In the other direction where Li Chengqian and Xu Yunyan were traveling towards each other, Li Chengcheng and Cheng Chumo finally arrived at another county town with their entourage.
After arriving in this county, I didn't find the scene of collecting grain on site like in Zhaojia Village. Instead, I was very happy to see the bustling county in front of me.
"I have finally returned to my territory of the Tang Dynasty. I can finally interact with the people in my lobby cordially."
Li Chengcheng said this suddenly, and Cheng Chumo, who was holding the horse for him, looked very unnatural.
"You'd better do everything you need to do. Otherwise, if you make it a little more difficult for me, I'll make you look good."
What Cheng Chumo said was nothing more than an agreement between him and Li Chengcheng.
Although he was holding the horse for Li Chengcheng and acting as Li Chengcheng's servant, he could not let too many people discover their true identity, lest they be embarrassed here and be criticized by other people after returning to Beijing. Using their confidential identities, they must conduct a private visit here to discover the many benefits brought by the Tang Dynasty after Emperor Li Shimin promulgated many benevolent policies.
Li Chengcheng casually agreed to all the conditions Cheng Chumo said and couldn't wait to enter the county seat.
??????????????? I just looked at the endless stream of pedestrians outside the county town, but when I entered the county town, I was shocked by Li Chengcheng, Cheng Chumo and others.
In this county town, there are many trees on both sides of the main road for pedestrians to enjoy the shade. However, even though the sun is shining under the trees, there are no pedestrians staying here.
I saw a dejected man tied under every tree. His clothes were not rich, but mostly coarse linen.
After this group of people passed by, these men lowered their heads and didn't say a word, making people worry about their lives.
However, from time to time, a government servant would circle around them and hit them with a wooden stick in his hand, causing them to let out several painful howls, proving that they were still alive.
The passers-by had no sympathy for these people being trapped under the trees and being tortured by the government officials. Instead, they pointed at them, quickly avoided them, and headed towards their destination.
This scene also made Cheng Chumo and Li Chengqian very curious.
After entering the city, the two of them had become passers-by and would not attract anyone's attention. However, in order to find out what was going on, the two of them looked at a scholar-like person next to them who was about the same speed as them and asked.
"Brother, please be polite."
Li Chengcheng's accent, which was similar to that of Fuzhou, made the scholar who was hurriedly walking not far away stop slightly and turned around to salute Li Chengcheng.
"I wonder why this brother asked me to live here?"
Looking at the person who turned around to greet him in return, he looked like a scholar, and then Li Chengcheng clasped his fists again.
"A student from Luzhou was traveling here again and happened to encounter such a scene. I want to ask my brother what is going on with these people? Why do they look like this?"
After Li Chengcheng asked this question, the scholar who was talking to Li Chengcheng looked around and quickly came to Li Chengcheng.
"Young Master, don't make any noise."
After the scholar reminded him, Li Chengcheng was very curious.
"Isn't it okay to ask these people what's going on?"
As soon as Li Chengcheng finished speaking, the scholar looked at Li Chengcheng and whispered.
"It's not that we can't ask them what's going on, but these people deserve what they deserve."
"Oh? Is that so? I'd like to hear the details."
The scholar in front of him immediately pulled Li Chengcheng to the side and told what happened in a low voice.
"It turns out that the county here collects grain taxes. These people don't know where they got the news, and they actually spread the news that the court has reduced the taxes and that some grains and grass no longer need to pay taxes. Then many people are prepared not to pay taxes.
In order to maintain his authority, the county magistrate arrested them to avoid rumors. Only then did such a scene happen. "
"So that's what happened. No wonder they are trapped here. So that's what happened. Thank you brother for informing me."
The scholar in front of him said something to Li Chengcheng and then laughed at himself.
"How can your Majesty reduce taxes? This is the supply of the royal family. How will the royal family live if taxes are exempted?"
But just after the scholar finished speaking, Li Chengcheng cupped his fists and saluted him.
"But I came from Luzhou. We in Luzhou have indeed implemented it according to this. There is no mistake. The governor's office and the princes of Luzhou have issued documents at the same time, and they have signed them. It is indeed according to what they said. What you say is true, why is it like this when you get here?"
After Li Chengcheng said what he imagined in Luzhou, but the actual situation would definitely be like this, the scholar in front of him looked at him and said.
"Brother, please stop making fun of me. Remember, you can't talk about this here. Since there is no such notice posted on the notice board above, we can't just hear it. Although my brother is from Luzhou, we can take care of ourselves."
After the scholar said this to Li Chengcheng, he did not talk to Li Chengcheng here again. Instead, he hugged his fists and walked forward, quickly avoiding Li Chengcheng to prevent Li Chengcheng from making any shocking moves later.
However, after knowing the situation at hand, Li Chengcheng was so angry that he and Cheng Chu didn't even look at each other.
Both saw the anger in their eyes.
"Now let's ask people to bring in all our belongings. I'm going to go to the county government office to see where this county magistrate comes from. He has such great authority and authority. He actually dares to commit crimes against the wind and refuses to carry out His Majesty's arrangements. Benevolent government.”
"I didn't expect that we would encounter such a thing during our incognito trip. Now I want to chop off their heads with the ax in my hand."
Cheng Chumo agreed with Li Chengcheng, but he was indeed missing an ax in his hand as he said, but he was still very satisfied with Li Chengcheng's urgent need for manpower.
Cheng Chumo winked at the followers behind him. One of the followers raised his hand without thinking, and a crossbow appeared in his hand. He pointed the trigger hard at the sky, and a sharp sword shot straight into the sky with a sharp sound.
After the man shot a loud arrow, several government officials in the distance were stunned, looking at them not knowing what was going on.
Those pedestrians, especially those who spoke to Li Chengcheng, grimaced for a moment.
"Oh, it's such a disaster. How can there be such people? Are they coming to make trouble? No, no, no, I have to leave quickly, and I can't be dragged down by them."
Just when this literati thought that nothing happened to him when he ran away, he didn't know that he missed a huge fortune.
Not long after Li Chengcheng and others shot the resounding arrows, the government officials reacted and hurriedly rushed forward.
"You guys hold your heads and squat down. You didn't expect that all this great work has fallen into our hands."
Several government officials were laughing here, and one of them took a step forward.
"You are hiding a crossbow secretly. This is a serious crime of decapitation. What do you want to do? Can't you rob the execution ground? Or are you their accomplices and encourage them to resist His Majesty?"
Just as these government officials were saying this, the rumble of galloping horses suddenly sounded outside the county seat.
】
"No, there are enemies, there are enemies coming." These government officials followed the main road where they were and looked outside the city gate. When they saw the magnificent group of cavalry, they started shouting here. enemy.
While they were shouting here, some of the pedestrians looked into the distance and instantly became happy.
"This is not the enemy, this is our Tang Army! Didn't you see the first few Tang Zi battle flags fluttering in the wind?"
The flag of the Tang Army made them feel at ease.
After the group of people revealed that this was the Tang Army, several government officials happily looked at the people in front of them.
"Even if you have other arrangements, can you still defeat our Heavenly Army of the Tang Dynasty? Our team is here, so hurry up and capture them."
But just when the government officer said this, the garrison leaders on the city head had not yet reacted, and they had not made an effective interception at the gate of the city. This group of cavalry had already rushed in and surrounded the people at the scene. live.
The government officials looked at the cavalry arriving and spoke first.
"You guys are here at the right time, military lords. These people have secretly hidden crossbows, and we are going to capture them.
I'd like some military masters to join us in taking action. How about we share the credit equally after capturing them? "
But as soon as the yamen officer finished speaking, he didn't receive any favor from these military men. Instead, he whipped his horsewhip at them.
"Blind your dog eyes, this is our general."
After the cavalryman said these words, the government officials in front of him were frightened and fell to the ground.
It was not only because they had been whipped with a horse whip that they could not stand still, but also because of this news that made them frightened.
Is this their general?
General!
While they were stunned, several soldiers had already taken off two sets of gorgeous armors from their horses. Li Chengcheng and Cheng Chumo put them on and transformed into generals, got on their horses and gave orders.
"Catch all these government officials, replace the people on the trees and watch them. I will rescue them and tie them up for me. Then the other people will follow me to the county government office. I would like to see if I am the one in this county. In the Tang Dynasty, even His Majesty’s decrees dare to act so recklessly.”
Those who were nearby and couldn't figure out what was going on for a moment heard the news and put down the people on the tree and tied the government servants up. It seemed that what the people on the tree said was true and right.
Random people followed the team in the direction of the county government. This was closely related to them. If what these people tied to the trees said was true, they would get less money and more money in the future. How many benefits do you get!
After the government officials were tied to the tree, many pedestrians boldly headed towards the county government office to see what the cavalry team that was marching first was going to do. However, although their team only had more than a hundred people, pedestrians would not underestimate them. .
"Look, this is really my Tang Dynasty Tiger Ben."
"Yes! Who says it's not the case? Look at the banner with the character Cheng and the banner with the character Li. Which one is not my hero of the Tang Dynasty?"
But when it comes to Cheng and Li, some people are thinking divergently.
"Don't you think this looks familiar?"
"What do you mean by this?"
The person who first raised doubts went on to say something.
"I have heard that there was a general named Cheng in the dynasty. It seems that General Cheng is here, and the escort is General Li.
I watched General Cheng leading a horse and carrying General Li into the city. Do you think this is what happened? It was a big shot from the capital who came. "
The person in front of me was diverging his thoughts here, but he came up with something similar to the actual situation.
But the only thing he thought wrong was that the big shot from the capital was not himself, but their heir.
