Chapter 350 Little Dumpling vs. Imperial Guards
Zhou Huaining said, "How can we, as ministers, guess what the emperor wants? Governor, why don't you tell me what answer you want to give?"
The governor chuckled coldly, "Do you even need to ask this question? With your protective nature, if I fabricate something, will you let it go?"
Zhou Huaining nodded seriously, "I didn't expect the Governor to know me so well. Protecting my son is only one aspect. The most important thing is, if you fabricate facts and overturn my findings, where will I put my face? For someone like me who values pride over life, I will definitely fight you to the death!"
"What bad luck! I'm truly unlucky!"
The governor covered his chest with his hands, turned away with a dark face.
"Who did he say was unlucky?" Zhou Huaining asked the prefect with blinking eyes.
The prefect looked at him with a puzzled expression, "Sir, you are saying that he is unlucky."
"Why does he say he's unlucky?"
"Because of him, I have a subordinate like you."
“…”
"I am unlucky too!" The prefect walked away shaking his head.
Zhou Huaining chased after them, "Hey! My two lords, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Now that you're here, I'll treat you to a good meal at the Heihe Village Food Street!"
…
Recently, the Heihe Village Inn has suddenly become deserted.
Because the capital is going to hold the second rain-praying ceremony.
Praying for rain is such a big event that everyone wants to join in the fun, so in the past few days, all the old customers have rushed back to the capital and no new customers are coming.
The villagers suddenly had some free time, which was a good opportunity to harvest the rice.
On this day, everyone was busy harvesting in the fields when they suddenly heard a "wooooo" sound coming from afar.
"Alliance Horn?!"
"The imperial army is coming!"
The villagers exclaimed.
In fact, everyone knows that this day will come sooner or later, but it is still inevitable to feel panic.
"Don't panic!" the village head shouted. "Grab your weapons! Gather at the city gate!"
As soon as everyone arrived at the city gate, they heard the sound of hurried horse hooves coming from the village entrance.
"Listen up, folks! Half of you will guard the city gates! Half of you will go up to the city walls!"
The villagers rushed up the city wall with their farm tools.
…
At this time, the capital.
The sun in the sky was so bright that people couldn't open their eyes.
The emperor led civil and military officials to the Temple of Heaven.
Perhaps because of the great public resentment, Princess Mingzhu did not appear at this rain-praying ceremony.
The area around the Temple of Heaven was crowded with restless people, all with anxious expressions on their faces.
"It hasn't rained for six months! Six whole months!"
"I heard that riots are happening frequently in the suburbs of Beijing. It seems that no one can survive!"
"If our prayer for rain doesn't succeed this time, we're all doomed!"
"You know what? Since 'that person' from the palace didn't come this time to pray for rain, who knows, it might actually work!"
…
"quiet!"
"kneel!"
Following the eunuch's shout, everyone knelt down.
The sound of drums began, and the rain-praying ceremony began.
…
As soon as the villagers of Heihe Village climbed up the city wall, they saw a group of cavalry charging towards them, dressed in the same attire as the previous group.
But compared to last time, there are a lot more people this time, probably over a thousand.
The imperial guards reined in their horses, looked at the closed city gate, and then at the villagers on the city wall.
"So the horn sound just now was a signal to you? Black River Village is really quite capable, actually bribing all the surrounding villages?"
The head of the village snorted. Since the last time, he had realized that it was useless to kowtow to these lackeys.
"May I ask what you do?" the village head shouted. "The whole area has been plundered by bandits before, and blowing the horn is our tradition! Are you bandits? If so, leave immediately!"
"You're blind!" The leader of the imperial guards pointed at his uniformed attire. "Do we look like bandits to you?"
The village head said coldly, "We farmers never judge people by their clothes. If you don't tell us, we will think you are a bandit! Folks, throw stones! Watch your aim and don't smash the roof of the inn!"
Many stones of appropriate sizes were prepared on the city wall, and the villagers grabbed the stones, swung their arms and threw them at the imperial guards.
The imperial guards did not expect that the people of Heihe Village would start fighting without a single word. Seeing the stones coming at them, they hurriedly dodged. The horses neighed and the team was in chaos.
"Stop! We are not bandits! We are the Imperial Guards, and we are here on the orders of the Emperor!"
"Oh, it turns out to be an official from the capital. Why didn't you tell me earlier? What a sin!"
The villagers stopped attacking. The leader of the imperial guards was furious and his face turned pale. "That old man who was talking! Are you the head of Heihe Village?"
"Exactly! What are your orders, sir?"
"Who are the officials and who are the common people? The imperial guards have arrived, and not only do you not open the city gates to welcome them, you even force us to look up when we speak to you. Do you understand respect and hierarchy?"
The village head said, "I'm sorry, sir. You came with thousands of people and looked very imposing. We ordinary people are timid and dare not open the city gate!"
The leader of the Imperial Guards sneered, "You have no choice but to open it! Open your eyes and see clearly, what is this?"
As he spoke, he held up an object high.
The villagers stretched their necks to look down and saw that the object looked very familiar, very similar to the water writing cloth that children used to practice calligraphy.
"You country bumpkins! This is an imperial decree!" the imperial guard leader said arrogantly. "Village head, I command you to open the city gates immediately and obey my command!"
"This..." The villagers were stunned.
As soon as the city gates are opened, won’t the imperial guards march straight in?
But if you don’t go to receive the imperial edict, how can you know what it says?
The village head anxiously searched the crowd, "Where's Master Xiaojiu? Where's Yanping's father? Where's the two Zen masters? Why haven't they come yet?"
"They went to call the horn!" a villager replied. "They were at home and probably didn't hear the horn."
Seeing that the backbone was gone, the village head suddenly panicked.
"Heihe Village Chief, quickly open the city gate to receive the order!" The imperial guards urged from below.
The village head was sweating with anxiety. The masters were not here, so he didn't dare to open the city gate easily!
"Is Heihe Village planning a rebellion?!" the leader of the Imperial Guards shouted sternly, "I advise you to leave the village immediately, or else don't blame us for razing Heihe Village!"
Someone from the Imperial Guard chimed in, "The imperial edict is here, and a village headman, who's nothing at all, actually dares to be so negligent! It's totally unheard of!"
"It's not my butt, it's your cuteness!"
A fierce little voice was heard.
The villagers were immediately overjoyed, "Master Xiaojiu is here!"
I looked back but couldn't find the little dumpling.
The villagers looked around, "Where is Lady Xiaojiu? We clearly heard her voice, but why can't we see her?"
At this time, someone exclaimed: "Oh my God! Master Xiaojiu is outside the city gate!"
"ah!!"
The villagers looked outside and saw that in front of the tall horses of the imperial guards, a chubby little baby with two small buns had appeared out of nowhere!
"Oh my God!" The village head's legs went weak.
When did Xiao Jiuer run away?
Looking at the little soft meat ball under the imperial guards' iron cavalry, the village head gritted his teeth and said, "Open the city gate and leave the village!"
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