Eternal Sword

Chapter 214 Good luck
Chen Tang glanced at Yan Qi, who looked calm, and he no longer had any doubts in his mind.

He still trusted this Suzakushi and this captain.

"What are you doing here, sir?"

Chen Tang looked at Zong Zhulan and asked.

"I am following the orders of the eldest princess. My purpose is similar to that of Qilin Division."

Zong Zhulan said: "If you are interested in going to the capital, we will escort you all the way to the capital."

"That's good. Thank you for your hard work, my Lords."

Chen Tang bowed and smiled, feeling relieved, and walked down the mountain.

The commander of the Qilin Division, Tai Shiqu, was dressed in black and riding on a black horse. He was about forty years old and had a calm demeanor. He motioned for his men to bring a horse over and said, "Brother Chen Tang, get on the horse."

"Thanks, I have horses nearby."

Chen Tang smiled and whistled.

The whistle echoed in the forest, but there was no response.

Chen Tang blew again.

Still nothing happened.

The atmosphere became a little awkward.

Taishi Qu smiled and said, "Brother Chen Tang, this horse is a top-quality horse carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department. It can travel 800 miles a day. The King of Wei asked us to hurry to the capital."

After coming down the mountain from Chen Tang, Tai Shi Qu looked at the young man.

Apart from his tall stature, there was nothing special about him. I wonder why the King of Wei thought so highly of him.

Chen Tang suddenly asked, "Sir, do you have any wine?"

"Have."

Tai Shiqu was stunned for a moment, but still took out a wine gourd from his horse's bag.

Chen Tang took it, pulled out the cork, and whistled again.

After a while, the sound of horse hooves was heard.

Hu Leibao's four hooves were flying, and he was shaking his head. He was very excited to see Chen Tang and ran towards him.

When Taishi Qu and others saw the horse with messy hair, they all shook their heads secretly.

According to their experience, this horse was of the worst quality and was too ugly to be used as a carriage.

Before everyone could finish their thoughts, the mounts under them suddenly became a little restless!
As Hu Leibao got closer, their mounts actually took a few steps backwards, creating some distance!
"This……"

Taishi Qu was greatly surprised.

After not seeing him for many days, Hu Leibao has grown a little bit and can barely be considered to be "fat and strong".

"You're doing pretty well out there, and you're not treating yourself badly."

Chen Tang patted Hu Leibao's neck.

Hu Leibao raised his front hoof lightly and snorted with some pride, as if he understood Chen Tang's praise. His dark eyes glanced at the wine gourd in Chen Tang's hand from time to time.

"Ha ha!"

Chen Tang laughed loudly and said, "Sir, can I lend you a pot of wine?"

"Brother Chen Tang, just take it and use it."

Tai Shiqu said, looking at Hu Leibao with some curiosity.

Chen Tang raised the wine gourd in his hand.

Hu Leibao raised his head and opened his mouth obediently.

Chen Tang poured the wine slowly, and a stream of wine fell steadily into Hu Leibao's mouth without spilling a drop.

Everyone was amazed.

If it were any other horse, even a Ferghana horse, it would have run away long ago after being left outside for so long.

Hu Leibao always stayed near Wujiang Mountain.

In fact, when the original owner of the house died, Hu Leibao was unwilling to leave and stayed in the original owner's house, which showed his loyal character.

It’s a pity that the descendants of the original owner did not recognize a good horse and treated it as a burden, beating and scolding it at every turn, which allowed Chen Tang to take advantage of it.

"Let's go."

Chen Tang climbed onto his horse and, escorted by many Qilin Guards, headed towards the capital.

Zong Zhulan and other Suzaku Guards followed soon after.

The capital is located in Qianzhou.

Yongzhou is located in the northwest of Qianzhou. The two states are adjacent and not far apart.

Chen Tang and his companions sped along the official road, and stopped to rest for a while whenever they came across a county.

There are blooming flowers and spring breeze along the way.

Chen Tang went from being hunted down by various forces and not daring to show up, to now being escorted into the capital by many Qilin Guards, with Suzaku Guards secretly following and protecting him. He felt that things were finally looking up and good was about to happen.

Some of the counties we passed through were more lively than those in Pingzhou, with peddlers and people coming and going on the streets, making it quite lively.

Occasionally you can hear some news.

It is said that after the new emperor of Qian State ascended the throne, he implemented benevolent policies, reduced taxes and levies, gave the people a rest, rectified the administration of officials, established laws and reduced punishments. In less than a year, all the counties and prefectures in the Nine Provinces regained their vitality.

The people praised the new emperor highly.

What is even more strange is that after passing through several counties in succession, Chen Tang did not find those white servants who usually bullied the people the most.

Upon inquiry, I learned that just last month, the new emperor had ordered the removal of all unpaid labor in the prefectures, counties and districts.

Taishi Channel said: "Your Majesty has lived among the people for more than ten years and knows the suffering of the people. The implementation of the new policy is to make the people live a better life."

"There are quite a few white servants in Kyushu. Where did they go? Why didn't they cause any trouble?"

Chen Tang asked.

Taishi Channel said: "We rented them some land and let them farm. Agriculture is the basis of the new policy. They were originally ordinary people, not officials appointed by the court. Although there was some resistance, it was quickly suppressed."

Chen Tang nodded.

Without the support of the government and losing power, Bai Yi is just an ordinary person.

In this way, not only a lot of expenses can be saved and grain income increased, but also a lot of vitality can be restored to the people.

Taishi Channel: "The new policies of the emperor, such as the one of reducing taxes and levies, have a huge impact on the people! After the emperor ascended the throne, he ordered to temporarily stop all corvée labor, release all the people who were serving, and exempt the nine states from corvée labor for two years."

"Your Majesty has set an example by practicing frugality. Construction of the palace buildings that were not completed by the previous emperor has been stopped, as well as the renovation of Xuantian Temples in various places."

“This alone has made countless people grateful to the Holy Grace.”

Chen Tang was a little surprised.

In ancient books, he had also heard about frugality and light taxation, but most of them were just formalities.

The new emperor looked as if he was serious about his actions.

I just don’t know how long I can last.

After all, some so-called wise and sage kings in ancient books could not avoid being arrogant and extravagant in their later years, and they built large-scale projects that wasted people's money and labor.

Moreover, every dynasty’s new policies would encounter great resistance when they were tried to be implemented because they would affect too many interest groups.

Some may even cause turmoil in the government and the opposition!
As for Qian Kingdom’s new policy, Chen Tang only briefly listened and realized that the new policy had already touched upon the interests of the giant Xuantian Sect!

……

Beijing.

Taiwei Mansion.

"Your Excellency, there is news from Wujiang Mountain!"

A personal soldier half-knelt at the door of the Taiwei's backyard and said in a deep voice.

"Say!"

A voice came from the room.

The guard said, "That Chen Tang has come down from Wujiang Mountain and is heading to the capital. Because he is escorted by the Qilin Guards and protected by the Suzaku Guards in secret, Commander Cheng and his men cannot take action on the way."

"understood."

The voice in the room sounded again: "Pass this news to Sun Qushuai."

"As ordered!"

The personal soldier was ordered to retreat.

(End of this chapter)