Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 18 Beggar’s Head
Chen Qingsi and Li Hongqing settled down with Mr. Peng, and they found Yu Qi, the bad handsome man in the county.

This is a strange traditional habit of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition to the organized head arrests, local officials will recruit some people with bad records to serve as arresting minor officials, called bad, commonly known as bad spine rot, and their commanders are called bad handsome.

The names sound a bit domineering, and many people in later generations have created storylines based on them, but in fact most of them are non-staff within the system.He hangs around in the market, inquiring about information for the government and passing on information to earn rewards; he does the dirtiest and most tiring work, but he cares about the county boss. No matter how much credit he makes, he doesn't belong to him. He is no better than a street gangster.

Chen Qingsi is now the assistant historian, a subordinate official, while the bad commander is just a servant, and his status is lower than him.

People like Yu Qi who hang out in the market are the most sharp-eyed. Although Chen Qingsi is ordinary except for his good looks and has some inconveniences, there is a fairy-like beauty beside him. She is exquisitely dressed and holding hands. A magnificent red horse.

Horses are a rare thing in the south of the Yangtze River. Most of the animals we see every day are pack horses and mules. It would be great to have a military horse in an ordinary family, let alone such a good horse that travels thousands of miles.

Yu Qi's tone was somewhat flattering: "I've met Chen Zuoshi. If you have any orders, I will obey them even if I am in a humble position."

Official Chen Qingsi said with great airs: "I heard that the bad commander is the know-it-all in the county, and there is nothing big or small in the entire county that can be hidden from you. Do you know where the group of refugees who fled into the country from Yanling County live?"

With a smile on his face, Yu Qi got straight to the point: "It's not because I'm boasting about my humble position. There are a lot of things in the county that I don't know about. Back to Zuoshi, those refugees have no place to live, and now they mostly gather in the ruined temples in the northwest of the county. A lot of people gathered, it is said that there must have been more than [-] people at night."

"Take me there! We'll meet their leader."

Yu Qi was not surprised. There was such a large-scale brawl today, and someone would definitely be sent to solve it. He led the way, and warned: "Zuo Shi, be careful what you say when you go. It's the hardest group of people to talk to now." It’s best to deal with them. If you make them anxious, they will swarm you and they don’t know who to seek revenge from. But you have to give them some food and let them do whatever they want.”

Chen Qingsi asked about the name of the other beggar leader and some life stories.

He didn't expect Yu Qi to provide much information. After all, the other party was from the next county and not in the same state.

But Yu Qi knew more than he thought.

"Their beggar leader is named Zou Hao. He was originally a local boat runner. Later, when the business was sluggish, they started doing private work themselves. As a result, they were blackmailed by the local beggar leader. In anger, they led the boat runner brothers to clean up the other party and treat him as their own. He is the head of a beggar. This person is very loyal and trustworthy, and has a good reputation. Many shops will even automatically give you money. As long as you pay on time, not only will no beggars come to make trouble, but he will also help drive away other beggars."

Chen Qingsi laughed dumbly, isn't this the one from later generations?

"Loyalty? It sounds nice, but it's just bullying the good and fearing the evil."

Li Hongqing, a chivalrous woman with a strong sense of justice, sneered at this kind of behavior. She traveled all over the country. In addition to dealing with some powerful landlords, it was these beggar heads who taught her the most.

The three of them followed to the ruined temple that Yu Qi mentioned.

This place used to be the Fire Phoenix Temple, which was dedicated to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady. It was destroyed two years ago. The temple that was originally full of incense has become a forbidden area. In just two years, it has become overgrown with weeds.

However, with the large number of beggars and refugees moving in, the weeds around the ruined temple have been cleared away and piled up to serve as sleeping mats.

Most of the people went out to beg for food. Apart from those who were injured in today's fight, those who stayed around the ruined temple were also some of the guards who were trying to avoid retaliation.

Chen Qingsi did not go in directly. Instead, she looked at the wailing and injured refugees around her and at the beggar-headed confidants who were escorting and patrolling. Seeing their low morale and numb expressions, she chuckled and said, "Half the matter is done."

Li Hongqing was about to ask, but saw that the person had already walked deeper into the temple.

Seeing strangers coming forward, someone came to stop him.Yu Qi immediately stepped in front and yelled: "You are blind, but Chen Zuoshi dares to stop me. I tell you beggar heads that Chen Zuoshi from Yixing County is here, and tell you beggar heads to come and greet them quickly."

Even though he was a low-level official, he thought he was superior to a group of beggars.

The person who wanted to go forward to inquire heard that he was an official, but he didn't dare to stop him, so he turned around and ran to report.

Deep in the ruined temple, Zou Hao's brows were knitted into a straight line. Hearing the wailing sounds of the people around him, he was feeling confused.

Today, they had a fight with local beggars. As outsiders, they did not take advantage. Instead, they injured more than thirty people.

Some of the rations they carried were about to run out, and if they could no longer find a living, the huge team would no longer be able to carry them.

"Boss, there's someone from outside. They say they're from the government, an assistant surnamed Chen."

finally come!

Zou Hao looked overjoyed. He was waiting for someone from the government, or Shi.

Sashi's status among county-level officials was not high, but he was usually the county magistrate's personal confidant, equivalent to the secretary of later generations, and could often act on the county magistrate's behalf.

Zou Hao did not dare to be negligent and quickly walked out of the temple gate to greet him.

Looking at the young and handsome boy, I had some doubts in my heart, but when I saw Li Hongqing beside him, my doubts dissipated: Normal people have such followers?
Chen Qingsi's eyes fell on Zou Hao's neat and clean clothes. She knew it well and did not give Zou Hao a good look. She just responded calmly and strode into the temple.

Zou Hao didn't care either. People like him were at the bottom of the pack. They could bite people when they were in a hurry. Under normal circumstances, they didn't care about face.What's more, now I am living under someone else's roof and in a different place.

"Zou Hao, you are so brave."

Chen Qingsi looked at the beggar's head who was walking into the temple a few steps away from him.

Zou Hao hurriedly bowed and said, "The common people are scared. I wonder what Chen Zuoshi is referring to?"

Chen Qingsi hummed and said, "You must have deliberately started the county fair today."

Zou Hao was startled and said hurriedly: "Why did Zuo Shi say this? We are fleeing like this and only want a mouthful of food. How can we dare to cause trouble? Zhao Gouer is really bullying others and not allowing us to gain a foothold..."

"That's enough!" Chen Qingsi walked up to Zou Hao step by step. He was tall and tall, half a head taller than the beggar. He looked at him with a gaze and said, "The clothes are good, the belly is big, and I have earned a lot these years." Right. How many wives and concubines have you married? How big a house do you live in?"

Zou Hao was so panicked by the sight that he couldn't help but take two steps back and said in a panic: "What does Zuo Shi mean?"

"Yanling County is driving away beggars. In your current situation, how can you look like a beggar? No matter how you drive them away, they can't get to you... You followed voluntarily? Why? It's because you are afraid that there will be no one under you. Are the good days coming to an end? In today’s fight, you didn’t want to compete with Zhao Gouer for territory, but you deliberately provoked unrest and forced the government to settle you down and give you a bite to eat..."

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(End of this chapter)