"Ran away?"
"They just ran away like this?!"
Chen Ji stood blankly between the various ox carts, only feeling somewhat absurd.
The instant he heard the names 'Daozi' and 'Chongzi', he was already certain in his heart that these two were Er Dao and Brother Pao. This was simply because when he was on the verge of death previously, Brother Pao had once introduced himself: "My real name is Chen Chong, but my friends like to call me Brother Pao."
Chen Chong.
Chongzi.
It was absolutely not a coincidence!
Thinking up to this point, Chen Ji felt an inexplicable kind of joy.
You and I are not well-acquainted, yet when I look at you, I find you exceptionally intimate and dear. When I see you both, even the wind carries the tidings of my hometown.
But no matter what, he never expected Brother Pao to run away so cleanly and decisively!
When ordinary people faced unknown circumstances and predicaments, before the danger truly descended, the majority would harbor feelings of leaving things to chance. But what he didn't know was that Brother Pao and Er Dao's feelings of leaving things to chance had long since been utterly shattered by the police uncles during the seven or eight times they entered prison!
Amidst the cold wind, Chen Ji suddenly shouted loudly: "Zaozao!"
The sound of horse hooves rang out from the stables.
Escort Chief Liang turned his head in astonishment, only to see Second Miss Zhang's date-red horse effortlessly leap out of the stable fence while biting her own reins, arriving to stop beside Chen Ji.
The breath expelled from the miraculous fine steed's nostrils resembled two streams of white arrow-like Qi in the cold night. Lowering her head, she loosened her mouth, and the reins in her mouth fell into Chen Ji's hands.
"Escort Chief Liang, wait for me here," Chen Ji stepped on the stirrups and mounted the horse. With a light flick of his wrist to shake the reins, Zaozao carried Chen Ji away into the distance like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
He spurred his horse, shuttling through the dirt roads of the county seat. Chasing from the south to the north, he didn't discover any traces of Er Dao and Brother Pao on the roads; chasing from the west to the east, he still found nothing.
The commoners of the county seat had long since gone to sleep. He couldn't even see a single night watchman beating the watches.
He searched back and forth through the county seat alone, but consistently failed to see the figures of Er Dao and Brother Pao. He didn't know if the other party had already left the county seat, or if they were hiding within one of the civilian residences.
In the dark county seat, Chen Ji slowly halted his horse. His state of mind gradually calmed down.
Once upon a time, he thought that only he had come from Earth to the Ning Dynasty. And from then on, he could never discuss the dramas 'Empresses in the Palace', 'Drawing Sword', and 'Soldiers Sortie' with anyone. Nor could he enthusiastically discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's god-descending hat-trick in the 2018 World Cup with anyone.
Because no one would understand.
Perhaps Er Dao and Brother Pao didn't watch 'Empresses in the Palace' and 'Drawing Sword', and also didn't like Cristiano Ronaldo. But it didn't matter. They could always find some common language!
The instant Chen Ji discovered Er Dao and Brother Pao, it was as if he saw a faint glimmer of light in the dark night. It was just that this faint glimmer of light very quickly extinguished again.
Gently, Chen Ji patted Zaozao's back: "Let's go. Return to the Relay Station."
Zaozao did not sprint wildly again. She carried Chen Ji back at a slow and unhurried pace, as if she knew the person on her back was no longer so anxious and eager.
Returning into the Relay Station, Chen Ji spurred his horse to arrive before Escort Chief Liang. Sitting on horseback, he asked calmly: "Escort Chief Liang, these two people must definitely be hiding some secret on them! Otherwise, what are they running for?"
Tilting his head up, Escort Chief Liang scrutinized Chen Ji. Yet he saw that this young Chen Estate Third Young Master possessed a gaze so deep its bottom couldn't be seen.
He, the Escort Chief, was someone who had Traveled Far and Wide. Who was easy to provoke and who wasn't, who was easy to fool and who wasn't—he could understand just by exchanging a glance. In the eyes of people who ran the Jianghu, there were only two kinds of people in this world: one kind was sheep, and the other kind was wolves.
There were some people whose faces were incomparably vicious and sinister, yet their gazes were Drifting and Unpredictable; these kinds of people were nothing more than sheep in wolves' clothing. On the other hand, there were some people who looked weak and scholarly, yet their gazes were like knives, wishing they could carve a piece of meat off your body; these kinds of people were wolves in sheep's clothing!
This Third Young Master of the Chen Estate, at this very moment, didn't look like a scholar; instead, he looked more like a hound or falcon eagle of the Directorate of Ceremonial!
Smiling apologetically, Escort Chief Liang said: "Third Young Master, perhaps they just couldn't bear the hardships of escorting goods, which is why they ran away? You might not know this, but the profession of escorting goods is arduous and bitter. Escort guards sneaking away and fleeing is a very common occurrence."
Chen Ji gave an "Mhm". Jumping off the horse, he led Zaozao's reins and walked toward the stables.
However, after walking two steps, he stood still, and then retreated back.
Chen Ji calmly stared at Escort Chief Liang: "This time, the Zhang Family transporting their family wealth to the Capital City is a major matter! Yet you let people whose roots and bottoms you do not know enter! What are your intentions?! Could it be that Daozi and Chongzi are Taihang Mountain bandits?! Could it be that your Liang Family Escort Agency intends to coordinate from the inside with the Taihang Mountain bandits on the outside, and pillage the Zhang Family's wealth and goods?!"
Escort Chief Liang's face paled a few degrees. With a guilty conscience, he said: "Third Young Master, you cannot spout certain words recklessly! It will cost lives!"
Changing the topic, Chen Ji asked: "Escort Chief Liang, I wonder what relationship you have with Liang Gou'er and Liang Mao'er?"
Previously, Liang Mao'er and Liang Gou'er had once mentioned that their father was also an escort guard. He was secretly plotted against by Taihang Mountain bandits, resulting in an ailment taking root, and he passed away early.
Escort Chief Liang hurriedly said: "They are my two younger brothers. It's just that we split the family property and separated a few years ago, so I haven't seen them for a long time."
Chen Ji nodded: "Liang Gou'er, Liang Mao'er, and I are friends. On account of their face, I can temporarily press this matter down. But we must first clarify matters clearly."
Escort Chief Liang unceasingly nodded his head in a flurry: "You speak, you speak."
Chen Ji suddenly shouted in a low voice: "Why did those two have to run?!"
Escort Chief Liang lowered his head and remained silent.
Chen Ji said nonchalantly: "It seems I have to let Lord Zhang interrogate you personally before you will speak the truth."
After saying that, he made as if to leave. Escort Chief Liang quickly pulled him back: "Replying to Third Young Master, those two were not originally my escort guards. They were escort guards from the Luo Wei Escort Agency. It's just that two months ago, for some unknown reason, something happened to the Luo Wei Escort Agency; the escort guards actually scattered like birds and beasts, and the Escort Chief also disappeared without a trace. The two of them came seeking refuge together. Because I was too short on manpower, I settled them down to work at the Liang Family Escort Agency."
Chen Ji laughed: "For some unknown reason? Are you, Escort Chief Liang, still going to pretend you do not know the situation? Do not seek death."
Under the moonlight, Escort Chief Liang's gaze flickered between bright and dark unsteadily. The ox carts in the rear courtyard of the Relay Station were parked layer upon layer, resembling a stacked maze. In the darkness, certain escort guards stealthily crept closer, their hands slipping into their sleeves to grip the handles of their Short Blades.
Chen Ji seemed to remain completely ignorant and unobservant of the crisis, continuing to stand in his original spot.
Escort Chief Liang, however, discovered the movements of the escort guards, and instantly cursed angrily: "All of you, roll back for me! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
At this time, a voice was heard coming from afar: "Chen Ji? Where are you?"
Chen Ji smiled and responded: "I'm over here."
Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng arrived together. Zhang Xia said: "Just now I went to your room to look for you to play chess, but only Xiaoman was there... You're not sleeping in the middle of the night; what are you doing here?"
Chen Ji explained: "I discovered two people from the Escort Agency secretly ran away, so I came to ask about some matters."
Zhang Xia let out an "Ah": "Secretly ran away? Why would they secretly run away, ah?"
At this time, Chen Ji saw Zhang Zheng's arm still draped with his black cloak.
Draping the cloak over Chen Ji's shoulders, Zhang Zheng casually exhorted: "The wind and sand are strong; don't catch a cold. If you fall sick while hurrying on a journey, I'm afraid it will feel extremely uncomfortable."
Chen Ji softly expressed his thanks, and then turned to look at Escort Chief Liang again: "Escort Chief Liang, whatever thoughts you harbored, I can let bygones be bygones. But if you do not explain the matter regarding these two people clearly, I fear it will also be difficult for you to escape the disaster of imprisonment."
Escort Chief Liang sighed lightly: "This lowly one will say everything! Third Young Master, please do not alarm Lord Zhang. The matter is like this: A while ago, that Luo Wei Escort Agency escorted Squire Yao and ten carriages of wealth and goods toward Jinling. However, when passing through Langya Mountain, they encountered mountain bandits! The number of mountain bandits was extremely large, and the escort guards of the Luo Wei Escort Agency knew they were no match for them, so they abandoned their employer at Langya Mountain."
"That simple? If it were that simple, they wouldn't need to flee either," Chen Ji was confused. "It's always said that Escort Agencies eat rice from both the black and white paths. Since they dared to take this route, could they possibly not know the mountain bandits of Langya Mountain?"
Escort Chief Liang explained: "Originally, they did know them. The Escort Chief of the Luo Wei Escort Agency and the Chief Boss of Langya Mountain even had a life-and-death friendship! It's just that the floods in Yuzhou caused many commoners to become displaced and lose their homes. A group of refugees fled south, driving away the original mountain bandits of Langya Mountain, and set up their own mountain stronghold there. These refugees do not understand the rules of the Jianghu; they rob whoever they see! Presumably, it won't be long before they are encircled and annihilated by the Government Office."
Chen Ji was puzzled: "The mountain bandits didn't kill the people from the Luo Wei Escort Agency?"
Escort Chief Liang said in a low voice: "Third Young Master, there's something you do not know. What mountain bandits seek is wealth, not lives. If they can peacefully coexist with the escort guards without issue, naturally there's no need to fight to the bitter end and kill each other. It's said the mountain bandits gave the Luo Wei Escort Agency two choices: the first choice was for everyone to fight to the death; the second choice was for the Luo Wei Escort Agency to leave, but they could take one chest of Squire Yao's wealth and goods to split among themselves."
Chen Ji nodded: "So they chose to split the money... How do I know if you're bluffing me or not?"
Escort Chief Liang said in a low voice: "Third Young Master, perceive clearly! There are still people from the Luo Wei Escort Agency in this convoy! This lowly one will catch them for you!"
He blew a whistle. From among the ox carts, several escort guards were seen drawing their Short Blades from their sleeves, surrounding a certain corner.
A moment later, they twisted a young man's arms and brought him before Chen Ji: "Third Young Master, this person is the Tangzishou of the Luo Wei Escort Agency, responsible for shouting the escort slogan. You will know once you ask him."
That young Tangzishou struggled with all his might: "Liang Zhu'er! You son of a bitch, you accepted our gifts and still want to turn against us?! We agreed! We would follow you past Linfeng, and afterwards, the great road points to the heavens; we each walk our own path! You go to your Capital City, we go to our Guyuan! You son of a bitch, what are you doing?!"
Escort Chief Liang's expression was somewhat awkward as he looked at Chen Ji: "Third Young Master, do not listen to his nonsense! I didn't agree to their terms! I truly only agreed to bring them along because I lacked helpers, and saw that they were veterans at escorting goods."
Chen Ji was deep in thought: "Why go to Guyuan?"
Escort Chief Liang said in a low voice: "Although Guyuan is a military fortress of our Ning Dynasty, the people living inside it are actually more Jing Dynasty people than Ning Dynasty people! To say it is a Mixed Bag is an understatement! The smugglers there are as numerous as ox hairs, and our Ning Dynasty Border Army also doesn't really manage them. I heard there's an inn in Guyuan operated by General Wentao (Qing Wentao)'s former subordinates, which can send people into the Jing Dynasty."
Chen Ji turned his head to look at the young Tangzishou: "Let me ask you. After you all came out of Langya Mountain, where did you go?"
The Tangzishou stiffened his neck: "We went to Jinling."
Chen Ji asked again: "What about the distributed wealth and money?"
The Tangzishou answered: "Finished spending it all on the Qinhuai River!"
Zhang Xia's eyes widened: "After such a matter occurred, you all actually still had the mind to play and have fun?!"
The Tangzishou's face sank: "We figured we'd be settled and purged by the Government Office sooner or later! We might as well become romantic ghosts on the Qinhuai River before dying! Who could have known, the Government Office simply didn't come looking for us at all!"
Chen Ji calculated the dates. At that time, Lin Chaojing of the Trouble-Resolving Guard had been transferred from Jinling to Luo City. Furthermore, Jin Zhu, Jiao Tu, Yun Yang, Bai Long, Meng Ji, and Tian Ma had all come over! Everyone's target was the Liu Family! Who had the leisurely mind to care about a mere squire...
He pondered for a moment and asked: "Are you familiar with Daozi and Chongzi?"
The Tangzishou spat onto the ground: "Familiar? I'm way too familiar! On regular days, we called each other brothers; as a result, in the blink of an eye, they Turned Their Faces And Recognized No One! To treat this kind of person as a good brother, I was truly blind!"
Chen Ji was curious: "Turned Their Faces And Recognized No One?"
The Tangzishou sneered coldly: "Isn't that right?! When the silver in my hands was spent, I looked for Chongzi to borrow money! As a result, that turtle grandson forgot how he used to look for me to borrow silver in the past! He actually opened his mouth asking for 'Nine Out Thirteen Return'! He wanted to drink my blood! In the past when I lent him money, I never asked for such high interest!"
Chen Ji was slightly taken aback. This Brother Pao had brought his old profession to the Ning Dynasty!
Yet he heard the Tangzishou continue saying: "Third Young Master, did these two people provoke you? If I tell you a bit more about their matters, can you let me go?"
Chen Ji smiled and asked: "Are you going to betray them?"
"What betrayal or not betrayal," the Tangzishou shrank his neck. "They already abandoned me and left! On what basis should I cover up for them?!"
Chen Ji nodded: "You talk first and let's see."
The Tangzishou said in a low voice: "Originally, the two of them weren't called Daozi and Chongzi either. They were called Li Baocheng and Wang Duo. When we returned to Luo City from Langya Mountain, they suddenly said they wanted to use aliases, Er Dao and Chen Chong. How Baffling and inexplicable!"
Chen Ji asked again: "Do they still have family members at home?"
The Tangzishou hurriedly said: "They do, they do! Li Baocheng... that is Er Dao, he still has an older sister! Chen Chong still has a younger brother! These two dog-things didn't even want their own family anymore!"
Chen Ji knew in his heart: upon arriving in this world, Er Dao and Chen Chong, just like him, possessed absolutely zero familial affection or ties to speak of; naturally, they wouldn't bother caring about some older sister or younger brother!
He pondered for a moment and asked again: "When did they Turn Their Faces And Recognize No One?"
The Tangzishou recalled for a moment: "It was exactly during that time at Langya Mountain! Just when we encountered the mountain bandits, quite a few people were ambushed! Daozi and Chongzi were smashed unconscious by the mountain bandits swinging hoes! Afterwards, they stopped recognizing people; they couldn't even recall their own names! We all said their brains had been broken from the beating!"
Chen Ji lowered his head in deep thought. Er Dao and Brother Pao, just like him, had both landed into the bodies of deceased people. But he himself was smuggled down by Li Qingniao and his Master. How did Er Dao and Brother Pao come down here? He himself had the exact same name in both his past and present lives, but Er Dao and Brother Pao did not. What difference did this entail?
The Capital City.
Chen Ji suddenly recalled that Brother Pao had once said,
the Capital City is bustling and prosperous; not going to smash out a reputation for oneself is very much a pity.
Since they were people like Brother Pao, as long as they didn't die, they would probably meet again.
The Tangzishou pleaded hopefully: "Chen Family's Third Young Master, I've already said all that should be said! I hope you, a great person with great magnanimity, will let me off!"
At the side, Escort Chief Liang asked cautiously: "Third Young Master, do you know Squire Yao and want to take revenge for him? If so, this lowly one will drag the Tangzishou to the ox pen and slaughter him right now. However... I also have to speak a word on their behalf. Third Young Master, I'm afraid you haven't been to the countryside to see! The commoners fleeing the disaster fled until every village was empty; they were forced by circumstances to go up the mountains and become bandits in the greenwood. No matter how formidable us escort guards are, we can't withstand their numbers! Those refugees are so hungry their eyes have turned green! For a sack of grain, they dare to grab sickles and hoes and fight to the death with you! They simply do not talk reason!"
Chen Ji waved his hand: "Let him go."
(End of this chapter)