Chapter 068: Time is too short
The deep night was like a huge black cloth, as if to cover up those unspeakable secrets. After Ji Lingchuan got drunk in Wu's house, he was placed in the guest room. Wu Quan ordered his men to guard outside and report immediately if anything happened.
As long as Ji Lingchuan stayed in Wu Mansion, Wu Quan could leave the city without any worries.
As soon as Wu Quan walked out of the yard, Chu Li, who had been waiting there, ordered people to follow him. After the people had gone far away, she took the others and sneaked into the Wu family quietly.
I don't know if it's because a funeral had just been held there, but there was always a desolate and gloomy feeling in the mansion. Without the second young master who was always living a life of debauchery, the servants were much more idle. Except for those who actually did the work for Wu Quan, the ordinary servants were resting.
According to the map of Wu Mansion that Ruan Qinghuan had given her in advance, she quickly found the location of the guest room. There was someone guarding the door. Chu Li flew to the roof, lifted the tiles and jumped into the room.
Ji Lingchuan was not drunk to begin with. After Wu Quan left, he had already entered Wu Quan's study, found the token for transferring food supplies and going to Xifeng Cliff, and printed it on paper with ink.
He handed the drawing to Chu Li and said, "Make five according to this."
Chu Li wondered: "You won't go with me?"
"Let's go together and put on the help." Ji Lingchuan urged her to hurry up.
At this moment, a woman's voice was heard from outside: "We were arranged by Master Wu to serve the nobles inside."
Chu Li frowned, and Ji Lingchuan was equally surprised. He must not let anyone find out that Chu Li was here, otherwise everything today would be in vain. He had put in a lot of effort to gain Wu Quan's trust, and he must not let it go to waste.
Chu Li bit her lip and jumped onto the roof just before the door opened.
Ji Lingchuan breathed a sigh of relief and went back to bed pretending to be drunk.
"Tea……"
The woman who entered the room knew that she was serving a noble person, so she naturally served him attentively. She hurriedly poured a cup of tea and handed it to the bedside, then helped the person up: "Sir, please have some tea."
Ji Lingchuan stared at the girl carefully for a long time with his drunken eyes, and smiled a little obscenely: "Beauty."
The girl covered her face in shame upon hearing this, and said coquettishly, "Oh, sir..."
Chu Li, who was outside, listened to the conversation with his eyes as cold as frost in the moonlight.
Ji Lingchuan took a sip of tea and frowned again: "This tea is cold, change it to a hot cup."
When the woman turned around, Ji Lingchuan quickly pinched her several times. She screamed continuously, and when he thought it was enough, he knocked her unconscious with a palm and threw her onto the bed.
When everything was ready, he looked up and met Chu Li's cold eyes.
Chu Li's face turned red with anger. Fortunately, he knew what was best for him. If he dared to mess around, she would put him to death.
The lights in the room went out, and the two people guarding the door smiled knowingly.
Ji Lingchuan sat in the dark, holding onto the bedrail and rocking for more than half an hour. He had no experience in this area, he just knew that it was not good to do it in a short time.
In the following period of time, Wu Quan became busy, because he had to allocate some rice and grain to provide relief to the disaster victims, so he had to increase the number of food purchases by two, so as to ensure food for those people on Xifeng Cliff.
Instead, his relationship with Ji Lingchuan became closer and closer, which was something Wu Quan had not expected. Ji Lingchuan accepted the two boxes of silver he sent without hesitation, and immediately went to the brothel to redeem the virginity of the girl who served him that night.
It can be seen that he is not as dignified, righteous, loyal and courageous as the legend says, but is still greedy for money and rebellious when he sees a beautiful woman.
But this is also a good thing. When the construction of the dike is completed and these people leave Lucheng, he will no longer have to worry and be on guard day and night.
Soon, the construction of the dike was finally completed. He An handed over the finishing work to Bao County Magistrate and returned to the city with Ruan Qinghuan.
Magistrate Bao was complaining in his heart, but he dared not disobey the order. The finishing work would take at least three to five days. After all, he had followed the Prime Minister until now, so a few days would not be a big deal.
"Are you worried that Wu Quan will mobilize the people in the government office?" Ruan Qinghuan knew that He'an must have a purpose in keeping Bao County Magistrate.
He has been a local official in Lucheng for many years, and he must have been in cahoots with the Wu family. This time when they return to Lucheng, they have to make the final deployment. If they leave Bao County Magistrate behind, Wu Quan will have lost his recent help. Without the approval of the county magistrate, no one can mobilize the soldiers in the government office.
"We have to be on guard. Bao Deguang is a small-minded man, but he is very cunning. Within five days, Ji Lingchuan will take away all the food storage of the Wu family. Then, we can send troops to encircle and suppress Xifeng Cliff."
When they returned to the villa in the city, Xia Lian had almost packed up her things. Chu Li had been waiting there for a long time. When he saw them coming back, he took out the tokens he had prepared in advance: "Ji Lingchuan said that this is the token for going up Xifeng Cliff. The rest were given to several young generals to be used when we take down the Wu family's grain storage."
Take away the food first, because those people in the mountains will be hungry.
He An nodded: "Early tomorrow morning, you will take Zimo out of the city and head straight to Wangyue Mountain."
Hearing the noise, the door of the servant's room opened, and Xie Zitang came out with his lame leg, handing the drawing paper he had drawn several times to Ruan Qinghuan: "Sir, this is a topographic map of Xifeng Cliff. I have drawn all the places I know on the mountain, except the east, which I have never been to. I have also marked the traps I encountered when I was going down the mountain."
He An frowned and looked at him. Although this man was down and out, he had an open and honest look and some character. "You have done a good job. After returning to Beijing, I will send you to the Ministry of War."
As a citizen of Dongzhao, there might be a place for him to serve his country.
Xie Zitang thanked him.
I have chatted with Chu Li occasionally these days and learned about the identity of Prime Minister He An. It seems that the court is really planning to completely eradicate these harmful bandits this time, so that the people of Lucheng can finally have peace.
Before dawn the next day, Ruan Qinghuan woke Zimo up, and they all got on the carriage. Before they set off, He'an looked solemn, and pulled Ruan Qinghuan aside and said, "When we get to Wangyue Mountain, give the token to Jiang Ming, and he will know what to do."
Ruan Qinghuan nodded. Looking at the secret guards pouring in from all directions, she knew that the tough battle was about to begin.
When the day broke, Wu Quan went out of the city to get grain himself. He waited for nearly an hour, but he didn't even see the shadow of the grain carriage. This had never happened before, and he had a bad feeling. After a little thought, he turned around quickly and said, "Go back home quickly."
After returning to the mansion, Wu Quan went straight to the guest room. The door opened, but there was no trace of Ji Lingchuan.
His mind was like exploding, and he angrily asked the person who was secretly watching him: "Where is he?"
"He...has been in there all the time and hasn't come out." The man was also panicked. He saw Ji Lingchuan return to the room with his own eyes, and he never came out again.
Throwing the man aside, Wu Quan's bloodshot eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he ordered his trusted confidant: "Go to the county office quickly and ask County Magistrate Bao to seal the city gates. Then arrange for someone to go to Xifeng Cliff and tell Wu Jie to prepare for the battle."
The man took the order and left. Wu Quan also came out quickly, gathered his men, mounted his horses, and headed straight for the villa where He'an lived.
They must not be allowed to leave the city, unless He An does not care about the lives of his family. Otherwise, there should be a chance of recovery. Even if there is not, every moment of delay is a moment of recovery.