My Chinese ancestors

Chapter 684 Qin Hui and Li Ru
"drive!"

"Faster!"

"Yantang Pass is just ahead!"

Traveling across the grassland from west to east, the yellowish grass debris was lifted into the air by the rolling horses' hooves. Amidst the smoke and dust, there was a group of five horsemen galloping eastward.

To the east is a majestic pass. A straight road was built along the pass. It was paved section by section towards the northern pass of Qizhou in the south over the past two years.

It seems time-consuming and laborious, but once this rocky official road that passes through the eastern and central grasslands of Xirong and connects the two states of Yan and Qi is built, there will be no need to worry about frozen soil or muddy roads soaked by rain, making it difficult for vehicles and horses to move forward even in windy and snowy weather.

The five men rode their horses at full speed, heading east along the road that was still under construction. They saw endless grasslands and hills, and herds of cattle and sheep, mooing loudly as they were driven by shepherds from the Mongolian tribe.

One of the horsemen galloped towards the shepherd boy, took out half a cake from his arms, and threw it to him: "Kid, is Yantang Pass ahead?!"

The shepherd boy riding on the back of an old cow took a bite of the cake, then raised a wooden stick with a ribbon and pointed it to the southeast. He spoke in fluent Chinese and said crisply, "You are going in the wrong direction. Go a little further south and you will reach Yantang Pass."

Before he could finish his words, the man who asked the question had already galloped away on his horse, and together with the four people in front of him, he broke through the cattle and sheep blocking the way and headed straight for the southeast.

"Ahhh!" The cattle and sheep that had been gathered with great difficulty were scattered, and the shepherd boy was so angry that he screamed and yelled on the horse's back, and the cake in his hand no longer tasted good.

"I should have known not to show you the way!"

Amid the noisy cries of cattle and sheep and the angry and frantic voices of the shepherd boys, five figures on horseback had already run far away, occasionally cracking their whips and shouting "Gee!" as they accelerated towards the direction of Yantang Pass.

Rushing to a grassy hill ahead, the five big men saw a winding city wall connecting two long mountains.

Large tracts of green fields are located outside the city walls, and towering granaries can occasionally be seen among the interweaving gravel paths.

A straight official road extends to the city gate, and two flags, "Lei" and "Qi", are planted on the city wall and fluttering in the wind. Merchant caravans and pedestrians are like a long dragon, having their badges checked by soldiers before entering the city.

The five men returned on a secret order and dared not make it public. They only took the sign of the Western Rong Protectorate to show to the gatekeepers.

After leaving Yantang Pass and continuing eastward out of the city, you will see rivers crisscrossing the official roads and fields. The water is extremely clear and you can occasionally see water wheels turning slowly, and flocks of ducks and geese flapping their wings and screaming on the water.

A large number of passing caravans would occasionally stop here and fill their water bags with clean water from a special well nearby.

It is still hundreds of miles to Longyang County in the east, not to mention Yanjing. Now that it is almost the rainy season, merchants from all over the world and travelers from the mountains and five peaks dare not delay too long.

After refilling their water bags, the five men hurried on their way again.

It was late May when we passed Longyang and entered the territory of Yanjing. It had just rained heavily and the roads in Yanjing had become muddy. On both sides of the road we could see newly reclaimed fields, showing a vibrant green scene.

The five men slowed down their dismounts and at the end of their field of vision, they could see the outline of a village in the drizzle. Earthen or wooden houses were close together, smoke from cooking fires rose into the sky, and occasionally the cheerful shouts of children could be heard.

They remembered that when they left Yanjing for the westward expedition two years ago, there were no fertile fields or villages here.

In the field, the farmer packed up his farm tools and looked back at five people who were riding slowly on the road and looking at him. The farmer smiled and waved to the five of them. Then he picked up his hoe, walked onto the ridge of the field, drank a sip of water, greeted the villagers in other fields, and walked towards the village entrance together.

From the time King Xia entered Yanjing to the time he ascended the throne, apart from recruiting soldiers, the millions of people here did not suffer any natural or man-made disasters and continued to multiply on this land.

Areas dozens or hundreds of miles around Yanjing have been covered by a large number of workshops and livestock fur trading areas.

The good land that the people need can only be reclaimed further out.

Looking down from the sky, it looks like dragon scales spreading out from the east, west and south. As for the north, it is too cold and not suitable for growing crops, and the original plan was to build a workshop for making weapons and armor.

The courtyards of the craftsmen's workshops formed a huge square. Every house was surprisingly neat and uniform. Close to the northwest of the workshop, some houses were special. They were the government offices responsible for the security of the trading area and taxation, as well as the residences of officials who specialized in handling animal manure.

Compared to the devastated Western world, this place is peaceful and prosperous.

Trade and farming did not stop because of what was happening outside. Not only did they hear that their own army was winning victory after victory in the west, but there was also a crown prince governing the country and capable officials assisting in the court.

The great prestige of the emperor is here, no one dares to slack off.

In the afternoon, the sky began to drizzle again. After entering the city, the five people did not go to the palace, but led their horses to the residence of the Supervisory Censor, and presented the old man at the gate with a visiting card and a jade pendant.

Soon, the old man at the door welcomed the five people in.

The carriage was coming back from outside the city. There was a lot of noise. Peddlers carrying goods, shouting in front of their stalls, and people shopping kept squeezing past the rolling carriage shafts.

"We've arrived, Lord Li."

The carriage stopped at the side door of the Censorate's Mansion. The driver sighed and whispered to the carriage behind him.

After a while, the curtain was lifted, Li Ru came out with his head slightly lowered, strode down from the carriage, and was soon welcomed in by the Qin mansion servants at the door, and walked all the way to the study in the side wing.

"Imperial Censor Qin, you are really well-informed. You knew about my return to the capital the moment I arrived."

When he pushed open the door, the scent of sandalwood and books wafted into his nose. Li Ru smiled and bowed towards the desk.

The candlestick stood on the desk, and the bean-sized flame illuminated Qin Hui's face. He was holding a letter in his hand, looking worried.

"Brother Wenyou, I can't laugh at you."

Hearing Li Ru coming in and joking, the treacherous prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty raised his head, his face turning a little pale. He forced a smile and shook the letter paper in his hand.

"Your Majesty sent it from the West."

Li Ru has always been a sensitive person. When he heard that it was the work of His Majesty, his eyebrows raised unconsciously. You know, there is very little news from the Western world. Only four messages have been sent back in two and a half years.

But now he secretly sent a handwritten note to Qin Hui, which obviously had other intentions.

"What did His Majesty say in the letter?" Li Ru held up the hem of his robe and sat down at one side.

"Haha... ah!" Qin Hui laughed bitterly twice, and then sighed: "Your Majesty asked me to train the prince, give him problems, and let him experience some hardships."

"wind and rain?"

Li Ru frowned and said, "Then the Censor asked me to come here to do..." Having said that, Li Ru suddenly slapped the table.

"You want to rebel!"

Qin Hui was so frightened by these words that he almost jumped up from his chair. He waved his hands quickly and said, "It's your Majesty, not me, Qin Hui... Besides, Wen You is more familiar with this aspect, so I will just be a flatterer."

Li Ru glared over, leaned back, raised his face and exhaled.

"Ru has reformed himself many years ago and has made great achievements in Qizhou. How can I be in league with you?"

"But this is His Majesty's order, and we will offend him when the time comes." The warm yellow light shone on Qin Hui's face, and he forced a smile, "After thinking it over, I have no one else to trust, only you and I can do this, and train the prince, so that the country will be stable in the future."

"...Wenyou, do you think what I said is right?" He said softly with a smile.

"That's fine."

Li Ru took the letter and read it for a long time. Finally, he took the matter into his own hands. "Even if you and I join forces, don't go too far. The prince is young and can't stand the torture!"

"I can save myself that."

After hearing Qin Hui's smiling reply, Li Ru bowed, stood up and left.

.......
Under the eaves, Qin Hui put his hands behind his back and watched Li Ru's back disappear outside the crescent-shaped door in front of him, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Your Majesty understands me. Betrayal is addictive."

Qin Hui stroked his beard and smiled. As he turned and walked back to his study, the storm had already begun brewing in his mind.

(End of this chapter)