met free Page 195
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"Sister, what are you doing?" Liu Huiniang scolded playfully.
Chen Liqing tickled her cousin, and the two girls played around for a while.
The female guard suddenly asked, "Brother Zhao, you wouldn't happen to be a bandit, would you?"
Liu Huiniang was immediately startled, and her whole body tensed up.
"Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? Brother Zhao is just a wealthy man from Yuncheng, how could he be a bandit?"
"Ah Xiu, if he really isn't a bandit, why are you so nervous?"
Chen Liqing leaned close to her cousin's ear and whispered,
“What ordinary wealthy family would dare to scale the wall and break into the courtyard guarded by the Imperial Guards? And even try to rescue the prisoners in the prison?”
"Lord Zhao has always been a man of great loyalty and honor; he had known Scholar Xu for some time,"
Liu Huiniang quickly defended herself, saying, "As for him climbing over the wall and breaking into the yard, he was probably afraid something would happen to us, so he took the risk."
"Really?"
Chen Liqing reached out and pinched her cousin's cheek.
"Sister, although I am not as smart as you, I am not stupid either. Don't try to fool me with these words."
"Sister, can't you just stop asking?"
As Liu Huiniang spoke, her expression suddenly dimmed.
"Anyway, my uncle will be taking me to Jingyang Town later, and then I won't be able to see Brother Zhao."
Chen Liqing remained silent.
Although she was strong-willed, she also understood the meaning of arranged marriages.
Liu Huiniang's marriage was arranged personally by her father, Liu Guang.
Unless Liu Huiniang disowns this father,
Otherwise, there's no way to avoid this marriage.
......
On the Liangshan passenger ship at the dock outside Bianliang city,
When Zhao Yuan and Shi Qian returned, Yan Qing also returned from Wen Huanzhang's place.
"Brother Yan Qing, how is it? Does Professor Wen have a solution?" Zhao Yuan asked.
Yan Qing nodded, then frowned and said, "Professor Wen said that either we should storm the execution ground on the last day, or before that, we should find a way to forge a document to trick Xu's elder brother out of the prison."
"But this prison is heavily guarded, so this document must at least be from Cai Jing, Tong Guan, or even... an imperial edict!"
“How can these documents and imperial edicts be forged?” Ruan Xiaowu asked.
Yan Qing explained, "Documents and imperial edicts, whether it's the handwriting or the seals, follow certain rules. Ordinary people can't imitate the handwriting alone, let alone the seals of high-ranking officials!"
"So, isn't this method just nonsense?" Ruan Xiaoqi said, somewhat annoyed.
"I do know two people who can imitate handwriting and forge seals,"
Zhao Yuan explained to everyone,
"In Jeju, there is a scholar named Xiao Rang. He is proficient in various calligraphic styles and is also skilled at imitating others' handwriting. He is known as the 'Master Calligrapher.' You could have him imitate the handwriting of Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others to write documents..."
"Also in Jeju, there is another man, a peerless talent in the Central Plains. His surname is Jin, and his given name is Dae-gian. He is skilled at carving inscriptions on stone tablets and carving seals on books and jade. He is known as the Jade Craftsman. You can hire him to carve seals for Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others!"
“Brother, I can steal the letters and articles of Cai Jing, Tong Guan and others, as well as the designs of their official seals, tonight,” Shi Qian assured him.
“Brother, if we ride two horses to Jeju Island without stopping day and night, we can arrive in just three or four days. The round trip will only take six or seven days, which is more than enough time.”
Shi Xiu volunteered, saying, "I am willing to go to Jizhou to seek the help of Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian!"
"Alright,"
Zhao Yuan nodded: "Although Ah Xiu also gave me an idea, just in case, it's better to take a two-pronged approach."
"Miss Liu? What good idea does she have?" Yan Qing asked hurriedly.
"Is such that......"
Zhao Yuan slowly explained Liu Huiniang's plan.
After hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
"So, Brother Shiqian, you go and steal the letters from Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others now. Also, if possible, make rubbings of their official seals and bring them out."
Zhao Yuan instructed, "Afterwards, Brother Shi Xiu will ride horses and rush to Jizhou City overnight to find Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian to forge documents."
“Brother, Shi Xiu is alone. If he encounters any trouble on the road, things might not go well.”
2.0 Zhang Shun said, "Why don't I go with Brother Shi Xiu? That way we can look out for each other on the way."
“Alright, I’ll do as you say, brother,” Zhao Yuan agreed.
"Brother Zhang Shun, you can ride that chestnut horse there,"
Ruan Xiaowu laughed and said, "Although this chestnut horse is not as good as your Jade Lion, it is still much faster than ordinary horses!"
......
Yin hour,
The passengers on the passenger ship waited anxiously all night.
Shi Qian finally lived up to everyone's expectations and brought back everything they wanted.
"Brother, besides the documents and official seals of Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others, I've also gotten my hands on something good!"
Shi Qian winked and made faces.
He took something out of his pocket...
Chapter 272 Imperial Edict
"this......"
Upon seeing the bright yellow silk outer layer, Zhao Yuan exclaimed in surprise.
"Could this be an imperial edict?"
"Correct!"
Shi Qian chuckled and said, "Brother, do you know what I ran into at Cai Jing's residence tonight?"
"Won't we happen to run into Cai Jing kneeling to receive the imperial edict?" Zhao Yuan asked.
"Hehe, brother guessed right!"
Shi Qian nodded and handed the imperial edict to Zhao Yuan.
"Brother, please read the contents of the imperial edict."
Zhao Yuan opened the imperial edict, skipping over the preceding nonsense,
The next step was to appoint Cai Jing to be in charge of the alliance with the Jurchens, with Tong Guan as his deputy.
"The chieftain was right again yesterday,"
Yan Qing couldn't help but admire, "This emperor really did throw Cai Jing and Tong Guan out."
Yesterday, while having drinks with Wen Huanzhang on the passenger ship,
Zhao Yuan had mocked the usefulness of Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others.
Wen Huanzhang immediately understood his meaning.
Speaking of the strategy of allying with the Jin to attack the Liao,
The emperor would certainly entrust Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others with full authority to handle the matter.
If things succeed at that time,
All the credit naturally belongs to the emperor.
If things fail, the emperor will take all the blame.
It's all blamed on Cai Jing and his associates.
In that case, you can also gain a good reputation for eliminating treacherous officials.
It's only been a day.
As expected, Zhao Ji appointed Cai Jing and Tong Guan to be fully responsible for the alliance with the Jurchens.
"When I arrived at Cai Jing's residence, the palace eunuchs were reading out this imperial edict,"
Shi Qian explained, "I was afraid that ordinary documents might not be enough to save Scholar Xu, so I simply waited until the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict and left, then followed Cai Jing to a secret room in Cai's mansion and stole the edict!"
"Brother, is this imperial edict possibly useful?"
“Brother Shi Qian, you’ve done well! This imperial edict is certainly very useful,”
Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Brother Shi Xiu, Brother Zhang Shun, after you two arrive in Jizhou, in addition to the official documents, have Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian find a way to forge a fake one based on this real imperial edict."
"Remember, you can coerce them, but you can't force them to join the outlaws, nor can you take their lives. Afterwards, you must compensate them with plenty of gold and silver. In short, you can't tarnish Liangshan's reputation!"
"Don't worry, brother, we understand!"
Shi Xiu and Zhang Shun bowed in response, then took the imperial edict and carefully placed it away.
He turned and mounted one of the horses that had been prepared nearby, and rode swiftly towards the northeast.
"Alright, everyone go and rest."
After Zhao Yuan finished speaking to everyone, he looked at Yan Qing.
"Especially Brother Yi, don't forget, tonight we're going to get to know Gao Kan!"
......
I slept on the passenger ship all day, and by evening...
Upon hearing Shi Qian's report that Gao Kan had arrived at Fanlou for drinks,
Zhao Yuan and Yan Qing tidied things up.
As time passed, they entered Bianliang City together.
We arrived at the gate of Fanlou, at the northern end of the Imperial Street of the Song Dynasty capital.
"Brother, this Fanlou restaurant is divided into five buildings: East, South, West, North, and Central. Except for the West Building, which faces the Imperial Palace and is currently not allowed to receive guests, the other four buildings are open to the public."
Shi Qian reported, "Gao Kan is currently in the private room A on the third floor of the North Building. I paid a hefty sum to reserve the room B next door."
He had barely finished speaking when he noticed Zhao Yuan staring at the arena in front of Fanlou.
Compared to the excitement of the previous two days,
After Li Kui took the stage and killed the Jin people,
The arena competition was temporarily cancelled.
However, the arena was left behind and not demolished.
"Strange, if there's no arena set up, what's the point of keeping this arena?"
Yan Qing asked in bewilderment, "Isn't it in the way of things if it's placed in front of Fanlou?"
"It is said that on the day Tie Niu challenged the opponent, the Kaifeng government was prepared to dismantle the arena,"
Shi Qian said, "But I don't know why, it was stopped by the people from the Prime Minister's residence."
"The Prime Minister's residence? Who knows what Cai Jing is planning to do with this arena?"
Zhao Yuan shook his head: "Forget it, this is not something we should worry about. Let's go in and meet this Gao Yanei."
The three entered Fanlou, and a waiter immediately came to greet them.
Shi Qian took out a silver ingot and tossed it over.
"I booked room B on the third floor of the North Building. Lead the way!"
Yes! Please go ahead, sir!
The waiter took the silver, bounced it happily, and hurriedly led the three of them through the streets.
“You three guests have excellent taste. The best view in our Fanlou is from the North Building, which faces Wansui Mountain. During the day, you can see the beautiful scenery of Genyue. Even at night, Wansui Mountain is dotted with lights, like a silver river, which is quite a unique experience.”