Cao Xin led the county officials outside the city and saw thousands of ragged mountain people lined up densely in the open space in front of the South Camp.

On the Feishui Bridge in the distance, there are still groups of refugees constantly gathering. The queue is very long. Those in the front have crossed the Feishui River, and those behind are still in Huoshan. The end can't be seen at a glance.

"General, we are back."

Li Da eyes clapped his horse and rushed over.

"Big Eyes, you did a great job this time!"

Cao Xin praised without hesitation.

"Haha, general, this is just the first wave. Old Zhang Yudu is still arresting people in the mountains, and he will send more than 10,000 people in two days. General, don't blame us for being too good at doing things."

Li Dayan reined in his horse and laughed.

"Don't worry, 20,000 people won't be a problem for me. You continue to catch them. If there are 100,000, I want 100,000."

Cao Xin waved his hand confidently.

"Understood, General!"

"Xiao Xian, are the meals ready?"

Cao Xin asked Mao Jie.

"Sir, the corn porridge has been prepared and can be delivered at any time."

Mao Jie waved towards the city.

"Put the porridge on!"

"The county governor has an order, put out the porridge!"

“The county governor has an order, let’s put the porridge on!!”

With a loud shout, barrels of gruel were brought out from the city and lined up in a long line in the open space. The barrels were filled with corn porridge. The hot aroma rose into the sky and could be smelled within ten miles.

When the mountain people smelled the aroma of porridge, they became restless one by one. After walking for a day on the road, they were already hungry. Some people were worried that there was not enough porridge, so they ran forward secretly, trying to fish in troubled waters.

Bang~

The Langya soldiers who maintained order wielded their scabbards and severely knocked down a dozen mountain people who were running around.

"Stand still for me. No jumping in line or crowding. Come to our Wancheng city, abide by our rules and follow our arrangements. I guarantee that all of you will have food to eat. Anyone who dares to run around again will be shot to death!"

Niu Jin stood on a high place and shouted with a loudspeaker.

Seeing the people running around being knocked to the ground and wondering whether they were alive or dead, the other people shrank their necks and stood in line obediently.

Cao Xin stood aside and looked around, then called Liao Hua, Li Yan, and Niu Jin to give some instructions. After a while, Liao Hua and a few people moved in three big stones.

The three stones weigh about 300 kilograms, 200 kilograms, and 100 kilograms respectively.

Li Yan brought some food. He placed a basket of roast chicken behind 300 kilograms of stones, a dozen cages of hot steamed buns behind 200 kilograms of stones, and a dozen buckets of porridge behind 100 kilograms of stones.

"General, what are you doing, giving them roast chicken?"

Li Dayan sniffed and asked.

"You'll find out soon."

Cao Xin pointed at Niu Jin on the high platform and said.

"Attention! Attention, mountain people!"

Niu Jin shouted loudly with a loudspeaker, "You are in luck. The general has sent word that he will recruit troops on the spot. Any mountain man who can lift 300 kilograms of stones can receive a roast chicken; anyone who can lift 200 kilograms of stones can

Those who can carry 100 kilograms of stone will receive two steamed buns; those who can move 100 kilograms of stone will receive a bowl of thick porridge in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. Strong mountain residents are welcome to come and take the test."

Hearing the shouts, many mountain people looked at the food on the table. The golden and shiny roast chicken made people salivate just looking at it. The big, white and round food next to them, I heard it was called steamed buns, smelled very delicious too.

.

Many people wanted to eat, but when they heard that they were recruiting soldiers, they all backed down.

Soldiers are the quickest to die these days. Many of them went to the mountains to become bandits in order to avoid military service. Naturally, they would not go to the battlefield to die again.

Niu Jin shouted twice, but only two mountain men walked out of the queue and ran over to move the stones. One chose a 200-jin stone and the other chose a 100-jin stone.

The two picked up the stone, walked three steps, and passed the test.

"What are your names?"

Cao Xin asked casually.

"General, my dear, Zhao Erping, is from Gepo, Wancheng. This is my brother Liu Heiwu from the same village. You guys are kowtowing to the general."

The two bandits lay on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"That's right, let's go get the reward!"

"Thank you, General! Thank you, General!"

The soldier on duty gave Liu Heiwu a bowl of thick corn porridge.

Zhao Erping was given two steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. Zhao Erping took the steamed buns, smelled them, and tried to take a bite. His expression was surprised, and then he took another big bite. He finished one steamed bun in three bites and devoured it.

"Haha, Lao Liao, the first time you ate steamed buns, you looked exactly like that guy and almost choked to death."

Li Dayan joked beside him.

"Don't talk about me, the same goes for you."

Liao Hua laughed and said.

Cao Xin also smiled. When he made steamed buns for the first time, several yellow scarf leaders gathered around a cage of white and soft steamed buns and looked at them for a long time, not knowing how to start.

Zhang Baiqi was the first to be unable to resist. He picked up one and took a bite. Then he went into a frantic eating state, holding a bun in each hand. The others saw him eating so happily and started to devour it.

"General!"

Niu Jin rode over and said, "What should I do if no one comes?"

Cao Xin frowned and thought for a while, but his wisdom was too low to come up with a good idea.

"Sir, I have an immature idea."

Li Yan came up and said.

"Oh, let's hear what Zhengfang says."

Cao Xin smiled.

Li Yan cupped his hands and smiled and said, "This man is not afraid of poverty or death, but he is afraid of comparing himself to others. You are not as good as this." Li Yan slowly revealed his clever idea.

Cao Xin's eyes lit up after hearing this, "Big eyes, do as you are told!"

"Yes, General!"

Li Dayan took Zhao Erping and Liu Heiwu into Nanda Camp, and after a while, he took the two people out again.

At this time, Zhao Erping was wearing the Liuye Xuanjia of the Langya Army Infantry Battalion, brand-new cowhide boots, carrying a waist knife, and his hair was tied on his head. After washing, his whole person became majestic, completely different from the ragged mountain people just now.

Liu Heiwu was wearing the leather armor of Cao Jun's infantry, brand-new leather armor, and brand-new cloth shoes, and he no longer looked as wretched as before.

The two of them raised their heads, puffed out their chests, and imitated the wide strides of Langya recruits, walking very grandly.

Niu Jin led the two mountain men through the procession. He held a loudspeaker as he walked and introduced the experiences of the two people. He said that the two had passed the examination and were appreciated by the prefect, who had given them armor and leather armor.

Zhao Erping and Liu Heiwu were wearing brand-new armor and strode behind Liao Huahua. Their clothes were clean and tidy, they were full of energy and their faces were red. They were in sharp contrast to the ragged and hungry mountain people.

Soon, dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of people came over to take the assessment, hoping to put on leather armor and become more like those two people.

"Haha, Zhengfang, you did a good job."

"It's the adults who lead well."

Li Yan cupped his hands and smiled.

Cao Xin laughed loudly and pointed at more and more mountain people,

"Yuanjian, from now on, only those who can lift 300 kilograms will be eligible to join the Langya Infantry Battalion New Soldier Camp, those who can lift 200 kilograms will join the city defender infantry battalion, and those who can lift 100 kilograms will join the militia battalion."

"Yes, General!"

——

The first assessment lasted for seven days. Among more than 20,000 mountain residents, 22 people passed the 300-jin test, 254 people passed the 200-jin test, and 927 people passed the 100-jin test.

In addition, more than a hundred archers with good archery skills, more than 60 craftsmen, traveling doctors, and scholars were selected.

After selecting these strong and educated people, most of the remaining people are the old, weak, sick, disabled, women and children, which is also convenient for management.

These 20,000 people were placed in several counties under the jurisdiction to reclaim wasteland, build water conservancy projects, and build villages. When the farms were built, the mountain residents would receive land and houses and become new residents of Nanyang.

In addition, Zhang Baiqi and others were still recruiting people in the mountains. The population under Wancheng's rule was increasing, and Cao Xin's troops gradually exceeded 20,000.

But problems also arise. The population of Wancheng increases, the number of soldiers also increases, and more and more food and grass are consumed.

He is going to take people out to fight and earn some food, grass and attribute points, just like last time.

But before he could leave, Prime Minister Cao announced that he would send 50,000 troops to Chen State to attack the rebel Yuan Shu, and called on all the princes in the world to jointly attack Yuan Shu.

Sun Ce from Jiangdong, Lu Bu from Xuzhou, and Liu Bei from Xiaopei all responded to the call and sent troops to Chen to help out, and the world was turbulent.
To be continued...