Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 464: The Imperial Guard is investigating a case. Why don’t you get out of the way?

Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and said, "Maybe there are some things we haven't thought of yet!"

"Where?"

Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and analyzed: "First, we can rule out the civil and military officials in the court. At most, they bribed a few eunuchs who leaked the information."

Lu Hua nodded in agreement.

"Secondly, we can rule out the Jianghu forces. There is no such powerful Jianghu force in Darong, and it is impossible for outside Darong to infiltrate the Imperial City quietly!"

Lu Hua nodded again.

"There is one thing we need to pay special attention to. The forces behind Nansheng definitely cannot complete their layout in a short period of time."

"The person behind this must be of very high status, able to enter and leave the Imperial City freely, and even able to place people in the Imperial City!"

"Who are you thinking of?"

Yang Zhengshan looked at Lu Hua.

"Chen Zhongshu!" Lu Hua said.

"..." Yang Zhengshan looked at him speechlessly, "Who else!"

Chen Zhongshu!
What a joke.

Chen Zhongshu does have such ability, but he has no motivation to do so.

"Prince Yu!" Lu Hua said again.

Yang Zhengshan was stunned. "Who is Prince Yu?"

"The late emperor's uncle, your Majesty's great uncle, has always lived in Fengxian Palace!" Lu Hua said.

A gleam of brilliance flashed in Yang Zhengshan's eyes, "A congenital master?"

"Yeah!" Lu Hua said.

Yang Zhengshan didn't expect that there was such a big boss hidden in the imperial city, but then he shook his head, "It can't be him!"

Although this great uncle of the emperor was very powerful, since Emperor Chengping dared to let him stay in the imperial city, it showed that he had no greed for the throne.

Lu Hua thought about it again.

"Deposed Prince!"

He subconsciously lowered his voice and spoke.

The deposed crown prince had lived in the Eastern Palace for a long time and had served as regent for nearly a year. It was not impossible that he had placed a large number of people in the imperial city.

As for why Nan Sheng would work for the deposed prince, this is not impossible.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, "It's possible, but it's unlikely!"

"Why?"

"Since the late emperor has deposed him, he will naturally not be given another chance to make a comeback!" Yang Zhengshan said as a matter of course.

If it were him, who deposed one crown prince and supported a new one, he would certainly have to wipe out all the foundation of the deposed crown prince in the court and the imperial city.

In fact, Emperor Chengping did just that. Those ministers in the court who had relations with the prince were either dismissed from their posts or banished from the capital. A large number of people were also dealt with in the imperial city at that time.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan felt that the possibility of deposing the crown prince was slim.

"Except the deposed prince, I can't think of anyone else!" Lu Hua said.

Yang Zhengshan thought about it, but couldn't think of anyone else worthy of suspicion.

He knew less about the various forces in Kyoto than Lu Hua did. Even Lu Hua couldn't figure it out, let alone him.

"Forget it. There's no point in thinking about this now. In comparison, I'd rather know what kind of trouble you've brought upon me!"

Yang Zhengshan looked down at Wang Zhongzhi who was still unconscious, and let out a helpless sigh in his heart.

"The people from the Imperial Guard are chasing us! They should be able to reach Chongshan Pass soon!" Lu Hua stared at Yang Zhengshan with deep eyes.

"So? Do you want me to stop them or help you avoid their pursuit!" Yang Zhengshan said calmly.

"Both!" Lu Hua said.

He needed Yang Zhengshan to stop the people from the Imperial Guards, and perhaps Yang Zhengshan could help them find a place to stay.

He lost a lot of his men when escaping from Kyoto to Chongshan Pass. If he continued to flee, he would not have enough strength to resist the Imperial Guards, and he didn't know where to escape to.

Should we let them escape to the snowy land?
And now only Yang Zhengshan can help him. It can be said that he has placed all his hopes on Yang Zhengshan.

"Is he, Eunuch Wang, okay?" Yang Zhengshan looked at Wang Zhongzhi lying on the bed.

There was worry in Lu Hua's eyes. "His life should be fine, but I'm not sure when he will wake up and what will happen after he wakes up!"

The torture Wang Zhongzhi suffered was far more severe than it appeared. Although the external injuries looked serious, in fact the most serious injuries he suffered were damage to his internal organs.

If it were an ordinary person, he would have died long ago.

Wang Zhongzhi is able to live until now thanks to the innate true qi in his body.

Yang Zhengshan reached out and pressed his hand on Wang Zhongzhi's wrist to feel his pulse.

"It's not a big problem, it can be cured!"

"Can it be cured? Do you know medical skills?" Lu Hua asked in surprise.

Yang Zhengshan's lips curled up slightly, "Have you forgotten why I became a country farmer?"

Wang Zhongzhi's injuries at this time were very similar to Yang Zhengshan's previous injuries, both of which were caused by external injuries to internal organs.

The difference is that the previous incarnation's injury was delayed for too long, causing severe depletion of energy and spirit.

However, Wang Zhongzhi was too old, and his body's recovery ability was far inferior to that of Yang Zhengshan's predecessor. However, Wang Zhongzhi was a half-step innate master, and a wisp of innate true qi in his body could repair damage to his internal organs.

The injuries of both men were similar, and their situations had their own advantages and disadvantages.

This was not difficult for Yang Zhengshan to cure. It was just a matter of a few bowls of spiritual spring water.

Lu Hua showed a look of realization, he had forgotten about Yang Zhengshan's previous injury.

"How about this, you stay here tonight, and I will arrange a place for you to live tomorrow! But those people outside should disperse first, it will be difficult to hide with too many people!" Yang Zhengshan said.

Lu Hua nodded, but asked, "What about the Imperial Guard Division?"

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "What does it have to do with me? I have never seen you! I have nothing to do with you either!"

"..."

Lu Hua felt that Yang Zhengshan was a little shameless.

This ability to tell lies with open eyes is absolutely first-rate.

"Let's go. I will arrange for someone to come here early tomorrow morning. Just wait for my instructions!"

Yang Zhengshan left after leaving a few words.

Lu Hua looked at his leaving back with a gloomy look in his eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking.

……

The next morning.

A carriage arrived at the gate of the courtyard.

Ding Qiu got off the carriage and knocked on the gate. It was Wei Cen who opened the door.

"The Marquis asked me to send you out of the city!" Ding Qiu said.

Wei Cen nodded, and then he and Lu Hua carried the still unconscious Wang Zhongzhi into the carriage.

At this time, there was no one else here except Wang Zhongzhi, Lu Hua and Wei Cen.

After the three of them got into the carriage, Ding Qiu adjusted his felt hat and drove the carriage towards the west gate. After they left the city, they changed to an ox cart.

At the same time, he changed all his clothes into tattered clothes.

"This is your new identity. You are refugees from Huaian City. You encountered bandits on the way and suffered some injuries!"

"He is your father, and you two are brothers!"

Ding Qiu gave them three identity cards.

"Liu Ergou?" Lu Hua looked at the name on the wooden sign, a hint of depression in his eyes.

"A cheap name shouldn't arouse suspicion!" Ding Qiu explained.

Wei Cen put away Liu Dagou's wooden sign. Yes, he was the eldest brother and Lu Hua was the second younger brother.

Two brothers, one is a big dog and the other is a small dog!
"Is it appropriate for us to pretend to be refugees?" Lu Hua asked.

"What's inappropriate?" Ding Qiu was a little confused.

The most suitable identity to hide in Chongshan Town now is a refugee.

There are 800,000 refugees scattered across thousands of villages. In this freezing winter, trying to find three people without accurate clues is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Compared to hiding in the mountains where there are many people and eyes, it is obviously less likely to be exposed if you hide in a village in the north.

The key is that it is simple to operate.

Although the number of refugees fleeing to Chongshan Town has decreased since the beginning of winter, there are still some, a hundred today, a dozen tomorrow, and they continue to arrive. In short, there are refugees every day.

Ding Qiu only needs to send Lu Hua and the others to the receiving point, and the officials at the receiving point will naturally arrange accommodation for them. Yang Zhengshan does not need to make any special arrangements.

The only certainty is that you will have to suffer a little.

But compared to saving his life, this sin is nothing.

"And here's a jug of wine, you can drink it first!"

"When you have a place to live, I will send the herbs to you!"

Ding Qiu handed a worn water bag to Lu Hua.

"Hundred Herb Wine?" Lu Hua opened it and smelled it.

"Ok!"

……

Although Yang Zhengshan was worried about the arrival of Wang Zhongzhi and Lu Hua, he did not show it. After asking Ding Qiu to send them out of the city, he went to the general's mansion as usual.

"My Lord, this is the account book sent by the glass workshop!"

In the study of the general's mansion, Lu Wenhua placed a stack of account books in front of Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan slowly picked up the tea and took a sip, then opened the account book and looked through it.

The glass workshop's income this year is very considerable, with a total of four million taels of silver received.

Unfortunately, all the money was used to purchase grain. Currently, the General's Mansion only has a deposit of more than 100,000 taels of silver, and it still owes the money houses nearly 6 million taels of silver.

In other words, the expenditure of Chongshan Town this year is more than 10 million taels of silver, and the exact number should be more than 13 million taels.

In addition to purchasing grain, a lot of money was also spent on other things. Building roads, building cities, training soldiers, forging weapons, etc. all required a lot of money.

"How is the new workshop going?" Yang Zhengshan asked casually while flipping through the account books.

The glass workshop is still expanding its production capacity, but the previous glass workshop was located in the north city, which can no longer meet the expansion needs of the glass workshop, so Yang Zhengshan built a larger glass workshop outside the city.

The specific location is Linguan Fort, about ten miles away from Chongshan Pass.

The land in Linguanbao is barren and not suitable for farming. It was only because of the needlework workshop built by Yang Zhengshan that the military households in Linguanbao could survive.

Yang Zhengshan was sentimental and did not want the military households in Linguanbao to continue living a hard life there, so he took the opportunity of refugee resettlement to relocate the military households in Linguanbao to the north.

They were still not far from Chongshan Pass, just a dozen miles north of Chongshan Pass. The land there was much more fertile, and it was relatively close to the Chongshan Pass wharf.

Over there, the military households in Linguanbao will have a better life.

"It has been built, and the craftsmen are busy firing the kiln these days!" said Lu Wenhua.

Yang Zhengshan put away the account book and asked, "Did Mingwu send any message back?"

"Not yet, but I estimate he should be back in two or three days!" Lu Wenhua said.

Yang Mingwu was the guerrilla general of the Zhenbiao Rear Camp. A few months ago, he led the soldiers of the Zhenbiao Rear Camp to Guanshankou to replace the soldiers of the Zhenbiao Front Camp.

Now it was the turn of the soldiers from the left camp of the Zhenbiao Army to guard the Guanshan Pass, so Yang Mingwu led the rear camp of the Zhenbiao Army to withdraw to Chongshan Pass.

"You must be prepared. It's not easy on this journey through the ice and snow. Don't let the soldiers suffer when they return!" Yang Zhengshan said.

It is more than 500 miles from Chongshan Pass to Guanshankou. Needless to say, how painful it is to march in the cold winter.

"Don't worry, my lord. I have already made arrangements!" Lu Wenhua said with a smile.

As the chief steward of the general's mansion, there is no need to say much about Lu Wenhua's ability to do things.

Just as Yang Zhengshan was handling official business, hundreds of riders were galloping on the official road south of Chongshan Pass.

These hundreds of riders were all dressed in black and covered in red cloaks with gold patterns. They galloped forward with great momentum.

The leader was a tall and thin man wearing a green robe with double sleeves and a round collar.

"Step aside!"

They galloped on the official road, constantly scolding the pedestrians on the road, and even waving their whips at the pedestrians on the road from time to time.

The originally orderly team in front of the city gate became chaotic because of their arrival.

Seeing this, the soldiers on duty inside the city gate immediately became alert.

Without any command, the soldiers carried the chevaux de frise to the front of the city gate and took a defensive stance.

"Stop, who is coming?"

A flag officer in iron armor stepped forward to block the city gate and shouted.

Chongshan Pass is a fortress on the border town. Although its importance is not as great as before, it is still the final border city of Chongshan Town.

However, in order to develop the economy of Chongshan Pass, Yang Zhengshan has relaxed the inspection intensity in and out of the South City. Generally speaking, pedestrians do not need to be checked at all to enter the city, while carriages and horses carrying goods need to confirm the nature of the goods before entering the city.

The inspection at the city gate was not strict, but when a group of aggressive cavalry arrived, the soldiers guarding the city gate naturally had to find out the other party's identity.

Wow~~
More than a hundred riders stopped in front of the city gate, and the tall and thin man in the lead looked down at the flag officer blocking their way.

"The Imperial Guards are investigating a case. Why don't you get out of the way?"

"Imperial Guard Bureau?" The flag officer was stunned. How could a small flag officer like him know what the Imperial Guard Bureau was.

However, hearing the name, he knew that this government office should not be simple, after all, it contained the word "imperial".

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will let you know first!"

Looking at the tall and thin man in front of him, and then at those imposing cavalrymen, the flag officer thought it would be better to report first, so his tone was very polite.

"No need, we will go to the general's mansion ourselves!" said the tall and thin man dissatisfiedly.

"I hope you can forgive me, sir. Without the warrant from the City Guard, even if you enter the South City, you cannot enter the North City!" said the flag officer politely.

The City Guard Division is the government office in charge of city defense, patrol and public security in Chongshan Pass City. Song Dashan also serves as the commander of the City Guard Division, coordinating the five battalions of the town flag to rotate into the city for guard duty.

Simply put, the City Guard Division is a government office under the jurisdiction of the Town Flag Five Battalions.

The gate between the South City and the North City was open to the public, except for officials and soldiers from various government offices who could enter and exit with their identity tokens. Anyone who wanted to pass through the gate had to get a warrant from the City Guards first.

(End of this chapter)