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

Chapter 239 Tell him what the Hundred Riders do.
Who are you?

The middle-aged man in bright armor and the soldiers of the military command were taken aback by the sudden appearance of Wen He.

I couldn't help but feel nervous.

"This is the magistrate of Gaoyang County, and the chief clerk of a hundred cavalrymen, who has come on the emperor's orders!"

Zhang Wenxiao quickly rode his horse to Wen He's side and shouted at the soldiers.

"District Chief Shi, a mere child, dares to act so presumptuously here!"

The middle-aged man in the bright armor snorted dismissively.

"Be bold!"

Xu Jingzong hurried over and rode his warhorse over. He glared at the middle-aged man who had been disdainful of Wen He and shouted, "And what about me? I am the Hundred Cavalry Commander. Do you think I will let you stop?"

The Jingzhao Prefecture was a superior prefecture, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Military Commandery under its jurisdiction was a fourth-rank official.

Old Xu was only a fourth-rank official, two ranks lower than his opponent.

He certainly couldn't surpass his opponent in official rank, but the prestige of the Hundred Cavalry...

"A mere soldier dares to cause trouble here!"

The middle-aged man remained unconvinced.

Xu Jingzong was immediately put in a difficult position.

Seeing this, Wen He was amused and pointed at the middle-aged man, asking, "Do you know the Hundred Riders?"

"I know, you're just watchdogs guarding the imperial city. What's wrong with you? Instead of protecting His Majesty the Emperor, you've come here to meddle in other people's business?"

The middle-aged man made no attempt to hide the disdain on his face.

Wen He and Xu Jingzong exchanged a glance and immediately understood that although this person knew about the Hundred Riders, he did not know what they did.

Indeed, although this place is the Jingzhao Military Command, it is far from Chang'an City.

The reputation of the Hundred Riders seems to have served no purpose other than capturing the Minbu last time.

The next level above the Commander's Office is the Ministry of War. If a Vice Minister had come today, he would have been in a panic.

"Zhang Wenxiao, tell him what our Hundred Riders do!"

Wen He glanced at Zhang Wenxiao.

The latter stepped forward, looked at the middle-aged man, and shouted sternly: "By order of His Majesty, the Hundred Cavalry are in charge of supervising officials throughout the land. They may arrest, interrogate, and search officials at will. The magistrate of Gaoyang County is acting on His Majesty's discretion. Do you want to test the sharpness of the Hundred Cavalry's swords?"

After he finished speaking, he raised his hand.

With a "whoosh," all the riders instantly drew their crossbows, which were already cocked and hanging from their horses' necks.

He acted a little too soon. The middle-aged man panicked the moment he mentioned that the Hundred Riders had the power to arrest, interrogate, and search.

Facing fifty crossbows, the middle-aged man's face had lost all color.

Using crossbows in the capital region without imperial permission is tantamount to rebellion.

"Let it go, let it all go!"

The middle-aged man did not hesitate at all and quickly went up to tell the soldiers to put down their spears.

He then stepped forward with a beaming smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

"Arrogant at first, obsequious at second; it's laughable." Wen He snorted coldly and waved for the hundred riders to put away the archers.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's lips twitched in astonishment.

He suppressed his resentment and said with a forced smile, "This is the Commander's Mansion, which is why I have to be on guard. Please forgive me."

Wen He ignored him and had him lifted off the horse. He walked straight toward the people who had shouted earlier.

Seeing that he was so young yet dressed in official robes, the common people were all taken aback.

A man in the crowd squinted at Wen He for a long time, then suddenly his eyes narrowed and he exclaimed, "You are Wen He, Wen Zheng's son!"

"Ok?"

Wen He was surprised to find that some of the people who came here recognized her.

"Who are you?" "I'm also from Gejiazhuang. I'm Ge Er. You've forgotten how you used to steal chickens from my house when you were little, and I chased you around..."

He spoke excitedly, but before he could finish, he sensed something was wrong.

Wen He also remembered that a few years ago, after the original owner's mother passed away, Xiao Rou fell ill, and the original owner took advantage of the night to steal eggs from Ge Er's house.

As a result, his dog discovered them, and Ge Er chased after them with a broom.

No wonder Ge Er suddenly stopped talking.

He must have seen my current state and was afraid I would retaliate against him.

"It's all in the past, let's not talk about it."

This whole thing was the original owner's fault. Ge Er's family wasn't well-off either; they didn't even dare to eat eggs on a regular basis.

That's why I was so angry that night.

Ge Er blushed and bowed to Wen He.

Wen He sighed helplessly; this was the power of authority.

He stepped forward, helped him up, and asked.

"Have you come here for relief and rewards?"

"Yes, yes, do you remember Uncle Ge, the one who lives on the east side of our Ge Family Village? One of his sons died in battle in Huizhou, but the people in the Commander's Office insist that he was a deserter."

"The people who came today are all like this. This one is from Chenjia Village, that one is from Erhe Village, and this one went to Huizhou with his brother. Unfortunately, only he survived."

Ge Er didn't know if Wen He could make decisions for him.

But he heard Zhang Wenxiao's words clearly. These people who came were working for His Majesty the Emperor.

Even if they cannot make the decision themselves, if they can tell His Majesty about this matter, His Majesty will surely make the decision for them.

Wen He nodded and looked at the person Ge Er was pointing to.

He was a young man in his early twenties, and among these people, only a few carried swords; he was one of them.

The laws of the Tang Dynasty did not restrict carrying swords, but if one dared to storm a government office, it would be considered treason.

"Have you been to Huizhou?"

Wen He looked at the young man and asked.

"Your Excellency, my name is Fang Da. I am serving with the Left Guard of Duke Lu in the campaign against Jieli outside Huizhou. My younger brother, Fang Er, is also with the army."

Fang Da felt a surge of anticipation.

When he saw Wen He ask about it, he knew that this seemingly young nobleman would definitely be able to stand up for them.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man in the bright armor suddenly sensed something was amiss.

He coughed lightly, then quickly stepped forward and said, "You, magistrate of Gaoyang, what's the point of talking to these lowly people? Why don't we go into the government office first? I've prepared some gifts."

"So you prepared gifts for everyone who came to verify their military merits?"

Wen He didn't even look at the person directly.

The latter was somewhat taken aback; he hadn't expected Wen He to have this attitude.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to look at Xu Jingzong.

This man is a military advisor, whose rank is definitely higher than that of this little boy. He then smiled at Xu Jingzong and said, "Military advisor Xu, you see, the magistrate of Gaoyang County has misunderstood me. Why don't you help me persuade him?"

Xu Jingzong chuckled lightly: "Although I am a military advisor, I have to listen to the instructions of the magistrate of Gaoyang County who is acting on his own authority."

The phrase "acting expediently" is equivalent to the emperor himself being present.

Not to mention that Xu Jingzong wouldn't dare to interfere, even if he did, he wouldn't.

"Take it!"

Wen He immediately shouted.

(End of this chapter)