Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 637 Escape
Gao Qiu immediately sent someone to invite Teng Zijing to his house, and told him about Sun Ding's modification of Yang Zhi's case file, and asked, "Prefect Teng, this is not a small crime. As the prefect of Kaifeng, you also have the responsibility to supervise. You will be questioned in the court tomorrow."

Teng Zijing said quickly, "General, I didn't do it on purpose the other day. I just didn't dare to provoke Liangshan. I heard that Zhao Ze of Liangshan is a ruffian who doesn't care about the consequences. If I raise an army for this, I will die without a burial place."

"General, I have done my best over the years, General. I am so pitiful."

Sun Jing said, "General, Lord Teng has always been respectful. I think what happened the other day was also forced. Besides, this matter was the fault of the clerk in charge. Lord Teng was just fooled by his subordinates."

"Why don't you punish Sun Ding, Lord Teng? After all, he can't hide the fact that he altered the files from others."

After hearing this, Teng Zijing nodded and said, "It was Sun Ding who broke the law knowingly. I will punish him when I get back."

After leaving General Gao's residence, Teng Zijing hurried back to the government office, dismissed his attendants, and called in Sun Ding.

After greeting, Teng Zijing said, "Sun Kongmu, you should leave the capital as soon as possible and escape."

Sun Ding was stunned for a moment and asked, "Sir, what have I done wrong that I have to flee Bianjing?"

Teng Zijing asked: "Did you see what happened today?"

Sun Ding nodded and said, "I was in the hall when my husband returned the knife."

"The commander has told me to make things difficult for you today. When Yang Zhi killed someone, it was you who changed his case file to be lighter. It was also you who maintained that Lin Chong was exiled to Cangzhou. Now these two have made their fortunes in Liangshan and are holding a grudge against the commander. In consideration of your past contributions, you should flee as soon as possible. I will issue a warrant for your arrest in two days at the latest. Don't go anywhere else, as you can only find safety in Liangshan. I have also given instructions to the commander." said Teng Zijing.

Sun Ding said: "Sir, this Kaifeng Mansion must not belong to General Gao!"

"Sun Ding, don't do anything stupid. Although tampering with the case files is not a capital crime, you can't escape the punishment of a 300-mile march. The commander wants to vent his anger, and he will kill you somewhere along the way." Teng Zijing shouted.

Sun Ding listened and sighed, "I didn't want to, but this day will come for me too."

After that, he said to Teng Zijing: "Thank you for your advice, sir. I will go home now and pack my bags to Liangshan to avoid disaster. I will remember your kindness in my heart."

Teng Zijing said, "I'm afraid there will be some people in the Taiwei Mansion who are not knowledgeable. Pack up your belongings and leave without delay."

After Sun Ding left, Teng Zijing pretended nothing had happened and continued to sit in the court to try the case.

Sun Ding went down the hall, but he was not in a hurry to go home, so as not to arouse suspicion. Instead, he went to the prison and called Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to sit in a secluded place. Zhang Long asked, "Mr. Kong, why did you call us here?"

Sun Ding sighed, "Brother, what I've been waiting for has happened."

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were shocked when they heard this and asked, "Brother, what's the matter? Please take care of us two."

Sun Ding said, "Have you heard about what happened in the hall today?"

Zhao Hu nodded and said, "I heard about it. Isn't it about Master Lin and Envoy Yang?"

"You two escorted Yang Zhi all the way to Daming Prefecture. Now he has become successful. The commander hates him deeply, but he cannot punish him now, so he takes it out on us," said Sun Ding.

Zhang Long said, "Brother, we are the escort officers. It is our job to escort Yang Zhi. How can you take it out on us?" Sun Ding said, "You also know Dong Chao and Xue Ba. They were also exiled to Daming Prefecture for escorting Lin Chong."

Zhang Long heard this and said quickly, "Brother, what should we do?"

"I won't hide it from you two. My husband has already told me today that the commander wants to make things difficult for us because of the rise of Lin Chong and Yang Zhi. Since I have made some contributions, he wants to let me go secretly. You two know what kind of person I am, and you two cannot escape the responsibility for this matter, so I told you two this. My husband has pointed out a clear way. I am going to Liangshan now, and you two should make preparations early." Sun Ding said in a low voice.

Seeing Sun Ding's certainty, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu panicked and said to Sun Ding, "Brother, please save me."

Sun Ding said, "The commander wants to send people to prison. How can we escape? If you two have any connections, please make arrangements as soon as possible. I will flee to Liangshan today. You two should take care of yourselves."

After saying this, Sun Ding pretended to leave.

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu said, "Brother, since you have the connections, why don't you take us with you?"

After hearing this, Sun Ding said to the two men, "In this world, only Liangshan can protect us. My husband wants to protect us, but the Taiwei Mansion is pressing us hard. I'm afraid they will put us in jail tomorrow. There's no time to lose. You two should go home quickly and pack your belongings. I can't move easily now. Brother Zhao Hu has no family. Please go home for me and ask my wife to pack her belongings and hire a carriage to wait outside the East Gate. I will come to find you in an hour. We must rush to Xingren Mansion today. If we are caught, we will die without a burial place."

At that moment, the three of them acted according to the plan.

After watching Zhang Long and Zhao Hu leave, Sun Ding also stood up. He went to the office to get a few case files, and went to the storehouse to take out the evidence. Wang Chen, who was in charge of the storehouse, saw Sun Ding and did not ask any questions. He opened the storehouse and went in with Sun Ding to take the evidence.

As they walked, Wang Chen complained, "Sun Kongmu, have you heard about what happened in the court today?"

Sun Ding nodded and said, "Of course. I heard that you ate some food yesterday?"

Wang Chen said, "Who says it's not true? The magistrate knows that in Bianjing, if a brick falls, it will hit a man. We, the clerks, have to be careful in everything to keep our job. Stolen goods and evidence have always been handled in this way. If anyone takes a fancy to them, it is customary to take them away, and no one can be held accountable. Yesterday, I was blinded by my greed and said a few more words, so I was punished, wasn't I?"

Sun Ding consoled him, "Who could have thought of such a thing? Fortunately, nothing went wrong."

Sun Ding took the evidence involved in the case file and left calmly as Wang Chen watched him.

After taking off his official uniform, Sun Ding changed into a casual outfit, avoided everyone, and quietly left through the side door. After turning around and making sure no one was following him, Sun Ding headed straight for the east gate of Kaifeng Prefecture.

After leaving the city, they met Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and their families at the city gate. Sun Ding's wife wanted to talk, but Sun Ding waved his hand and said, "Let's talk later."

After taking the horses from Zhang Long, everyone mounted their horses and drove the two carriages at a gallop.

Together with the four horses pulling the carriage, ten horses took turns riding without stopping, and finally arrived at the territory of Xingren Prefecture at the time of Xupai.

Sun Ding breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, "Now that we have entered the territory of Xingren Prefecture, we are not in a hurry. Let's find a hotel to rest and take care of the horses."

Zhang Long pointed to the distance and said, "Brother, there are lights over there. How about we stay there for one night?"

(End of this chapter)