The weather was getting colder, and after just a few days, the temperature had dropped to minus twenty degrees Celsius.

It was already white outside. Except for those who were working in the wind and snow, most people stayed at home and did not go out.

After several days of fleeing, the people who escaped from the East City Gate finally arrived at the fortress. When they saw the suspension bridge slowly descending in front of them, they couldn't help but burst into tears on the spot.

The clansmen from Mingjingtang came and took them downstairs to settle down.

Those who thought their loved ones were dead widened their eyes in disbelief, rushed forward and hugged them, crying uncontrollably.

Wei Xiyin stayed in the main courtyard these days, chatting with her grandfather to relieve his boredom.

Uncle Wu personally supervises the boiling of medicine every day. They brought back a lot of medicinal herbs. The herbal medicine shop is now guarded by someone, and the tribesmen can go there to get the medicine on their own.

Wei Ji took the medicine on time, and his complexion was no longer as sallow as it was a few days ago. He occasionally coughed, and his itchy throat and headache were getting better.

The cold wind was howling outside, and the snow was everywhere. Even if I stayed in the house, I still couldn't feel any warmth. After sitting for a long time, my hands and feet began to become cold and gradually lost consciousness.

Wei Lang was so cold that he was jumping up and down. He forgot what his sister had said before and started running around the house, trying to warm himself up.

"Sister, I'm so cold." Wei Lang stretched out his cold hands for her to touch, and said with a look of grievance.

Seeing this, Wei Ji handed the hot water bottle in his hand to his grandson.

Now the blacksmith shop has stopped making protective gear and is specializing in making hot water bottles for the tribe members to keep warm. However, this thing only works for the head and not the feet. Everyone is busy building the canteen or doing other things, and it is impossible for them to hold it all day long.

Wei Xiyin thought that this was not a solution. She was afraid that it would get colder and colder, and people could not withstand such temperatures.

But it is too late to build earthen kangs and ground heating systems now. With so many households in the fortress and such a huge project, I am afraid that all of them may not be completed even after winter is over.

We still have to think of other ways.

Just when everyone in the dock was busy building a canteen and making winter clothes.

Gong Liulang and Zhang Yuanyan brought the remaining officers and soldiers, as well as dozens of grain carts, and braved the wind and snow to rush to Wei's Fort.

The granary was not far away, and the zombies along the way had been cleared by Wei Xiyin and others before, but with the fall of Dongwu City, a large number of zombies poured out, and the short journey of more than sixty miles was also very dangerous.

The officers and soldiers pushed the food carts and could not take the mountain road like the two scouts who had explored the way before. They were in great danger of death when they came here. When they arrived at the fort, there were only more than 60 people left.

Because of the bad weather, these more than 60 people turned into "snowmen", and even a thin layer of frost formed on their eyebrows.

Wei Ji was recuperating from illness, so Gong Liulang and Zhang Yuanyan only saw Wei Zhongxun.

Gong Liulang and Zhang Yuanyan bowed and said, "Greetings to the three elders."

Wei Zhongxun was usually very serious, but now his expression softened. "Master Zhang and Young Master Liu are embarrassing me."

The wound on Gong Liulang's face has not healed yet, and the bruises look really unsightly.

He himself looked calm and composed. "You are too polite, elders. I am a junior and it is my duty to pay my respects to my elders."

He stood up straight and asked, "According to the news brought back by the scouts, Duke Wei is unwell and recuperating. Is he okay now?"

Wei Zhongxun was very pleased to see that he didn't talk about business, but instead showed concern for his elder brother's condition. "I've already taken the medicine, and the doctor said he needs to rest and can't be disturbed. I hope you two will forgive me."

"No, no, it's our fault. We will pay our respects to Lord Wei after he gets better." Zhang Yuanyan said hurriedly.

Before resigning, Wei Ji served as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, ranking first among all officials. He was also the patriarch of the Wei family. Even if the governor came, he would have to bow respectfully and call him "Duke Wei".

Zhang Yuanyan was just a small sixth-rank military officer, so how could he dare to go to his house and disturb him while he was recuperating?

"My elder brother has read the letter. Lord Zhang and Mr. Liu can rest assured and stay here. After winter is over, the Wei family's followers will go to the granary with you to rescue the court's supplies and food." Wei Zhongxun conveyed Wei Ji's intention.

The two of them hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

After all, it was on someone else's territory. Although Zhang Yuanyan held an official position, he came from a grassroots background and his official position was not high. It was inevitable that he felt uncomfortable in front of a prominent family like the Wei family.

On the other hand, Gong Liulang's speech and behavior revealed the demeanor of a young man from a noble family, and his conversation with Wei Zhongxun proceeded at a measured pace.

After sitting down and chatting for a while, Gong Liulang suddenly asked, "When I and others came here, I saw many people coming in and out carrying wood. I'd like to ask, what are they doing?"

Wei Zhongxun did not hide it from them, "The tribe is planning to build a public kitchen to make it more convenient for the tribe members to eat in the future."

Zhang Yuanyan, who was standing by, thought to himself when he heard this. Now that they needed help from others and had settled down in the fort, it would be better to let the officers and soldiers go out to help.

Firstly, it would leave a good impression on Duke Wei, and secondly, after winter, whether I leave or stay, I would have no regrets.

In Zhang Yuanyan's heart, they would not stay in the fort for long. Both he and Gong Liulang would have to leave sooner or later.

He immediately said, "Since that's the case, we are willing to do our bit for the fort."

"It would be great if Lord Zhang is willing to help." Wei Zhongxun did not refuse. In the current weather, the sooner the public kitchen is built, the better.

They chatted for a while, and thinking that they had been traveling in the snow without any rest, Wei Zhongxun ordered the people from Mingjingtang to take them down and settle down first.

The clan had already made arrangements on how to accommodate the people in the granary.

Several empty houses in the area north of the fort were allocated for use by the Yizhou Army. The number of officers and soldiers was small, so there was no need to accommodate them by household. A three-story house could accommodate more than a dozen people.

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