The First Auxiliary Road from the Imperial Examination

This morning in Zezhou Prefecture was no different from the previous few days. The city was still shrouded in drizzle and fog, showing off the unique ink-and-wash style of the south.

The guards of the city rubbed their shoulders and necks while yawning, greeted each other, and prepared to open the city gates while chattering.

The guard who came over to prepare for the handover was holding a fried fruit, chewing with puffed cheeks while looking at the few people who were on duty last night. Seeing that they all looked listless, he couldn't help but feel strange and joked: "I say, what's wrong with us brothers? It's not like we haven't worked night shifts before, why do you look like you played cards all night?! Are you exhausted? You must make up for it when you go back!"

"Hey! Don't mention it!" The few people who were about to go on duty rubbed their eyes and sighed, "Yesterday, when we were on duty in the second half of the afternoon, we thought we could sleep for a while according to the rules, but who would have thought that as soon as we closed our eyes, two groups of people came with the Lord's token, shouting that they wanted to leave the city! Hey! These two groups of people came in batches, and each time they arrived just when we were about to take a nap! Oh, what a coincidence!"

"Hey! Leaving the city so late at night, I'm afraid you have something urgent to do. The business of an important person cannot be delayed by us little guards."

"No!"

……

"Sister Yuan, our people will go out in two groups. Cheng Dong will lead the people to take the official land road, and the commander of the guards sent by the emperor will lead the people to take the water route." An Yu opened his eyes and saw Sheng Yuan sitting by the window, gesticulating with a crossbow. He looked like he had not slept all night. He couldn't help but say something about what he had arranged before falling asleep.

It was Sheng Yuan who personally arranged for the two groups of troops to leave the city overnight. An Yu was also there at the time, so it was impossible for him to have forgotten everything after waking up.

Sheng Yuan's eyelids twitched, and she looked up at him, curling her lips: "I was also expecting some movement in the second half of yesterday afternoon, but I didn't expect that group of people didn't move!"

An Yu rubbed his neck, which was almost stiff, and said with a bitter face and gritted teeth: "They are so patient, but it's hard for us two to watch over here. We haven't studied for many years, and we can't even get used to sleeping on the table!"

As he spoke, he sighed again: "Nothing happened yesterday, but I'm afraid there will be some big action tonight. Haha, it will definitely be lively!"

Sheng Yuan is not afraid of crowds. To her, the more lively the better. It is worth the preparations made by this group of people. "I don't know how Cheng Dong and the others are doing." An Yu looked a little worried.

"Since they didn't move last night, that means they planned to attack Cheng Dong and his men on the road between Chengzhou and Jeju." Sheng Yuan dipped his stale tea in the teacup and drew a simple topographic map on the table. "That place is the most suitable for an ambush. It's also a day's journey from Zezhou Prefecture, and we just happened to encounter it tonight."

Sheng Yuan mentioned this statement to An Yu yesterday, but An Yu thought that the other party was more likely to attack on the official road a hundred miles away from Zezhou Prefecture. After all, there happened to be a lush forest there, which was most suitable for an ambush.

Well, it turns out that Sheng Yuan’s judgment is more accurate.

"I hope we don't have to wait in vain all night!" An Yu looked at the dark shadow under Sheng Yuan's eyes and told her to rest up quickly with some worry. "Rest well, and we won't be afraid even if they stand us up!"

Sheng Yuan was not sleepy. She was the kind of person who would become more energetic the later she stayed up, and more excited the less sleep she received.

But An Yu was urging her to do it, and this guy was very good at talking, so his nagging could make her headache. There was nothing to do at the moment, so she simply went back to the room to rest for a while and get some peace and quiet, so that she wouldn't have to beat him up.

That’s what she said and what she thought, but as soon as she stood up, Xiaoyao ran over with the newly obtained information.

When Sheng Yuan saw it, his eyes lit up instantly.

An Yu looked at her and couldn't help rubbing his forehead: Well, Sister Yuan won't be able to sleep today! (End of this chapter)