758: A Blind Cat Bumps into a Dead Rat (Part Two) [Taking a Day Off]

Sibao Prefecture, Xiaocheng.

While the flames of war spread across Yanzhou and Ganzhou, Sibao Prefecture, Longwu Commandery, and Minfeng Commandery were all unusually peaceful. More precisely, the first two were peaceful. Minfeng Commandery had erupted in turmoil a little over a month ago, but the unrest had been quelled before it could gain momentum.

In the shade, the refugees hoping to make their way to Minfeng Commandery wore long faces.

"How did Minfeng Commandery end up in turmoil?"

Because of a manpower shortage and strained finances, among other reasons, the government office had issued a notice: refugees were forbidden from entering until Minfeng Commandery was truly stable, to prevent bandits from gathering and causing trouble. First offenders would be driven out; second offenders would be flogged; those who refused to mend their ways would be beaten to death!

Faced with such ironclad orders, few dared to knowingly defy them.

"Why are you so set on going to Minfeng? Isn't Sibao good enough?" An older woman resting in the shade didn't much like hearing that.

Of the three commanderies, Longwu was the safest, but it had stopped accepting refugees. Minfeng had the fewest people and the poorest land. Sibao lay between the two. It might not have been the best or worst of the three, but the government office had begun a major overhaul, and everywhere was flourishing.

Where could you find a government office better than this one?

The refugees' leader looked troubled.

Sibao Prefecture was naturally a good place. Their group had fled Yanzhou, and along the way people had died of illness and hunger or been killed by roadside bandits... Their entire village had been reduced to less than a third of its original size. The village head had a relative in Minfeng, so they had planned to