Chapter 45: Imperial Power Does Not Extend Below the County Level

  The ship sailed northward all the way, and in the connection of day and night, Chang Ying was scratching a horizontal line on the deck with his fingernails.

  Feeling the cooling weather, Chang Ying lightly sighed: "It's almost here"

  It's early spring now, and being on the river, it's inevitable to encounter cool breezes from time to time.

  Tang Crown also wore an extra layer of clothing outside, and this big ship sometimes walked and stopped, and also docked for transshipment.

  When they arrived at a bustling town, he and Xiao Qi couldn't help but disembark to take a look around.

  "Big Brother Chang, where is this place?"

  Changying looked around and said: "Yesterday I passed by Banqiao, and now I am on the Guangtong Canal."

  Tang Guanxin's heart skipped a beat, and she finally arrived. She thought of Pei Yan's words and sat down absent-mindedly.

  The nearly two-month voyage, from early spring until now, has seen the sky gradually darken.

  Just as Tang Guan was lost in thought, a cold sensation hit his face.

  Tang Guan looked up and said, "Brother Chang, let's go back to our cabin, it's raining."

  "It doesn't matter, the spring rain is not heavy." The eagle didn't care about him, standing on the deck, looking at the guards in all directions, shaking his head slightly.

  Most of these guards were slender and some were already old, they were the weak and disabled soldiers, only those who wore bows and held swords in the cabin were the real escort officers.

  "Chang Shuaiwei, young master, we're arriving at Chang'an."

  One of them stepped forward and said, "He is the leader of this group of officials and soldiers."

  "General, you've had a long and tiring journey."

  "This man hastily waved his hand and said: 'I am not worthy of being called a general with this inferior quality'"

  The eagle smiled and looked back at the riverbank, saying: "Can we drop anchor today?"

  He glanced up at the sky and nodded, "Once we enter the Yellow River and cross this canal, we'll soon arrive in Luoyang, probably within two or three hours."

  "Tang Guan muttered to himself at this time."

  At the same time, his heart skipped a beat, and Chang Ying pulled Tang Guan Dao: "Return to the cabin"

  Tang Guan nodded and returned to the cabin with Chang Ying.

  Chen Yusheng was getting restless in the cabin, and Xiao Qi couldn't help but steal a glance at him and stifle a laugh.

  Seeing Tang Guan, Chang Yinghui returned to his cabin and stood up, saying: "Brother Guan, have we arrived?"

  Tang Guan nodded slightly, but Chen Yunsheng muttered: "The deadline has passed, the deadline has passed"

  Chang Ying's expression also changed slightly, he knew that the Empress Dowager's hundred-day deadline had already passed three days ago. Along the way, he and Tang Guan had become familiar with each other, and he comforted him saying: "Imperial Historian, young master has great talent, as long as you arrive safely, it will be a great achievement."

  Chen Yunsheng finally calmed down, remembering the letter entrusted to him by Pei Yan. He had several times restrained himself from opening it, and he never thought that at that time, because of his reluctance to take office in Yangzhou, he would think of recommending Tang Kuan, but this journey was even more dangerous than taking office.

  It's really a case of gaining nothing, but fortunately, we're about to arrive safely. Looking at Tang Guan Dao, "Go Bing, once we reach Chang'an, be sure to speak carefully and act cautiously, do you understand?"

  "Uncle, rest assured, the illness is just a number in my heart." Although Tang Guan also felt slightly uneasy in his heart, he was not as anxious as Chen Yunsheng. After all, he had come to see that woman with a different mindset.

  For a moment, several people were silent, except for Xia Qi occasionally muttering two sentences. Tang Guan and Chen Yunsheng each had their own thoughts, lost in contemplation.

  Time slipped away quietly, and the big ship made its final spurt, raising its sails and the oarsmen below also rowing with all their might.

  "Drop anchor!"

  "Bang!" A jolt, and several people in the cabin looked up.

  The grain officer entered the cabin and said: "Your Honor, we have arrived."

  Several people got up and left the cabin, with a fine misty rain hitting their bodies.

  "Your Excellency, the horses are ready below, we have official business at hand and cannot see you off very far."

  "Thank you," said Chen Yunsheng with a bow, and then he took Tang Guanjunzi down from the boat.

  "Lower the plank!" The sailors lifted up the gangway and several men walked down from the ship.

  The grain officer stood on the boat and cupped his hands in a gesture of farewell, saying: "Farewell"

  They immediately set sail again, and it turned out that their destination was not here after all.

  Chang Ying led two horses over and said: "Your Honor, let's rest in the town for a night first, and then rush to Chang'an tomorrow."

  This wharf is an official wharf, except for a few people wearing official robes who saw several people coming down from the big ship in the distance, there was no one else. Not far away, however, was a marketplace, which seemed to be a small town.

  Chen Yunsheng shook his head and said, "Can't delay, let's go now"

  Chang Ying was taken aback by his words. Even when he went to Hangzhou, he had never seen this slow and sluggish old bookworm so anxious before.

  "Get rid of the disease and mount the horse!" Chen Yousheng flipped over and mounted his horse, and then picked up Tang Guan.

  "It's getting late, Your Honor. If we leave now, I'm afraid Chang'an will already be under curfew."

  Chen Yunshang had a tiger tally in his hand, and he didn't care about these things. He shouted: "Drive!"

  "What's wrong with all of you!" Tang Guan cursed inwardly, stumbling forward, these "drivers" didn't consider the feelings of their "passengers" at all.

  "Go!" Chang Ying saw the situation and slightly shook his head, embracing Xiao Qi, but unlike Chen Yunsheng's slow pace, he directly lifted Xiao Qi with one hand and mounted his horse in stride.

  "Drive!"

  Chen Yunsheng was after all a scholar, although he had also ridden horses for over a decade, but couldn't compare to Chang Ying's **who made a living by eating**, and soon fell behind.

  "Haha, Guan Ge, you can't run faster than me!" Xiao Qi excitedly made a face at Tang Guan on horseback.

  Tang Guanzhao smiled and Chen Yusheng followed quietly behind Chang Ying.

  A few people bypassed the small town and headed straight for the official road, driving on the wide road amidst flying dust.

  "Your Excellency, Liu Xun and others have committed crimes against their superiors, they should be punished. When you see the Emperor, you must impeach him!"

  Chang Ying still can't forget this robbery, it's also understandable, encountering such an ambush, no wonder Chang Ying has a hard time forgiving Liu Xun.

  Chen Yunsheng didn't have the strength to speak in the midst of the turmoil, and instead just kept sprinting forward with all his might.

  The four people walked further and further, turning into black dots rushing to the distance. Tang Guan felt the whistling wind on horseback, with fine raindrops hitting his face, but his heart was gradually burning hot.

  "Wu Zetian! I'm here!"

  But in the distant Hangzhou governor's mansion, a shocking event was unfolding that would stun the people.

  The streets and alleys are all talking about one thing: "Liu Xun's house has been searched!"

  No one knew what happened that night, only to know that the next day, the Governor's Mansion, which was once bustling with people, was surrounded by a large number of soldiers!

  Even now, the entrance is still guarded by soldiers in heavy armor.

  They were all robust and powerful, with armor on their bodies completely different from ordinary soldiers.

  It's strange that they went all the way unimpeded, and even detained Liu Xun's whole family overnight. Now, the once high-ranking governor Liu Xun is deeply trapped in prison.

  Some people say Liu Xun was unjust and enraged the emperor, while others say he wanted to rebel but was discovered.

  For a time, there were many rumors, but when the scholars and famous local gentry in the countryside saw the appearance of these armored soldiers, they were all shocked.

  "Qian Niu Wei!" These people gazed from afar, their pupils shrinking slightly.

  These gentry came to demand the proclamation of amnesty, in fact, it doesn't matter what the governor's or county magistrate's surname is, even the emperor's surname isn't important, China has been a natural society since ancient times.

  There is a saying that "imperial power does not extend to the county", and common people handle trivial matters relying on local gentry. In rural areas, there are ancestral halls managing people with the same surname, even if it's a small surname, they also have to follow the rules of the ancestral hall.

  Matters such as theft, marriage, and adultery, as long as they can be handled by the people themselves, are handled by themselves. Only those that the people cannot handle, such as bandits on the roads, are dealt with by the authorities.

  This extremely resilient society is also a freak in feudal history. After experiencing it personally, Tang Guan often said: "No wonder we need to overthrow the local tyrants and evil gentry!"

  Ke Liu Xun was after all the highest official in the region, and his unexplained misfortune made it impossible for the people to avoid feeling uneasy. Therefore, issuing a proclamation to calm the people became the first thing that the local gentry had to do.

  These country gentlemen looked up and waited, bowing to each other, one of them said: "Why didn't Tang the third come?"

  An old man whispered: "I reckon he's laughing secretly at home. That young master of his family caused a loss of life just the other day."

  These fellow villagers were suddenly enlightened when they heard this, and another person said: "Weren't we summoned to the capital?"

  "This can't be!" The crowd chattered among themselves, glancing at each other and shaking their heads. They were well aware of the Tang family's situation, but judging by the timing, it was probably not yet time. Liu Xun being searched should have nothing to do with the Tang family.

  Just as a few people were whispering to each other, a general came out holding a document.

  "Gentlemen, the notice is ready, take it away. Let the people not worry, we are just doing routine business, a regular search, and soon there will be new officials taking office."

  Several fellow villagers nodded in agreement and secretly let out a sigh of relief, but in fact, when they saw the appearance of these armored soldiers, they had already made up their minds.

  As long as it's not a warlord causing trouble or a change of dynasty, for people who have lived for 70 or 80 years, one notice to pacify the people is enough.

  They immediately bid farewell and took the proclamation back to their respective villages to announce it.

  In prison.

  The dark prison cell was now guarded by fully armed soldiers instead of bailiffs.

  One person with disheveled hair and wearing tattered clothes was locked in prison.

  "Pei Yan! You are guilty of treason! Detaining an imperial officer without authorization! You will not die a good death!"

  This man was like a madman, constantly shaking the cage.

  The two generals on the other side exchanged a glance and ignored him.

  "Bring everything along." One of them waved his hand.

  Suddenly a large number of people and horses rushed in, each carrying a big sack on their back.

  Bang!

  These people moved in unison, throwing down their sacks behind them, filling the prison corridors.

  They immediately formed up and marched out.

  A general walked forward and opened a sack with his hand, and suddenly a foul smell hit his nose.

  "Governor Liu, do you know these people?"

  Liu Xun suddenly stopped his roar and stared incredulously at the corpse in the bag, falling into a daze...

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