northwest.
The wind was blowing hard and the dust was flying.
Yang Yuanqing took a sip of the cheap wine, braved the strong wind, and pushed open the door of the express station.
"Old scholar, you're here! I'm glad you're here. These orders are all depending on you."
Ma Gui handed a stack of express delivery notes to Yang Yuanqing for registration.
Yang Yuanqing nodded and said, "Put it there."
"Okay!"
Ma Gui smiled happily.
He was terrified of writing, but after the old scholar came, he felt relieved.
All clerical work can be handed over to the old scholar.
Ma Gui passed by him and smelled the alcohol. "Old scholar, you are drinking again. What kind of wine are you drinking so early in the morning? Be careful that the stationmaster will punish you."
Yang Yuanqing chuckled and whispered, "I only took a sip. I didn't dare drink more. Don't tell the stationmaster."
Ma Gui also lowered his voice and said, "Don't do this again next time. The express station has a rule that drinking is not allowed during work. If you are caught, you will be fined."
"I know, I know. I just have a drinking addiction." Yang Yuanqing still looked like a good guy.
Ma Gui snorted, "If you continue like this, you'll drink yourself to death sooner or later."
Yang Yuanqing shook his head and said casually, "If I really die from drinking, it would be a good thing."
Seeing that Ma Gui didn't understand, he explained, "Isn't it a good thing to die without pain?"
Ma Gui was convinced by him.
A busy day starts here.
Sanhe Express Jinzhou Lumahe Branch is a busy express delivery station.
In the Northwest Camp alone, there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers and logistics laborers.
These people now come to the express station to send letters and money.
From morning to night, the express station is always busy.
The big-headed soldier Jia Er was a soldier under Gu Ting.
At the end of last year, he sent some money back to his hometown.
He came here today to get the letter.
They were all acquaintances, so Ma Gui greeted him familiarly, "You're here! The letter from home has arrived. I'll find it for you."
"Take your time, don't rush."
Jia Er sat down on the stool and stared at Yang Yuanqing with a chuckle.
"My general is kind-hearted. He knew that the old scholar had no money to eat, so he tried to get you into the express delivery station."
Yang Yuanqing raised his eyelids and asked, "Your general hasn't come back yet?"
"It's almost there. I estimate we should be leaving the capital in half a month."
"When your general arrives, let me know. I'll treat him to a drink."
"Okay!" Soldier Jia Er grinned.
Ma Gui took out Jia Er's letter and handed it to him, "A letter from your family."
Jia Er pushed the letter back and said, "Read it to me. You know I can't read."
Ma Gui was very busy. "Old scholar, please read the letter for him."
Yang Yuanqing nodded, took the letter, and read it word by word. His voice was slow and tired, but particularly pleasant.
Upon hearing that his family had successfully received the money, Soldier Jia Er chuckled.
He yelled at Ma Gui, "My family used the money I sent back to build two more brick houses. Next year I'm going to send my son to elementary school."
Ma Gui was happy for Jia Er, "That's great! It's not easy for you to save money as a soldier, don't waste it on the gambling table. It would be great if you could send it back home."
"That's right! Since the express delivery station was built, sending money has become much more convenient."
In the past, even if we saved money, we couldn’t bring it home, so everyone just gambled.
If I die one day, at least I spent the money myself and didn’t waste it.
It has become convenient to send money home nowadays.
Many veterans with families to support have also begun to save money and send it back home when they have enough to help their families improve their lives.
This is a positive trend, and the Northwest Camp fully supports it. Cooperation with the express delivery stations is also becoming increasingly close.
People came in and out, either to pick up mail or to send packages or money.
Near noon, the door of the express station was pushed open again.
A clerk from the yamen walked in.
"Is Yang Yuanqing here?"
Yang Yuanqing looked up, his eyes blank at first. But after seeing the official's attire and determining his identity, he understood everything.
After so many years, the government remembered him again, which is probably not a good thing.
Yet he wasn't nervous at all.
He has been waiting for this day for many years.
He said calmly, "I am Yang Yuanqing."
The clerk said bluntly, "Come with me, my lord has something to ask you."
When Ma Gui heard this, he was shocked and quickly asked someone to call the stationmaster out.
The head of the express station, a retired soldier from the Sirius Army, has a very fierce temperament.
He glared at me, "Yang Yuanqing is an employee of the express delivery station. You told him to go, and he did. If you don't give me an explanation, I won't let him go today."
No one asked about Yang Yuanqing's identity, but they all knew that he was exiled.
What kind of threat can an old show pose?
General Gu said to use him, so let’s use him.
Since he has entered the express station, the express station has the responsibility to protect Yang Yuanqing.
The corner of the petty official's mouth twitched, and he cursed in his heart: "This group of soldiers are so arrogant and domineering."
Then the clerk took out a document from his pocket and handed it to the stationmaster. "Please look carefully, this is an official document. My master wants to see him, but it's an important matter."
Like Ma Gui, the station manager learned to read during training. He could only barely understand the documents.
Yang Yuanqing stood up from his seat and said, "Thank you for your protection, Stationmaster. The document is genuine. The elder officials want to see me, and I dare not delay them. I will take half a day off first, please allow me."
The stationmaster rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, I'll approve your request for leave. I'll send two more people to take you into the city. If you need anything, tell them to come back and let me know."
Yang Yuanqing wanted to refuse.
As a result, the station manager of the express station waved his hand and the matter was settled.
Yang Yuanqing and two courier station employees, along with a minor official, went into the city to pay a visit to the Jinzhou governor.
He was ready to die.
However, he did not expect that what awaited him was not death, but an imperial decree to summon him back to Beijing.
Yang Yuanqing looked confused.
I can't believe it.
He has been hiding in the northwest for many years, but he is not completely ignorant of the situation in the court.
The Yang family fell into decline, and all of his former friends and teachers were unsuccessful.
Some people had smooth careers, but they had no say in front of the emperor.
With no one speaking for him, there was no reason for the emperor to summon him back to the capital.
What is going on?
Could it be that someone wants him to return to the capital first and then kill him?
That's a good idea.
First give him hope, then hit him with a heavy hammer to smash him to pieces and let him die with his eyes open.
Thinking of this, Yang Yuanqing calmed down.
I wasn't happy at all about returning to Beijing, but of course I wasn't angry either.
Being able to go back to the capital to take a look before dying can be considered as fulfilling one's wish.
He calmly accepted the order and asked the governor of Jinzhou for two days' leave.
The Jinzhou governor reminded him, "His Majesty is anxious to see you. I'll give you two days to finish what needs to be done. Then I'll send someone to escort you to the capital."
"Thank you, sir."
…
Yang Yuanqing returned to the express station.
The news that he was about to return to the capital spread quickly to everyone in the express station.
Everyone congratulated him.
The stationmaster laughed heartily. "That's great news! We have two vacation slots available. I'll send two of my men to take you to the capital. You don't have to worry about all the travel expenses and the money you need. I'll find a way for you."
Ma Gui volunteered, "Stationmaster, I'm familiar with the capital. Why don't I take the old scholar there? I'm on vacation now."
The station manager raised his eyebrows. "Didn't you say you'd wait until the end of the year to take your vacation?"
Ma Gui chuckled and said a little embarrassedly: "When I heard that the old scholar was going to the capital, I was itching to go."
The station manager readily agreed, "Okay, you'll be one."
Another person's name was mentioned, and the matter was settled.
On the day when the old scholar was leaving, the stationmaster gave Cheng Yi ten taels of silver.
Other people at the express station also presented Cheng Yi with varying amounts of silver.
Yang Yuanqing could not refuse, so he accepted it and thanked him profusely, saying that he would write to everyone as soon as he arrived in the capital to let them know he was safe.
With officials urging them on, the group hurried on their way.
After seeing off the old scholar, the stationmaster was rarely melancholic. "I don't know whether this visit to the capital will be a blessing or a curse for the old scholar."
The group hurried as fast as they could, but it took them nearly twenty days to reach the capital.
Gu Ting brought people to greet them at Shili Pavilion outside the city.
Yang Yuanqing thought he was dazzled and rubbed his eyes before he dared to recognize him.
"Why is General Gu here?"
"Knowing you were coming to the capital, I stayed here to wait for you. I know you have a lot of questions, but don't worry. I'll answer them one by one after I welcome you."
When Yang Yuanqing heard this, he knew that his return to Beijing must be related to General Gu.
However, General Gu alone would not be able to bring him back to the capital.
Could it be the girl that General Gu mentioned?
Yang Yuanqing suppressed his doubts and followed Gu Ting to Xinmin County.
"This is Xinmin County. I'm sure you've heard of it. How is it here?"
“Very good!”
Yang Yuanqing's face was calm, but he was extremely shocked in his heart.
In his memory, there was a wasteland outside the South City Gate.
Today, outside the South City Gate, it is more prosperous than the capital, with crowds of people, comparable to the Jiangnan area in my memory.
Who has the courage to create a city out of thin air?
Gu Ting said proudly, "This city was built by my sister."
Yang Yuanqing could no longer hide his inner shock, "Your sister?"
"Exactly! But her status is special, so it's not convenient for me to take you to see him for the time being."
Gu Ting didn't say much and directly took Yang Yuanqing to the villa to wash and rest.
Afterwards, he was taken to report to the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice told him to wait and that if His Majesty wanted to summon him, he would be summoned. He was also ordered not to leave the capital.
It was not until the evening when Yang Yuanqing met Deng Cunli that he learned the whole story.
"Does Sanyuan Gong have any plans for his return to the capital this time?"
"How dare a sinner have any plans?" Yang Yuanqing laughed at himself.
Deng Cunli smiled and said, "Soon Sanyuan Gong will no longer be a criminal. After the verdict is overturned, does Sanyuan Gong plan to enter the court or return to his ancestral home to cultivate himself?"
Yang Yuanqing's cloudy eyes suddenly became sharp. "What advice does Eunuch Deng have?"
Deng Cunli did not answer but asked, "I wonder how much talent and learning Sanyuan Gong has left after so many years of hard work?"
Yang Yuanqing laughed heartily, his eyes becoming cloudy again, "Not a cent left."
"That's great!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Yuanqing became curious.
Deng Cunli didn't keep it a secret, "To be honest, Mr. Sanyuan, my wife wants to hire you to teach at the Shanhe Academy, so she went to the trouble of bringing you back to the capital."
Yang Yuanqing's hands trembled slightly. "Could your wife be General Gu's sister?"
"Exactly! You may address my wife as Madam Zhao!"
The three words "Madam Zhao" were like a heavy hammer hitting Yang Yuanqing on the head. In an instant, he understood everything.
I understood why General Gu's sister was able to build a city and why she was able to bring him back to the capital.
As the wife of the eldest prince, she is so famous, no wonder she has such abilities.
No wonder General Gu has always refused to reveal the true identity of his sister.
It really cannot be disclosed, or it will cause big trouble.
Yang Yuanqing was shocked but quickly calmed down.
He gathered himself and asked, "Thank you, Madam, for your esteem for me. I'm afraid I'd be misleading the students if you hired me to teach at Shanhe Academy."
Deng Cunli laughed. "I'm afraid Lord Sanyuan doesn't realize his current situation. You haven't even returned to the capital yet, but you've already caused a stir in the court. Does Lord Sanyuan remember Li Bingming?"
Yang Yuanqing nodded, "He is my classmate. I was the top scorer in the imperial examination, and he was the third place."
"Mr. Sanyuan is right. Li Bingming is now the Minister of the Central Secretariat. Although he doesn't hold the title of Prime Minister, he holds the position of Prime Minister in reality. Your successful recall to the capital this time is entirely thanks to Lord Li's help."
"Why should he help me? He and I have always been at odds, so there is no reason for him to help me." Yang Yuanqing was shocked.
Deng Cunli said, "Lord Li is willing to help you because someone persuaded him."
"Your wife?"
"Exactly."
Yang Yuanqing opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Deng Cunli didn't care and said slowly, "Lord Li is willing to help you return to the capital, but there are conditions. He wants to clear his name and publish a collection of essays to surpass you in talent and knowledge, thus destroying your reputation as a Sanyuan Gong. You are a dignified Sanyuan Gong, but you are just so-so.
You should know that you are now in a difficult position, with no choice. Decline His Majesty's offer and teach at Shanhe Academy. This is the only way to ensure your safety and allow the Yang family to regain their place in the court. Otherwise, you will be shattered to pieces, bearing a stigma. The Yang family will be buried with you."
Yang Yuanqing was silent.
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