The thousand-year-old ancient city of Luoyang is shrouded in heavy snow. The entire city is covered with silver. If it were in previous years, even if this thousand-year-old ancient capital was in such cold weather, it would be surrounded by festive colors. Because it is the Chinese New Year, as the economic center of Daqi, the city has always been a little short of money. But this year, it is a bit different. There are still many people. Not only are there many people in the city, but there are also many outside the city. They are the people coming to flee from all over the country.

Across the wilderness outside the city, there were short sheds, filling the original open space. Some people walked into the city, while others were walking towards the wilderness further away.

Most of the people who go to the city are strong women and elderly people who are still strong, while those who go to the wilderness are half-aged children and the weak. Those who go to the city want to try their luck in the city to see if they can find some jobs and earn a little income. Those who go to the distance are preparing to go to the wilderness to see if they can find some food. If they are lucky, they may even be able to get a gopher nest, which can not only eat some meat, but also find some food hidden by these gopher.

There is no youth and strong, because the youth and strong have been organized by the court, either being trained into an army or being assigned to the people. This move is naturally to prevent these refugees from living a difficult life. Without youth and strong, some elderly, weak, women and children are naturally not in the eyes of the government.

One by one, like walking corpses, walked to the city gate, paid a copper coin for entry, and then spread out and flowed into the huge ancient city to find their meals for the day.

Compared with these people, the residents in the city and the people around the ancient city were in a slightly better situation, and at least they could maintain food and clothing. The economic controls implemented by the court did not include Luoyang. But even so, as the economic center of Qi, it had reached the brink of extreme danger. The court drew a large amount of money, and countless materials were also heavily pressed on the people of Luoyang.

The sound of wheels squeaking on the snow came from the road. An old man was wearing a patch and a single dress. In such a cold weather, his whole body was still steaming. The ropes he was wearing were deeply tied into his already skinny body, as if he had been tied into his bones.

The flatbed cart that should have been a cow or a horse or at least a donkey should have been pulled by a thin old car, and now it was dragged by a thin old car and advanced in the snow. Until we got closer, everyone discovered that there was an old woman with a thinner figure behind the flatbed car, almost pushing her shoulders against the rear edge of the flatbed car.

The soldiers guarding the city gate came over and opened the straw curtain on the car in the old man's flattering gaze. "Charcoal?" the soldier shouted in surprise.

The old woman walked over from behind the car with a hunched body, took out a few copper coins from her arms, and tried to stuff them into the box that was collected from the city tax at the door.

"Slow down!" The soldier reached out and stopped him.

"Official, we two, plus this cart of charcoal, have been at this price in previous years." The old woman shrunk and said authentically.

"I didn't say you didn't have enough money!" the soldier said impatiently, "I don't want your money today, and I'll just use some charcoal to make up the amount."

While speaking, several soldiers had already walked out of the cave in the city gate with a big blue slap, and without hesitation, they were pumping the top of the charcoal from the flatbed cart.

"Official, PM!" Seeing the soldiers put in a large basket of charcoal in the blink of an eye, the old woman's face was almost twitching. The old man pulled the old woman's torn clothes, shook his head silently, and signaled the old woman not to make a sound. The old woman lowered her head sadly and sobbed silently.

After loading a large basket of charcoal, several soldiers grabbed some more, and then waved their hands satisfied, "Go in, old man!"

The old man bowed at them, put the rope on his shoulders, and walked towards the city with a staggering pace.

Zhang Xun rode on the horse and witnessed all this happening. Because the flatbed truck was blocked at the city gate, he could only stop. Only when the old man and his wife walked into the city gate, he rode forward. He was not afraid of the soldiers like ordinary people. However, he was standing high on the horse and took out a small pocket, which jingled inside, afraid that there were dozens of copper coins, so he raised his hand and threw it at one of the soldiers.

"Master Yang, you're out of the city again. You always need to go in. You have to pay the money?" A man who looked like a sergeant said with a smile. It was obvious that Yang Xun's identity was not low.

"You can still save you some money. If you have more, go buy some wine to warm up your body." Yang Xun sneered and scolded: "You are really cruel. The old man brought a cart of charcoal like this, and you still have to pluck your hair by the geese. You are not afraid that God will hit you with thunder."

The sergeant collapsed: "Master Yang, who would do such a thing? Isn't that impossible? We are on duty here and can still hold on during the day. At night, it's like an ice hole. I finally saw a little charcoal, so how can I not get a little? Brothers can also get better at night, and it's not easy for anyone!"

"Can Xuncheng Camp lose your charcoal fire?" Yang Xun asked strangely.

"Master Yang, you don't know. Not to mention us, even the general of the General of the City Camp Camp did not make a fire and were transferred away. We were all suffering. Unlike Master Yang, you are a wealthy man!" The chief of soldiers said with a frown: "Now there is nothing in the city, and you can't buy these things at all."

Yang Xun nodded and said to the sergeant: "Thank you for your hard work." Then he rode his horse and left.

Luoyang is now in short supply, and there is no market price, so he can't buy things with money, because everything is now given priority to the army, and seasonal materials like firewood and charcoal are even more unavailable to buy. The charcoal kilns in the official camp will basically be loaded into the car after they are out of the cellar and sent directly to the front line army. No wonder these guys who patrol the city camp are like this.

The Yang family is a land-based household in Luoyang, a famous businessman. He does the uniform business of the army, from underwear to coats, from cotton coats to quilts, from hats to shoes, and his production workshop is in Lu Town several miles outside the city. Every few days, he always goes out of the city to inspect.

There were hundreds of thousands of field troops in the Great Qi alone. If the county soldiers from all over the country were added, millions could not be defeated. A few years ago, a few years ago, a large number of young and strong men were unemployed and became refugees due to frequent chaos. The policy of elite soldiers became empty talk. In order not to cause chaos, the court organized these young and strong men into the army in large numbers, which caused the number of troops in Qi to swell to more than two million.

Of course, the quantity has increased, but the quality has decreased. A qualified soldier cannot be used by those who have just put down their hoes.

Speaking of the increase in the number of troops, people like Yang Xun should be happy, because the number of troops is larger, the better his business will be. Although he can only take part of the orders, this can also make him a famous big merchant in Daqi. However, under the envious eyes of outsiders, Yang Xun still has his own suffering.

He was about to be unable to hold on.

If the big man behind him had not been able to speak in Chang'an and held power in his hand, I was afraid he would have gone bankrupt long ago. Because it was unconventional for the court to ask him for goods now. At the time point, if the goods were not delivered, it would be unceremonious, but when the bill was settled, the problem would be big.

In other words, the people behind him are still talking. The talents of the Ministry of War have barely given some face, and they will still make some more or less. However, over time, the expenses owed him by the court have been huge. Since this year, Yang Xun has been using his old foundation to maintain production. But he knows very well that if such days continue like this, he is not far from bankruptcy.

The key problem is that once bankrupt, if you cannot deliver the goods, it means that you have missed the military opportunity. This is a crime that will cause you to lose your head. The family is afraid that no one of them will escape.

Yang Xun knew that even in this Luoyang city, there were no wonder how many powerful people were coveting their own wealth. Even if there was no cash, the real estate, shops, and the most extensive garden in the city were all things that others wanted to plunder.

He was already preparing to go to Chang'an, and he couldn't wait to die like this.

At this time in previous years, the streets were full of traffic, lights and colorful, and the joy was everywhere. This year, people were still full of people. But when they looked up, they were all standing and their faces were dull. Even if there were some normal people, they were still sad and came and went in a hurry.

This is Luoyang!

Zhang Xun sighed in his heart, Luoyang is like this, but it is obvious that it is not a question about other places.

Is this Daqi really unable to hold on?

After turning a few streets, the streets became much deserted. These places live in either wealth or noble, or the court's yamen, and it was impossible for the refugees to come to this place. Yang Xun's brother lived on this street.

Just as he was about to speed up the horse, he suddenly heard a familiar voice. It was the old charcoal sold by the old couple he had met at the city gate before. He stopped the horse and looked in the direction of the sound. At the gate of the city camp, he saw several officers who were working together to pull the flatbed cart into the gate of the yamen. The old couple stood at the gate with joy on their faces. Perhaps they did not expect that as soon as they entered the city, they would meet these officers, and then they were taken here, claiming that they wanted to buy all his charcoal.

Yang Xun frowned slightly, feeling that things might not be that simple.

A moment later, another officer came out and handed it to the old man something.

Sure enough, the old man screamed: "What is this?"

"This is your charcoal sale certificate. Three months later, take this certificate and go to the patrol camp to collect the money." The officer left this sentence, turned around and walked into the gate. With a slam, the gate was closed in front of the old couple.

"Official, official, we don't need to make a certificate. We want money. Someone at home is sick. Wait for money to help you!" The old man and his wife rushed to the door and slapped the door hard, but there was no sound inside the door.

Yang Xun sighed and wanted to step forward. After taking two steps, he stopped again. He felt sorry for this old couple. Who would pity him? If he went bankrupt, not only would his family have a life, but he was afraid that the thousands of people who relied on him to make a living would also end up with this old couple? How many more could he save?

He hardened his heart and rode away.
Chapter completed!