Chapter 6 Border Town (Part 2)

  After Cao Guangyi entered the city, it was not yet late in the day, and he brought Yang Yingqi to the government office to report. Yang Yingqi was not very familiar with the Song Dynasty's official system, and only heard Cao Guangyi call the superior officer "He Daren".

  The general listened to Cao Guangyi's words, remained silent for a moment, and suddenly sneered: "Good you Cao Guangyi! You are a famous general, but you dare to secretly communicate with the Khitan people. What crime should you be punished for?"

  Yang Yingqi was shocked and thought: "If he says such things to his superior, the situation may become even more terrible!"

  Cao Guangyi was even more shocked than Yang Yingqi, and argued: "Sir! What are you talking about? Although Guangyi's position is humble, he has been strictly trained since childhood, how dare he do anything disloyal!"

  On the left, Du You and Cao Guangyi had an old relationship, and he also spoke out to protect him: "The Cao family has been favored by the country for generations. Although Cao Tingzhi is a collateral branch, his reputation for loyalty and bravery is well-known in the military. I think he will not do anything disloyal or unfilial."

  "He's either disloyal or stupid!" the official sneered. "Just two days ago, the imperial court issued a strict order to rectify the defenses of all states and armies in Hebei Province, clearly indicating that the central government has received intelligence about the Liao people's malicious intentions! And now, at this very moment, a group of suspicious-looking individuals arrives, claiming they can't bear the Liao people's cruelty? What a joke! In my opinion, they're undoubtedly spies!"

  Yang Yingqi's heart sank halfway through this. Since the adults had already formed a preconceived notion of hostility, it would be difficult to change their minds now. Moreover, listening to what he said, the imperial court had just issued an order to beware of the border, and at this critical juncture, Chinese officials have always been more likely to kill by mistake than to let go! The opportunity to enter Song may already be extremely slim.

  That's what the listening officer said, and he hastily made eye contact with Cao Guangbi, telling him to go down the stairs. Who knew that Cao Guangbi was also a stubborn person? In fact, he couldn't say that he didn't have any suspicions about those 500 people, but after being told by the governor, he instead defended them: "Sir! I observe these people's faces and words, they don't seem like spies." He then detailed what he had seen, heard, and felt.

  Yang Yingqi was moved by Cao Guangyi speaking for himself. However, the prison guard secretly scolded him in his heart, thinking that you and the superior are opposing each other, aren't you refuting the superior's words? Indeed, the more the superior listened, the more impatient he became, finally getting angry and shouting: "How dare you Cao Guangyi! How much benefit did those traitors give you?"

  Cao Guangyi said: "Under me, there is only one red heart, that is the Great Song! What nonsense about accepting bribes!"

  "That's right," said the grown-up with a cold smile, "if they hadn't accepted their benefits, why would they be so eager to help them plead?"

  Cao Guangyi said: "Defending the country and protecting the people is the duty of a military officer! Our dynasty cannot recover Yan and Yun, resulting in Han families being enslaved in the north. Now that the abandoned children have returned home, they are refused entry. Isn't this making the people of Yan and Yun feel cold?" He suddenly became anxious and brought up Zhe Yan's words.

  Yang Yingqi thought to himself: "This Cao Guangyi is probably going to be in trouble!"

  As expected, the adult's anger soared to the sky, and he shouted: "What a big nerve! A small temple straight, dare to discuss the ancestral national policy! Come on, take him down and beat him with eighty military clubs!"

  "That's all, Director. Cao Guangyi has no official position and should be severely punished. However, considering his youth and ignorance, as well as being a general's son, I beg you to deal with him leniently." After saying many good things, the Grand Official's anger subsided slightly, and he said: "Reduce it to forty! Take him down and flog him!"

  Cao Guangyue was about to speak when Dou Ruhai shouted: "Ignorant little boy! What else do you have to say? Take him away and beat him severely!"

  The soldiers who were flogging Cao Guangyi understood the implication, and dragged him down. They knew that Yang Youjun had a soft spot for him, but they didn't dare to fake it too much, so they alternated between real and fake blows, forty military rods becoming twenty, yet still beating Cao Guangyi until his skin split open and his flesh burst forth. Only then did they drag him back. Yang Youjun watched from the side, unable to bear it, but not daring to speak up.

  He saw Cao Guangyi being punished, and his anger slightly subsided. He ordered the commander of the capital garrison: "Pass down the order to have each camp prepare their troops and horses. Tomorrow, they will ambush at various intersections. I don't care if they are spies or bandits, but anyone who dares to approach the borders of Xiongzhou will be killed without exception!"

  Yang Yingqi was so shocked that his three souls were gone and his seven spirits were scattered. He stepped forward and said, "Your Honor! Listen to my humble words..."

  Before he could continue, he was pointed at by He Da Ren and shouted: "How dare you, little thief! Do you have a place to speak here? You should be beaten to death, but I'll spare your life because of your young age. Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly to see what kind of conspiracy they're plotting!"

  Yang Yingqi secretly called out in distress, but he didn't know the details of He Da's situation and couldn't say anything powerful. He Da also ignored him and walked away with a flick of his sleeve. Yang Yingqi was dragged out of the yamen by a soldier, saw Cao Guangyi also stumbling out, and thought to himself: "Now the only one I can influence is him." Suddenly he looked up at the sky and cried loudly: "Big brother! Uncle Di! Pity us more than 500 innocent civilians, good people of the Han family, who escaped the Hu people's knives but are going to die under their own clansmen's swords!"

  Cao Guangyi was shocked all over his body and leaned against the door, trembling uncontrollably. Yang Yingqi, on the other hand, was dragged away by the soldier with a push and a pull.

  After turning a corner, Yang Yingqi saw that Cao Guangyi was not following him. He rubbed his eyes with dusty hands and burst into tears, crying like a child who had been frightened. The soldier thought he was just an ordinary child and took him to a prison cell without handcuffing or searching him. According to the orders of the superior, the soldier interrogated Yang Yingqi about any treacherous plans, but Yang Yingqi was too choked with sobs to speak. Seeing that nothing could be extracted from him, the soldier pushed him into the prison cell.

  Yang Yingqi saw that this was not a large prison, touched the dagger hidden in his shoe and thought: "The guard watching me is just this fool in front of me. When night falls, I may be able to escape. No matter what, I must think of a way to return and report back, otherwise everyone will be in danger."

  After night fell, Yang Yingqi suddenly collapsed and convulsed on the ground.

  "What's wrong with you?"

  Yang Yingqi clenched the dagger hidden in his sleeve, wailing "Woo woo woo" as if in great pain. He was the one entrusted by the adults, and the soldier was afraid of an accident, so he opened the door to take a look. Yang Yingqi was extremely nervous, although he had practiced martial arts, he had never killed anyone before, and although the soldier's vital points were exposed to him several times, he didn't dare make a move. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said: "If I don't get rid of him, the lives of my brothers' 500 people will probably be lost!"

  Steadying his trembling right arm, just as he was about to make a move, someone outside suddenly called out: "Is Brother Zhang in?"

  Yang Yingqi was shocked, and just as he was about to take action, the soldier had already responded by going out and locking the door. The person who came in was a young military officer, holding two jars of wine and a bowl of meat, smiling and saying: "Zhang brother, what are you busy with?"

  "Ha! So it's Shi Kangshi, big brother," said Zhang Jun with a smile. "What brings you here today?"

  "That's not what I meant!" Shi Kang laughed. "I've always gotten along with Big Brother Zhang, but we're in different units, so I haven't had a chance to socialize with him."

  Yang Yingqi heard it in his ear and thought: "This person has come suspiciously, I'm afraid there will be some changes." The voice was much smaller.

  Shi Kang put down his wine and meat, and chatted idly with the soldier surnamed Zhang while drinking. After half a pot of wine, Shi Kang suddenly pointed at Yang Yingqi and said, "Is this guy a new prisoner?"

  "Ah, Brother Shi, you've finally shown your true colors," said Zhang Jun with a smile. "No mistake about it, he's the scoundrel who got Lord He angry today. Brother Shi, I know you and Cao Dianzhi are thick as thieves. What connection does this scoundrel have to Cao Dianzhi, I dare not ask nor do I want to know. However, since you've brought wine and meat today, if you want to discuss something else, I'm all ears! But please, let's not mention this little scoundrel again, lest we spoil the atmosphere."

  Yang Yingqi heard that Shi Kang and Cao Guangyi had a relationship, his heart moved, and he peeked at them from the ground. He only heard Shi Kang laughing loudly: "Brother Zhang! You also look down on me too much! Even for a meal of wine and meat, you have to talk about conditions and human feelings, what kind of person is surnamed Shi?"

  That surnamed Zhang's military officer laughed and said: "It's better if it isn't!"

  Two men drinking from a large bowl, Yang Yingqi secretly glanced and thought: "This Zhang is an idiot! He talks as if he's clever, but in fact, he's muddled! The second jar of wine was touched by Shi Kang, but he didn't even notice."

  The wine of the Song Dynasty was not strong enough, and two jars of wine could not get the heroic drinkers of Yan and Zhao drunk. However, after drinking half a bowl of the second jar of wine, Zhang's soldier became dizzy and only said: "You... this wine..." before falling to the ground.