Survival countdown

Chapter 37

Xie’s family is a great Confucian in Yangzhou, not to mention peaches and plums all over the world, but [-]% of the students in Yangzhou prefecture learn from Xie’s children, so they can enjoy both official and business affairs. Offend Xie.

Yangzhou is prosperous, and the first choice for the victims to escape, but the magistrate was afraid of trouble, so he ordered people to block the official roads to stop the victims in advance, and drove them to other counties such as Jiangyang County. Set up resettlement areas.

Zhao Yuzheng stayed at Xie's house as soon as he arrived in Yangzhou, and asked someone to inquire about the situation of the victims. He was very angry when he learned that Xiao Wence, the magistrate of Yangzhou, had driven out the victims. Tell his father that Zhao Zai will hold a copy of Xiao Wence.

After seeing the tragedy of the victims, Zhao Yuzheng decided to open a warehouse to provide relief.

The porridge shop was just opposite to the disaster relief porridge shop in the disaster-stricken area. To be honest, if his natal family hadn't been a local Confucian scholar and his father was a high-ranking scholar, Xiao Wence would have smashed the porridge shop opened by Zhao Yuzheng long ago.

Opening a porridge shop with thicker rice porridge at the government disaster relief site, wouldn't it be a blatant slap in the face?

It's a pity that Zhao Yuzheng has a strong background, and Xiao Wence has to apologize for being beaten in the face. Zhao Yuzheng despises Xiao Wence, such a flamboyant person, but he will not directly tear his face.

He quickly asked his grandfather to come forward to summon the rich merchants of Yangzhou to raise funds, and at the same time wrote to the prince, asking for a favor from him, saying that he was the one who donated the most disaster relief funds from the local rich merchants, and he would take the position of Huainan imperial merchants next year.

Rich local businessmen rushed to the place upon hearing the news.

In just half a month, nearly 70 taels of disaster relief funds were raised. At this time, Zhao Yuzheng came forward as a representative of the fund-raising activities and donated nearly one million taels to Yangzhou government.

Xiao Wence was overjoyed when he heard that, and his complaints about Zhao Yuzheng's slap in the face immediately turned into admiration, and he wrote a letter in his own hand, full of praise. In this natural disaster commendation report, Zhao Yuzheng's name was placed in the front row, which was particularly prominent .

The report was sent to Kyoto and fell into the hands of the prince.

With a swipe of the prince's pen, Zhao Yuzheng's ranking will jump up a few rows, and he will become one of the most outstanding charitable people who have contributed to the natural disaster in Huainan. Next year's school examination will test students' personal morality, which will be a big plus point.

News of the outbreak of the epidemic came from Jiangyang County, and a small-scale epidemic also broke out in the affected areas outside Yangzhou City.

Zhao Sanlang and Xie's family disagreed with Zhao Yuzheng's going to the disaster area again, but Zhao Yuzheng's objection was invalid, and he was taken to the backyard to witness the tragedy of the domestic servant suffering from the epidemic.

At that time, everyone in Yangzhou City was in danger, Zhao Yuzheng stayed at home, but Zhao Sanlang went out every day to help deliver medicinal materials and maintain law and order in the disaster-stricken area.

Within a few days, Zhao Yuzheng was listening to the servant girls discussing the resolution of the epidemic in Xie's garden.

They said that the imperial envoy made a decisive decision and led troops to take down the magistrate of Jiangyang County who was dereliction of duty. He convened the doctors, imperial physicians and victims of the disaster to work together to develop a new cure for the epidemic. Medicinal materials and silver were randomly assigned to doctors from Jiangyang County to various places in Huainan to treat the epidemic and saved thousands of victims in Huainan.

They said: "The new imperial envoy is an upright official, and the people in Huainan have heard it all over the world. I heard that his eyes are as bright as a torch, and the court saw that Deng Wen'an was wronged at a glance. He was still a seventh-rank official at that time. The petty official is not afraid of authority, and brought this matter to His Majesty, and that's why the imperial envoy came to Yangzhou."

"It's more than that! If the imperial envoy hadn't acted decisively, I don't know how many people would have died unjustly... Do you know? The magistrate of Yangzhou was also called to Jiangyang County. I see, the magistrate drove the victims out of the city without telling the truth. But the imperial envoy will be liquidated sooner or later."

"Should!"

"But how do you know so many things?"

"The new young gentleman in our house eats rice cakes from the restaurant outside every day. I volunteered to take up the task and run errands every day. I heard it from the storytellers in the restaurant. Their storytellers say that the imperial envoy is the current Di Renjie. , Master Qingtian, even yelling that if they are the people of Jiangyang County, they will collectively send the imperial envoy Wanmin umbrella!"

"It's as if it's true..."

Zhao Yuzheng, who came out from the back of the rockery, had a pale face and an ugly expression. He was gasping for breath and had difficulty breathing through his heart. He staggered back to his room and lay on the bed struggling to endure the pain in his heart.

The sun hung high until it was dark, and Zhao Yuzheng endured the pain of the attack alone. When Zhao Sanlang came back from the outside, he had returned to normal, painted his lips with rouge, and pretended to be nonchalant to show that he thought about it or wanted to do it himself. Go to the disaster-stricken area to see the current epidemic situation, otherwise he really has a bad conscience.

Zhao Sanlang knew the ambition in Zhao Yuzheng's heart, thinking that Jiangyang County had sent a doctor with a complete range of medicinal materials, so he didn't reject Zhao Yuzheng again.

"Yes, but you must bring someone with you, otherwise the third brother can't explain to his parents."

"Thank you third brother, Shiro knows that third brother loves me the most."

Zhao Sanlang smiled back, thinking of Zhao Baiyu inappropriately.

The epidemic in Jiangyang County was the first battle of the imperial envoy to Huainan, and Zhao Baiyu not only won, but also played extremely beautifully.

Unexpectedly, he has such outstanding political talent, isn't Chen Shidao exaggerating when he said that he is the number one scholar?They obstructed Zhao Baiyu's scientific research for Shiro, did they really cut off his official career?

The more Zhao Sanlang thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he didn't dare to think about it any further. He faintly realized that if he knew Zhao Baiyu better, he would regret and feel guilty.

When Zhao Baiyu was born, he was four years old and could remember things. He still remembers his mother's dystocia and bloody collapse, and her screams were shrill.At that time there was thunder, and my father was on the way back, the princess in another yard also had a fit, and wanted to leave the doctors and midwives my father had prepared for my mother, leaving only one or two midwives and doctors for my mother. As if facing an enemy.

The light from the lightning splitting the sky clearly illuminated the fear on their faces, like ghosts crawling out of hell, which became the most memorable scene in Zhao Sanlang's childhood.

Therefore, Zhao Sanlang hated Zhao Baiyu more than his two elder brothers. The princess did evil alone, leaving everyone in the Zhao family with an indelible nightmare. Afterwards, he often stayed by Zhao Yuzheng's side, watching him get sick twice a day, and watching his parents worry about him. He couldn't sleep for several days and nights, and his mother prayed to gods and worshiped Buddha everywhere. On the other hand, Zhao Baiyu grew up healthy and healthy, so it was hard for him not to anger Zhao Baiyu.

His father's disgust towards Zhao Baiyu was particularly obvious, and he often reprimanded him for being hypocritical, stupid, and ignorant of etiquette. Gradually, Zhao Baiyu stopped expressing himself in front of them and became more and more silent. When he grew up, he became a speck of ashes in his memory fluttering shadow.

Zhao Sanlang looked back at the Zhao Baiyu in his memory, from enthusiastic and cheerful to taciturn, he would never forget the etiquette of respecting the elders and loving the young, but when one person hates another, no matter how much kindness the other party expresses, he can always find malice to explain what he did.

Zhao Baiyu is silent, doesn't like to show off, and is willing to stay in the capital's government office as a seventh-rank official. In the eyes of the prejudiced Zhao Sanlang, he is ignorant and lacks talent.

His goodwill and friendliness are also regarded as ulterior motives, because no one can not feel resentment under the hostility and targeting.

Zhao Sanlang rubbed his fingertips unconsciously, not daring to think if everything was his prejudice and misunderstanding, how would he deal with himself?

"Third Brother...Third Brother?"

Zhao Sanlang returned to his senses, looked at Zhao Yuzheng's puzzled and worried eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Yuzheng looked at him steadfastly, and said in silence for a while, "Wulang is serving as an imperial envoy. He should go to Jiangyang County, not far from Yangzhou. Should we go see him?"

"No need to go." Zhao Sanlang immediately objected: "He is an imperial envoy, he has to manage the epidemic, and he has to deal with the case. He is fighting with the gang of officials who are like-minded. We will bother him when we go."

Zhao Yuzheng was surprised, and his heart sank deeply.

"What's more," Zhao Sanlang changed the subject and said, "Zhao Baiyu is already married, so he has completely broken up with us and has nothing to do with him. There is no need to keep in touch, so as not to make each other unhappy."

Hearing this, Zhao Yuzheng's mood brightened instantly as if he saw the moon through the clouds.

"Wulang is from the Zhao family after all. He is our brother. If a bone is broken, the tendon is still connected. Blood is thicker than water. Besides, the relationship between Huainan and the prince is very important. Can help a group of princes..." Seeing Zhao Sanlang's frown and unwillingness, Zhao Yuzheng changed his words and said: "Although father didn't express his opinion, the eldest brother and second brother both sided with the prince. Father didn't object, so he must also intend to support orthodoxy, so I also I just want to help my father, elder brother, and second elder brother."

Zhao Sanlang's face softened, and he said to him: "You don't need to get involved in these things, set an example this trip, take the scientific examination next year, and come step by step, you will be able to protect your official career with your father and us. But the battle for the throne is cruel, It is unfathomable, if you are not careful, your head will fall to the ground, so don't get involved."

Zhao Yuzheng hesitated and nodded: "I understand."

Zhao Sanlang smiled, touched Zhao Yuzheng's forehead as a comfort, and temporarily put Zhao Baiyu and his related affairs behind him.

Time has passed unknowingly, and Zhao Yuzheng and Zhao Sanlang have been in Yangzhou for nearly three months. At this time, the epidemic situation and disaster situation in Yangzhou have stabilized, and the unjust case of slaughtering white ducks in Jiangyang County has developed to the point where Deng Wen'an was acquitted. Later, Lv Liangshi was killed in autumn, Xiao Wence's official position was not guaranteed, and the people of Yangzhou Prefecture rushed to pay attention to and discuss the words and deeds of the imperial envoy in Jiangyang County.

Zhao Sanlang accidentally entered a restaurant by mistake and heard a storyteller talking about the story of an imperial envoy going to Yangzhou.

Today, Deng Wen'an was wronged as an accomplice of the murderer, and Huainan officials were in a rage to force the case to be settled. At the critical moment, the imperial envoy called out the real murderer Wang Guozhi, and the drama of Jedi turned the situation around for three days, ten shows a day, and the show was still full. , the audience remained enthusiastic.

Especially when the imperial envoy angrily reprimanded all the officials in Huainan for their negligence of duty and negligence, and when they sued the imperial court, they even drew applause from all the halls.

The drama of the imperial envoy angrily denouncing a group of officials for negligence of duty and negligence of supervision continued for three days, ten performances a day, and the performances were still full and the audience remained enthusiastic.

"...the imperial envoy said, 'Being an official is not a decision for the people, it is better to go home and grow sweet potatoes'!"

"Okay!" Zhao Sanlang in the cubicle patted the table and shouted with all the people in the hall: "Well said!"

In another compartment, Zhao Yuzheng listened indifferently to the storyteller, and asked the hidden guard behind him in a low voice: "Is what he said true?"

The dark guard said, "There is a discrepancy."

Zhao Yuzheng: "Say."

The secret guard: "The person who caught the real murderer Wang Guozhi in advance and interrogated the confession, and the person who angrily reprimanded all the officials in Huainan to make them speechless are all the guards around the imperial envoy, including Du Yuhou, including the one just mentioned downstairs. That sentence also came from Marquis Yu, the capital of the bodyguard's army."

Zhao Yuzheng raised his voice slightly: "Really?"

The secret guard: "Every sentence is true."

Zhao Yuzheng smiled imperceptibly, "Go down."

It turned out that Zhao Baiyu did not take the credit at all, but Du Yuhou beside him. Presumably, the king of Lin'an County arranged for many capable people and strangers to assist him to go to Yangzhou. On the surface, Zhao Baiyu was at the front, but in fact Lin'an County was behind it. The king and His Majesty are also the ones who deal with Huainan's officialdom, and Zhao Baiyu is just a pawn.

"It's much easier to know who you're playing against."

Zhao Yuzheng's mood, which had been tense for several days, was finally relieved, and he drank tea leisurely while listening to the sound of storytelling downstairs.

He didn't know that what the secret guards investigated was true or not, and those who watched the exciting confrontation in the courtroom knew that the leader was a guard, but they didn't know that Zhao Baiyu had switched identities with him one step ahead.

Others add fuel to the story and pass it on by word of mouth. During the confrontation in the court that day, the guard Du Yuhou's highlight scene was crowned and crowned on the head of the imperial envoy, but the real imperial envoy pretended to be Du Yuhou, trying to set things right by accident, but it was right.

Knowing the truth, Zhao Yuzheng lost interest in the content of the storytelling, got up and left the restaurant, and when he got into the sedan chair, he looked back at the cheering civilians and the high-spirited storyteller in the lobby of the restaurant.

"People say what they say, and the mood of the world has always been like this."

The disaster area was demolished in two days, and the imperial envoy ordered the victims to be moved to other vacant houses. The victims praised it, and Zhao Yuzheng's three-month credit was wiped out.

Wearing a moon-white shirt, Zhao Yuzheng stood on the top of a mountain not far away and looked at the temporary resettlement area for the victims below. He rubbed his fingers unconsciously and said to himself: "Anyone knows..."

What's the truth?

There is no need for the truth, as long as there is a master Qingtian who can seek justice for them and make decisions for them. What kind of character, talent, and whether he is falsified are not within the scope of the foolish people's concern and thinking.

Zhao Yuzheng sighed, his white and beautiful face full of aggressiveness revealed a trace of helpless melancholy and sympathy: "Ignorance is bliss."

Finally came to the refugee resettlement area to take a look, Zhao Yuzheng got on his horse and left, galloping on the muddy mountain road, the two roads were verdant, and the trees were not withered in winter, and the shadows of ancient temples and pagodas could be seen faintly among the mountains and ridges, and the bells echoed faintly Among the mountains, I unknowingly went deep into the thousands of mountains and ravines, thinking that I had reached the end of my journey, but unexpectedly I pushed aside a clump of vines, and there was a small path inside.

Zhao Yuzheng dismounted and walked into the path, and saw a figure at the end of the path, with wide-sleeved robes, tall and tall, like a fairy, gradually overlapping with the familiar figure deep in his heart.

He said to the servant who wanted to follow up behind him: "I'll go in alone, don't follow me." After saying that, he ran towards the figure.

At the end of the path, there is a stone arch on the left. The figure flashed for a moment and then disappeared. It must have walked in.

Zhao Yuzheng hastily drilled into the stone arch, and found that the inside is the scenery of Suzhou and Hangzhou gardens, with rockery and flowing water, and there are hidden caves. It may be the courtyard of a wealthy businessman from Yangzhou who left it in the mountains on the outskirts of the city.

If I am not mistaken, it turns out that the person has been transferred to Yangzhou, no wonder he has been refused many visits to Shanhelou outside the capital.

As for why Zhao Yuzheng was sure that the man was transferred instead of settling in Yangzhou, the reason was simple, because he knew that Shanhe Tower originally belonged to the royal family, and when he was eight or nine years old, he was bestowed by Emperor Yuanshou on his servants for meritorious service.

He remembered very clearly that the crown prince had just completed a court affair, and it was done very beautifully. When discussing rewards for meritorious deeds, he wanted to ask for Shanhe Tower so that he could take Zhao Yuzheng to pick the stars and enjoy the moon, but he was rewarded to others one step ahead of time.

The prince lost his temper a lot in private, but Zhao Yuzheng coaxed it.

Zhao Yuzheng memorized the name of Shanhelou, and a few years later, by chance, he would stumble into it and see the young man who looked like a banished fairy, and he would never forget it.

While looking for people aimlessly, Zhao Yuzheng suddenly heard footsteps approaching in a hurry, and hurriedly hid behind the rockery, watching a group of people stepping across the Jiuqu Bridge and reporting to the people in the pavilion, he could faintly hear the Jiangyang County imperial envoy, Words that appease the robbery of the Senate and relief money.

Zhao Yuzheng listened quietly.

"...The imperial envoy detains Sun Chengyi, and sooner or later they will find out about An Huaide. Even if they don't find the money, they won't be able to touch An Huaide. But I'm worried that there will be many dreams in the night, so I'd better get rid of the money as soon as possible."

"No one can find out that the disaster relief money is hidden in the villa. Don't worry, if it's not safe here, how else can it be safe? Imperial envoy? Hmph, An Huaide can handle a puny rabbit. Let me ask you, whoever found Huo Jingtang Whereabouts?"

"Still in the county prince's mansion, I haven't seen it."

"No movement at all?"

"Our people have been watching, the king of the county thanked the guests behind closed doors, and there was really no movement."

"Confused! It's okay to say nothing for a day or two, but two or three months? Even if he becomes a monk, he has to come out to pray for alms! Idiots! You don't know that you have been deceived. Huo Jingtang must be in Huainan right now." , Xuzhou's disaster relief money was robbed, and three thousand rebellious parties were caused, it is impossible for the person on the dragon chair not to send someone he really trusts."

"Then what should we do now?"

"Go and investigate. Huo Jingtang came here for the disaster relief money, as long as he starts to trace, he will leave traces, so let's continue the investigation from this point."

"Yes!"

Zhao Yuzheng was terrified, his hands and feet were cold, and he quietly returned along the original road after everyone had left, thinking all the way, silver?Is it the disaster relief money that was robbed in Xuzhou?In their hands?Are they a rebellious party that robs officials and bankers?

Has something to do with An Huaide?

What happened to the three thousand fishermen in Xuzhou and the rebellious party that was executed on the spot?

Zhao Yuzheng was distraught, and as soon as he returned to Xie's house, he hurriedly wrote a letter and asked Feige to send it out of Yangzhou, so that he had time to think about the figure he met by chance in his spare time.

Who is he?

What does it have to do with the chaotic party that robbed officials and banks?

No one could tell him the answer, and he fell asleep amidst the turmoil of his thoughts.

***

Zhao Yuzheng secretly followed behind, thinking that the clothes were perfect, but Huo Jingtang found out early in the morning, but he was not interested in paying attention.

Huo Jingtang caught the conversation in the Huzhong Pavilion and Zhao Yuzheng’s eavesdropping, and he was also present. Rather than saying that he was hiding, it would be more appropriate to describe him as being aboveboard and eavesdropping, but no one could notice that he was standing in the tower behind the rockery. At the top, condescendingly listened to the whole process of their plotting and conspiracy.

As soon as Huo Jingtang returned to the other courtyard, he ordered his subordinates to stare at Zhao Yuzheng: "If there are pigeons flying out of his courtyard, intercept the letter, read it and return it intact."

Commander San took orders, and the letter was intercepted that night, and the content was what Zhao Yuzheng saw during the day.After stuffing the letter back intact, Commander San thought for a while, and returned to report.

"It's a whistleblower letter to the prince. Once he receives this letter, the prince can guess that An Huaide has two intentions and will definitely fight back. But they have been in the same party for many years and have a lot of secrets about each other. Forcibly cutting them may hurt the tendons." Bone."

"It's better to hurt the muscles and bones than to fall to the head."

"Will Huainan be more chaotic?"

"The more messy the better." Huo Jingtang was repairing the Yunsong he bought from a nearby mountain temple, and asked casually, "Did you mention sending it to Changshan Villa in the letter?"

"Did not mention."

"Hmm... You find someone to imitate Zhao Yuzheng's notes, and write the words 'Jichang Villa' in it. That's a good reminder," Huo Jingtang laughed: "It's easy to make a fuss about, and don't waste what I gave away for nothing. Chance."

The casual command did not understand.

Huo Jingtang: "The first emperor's rewards to the clan are recorded in detail in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the prince has any brains, he will know to look up the records of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Commander San still couldn't understand. Knowing that Jichang Villa belonged to Prince Jing was equivalent to guessing that An Huaide was Prince Jing's person. Could it be possible to push him, the fifth prince's greed for money, and Sima's actions in Huainan to Prince Jing and An Huaide? On Wilder?

How does it work?

Didn't the general say that the disaster relief money was hot... so he let the prince take the hot potato with his own hands?

So where is the disaster relief money hot?

Huo Jingtang: "Go and deliver the letter."

The scattered commander should be, so he withdrew.

Huo Jingtang was left alone in the room, looking at the repaired potted plants, he asked someone to hire an errand from outside to send the potted plants to Jiangyang County.

Huo Jingtang lazily leaned on the teacher's chair, fiddled with the Buddhist beads once and for all: "The storyteller in the city, where did the latest one go?"

After a while, a black shadow came down from the beam and said: "Go to the courtroom of Mr. Zhao, and angrily reprimand the senior officials of the third and fourth ranks in Huainan."

"How long have you been talking?"

"It will take four or five days."

"It's time to change." Huo Jingtang patted his knees, thought for a while and said, "Let's change to 'Imperial Envoys Witly Capture the Commander, Re-examine the Tragedy of the Southern Imperial Merchant's Extermination'."

"But Mr. Zhao is arresting the Commander-in-Chief and Councilor...won't he become a court official who spread rumors?"

"The name of Xizhezi should be sensational."

"I'm going to do it now, and I promise to spread this play all over Yangzhou Prefecture tomorrow morning, and spread it all over Huainan within three days."

Huo Jingtang closed his eyes and silently recited Buddhist scriptures.

The black shadow is also a Tanghe cavalry, hiding in the dark to protect Zhao Baiyu, looking up at the speed at which Huo Jingtang fiddled with the beads, he knew that he was reciting Buddhist sutras for his dead brother, so he left quietly.

***

Jiangyang County Inn.

Zhao Baiyu carefully played with the Yunsong sent by Huo Jingtang, and drew it according to the shape, quickly outlining the charm with each stroke, thanks to the teacher who taught him that he forced him to learn piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but he chose ink painting Otherwise, it would be impossible to draw the Yun Song sent by Huo Jingtang today.

Yan Bing frowned: "Isn't it enough to raise it?"

Zhao Baiyu didn't raise his head, but focused on his strokes: "I will die."

Yan Bing's face wrinkled even more: "I will raise it for you?"

Zhao Baiyu: "He gave it to me, what's the matter with letting someone else take care of it? It's impolite."

Yan Bing didn't know for a moment whether Wu Lang cherished or didn't cherish the gift from the little county king, thinking that this was probably the book saying that the husband and wife respect each other as guests, and they should be more polite to each other.

He took out the letter from Yangzhou from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Baiyu: "Today's share."

"Put it on the side, I'm just short of the last stroke." Zhao Baiyu kept his hand steady, and lightly hooked it. The brush and ink were evenly thick and dark, and finally drew the most beautiful side of Yunsong. He was going to frame it when it was dry, and put it in the treasure house. .

Zhao Baiyu wiped his hands and asked, "Adjutant Cui is done?"

Yan Bing nodded: "The fake account was put back to the place where the real account was hidden, and it has been taken away by the envoy of An Shuai. Adjutant Cui also asked someone to release the news, and Du Cao should know."

After reading the letter, Zhao Baiyu raised his eyes and said with a smile: "The show is about to start, I have to sing the beginning of your Wulang."