Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 116 This Li Er insists on finding someone to supervise me.

Wude Gate, Hundred Cavalry Division.

Sweating profusely, Xu Jingzong squatted on the ground, gulping down plum juice.

"Master Xu, drink slowly, no one will take it from you," Wen He advised, worried that he might choke.

To everyone's surprise, Xu Jingzong turned his head and looked at him with a resentful expression.

"Young master has been staying at home these past few days, having a very leisurely time."

He wasn't dissatisfied with Wen He, but he harbored resentment.

He has hardly had a moment of peace these past few days, and has even been staying in Chang'an County.

I was worried that something might happen to the fifty people who had been sent out.

These men, who came from the Imperial Guards, were indeed skilled in martial arts; ordinary scoundrels and ruffians were no match for them.

One can easily handle three or four.

But those thugs and hooligans weren't stupid either. If three or four couldn't beat them, then a dozen or more would gang up on them.

At first, the hundred riders rode through the area with great ease, but soon Xu Jingzong received a notification from Chang'an County that someone had been arrested.

Fortunately, those few riders knew what was good for them and did not resist. After being captured, they fought for a while and then surrendered.

It was also thanks to the fact that when the bounty was issued, it was stated that the person wanted to be captured alive and that they could not be harmed.

Otherwise, given the ruthlessness of those scoundrels, there would probably be several more missing limbs.

However, he was worried that something might happen, so he didn't dare to go home for the past few days and stayed at the government office in Chang'an County.

Anyone caught is immediately sent to the Hundred Cavalry Division.

"The capable should do more work. Mr. Xu, you've worked hard. Here, have another bowl of plum juice."

Wen He personally served him a bowl.

These plum juices are all chilled; as for the ice, that's easy enough.

The saltpeter you bought can be used for this.

Xu Jingzong drank three large bowls, and the heat in his body dissipated, as did the resentment in his heart.

"There's still one day left, but both the East and West Markets are in chaos right now. There are still twenty people who haven't been caught. Shouldn't we end this now?"

Xu Jingzong was worried that if things continued like this, there would be big problems.

Wen He pondered for a moment and felt that the time was about right.

“Alright, then I’ll trouble you, Lord Xu, to make a trip and tell Chang’an County to cancel the bounty, and also tell them that the so-called bandits were His Highness’s test of them, and that the test is now over.”

"However, the other fifty people will continue to be arrested. If not all of them are caught by this time tomorrow, they will still be punished."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingzong immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't expected that a mere hundred riders would be so troublesome.

How could Wenxianzi, at such a young age, come up with so many torturous methods?

If Wen He knew what he was thinking, she would definitely tell him, "I saw it in a TV series."

In the past, military dramas at least invited professionals to serve as consultants.

Therefore, the selection and training methods used are quite rigorous.

After taking his leave, Xu Jingzong hurriedly left the palace and went to Chang'an County.

He was afraid that if he arrived late, something unexpected might happen.

He had just arrived at the palace gate when he was met by Yan Lide, who was rushing over.

He immediately put his plans to go to Chang'an County out of his mind and went to greet Yan Lide.

"This humble official greets Minister Yan."

"Oh, it's Military Advisor Xu! We haven't seen each other for many years."

The news that Xu Jingzong had been transferred to the Hundred Cavalry Division as a military advisor had already spread throughout the Six Ministries.

The Crown Prince's sudden establishment of a new government office naturally attracted a lot of attention.

Especially someone like Xu Jingzong, who was just a mere school official before, suddenly became an advisor in this new government office, which inevitably leads to speculation.

However, Yan Lide's courteous treatment of Xu Jingzong was not because of his sudden promotion.

It was entirely because he knew that Wen He was also serving as a member of the Hundred Cavalry.

If we can be on good terms with Xu Jingzong, we might be able to recruit Wen He to the Ministry of Works in the future.

It would be such a waste to have such a talented person join the army.

Xu Jingzong was unaware of these things and felt somewhat apprehensive.

The Yan family is also part of the Guanzhong region, and their connections and status are quite high.

In the past, people from Guanzhong would never have paid attention to someone like him who came from a poor family.

"I wonder what brings Minister Yan to the palace today?"

Xu Jingzong knew that if Yan Liben had come to see His Highness the Crown Prince, he would never have entered through this door.

He must have come for personal reasons.

"I've come to look for Wen He, and I wonder if he's at the Hundred Cavalry Commandery," Yan Lide asked with a smile. Xu Jingzong was taken aback, then came to his senses and couldn't help but marvel at Wen He's good fortune.

How does this young man know so many important people? It's truly enviable.

"Yes, yes, why don't you let me lead the way?" Xu Jingzong also wanted to befriend the Yan family.

If he could use this opportunity to enter the inner circle of Guanzhong, he might be able to rise rapidly in the future.

But Yan Lide clearly did not mean that.

He gave Xu Jingzong face only because of Wen He.

"No need to trouble Military Advisor Xu, I can go by myself." Yan Lide nodded to him, and without waiting for his reply, headed towards the Hundred Cavalry Division.

"Respectfully seeing off Minister Yan." Xu Jingzong watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but smile as he stood up.

"I never expected to have such a harvest today."

He felt a sense of pride, as if his luck had turned around.

After Yan Lide entered the palace, he found a young eunuch to lead the way.

He wasn't here to see Li Shimin today, so he had to take a side path.

After going around in circles, they finally arrived at the location of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

From afar, he saw a boy leaning against a tree trunk, dozing off, under the shade of a tree ahead.

Before him stood a group of soldiers with bruised and swollen faces, standing ramrod straight in the sun.

There was also a group of imperial guards with whips, who would immediately lash out at anyone who moved.

"That's incredibly strict."

Even Yan Lide, who had seen military formations before, was somewhat surprised.

He walked over quietly, so that he wouldn't wake Wen He if he was asleep.

Little did he know that when he appeared, the Xuanjia Guards protecting Wen He had already noticed him.

Someone went and said something to Wen He.

Wen He, who was almost asleep, opened her eyes with a resentful look.

'Minister Yan?'

Wen He stood up and straightened her robes.

At this moment, Yan Lide walked over, looking embarrassed, and said, "My apologies, my apologies, I've disturbed the young master's rest."

"It was I who neglected Minister Yan. May I ask what brings you here, Minister?"

When Wen He saw him coming, she knew that Li Er must have sent him to find her.

Given Yan Lide's knowledge, he must have known that Yan was planning to manufacture gunpowder.

Yan Lide cupped his hands and smiled, "I wouldn't dare. I came to see you today because Your Highness asked me to. I presumptuously guessed that you were planning to make gunpowder, so I came out of curiosity to inquire."

"Will the gunpowder you create, young master, possess the power of thunder and the sound of booming?"

He looked at Wen He, his eyes full of expectation.

If such gunpowder could really be made, then quarrying and carving rocks in the future would be much more convenient.

Wen He was a little dizzy from his roundabout explanation and chuckled.

"You mean, can it explode?"

"Explosion? What is an explosion?" Yan Liben was stunned.

Wen He was also taken aback for a moment, then slapped his forehead and remembered.

It's not that Yan Lide is being convoluted, but rather that the compound word "explosion" didn't exist in ancient times.

"The explosion is what you just mentioned, uh, the power of thunder, like a 'boom'," Wen He explained, even gesturing with his hands to simulate an explosion.

Yan Lide said "Oh," ignoring the "explosion," but he understood that Wen He's words meant that he could create it.

"Could that young master's gunpowder explode?" Yan Lide asked Wen He expectantly, his face beaming. He gripped his sleeve.

Wen He nodded confidently.

"Alright, in that case, I will go and make preparations for the young master. I will personally assist you in this matter."

After saying this, Yan Lide bowed to Wen He without waiting for his agreement, and then hurriedly left.

'That Li Er, he insists on finding someone to keep an eye on me.'

Wen He grumbled inwardly, feeling resentful.

Li Shimin, inside the Lizheng Hall, suddenly sneezed.

Yan Lide hadn't been gone long, about half an hour.

Xu Jingzong has returned, bringing quite a few people with him.

Wen He counted them carefully and found that there were about half of them.

"It's better than I expected. Send someone to my residence to tell Wenzhong that I'll be staying at the Hundred Cavalry's residence tonight. Also, have him give me the list I made when I distributed the 'baotuo' (a type of pancake) a few days ago."

(End of this chapter)