Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 120: Meet Tong Shumi first!
At night, Su Wu came out of the camp and was going to another place.

These days, Meng Yulou has a new house, but he did not move. He just negotiated to buy the house next door.

In this way, the two houses were connected to form a large house, but the layout was a bit strange.

Two couples, Sun Li and Sun Xin, lived next door. Naturally, Mrs. Gu also lived next door. They all lived in the front yard next door. The backyard was different. They were digging a large cellar, which had not been completed yet.

Su Wu never came to eat breakfast or dinner because he ate with the soldiers in the camp, but in the evening, Meng Yulou would still prepare some wine and food.

If Su Lang wants to eat, it will be available at any time. If he doesn’t want to eat, he should still have it ready.

Su Wu came today, holding something, and was laughing: "Look, what is this?"

"What wonderful thing is this, Su Lang?" Meng Yulou was not that surprised. She was surprised once last time when she got two pieces of water jade, but she thought they were a gift from Su Wu. That was a disappointment she had experienced once before.

Now Meng Yulou has accepted it. For a man in the army like Su Lang, there is no need to ask for too much.

But Su Lang said, "It's a good thing. You must like it. Open it and have a look..."

Meng Yulou took over after hearing this, and finally had some anticipation. She slowly opened the box, and was pleasantly surprised as soon as she smelled the scent: "Spring Fragrance Cream?"

Su Wu smiled and nodded: "Yes, Chunxiang Cream from Tokyo."

Meng Yulou stood up immediately: "I will go get the tea set..."

Su Wu also waited...

As soon as the tea set and hot water were brought, Meng Yulou started to get busy. Making tea was quite complicated, with all kinds of utensils, waiting and stirring, which looked like cooking.

"Where did Su Lang get the Chunxiang ointment?" Meng Yulou asked.

"It's given to me by the prefect. There's two kilograms in total. I brought it all to you. Please be frugal and don't use it to entertain others." Su Wu now knew that this thing was a rare item.

Meng Yulou smiled and gave a tender look, saying, "How can I bear to use Chunxiang ointment to entertain people..."

"Hmm?" Su Wu was stunned for a moment, then he understood. He smiled in his heart and said, "I'll get you more if I have the chance in the future."

Meng Yulou shook his head: "Su Lang, there is no need to worry so much."

Su Wu didn't say much. He knew that he would have the opportunity to go to Tokyo in the near future, so he just made a note of this matter.

"Come, Su Lang, try it first..." Meng Yulou prepared a cup and handed it to Su Wu first.

Su Wu naturally came to taste it, and found that it tasted really good. The Song Dynasty had a wide variety of teas, some of which were added with salt, some with pepper, and there were all kinds of teas.

It is this spring fragrance ointment. It has no other smell but various fresh scents, and even some mint flavor, which is like the feeling of spring flowers. It is really refreshing.

After Su Wu tasted it, he suddenly thought that this thing was quite complicated to drink, just like cooking a dish.

The tea consumed in the government office would definitely not be prepared by the prefect himself. Such precious tea paste would not be handled by ordinary servants...

Could it be...that girl from the Cheng family?

It was just a random thought, Su Wu replied: "It tastes good..."

Meng Yulou smiled, feeling satisfied, and had a cup herself, saying, "It's hard to buy. Very little of this is produced each year, and even in Tokyo, it's hard to buy. Last time I bought more than three taels, I don't know how many people I asked for help. Most of the time, I couldn't buy it even if I asked someone... The prefect treated Su Lang very well."

You're dragging people down for three taels? You can't even buy it, so what about these two kilos?
Or is it that Mr. Cheng is an official in the capital, so he can get it easily?
Or……

It was just another random thought. Su Wu just said, "When I have a chance to go to Tokyo, I will definitely buy more."

"Su Lang, you really don't need to. It's great to try it once in a while. If you spend a lot of money to buy a lot of it, it won't seem so precious. People are always like this. If they have too much, they won't like it that much anymore..."

After hearing what Meng Yulou said, Su Wu's heart moved. In fact, he didn't know much about this girl in the past. Only in these days did he realize that she really had many unique charms.

Not like ordinary people...

"Come, another cup..." Su Wu handed over the empty cup.

Meng Yulou was busy again...

I also heard Su Wu ask, "How is Zong Tie these days?"

In fact, it was still a secret, and it was not intentional. It was just that even if Su Wu came every day, he would come late after all the big and small things in the camp were arranged.

When we were leaving, it was still dark, so the boy naturally didn't know and just kept reading every day...

"He has made some progress in memorizing and copying books recently..."

"Well, find a time to talk to him. He is actually sensible now. Just make him feel at ease. His Yang family assets will be left to him..."

This matter must be dealt with, if not for others, then for Meng Yulou.

"Well, Su Lang, don't worry. If Zong Tie knew about it, he would only be happy..." Meng Yulou answered shyly.

"Hmm?" Su Wu was a little surprised. This kid was really interesting, so he said, "Well, after you talk to him, let him recite the text and copy the book, and let him go to the camp to play. A real man should be with good men. In this way, he will have a stronger character in the future."

Su Wu actually thought more. Yang Zongtie was already in his teens. In a few years, he would be a grown-up man. Whether he did business or took the imperial examination to become an official, he would be one of their own in the end, and would inevitably work under Su Wu's command.

Apart from anything else, after reading so many books, one can't help but look down on soldiers from the bottom of his heart. This is of course not acceptable, so since they are our own people, we have to train them like this.

Su Wu himself also knew that if he really had a bright future, no matter what the future held, he would have a basic foundation.

The Wufu military group is this basic base. No matter who comes, as long as they are one of us, they must recognize this from the bottom of their hearts.

"Well, okay, I'll listen to Su Lang..." Meng Yulou nodded, feeling sweet in her heart, but also worried. She was worried that Su Wu didn't like Yang Zongtie. It was normal for him to dislike her, but what should she do if he didn't like her?

Fortunately, my Su Lang seems to like Zong Tie very much. How can I not feel sweet in my heart?
I just think Su Lang is really good. Maybe it's really like the saying goes, love the person and love his dog.

As the tea was passed over again, there was indeed a different kind of charm in Meng Yulou's eyes.

Su Wu drank tea and laughed: "Just drink this one cup. If you drink too much, you won't be able to sleep at night..."

Su Wu was just saying it casually. Meng Yulou seemed to be thinking about something else and quickly lowered her head.

Just wait for the next wash, and the bed weighing more than a thousand pounds will naturally bear the pain of the warrior's bravery.

Only after the bed started to complain, the two people on the bed still had some tenderness.

Sometimes, women want to think more and think wildly.

How much happiness there is at this moment, I can't help but think about the future...

Then Meng Yulou slowly spoke: "Su Lang..."

"Hmm..." Su Lang hugged the person, closed his eyes, still savoring the memory.

"Su Lang, I want to tell you something..."

"you say……"

"Su Lang..."

"Say it……"

"In the future, if... Anyway, Su Lang still remembers me, I don't ask for much, I just hope that Su Lang can always remember that I still exist... I look forward to it day and night..."

Meng Yulou's words were unclear, but how could Su Wu not understand them?
He just replied: "I am a soldier, not a noble, and I don't have much face to worry about. If I really open a house in the future, you just come with me..."

Su Wu only has the mind of a soldier, he is carefree, now he doesn't even have a house, how can he think about so much? If one day he really needs to buy a house, he will naturally think that Meng Yulou should have a place.

Although keeping mistresses was common in that era, Su Wu had different ideas after all. He believed that it would be better to bring a woman home than to keep her outside.

As he himself said, he was not from a noble family, nor was he a Confucian scholar, so he was afraid of being criticized for keeping a mistress.

But Meng Yulou replied: "I won't go..."

"Huh? What?" Su Wu was surprised for a moment. Why wasn't he going yet?

"How can I leave..." Meng Yulou said again.

"Other families have three wives and four concubines, but my family can't do without them?" Su Wu also asked. He was also confused.

"Of course I can't go. Only in this way can Su Lang feel at ease and have fewer worries." Meng Yulou said again.

Su Wu just thought, this is so strange...

Is Meng Yulou retreating to advance? Does she really want a so-called formal marriage?
Turning around, Meng Yulou is not that kind of person...

Why?

"Why don't you listen to me on this matter?" Su Wu asked this. Meng Yulou had never expressed opinions different from Su Wu in front of him.

"We can't listen to Su Lang on this matter..." Meng Yulou just said this.

"Is there something I don't understand?" Su Wu also asked.

"Well, Su Lang doesn't understand..."

"Then tell me about it so I can understand..." Su Wu was really curious, not angry or furious.

Meng Yulou raised her head slightly and saw Su Wu's face very close to her. Her expression was not one of grievance or sadness, but one of rationality and seriousness.

Just slowly said: "A peaceful home is good, I am afraid that the home is not in peace. In the past, I always thought that I was a miserable person, but to be honest, I am not miserable at all. I eat well, dress warmly, and live a rich life. It is said that people are not satisfied. When they have these, they want those things... In fact, I am satisfied now... Su Lang is the best, so Su Lang should not have too many other worries. I am not a miserable person, Su Lang is the miserable person..."

Su Wu suddenly felt...what the hell is going on?
But he also understood that Su Lang was the miserable man... Su Wu was not a pretentious person, but when he heard these private words on the bed, how could he not take them to heart?
"Oh... let's talk about it later..." Su Wu shook his head. He knew that Meng Yulou had her own ideas and thought a lot. She was afraid that she also wanted him, Su Wu, to marry a wife in the future.

Su Wu hadn't thought about the matter of a wife yet, but he knew that there might be troubles at that time...

But Su Wu added: "In this life, since this is our fate, it will last a lifetime."

Su Wu said it seriously. No matter what, Su Wu really felt a kind of warmth and happiness here with Meng Yulou. Now that he had it, he would not treat her badly. How could he not have a conscience?
Whether it is loyalty or righteousness, it is actually the same principle.

"Hmm..." Meng Yulou felt relieved and satisfied just after hearing Su Wu's words.

Su Wu kissed her and whispered softly in her ear: "Sleep."

In the morning, Su Wu shaved his face and went.

The parade ground was bustling with activity from before the sun rose until it reached its zenith.

At noon, everyone dispersed, but there were still a few men who practiced harder, perhaps for the reward money, or perhaps for the daily or monthly honor.

In a small hut, Shi Qian and Shi Xiu, Shi Qian brought some food but no wine, because Shi Qian had no money and had not received his first month's salary yet, so he could not afford to buy wine.

Shi Xiu was able to sit up...

But as they were eating, a man walked into the room. They looked up and saw Shi Qian standing up quickly: "Greetings to Commander Wu."

Wu Song nodded, glanced at the person sitting on the ground, and asked, "Shi Xiu, can you stand up now?"

Shi Xiu lowered his head slightly and did not answer.

Shi Qian quickly replied: "If the commander knows, my brother can sit down..."

But as soon as Shi Qian finished speaking, Shi Xiu actually stood up. Shi Qian looked at him with an innocent face, but there was also surprise in his innocence.

Wu Song spoke again: "Can you walk?"

Shi Qian stopped talking.

Shi Xiu looked around and actually took two steps.

Wu Song nodded: "Well, that's right. With good martial arts, you also have a good physique. It's just as I expected. You really get better quickly. So, tomorrow morning, you will do exercises with me. I don't mean that you have to run, but just move. That way, you will get better faster!"

Shi Xiu said nothing.

Of course, Shi Qian also came to speak: "Commander Wu, rest assured, we all know it."

Wu Song looked around and said, "Shidutou, go to Du Xing to report and bring back some things. If someone is going to live in this house, it must look like one."

"Understood sir!" Shi Qian bowed.

"I'm leaving. Don't be late tomorrow morning. The rules and regulations in the army are very strict. Don't make things difficult for me." With that, Wu Song went out.

There was a long silence between the two people in the room.

Shi Qian said: "Continue eating..."

Shi Xiu sat down again and started eating.

Shi Qian cautiously tried to test him: "Brother, don't be too late tomorrow."

Shi Xiu replied: "You can go find Commander Yan tomorrow. You have your own future. I don't need anyone to take care of me."

Shi Qian nodded: "Yeah, okay."

Even Shi Qian felt relieved and smiled. Thinking back, it was really hard...

Early the next morning, there were shouts of encouragement on the training ground.

A man came out of the house, looked around, and after searching for a while, he went back into the house.

As soon as the horn was really sounded outside, he went out again and looked around until he found Wu Song's figure, and then he walked slowly towards him.

Various commands were shouted in the army, and many soldiers came and went.

Su Wu was sitting in the meeting hall in the camp, waiting for Wu Song to come.

Wu Song came over with a smile and said, "Brother, Shi Xiu didn't say much, but if he really came today, I would just let him walk around in the parade ground."

Su Wu nodded: "Well, he is under your command, you can just keep an eye on him, there is no need to ask too much."

Wu Song nodded: "Yes, we should keep an eye on him, for I am afraid he may have evil intentions!"

Su Wu waved his hands: "He has no chance to get close to me. Just check and train him every day to see if he is really good and whether he is practicing hard. I won't see him, and he will obey you..."

"Well, don't worry, brother. Even if he has evil intentions, I will make sure he is dead without a burial place!" Wu Song's face turned really vicious.

"Don't try to scare people..." Su Wu smiled.

"Hehe...Brother, I'll take him with me wherever I go...Speaking of which, he is really good in martial arts. It's hard to beat him with just a gun or a stick. He can even hit me in the chest and make a loud bang." Wu Song restrained his ferocious look and just smiled.

"Actually... after a long time you will know that he is a loyal and upright man." Su Wu said this, fearing that Wu Song would be too harsh on him.

"Well, I can see this kind of man. I can see it at a glance. I am willing to confide in this kind of man, but I am afraid of him..." Wu Song said, and he knew what was going on and was also thinking.

"That's it..." Su Wu nodded.

"Well, brother, there is one more thing..." Wu Song took out a letter from his arms and said, "I received it at the camp gate. I brought it with me. It's a letter from Laizhou, addressed to you..."

Su Wu took it and took a look. It was a letter from Zhao Mingcheng, who was still thinking about inviting Su Wu to write poetry. This was not the first letter but the third one, urging him again and again. The letter also said that he had not seen Su Wu reply for a long time and was afraid that Su Wu had not received the previous letter.

In this era, it is common for letters to not be delivered.

Wu Song also knew about this, so he said, "Brother, why don't you just send a few poems?"

Su Wu smiled bitterly: "If there is this time, there will be a next time. If there is a next time, there will be endless troubles..."

"Brother, what's there to worry about? Just think of it as you are good at writing lyrics. Can't Xiao Yi write lyrics too? If it really doesn't work, let Xiao Yi write it. Just make those husbands think more highly of you..."

Wu Song obviously understood this truth. In the Song Dynasty, literati were the top talents.

Su Wu still smiled bitterly and said, "After this time, I will never be able to escape from any banquets in the future."

"If you can't escape, then show off your skills. What's the harm?" Wu Song said again, and asked with a smile: "Are you being hypocritical, brother?"

These words...

Su Wu turned around and thought, he felt that he was really a bit hypocritical. The frequent letters from others showed that they were sincere...

Su Wu looked at Wu Song and said, "Well, you come and grind the ink."

"Hehe...Brother, I am happy that those gentlemen think highly of you!" Wu Song was already grinding ink.

Su Wu scratched his head. Three or five poems were not difficult to memorize. Even a bad one could not recite them. They were certainly excellent works.

He just memorized a few casual poems without any allusions, wrote them on a piece of paper, and after he blew on it a little and the ink dried, he handed it to Wu Song: "Erlang, just help me mail it..." "Okay, I'll send it right away!" Wu Song took it and went away briskly.

Then he saw Yan Qing walked in with a frown, bowed his hands, and spoke directly: "Uncle, I just received news that people from Liangshan suddenly left the water and split into several groups. Some went north, some went south, and those who went west are not mentioned. There are also those who are going from the east..."

"How many people?" Su Wu asked.

Yan Qing frowned and said, "Uncle, the people of Liangshan are so cunning, they have escaped from the water in many directions. I don't have enough manpower under my command. I can only estimate that there are at least seven or eight groups, each with more than a few hundred people. I'm afraid there are as many as four or five thousand people."

"They are coming out in full force..." Su Wu nodded.

"Uncle, they hide during the day and come out at night, and they only choose small paths in the mountains. My men can't follow so many paths, so I only chose two paths that are close to our Dongping Prefecture to follow... Do we want to?"

Yan Qing asked.

Do you want it?

Su Wu thought for a while and replied, "You go with them in person, find an opportunity to capture a few thieves and bring them back immediately. Don't worry about anything else, just follow them all the way and see where they go. When they come back, we can plan our actions!"

"I understand!" Yan Qing nodded and went, rubbing his hands ready to go.

As soon as Yan Qing left, Su Wu immediately got up and went to the government office.

It is to report work.

In the small study, Cheng Wanli frowned after hearing a few words: "Are there really four or five thousand people?"

Su Wu nodded: "No more, no less."

"This time, I'm afraid that the eastern route of Hebei will suffer a disaster." Cheng Wanli still frowned, as if thinking about something.

Su Wu said, "When they come back, we will strike them head-on."

"But I haven't received a reply to the official document I sent to the Privy Council. I wonder how the preparations for the thieves in the eastern Hebei Province are going? I never thought that these thieves would act so quickly!"

Cheng Wanli seemed to be a little worried. Since ancient times, one should not rely on luck in dealing with thieves.

If they could only attack one or two counties, that would be fine. But if the bandits really came together and wreaked havoc in dozens of counties, it would be a disaster of devastation.

It is vividly recorded in historical books that hundreds or thousands of people fought against the bandits in all directions in a flash, sweeping away tens of thousands of people in a matter of seconds.

Cheng Wanli was very familiar with the military situation of various prefectures in the Central Plains today. How many usable soldiers were there?
There has been no war for over a hundred years, so where can we find a few brave armies?

Cheng Wanli had a big picture in mind, but he was also really worried about the court. In fact, he had mixed feelings.

Su Wu naturally didn't know that Cheng Wanli was thinking so much. If he knew, he would comfort Cheng Wanli.

Song Jiang, unlike Fang La, did not have such great ambitions. He was only thinking about developing his power in Liangshan and only wanted to ask for amnesty when the court could no longer do anything to him.

Song Jiang had never really thought about turning the Song Dynasty into chaos, nor had he ever really thought about wanting the emperor to take turns. Today was his turn.

Cheng Wanli suddenly said, "We have to go to Tokyo!"

"Going to Tokyo?" Su Wu was still not prepared.

Whenever Su Wu thought of Tokyo, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, he felt that it was a distant place.

In fact, it is not far from Dongping Prefecture to Tokyo Kaifeng Bianliang City. It is only a little over 500 miles away, even closer than Qingzhou.

This is one of the benefits of having the Song Dynasty’s capital in the center of the country.

"Yes, go quickly and come back quickly. We have to go for this matter. After all, they are thieves from Shandong. Let's go and talk to the gentlemen face to face and explain everything. Then, maybe..." Cheng Wanli frowned and paused.

"Sir, are you afraid that the court will implicate and blame you?" Su Wu asked.

Cheng Wanli nodded: "I should go and explain it clearly. First, this bandit existed before I took office, so it's not my fault. Second, I have made many contributions in suppressing bandits recently. Third, the total number of people under my mansion is only 5,000, and they have to be distributed to guard various counties. There are only 2,000 soldiers available. Although I have just been given the title of pacification and recruitment, I don't have time to contact Zhou. If I don't explain it clearly in person, the gentlemen will blame me and I will inevitably be implicated!"

Cheng Wanli really thinks a lot, but he thinks very thoughtfully.

"Then will I go too?" Su Wu asked.

"You should go with me. That way, I will have the confidence. When the time comes, we will take care of everything together. You should also meet Tong Shumi. It is better to meet each other than never. You should also let Tong Shumi see who you are and what kind of person you are... That way, we will have more trust in each other, and you and I can work together to do a good job in suppressing the bandits!"

Cheng Wanli really put in his best effort.

Su Wu also thought about it and said, "There is no time to lose. We should leave as soon as possible. I am afraid I won't be able to return in time to block the bandits on their way back!"

Cheng Wanli nodded and said, "It's not too late. The bandits are scattered in different ways to the eastern Hebei Road. They hide during the day and come out at night. Most of them walk, and the road is difficult to travel. The official road to the capital is unobstructed. We can ride horses and go there quickly."

"Sir, are you riding a horse too?" Su Wu was a little surprised, as he thought Cheng Wanli was going to take a carriage.

Cheng Wanli gritted his teeth and said, "How can I care about those things at such a critical moment? If I can't arrive in advance, how can it prove that I have foresight? In this way, the blame lies with Hebei East Road, not me!"

This Beijing official really made Cheng Wanli understand.

Cheng Wanli was well versed in what was happening in the capital, but when he first arrived, he knew nothing about what was happening in the prefecture. He was frightened when he heard about thieves and afraid when he saw thieves.

This is probably a microcosm of the entire Song Dynasty today...

Su Wu stood up and said, "I will go and prepare the horses. Sir, please bear the punishment this time..."

Cheng Wanli raised his hand and said, "At this juncture, there is no need to say so much. You have to accept the punishment. If you don't accept it now, you will really suffer in the capital later! You can't miss the future!"

Su Wu was actually quite happy in his heart. He turned around and hurried to prepare horses and men. A hundred or so riders would be enough, about three hundred horses, and three days' worth of dry food, to take Wu Song with him.

So, he returned to the camp and gave instructions, asking Lu Da and Zhu Wu to discuss the matter.

At the gate of the government office, he helped Cheng Wanli onto his horse.

Cheng Wanli's face was filled with anxiety. He felt that he was too slow to react to these things and should have gone a few days earlier. He was also reflecting that his brain was not very sharp and he lacked the sensitivity he had in Beijing.

"Go, go, go, go quickly!" After Cheng Wanli got on the horse, he waved left and right.

At the gate of the government office, the young lady of the Cheng family ran out and said, "Father, be careful on the road!"

Cheng Wanli only said one thing in reply: "With Su Wu by your side, you don't have to worry about anything. Just wait for your father to come back."

As he spoke, the horse tightened its belly and left.

I also heard the Cheng family's young lady say: "Manager Su, be careful on the road!"

"Thank you!" Su Wu didn't have time to say anything more, as Cheng Wanli was already in front of him.

I had to catch up quickly, for fear that Cheng Wanli was not skilled in riding a horse. If I had to follow him closely, I was afraid that he would really fall off his horse, which would be a waste of time.

The horses don't run fast. A horse charging can never last long, so walking fast is the norm when traveling.

Even so, Cheng Wanli was able to stay on the horse, but he still complained: "This is going to make me die!"

After a while of bumping around, Cheng Wanli even felt a little regretful. In fact, it was not impossible to take a car. On the official road in the capital, taking a car would be fast...

It’s a pity that it’s too late to regret now.

Su Wu was still teaching: "Sir, you don't have to sit still. Look, like this, if you use some strength, half squat on the stirrups, you won't be shaken..."

Cheng Wanli turned around and said, "You are going to kill me, so I will just sit down. I can't squat any longer..."

Su Wu was helpless: "Then just walk slower!"

"Let's go faster..." Cheng Wanli gritted his teeth. Thinking about the future, he decided to walk faster. After all, it was a five hundred li journey, and he had to rush back to kill the bandits, which would be another way to make a contribution.

This is a chain of strategies. Going to the capital is also to show off, or even to take charge of some things, so as to create the image of a capable and useful minister. Once he comes back and makes achievements immediately, he will solidify his image as a capable minister.

In this way, there is a direct contrast with the ministers of Hebei East Road, and the contrast makes it even more obvious that Cheng Wanli is a capable and talented official.

There is knowledge in everything, and this is also the way to be an official.

Gritting my teeth, I hurried to walk the 500 miles.

With Su Wu on the left and Wu Song on the right, they couldn't let Cheng Wanli fall off his horse. It would be unacceptable if he got hurt.

Even on the way, Su Wu was thinking about Tokyo, a city with a population of over one million. In that era, a city with a population of over one million was really unimaginable.

I wonder how many miles those continuous houses stretch for. The supply of food and energy materials to feed more than one million people is unimaginable in this era of human and animal power.

How can we say that the Song Dynasty was bad?

It's actually pretty good, what a pity...

Just keep heading southwest, the official road becomes wider and wider, with more and more pedestrians and vehicles passing by.

In fact, you can also go there by boat, but the canal of that era was not straight, but a zigzag shape with Bianliang as the center.

For this 500-mile journey, taking a boat is not as fast as riding a horse. The boat just has a large carrying capacity.

Look at this spacious official road. In the future, the iron hooves of the Great Jin and Jurchens will follow this wide and flat official road, all the way from north to south, straight to Bianliang!

"It's killing me, it's killing me, let me take a rest..." Cheng Wanli finally couldn't bear it anymore on the horse.

Unable to even get off the horse, and with Su Wu's support, Cheng Wanli pointed at the inside of his thighs and said, "It hurts, it hurts so much..."

It actually took them several hours to walk, and Cheng Wanli's tenacity actually exceeded Su Wu's initial expectations.

Su Wu didn't laugh, but just said: "It's been more than two days on this journey, and I'm afraid your legs will be broken and scabby."

Su Wu had already gone through this process. He was a tough soldier, so he could just endure the pain. Once the scab formed and the callus formed, it would no longer hurt...

Cheng Wanli has his own way of expressing his feelings: "This future is so hard to achieve... If it weren't for... Alas..."

Su Wu then smiled and said, "Sir, shall I go find a car?"

"I've come so far, why do I need a car? This is fine. Just seeing me walk in circles will teach you that I am working so hard for my country. How loyal am I?"

Cheng Wanli thinks about everything in this way. He is truly a political animal.

Su Wu actually admired Cheng Wanli. Logically speaking, Cheng Wanli was not a person who could endure hardship, but for certain things, he could endure a lot of hardship.

Cheng Wanli waved his hand again: "Eat something and drink some water. After eating, we can start our journey. By then, maybe Secretary Tong will personally invite an imperial physician to come for me..."

Su Wu was really convinced, okay!

This leader is something!
"Husband, have some too!" Su Wu handed over a piece of bread.

Cheng Wanli took it and ate it, saying: "This is called sleeping in the open air, traveling day and night!"

The description is correct!
Su Wu replied: "In this vast world, how many other gentlemen can do this?"

Cheng Wanli immediately had a look of righteousness on his face: "I will not let down the saint's teachings!"

After eating and drinking, Su Wu helped Cheng Wanli get back on the horse, gritted his teeth, and continued walking.

We didn't go to any city, nor to any post station, we just slept in the open air.

Fortunately, Su Wu set up a military tent and lit a bonfire, so he was able to fall asleep.

Five hundred miles, two and a half days, if you take a car, it will take at least five days.

The huge city of Bianjing appeared before Su Wu's eyes. The city wall was towering, more than 20 meters high, and extended to the left and right, with no end in sight.

Outside the city wall, there is a wide moat, but the water is pitch black, and there is a fishy smell when you get close. It is obvious that it has not been dredged for a long time, and the moat is probably not deep.

Outside the city, there are endless houses. Not all of the more than one million people in Bianliang City live in the city.

There are houses lined up, various shops, and people coming and going, making it very bustling.

After crossing the stacked arch bridge, you will cross the moat. On the south side of the east-west route, the Bian River connects to it, and there is also the North-South Canal and a dock.

Su Wu entered through the Anyuan Gate in the north city, which was closer to the imperial city and the government offices.

Just ride your horse all the way to Maxing Street.

Cheng Wanli's face was already full of smiles. Since he saw the city of Bianliang, Cheng Wanli's smile has not stopped. He only asked Su Wu: "How is it? How is Bianliang?"

Su Wu nodded and smiled: "What a huge city."

Cheng Wanli added: "The life here is beyond your imagination... If one day you become an official in Beijing, you will know how good this city of Bianjing is..."

For Cheng Wanli, it is an expectation.

Was Su Wu looking forward to it? It seems that he was not looking forward to it that much. He just sat there and watched the rows of people standing side by side.

Cheng Wanli raised his hand and pointed, "To the east, on your left, just past this street is Baifanlou. Go a little further south and you'll find Rendian, hehe..."

Su Wu went to take a look and could even see a tall building and a tall archway at the entrance, with colorful flags fluttering on it...

But... it feels a bit abrupt and weird. It doesn't fit in with the buildings on the street, but it is particularly eye-catching.

"That's it. Let's cross the street to the west. Once you get there, you can see the city wall of the imperial city." Cheng Wanli slowly introduced it to Su Wu, feeling inexplicably happy.

Su Wu could feel Cheng Wanli's heartfelt joy. He just turned the street and actually saw the wall of the imperial city in the distance.

The emperor lived there, including Song Huizong Zhao Ji.

As the horses moved slowly forward, Su Wu inexplicably felt excited. He had no reason to do so, but his heartbeat quickened.

As soon as we reached the foot of the Imperial City, Cheng Wanli pointed to the north and said, "Donghua Gate is where the Jinshi results are announced. How many people want to have their names published there in their lifetime!"

Su Wu looked back and saw that the horse was heading south. That was the north, the Donghua Gate. In the past, Prime Minister Han Qi once said: The one who is called out outside the Donghua Gate is a real man.

Then Cheng Wanli also said: "In the past, there was a book written by Tian Kuang, the Prime Minister, called "Confucian Scholars' Discussions". In it, Yin Zhu from Luoyang said: Even if the number one scholar leads hundreds of thousands of troops to recover Youji and drive the invaders out of the desert, and returns with a triumphant song and offers a victory in the imperial temple, his glory is still unmatched."

When Su Wu heard this, he frowned, feeling uncomfortable and helpless.

"Of course, I don't agree with that. What Yin Zhu said was too much. If we can really restore Yanyun, it will be more than just a first place in the imperial examination. It will be recorded in history books for generations to come!"

Cheng Wanli said again.

In this way, Su Wu felt more comfortable, which was strange, so he also said: "This time the sea alliance, the land of Youyan, may really be restored."

Cheng Wanli nodded: "Then it depends on how Tong Shumi will plan. Let's go to the Privy Council first! Let's meet Tong Shumi first!"

The Privy Council, which is the Central Military Commission, is located next to the Imperial City.

The Privy Council was also an extremely complex government office, with twelve departments under it.

They are called: the north room, the Hexi room, the dispatch room, the Beijing room, the review room, the Guangxi room, the military registration room, the militia room, the clerk room, the miscellaneous room, the stable room, and the minor clerk room.

There were not so many houses in the past, but they gradually increased in number, especially the Hexi House, which was established when Li Yuanhao of the Tanguts started his rebellion. It was also the most important house in the Song Dynasty at this moment, and even many affairs of the Western Army were involved in it.

The Privy Council was a magnificent office. The main military and political institutions of the Song Dynasty were the two offices, the Privy Council and the Secretariat.

Others include the Three Departments, the Salt and Iron Department, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Revenue. The two courts, the Censorate and the Court of Remonstrance.

Even the Palace Front Department, the Imperial City Department, and the like...

Cheng Wanli already had the title of a provincial governor, so when he arrived at the Privy Council and submitted his visiting card, he could only wait respectfully outside the door.

Only when the clerk inside came to invite him in could Cheng Wanli follow him in. However, he turned around and said to Su Wu: "Wait for me for a moment, someone will come to invite you again!"

Su Wu nodded and just stood there waiting, watching people coming in and out of the yamen, which seemed very busy. He also looked at the street in front of the door, where there were carriages and horses coming and going. Even those walking on the road were wearing official uniforms, and those sitting in the ox carts were wearing court robes.

The officials here are so numerous that one brick can kill seven of them. The clerks here are even more numerous.

It didn't take long. After a while, the clerk called out at the door, "Who is Su Wu, the deputy commander of the two armies in Jingdong?"

The clerk really straightened his chest and raised his head, looking up at the sky.

"I am..." Su Wu replied.

"Come in and follow me. The Privy Councilor summons you!" The clerk glanced at Su Wu, turned around and left.

Su Wu followed behind him, but he was not angry. He just felt helpless and even found it a little funny.

A fifth-rank military officer is really not an official...

(Brothers, I'm late, sorry, my condition has declined a little today...)
(End of this chapter)