"Qianqian agreed to marry? That's great, this girl finally figured it out."
In the study, Xue Wenju heard Shen Rumei's words and couldn't help but feel relieved. Xue Wenju had worried a lot about Xue Qianqian's marriage, and now his daughter was finally obedient.
"Then can we release our daughter? She has been locked up for so many days."
Shen Rumei spoke.
Xue Wenju said: "Since she has agreed to marry, there is no need to lock her up. Let her out."
Shen Rumei nodded and was about to leave when she remembered something, "Although Qianqian agreed, I'm afraid she's still thinking about the bandits. Will your husband really let those bandits get away with it?"
Hearing Shen Rumei's words, Xue Wenju's face darkened, "Don't worry, Madam. I have already reported to the government office. The officers and soldiers are on their way. Those bandits can't escape."
Just then, the county lieutenant ran in.
"Sir, there are many refugees outside, go and take a look."
Xue Wenju was shocked to see refugees coming to Ruifeng County, and he got up and left in a hurry.
…
Inn, Pei Yun left early in the morning.
Before he reached the city gate, he found that there were officials guarding the city gate with portraits to compare with the people going out. This shocked him. Was he wanted?
He didn't dare to take any risks and went back to the inn.
I bought Hanfu and cosmetics from the mall, ready to change my look.
He had made a cross-dressing video in modern society before. After putting on makeup, he was a completely different person. When he put on Hanfu, no one would be able to recognize that he was Pei Yun.
After he was ready, he walked towards the city gate again, but found that the gate was closed, which made Pei Yun frown.
I already changed my clothes, but they still closed the city gate. They really don't want me to go out, right?
Just then, he saw Xue Wenju and the officials hurriedly heading towards the city gate. Seeing Xue Wenju's serious expression, could something have happened?
…
Thousands of refugees have gathered outside Ruifeng County. They are all ragged, skinny, and have expressions of fear on their faces, as if they have encountered something terrible.
They all came from the neighboring Taoyuan County, and the Zhang family and other Taoyuan County gentry were among these refugees.
It’s just that these nobles no longer have the glory they once had, so they only dress a little better than other refugees.
"These untouchables deserve to die!"
Zhang Zeshan looked at the refugees around him and could hardly contain his murderous intent.
The Zhang family originally brought a lot of supplies with them on the journey, but they were robbed by these hungry refugees along the way. Even with servants, they could not stop the refugees from fighting over the supplies.
Although many refugees were killed, the Zhang family's servants were also killed or wounded.
Not only the Zhang family, but also the nobles and wealthy families in Taoyuan County who set out with supplies were robbed by the refugees.
The starving refugees don’t care about your noble family or wealthy family. They just want something to eat and to survive.
Therefore, the nobles and wealthy families in Taoyuan County were all miserable at this moment and hated these refugees to the core.
When they arrived in Ruifeng County and saw that the city gate was closed, Zhang Zeshan became even angrier.
He yelled at the city wall, "Open the door! I am Zhang from Taoyuan County. Open the door quickly and let us in!"
The other nobles also shouted.
The refugees were also somewhat restless. After the heavy rain a few days ago, the weather had become even colder. If they were not allowed to enter the city, they might freeze to death outside.
Although there is no place to live inside, at least there is a windproof wall, which is better than being outside.
Xue Wenju appeared on the city wall at this time. Zhang Zhen hurried over and looked up and shouted, "Brother Xue, let us into the city quickly."
Xue Wenju was surprised to see Zhang Zhen. What happened in Taoyuan County? The Zhang family was the most powerful family in Taoyuan County, but how could they become refugees?
"Brother Zhang, what happened to you guys? Are the Nanman attacking us?"
Xue Wenjuan said that these nobles would only flee if a war broke out.
"Plague, there's a plague in Taoyuan County!"
"Sir, please be kind and let us in."
"We don't want food, we just want to avoid this plague."
Before Zhang Zhen could even open his mouth, the other refugees had already started begging.
Hearing what these refugees said, Xue Wenju's pupils suddenly shrank. After a great disaster, there will be a great epidemic. He had thought about the epidemic, so he had issued an order long ago that any dead body in the family must be buried deeper.
Unexpectedly, Taoyuan County was the first to break out in the plague.
"Sir, we can't let them in. Who knows if they are infected with the plague?"
County Lieutenant Wang Zhiyuan spoke in a low voice.
Xue Wenju's face was solemn. His eyes swept across the haggard yet expectant faces of the refugees, and then looked at the miserable faces of the Taoyuan County gentry.
"Brother Zhang, this matter is too serious. I need to think about it carefully."
Seeing that Xue Wenju refused to open the door, Zhang Zhen knew what he was worried about, so he said, "Brother Xue, I can guarantee that no one in my Zhang family is infected with the virus. If someone is infected, they will not survive for more than a day."
"The fact that we were able to escape here is enough to prove that we are not infected. If you don't believe it, you can ask the doctor in the city to check it out."
Other nobles also started shouting.
"Mr. Xue, my noble family has a complex network of connections in the court. If you don't let us enter the city, I'm afraid we will run into obstacles on our road to promotion in the future."
"Brother Zhang has already told me that we are not infected, but you still insist on not opening the door. What is your intention? Do you want to make enemies with us nobles?"
"Xue Wenju, please don't be confused. We, the nobles, have made great contributions to the court. Now that we are in trouble, you want to shut us out. If something really happens to us, can you bear the consequences?"
"Yes, we all brought doctors with us, and we traveled separately from the refugees to ensure that we would not be infected. Why don't you open the door quickly? Do you really want us to write a letter and send it to the capital?"
“…”
A group of nobles threatened.
Xue Wenju was in a difficult situation. The gentry was an extremely powerful force that monopolized official positions and influenced government affairs. Although the gentry in Taoyuan County were not high-ranking nobles, they could not be underestimated if they united.
The county magistrate also appeared on the city wall at this time. Hearing the threats from these nobles, he whispered, "Sir, since they have a doctor with them, they should not be infected with the disease."
"Why not let them enter the city first, and then arrange a separate place for them to prevent them from contacting others? Then we can ask the best doctors to check them. If they are really not infected, we will let them out."
Xue Wenju nodded. This was the only way now.
He said to Wang Zhiyuan, "Go and mobilize all the officials to maintain order. If you don't have enough manpower, go and borrow from the nobles. Only the nobles are allowed to enter the city."
Wang Zhiyuan took the order and left.
Xue Wenju looked at the nobles below the city and said, "Please be patient, I will let you enter the city before dark."
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