"Your Highness!"
Seeing Liu Qi, Han Zhong immediately stepped forward to salute.
Liu Qi glanced around and saw a dozen soldiers following Han Zhong. Frowning slightly.
"Where is the fourth prince? Why didn't he come?"
"Back to Your Highness, the fourth prince couldn't bear the bumpy road and kept vomiting along the way. He will stop at Su County tonight, or he should arrive early tomorrow morning."
Liu Qi took a deep breath, feeling a little unhappy.
He is such a idiot, and he threatens to be a great general in the future, and it’s okay to go on expeditions without riding a horse. After all, he also travels in a carriage, but he can’t even stand riding in a carriage.
"Did Yan Wenhu stay with Liu Yin?"
"Yes, Your Highness, except for General Yan Wenhu, more than a hundred soldiers and veterans have all been left with them."
Liu Qi nodded.
"It's hard work, old general."
Then, he turned his head.
"Jia He, arrange meals for the old general and others, and treat them well."
"I obey, little one!"
As soon as Han Zhong left, Shi Kelin walked to Liu Qi's side. Respectfully.
"Your Highness, don't you need some food? Or is it because your subordinates made poor arrangements?"
Liu Qi smiled and waved his hand.
"It's okay, I'm just not hungry. Besides, it's my first time here in Jincheng. I was planning to walk around when I came across a restaurant I wanted to eat, so I just went in."
Skellin suddenly looked horrified.
"Your Highness, you are worth a million dollars. There are many people on the street, and if something happens... a humble minister will die even if he is not enough to explain."
As he spoke, Shi Kelin's body had already bent ninety degrees.
Liu Qi smiled and patted his back.
"Get up, I have nothing to worry about."
"I have seen that under your governance, Jincheng is managed in an orderly manner and the people are healthy. How can there be any guarantee?"
"Is it possible that all the people here know that this king is coming?"
Shi Kailin immediately raised his head and shook it like a rattle.
"No, no, no one knows about it except the officials of this government."
"Then what else is there to say? Let's go?"
Just when Liu Qi was about to leave, Shi Kailin called his wife.
The so-called sacrificial person, according to modern terms, is the so-called secretary.
"Go quickly! Tell the soldiers patrolling in the city that everyone should come out to me and be sure to do a good job of defense!"
"I obey my orders!"
When Liu Qigang was about to stop him, Shiren took the guards and ran away in a hurry.
"Your Highness, don't be surprised. It's true that you have a distinguished status and there is nothing you can do about it, but you don't dare to make any mistakes."
Liu Qi said nothing. He smiled and let Shi Kelin lead the way.
...
Jincheng is not big, let's say it is a county town, it is much bigger. It is said to be a county town, but it is smaller.
Even though the city is not big, it has a large population, including all the surrounding villages and counties. It has a population of nearly four to five million.
In ancient times, this was already a lot.
You must know that this is still under the circumstances of Qingguo's prosperity. If there is a rush to fight, the population under a county governor can be up to 200,000, which is already quite a lot.
Same as what I saw yesterday.
All the people who saw Shi Kailin greeted him respectfully, and Shi Kailin responded one after another.
"Master Shi, it seems that you have won the hearts of the people here."
Skellin lowered his head.
"Your Highness has given you too much praise. This official has only done some meager efforts for the people. How can I dare to say that I have won the hearts of the people."
Liu Qi chuckled lightly.
"Master Shi, you are really humble."
A few people walked and chatted while looking at the local customs and customs of Jincheng.
After walking for almost an hour, Liu Qi suddenly stopped on his way to a restaurant.
"I think this place is very clean, why don't you just stay here and have some refreshments?"
Shi Kailin didn't dare to say even half a step, so he quickly greeted the prince and walked into the restaurant.
Qin Wei was the only one who entered with Liu Qi's entourage. Zhang Dalin and others were guarding the door of the restaurant or observing nearby.
Although there were many people in the restaurant in the morning, there were seven or eight tables sitting in the lobby alone.
When Shikelin came in, everyone greeted him very warmly.
"Master Shi, you are here!"
"Master Shi, would you like to come to our table for something to eat?"
The store owner also came over very enthusiastically.
"Master Shi, you haven't been here for a long time!"
"Housekeeper, this is my distinguished guest, hurry up and arrange a nice private room."
"Okay, three guests, please come upstairs!"
The Accord was well chosen, close to the street and able to see the scenery outside.
While ordering food, Liu Qi suddenly asked with a smile.
"Store, it seems that people in your city really love Mr. Shi."
The store owner smiled.
"Sir, what you said is correct. Master Shi is a well-known upright official in our Jincheng. He not only treats matters fairly, but has never done anything harmful to our people."
"Over the past many years in Jincheng, it can be said that under Master Shi's governance, the people have been extremely happy."
Liu Qi was very satisfied to receive such praise from the people.
After the store owner left, he looked at Shi Kelin in front of him.
"Yes, if I hadn't passed by here, I wouldn't have known that there is such a good official in Jincheng. When I return from the expedition, I will definitely recommend you to His Majesty. Then, you can work in the imperial court."
Shi Kelin heard the sound and stood up.
"Your Highness, I have been staying in Jincheng for twelve years and have long regarded this place as my home."
"Your Majesty, I have little talent and little knowledge, and I don't know how to deal with the world. I don't even dare to think about becoming an official in the court. I beg you, Your Highness, to let me stay in Jincheng and do my best."
If you were an ordinary person, you would already be grateful and thank the prince for his kindness.
But Shi Kailin refused.
It seems that he cares about Jincheng and is reluctant to leave. But the more this happened, the more Liu Qi felt that there was a problem.
Of course, this is just speculation for now. Maybe he really doesn't want to be an official in the court as he said. There are not many such people.
A few people were chatting while sipping tea and breakfast.
From time to time, Liu Qi would look outside to see the people's livelihood and the activities of the people here.
But at this moment, he didn't know if he had seen it wrong. At the entrance of a narrow alley, he suddenly saw someone who seemed to be staring in their direction.
When he paid attention, the man disappeared.
I read it wrong?
Liu Qi pretended to be nonchalant and continued chatting with Shi Kelin.
Afterwards, we wandered around until after noon and had dinner in a restaurant before returning to Shifu.
After entering the residence, he said goodbye to Shi Kelin and others.
"Qin Lieutenant, check to see if he's gone and close the door."
Qin Wei turned around.
"Your Highness, they have all left, and they are all our own now."
Liu Qi nodded, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Haha, that's so interesting."
The prince's words made Qin Wei's face full of doubts.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"Qin Lieutenant, have you noticed that Shi Kailin took us around Jincheng today. All kinds of signs are really weird."
Qin Wei thought about it again and again.
"Your Highness, what's weird?"
"I think it's very good. The people love Mr. Shi very much. Wherever he goes, there is peace and the people are happy."
"Moreover, we immediately visited two stores and listened to the reviews from both stores. Both of them had very good reviews about Skelin. It is very difficult to find the possibility of fraud."
"General, I really can't think of it. I wonder where the so-called weirdness of His Highness lies?"
Liu Qi laughed.
"That's what you just said!"
"What did I just say?"
"That's right! It all boils down to three words, great!"
Qin Wei couldn't help but smile.
"Your Highness, what is good is also wrong?"
"No, although I haven't been out of the palace much, I also know that managing a county is very difficult."
"It's easy for one person to say he's good, but for a hundred people to say he's good, it takes effort. When everyone says he's good, you have to pay attention."
"I don't believe that there is any saint in this world. Doesn't Shi Kelin have any shortcomings? Does he treat everyone impartially and enforce the law? No one in this world can be perfect."
"Even if he is the founding emperor of Daqing, many people criticize him behind his back. How can we allow everyone to have no complaints?"
Hearing what Liu Qi said, Qin Wei gradually felt a little strange.
"Also, just this morning, when I, the king, and we were having dinner together, we accidentally discovered that someone seemed to be staring at us in a corner."
Qin Wei's expression suddenly became nervous.
"Your Highness, you mean that it is Skelin who is sending people to keep an eye on us?"
Liu Qi thought for a while and shook his head.
"I have also thought about it, but I think it is unlikely."
"Since Shi Kailin is already with us, there is no need to arrange a special spy. If we find out by chance, we will be asking for trouble. Therefore, there must be someone else."
Qin Wei took a deep breath.
"Then who do you think it will be, Your Highness?"
Liu Qi laughed.
"I am not a fortune teller. How would I know? If Lu Liang is here, you might ask him."
As he spoke, Liu Qi raised his right hand and kept touching his chin.
"However, I do have an idea, maybe I can meet this person. No matter whether the Fourth Prince or the others come today, I don't plan to leave."
"After staying until late at night, you go with me to the street. I want to see it again, and I will stay for a few more days."
When Wei Qin heard this, his eyes instantly widened.
"Your Highness, if you don't leave in time when you meet the Fourth Prince, it seems to be against the rules. If the Fourth Prince arrives and impeaches you, what should we do?"
Liu Qi sneered, with a cold light in his eyes.
"No matter what he does!"
"My king's rules are rules!"
