My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

"Oh my god! It's a military medal! I actually saw a military medal!"

"To be able to receive a military medal is no ordinary achievement."

"Zhang Lingfeng has finally met his match; it's truly gratifying."

"..."

The announcement of the military medals caused a stir among everyone, even attracting the attention of some powerful and influential families.

"Send someone to find out about this family and report back to me as soon as possible."

"To receive a military medal, one must not only have outstanding military achievements, but also gain the appreciation of Captain Zhou; both are indispensable."

"A centurion who has received military merit medals is worth befriending."

"..."

Many people were considering making contact with the Li family.

The military medals were in Zhou Xingzhan's hands. The fact that Zhou Xingzhan could bestow military medals upon Li Xuancang proved that Zhou, the Commandant, was behind him and that they were worth befriending.

Watching Nangong Zhan's departing figure, Zhang Lingfeng gritted his teeth, his fists clenched until they turned white.

A surge of anger welled up inside him, but he had nowhere to vent it.

This incident was just a minor episode; Nangong Zhan continued to escort the Li family to the county town.

After many days of bumpy travel, the majestic city walls of the prefecture finally came into view at the edge of the horizon.

The dark blue stone walls towered into the clouds, and the heavy city gates were tightly closed, with only the side gates open for passage.

The scene in front of the city gate plunged all the fleeing people into despair.

On the city wall, soldiers in bright armor stood in formation, their swords and spears gleaming coldly, and archers with bows drawn, exuding a menacing aura. They were all elite soldiers.

At the city gate, dozens of officials stood in formation, armed with sticks and swords, their expressions stern.

Several court officials, dressed in brocade robes and wearing official hats, stood with their hands behind their backs inside the city gate, coldly observing the endless stream of refugees coming from outside the city, their expressions indifferent.

On the official road, the fleeing people had already formed a long queue that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The elderly, women, and children huddled by the roadside, all pale and emaciated, dressed in rags, enduring the scorching sun, waiting anxiously to enter the city.

The procession was hot and noisy, filled with the cries of children, the coughs of the elderly, and the sighs of the people.

Some people were so thirsty their lips were cracked, and some were so hungry they collapsed, but they could only obediently queue up and dare not overstep their bounds in the slightest.

Anyone who tried to push forward would immediately be met with beatings and shouts from the officials, without any mercy.

"Please wait in line and have your documents checked in turn. No noise or crowding is allowed."

"Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be killed on the spot."

"The city has limited capacity; only 500 people will be allowed in each day. Behave yourselves."

"..."

The stern shouts of the officials rang out again and again, like cold shackles, trapping all the common people at the bottom of society.

They endured a long and arduous journey, escaping the slaughter of demons and the plunder of mountain bandits. They finally managed to escape to the foot of the county town, only to suffer in agony outside the city.

I don't know how many days and nights I will have to wait, or even whether I will live to see the moment I enter the city.

Although the people longed to enter the city, they dared not disobey in the slightest and could only obediently wait in line.

The fact that the city was willing to let them in was already a tremendous favor, and they dared not act recklessly in the slightest.

While the people were struggling to queue and enduring all sorts of scolding, a completely different scene unfolded on the other side of the city gate.

One after another, ornately decorated carriages, escorted by servants and guards, drove straight to the city gate, bypassing the queue and proceeding directly to the exclusive passage.

The carriages were decorated with banners from various mansions, belonging to wealthy merchants, local gentry, and the families of military officers.

The guards at the city gate, upon seeing these carriages and horses, abandoned their indifference, their faces beaming with smiles, and they bowed respectfully.

Some even stepped forward quickly, personally lifted the carriage curtain, and respectfully let people pass, skipping even the most basic identity check.

"Please come in, Mr. Wang. Take care."

"Lord Wang's family members may enter the city directly without inspection."

"Release Lord Zhang's carriages immediately."

"..."

The officials smiled and nodded to the families of these powerful figures.

The people were used to this and even took it for granted, as if these people were superior and everything was justified.

The carriage slowly drove by, and inside the window, the sons of the powerful and wealthy, dressed in fine silks and satins, leisurely ate snacks and drank tea, their eyes sweeping contemptuously over the refugees waiting outside the window, as if they were looking at ants.

They brought large amounts of gold, silver, and valuables, along with a large retinue of servants. Once they entered the city, they were able to move into spacious mansions and enjoy fine clothes and food.

The people outside the city could hardly find a clean drink of water or a shady spot.

Furthermore, gangs and local tyrants, riding tall horses and accompanied by their guards, passed directly through the center of the city gate. Officials and constables gave way and paid their respects, and the entire procession proceeded without hindrance.

Even though they are all people fleeing for their lives, their different statuses, power, and wealth lead to vastly different treatments.

Some are dressed in fine furs and ride in fine horses, while others are barely clothed.

Some people have no trouble moving forward, while others can hardly move an inch.

Some people treat human life as worthless, while others struggle desperately to survive.

A small city gate became a clear dividing line between social classes, separating people into different classes.

Nangong Zhan escorted the Li family's carriage straight to the city gate, where he once again displayed his border military medals.

Upon seeing this, the guards' expressions changed drastically. They quickly suppressed their arrogance, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and voluntarily made way for each other.

"So you are the family of Li Baijiang. I was blind to your greatness. You all do not need to queue, please enter the city directly."

Having said that, he personally led the way, escorting the Li family's carriage calmly through the city gate and into the county town.

The people queuing up watched this scene with envy, bitterness, and helplessness in their eyes, but they could only continue their endless wait under the scorching sun.

In this chaotic world, not everyone is equal; power and military merit are the keys to survival.

The class divide is more formidable than a city wall and more cruel than swords.

After successfully entering the county town, the group quickly settled in.

At the same time, news of the imperial army being ambushed at Banyue Gorge quickly spread, shocking all sides.

"What? Our troops were ambushed and suffered heavy losses."

"It's over. Without an army, how can we defend against the brutal barbarians and demons?"

"Damn it, even the county town isn't safe anymore."

"..."

Upon hearing the devastating news, everyone was filled with fear and anxiety.

Without an army to guard it, the county town was no longer safe, and the people lived in fear and could not eat or sleep in peace.