Lord of the Desert

Chapter 478 Coming and Going
Half an hour later, in the north of Cangxu City.

The environment of the trading post that Shen Hong took over was average, but fortunately it was spacious with more than 30 rooms, and it was equipped with all the necessary sheds for livestock, and it was kept clean.

When the shopkeeper saw a large group of people coming, he hurriedly led his waiters to greet them; after negotiating with them, Shen Hong was about to drive into the hospital, but was stopped by Song Xuan Ge.

"Brother Shen, wait a moment."

He drew his sword and gave a look to his left and right.

As one of Xiao Chu's guards, Longxiang Camp is responsible for security.

Hong Fan got off the carriage and first saw twelve archers armed with spears occupying the shooting positions on the outer wall and the passage in an orderly manner. Then Song Xuan Ge personally led two teams of sharp soldiers with revolvers in their left hands and swords in their right hands to rush in.

The shopkeeper's forehead was sweating and his hands were shaking when he saw this scene. He wanted to explain but dared not.

Survey the environment, clear the building, check if the equipment is toxic, confirm if there are dark rooms, compartments and tunnels, and finally set up light and dark sentries...

After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, Song Xuan Ge finally strode back.

"My lord, there are some situations."

Having said that, his expression was not very serious.

"How to say?"

Hong Fan seemed indifferent, but he was actually surprised at the huge gap in professionalism between the royal guards and the powerful thugs.

"Everything is safe in the inn, but an anonymous gift was placed in the most spacious guest room."

Song Xuan Ge leaned close to Hong Fan's ear and lowered his voice.

"A plate of five ten-liang gold bars, a pair of exquisite vases from the previous dynasty, and a plate of freshly picked fruits that were still dripping with water. I questioned the inn's staff, but they knew nothing about it. The last time they cleaned the inn was early yesterday morning."

"It seems that this generous gift arrived at the same time as us. It's a show of power for me."

Hong Fan nodded, showing no reaction to the small amount of wealth, and stood up to go into the hospital.

"Send the things in the room to the Wucheng Bingmasi in their original condition and say they are lost items. If they ask us about our identities, tell them the truth. Everyone, take a good rest tonight. We will get straight to business tomorrow."

······
The next day.

At daybreak, Shen Hong, Song Xuan Ge and others got up to maintain their weapons and prepare their armors, and then ate breakfast in a ferocious manner, as if they were about to go to war.

However, Hong Fan just came out of meditation at the hour of Mao, ate sparsely and slowly, and ignored the excitement around him.

At noon, the visiting card was delivered to the City Defense Office of Cangxu City.

They had been waiting for less than half a cup of tea when the city defender Qi Hongkuang and the co-magistrate came out to greet them, their faces full of wrinkles from smiling faces.

Shen and Song felt as if they had punched cotton.

The interview continued until lunch.

Tea was served instead of wine during the banquet, and all of Hong Fan's requests regarding surveying the land, reading the fish scale book, etc. were met. After the banquet, Qi Chengshou personally introduced Zhen Yanchu to the aide in charge of clerical work. The latter had been busy with affairs at Chen Qiumo, so he asked several superiors from the capital to wait for a while and guaranteed that the volumes related to Qingdi Zhenzong would be picked out as soon as possible.

Hong Fan would not make things difficult for their reasonable request.

Two days passed in this short wait.

July 28th.

When Zhen Yanchu went to the city defense office in person in the afternoon to urge them, he was met with embarrassed looks from the officials and the excuse of delaying that "we need to consult the Qingzhou Provincial Administration Office."

Fortunately, he had anticipated this and took out the authorization document from the Ministry of Revenue in Shenjing on the spot, putting them in a submissive position.

Another day, the feedback came that the volumes had not yet been prepared.

Hong Fan felt that he had fulfilled his duties.

"There is a reason for this. Please calm down, Hong Zishou."

The lawyer surnamed Bu bowed his waist, his face full of sincerity.

"We have carefully checked over the past few days and found that the Fish Scale Book has been in disrepair for a long time and some parts are even missing. Please give me another three or four days and I will give you an explanation..."

"Did you come up with this excuse yourself?"

Hong Fan stared at Master Bu until his back was wet.

"If Qi Chengshou thought this was useful, he would have told me personally now."

"The establishment of the Qingdi Zhenzong in Cangxu City is not a matter of decades or generations; the four days I allow are to make it easier for you to have a basic explanation of it."

Hong Fan did not get angry at the little man in front of him.

"You don't need to sort out the fish scale book; just submit the total accounts of the fields in the city, and my people will check it themselves." "Hong Zishou, how can this be done?"

Master Bu was in a state of panic, and he didn't dare to meet the other person's gaze. Finally, he gritted his teeth and knelt down.

"If I do this without the Lord's approval, I will be punished according to the law!"

As soon as he knelt down, he felt ashamed and simply prostrated himself on the ground.

"Where is Qi Hongkuang?"

Hong Fan knew it was useless to argue, so he asked directly.

"Cheng Jun left the yamen yesterday and went to inspect Yanshi County in the south. He will be back in ten days."

Master Bu now revealed the truth and had nothing to hide.

Hong Fan laughed.

"It's absolutely true, Hong Zishou!"

Master Bu was afraid that he would not believe it, so he howled.

Hong Fan did not refute, but called Shen Hong to whisper a few words, and sneered again: "I really remembered it correctly; my people clearly said that he went north after leaving the city last night."

Master Bu gritted his teeth in astonishment.

He really didn't know this.

"It doesn't matter whether we go north or south. You wait here, I'll go find him myself, and I'll be back soon."

Hong Fan said this as he strode into the courtyard and flew away raising sand.

Looking down from a high place, mountains and hills spread out on the land, and the official road looks like a slender artery.

Seventy miles north of Cangxu City.

Two guards with swords stood at the entrance of the official post station.

In the most spacious main room, Qi Hongkuang was drinking wine and eating delicious food, while his most favored concubine was serving him and humming little songs.

The autumn day was mild, but he was still wearing his robe and hat. Although he was being fanned, he was still sweating profusely.

The concubine had not yet finished singing when there was a sudden sound of a strong wind outside.

Two voices shouted, and then died down like bubbles.

Qi Hongkuang was breathing rapidly.

The door curtain fluttered with a swish, and a tall Tibetan young man in a purple robe strode in.

"you……"

Qi Hongkuang stood up suddenly, and just as he was about to show off, he met Hong Fan's amused gaze. The words that had been in his throat for a long time finally fell silent. "Qi Chengshou, I need the authority to review the land account books of the entire city. Thank you."

Hong Fan used his eyes to drive his concubines and others out and got straight to the point.

Qi Hongkuang was silent for a moment, then sat down again.

"Qi's career as an official has been mediocre. Now that my hair is gray, I just hope to stay in office in Cangxu City for a few more years. Hong Zishou, you powerful dragons can leave when they come, but the True Emperor cannot be moved away."

He grabbed a new wine glass, filled it up and pushed it in front of the table.

Hong Fan stood still and said, "The city guard said this to ask Shen Jing to consider you more?"

After hearing this, Qi Hongkuang became even more embarrassed.

"Master Qi, this is a matter between me and the Qingdi Zhenzong at the smallest level, and a matter between the Zhangwu Academy and the vast sects in Qingzhou at the largest level."

Hong Fan's tone softened, but his meaning became stronger.

"I came here on the orders of the headmaster himself, with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Shengyu Army. No matter how close the relationship is between you and the Qing Emperor Zhenzong, delaying for a few days is the utmost kindness - when the giant beast is approaching, why bother to be the first to intervene?"

The truth is simple.

Qi Hongkuang’s face turned pale. After a while, he finally gave up all hope and his tense body softened.

By the time he personally fetched pen and ink, wrote the order and stamped it with the imperial seal, he had already prepared himself to die in exile.

Hong Fan came like the wind and sand and went like the wind and sand.

Qi Hongkuang staggered back to his seat alone in the empty hall. He drank two cups of bitter wine on the table and became so hunched over that he seemed to have aged ten years.

(End of this chapter)