Xu Qingshan said calmly, "We will not let Chen Chong leave Dajing alive. Since Yu Beipiao wants to save him, then none of them will survive."
Zhao Cheng's heart pounded faster and faster. The calmer Xu Qingshan was, the more domineering he seemed!
This shows that even Xu Qingshan himself believed that the person who went to kill Chen Chong and Yu Beipiao was more capable than him.
Even among top-tier experts, there are differences in strength. Someone like Xu Qingshan is extremely strong. And those even stronger than him... Zhao Cheng didn't dare to think about it anymore; he just felt his scalp tingle.
At this moment, he especially missed Yang Taozhi.
Having my older sister around is the safest thing ever!
Oh, sister...
"Young Prime Minister, farewell." Xu Qingshan bowed, interrupting Zhao Cheng, who was in the middle of his flirtatious rant.
"Here!"
"I see them!"
"Young Prime Minister and Hero Xu are both here!!"
At this moment, Zhou Nuo arrived with a group of people.
The people running ahead of Zhou Nuo were all wearing official robes of the Great Jing Dynasty.
One of the men, around forty years old, clasped his hands and said, "I am Li Lu, the Prefect of Shuotong City. I greet the Imperial Son-in-Law of the Great Jing, General Zhaoyong, and Young Prime Minister!"
Zhao Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Prefect Li is joking. This is the first time I've realized my name is so long! But I should correct you, I'm not the imperial son-in-law yet."
"It's already been announced to the world, so it's only a matter of time. We're just waiting for the palace to set a date!"
Li Lu didn't care at all, and looked at Xu Qingshan again, clasped his hands and said, "This must be the great hero Xu. On behalf of the people of Shangyang County, I thank you for your righteous help!"
As Li Lu spoke, Zhao Cheng and Zhou Nuo exchanged a glance, and Zhao Cheng winked at her.
While everyone was out early to buy equipment, Zhao Cheng instructed Zhou Nuo to spread the word throughout the streets that he and Xu Qingshan had wiped out the Southern Zhou spies, and to inform the government that Zhao Cheng and Xu Qingshan were currently in Shuotong City.
Upon receiving the news, Li Lu rushed over with government officials.
His gratitude to Xu Qingshan was genuine. Not to mention the massacre of villages by the Southern Zhou people in Shangyang County, just the fact that Zhao Cheng and his group had an accident in Shangyang County meant that even though he was not the prefectural governor, the incident happened too close to Shuotong City, and he, as the city governor, could not escape responsibility.
Leaving aside the emperor's wrath, the wrath of the Right Chancellor's office alone was something a mere city prefect like him could not withstand.
Xu Qingshan asked doubtfully, "Do you know me?"
"Young Prime Minister, the ruthless spy from the South, and Master Xu, the swordsman who slays dogs!" Li Lu laughed, "Today, the whole city of Shuotong is filled with this phrase. Although I've never met Master Xu, judging from the people around the Young Prime Minister, only you possess such bearing!"
Xu Qingshan was so flattered that he didn't know what to say, and the muscles on his face twitched.
Li Lu continued, "Before I came here, I submitted a memorial to the court, reporting in detail the spy-eliminating incident in Shangyang County. As the official of Shangyang County, I was of no help whatsoever and should be punished. As for the young prime minister and Master Xu, they annihilated all the enemies, and I have already requested commendation for them!"
What was clearly an ambush by the Southern Zhou people was directly changed into an assassination attempt.
Those who wish to be punished, please be punished; those who wish to be rewarded, please be rewarded...
Zhao Cheng glanced at Li Lu with a smile, thinking to himself, "This is a real talent!"
The Great Jing and the Southern Zhou have just reached a marriage alliance. If it is revealed that the Southern Zhou intends to kill Zhao Cheng, the prospective son-in-law, it would be a clear sign of a falling out, which could very likely affect the marriage alliance and further impact national policy.
But changing it to Zhao Cheng eliminating spies is different.
Eliminating spies is a long-term and normal practice, and this work will continue regardless of the state of relations between the two countries. Especially since Zhao Cheng has been hailed as a spies' nemesis and a master of eliminating spies, it's even more normal for this to happen to him.
This will minimize the impact of the situation.
"Prefect Li did a good job!" Zhao Cheng praised. "I am Zhaoyong General of the Imperial Court, and eliminating spies is my duty. Whether I am rewarded or not is not important, but Hero Xu deserves a great reward!"
"Young Prime Minister is absolutely right!" Li Lu nodded.
Zhao Cheng glanced at Xu Qingshan and then said, "Prefect Li, Master Xu's help this time can be considered as saving my life. I'd like to invite him to accompany me to Yanchuan City to properly thank him. Do you think this is appropriate?"
Li Lu glanced at Zhao Cheng and Xu Qingshan alternately, his eyes darting around, and said, "Absolutely right! A drop of kindness received should be repaid with a spring of gratitude; this is a principle my grandfather taught me!"
Zhao Cheng sighed, "But Master Xu is unwilling to go. What am I to do?"
Li Lu asked, "Does Master Xu have worldly affairs to attend to? Why don't you leave the matter to me, and I'll arrange for someone to handle it for you. You can rest assured and accompany the young prime minister to Yanchuan!"
Xu Qingshan shook his head and said, "I have important business to attend to in Changsui, and no one can take my place."
"Alas!" Zhao Cheng sighed again, saying, "What a pity... Prefect Li, without the great hero Xu traveling with me, my journey to Yanchuan will be so lonely!"
Li Lu's mind raced, and he asked, "Is Master Xu really unable to go?"
Xu Qingshan cupped his hands and said, "I appreciate your kind offer, but I really can't go."
"Very well! Young Prime Minister, someone as capable as Master Xu must have more important matters to attend to!"
Li Lu waved his hand and said, "Shuotong City isn't far from Yanchuan City. We can't let the young prime minister be lonely on the road, so I..."
As he spoke, Li Lu turned around and said, "I'll take a hundred garrison soldiers from Shuotong to accompany you!"
Zhao Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "How could I accept this! You are the governor of this city, and you still have so much work to do..."
"It's alright, if things go quickly... it'll only take about ten days round trip." Li Lu waved his hand magnanimously and said, "The young prime minister encountered some trouble near Shuotong City, and as the city's prefect, I should fulfill my duty as a host. It's my job!"
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