Thief Emperor

Chapter 324 Warming the Bed
It is about four hundred miles from Gusu City to Jinling City.

This distance, if accompanied by infantry, would probably take more than ten days to reach. Fortunately, Li Yun and his companions were riding horses, so even if they were careful to use the horsepower, they would not run for their lives, and they arrived in two or three days.

However, it was already the end of November in the fifth year of Xian De, and December was approaching. The weather was getting colder day by day. After Li Yun and his companions set out from Gusu, it was only on the fourth day that they reached the city of Jinling.

After arriving not far outside Jinling City, Li Yun stopped his horse and looked up at the big city.

Compared to Gusu City, Jinling City is undoubtedly larger, but the city walls are not that high, generally around two meters high.

The height of this city wall is actually not enough. If this place really becomes Li Yun’s base camp, the city wall must be renovated and raised.

It must be raised to at least three meters to be considered a "fortified city."

Seeing Li Yun stop, Yang Xi, who was following behind Li Yun, also stopped his horse immediately. He looked forward in the direction Li Yun was looking.
"General, what are you looking at?"

“Look at this city.”

Li Yun turned his head to look at Yang Xi, and said with a smile: "The book says that this Jinling City has a royal aura. Have you noticed it?"

"Royal spirit?"

Yang Xi looked up at the big city in front of him with a puzzled look. After looking around, he still couldn't figure out what was going on. He scratched his head and said, "General, I... I haven't read much."

"I only saw a dark hole, and didn't see any royal aura."

At this moment, it was already evening. It gets dark early in winter, and it was indeed dark from a distance.

Li Yun laughed and patted his shoulder, but his hand was too strong and he almost knocked Yang Xi off his horse.

"That's right, I didn't notice it either."

"Let's go."

Mr. Li narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "Let's go and see the scenery of Jinling."

At this moment, Li Zheng, who was leading the guards around, also happened to ride over on horseback. Hearing this, he followed behind Li Yun and said with a smile: "Second brother, I heard that there is a Rouge River in Jinling City."

"I've been traveling a lot these past few days. Once we get into the city, you have to take me to have a look around and see what's out there."

Li Yun glanced at him and scolded him with a smile: "You are interested in these things, it's time to find you a wife."

After saying this, he shook the reins and led more than 200 riders towards Jinling City.

Li Zheng, Yang Xi and others also laughed and followed Li Yun towards Jinling City.

Two hundred riders galloped at full speed, and the sound shook the heavens.

It was almost evening now, but fortunately they were close and managed to reach the city gate just before it was about to close.

However, because there were too many people and they were all equipped with swords and armor, the soldiers guarding the gate of Jinling City were frightened when they saw them from afar, and ordered the drawbridge to be pulled up.

Only when Li Yun and his group approached did someone come forward to ask questions.

The person who was asking the question also knew that those who dared to wear swords and armor on the official road must be government troops, so he did not dare to neglect them and bowed his head and saluted, "Excuse me, sir, where are you from?"

Li Yun stopped his horse and said nothing. Yang Xi, who was beside him, had already shouted in a low voice: "Jiangdong Recruiting Envoy Li is in front of you, why don't you get out of the way!"

The soldiers guarding the gate looked at each other, and spent a long time before confirming the identities of Li Yun's people, and slowly lowered the suspension bridge.

After Li Yun and his group crossed the suspension bridge, the soldiers guarding the gate became noticeably more respectful and forced smiles on their faces.

You must be kidding. No matter whether these people are Jiangdong's subordinates or not, there are more than 200 of them, fully equipped with swords and armor. If they really turn against each other, those guarding the gate will definitely have no chance of survival.

Li Yun naturally would not make things difficult for these people. Seeing that they made way, he did not waste any words and rode his horse directly into Jinling City.

After entering the city, Li Yun and his party easily found the house written on the deed because they had the house deed given by Master Zhuo. When Li Yun arrived at the door of the house, he saw several servants climbing the ladder and taking down the plaque of "Zhuo's House" on the gate.

Li Yun jumped off his horse, looked at the plaque that had been taken down, and asked with a smile, "Why did you take down a good plaque?"

He was in plain clothes and looked young. The steward who was taking down the plaque said without hesitation: "The master sent someone to tell us that the owner of this house has changed, and asked us to take down the plaque."

At this point, he turned his head and looked at Li Yun and the horses behind him. He suddenly understood and quickly put down the plaque in his hand. He bowed to Li Yun and said, "Is it Master Li, the envoy, who is here in person?"

Li Yun shook his head slightly and said with a smile: "I'm just here to stay for a few days, why would I want to take down the plaque?"

The servant was very respectful and lowered his head and said, "Master Li, we are just following your orders..."

"The master said in the letter that we should order a plaque for Li Garden. I have already ordered it this afternoon, but time is too tight. It will take a few days to hang it up." Li Yun waved his hand, signaling him not to continue, and asked, "I have more than 200 horses. Can this house accommodate them?"

The servant thought for a moment and replied, "If the backyard is not occupied, it can certainly be put away, but the livestock will toss about for a few days and the garden will be ruined."

"There's no way we could put all of them in the stable. The stable can only hold thirty horses at most."

He thought for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Master Li, our Zhuo family has a farm outside the city where we can graze horses. A few hundred horses is no problem."

Li Yun thought about it, turned around and said to Yang Xi: "Leave 20 horses in the city, and send the rest to the farm outside the city."

Yang Xi bowed his head and obeyed.

As he said this, he turned his head to look at the servant of the Zhuo family and said, "Please bring someone to lead the way."

The man lowered his head quickly.

"Yes Yes."

After arranging the horses, Li Yun took Li Zheng and walked into the Zhuo residence, which would be the Li Garden in the future.

After entering the house and taking a few glances, Li Zheng couldn't help but sigh: "That old Mr. Zhuo also said that these are several houses."

"This is clearly a large garden. There is no garden this large in the entire Qingyang."

Li Zheng murmured, "Not to mention that they are in Jinling. The Zhuo family is really rich and generous."

Li Yun was also looking around the house at this moment. Hearing this, he said calmly, "Not only is it generous, but it is also very meticulous. When we arrived at the door of the house, it was already dark."

"Is it really such a coincidence that we are changing the plaque here so late at night?"

Li Zheng said "Hey" and said, "If Second Brother hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed it. If I had come into contact with these people, wouldn't they have played me around?"

Li Yun glanced at him and said calmly: "Although these are just clever tricks, they are very practical. You should think more about it. We still have a lot to do in the future."

Li Yun has four captains under his command, Zhou Liang, Zhao Cheng and Su Sheng. If they are released to lead the troops on their own, they will not have any major problems.

But Li Zheng still lacked something.

He works beside Li Yun, and with Li Yun as the backbone, there are no big problems. However, if he is asked to go out and do something big independently, it may not be possible now.

He still has a long way to go in growing up.

Li Zheng smiled and said, "I understand, second brother."

At this point, he looked around and said, "Second brother, I'll take some people around to make room for you to sleep in."

Of course a new house must be cleaned up to prevent anyone or any danger from hiding there.

Li Yun nodded silently and said, "You go."

After a pause, Mr. Li ordered again: "Free up a study room first. I have been traveling these days and I have a lot of things to read."

Li Zheng responded and went to clean up the house with dozens of his subordinates.

Li Yun was also sitting in the main hall drinking tea.

He was waiting for someone, or waiting for news.

Another stick of incense passed, and when Li Yun was drinking tea in the main hall, Meng Hai trotted over, bowed his head and saluted Li Yun, saying, "Envoy, there is someone outside the gate asking to see you."

Li Yun put down his teacup and asked, "Is it the local official of Jinling?"

"should be."

Meng Hai thought for a moment and replied, "It seems to be someone called Jinling Yin, an old man in his forties or fifties, who is now outside the door."

Having said this, Meng Hai looked a little strange. He paused and continued.

"This Jinling Yin also brought two young women with him. They said it was cold and they were given to the envoy to warm his bed."

Li Yun was stunned when he heard this, and then he burst into laughter.

"How can someone bribe someone at the door before entering the house?"

(End of this chapter)