Zhang Zhaoci thought for a moment and said, "Let the north wind blow in winter, so that when we use the chili powder, it doesn't blow all the way to our side."

This is the third winter that the Xu family has come to Hexi. The first winter, a small group of Northern Di people attacked a nearby county town, burned, killed, and looted before running away. Last winter, nothing happened. The closer it gets to this time of year, the more anxious everyone becomes.

Xu Rao led the county government officials in repeated drills, practicing what each person would do and how to do it if the Northern Di attacked. He even took people out to the streets to practice.

This was a novel thing. The people in the county government office found it interesting, and they also thought that if the Northern Di people really came, this kind of drill might actually be useful. So they followed Magistrate Xu's instructions very seriously.

After reviewing Xu Rao's exercise plan, Clerk Li found it feasible. The plan not only simulated how the county government would organize personnel to support the defense of Yanmen Pass after the arrival of the Northern Di people, but also what the county government would do if Yanmen Pass were breached. This included how to organize personnel to defend the city, who would be responsible for transporting supplies, who would be responsible for organizing the evacuation of the county's residents, where they would evacuate, and how to organize the evacuation. All of this was written in great detail.

After seeing the plan, Magistrate Qian didn't say anything at the time, but privately he said to others, "Our Magistrate Xu has really lost his mind. The Northern Di are attacking, and you still have time to arrange these things? Besides, things on the battlefield can change in an instant. Can you guarantee that the Northern Di will act according to the plan you've made?"

Magistrate Qian not only told those around him about it, but also wrote a letter to his patron about it. As a result, Xu Rao was once again criticized for wasting manpower and money and for being nonsensical.

The magistrate's backer not only told his subordinates about his evaluation of Xu Rao, but also sent someone to reprimand him. After the people from the Ganzhou prefect's side left, Xu Rao sat dejectedly in the county office, feeling that it was too difficult to do anything sincerely, and he really couldn't hold on any longer.

After escorting the man to Shili Pavilion outside the city, Clerk Li hurried back. Seeing Xu Rao's disheartened expression, he sat down beside him and said, "Magistrate Xu, I think what you did was right. We shouldn't listen to those people. We should just do what we're supposed to do. We're near Yanmen Pass, so if anything happens, we should be the first to respond. If we train more often, it will be a lifesaver when the time comes."