Chapter 56: A Visitor on a Moonlit Night

  Yu Du and Hua Gong left their residence, soon exited the county town, and headed towards the military camp.

  Carrying the package, with a complex expression, he lightly sighed: "Returning to the county town, we actually met the Grand Marshal. Yu Du, we met the Grand Marshal, how can we explain when we return to the military camp? Shouldn't we first go to the county government office and report the matter of the Grand Marshal to our superior?"

  He stopped talking, remained silent for a moment, and finally shook his head.

  He furrowed his brow and said: "Aren't you going to say anything? What if Master finds out?"

  Du Yushen said in a low voice, "Only you and I know about what happened with the commander. We won't say anything, and the commander definitely wouldn't publicize it either, so no one else will find out. If we surrender to our lord, it would be a blow to the commander. If it were anyone else, they would have turned against us long ago. But the commander let my brother and me leave, and this kindness must be repaid. Moreover, we used to be under the commander's command, following him through thick and thin, with a bond of brotherhood. We can't betray the commander."

  Nodding heavily in agreement with the poisonous remarks.

  "On the other hand, our lord values us highly and trusts us deeply. Therefore, we cannot follow General's orders to betray our lord. We can only draw a clear line with General from now on. From today onwards, there will be no more connection between us and General or the Black Mountain Army. This matter is settled in my heart, do you understand?"

  He nodded solemnly and said, "I understand. We'll keep this a secret, repay the kindness of Commander He and continue to serve our lord faithfully. The past is just that - the past. From now on, we are members of Wuji County."

  Yu Du turned his head and glanced in the direction of Wuji County, then rushed towards the military camp without looking back.

  Two people, gradually disappearing outside the city.

  ……

  County government office, study room.

  The oil lamp flickered, Wang Lei was reading by the candlelight. The books in his study were all from the county government's collection, and the previous officials had hardly managed them, but after Wang Lei took over, he moved all the books to his own study. Although Wang Lei had memories of later generations and new ideas that were not constrained by this era, he still needed a solid foundation to stand firm in this life.

  There is no doubt that reading books is the best way to enrich oneself. Especially the many military books in the county government, which made Wang Yue feel refreshed. He finished reading a volume of "Spring and Autumn" in his hand, walked to the bookshelf, and prepared to take down another volume of "Spring and Autumn" bamboo slips.

  After flipping through for a long time, Wang Lei still couldn't find it.

  "Xiao Yu!"

  Wang Lei couldn't find the book and shouted out loud.

  The door opened, and Guo Yu walked in with light footsteps. Before meeting Wang Lei, due to long-term wandering, Guo Yu suffered from malnutrition, her face was pale and thin, as thin as a bamboo pole. After following Wang Lei, she received adequate nutrition, and her body quickly recovered, her figure slightly plumper, her face radiant, and her complexion rosy. Although still a little girl, her eyebrows had the elegance of a beauty, and her movements were full of life. She and her sister Guo Nv Wang stayed in the county government office, responsible for taking care of Wang Lei's daily life and cleaning his study.

  So Wang Wei directly asked Gu Yu.

  "Your Highness!"

  Guo Yu stood in front of Wang Lei and bowed respectfully.

  Wang Lei smiled and said in a low voice, "There is every volume of 'Spring and Autumn' on the bookshelf. The last time I looked at it, I noticed that there was the second volume of 'Spring and Autumn' on the bookshelf. Just now I flipped through all of them but didn't find it. Do you know where it is?"

  "Ah..."

  Kuang Yu exclaimed and then knelt down with a thud.

  Wang Lei frowned and said: "What's going on? Hurry up and get up, don't just kneel on the ground without moving."

  Guo Yu did not get up, but instead hung his head in shame and said, "Young Master, I was the one who took the second volume. Please punish me."

  Wang Lei helped Guo Yu up and said: "What are you doing with the second volume of 'Spring and Autumn'? There must be a reason."

  "Guo Yu replied truthfully: 'It was because my younger sister wanted to read a book, so I took the liberty of taking your books to show her. This is my fault and has nothing to do with my younger sister. Please don't blame or punish her, she's young and doesn't understand things.'"

  Wang Lei chuckled twice and said with a smile: "Why should I punish you? Guo Nvwang can read at such a young age, it's not bad. Since the second volume is in her hands, let her take a look, I'll read another book. In the future, if you want to read a book, just take it directly, no need to be polite."

  Wang Lei was also quite surprised, Guo Nvwang could read "Chunqiu" at the age of six or seven, no less than a child prodigy. Of course, this is also because Guo Yu and Guo Nvwang's family environment was not bad in the past, so they could recognize characters early.

  "Thank you, young master!"

  Kuang Yu's face was filled with gratitude and his emotions were surging.

  The gaze towards Wang Lei had a hint of inexplicable charm.

  "Go ahead!"

  Wang Lei waved his hand, and Guo Yu said: "Young master, I've made some chicken soup for you. Please wait a moment, I'll bring it over." She turned around and left the study, not long after, she came back in with a bowl of warm chicken soup. After Wang Lei finished drinking, Guo Yu finally left the study satisfied, leaving Wang Lei alone in the room.

  Under the moonlight, the room was quiet, with only Wang Yue's sound of flipping through bamboo slips. At some point, Wang Yue put down the bamboo slips in his hand and said lightly: "You've been waiting outside the door for so long, come in."

  "Crack!!"

  The door opened and two men in black walked in.

  These two people were none other than Zhang Yan and Bai Rao. The defensive strength of the county government office was not strong, as Dian Wei and Yu Du were in the military camp, and Wang Yue did not have a personal bodyguard or imperial guard, so the two were able to sneak in quietly.

  Wang Lei didn't notice at first, but the room was quiet and still, and soon discovered the movement outside the door.

  He raised an eyebrow when he saw the newcomer, revealing a look of surprise.

  Hei Shan Jun's commander, Zhang Yan, has actually arrived in Wu Ji County. This commander of Hei Shan Jun is really bold! Wang Lei smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying: "The two of you came to the county government office on a moonlit night, what a pleasant surprise, please sit!"

  Zhang Yan sat down casually and said: "County Magistrate Wang handles matters calmly and is also admirable."

  Wang Lei said, "Zhang Dasui is joking, the ones who should be worried are not me, but you two. As long as I shout loudly, the soldiers from the county government will surround us, and you two won't be able to escape."

  Zhang Yan burst out laughing and retorted, "County Magistrate Wang is a clever man, he naturally wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, before I came to the county yamen, I had already given orders that if I didn't return to the mountains, all of the Black Mountain Army would attack Wuji County. At that time, even if County Magistrate Wang's military prowess was divine, it would be difficult for him to withstand the attack of tens of thousands of elite troops."

  Wang Lei sneered and said lightly, "To take down Zhang Dashuai, it's not necessarily to kill him, capturing is also a good way. With Zhang Dashuai in my hands, the Black Mountain Army will not dare to move."

  Zhang Yan's face changed, and he thought to himself that this young man was troublesome.

  Wang Lei didn't dwell on the matter, and instead asked: "General Zhang is also a powerful figure, busy with many affairs. He wouldn't come to visit me at night without good reason. What instructions does he have for me?"

  Zhang Yan straightened her body and said loudly: "County Magistrate Wang is wise, and I admire him. This time I came to visit the county magistrate, it was to ask about an old matter of my Taiping Army, and I wanted to ask for your verification."

  Wang Lei said curiously, "This is strange. I'm only eighteen this year. When the Yellow Turbans gathered, I was young and wandering in Ye County, it's impossible for me to have a relationship with the Taiping Army."

  Zhang Yan said seriously: "Yan will not make a mistake, I dare ask County Magistrate Wang, who gave you the Black Gold Snake Spear?"

  In an instant, a huge wave surged up in Wang Lei's heart.