Chapter 10, Inspection

Oh, government, this case may cause a great uproar

Eager to learn and make progress, I am delighted and have no time to spare; what is there to be unhappy about

However, it is possible that upon reaching Tongzhou, there may still be encounters, and it will depend on how the officials of Yanzhou intend to handle this case

This made the two maidservants feel deeply ashamed

Wang Juxin said nervously, "Zhao Xiaoniang, you wouldn't be unhappy, would you?"

Wang Ju came to the door to demand payment, read by himself, and also taught his younger siblings to read and write

The fault lies with the officials and soldiers

... ...

The gentleman's words are quite accurate, likely related to his upbringing. He actually doubts the gentleman...

He looked at Wang Ju on the mountain and thought that Wang Ju was inconsiderate, as his clothes were so clean, which must have been washed by his second aunt

Sir, I am just worried about his trip to the capital.

Wang Jutan peered out, as several soldiers were inspecting the pedestrians ahead.

"The first one is far away, and the coachman may not be familiar with the road. As for the second one, it's better to be cautious... Upon reaching Tongzhou, we will need to change again, and then change once more at Tongguan."

However, the trouble did not end; even until now, including Zhu Huan, he still believes that on that day, it was better to sacrifice some people and abandon the goods than to take action.

The journey thus far has greatly impressed the three attendants. Aside from the urgency of reaching Yanzhou, once they left Yanzhou, the pace became less pressing. Every day, Wang Ju would gather information and arrange the itinerary. For instance, he would determine how far they needed to travel in a day, taking into account not only the distance but also the terrain to decide the route, and then identify a suitable stopping point for the evening. They would travel on main roads and stay in reputable inns, thereby mitigating the dangers they might encounter.

Zhu Huan shook his head: "That's not the case; it's that group of people reacted too quickly. Although there will be many troubles later, forcing them out is certainly better than keeping them in the Weilin stronghold. Moreover, they will most likely flee towards the border wasteland. Autumn is approaching, and winter is not far off..."

It has been sealed, speaking of the Summer Kingdom's sword

Poverty, there shouldn't be too many impoverished families in the village

"The officials are utterly incompetent," Zhu Qing said

Even the items to bring on the journey, including food, were meticulously arranged by Wang Ju

However, for this married woman, eleven guan of money does not seem to be a significant amount. Wang Ju took the opportunity to indulge in a bit of luxury for personal gain.

"Stop, stop!" A shout came from the mountain path ahead.

That young man left in a hurry

They have already encountered several waves of inspections by the officials and soldiers in their line of work

Wang Ju suddenly looked at the tattoos on the foreheads of the soldiers, his eyes narrowing as he began to examine the illustrations and texts.

Do not worry, my lord; I will resolve this for you once I arrive in the capital.

They will soon arrive at their line of work

Rest assured, I will ensure the safe escort of several individuals to the capital.

At that time, none of that group of people will have a place to hide

Upon further investigation, it turns out that all the clothes were washed by Wang Ju himself. Moreover, he single-handedly manages all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for the family with three children. There is no other option; the second sister is only eight years old, and the third brother is just seven. Aside from being able to help him look after the sheep, they are unable to assist with anything else for the time being

"Sir, this is of no importance; I am concerned about the movements of the authorities"

Look at this mountain; viewed from the front, it appears as a ridge, while from the side, it takes on a peak. Its heights and depths vary from near to far. When matters become significant, the number of commentators increases, and each person's perspective differs, leading to varied interpretations. Ultimately, it is possible that many people may be implicated. The most astute approach is to minimize major issues and resolve minor ones. Do not forget that the villagers in the stockade are like mules, transporting contraband.

No

He is guarding against us, has anything been found out

Lady Zhao, please do not. No matter how wealthy or powerful your family may be, this matter must remain confidential. Whether it is you who got involved or I who acted out of goodwill, I ask you to promise me, considering our acquaintance.

He does not understand me either, and I cannot blame him. Can the backgrounds of those two women be investigated?

Zhu Qing provided a brief overview of the situation and handed over a piece of paper. It was found that the investigation should be quite thorough, revealing even the circumstances of the Jiang family, as well as the fact that Wang Ping's compensation had been embezzled under orders from above.

Let them go; after remelting, at least the chisel mark is gone

Why?

It has been discovered that his father is named Wang Ping, who was a captain in the former Baojie Army and sacrificed his life in battle against the Xixia people a few years ago. His mother remarried a gentleman named Jiang from the Bao'an Army city. Perhaps due to the Jiang family's disdain, that young man returned to Wangjiazhai last winter with his younger siblings to seek refuge with his second uncle, Wang Wei. However, his second uncle's family also has several children, and their living conditions gradually became strained, leading to some dissatisfaction from his second aunt. Therefore, in the spring, he asked his second uncle and the villagers for help to build a thatched hut, brought his younger siblings out, and also planted some crops. He usually tended the sheep for the village and sometimes accompanied his second uncle to hunt in the mountains to earn some income. He should be a very proud young man

The battle on the mountain was extraordinarily impressive, yet this young man is usually very low-key, not competing or arguing. If it were not for his role in herding sheep for the village, most of the villagers would not recognize him.

Zhu Qing conducted a test, and surprisingly, these two little ones actually recognized quite a few characters from the book.

In this era, the costs of writing materials such as ink, paper, and inkstones are exceedingly high. The paper is thick and the characters are large, allowing only about one hundred characters to be printed on a single page, and this is for single-sided printed butterfly-bound books. Coupled with woodblock printing, books are therefore extraordinarily expensive. A thin, unannotated copy of the "I Ching" costs over one hundred wen. As a result, many scholarly gentlemen have no choice but to copy books by hand.

Zhu Huan looked at the paper, pondered for a while, and said: "Characterized by suspicion yet decisiveness"

The secondary officials of the Song Dynasty, namely the governors of various prefectures and transport officials, had varying degrees of power. Among the governors, the most powerful was the Prefect of Kaifeng, followed by the Prefect of Henan, which is the Prefect of Luoyang, and then the Prefect of Songzhou Nanjing, the Prefect of Damingzhou Beijing, and the remaining governors of various prefectures who were nominally in charge. During the Song-Liao wars, the governors of Zhending, Dingzhou, and Taiyuan held significant power, but currently, the Prefects of Jingzhao, Weizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Qinzou are the most powerful. This is because their nominal jurisdiction extends beyond their own prefectures to include military and political authority over the various prefectures within their respective circuits. For instance, the Prefect of Yanzhou has the authority to intervene in the military affairs of the various prefectures in the Fuyan Circuit, including Fuzhou and the southernmost county of Fuxian.

Moreover, the elder of the village, Wang Quan, possesses a copy of the "Analects," which is said to have been passed down from Wang Quan's grandfather's grandfather, and it is already in a state of disrepair

A few officials and soldiers did not create any difficulties; in fact, they did not even inspect the goods, but merely glanced at the people before quickly allowing them to pass.

The mistress suddenly asked: "Then why change the carriage?"

It is of no concern; he should understand the gravity of the situation. Although this fellow has a somewhat suspicious nature, what is commendable is his strong sense of loyalty. Let it be so; the money for the four horses will be given entirely to the village, and he will understand upon his return

It seems that it is safe now, Zhao Niannu said

Not only is he/she arrogant, but also very diligent

"If you are in the mood to buy the 'Correct Interpretations of the Five Classics', I believe the danger has passed," Zhao Niannu said with a faint smile. After leaving Yanzhou and crossing the perilous period, her demeanor became increasingly elegant and noble. It was evident along the way that no matter where she purchased items, she would casually hand over a stack of banknotes to Wang Ju, instructing him on what to buy, never inquiring about the cost. Wang Ju did not take advantage of her; he merely purchased this set of over one hundred volumes of substantial books from a bookstore in Fuxian, spending a total of more than eleven guan. It was evident along the way that no matter where she purchased items, she would casually hand over a stack of banknotes to Wang Ju, instructing him on what to buy, never inquiring about the cost. Wang Ju did not take advantage of her; he merely purchased this set of over one hundred volumes of substantial books from a bookstore in Fuxian, spending a total of more than eleven guan.

Zhao Niannu smiled faintly

What are you guarding against? Haven't we already spoken of peace?

It seems that the battle of Heiao Ridge has escalated in intensity, Wang Ju thought

However, things have happened; he is ultimately not a black bee thief. One can understand that people also need to survive. All one can say is to take it one step at a time

When that child returns, you should ask about those knives as well

This is the most troublesome matter