He looked at the line of refugees before him, his brows furrowed. After a while, a sneer crept onto his face. 。He waved at the back, and after a while, a man on horseback rode over. The leader whispered a few words in this man's ear, while at the same time giving the crowd of refugees a cold look. The subordinate listened and nodded, all the while smiling brightly at the refugees. 。After the horses drove away, the entire army formation immediately began to stretch out, starting from both sides to gather the refugee team together. Seeing this scene, Xiao Lin's face darkened, and his heart sank as well. 。Soon, thousands of refugees were gathered in a heap, black as night, all looking at the scar-faced army leader with terrified faces, their hearts filled with unease. 。A satisfied look crossed the scarred face of the warlord as he gazed upon the throngs of black-clad figures. However, this smile did not bestow upon him an air of amiability; instead, it added a touch of eerie and terrifying grotesqueness. 。"I, Liu Dali, deputy lieutenant of Huai County, am ordered to suppress bandits in Tianlu Mountain and its surroundings in Nan Prefecture. I need to recruit some laborers to transport siege equipment. All healthy men over twelve years old are eligible to join. Those who join will receive five steamed buns as settling-in allowance. After the bandits are wiped out, we will also arrange for those recruited to ensure their safety and stability." 。The crowd of black people stood up at once. If this were normal times, no one would care about such a small sum for settling down, some might even say it was pitiful. But now things were different. Most of these refugees had been on the road for days, and they could collapse on the street at any moment. In this situation, five steamed buns weren't just a few meals; they represented a chance to survive. Soon, some people stepped out from the crowd, expressing their willingness to be conscripted. 。Seeing this scene, Xiao Lin sighed. He understood that these people who came out were not for themselves, but for their families to survive. After all, with these five steamed buns, there was a glimmer of hope. 。Soon, the group of soldiers set up several tents and tables along the roadside, and began to register the conscripted laborers. 。"Father, I'm going... " 。"Holding back his father, who wanted to sign up, Xiao Lin said with a smile. He knew his father's physique was frail and, coupled with the old injuries from hunting, they were flaring up again under this circumstance. If he truly went to work as a laborer, he might die on the way before even reaching the bandits' nest." 。Brother 。Xiao Zhi, who was a year younger than Xiao Lin, had red eyes. She knew that once her brother left, she probably would never see him again. 。"Little Chi, be good. When your brother is gone, you must take good care of Father and wait for him in Huai County. Your brother will definitely come to find you." 。",“A childish voice came from behind. Without looking back, Xiao Lin knew it was Xiao Shi, who had grown up with him. Xiao Shi’s father was a blacksmith. Their family used to be quite well-off in the village, but unexpectedly, a year ago, his father and elder brother were conscripted into the army and never returned. Leaving behind him, his younger brother, and sister, his mother died a few months ago before they fled their homes. Unable to bear it, Xiao Shi, who was a year older than Xiao Lin, could only take his younger siblings with him.” 。"You're out, what about your younger siblings" Xiao Lin's face showed surprise. 。"What else can we do Let Uncle Xiao help take care of it. Hopefully, we can wipe out the bandits soon and then return to Huai County." 。Xiao Shi sighed. 。Xiao Lin remained silent. He knew that Xiao Shi was referring to his own father when he mentioned Xiao Shu. This was unavoidable. Xiao Shi's situation was similar to his own. Without these few steamed buns, the three of them wouldn't be able to survive. It would be better to exchange a few steamed buns and allow his younger siblings a chance to live on. 。Soon, it was time for Xiao Lin. 。,Clearly, he was very satisfied with what Xiao Shi said. The army did not make things difficult for Xiao Lin and nodded, writing the two characters "Xiao Lin" on the roster. 。After receiving the steamed buns from Xiao Shi, they returned to the ranks of the refugees. 。They took out four of the ten steamed buns and gave them to Xiao Shan and three children. Then they wrapped up the rest in cloth and handed it to Xiao Shan. 。。