The First Volume: The Female Protagonist's Hidden Strength Chapter 20: Gazing North

  The crowd entered the pavilion, and Gao Qiu ordered two bailiffs, Dong Chao and Xue Ba, to unlock Yang Zhi's cangue. The two were frightened upon hearing this and immediately knelt down, saying: "Sir, please forgive us! Under the imperial rule, outside Bianliang City, we dare not take it upon ourselves to remove the cangue from an exiled prisoner without authorization. If any official from the Imperial Censorate happens to pass by and sees this, we cannot bear the consequences!" They spoke with a look of terror on their faces.

  Gao heard that it was reasonable, if the officials saw and impeached them, not to mention these two young men would be unlucky, they themselves might also have some trouble. At this time, Zhao Ting's party had just come to power, and they were all eyeing the ministers who relied on Cai Jing, fearing that they would be attacked by others if they fell behind in any way.

  He simply understood that although he understood, seeing Yang Zhi wearing a five-pound iron cangue, he had to raise his head when sitting or standing, and even holding a wine cup required someone else's help. His heart was truly unbearable. He looked at Yang Zhi, unable to speak for the time being.

  Yang Zhi, however, was not bothered and raised his wine cup with a smile: "Brother-in-law, Lin the instructor, Lu the master, Lu the imperial guard, Yang Zhi is a guilty man who will be exiled soon. Being able to have a drink with you all before I leave shows your noble and generous intentions. As a rough person, my words are not very eloquent, so I can only borrow flowers to worship Buddha, and offer this cup of wine to you all."

  Several people hastily raised their cups, and five wine glasses clinked in mid-air before they were drained in one gulp.

  On the side, the official Dong Chao hurriedly stretched out his hand to pour wine for everyone. Yang Zhi then said to Gao Qiu: "Sir, great kindness doesn't need to be thanked, today we part ways at Changting, and we will meet again in the future. Yang Zhi takes a drink first as a toast." After speaking, he drank another cup dry.

  Yang Zhi was about to put down his cup when he saw Gao Qiu holding a wine cup and staring at him blankly, but not drinking the wine in it. Yang Zhi couldn't help but pause for a moment, then hastily asked: "Is there something you want to tell me, sir?"

  When Gao Qiang heard the words "later will naturally have a chance", his heart was sour, this era is not inferior to his own time in terms of transportation and communication means, although he didn't know how far it was from Beijing to Daming Prefecture, but looking at the map from Shijiazhuang to Kaifeng was also a considerable distance.

  At this moment, Yang Zhi was seen wearing a cangue and drinking wine. As he raised his cup, the wine splashed and spilled, wetting the seal as well. The newly engraved golden stamp on his cheek was still visible. Suddenly, his emotions surged, and he loudly declared: "Yang Zhuangshi, I'll escort you to that great mansion myself!"

  As soon as this was said, Yang Zhi was stunned, and the people around him were also stunned, feeling that it was a bit unbelievable. Although young people's emotions are richer, this official is a bit too impulsive, right? However, if they wanted to persuade him, they didn't know how to do it for the time being.

  Yang Zhi finally reacted, shouting "Yanei" and his lips trembled as he couldn't speak, his eyes gradually becoming moist.

  Lu Zhishen was about to persuade him a few more sentences, but heard Lu Zhishen slap the stone table and laugh loudly: "Good! It's not in vain that I'm a disciple of Sha Jia, indeed, you have a strong sense of justice, you're a real man! I'll go with you this time!"

  Lu Qian said, "Don't you think this is a bit of a mess? This young master from the capital has been spoiled since childhood and hasn't suffered any hardships. If it were a large group of people with carriages and sedan chairs, even if the mansion was far away, they could still make it. But now, accompanying this auxiliary army, traveling by day and sleeping under the stars at night, if I exhaust the young master to death, I, Lu Qian, won't be able to explain myself to Commander Gao."

  "Good! Brother's words have touched my heart, friends should interact like this, even if it means being stabbed in the ribs, let alone traveling a few thousand miles? Besides, as the ancients said, 'Traveling ten thousand miles, reading ten thousand volumes', our young brother has never left the Eastern Capital, doesn't know the vastness of the world and the beauty of mountains and rivers. This trip will allow him to fully appreciate the majestic scenery of Hebei, truly a great joy! Lin Chong went to report to the Commander's mansion and also accompanied his younger brother on this journey!"

  Lu Qian took a look and knew it was no use, so he didn't try to persuade them anymore. These two were already on the same side, stirring up trouble, and one person's words wouldn't be of any use anyway. However, his mind turned extremely quickly, seeing that it was impossible to stop them, he hastily spoke out: "Sir is indeed chivalrous, with a heroic spirit reminiscent of ancient times, Lu Qian admires you greatly, this time I naturally also cannot not accompany you."

  Several people echoed in agreement, but Yang Zhi refused: "Sir, several of you have a deep sense of justice, and Yang Zhi will remember it forever. However, sir, you are noble and precious, and this trip to Guanshan is thousands of miles away. The hardships on the road are endless, how can I let you endure them? Yang Zhi absolutely refuses, please withdraw your order!"

  Gao Feng originally was just a momentary impulse, but thinking of Hebei Damingfu, at this moment he had more consideration in his heart. This trip to Hebei actually has some big things to do. Seeing Yang Zhi trying to dissuade him, he immediately put on a stern face and said: "Yang Zhuangshi, you speak like this, are you saying that I'm spoiled and can't bear hardships on the road?"

  Yang Zhi was taken aback by the words, actually he meant that, but he hadn't read many classics and wasn't good at the twists and turns of literary language, so he just spoke directly. Now being asked by Gao Qiang, he also felt that his words were too rude, Gao Qiang was his lifesaver, how could he be so offended?

  It's unbearable to let the person who saved his life suffer with him, yet Yang Zhi, who has always believed in "loyalty and righteousness" since childhood, cannot accept it. Now, suddenly, he is at a loss for what to do, if he admits it, it would be looking down on Gao Qiang, but if he doesn't admit it, then Gao Qiang will have to suffer, this... why didn't he study harder when he was younger, how could his words be so wrong?

  Gao Jianxian saw that this move was effective, and then put away his face, laughing: "Yang Zhuangshi, I know you are a good-hearted person. Lin Shifu said it well, I have the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery of our great Song Dynasty, which is truly a blessing. If we can travel together on this road, it will be another fortunate event, isn't it a wonderful thing?"

  Yang Zhi had nothing to say, so he agreed. Then Gao Qiu told Lu Jian to go back and inform Gao Jue about this matter, and then pack his luggage, and also tell Xiao Huan and Li Shishi, and also pack Lu Zhishen's luggage. Lin Chong's wife was at home, so she had to go back and instruct her, so she took leave first, leaving Gao Qiu and Lu Zhishen here to drink with Yang Zhi.

  They soon arrived, and Lin Chong and Lu Zhenni changed into traveling clothes. Each of them wore a Fan Yang bamboo hat, with their bodies tightly wrapped in leather boots, and they all wore a cloak. Lu Zhenni brought two young servants, who pushed a small cart carrying everyone's luggage. In addition to the four new Tonlong-made wooden swords, there was also the precious sword that had been passed down through Yang Zhi's family, which had originally been confiscated by the Kaifeng Prefecture as a murder weapon. Gao Qiang had already ordered Lu Zhenni to retrieve it from the prefecture, and now they brought it along too. The group set off on their journey towards Daming Prefecture in Hebei Province.

  It was night, in a government office located at the northwest corner of Bianliang City.

  An old man in his sixties held a volume of books in one hand, with the other hand behind his back, pacing slowly and reciting with a shaking head: "...If the wind is angry and howling, the turbulent waves are lined up..." He was reading Fan Zhongyan's "Yueyang Tower".

  When I read the last sentence "He must have said that he was worried before the world's worries and happy after the world's happiness", I couldn't help but laugh and say: "Fan WenZheng, a famous minister of the previous dynasty, only had such insight, no wonder the new policy of Qingli failed miserably." As I spoke, I picked up my pen and wrote on the cover page of the book in flowing script: "What is ZhongYun's words worth mentioning?"

  Just as he put down his pen, someone outside the study door reported: "Your Excellency, a student has come to request an audience."

  That old man was Cai Jing, who had recently resigned as the Grand Councilor and taken up the position of Palace Administrator in the Zhong Taiyi Temple. Since his resignation, he had been staying at home, refusing to see guests, with only a few people able to meet him, including his eldest son Cai You, his trusted advisors Qiang Huanming and Qiang Yuanming, and Ye Mengde. Hearing that Ye Mengde had arrived, Cai Jing chuckled and said: "Ah, Shaoyun, come in quickly and take a look at these few characters I've written!"

  Ye Mengde walked in with a smile and said: "The Minister's calligraphy is unparalleled in the present dynasty, I don't need to look at it to know that it must be good."

  Cai Jing burst out laughing: "Shao Yun, you're exaggerating too much. Su Da's calligraphy isn't inferior to mine."

  Ye Mengde smiled but did not answer, thinking to himself that Su Shi had been dead for six years, and yet you still boast about yourself? Since Cai Jing's resignation, he came here every day to report on the various dynamics of the imperial court to Cai Jing. Today was no exception: "Honorable sir, today in the imperial court, that 'Transplanted Tree' from Fujian has come up with some new tricks again." Zhao Tingzhi was a native of Fujian and shared the same hometown as Cai Jing. The former prime minister Zeng Bu had been a native of Jiangxi. During his official career, Zhao Tingzhi had attached himself to these two men, wavering between them. At the time, scholars looked down on him for this behavior, so they gave him the nickname "Transplanted Tree", which naturally implied that he was a turncoat.

  Cai Jing nodded slightly, expressionless, indicating for Ye Mengde to continue speaking.

  Ye Mengde continued: "He reported to the Emperor that on the day of the amnesty, he suggested disposing of the four assistants and assigning two million new troops from each province, totaling eight million new troops, which was against the ancestral system and not in line with the intention of the dynasty."

  Cai Jing couldn't help but laugh and said, "This Fujian-born scholar is quite interesting. He has mastered my casual remarks and often uses them to talk about the new policies of the previous emperor, catering to the current emperor's preferences. What reason does he use?"

  Ye Mengde also smiled and said, "This person does not know the military, the military law is unspeakable, but he says that the four auxiliary forces have no benefit of transportation, the grain supply and transportation are not convenient, and they want to build a large-scale construction camp, which is a laborious and unprofitable approach. It's better to follow the ancestral method, stationing the main army in the capital, and deploying along the Bian River and Cai River."

  Cai Jing sneered and said, "The view of a bookworm! Since the Yuanyou period, our dynasty's military system has been in disarray. Every year, the cost of maintaining the army accounts for five-sixths of the country's expenses. Although there are 800,000 imperial guards, many are just nominal, and only over 100,000 troops under the command of Huizong and Tong Guan can be used. I see things this way: it would be better to establish a new army, gather elite soldiers with high salaries, and in a few years, gradually replace the current old army. Unfortunately, heaven did not give me time, and that traitor ruined my great plan!

  Ye Mengde saw that he was somewhat annoyed and did not dare speak again, so he just stood there with his hands hanging down.

  After a while, Cai Jing gradually calmed down and asked Ye Mengde: "Shao Yun, how did the court discussion go?"

  Ye Mengde hastily replied: "The court discussion has not yet been decided, but Liu Ke strongly advocates for it, and the emperor's intention is also somewhat moved. The student was just about to ask for your instruction, how should this matter be handled?"

  Cai Jing hummed and muttered: "Liu Kui, Liu Kui..."

  Suddenly he laughed and said, "Shao Yun, this matter doesn't need to be forced, let them make a fuss. If it's not as I expected, then the great event of moving the Fujian clan will fail because of Liu Kui!"

  Ye Mengde was overjoyed and asked hastily: "Has the Duke already made a plan?"

  Cai Jing smiled and said, "The timing is not yet ripe, I was waiting for a few more days before discussing it with you. However, the last time you returned from the Commander's mansion, what that little eunuch said about strategy really resonated with me, so I spoke to you about it. The person who can be consulted is Liu Kui, he is the Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, often in harmony with that Fujian-born son, in recent months, dozens of laws have been abolished, but no one thinks deeply about it, these laws were all promulgated by the current emperor, abolishing each law is equivalent to slapping the current emperor's face, after dozens of slaps, even the greatest imperial favor will decline, at that time, it will be the time for rebellion."

  Ye Mengde listened to Cai Jing's plan, overjoyed and suddenly thought of something, hastily saying: "Sir, speaking of that Commander Gao's little attendant, just now someone came to report that he set out on a long journey with several people today, seemingly to escort a soldier to the Beijing Daming Prefecture."

  Cai Jing was taken aback by the words and furrowed his brow: "Send troops? What troops?"

  Ye Mengde had already roughly investigated the matter, and hastily told Yang Zhi about the case of killing someone, including Gao Qiu's words "His crime is unforgivable, but his feelings are pitiable".

  Cai Jing listened, remained silent for a moment, then walked to the desk, picked up his pen and wrote a few lines, used his seal, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Ye Mengde: "Shao Yun, have someone deliver this letter to Shi Jie, don't delay."

  Ye Mengde agreed and left, leaving Cai Jing alone in the room. He walked to the window, leaned against it with his hands behind him, and gazed up at the sky. Under the North Dipper, a magnificent city was shining - the capital of the Song Dynasty, Bianjing, the Tianxiong Military Prefecture, and the Daming Prefecture.

  The First Volume of Female Fowls is Complete

  Click to view picture link: Recommended historical masterpiece "In the Name of Revolution"