Chapter 264 A Wise Choice

Kou Zhun and his companions entered from the north gate and exited from the south gate of Jianmen Pass without stopping for a moment. The terrain to the north of Jianmen Pass was steep and the only passage was narrow and steep, but the south was wide and flat.

Kou Zhun had no time to appreciate the scenery along the way. Thinking of the situation of being trapped in a den of thieves and surrounded by dangers, he rode his horse as fast as he could, wishing he could fly to Chengdu Prefecture with wings, and before the two armies fought against each other in Jianmen Pass, he could find a way to rescue his mentor who was trapped in the rebel prison.

Finally, they entered Chengdu Prefecture, exhausted and covered in dust. Kou Zhun looked at the people in the city living and working in peace and contentment, with shops lining the streets, crowds bustling on the streets, and the hawking of Sichuanese people one after another. The city was as prosperous and lively as the capital.

The rebel leader "Wu Qiren" who had captured Sichuan and Shu was not a vicious thug, but a man with some strategic talents and some ability to govern the place. Otherwise, these people who had just suffered from war would not have such a peaceful life.

Without looking for an inn to stay in first, several people went directly to the Chengdu government office.

Kou Zhun got off his horse and came to the two yamen runners standing guard in front of the government office. He clasped his fists and saluted, "Excuse me, two officials, which lord is in charge of the Chengdu government office now? May I go and see him?"

The two yamen runners looked Kou Zhun and his companions up and down, and spoke very politely, "Where are you from? What is your name? What do you want to see the prefect for? I can go in and inform you."

[Oh! It's good to have a prefect in charge. It seems that after the rebels seized Chengdu, they also attached great importance to the local administration.]

Kou Zhun clasped his fists and saluted again, "My name is Kou Zhun. I came from the capital to visit an old friend. I have something important to discuss with the prefect. I would like to trouble you two officials to help inform him."

"Wait a moment." A yamen runner turned and ran into the government office to report to the prefect.

After a while, the yamen runner ran out again, clasped his fists and saluted Kou Zhun, "Sir Kou, my prefect wants to see you."

Kou Zhun was excited! It would be great

if he could see the prefect, but he was afraid that he would not even see him. How could he find his mentor Luo Ji who was imprisoned in the prefectural jail?

After tying the horses to the hitching posts on both sides of the prefectural gate, Kou Zhun and his three companions followed the yamen runner into the prefectural gate. Instead of staying in the office in the front yard of the prefectural gate, the yamen runner led them straight to the backyard.

Kou Zhun muttered in his heart, this rebel prefect of Chengdu is really a strange person. When a stranger comes to visit, he does not receive him in the front office, but brings him to the backyard where his family lives. Do we have such a relationship?

The yamen runner stopped at the gate of the second courtyard and said politely, "Sir Kou, the prefect is waiting for you in the study. Sir Kou, just go in, and the others please stay."

Mo Cheng and Mo Chi, who were stopped by the yamen runners, took Kou An, who was worried, and left, "Kou An, come with us to the gatehouse to ask for a cup of tea."

Kou Zhun stepped into the courtyard and saw two people standing on the steps of the house under the eaves. The man who was supposed to be in the rebel prison was looking at him with a smile.

"Teacher!..." Kou Zhun was shocked and paused, then shouted excitedly and ran over quickly. He came to Luo Ji, who had a friendly smile, and knelt down on the ground with a plop. "Teacher, are you okay?"

Luo Ji stepped down the steps and personally helped up the student who risked his life and traveled two thousand miles to visit and rescue him.

"Kou Zhun, I'm a very good teacher. Thank you for your hard work!"

The scholar standing on the stone steps of the corridor, wearing a moon-white scholar's robe, with an elegant temperament, a goose feather fan and a scarf, also smiled and said: "Kou Zhun, not bad, a man of loyalty and righteousness, courage and knowledge, worthy of being the candidate recommended by the princess herself."

After Kou Zhun's initial surprise of meeting his mentor passed, his mind was full of doubts and confusion. He clasped his fists and saluted to the elegant scholar, and asked: "May I ask this gentleman's name, what do you mean?"

The man shook the goose feather fan in his hand and smiled: "I am the rebel leader "Wu Qiren", and also Sima Qingyun, a counselor of His Royal Highness the King of Qin."

"This!... This... Teacher, what's going on?" Kou Zhun's heart almost jumped out of his throat, and he turned to ask his teacher Luo Ji.

"Kou Zhun, please come in, let's drink tea and talk slowly!" Luo Ji's old face flushed with a little guilt, what his daughter and son-in-law did was really a bit unkind. Kou Zhun, who

was sitting at the bottom, had a lot of questions in his mind, but he didn't know how to ask the teacher, so he just drank cup after cup of tea in frustration. Besides, he was really thirsty. He was in a hurry to travel for days, and he didn't eat well or sleep well. His throat was red and swollen, and his mouth was full of blisters.

Luo Ji cleared his throat and said to the student with apology: "Kou Zhun, you should have guessed that the land of Shuzhong was taken by the King of Qin.

Now the land of Western Shu is undergoing a new policy reform. It is not easy to disrupt the original rules and implement the new policy. Not to mention the complicated official duties, the desperate resistance from the noble families and local tyrants is also very fierce. As the overall coordinator, I am really a little overwhelmed and need a few good helpers.

Li'er cherishes your talent, but is also worried about the court. "The emperor has discovered that the Western Shu rebels were originally subordinates of the King of Qin, and I, Luo Ji, am a traitor who colluded with them. The emperor will be furious and will implicate you, a student who rebelled against the enemy. That's why you were tricked to come to Shu.

Kou Zhun, it's up to you to stay or not. If you stay, the important task of the prefect of Chengdu will be handed over to you. If you want to go back, I will send someone to escort you back to the capital tomorrow."

The guess in his heart was verified by the teacher himself, and Kou Zhun's mood was not so heavy and panicked.

The Qin Wangfei was right. If the King of Qin's rebellion was exposed, as Luo Ji's only disciple, he, Kou Zhun, would not end well. It is better to be dismissed from office and imprisoned. Perhaps, the crime of treason with nine generations of the family implicated will also be pinned on his head. After all, the current emperor is not a broad-minded, kind and generous person.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin rebelled because he had no choice. There were rumors of "axe sound and candle shadow" before, and then there was the "Golden Casket Alliance" to agree on the order of succession to the throne. The death of the Prince of Wei, the son of Taizu, was strange, and the regicide and treason of the Prince of Qi Zhao Tingmei was full of helplessness and sadness.

The Prince of Qin had no choice. If he did not rebel, he would die sooner or later. The continuous assassinations were a death warrant. The family of the mentor Luo Ji also had no choice. If the Prince of Qin died, the Princess of Qin and her family would not have a good ending.

The King of Qin is known as one of the Eight Sages. He is wise and intelligent, loves his people like his own children, and is a wise ruler in terms of both his brilliant talent and his broad mind. Besides, does Kou Zhun have any other choice now?

After quickly thinking through the whole story and the consequences, the intelligent Kou Zhun made a choice immediately and smiled bitterly: "Teacher, I choose to stay and help you, but please take care of my family, Your Highness the King of Qin."

Seeing that Kou Zhun made a wise choice so quickly, Sima Qingyun happily waved his goose feather fan and praised him: "Kou Zhun is indeed a young and intelligent man, brave and wise. As for your family, don't worry. The prince has already instructed that as long as you are willing to board our ship, you must protect your family's safety."

Since he had made the choice and boarded the pirate ship of the Qin King and his wife, Kou Zhun felt calm because of the Qin King and his wife's heartfelt admiration and trust.

"Teacher, since I am staying, please arrange my official duties immediately!"