When the dwarven refugees, dressed in thin clothing and starving, arrived at the tent area intended for their shelter, they were simply dumbfounded by everything in front of them.
Prisoners of war were tirelessly working on the side, expanding this massive new "city." The streets had already been cleared, with snow piled on either side, and looking further out, there were countless tents spreading as far as the eye could see.
Yes, all tents. Dwarf won holding basins peacefully watched their newly arrived compatriots, a faint smile on their faces. They did not resemble victims who had lost their holand but appeared more like ordinary people returning to a peaceful life.
"Hold onto your belongings! Keep up! Cooperate with the staff and don’t cause trouble for others!" Upon entering here, the shout was no longer made by Tang Army soldiers, but by a dwarf carrying a rifle.
His attire was peculiar: a bright red wool coat with a double-breasted design that was quite stylish, a military belt strapped outside, and a cozy-looking fur hat on his head.
This outfit had no combat attributes. In the snow, in the woods, or even in the city, it was ant to be conspicuous.
Wearing this gear made one easily recognizable, difficult to lose sight of in a crowd. It was evident that the Tang Army had put careful thought into issuing this "uniform" to the dwarf prisoners maintaining order.
Dressed in cotton clothes underneath, with a coat and leather boots, the dwarven soldiers, now looking more spirited than before, maintained the prisoners’ formation, making sure they kept moving forward in line.
As they walked, a stout female dwarf assigned these refugees: "Six people per tent! If you know soone, stay together and don’t separate! If a family has four people, five people, or more... then continue walking forward! Don’t stop!"
"Families of three, two families per group! Once paired with another family, co to ! Turn left at the next intersection!" A female dwarf holding a signboard on the roadside shouted continuously through a gaphone.
The previously quiet shelter suddenly beca noisy as dwarves, bewildered and unsure, followed familiar faces ahead, eventually reaching an empty tent belonging to them.
"Alright! This area is yours now! The number tag is proof of tent usage and also serves as your ID, don’t lose it! All six!" A dwarf responsible for arranging their accommodation stuffed aluminum tags stamped with numbers into the hands of several dwarves, advising them, "I live in the first tent in this row, I am your supervisor. If you need anything, you can co find ."
He pointed to himself: "There will be supplies distributed here every day, and n need to help out. The timings are once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Don’t think it’s burdenso; it’s for you to carry the food, and get drinking water... If you feel too tired, you can skip it."
While speaking, he led a few bewildered individuals into the tent and instructed the others following not to move around: "You wait here, I’ll co out after explaining a few things inside and then take you to the next tent."
Entering the tent, he began speaking in a familiar, uninterrupted flow: "Over there are two basins, one for each family. On the small cabinet next to the basin is soap, on the bed are blankets, also cotton clothes for you. The children’s clothes might be a bit large; if they’re too big, let know."
"Shoes are under the bed... food is distributed per person, instant noodles and so bread, don’t be surprised. I know it’s better than what you had before, but these things are indeed prepared for you." After finishing, he moved to the entrance: "I’ll return after I’m done, familiarize yourselves with your new ho."
Several dwarf refugees really had many questions to ask, but before they could even ask one, they saw the efficient female dwarf walk out. She continued leading other dwarves forward, moving to another tent.
"My God, are all these things for us?" The father of a child looked at the various supplies piled on the bed in astonishnt, hardly believing his eyes.
His and his wife’s cotton clothes had been snatched away by the dwarven soldiers, their food ransacked completely, and those damned brutes hadn’t even spared the child’s clothes...
However, the broadcast ntioned those outsiders, the ones who would kill them, surprisingly prepared new cotton clothes and so much food for them...
"Can I eat this?" Beside another family, a few-year-old child pointed at the bread on the bed, swallowing nervously as he asked, "Mom?"
"Not sure. I just heard that woman say these were prepared for us, right? Since they’re ours, surely we can eat them?" Another family’s man glanced at his new friend he t on the way, cautiously asking.
They were quite fortunate, not captured to serve as conscripted laborers. The technical worker’s certification they carried saved them at a crucial mont.
Being in the suburban area was another lucky factor: they beca refugees quickly and reached the Tang Army controlled area before the dwarf troops could react.
The father of the speaking child was gazing at the familiar aluminum plates stamped with numbers, items he knew well.
Yes, these materials were clearly aviation aluminum used to manufacture the MiG-19 fighter jets. He was very familiar with the stamping machinery: it’s likely the factory where they once worked made these tags.
Ironforge First Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, once the Ice Cold Empire’s most profitable factory, was also one of the most advanced factories introduced.
Now, it had beco the Great Tang Empire’s occupied zone. It seed the Tang people utilized so operational machinery there to produce these simple items requiring little technical skill.
"Dear, can we eat these things?" Watching her husband staring absent-mindedly at the small iron plate in his hand, the wife couldn’t help but ask again.
"Oh, oh. Of course, I think we should eat so first. It can’t be for us and then taken back, right?" The father of the child quickly replied, snapping back to reality.
Although the tent was still cold, they had blankets and cotton clothes, along with food. The tent even contained a small stove, with firewood stacked beside it, and a chimney extending out the tent side ticulously sealed.
Thus, the two families began tearing the plastic packaging, retrieving the bread inside and devouring it ravenously. They hadn’t eaten a bite of food for more than a day, and able to eat such soft bread now, tears imdiately welled up.
Reviews
All reviews (0)