When the group approached Anping County, they found that it was extremely lively in the distance.
Even in such a cold season, the city gate is still extremely noisy.
More than a thousand people gathered here, old and young, officials and officials, surrounded by armored guards, slaves coming in and out, and luxurious carriages piled up on both sides, forming a wall of carriages.
There was a lot of noise and people coming and going.
Lines of incense or cooking smoke slowly rose, and children could be seen running back and forth.
The big dog followed the child, and the beautiful horses lowered their heads to eat.
Everyone stood on the official road slope, looking at the scene in front of them, and they were all a little shocked.
Yao Xiong marveled, "The treatment of this county lieutenant is really different!"
"There are so many people coming to greet you?"
Tian Zili frowned, "It doesn't look like they are here to greet us."
"If you are not here to welcome us, then who are you here to welcome?"
Just as Yao Xiong opened his mouth, he heard the sound of horse hooves coming from behind.
Then he saw more than forty knights leading the way, followed by five or six carriages. The servants lowered their heads and followed behind the carriages. A large group of people were heading here.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"
The leading knight saw the people in front of him and hurriedly scolded them.
Yao Xiong squeezed the knife in his hand, but Liu Taozi said softly: "Get out of the way for them."
The crowd was divided into two sides of the road, and the knights walked through them proudly. The tall carriage was like a hill, and the horses pulling the carriage were not ordinary, and they were as good as Liu Taozi's green lion.
These war horses were also quite arrogant. When they saw the dusty blue lion standing beside them, they seemed to shake their heads proudly and passed by with their heads raised.
Yao Xiong couldn't help but laugh, "What a beast!"
This group of people just passed by and continued to rush towards the city gate. As they advanced a little further, those people in the distance noticed them. In a moment, it became more lively there.
I saw people coming forward, dozens of musicians playing musical instruments, some singing elegant music, and those people lined up neatly, old and young, and in order.
The bumpkins from Cheng'an had never seen such a scene before, and they were all stunned.
Liu Taozi signaled to everyone, and then led them towards the city gate.
The knights gathered on both sides and the carriage stopped.
Soon, a very plainly dressed little old man got out of the hill-like carriage.
Everyone hurriedly saluted in order.
Seeing the posture in front of him, the little old man didn't have any joy on his face, but instead frowned.
"Cui Gang!"
"I sent someone to write you a letter, telling you not to stir up trouble. What do you mean?"
A man standing at the front raised his head. This man looked very similar to the little old man, but he was taller.
"Father, Prefect Lu and the elders of the clan have promised to come to greet you, so I can't refuse."
This little old man was Cui Jishu, who had just been dismissed from his official post.
Someone stood up and walked to Cui Jishu with a smile, "Mr. Cui, please don't blame Zijian for knowing that you are coming. How could I neglect you?"
Several more people stood up and started admonishing them one after another.
"Brother, your return to Anping is a big deal. Don't neglect it! Don't neglect it!"
There was still some worry in Cui Jishu's eyes, but facing these people, he did not reprimand him. He just smiled and returned the greeting, "I am just a commoner now. How dare I let the prefect come to greet me in person?"
"There are many other brothers in my family. It's freezing cold today, so I really bother you."
"Where is the word!"
Everyone talked a lot. Some people called the child to pay homage, while others read poems for Cui Jishu on the spot to express their respect and love.
The scene fell into chaos for a while.
At this moment, shouts suddenly came from outside, interrupting everyone's meeting.
Before Cui Jishu could speak, a fat official looked over there and said, "Mr. Cui is here! How dare you be so rude?!"
Everyone looked up.
I saw several knights being knocked to the ground, and the group of people slowly moved towards here under the guard of many knights.
The pedestrians looked fierce, holding weapons and ferocious faces. Several of them were barbarians with weird hair and beards, which were scary. The leader was tall and murderous.
Everyone was shocked. Prefect Lu looked around hurriedly, in confusion, "Is there a bad person?! Is there a bad person?!"
Cui Jishu looked at the people in the distance calmly, "Cui Gang, go over and ask them who they are and why they hurt my guards. Be kinder."
"only!"
Cui Jishu's youngest son Cui Gang hurried forward and blocked the pedestrian.
"Everyone."
He saluted and then asked: "I wonder who you are? Why do you want to hurt my guards?"
Yao Xiong suddenly took out the letter and showed it to him, "Boling County Lieutenant has taken office, how dare you block the city gate? Get out of the way quickly!!"
Cui Gang had no expression on his face. He turned around and trotted all the way to Cui Jishu's side. He said blankly: "Father, he said: Lieutenant Boling took office, how dare you?"
He was stunned and said what the other party said word for word. Cui Jishu looked at his youngest son with complicated eyes.
Prefect Lu was furious, "County Lieutenant?! Okay, okay, Zijian, go over and send him a message! Tell him to come over and see me!"
Cui Jishu immediately frowned. Seeing that Cui Gang was about to run over, he grabbed his son and pushed him behind him. Then he looked at everyone, "Everyone, what the county captain said is reasonable. Don't block it."
Stay on the road and get out of the way. My children, please follow me back home. If you miss me, you can come to see me, but this city gate cannot be blocked because of me! Go back!"
When Cui Jishu spoke like this, his relatives naturally did not dare to neglect him and turned around and started to leave.
Governor Lu looked anxious, "Mr. Cui, I am not. This county captain is new. I."
Cui Jishu looked at him with extremely sharp eyes, "Prefect Lu, I am very grateful that you can personally greet this useless old man like me. However, it is really not advisable to delay official business for personal matters. Today the county lieutenant is here to take office.
, the prefect did not arrange for anyone to greet him, but still blocked the city gate and did not allow anyone to come in. Is this what a wise official can do? Your father has a quiet personality, is indifferent to fame and fortune, wears rags and eats rough food, and is content and contented."
"Can't the governor imitate his behavior?!"
Cui Jishu's tone became stern, and Prefect Lu lowered his head in a submissive manner.
Cui Jishu then walked towards the city, and everyone poured into the city.
Governor Lu watched them enter the city respectfully, and then looked up at the approaching group of people, his expression becoming extremely gloomy.
He turned around and climbed onto his horse, holding a whip in hand, and rushed towards the pedestrian.
When the two sides encountered each other, Governor Lu glared at the group in front of him, gritted his teeth angrily, and raised the whip in his hand.
"Vulgar martial artist! Lowly and fresh. Get off the horse!!"
Liu Taozi calmly looked at the idiot in front of her.
This idiot looks to be about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance, but his clothes are very luxurious. The jade bead belt around his waist and the gold thread on the cuffs are all valuable. Even his war horse is also carefully decorated at this moment.
Dress up and be covered in gold.
But the many minions around Taozi were staring at each other fiercely at this moment, with ferocious and angry expressions on their faces.
Seeing that these people didn't obey orders at all and dared to stare at him like this, Prefect Lu became even more angry, "Thieves! Come on, give these people to me."
Immediately, someone pulled the reins of the horse under Prefect Lu's crotch.
He was a handsome young man, "Mr. Lu and Mr. Cui, please don't be rash when you first arrive."
Prefect Lu gritted his teeth, stared at Liu Taozi fiercely, and then laughed again, "Okay, okay, just wait."
He immediately turned around and left the place on horseback.
The young man watched him leave, then looked at Liu Taozi and others with a wry smile, and bowed slowly.
"Young Master of the county! I am a minor official in the county. My surname is Cui. The governor of my family is fierce, but I don't hold grudges. Don't you mind if I come to take you to the county government office?"
"good."
The people at the city gate were still going in, so they moved to another city gate. The young man walked in front of them on foot and introduced the surrounding situation to everyone with a smile.
Anping City looks extremely ordinary.
The buildings in the city are neither as neat and tall as Cheng'an, nor as shabby and short as Liyang. Everything is ordinary.
The county government office is located in the very center of Anping County.
Again, nothing special, just ordinary.
The county government office was open, and you could see county officials walking around in a hurry. When they saw Liu Taozi and the others, the county officials who were walking out looked extremely frightened. They turned around and ran inside, and the county officials on both sides were about to rush up.
close the door.
The young man hurriedly shouted: "This is the new county captain!!"
He shouted like this, and these people just walked out of their hiding place skillfully, turned around and left without paying any respect.
Everyone was a little surprised. The young man led Liu Taozi into the Yamen and explained with a smile: "A few months ago, some thieves made a rebellion. The previous county captain was dismissed because he could not suppress it. This time you come, we will
There’s no need to worry.”
Liu Taozi did not have his own office and residence in the county government. His residence was on the school grounds, which meant he had to live with the Anping County soldiers.
Occasionally, you can see several officials sitting together and discussing. When they see Liu Taozi and others approaching, they turn around and walk away without coming to see them very often. This is something that neither Cheng An nor Li Yang can see. These people are just officials.
, and Taozi is an official, who can determine their life, death, wealth.
Yao Xiong and others stopped talking.
The young man brought them to the prefect's residence and said just now, "Please wait here."
"I don't think the prefect has come back yet. I'll see you later when he comes back."
Tian Zili hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, smiled and held his hand, "Gentleman, who are you welcoming at the city gate today?"
The young man hurriedly replied: "It was the servant of the former minister who shot Cui Gong."
"Mr. Cui?"
"He is also a highly respected person from Anping. When he returns home, everyone will naturally welcome him."
"Oh, the same clan as you?"
The young man chuckled and said, "You don't know what I know, but the Cui family is a big family with many families and different residences. Cui Gong and I are not in the same room, but I am indeed from the Cui family, but I have no ability and can only serve as a minor official in the county."
"Thank you, thank you very much."
Tian Zili hurriedly tried to stuff something into his sleeves, but the young man was shocked and took a few steps back, "I don't dare to accept it, I don't dare to accept it."
After he finished speaking, he left in a hurry.
Liu Taozi was still looking around. This prefect's mansion was much simpler than the one in Lou Rui's, but the clerks here were very weird. They dared to ignore the officials when they saw them.
They gathered here and waited for a long time. There was no change in the door in front of them. No one went in and no one came out.
Liu Taozi looked at Yao Xiong.
Yao Xiong immediately stepped forward and beat the door frantically.
Chaotic sounds rang out, and the silence in the backyard was suddenly broken.
Soon, the door was opened, and a man stuck his head out, his face full of displeasure, "The prefect asked the county captain to come in and pay his respects!"
Tian Zili, Yao Xiong and others looked at Liu Taozi with some worry in their eyes. Liu Taozi shook her head, walked up to the man in a few steps, lowered her head and examined him for a moment, then pushed open the door in front of her and walked in.
backyard.
The interior of this backyard is very good. The ground is clean and tidy, and it is paved with various beautiful gravels. There is a huge garden not far away. The pavilion in the middle is almost as big as the courtyard. One pavilion is connected to the other.
There are several pavilions, and some are directly built on top of them. They are unique in style but very beautiful.
Liu Taozi followed the man into the inner room.
In the beautifully decorated inner room, Prefect Lu was lying on his side on the bed, looking at the two people who came in with half-squinted eyes.
Governor Lu picked up the brochure on the side and looked at Liu Taozi in front of him.
"Are you Liu Taozi?"
"I am Liu Taozi."
"Where are you from?"
"Son of Orion."
"Oh, why are you so rude? The co-author is the Son of Orion? Even the son of Orion should know some etiquette!"
Governor Lu sat up suddenly and looked at Liu Taozi in front of him angrily, "You have completely embarrassed me in front of Cui Gong today!!"
"There are so many gates in the city, why don't you and Mr. Cui squeeze into the main gate?"
"There is someone here, why don't you change the city gate and go in?"
"You are a ninth-grade, ninth-grade! I have been a real first-grade Taiwei! Even if you are dismissed, squeezing you to death is as easy as squeezing an insect to death!!"
Liu Taozi looked at him indifferently and said nothing.
Prefect Lu waved his hand irritably, "You don't know the general situation, and you are destined to hang out with the Xianbei soldiers for the rest of your life. Go out, go to the county magistrate for everything, and don't come to see me again in the future! See
You get angry! Get out!"
Liu Taozi turned around and left directly.
Governor Lu looked at Liu Taozi leaving and blew his beard angrily. He clapped his hands and several servants came over quickly.
Liu Taozi walked out of the backyard, and everyone was still waiting for him.
Taozi led everyone out of the backyard, and grabbed a county official to ask for directions. Only then did they know where the Jun Cheng lived, and they soon arrived at the Jun Cheng's place.
The county magistrate didn't have much to do here, so the clerk directly opened the door and invited everyone to come in.
When everyone walked in, they saw a young man sitting in the upper seat. The man was tall, rough-looking, and dressed in fine clothes. He looked more like a county lieutenant than a county magistrate.
When the man saw everyone coming in, he raised his head suddenly, his brows furrowed and worried.
The clerk hurriedly introduced Liu Taozi to him.
He then stood up and saluted Liu Taozi, "I'm the Prime Minister Cheng Zhe of the lower county! I've met the county captain!!"
This person's voice is quite loud.
Liu Taozi returned the gift, "See Cheng Juncheng."
The man motioned for Liu Taozi to sit down.
"Liu Jun has come a long way and you haven't rested yet, right?"
"Never."
"Then let's rest for a few days. There are many outstanding people here, uh, officials. Anyway, they are pretty good."
The two exchanged a few awkward words. This man seemed to be not very good at words. He wanted to say a few words about Wen Zou Zou, but ended up stammering.
He slapped his thigh suddenly, which shocked everyone on the left and right.
"Oh, forget it, I think Lieutenant Dugu is a rough guy! Let's not talk nonsense! After all, we will be colleagues from now on!"
"My surname is not Dugu, my surname is Liu."
"Isn't this Dugu."
Cheng Zhe was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Aren't you Xianbei? Xiongnu?"
"I am Han Chinese."
"Ah? Han? This county captain has not always been so. Alas, that's right, the county captain here should be Han."
Cheng Zhe's face suddenly fell, and he was full of irritation, "We are all miserable people."
"Who did Liu Jun offend and be thrown here?"
"I have never offended anyone."
"That means being harmed!"
When Cheng Zhe spoke, he did not hold back his voice at all. As if on purpose, he raised his head and said in a loud voice: "If you can leave, you should leave now! Stay in this damn place, everywhere.
They are all a bunch of villains!!”
The few clerks in the distance just lowered their heads and acted as if they didn't hear anything.
Cheng Zhe cursed a few more times in a low voice.
Liu Taozi frowned slightly, "Prefect Lu asked me to serve as an errand."
Cheng Zhe shook his head, "Brother Liu, forget it, why bother? It's only three months. After three months, we both have to get out."
"Why?"
"This is really not a good place. My grandpa put a lot of thought into sending me out. He said he wanted me to learn governance and not be a martial artist. But in the end I ended up in such a bad place. I am better than you.
It was a little earlier and came before winter."
"None of our predecessors have served for more than three months. They are just looking for two people to take the blame!"
"Brother, you just come here for fun, don't worry about any errands, go out and have fun, I will go back next month to govern politics, govern his uncle's politics, I'd better go back to do my military duties!"
Cheng Zhe immediately began to enthusiastically invite Liu Taozi to go hunting with him. Liu Taozi rejected his kindness and walked out with everyone.
When they arrived outside the prefect's mansion, everyone was confused.
Tian Zili looked confused, "Brother, this."
"Let's go to the school grounds."
Liu Taozi caught another county official who was out of town, and with the friendly help of the other party, he finally arrived at the school grounds.
The school ground is outside the city, not far from the west city gate. It used to be a village, and you can still see the ruins of some buildings, surrounded by wooden fences. You can see camps inside, but when you walk to the door, it is empty.
The group of people walked into the school grounds and looked around, but couldn't see a single living person.
In the campus of Nottingham University, there are only a few erected straw men with a few rusty arrows stuck on them to guard the place.
Chapter completed!