situation in the army, various local affairs, and the war in the Khitan next to it are also very happy. Du Zhongxiao looked at the crowd, drinking and listening to them tell various stories and talk about the life in the neighborhood. This kind of life is what Du Zhongxiao was once familiar with and what he liked.