Chapter 144: Major General, Be Careful!
The scorching sun in winter seems to be wearing a layer of cold clothes. It looks warm, but the temperature still cannot rise.
Because the commander of the Beijing Guard House, Wang Chong, temporarily transferred personnel, the exile team was delayed for more than half a day at the Qingzhou Nanyan Post Station, almost using up the time the team saved by taking a detour at the foot of the West Mountain.
After Xiong Jiushan came back to take charge, his adjutant Cheng Ye stepped back and led the other escorts to replenish supplies for the rest of the journey from Qingzhou Post Station according to Xiong Jiushan's instructions.
The Qingzhou Postmaster took advantage of the situation and turned a blind eye, leaving the reception to the clerks below while he washed, changed his clothes and prepared to welcome another distinguished guest who was about to arrive that day.
Seeing the Qingzhou Postmaster's expression, Cheng Ye felt uncomfortable. He stopped the clerk and asked him indirectly, "What kind of lord is coming? Why is it so grand?"
Cheng Ye was generous and worldly-wise, and the clerk had also received some benefits privately, so he did not hide it from him, "I heard from Mr. Cui's people that a judge from the capital will be in Qingzhou today."
"Mr. Cui? How could a Mr. Cui have such insider information?"
"Mr. Cui is not an ordinary person. You will understand as you go forward."
The clerk was unwilling to explain further. After Cheng Ye's men finished their work and both parties settled the bill, the trip was considered over.
Cheng Ye went back and told Xiong Jiushan about this matter in detail. Xiong Jiushan's expression did not change, as if he had known it for a long time.
"A postmaster who takes bribes and bribes as he pleases must have some backers behind him."
Xiong Jiushan was indeed not surprised, as he had experienced it early in the morning.
In his opinion, the Qingzhou Postmaster did not bother to investigate the special circumstances of the Xie family fugitives in the team, so he just raised his hand.
The Xie family's status was sensitive, so the postmaster didn't even try to help them. He just lost some money as a bribe.
but……
Xiong Jiushan still had a headache when he thought of what the Qingzhou Postmaster said to him at the dinner table early in the morning.
Time waits for no one.
The team can't delay any longer. No matter how difficult it is to cross Panlong Ridge ahead, the most important thing is to get on the road first and think of countermeasures while walking.
Fortunately, he still has a few days to prepare.
A large group of people set out from the post station early in the morning wearing shackles. After walking ten miles, there was no one behind them. After leaving the place where the government could easily check, in order to speed up their pace, Xiong Jiushan asked his men to remove the shackles and put on shackles for the prisoners. Although it was not so convenient to move with shackles on their hands, many prisoners still felt much more comfortable without the burden of twenty or thirty pounds on their shoulders.
Cheng Ye and other officers did not agree very much, but since Xiong Jiushan was the leader, others could not say anything.
When there are many people, everyone should put on shackles and move forward; when there is no one, try to move forward as lightly as possible under the premise of safety.
In order to ensure that they arrive at the destination Laozhou for handover on time, Xiong Jiushan, after research, feels that the only way is to speed up the progress before leaving the customs, so as to leave enough room for maneuver in case of accidents on the road later.
In the team, many knowledgeable fugitives also noticed the intention of the rescuer Xiong Jiushan.
Xie Yuchuan took off the shackles from his neck and handed them to the other convicts who were helping the escort. Zhang Hanlin's voice came from behind him.
"Is Xiong Jiushan in a hurry to get on his way?"
Xie Yuchuan looked up ahead, stretched his aching neck left and right, pinched his wrist and thought for a moment, then said, "We should conserve everyone's energy."
"Conserve your energy?" Zhang Dayi smacked his lips and whispered to Xie Yuchuan as they walked, "I heard from Brother Wuying that Panlong Ridge is not a good place to go."
Xie Yuchuan: "Yes, it's not easy."
"Major General, please be careful."
"Thank you for your advice, sir." Xie Yuchuan knew that Zhang Dayi's words were not only to remind him of the bandit problem, but also to give him some other advice.
Seeing that he understood, Zhang Dayi smiled.
After the two families became closer, Zhang Dayi felt more and more that as long as the Xie family could survive, their future would not be too bad.
After all, they are blessed by the gods. Once they are exiled, the children of the Xie family are both physically strong and well-educated, so they will always be able to find a way to survive. If they are lucky enough, they can make some achievements in the border areas, and there will be no worries about not having a way to rise again in the future.
Zhang Dayi no longer has any worries and is very open-minded.
Although the journey of exile was still difficult, my mentality had changed. I felt less pain while traveling, unlike before when I was exhausted both physically and mentally, with a dark cloud hanging over my head.
Xie Yuchuan's eyes swept across Zhang Hanlin's profile lightly.
The two of them traveled together, Zhang Dayi's mother stayed with the women of the Xie family. The Xie family had many women, and they took good care of the old lady. Gradually, the two families became one family.
Old Madam Xie now had a peer to talk to. Everyone was tired from traveling on the road and had no energy to talk, so they would occasionally say a few words to each other during breaks.
Thanks to Tu Huan's food supply, the Xie family avoided hunger on the journey. Although they were tired, they were in much better condition than the other prisoners.
After Xiong Jiushan came back, for some unknown reason, he stopped letting his officials deduct food from the exiles.
The government didn't give much for the escort expenses.
If we give all this to the fugitives, how much money will be left?
Brothers, all your hard work going back and forth is in vain!
Some yamen runners were unhappy and grumbled privately, and the gossip spread until it reached Liu Kan's ears. He was also upset because he had just taken a fancy to a female prisoner and had just touched her twice when Xiong Jiushan, who was passing by, scolded him for not doing his job well and being lazy.
Liu Kan was filled with rage and reluctantly let go of the young lady. He turned around and complained to the old yamen runner who was leading him on his errand.
"What's wrong with Mr. Xiong? He's looked strange since he came back yesterday! He seems to be irritated with everyone today."
The old yamen runner had been serving beside Xiong Jiushan all the time, and was considered the superior of the yamen runners. Originally, the task of escorting fugitives was the job of the third shift of yamen runners in previous years, but this time there happened to be more people from the military camp.
The old yamen runner couldn't afford to offend an official like Xiong Jiushan. Xiong Jiushan's rank was not high, but a higher rank could crush a higher-ranking official. What's more, he was an old yamen runner and had nothing but experience.
Liu Kan and his men were sometimes not very clean when they were on official business, and he knew it in his heart. He felt that Lord Xiong should also be aware of it. He had seen it before but did not ask much. But when he came back this time, even he felt that something had changed about Xiong Jiushan.
"Don't mention it, even I can see that something is wrong with you, sir."
"Did you feel upset after being taken away by the commander?" Liu Kan sincerely felt that his brothers would be uncomfortable if things continued like this.
The old yamen runner thought for a moment and said, "There is another possibility."
"What's possible?" The bailiff Liu Kan was curious.
The old yamen runner looked around and said in a low voice, "Your Excellency has received the news in advance from the Commander-in-Chief."
"What news?"
"How should I know!" The old yamen runner glared at him. "Go away! Hurry up and do your job. Don't keep guessing behind your back. Stop those people from complaining. Don't blame me for not reminding you. Some things can be grumbled in your heart, but the True Master will hear them. Do you still want to do your job well in the future?"
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