Outside Chang'an City, the Qin family walked with difficulty.
One of the officers drove a horse-drawn carriage and walked in front. On the carriage were placed their bedding, food, pots, pans and other supplies.
Immediately afterwards, Qin Zhao was shackled, his wife Nie Yunniang was holding his arm tightly with one hand, and holding his second daughter Qin Zhen with the other hand.
Qin Heng was also shackled and was carrying the luggage they packed in the prison. His clothes on both sides were tightly held by his son Qin Han and daughter Qin Jia.
Qin Yu from the third family followed Qin Sheng.
Qin's mother (identity changed and name changed) held her newborn granddaughter. Lu Songli supported Mrs. Qin, and occasionally took turns holding the child with her.
They all walked forward with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
Several guards were scattered around them to supervise.
Lu Songli found that the road was really difficult to walk at this time. The road was uneven and there was snow on the ground. It was very difficult for adults to walk, let alone children.
This is still the official road around Chang'an City. As they go farther and farther, the road will only get harder.
Moreover, they were walking in the wild, and the north wind was unbearable. Fortunately, they all wore thick windproof clothes, otherwise they would probably get sick after half a day.
Lu Songli's scalp went numb when she thought that they would have to travel like this for the next three or four months. Fortunately, she had made some preparations, otherwise this life would be really sad.
Another good thing is that the severe cold in the twenty-four solar terms has passed. The next solar term is the beginning of spring, and the weather will gradually warm up.
After leaving Chang'an City and walking for about seven or eight miles, Xu Zheng saw that the women and children of the Qin family couldn't walk anymore, so he found a leeward slope to rest temporarily.
After stopping, Xu Zheng got them some dry food. There was no water, so they were preparing to boil some snow water to drink.
Lu Songli gave the baby she was holding back to Nie Yunniang and asked her to take it aside for breastfeeding. Naturally, Mother Qin wanted to help.
Qin Sheng looked around and walked aside.
"Why are you going?"
"I'm thirsty and want to eat some snow." After he finished speaking, he asked her hesitantly, "Do you want it?" If so, he would dig a clean piece.
Lu Songli looked at him speechlessly. Not to mention whether it was clean or not, it was so cold that it would not cause stomach upset after eating it? But she also knew she had no choice now.
After Qin Sheng asked, he remembered that his mother had said that women should not eat cold things, so he frowned.
Drinking water was indeed a problem. Lu Songli glanced at Xu Zheng.
Qin Zhen was still a five-year-old girl. When she heard the words of her little uncle Qin Sheng, she asked softly, "Mom and Dad, I'm thirsty too. Can I eat snow?"
As soon as he said this, the other children couldn't help but lick their lips, obviously they were also thirsty.
The children were very sensible and did not ask for hot water or anything.
"Don't eat yet, wait for me." After Lu Songli finished speaking, she walked towards the guards.
Lu Songli found Xu Zheng and other guards and officers, "Gentlemen, can you please remove the shackles from the hands of my husband and two uncles? We promise not to run away. In fact, there is no place for us and others in Chang'an. This road is full of ice and snow, where can we go if we want to run?"
"Those three grown men are still wearing shackles. They won't run away. If they run away, don't we, the women and children, want them?"
"If their handcuffs are taken off, they can help carry more luggage, and we can walk faster, don't you think so? If you are worried, then take off the locks when you are on the road during the day, and when you rest at night, Put them on again.”
While speaking, Lu Songli handed the silver in her hand to Xu Zheng.
This money was given to her by her father when he was out of town just now, and she was not sure if anyone saw it. She took it all out now, leaving nothing behind. If wealth is exposed, it will be a disaster if it remains on the body.
Besides, I believe the back-up plan she arranged earlier will come in handy soon. People from Yang Wei Escort must be waiting in front to pick them up.
The top priority now is to see if the shackles on the three of them can be unlocked. If that doesn't work, you can still get a feel for it, and use this to see if there is anyone among the guards who harbors great malice towards them, so that you can take precautions in the future.
She dared to make this request, and there was a basis for it.
The exile system has certain written standards. First, Chang'an City is the starting point, and it is divided into three levels according to the length of the distance. These three levels are two thousand miles, two thousand five hundred miles and three thousand miles.
The Qin family was exiled to Pingzhou, which later became Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province. Chang'an is about 1,700 kilometers away from Pingzhou, and the exile distance exceeds 3,000 miles. This means that the Qin family is exiled at the highest level.
There are also time limits for escorting prisoners. They must escort the prisoners to the place within the specified time and complete the task, otherwise they will be punished. Almost all dynasties have expressly stipulated this, and prisoners must be escorted fifty miles a day.
If you walk three thousand miles, a person in poor health will definitely collapse. The prisoners were wearing shackles and anklets, which was extremely hard work. Most people would die before they could reach anywhere.
Lu Songli believed that they, the jailers, had requirements for the survival rate of prisoners.
So she guessed that later on, when the prisoners couldn't stand it anymore, the guards would relax the restrictions appropriately, such as letting the prisoners remove some of the locks.
Because the prisoner has no possibility of escaping in such an environment, and because the terrain is complicated, walking will be hindered. Of course, except for the most vicious criminals, or those with high force value, they will not be considered for removing the lock.
Xu made a flip of his hand, just in time for others to see the silver.
"You go back first, we need to discuss this matter."
"Okay, okay, please, gentlemen. If you can't take off the shackles, we can understand your difficulties. But in that case, gentlemen, can you give us some hot water?"
Before Xu Zheng could say anything, a young officer under him said, "Boss, can you give them some hot water?" He actively provided convenience, all because the other party was too sensible and what he said made people feel comfortable. .
Xu Zheng nodded, "Okay, you can handle this."
So the young guard took a porcelain basin for their own use and poured half of the hot water into Lu Songli.
Lu Songli estimated that there were three kilograms of it. She thanked her and went back with the water.
Xu Zheng glanced at her and then looked away. His third sister-in-law is really good at getting things done, building bridges and passing ladders, and many things fall into place without making him feel sad. The relationship between the two of them has always been well hidden.
Lu Songli is not stupid. Now it is obvious that the judge is on their side. Will it benefit them if she exposes the relationship between the two parties?
After Lu Songli left, Xu Zheng divided the money and said, "You also heard what she just said. I think what she said makes sense. I agree to take off the handcuffs of the three of them and let them go during the day." Come on, lock it again at night, what do you think?"
"Boss, we have no objection." Several of the servants took the money and said with a smile.
Zhao Long weighed the money in his hand and glanced at the Qin family, especially Lu Songli, who was the focus of his investigation.
Sensing his malicious gaze, Qin Sheng's eyes darkened. He pulled Lu Songli behind him and used his body to block the other person's sight.
Zhao Long raised an objection, "I don't agree!"
Xu Zheng's expression darkened, "Why? Don't forget that our trip has a time limit! We must escort the person to Pingzhou within two and a half months. Are you responsible if it exceeds the time limit?"
"The three brothers of the Qin family are all martial arts practitioners. What if you take off their handcuffs and they run away?"
After all, if the prisoners are lost, they will face extremely cruel punishments when they return to the Yamen.
Xu Zheng said, "Zhao Long, you really are overthinking. Yes, they are three grown men, but don't forget that they are also wearing shackles. In addition, the six of us can't stand it. Three sick and old women and five children, how old are they? As long as they hold a few of them hostage, they won't dare to move."
The two waves of people were actually not far apart, and their volumes were not too low, so the people on the Qin family's side could really hear it.
The three brothers of the Qin family all lowered their heads slightly and thought disapprovingly, if we really have to compete, you six may not be able to win.
But at this moment, they also saw something. There was something wrong with Xu Zheng, the superintendent, and the other party was a little biased towards them.
Lu Songli and Qin Heng did not inform each other of their respective backup plans. First, there was no time. From the time they got married, to the news of Qin Yue's death in battle, to the death of the late emperor, to the Qin family being confiscated, exiled and imprisoned, one thing after another happened one after another. Second, the fewer people know about this backhand, the better.
"No matter what you say, I just don't agree." Zhao Long bit this point.
"Zhao Long, don't mess around. This is not the first time for us to escort prisoners into exile. We all know what will happen in the end, whether we will release the prisoners from their shackles or not. Now we are just moving the time forward a little. Big It’s not easy for everyone to have to travel such a long distance during the Chinese New Year. I believe everyone wants to send people there safely and come back safely. At this time, by giving them a little convenience, we can save some trouble."
"Yes, Deputy Chief Zhao, Mr. Xu is right. We only have two and a half months. In fact, the time is quite tight. Like now, it has been more than half a day, and we have only walked seven or eight miles. It is too slow. ”
"Zhao Long, you don't need to say any more. Let's just say that if the prisoner is lost, I will be responsible, okay? You answer my question just now, you refused to let them unlock the handcuffs during the day. If this trip, we Can you be responsible for not being able to send them to Pingzhou on time?" Xu Zheng forced him.
Zhao Long still didn't speak.
"If you say you can be responsible, then I don't understand. If you can't be responsible, just listen to me. If you don't say anything now, I will assume that you can't be responsible." After Xu Zheng finished speaking, he asked someone to call the three brothers of the Qin family. Take off the shackles on your hands.
Those who can make this trip have been taken care of before departure.
He has a chief custodian, a deputy custodian, and four officers. He has already greeted these four officers, but the deputy custodian named Zhao Long is not allowed to enter. He originally thought of ways to replace the person, but found that he couldn't. Now I can only find opportunities and reasons to suppress him.
