Water Margin official

Traveling at dawn and staying overnight, Zhang Zhengdao took the official road and traveled through the prefecture. After walking for more than 20 days, he crossed the Gyeonggi Road and arrived at the boundary of Mengzhou on the North Jingji Road.

It is now mid-February, the winter has faded, and the sun has returned to a slightly warmer state.

Along the way, Zhang Zhengdao realized that the territory of the Song Dynasty was already in decline.

When he was in Qinghe County, he took care of the restaurant every day and joked with his sister and children. He just felt that the sea was clear and the river was peaceful, singing and dancing were flourishing, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. It was a peaceful and prosperous era.

When we went back to Hangzhou, we took the water route all the way and never went ashore. In addition, the city of Hangzhou was densely populated, with numerous shops and wine shops. The people were prosperous and happy, singing and admiring the haze, creating a prosperous scene in Qiantang.

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At this time, from Yunzhou City on Jingxi East Road, through Gyeonggi Road, and then to Jingxi North Road, you pass through many prefectures and counties.

As the saying goes, Zhang Zhengdao saw that many villages and towns were in decline, and the houses and fields were deserted. He only heard the words of the old man in the countryside. The court imposed excessive taxes, taxes and servitude became increasingly heavy, and local officials invaded fishing. The people were already suffering unspeakably.<

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"Everyone is desperate, so they all go away and become thieves." That's it.

Along the way, bandits are rampant. If you go to a secluded place, you don't know how many trail-cutting thieves are waiting.

There is a saying that since ancient times, emperors have not been doing their jobs properly, and the people have been in dire straits. This is a principle that has not changed since ancient times.

Nowadays, the Zhao Guan family has established the "Hua Shi Gang", using powerful traitors to plunder the world. Bianjing City is so rich and prosperous that it is difficult to see the hidden worries in this prosperous age.

Although this journey has not yet reached the point where the people are in dire straits, it is still shocking and makes Zhang Zhengdao worried and his face is clouded.

In this prosperous age, the Song Dynasty was already facing many crises, and signs of failure had appeared.

Zhang Zhengdao felt quite sorry in his heart, because he would rather be a peace dog than a troubled person!

When we prosper, the people suffer; when we die, the people also suffer!

After arriving at the border of Mengzhou, Zhang Zhengdao's mood eased a little.

Mengzhou was called Heyang in ancient times and has a saying of "one beauty, one literary and one immortal".

"The most beautiful man in the world" Pan An once served as the magistrate of Heyang County and had considerable political achievements. He ordered peach blossoms to be planted all over the county, hence the allusion of "Heyang County Flower".

"Yi Wen" refers to Han Yu, the "great literary master" of the Tang Dynasty, who was also a native of Heyang and was buried here.

As for the "one immortal", it refers to Han Yu's nephew Han Xiangzi, one of the eight immortals passed down by the people orally, and a native of Heyang.

In the third year of Huichang of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, Heyang was promoted to Mengzhou, and the five counties of Heyang, Jiyuan, Wen, Sishui and Heyin were subordinated to Hebei Province.

When the Song Dynasty was established, Mengzhou was located in Heyang County, belonging to the northwest of Beijing Road, and governed the five counties of Jiyuan, Wangwu, Wen, Fanshui and Heyin.

Mengzhou is located on the north bank of the Yellow River, adjacent to the Taihang Mountains.

On this day, everyone only walked to a low ridge, but they saw that this place was covered with green vegetation, crisscrossed by ravines, and only one main road, which was only suitable for carriages and horses.

"Master, we've arrived at Mengzhou Road." Lu Xiaoyi called.

Zhang Zhengdao woke up in a daze, calmed down, opened the car curtain, and looked forward.

I saw a huge stone standing beside the road not far away, with the inscription: Mengzhou Road.

Zhang Zhengdao's spirit was lifted. He thought that this was Mengzhou Ridge. After climbing over this mound, next to the big woods below, he should be at the famous cross slope.

"Climb over this mound and you'll be not far from Mengzhou City." Zhang Zhengdao turned to Wu Song and the others and said.

The two guards who were guarding the escort were also in high spirits. In the past half month, they would walk in crowded places and stay in the car in uninhabited places, but they did not suffer much. This is a historical record.

This was the most relaxing escort trip since.

"We've got it." Sun Ji sighed, and then said to Wu Song: "After passing this mountain, I have to trouble Brother Wu to wear this short yoke."

Wu Song said: "This is no problem."

"Keep on going and climb over this ridge." Zhang Zhengdao told Lu Xiaoyi to keep going.

The carriages and horses bumped over the Mengzhou Road and headed straight under the mound.

Zhang Zhengdao opened the car curtain and kept looking at the road ahead, but he didn't know whether to be excited or cautious. What if Sun Erniang, "the most beautiful woman in Liangshan", really opened a black shop here and sold human flesh.

Baozi, I'm afraid I will destroy the flowers with my own hands.

The carriage drove to the foot of the ridge. Looking from a distance, except for the large woods in front of the ridge and the deserted people on the edge, there were no more than a dozen thatched cottages that should have appeared at the foot of the cross slope.

Zhang Zhengdao felt a little disappointed. He didn't know how to describe his mood. Was it the disappointment of not seeing Sun Erniang, or the joy that the black shop hadn't been built yet?

Two complex emotions, to name a few.

When the carriage came close, there was a big tree, which four or five people could not hug together, and it was wrapped with some dead vines.

This is the cross slope.

Zhang Zhengdao glanced past the big tree and saw a stream not far away. It had thawed, and the sound of running water reached his ears from time to time.

Lu Xiaoyi stopped the carriage, and everyone got out of the carriage and came to the stream, washing their faces with cold water and feeling refreshed.

"About a mile ahead, we should be Mengzhou City." Zhang Zhengdao took a sip of the stream water, which was refreshing and sweet.

I wiped the water drops on my face with my sleeve and looked into the distance.

The two gentlemen also said happily: "We've finally arrived."

The gentleman named He Lin smiled and said: "Brothers from the Wu family, please put on the short yoke."

Wu Song wiped his face with his sleeve and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter."

Sun Ji took out the short shackles weighing twenty kilograms from the cart, put it on Wu Song, and carefully took out the cover and pasted it on, and then everyone walked towards Mengzhou City.

The sun turns to the west, and you can travel a mile and arrive in the blink of an eye.

After entering Mengzhou City, they went straight to the state government office. The two men were going to escort Wu Song to deliver Yunzhou's ultimatum.

Outside the government office, Zhang Zhengdao handed Wu Song fifty taels of silver and a package containing clothes, and said, "Brother, please keep it first for organizing purposes."

Wu Song wanted to refuse, but when he saw that Zhang Zhengdao had traveled thousands of miles, escorted him all the way, and took care of him carefully and worked tirelessly, he was deeply moved and had already regarded him as his brother.

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"Let's go back to my hometown. When Zhao Guan's family grants amnesty to the world, I can be released from this prison camp." Wu Song said.

Zhang Zhengdao was a little reluctant to leave, so he had to say: "Brother, I cherish you."

Wu Song patted him on the shoulder, then turned and entered the state government office. Two gentlemen followed him to submit the ultimatum.

The Prefecture Yin Sheng Hall read a written ultimatum, took Wu Song into custody, signed a reply, and went back with the two men.

Sun Ji and He Lin got a lot of benefits this time. When they left the Yamen, they saw Zhang Zhengdao's carriage still parked outside, so they stepped forward to say goodbye.

"This time, we have the carriages and horses of a small official, which saves my two brothers from the pain of running around." Sun Ji said with a smile.

Zhang Zhengdao returned the favor with his hand. Although these two gentlemen were greedy for money, they were easy to talk to. They got along well with each other during the escort, and there was no sign of slack or dissatisfaction.

"Thank you, Mr. Duan, for taking care of me. I'm afraid we won't be able to go together when we return to Yunzhou. We have to stay in Mengzhou for a while to take care of things with my brother."

He Lindao: "The small officials are very loyal and have a deep sense of loyalty. I admire them very much."

"In this case, if we are destined to meet again in Yunzhou City, we two brothers will go back early." Sun Ji said goodbye.

"Take care along the way!"

After saying goodbye to these two gentlemen and watching them leave, Zhang Zhengdao said to Lu Xiaoyi: "Let's ask about the location of the prison camp. See the camp manager and the demolition team earlier, and arrange it earlier to avoid unnecessary trouble." Brother Wu suffered that hundred killing sticks in vain."

When going out this time, Zhang Zhengdao specially brought a lot of gold and silver for transportation purposes because he had carriages and horses.

Lu Xiaoyi had just pulled over a passer-by to find out the location of the prison camp called "Anping Village".

At that moment, the two men led the carriage and horse and headed towards the prison camp, preparing to take care of Wu Song.