CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 44: VERIFYING THE TOKEN

That night, no one in the Li Mansion went to send food to Li Wencai.

Later it was heard that Li Wencai, left waiting for those who didn’t come to deliver food, complained loudly in the house, hoping to call someone to ask what was going on. Why didn’t he have an appetite in the previous days, and yet food was delivered punctually every day?

But today, no food was delivered at all!

Unfortunately, the servants were so frightened by Lu Qing’s earlier sword strike that they didn’t dare to go near him, not even stepping close to the courtyard.

Li Wencai shouted for a long time, tiring himself out without attracting a single person, and eventually had to give up, his voice hoarse.

This continued until noon on the third day, when Fu Lu rushed back, dusty and tired, bringing with him governmental officials borrowed from Runzhou.

Zhao Xin lent a total of twenty governmental officials to Fu Lu. These twenty young men in their twenties were tall, strong, and behaved very properly, clearly trained strictly in the daily routines of the government office.

Zhu Yu thought that Zhao Xin must also be a meticulous and careful person in handling affairs.

In a State Mansion, at most only two hundred officials are maintained. Among them, only about thirty to forty percent can be mobilized at will, as each has fixed duties and cannot be lent casually.

Thus, Fu Lu borrowing twenty governmental officials with the Imperial Censor’s waist card was quite clever. Although not many, it was less than one-tenth of the government officials in Runzhou Prefecture, so it wouldn’t make the people from Congzhou Prefecture think Runzhou Prefecture overstepped its boundaries.

However, it wasn’t a small number either. Each of these twenty governmental officials was strong and able, promising top-notch performance.

Overall, no fault could be picked, considering the face of everyone involved.

Lu Qing’s attitude towards Zhao Xin’s arrangements was ambiguous, showing neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction.

Once Fu Lu returned, he immediately got to work. He first dispatched two officials to guard outside Li Wencai’s room and then placed others throughout the Li Mansion, including outside the side courtyard. Once everything was settled, he quickly reported back to Lu Qing on his efforts to mobilize manpower.

"The Prefect of Runzhou is a straightforward person. I took your waist card to borrow people, and without a word, he assigned me these officials without asking extra questions.

However, Situ Jing, the Capital Commandant of Runzhou’s imperial guard, was a different story. When he heard I wanted to borrow a hundred imperial guards, he questioned me extensively and reluctantly assigned the manpower only after a long interrogation.

He even instructed those hundred guards that once they arrive in Qingshui County, they must only station outside the city. Unless you, my lord, give direct orders, they are in no circumstances to enter the city. Any violations would be punished under military law."

Fu Lu was obviously unhappy with the attitude of Situ Jing, the Capital Commandant of the imperial guard, feeling dissatisfied.

However, Lu Qing was very pleased, nodding, "It seems Runzhou is a good place, full of people who handle matters comprehensively and properly.

Well, let the Li family’s cook prepare some food, and make sure you and those officials eat well and get some rest.

If Li Wencai is still breathing, send some food to him too."

On hearing this, Fu Lu realized that during the two and a half days he was away, Li Wencai hadn’t had anything to eat or drink and immediately broke into a cheerful smile, "Serves him right to taste hunger!

During my trip to borrow men, I saw it clearly! In Runzhou, farmers diligently tend to their fields. Everywhere you look, people are bustling about, and as long as there’s no natural disaster, it’s sure to be a good harvest year!

The farmers on those lands are all smiling, and they’re sturdy.

Compared to them, Qingshui County seems to be all starving people, and those who haven’t gone south to plant flowers are all nothing but bones! It’s really unbearable!

Oh, by the way, I heard an interesting thing from one of the Runzhou officials.

As an official in Qingshui County, Li Wencai also runs three grain stores there. Regardless of the seasons, there’s always grain for sale, it’s just that the worse the harvest, the higher the price. But because there are only these three grain stores left in the county, there’s never a shortage of buyers.

Previously, when some people couldn’t afford it, they secretly bought grain from Runzhou and transported it back, only to be caught at the Qingshui County border by Li Wencai’s people, who then had their grain confiscated under some pretext and were publicly whipped.

Though the pretexts varied each time, after many instances, people began to understand what was going on."

"Oh? Three grain stores?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparking with intrigue. He seemed quite interested in the information Fu Lu brought back. Patting Fu Lu, he said, "Go on, eat something first, and after you’re done, prepare the horses."

"Alright!" Fu Lu responded and immediately turned to leave without another word.

Zhu Yu was almost amused on the side, understanding why Fu Lu appreciated the style of the Prefect of Runzhou, Zhao Xin. It turned out that he was the type to execute his superior’s orders immediately without asking unnecessary questions.

"These days must have been dull for you?" Lu Qing looked at Zhu Yu after Fu Lu left, "I see the throwing jar bamboo arrows have been worn shiny.

I’ll take you out for a walk later to relax."

Fu Lu soon returned, saying the horses were ready so quickly that Zhu Yu doubted if he even stopped to eat.

After giving instructions to the officials in the mansion, the three mounted their horses and set off quickly, heading straight for the direction of the camp where the imperial guards were stationed outside the city gate.

The Centurion in charge of leading these imperial guards with Fu Lu to Qingshui County appeared to be in his forties, looking mature and steady. He politely greeted Lu Qing, his attitude very respectful, yet he was equally meticulous in examining the token.

Fu Lu stood to the side, frowning with dissatisfaction, considering the status of his own master. Even if they didn’t know about Prince Xiaoyao, the golden mask bestowed by the emperor representing the Golden-faced Imperial Censor was not something a small centurion should scrutinize so closely.

No matter how upset he felt, the rules Lu Qing enforced daily were clearly there, leaving him to glare at the centurion from the side, unable to utter a single word.

The centurion inspected the token and respectfully returned it to Lu Qing, "Please don’t take offense, my lord. Our commandant stated that the imperial guards always follow the emperor’s orders. Only the Golden-faced Imperial Censor personally bestowed grace by the emperor can borrow soldiers from the camp, even if the National Guardian General came, he couldn’t take a man away.

It’s a matter of great significance and cannot be taken lightly, hence requiring careful verification. Both the token and your bestowed golden mask must be presented.

Now that I have verified your token on behalf of the commandant, we will follow your orders in all matters!"

Lu Qing showed no impatience at the centurion’s caution, securing the token at his waist, he mounted his horse and told him, "Have fifty guards disperse to each village, inquire if there were any grievances in government grain collection over the years. If any do complain, record it accurately without error.

The other fifty will enter the city with me to seal Qingshui County’s government granary!"