If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

As soon as Xu Qingshan finished speaking, more than a dozen figures appeared below the city.

Some people carried bundles, some held children's hands, and two dilapidated carts slowly came to a stop beside the snowy road.

The number of people gathered kept increasing.

The garrison at Duanhebao did not open the gate.

Liang Shun stood on the gate tower and first had his soldiers rearrange the barricades behind the side gate.

"Lord Garrison Commander."

"Should we let it in first?"

Xu Qingshan looked out of the city.

The people at the very front were so cold their faces turned blue.

An old woman was holding a child and tearing off her sleeve to wrap around the child's ankle.

Several men nearby also shrank their necks and stomped their feet.

If they were made to stand there for another hour, several of them would probably collapse first.

"Open the outer door."

"Only enter the barbican."

"Put down all weapons."

"Register them one by one."

Liang Shun immediately gave the order.

The heavy city gate opened a crack.

The defending troops first deployed two rows of barricades, and then allowed the refugees to enter the barbican in batches.

Hunting bows, machetes, and short spears were all placed against the wall.

Even the adze at the carpenter's waist was temporarily taken away.

The old craftsman was getting anxious.

"This thing can't be considered a weapon, can it?"

Hou San sat inside the city gate, basking in the sun.

"Is it permissible to kill someone?"

"able."

"Then that's settled."

"Where's the hammer?"

"I'll accept that too."

"chisel?"

"receive."

The old craftsman's face turned black.

"So, after I go in, I'll use my teeth to fix the city wall for you?"

Hou San thought about it seriously for a moment.

"If your teeth are strong enough, it's not impossible."

The soldiers next to him were so trying not to laugh that their shoulders were shaking.

The old craftsman grumbled as he handed over the toolbox.

Shen Qinghe had already moved the long table to the foot of the barbican.

Two clerks sat beside him.

When the first person came over, she asked directly, "Name?"

"Zhao Dahe".

"Place of origin".

Xikou Village, Linhe County.

How many people are in your family?

"Three people."

"What?"

"I farm and know a little woodworking."

"Why come to the north wall?"

Zhao Dahe rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold.

My hometown was flooded last year.

"The fields are gone."

"I was originally going to find work outside Yunzhou City, but I heard from the Shuntong caravan that the Northern Army in Beiqiang Town was taking in refugees and would give them land after they cleared the wasteland."

Shen Qinghe looked up.

"Who told you to distribute the land directly?"

Zhao Dahe was stunned.

That's what they all say.

Hou San sighed beside him.

"The news that Manager Su spread had already become, as the caravan members said, that they could get a free meal as soon as they entered the door."

Xu Qingshan said, "We'll have to split up sooner or later."

"Let them speak first."

Shen Qinghe continued to register.

Place of origin, age, family members, skills, and whether or not they have served in the military.

For each question asked, someone would double-check it.

The forty-odd people were quickly divided into several categories.

The largest group consisted of ordinary migrants who brought their families with them.

Seven hunters.

One blacksmith.

There are three carpenters.

Two people who know how to fix wheels.

There were also nine bachelors, all of whom claimed to have previously worked as bodyguards for wealthy families.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingshan walked over.

"A bodyguard?"

The burly man at the front nodded.

"right."

Which one?

"There is a wealthy family surnamed Han in the south of Yunzhou."

"How many years have you been working there?"

Three years.

Xu Qingshan looked at his hand.

Calluses on the tiger's mouth.

There is also hard skin on the outer side of the index and middle fingers.

Unlike holding a stick for many years.

It's more like drawing a bow.

Look down again.

Although the trouser legs were covered in mud, the shoe uppers were very new.

The wear on the heel is also very neat.

Xu Qingshan asked, "Can you ride a horse?"

The burly man paused for a moment.

"I know a little."

Hou San poked his head over from the side.

"The bodyguards even teach horseback riding?"

"The master has a horse."

"I help hold the hand occasionally."

Xu Qingshan smiled.

"Can leading a horse cause calluses on the inner thighs?"

The burly man's expression froze.

The barbican became much quieter afterward.

Several guards had already placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

The burly man hurriedly replied, "I've made a few trade trips before."

"I've ridden too much."

Xu Qingshan nodded.

"OK."

"Stand on the left first."

The burly man breathed a sigh of relief.

The other eight people who were with him were also called over.

Hou San asked in a low voice, "Is everything problematic?"

"not necessarily."

Xu Qingshan said, "But the nine bachelors are all guards, and they just happen to be coming to Duanhe Fort together."

Do you think it's a coincidence?

Hou San thought for a moment.

"When I used to gamble, I would often lose nine hands in a row in one night."

"That's quite a coincidence."

Xu Qingshan glanced at him.

"That's just mediocre."

Hou San shut up.

…………

The registration process lasted for half an hour.

More than twenty people arrived from outside the city.

Shen Qinghe simply added a table on the other side of the barbican.

Liang Shun sent people to heat up two large pots.

Each person who has registered receives a bowl of hot porridge.

Children and the elderly should take half a spoonful more.

Normal intake for young adults.

Anyone who wants to receive another one must take a wooden sign and wait in line for the second round.

Zhao Dahe squatted by the wall, holding a bowl of porridge, and sweat dripped from his nose as he drank.

The old craftsman next to him had already brought back his toolbox.

He had just taken two sips when Bai Zhi came over.

"You said you can fix cars?"

The old craftsman looked up.

"meeting."

"What about the axles?"

"meeting."

"Crossbow mount?"

"It depends on how it looks."

Bai Zhi threw a broken crossbow bracket in front of him.

"have a look."

The old craftsman touched it a couple of times.

"The mortise and tenon joint is too shallow."

"All the force is concentrated on the outer edge."

"It cracks after firing a dozen or so shots."

Bai Zhi finally glanced at him again.

"What's your name?"

"Ma Fu".

"Go to the workshop tomorrow."

The old craftsman carries a bowl of porridge.

"Is there really any pay?"

"There is food."

"That's fine too."

Hou San remarked from the side, "The requirements are quite low."

Ma Fu glared at him.

"If you're so capable, try starving yourself for three days before you talk to me about wages."

Hou San lowered his head and touched his stomach.

"Never mind then."

The first batch of truly useful people were thus selected.

Hunters can act as scouts.

Craftsmen can repair castles.

Those who know how to farm will wait until the wasteland is measured later.

Xu Qingshan instructed Shen Qinghe to first register these people as temporary households.

For seven days, they will only be issued rations, without being allocated land or incorporated into the regular military households.

We'll decide where to go after their identities are verified.

Upon hearing this, one of the homeless people asked, "Are you still going to investigate?"

Xu Qingshan said, "Of course."

"The north wall provides food and land."

"But I also need to know who comes in with a knife to guard someone else's door, count soldiers, or raid the granary."

As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the nine "guards" on his left.

Three of them clearly avoided eye contact.

…………

afternoon.

The nine people were questioned separately.

Liu Ruyan had just returned from Black Wind Stronghold and sat down at the interrogation table without even changing her outer robe.

The first person still insisted that he was a bodyguard.

The second person changed his story, saying he had worked as a courier for caravans.

The third person said he had worked as a temporary worker at the horse farm for two years.

The three statements were placed together.

Even the question of whether the wealthy Han family lived in the south or west of Yunzhou City doesn't match up.

Liu Ruyan picked up the first one.

"How's your relationship?"

The man opposite said, "We just met on the way."

"You knew he'd worked as a hospital nurse for three years just from meeting him?"

The man remained silent.

"Who suggested coming to Broken River Fortress first?"

"It was decided by everyone."

"Who are you all?"

"..."

Liu Ruyan put the paper down.

"Next one."

When they got to the fifth person, the other party finally revealed their true colors.

He had a previous injury to his right foot.

Slightly turn your head outwards when you walk.

Ah Man entered, glanced at the door, and said, "I've met you before."

The man's expression changed drastically.

Xu Qingshan asked, "Where?"

"The post road north of Yunzhou."

Aman said, "When Lord Tang first came to Blackstone Fortress, I saw the patrolling cavalry from afar."

"He was riding a military horse."

"I used to wear a number plate around my waist."

The people inside the room all looked at the man at the same time.

He turned and rushed out the door.

Gao Bai, who was guarding the door, tripped over it.

The man fell to the ground.

Two soldiers immediately pressed down and twisted their hands behind their backs.

Hou San stood outside the door.

"This guard is quite skilled."

"The Han family treats people very well."

The man gritted his teeth.

"I used to be a soldier!"

Xu Qingshan walked up to him.

Which battalion?

"Left early!"

"Where's the license plate?"

"It's lost!"

Ah Man squatted down and felt around inside his boot.

A small, hard object was quickly pulled out.

Made of copper.

Two fingers wide.

The edges were polished until they shone.

The front is engraved with the character "巡".

The back features a serial number commonly used in the Yunzhou army.

Hou San glanced at it.

"It's deeply ingrained."

"They've all been thrown into the boots."

The man shut up completely.

Liu Ruyan took the number plate.

"The other eight will continue to be tried separately."

Ask them how many beacon towers they had seen along the way, how many gates the Iron Gate Fortress had, and how deep the water was in the shallows of the Broken River.

"Real refugees wouldn't keep track of these things along the way."

Xu Qingshan asked, "Where should we lock this person up first?"

"Keep them in separate rooms."

Liu Ruyan said, "Don't let him know whether the others have spoken."

…………

The results came out in the evening.

Of the nine, four were indeed deserters and disorganized soldiers.

Unable to make a living outside Yunzhou City, they came over together when they heard that the North Wall was recruiting people.

The other five testimonies never matched.

Old military badges were found on two of them.

Another person had a thin piece of paper hidden in the lining of their clothing.

The writing on the paper was very simple.

Approximate number of soldiers guarding the iron gate.

The number of grain wagons at Duanhebao has increased.

Changes in the warhorses of Blackstone Fortress.

Finally, leave a few blank lines.

There were three words written next to it.

New recruits.

Xu Qingshan finished reading the paper.

"The news travels fast."

Black Wind Stronghold was only captured a few days ago.

The news that Sibao was preparing to expand its population had just spread.

In Yunzhou, some people have already followed the refugees and crawled into the north wall.

Hou San said, "Lord Tang said last night that the next one to come might not necessarily be an assassin."

"This time you're quite polite."

"Even the knife was hidden."

Liu Ruyan asked the captured patrolmen, "Who sent you?"

The other person had their head down.

"Nobody's here."

"We just want to make a living."

Hou San picked up the paper.

"You're just a freeloader, yet you remember how many horses Blackstone Castle had?"

"Afraid the horse will finish its meal?"

The other person's lips twitched.

Xu Qingshan did not continue the trial.

"Keep it locked for now."

"Ask again tomorrow."

Liu Ruyan looked at him.

"Are you trying to leak information?"

Xu Qingshan nodded.

"They want to see how the North Wall expands its army."

"Then show it to them."

"Starting tomorrow, Sibao will be openly recruiting."

"Hunters, blacksmiths, carpenters, coachmen, and retired soldiers are all welcome."

"It would be best if you could bring your family."

"We'll take in anything that can be cleared."

Shen Qinghe asked, "What about the food rations?"

"Provide seven days' worth of temporary assistance first."

"After seven days, their identities will be verified, and they will be transferred to either military or civilian household status."

"Those willing to join the army will be tested separately."

Xu Qingshan looked at the fake refugees who were being taken away.

"As for Yunzhou, they want to know how many people we have."

"Let them count slowly."

Hou San asked, "Are we really going to let them know?"

Xu Qingshan smiled.

"The number of people is increasing day by day."

"I'll see when they've counted to their correctness."

Outside the city gate, the last group of refugees also received hot porridge.

Night gradually fell.

But on the snowy road to the north, several clusters of moving lights appeared in the distance.

A larger force is approaching Broken River Fortress.

The soldiers guarding the city quickly arrived.

"Lord Garrison Commander!"

"Someone else is here!"

"At least a hundred this time!"

Xu Qingshan walked up to the gate tower.

The torches on the snow formed a long line.

There were also several oxcarts at the very front.

Hou San stood by and watched for a long time.

"Centurion."

"This time we're really not short of trouble."

Xu Qingshan looked at the approaching crowd.

"Let's boil the water first."

"Whether or not people enter the fortress will be decided after the investigation is completed."

"They need to smell the food first."