Chapter 36: He embezzled the banknotes and was ordered to capture the female fugitive!
Tonight, the soldiers had a feast.
Most of the people on duty were transferred to the north city gate to prevent surprise attacks from the Qiyanwushi tribe north of Meishan.
Soldier Ding Yong was taking over the shift at the South Gate. He leaned back on his spear, staggering, his eyes blurry with sleepiness.
At the foot of the city wall, the gate is deep and secluded.
"Sir, please open a side door."
A melodious voice like an oriole came from afar, soft and charming.
Soldier Ding Yong quickly woke up from his drowsy state and looked up.
I saw the woman who lifted the carriage curtain. She had a pair of peach blossom eyes with boundless spring color, a golden hairpin with a phoenix flying on her head, and her silk skirt swayed.
"Hey? Isn't that girl..." Soldier Ding Yong rubbed his eyes, feeling that she looked familiar.
Yes, that's right, he had seen it an hour ago.
In the central government office, a woman played the pipa and sang New Year's greetings for everyone, like the lingering music of heaven.
Soldier Ding Yong was so engrossed in watching the scene that he even spilled the meatball soup.
"I come from Yaoyue Tower." Princess Liu handed over her travel pass. "It just so happened that the magistrate of Linghe County wanted to see a performance on New Year's Day, so I set out overnight."
"Oh oh." The soldier Ding Yong felt sleepy and couldn't help yawning.
He took the pass in his left hand and examined it, while he lifted the lantern in his right hand. The dim light flickered on the paper.
In the twelfth lunar month, the twentieth day is abbreviated as the 20th day and the 30th day is the 30th day. With just a clever stroke of the pen, the old path can be renewed.
Ten days ago, she was indeed invited to a banquet at the Luo County Magistrate's residence.
Liu Qianjin held her breath nervously.
"But..." Soldier Ding Yong suddenly remembered something, and a look of embarrassment gradually appeared on his face, his eyes wandering.
Commander Cai, my direct superior, has ordered that if the courtesan leaves the city, she must be intercepted and reported immediately.
"General, what's wrong?" Liu Qianjin's tone remained unchanged, but her slender fingers clenched slightly under her sleeves, revealing her inner uneasiness.
"Thank you, General. We have completed all the formalities at the household registration office of the government office, and have also informed the superiors on both sides."
The burly man driving the coach came over and spoke in a low voice.
He was a burly man with a thick beard. Without saying anything, he stuffed a small silver note into Ding Yong's arms.
"No, no, that's not what I meant." Ding Yong was startled and quickly refused, his face flushed red.
"Good fortune is overflowing." The towering man refused to retract his words, repeating, "May the new year start with good luck."
During the tug of war, Ding Yong couldn't resist, so he registered them according to the rules and let them pass.
After that, Ding Yong listened attentively.
"Snoring, wheezing." The old soldiers on duty were snoring loudly in the guardhouse.
It was late at night and there was no one else around.
He carefully took the banknote, feeling nervous but happy.
Save them all and send them to the widowed mother of the old soldier sergeant first.
Also buy a golden hairpin like the one worn by the courtesan for Miss Xinghua from Xiaoyan Village.
"If you really want to investigate, just say you forgot." Ding Yong curled his lips and thought.
Commander Cai abused his power to bully a woman, which brought shame to the Third Army. Many of his soldiers had complaints against him.
The carriage drove through the South City Gate.
The "clacking" sound of horse hooves is particularly clear, and the wheels rolling and rolling, occasionally bumping, will cause a bumpy ride.
The strong man driving the carriage held the reins tightly and concentrated on steering the carriage.
"My heart was almost jumping out of my throat just now." Liu Qianjin patted her chest in fear. "What should we do if we go to Linghe?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you!" The answer was clear and straightforward.
It was Guizhier's voice.
When it comes to disguise, the prefect is still a little naive.
At the beginning of the fourth year of Chengshuo, God favored the north.
Ever since the third son of the Qiyan Wushi tribe, Wushi Tuoba Zhen, was beheaded, the entire area, whether it is Linghe, which is located in the open plains, or the city adjacent to Meishan, has been on alert.
Unexpectedly, the Danu people started internal conflicts due to the failure of looting and lack of supplies.
There is no worry about war, and we are happy about the new year.
"Spring rain is as precious as oil. My lord, the merging of rivers and the arrival of wild geese, and the rebirth of withered trees, are all signs of a good harvest!"
The housekeeper chattered while grinding for Liu Shanyuan.
It is the Rain Water solar term. If you are south of the Yangtze River and Huai River, it must be the early spring scenery with green fields.
But in the cold north, there were only a few drops of drizzle.
Liu Shanyuan rubbed the white blood cells on his forehead and sighed.
At the beginning of the first lunar month, in addition to dealing with New Year's greetings and sacrifices, they also had to sort out the root causes of the northern border's poverty and weakness from the mountains of documents.
His eyes were clear and deep, and as he waved the goat-hair brush in his right hand, ink meandered across the paper.
When you are in trouble, you must change; when you change, you will succeed.
But if the reform is implemented rashly, it will probably affect the interests of many people.
"Today is the tenth day?" He put down the pen in his hand.
"Yes, I suddenly remembered that it's time for Miss Gui's shop to open its doors to welcome customers." The housekeeper guessed his master's intention and continued.
"Let's go and take a look." Liu Shanyuan stood up and put on a fur coat, looking calm and solemn.
In front of Guiji Braised Food Shop, the rain wet the flag hanging on the door.
The banner swayed slightly, and water droplets drew crystal arcs in the air, but there was no sign of business in front of the door.
"Miss Gui?" The housekeeper knocked on the door.
Liu Shanyuan stood tall and straight in the drizzle.
Her hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, her brows were like distant mountains, slightly furrowed, and her mind was full of thoughts.
The spy found no clues about her husband.
Perhaps, if I want to implement a new policy, I can discuss with her how to properly divide the head tax and the land tax...
"Could the young lady have gone out?" The housekeeper's hands were sore from knocking on the door.
Because Gui Zhi'er obviously didn't like being followed, the master had already ordered the secret withdrawal of the spies.
We are all within the territory, so there won’t be any trouble.
Could it be that... he ran away secretly?
The housekeeper glanced at Liu Shanyuan's face and felt that something was wrong.
"Enter from the backyard." Liu Shanyuan's tone did not reveal his joy or anger.
He walked around the courtyard wall, flicked his long sleeves, and climbed over the wall with a light tap of his toes.
After landing, he walked across the courtyard with ease and pushed open the half-open door to the back kitchen.
The stove was empty, and all the firewood, rice, oil, salt, pots, pans, and utensils had disappeared.
There was a letter left on the chopping board.
The envelope is made of plain paper with a slightly yellowish color and is sealed with red sealing lacquer.
The front side seems to be written with charcoal, and the font is crooked - "Personally written by the prefect."
Liu Shanyuan recognized the unique handwriting at a glance and gently picked up the envelope.
The letter read: "Cement burning requires high temperature to assist combustion.
First, the charcoal in the cave can be replaced with coal to raise the furnace temperature. Second, the design of a new wooden bellows is shown below, which can increase the amount of gas. Third, long-term inhalation of dust is harmful, so be sure to cover your mouth and nose to prevent tuberculosis.
Turning over the back, there are a few more big words:
"I'm leaving, don't worry."
"Heh." Liu Shanyuan's starry eyes were filled with anger, and his eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his face.
The bony fingers were white and powerful, twisting the edge of the paper.
"He runs faster than a rabbit." He raised his lips with a hint of sarcasm and helplessness, "Why don't you send someone to chase him?"
"Yes, sir, calm down."
Three days later, in the suburbs outside Lizhou City.
The east wind arrives, bringing with it a hint of chill and a breath of life. There are dots of fresh green in the fields, where young grasses are quietly poking their heads out.
"Brother Wen Jing, we have arrived in Donglu."
"According to the map, we can enter the city by going around the Flower Hill ahead."
The candidates rushing to take the imperial examination squeezed into two donkey carts, carrying their luggage, and everyone had a look of longing on their faces.
Among them, the one called Brother Wenjing was Wang Pu, a scholar who passed the imperial examination during the Tianyou period in Linghe County.
He was wearing a plain green robe, carrying a bamboo stick on his back, his back as straight as a pine tree.
Three years passed, and this was his third time going to Beijing to take the imperial examination.
Wang Pu held the scroll tightly in his hand and was reciting the words of the sages diligently.
"The Master said, 'Trustworthiness is close to righteousness, and words can be repeated...'"
The Daliang imperial examinations not only tested students' writing skills and policy essays, but also poetry, prose, and literary rules. When reviewing, one must pay attention to all aspects.
"Whoa!" The spy, galloping like the wind, came rushing over and shouted, "Stop!"
The spies wore black hats with wide brims covering most of their faces, leaving only their sharp eagle eyes exposed.
"I have been ordered to capture the female fugitive!"
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