activa-t Chapter 23 Public Vehicle Requisition
Chapter 23 Public Vehicle Requisition
Just as the Lü father and son were taking coarse cloth and wiping the bloodstains and dirt off the weapons and leather armor bit by bit...
suddenly.
The sound of galloping horses echoed outside the courtyard.
Immediately afterward, before Lü Ping and Lü Bu could even ask any questions...
Cheng Lian's slightly anxious voice could be heard from outside.
"Brother Lü, Brother Lü! Do you remember Shen Pei you beat up a few days ago?! He's coming with four or five carriages!"
"What?!"
Lu Bu, who was inside the house, was startled. He threw down the coarse cloth in his hand and was about to walk outside.
He stood in the courtyard.
Lü Ping also came out.
"I don't know if they're here to arrest us."
"That Xiongnu man, Urhan, said it was some kind of carriage, but I don't recognize it. However, it does look somewhat different from an ordinary horse-drawn carriage."
Looking at Brother Lü in front of him, Cheng Lian hesitated before speaking.
"According to him, it seems he's recruiting Lü Bo, or perhaps you, elder brother. It's possible you'll be becoming an official!"
Upon hearing the words "public bus" and "recruitment," Lü Bu instinctively turned his head to look at his father to the side.
after all...
He often heard those two words from his own father.
"What? Buses are being requisitioned? So quickly?"
Lu Ping was taken aback for a moment.
Then, looking at Lü Bu and Cheng Lian, who both looked hesitant, and a dark-skinned, somewhat familiar-looking Xiongnu boy who kept staring at him, he subconsciously explained.
"If the person you're talking about is really Shen Pei Shen Zhengnan from Wei County, he wouldn't do such a despicable thing as trying to capture you when he can't beat you."
"It's most likely due to the requisition of public buses!"
Upon hearing this...
Lu Bu and Cheng Lian were finally relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.
only...
Even after the explanation, Lü Ping still looked somewhat puzzled.
"Why is the trial of Zheng Nan happening so quickly?"
"What happened just last night, why are you already questioning me tonight?"
"Congratulations to my father!" Lu Bu said with obvious delight.
After all... judging from this, his father was probably going to be promoted. He hadn't forgotten that his family's manor was still occupied by a group of eunuchs' sons, so he had to sleep in this drafty thatched hut every day.
He had already secretly made up his mind that once his father was promoted, he would definitely kill those eunuchs!
"Wait a minute!" As if he had thought of something, Lü Ping suddenly paused, then pulled Lü Bu along and started to walk into the thatched hut.
"Don't offer your congratulations yet, Fengxian!"
"Quickly, come in first and put away everything we just took out, so that outsiders won't see it when they come in."
Lu Bu reacted quickly as well.
He quickly followed his father into the house.
Lu Ping entered the house and hurriedly gathered up all the items placed inside. He turned to look at Cheng Lian, who was standing in the courtyard, and called out.
"Cheng Lian, come in too!"
"Hurry up and pack."
Cheng Lian, who was outside the door, heard Lü Ping calling from inside and quickly went inside.
Beside him.
The dark-skinned Xiongnu boy named Wuerlu was standing at the door, hesitating whether or not to go in.
Lu Ping's gaze swept over the young man, his eyes filled with doubt.
"This is Urhan's son. We owe him a lot for his help last night; otherwise, who knows how many problems might have arisen."
Cheng Lian noticed his master Lü's gaze and quickly explained.
Lu Ping nodded and greeted the young man gently.
"Come in too, and help carry the salted fish your tribe needs."
The young Xiongnu boy, Wuerlu, was staring intently at Lü Ping, whom his father had praised many times, when Lü Ping suddenly called out to him. He responded repeatedly and walked into the house.
The phrase "lifting salted fish" is used to describe carrying away or storing weapons.
Several people were busy inside the room.
In between busy moments.
Lu Ping glanced at the donkey, noticed its fur coat, put down what he was holding, and walked into the house.
Not long after.
He then went out again, carrying a slightly smaller set of Han Chinese clothing.
Lü Ping handed the clothes to the Xiongnu boy named Wuerlu.
"You should change your clothes."
"Don't let anyone recognize you as a Hun, that would cause a lot of unexpected problems."
"good!"
Touching the exceptionally smooth Han Chinese clothing in his hand, Wu Erlu's eyes lit up, and he nodded quickly.
The Xiongnu people had no habit of being polite. As soon as he received the clothes, Wuerlu took off all the fur coats he was wearing.
It was dark and smooth.
He immediately changed into the clothes that Lü Ping handed him, treating everyone in the room as family.
Being on the border, the people had long been accustomed to dealing with the Xiongnu and their customs. When they saw this scene, they simply pretended not to see it and went about their own business.
They packed their things.
Before I could even catch my breath or sit down to rest for a while...
Suddenly, the sound of horses neighing rang out from outside.
That's right.
As if timed perfectly, the imperial envoy arrived at the Lü family's courtyard with several buses.
"Uncle Lü, the bus is here."
Hearing the noise outside, Cheng Lian said softly.
"Let's go out and greet them."
Lu Ping nodded slightly, let out a long sigh, straightened his clothes, and walked outside.
Seeing Lü Ping's appearance.
Lu Bu, Cheng Lian, and that donkey also hurriedly lowered their heads to straighten their clothes and followed behind Lu Ping.
It seemed as if the Lü family had known all along, as they all came out to greet them.
Shen Pei, who hadn't yet gotten off the carriage, paused for a moment. He stood on the carriage, straightened his appearance, and then led a group of servants carrying various gifts off the carriage.
The group filed in.
Led by Shen Pei, his servants lined up on both sides, each holding a gift, standing neatly in the courtyard.
This can be said to have given Lü Ping a lot of face.
The arrival of the carriage at night alerted the villagers, who had just experienced a raid by the Xianbei people. However, they were relieved to see that the carriage had stopped in front of the Lü family's house and that it was an official from the prefecture.
Some of the bolder ones even went out on their own initiative to gaze into the distance.
When they saw that the officials from the prefecture and county had brought so many gifts and servants to the Lü family's courtyard, they were filled with envy.
Lü Ping then stepped forward in this setting.
"I am Shen Pei Shen Zhengnan from Wei Commandery, currently serving as an advisor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
Upon seeing Lü Ping emerge, Shen Pei's eyes lit up, completely ignoring Lü Bu, who noticed his drastically changed expression, and stepped forward with a smile to ask.
"May I ask if it is Lord Lü Ping in person?"
"Indeed," Lü Ping replied with a smile.
While Shen Pei was observing him, he was also observing Shen Pei, who had left a good name in history.
If I had to say which scholar in Yuan Shao's camp I liked the most when I read Romance of the Three Kingdoms in my previous life, it would be Shen Pei right now—he was generous and passionate, loyal, and quite resourceful. How could anyone not like him?
"My husband, Wang Fangbo, heard about what happened yesterday. He admires Lü Langjun's courage and character, so he specifically sent me to find him."
"Would Young Master Lü be willing to come with me to meet my master, Fang Bo?"
Shen Pei asked the question in a very polite manner.
"Of course." Lü Ping didn't bother with any formalities like declining three times, he just nodded slightly.
"Please lead the way."
Seeing how readily Lü Ping agreed.
Shen Pei's eyes lit up immediately, and when he looked at Lü Ping again, he couldn't help but find him more pleasing to the eye.
Neither of them were fussy people, and with a very brief question-and-answer session, the matter of recruitment was resolved.
So swift.
Seeing that it was the first time Lu Bu and Cheng Lian had seen Zheng Bi, they thought it would cause a lot of trouble, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.
Shen Pei clapped his hands lightly.
His servants then reached out again and lifted the cloth covering the gifts, revealing the various gold and silver items inside. They then stepped forward and placed all the gifts they had brought in the courtyard.
The villagers watching the spectacle outside grew increasingly envious.
Lü Ping's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly.
"Please!" The examiner gestured to Lü Ping.
The two then stepped into the carriage together.
Watching his father's figure disappear into the carriage, before Lü Bu could react, a servant stepped forward and gently invited him to get into the carriage with him.
Lu Bu glanced at the servant, laughed heartily, and without hesitation, strode towards the carriage.
Followed by.
Ignoring the darkness of night, the carriages quickly turned around and headed towards Jiuyuan City.
Only Cheng Lian and the young Xiongnu boy, Wuerlu, remained, eating the dust kicked up by the carriage and looking at each other in bewilderment.
......
The sky was terribly dark.
It was already past midnight, and it was getting colder.
In the dense forest.
The group of Xiongnu people wrapped themselves tightly in their fur coats, huddled together, and dared not utter a single word.
after all.
Half an hour ago, several official vehicles had just passed by on the official road.
Look at these buses coming and going.
The old man, Urhan, who had seen a bit of the world, shifted his gaze slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Because the waiting time was too long.
There were bound to be some complaints among the Xiongnu people.
Before seeing these buses, Urhan, who also harbored dissatisfaction, would have allowed them to complain, but after seeing these buses, his attitude changed immediately.
He lingered around his people, and if he heard anyone complain, he would kick them.
The Hun who was kicked immediately shut up.
The moon rises above the willow branches and moves among the treetops.
Time passed slowly.
"Crunch! Crunch!"
Several more horses pulling carts came along the official road.
The Xiongnu people in the dense forest instinctively held their breath and remained silent.
Just this once.
Instead of continuing down the main road, the horses came straight towards them.
The Xiongnu people panicked instantly.
They only calmed down when someone recognized the two familiar figures sitting on the horses, and even dared to go forward to greet them with smiles.
Yes.
This is Cheng Lian and Wu Erlu, who just left, returning with salted fish and the four horses that Lü Ping instructed them to bring back.
Because it was a border area, I grew up riding horses and playing with my friends.
Cheng Lian was an excellent horseman.
The carriage came straight ahead without slowing down, yet managed to stop steadily a few steps away from the group of Xiongnu people.
The group of Huns cheered in approval.
Cheng Lian dismounted.
He directed a group of Xiongnu people to unload the several baskets of salted fish that Lü Bo had specifically instructed him to bring before he left.
Bang!
Several baskets of salted fish were placed in front of the old man, Urhan.
Cheng Lian followed and stood in front of Urhan.
He pointed to the baskets of fresh fish and smiled.
"This is the salted fish that my Uncle Lu promised to give you."
"Well? Has my Uncle Lü broken his promise?!"
Urhan shook his head.
Cheng Lian then took out a small package from his pocket and handed it to Urhan.
"As for that basket of extra promises we made to you later."
"My husband, Uncle Lü, has been busy these past few days and hasn't had time to buy it, so he asked me to bring you the money to exchange it."
"If you are not satisfied, I will personally take this money and buy you salted fish tomorrow or the day after."
These were all things that Lü Ping specifically instructed Cheng Lian to do while tidying up his things in the house.
Meanwhile, Wuerlu, who was wearing the Han Chinese clothes given to him by Lü Ping, did not come over at this time. He was surrounded by several young Xiongnu boys.
The group chuckled and tugged at Wu Erlu's clothes, wanting to try them on, but Wu Erlu, who was usually generous, for some reason refused to take them off this time.
He turned his gaze away from his own children and looked at the baskets of salted fish on the ground.
I don't know why, even though it was the reward they were entitled to.
Thinking of the bus that had just passed by, Urhan's face was full of hesitation.
He remained silent for a long time.
The silence was so profound that even Cheng Lian was starting to have doubts.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the salted fish?"
Urhan did not answer the question.
He simply waved his hand and asked softly.
"Where is Young Master Lü? I haven't seen him."
"My Uncle Lu has already been picked up by that bus!" Cheng Lian thought something serious had happened, and he laughed.
"I reckon the next time you see my Uncle Lü, he'll already be holding an official position."
Although he had expected it, Ulhan still pinched his palm hard upon hearing Cheng Lian's words, forcibly maintaining his composure.
He subconsciously turned his head and looked in the direction of his son again.
Having overheard his father's conversation with Cheng Lian, the young Wu Erlu nodded calmly.
Seeing his son's reaction, Urhan took a deep breath, looked up at Cheng Lian, and seemed to have made an extremely difficult decision, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"We don't want it anymore."
"These salted fish and these horses, Young Master Cheng, please take them back. Serving Young Master Lü is our duty; how can we accept payment?"
This statement came out.
Cheng Lian was stunned for a moment, but did not react.
The Xiongnu people surrounding Urhan were the first to erupt in uproar.
"Chieftain, what are you really thinking?"
"The children in our tribe are so poor they've started eating dirt because they can't get salt. You don't want salted fish anymore?"
"That's right! That's not what you told us when you came out! When we were capturing those Xianbei people, my brother was injured, and you said that when we got our share of salted fish, you'd give my brother a big one first. How come you don't even want the salted fish now?"
The Xiongnu people chattered amongst themselves.
Even though Urhan usually enjoyed a good reputation among his tribe, the Xiongnu people found it difficult to understand his decision.
Even his son, Urlu, couldn't understand his father's actions. He gave up resisting, letting the Xiongnu youths around him rip off his Han Chinese clothes. He looked up at his father with eyes full of confusion.
Faced with this sudden change.
Cheng Lian was somewhat at a loss.
Even back when he took the donkey to find his own Uncle Lü, Wuerhan was still urging for salted fish.
Why did he suddenly stop wanting her as soon as he came back?!
This...this...this...this wasn't taught to me by Lu Bolai before!
Cheng Lian was at a loss, while Urhan, who was being questioned by the Xiongnu people, looked serious.
For a moment, the scene fell into an inexplicable stalemate.
......
The next day, early morning.
The wheels rolled along the official road.
The small bits of soil on the bluestone slab were crushed into powder.
A lavishly decorated carriage drove through Jiuyuan City, heading towards the government offices.
Inside the carriage.
Sitting there was a plump, middle-aged official dressed in official robes, with a silver seal and blue ribbon symbolizing his rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement) around his waist, looking out through the carriage curtain.
At this moment, looking at the street, the minor officials who should have been on duty at the government office were, for some reason, hurrying towards the drill ground.
Seeing this scene.
The middle-aged official's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stopped the coachman.
"Stop!"
"Stop!"
The carriage slowly came to a stop.
The middle-aged official hurriedly got off the carriage. He had none of the demeanor expected of a high-ranking official. Instead, he grabbed a slightly familiar minor official and questioned him sternly.
"What's going on? Weren't we on holiday today too?!"
"It was clearly my shift time."
"What... you're all skipping the government offices?! Where are you going?"
The minor official was terrified by the shout and stammered.
"Reporting to...Reporting to the Prince."
"I heard it from someone else. Wang... Wang Fangbo has brought the Lü family father and son who killed the Xianbei people a couple of days ago. He said he wants to recruit Lü Langjun, who killed several Xianbei people a while ago, to be a clerk in the state."
This middle-aged official was none other than Wang Zhi, the younger brother of Wang Fu, the prefect of Wuyuan County and the head of the Ten Attendants!
"The Lü family father and son? Where is there a Lü family father and son who killed the Xianbei people? How come I don't know about them?" Wang Zhi muttered to himself, his eyes full of doubt.
He then looked at the minor official and said coldly.
"What's it to you?!"
The clerk was so frightened that he trembled.
"Some martial artists in the county were unconvinced and wanted to test the strength of the Lü family father and son. Wang Fangbo readily agreed and even said that they could watch."
"It just so happens that there wasn't much going on at the government office today, so many people went to check it out."
"Can we watch?"
Wang Zhi's eyes suddenly lit up.
"This Prince Master has always had very high standards. The Shen Pei and Shen Zhengnan who were by his side earlier were good people. They beat the bunch of good-for-nothings I recruited to no avail. Otherwise, I wouldn't have suffered such humiliation."
"Although I've never heard of this Lü family father and son before, if they are truly promising talents, it would be better to disrupt the situation and take the opportunity to bring them under our command."
"That Prince Shi has only been here for less than a month. What makes him comparable to me, the Prefect who has been deeply rooted in Wuyuan County for several years?"
"When the time comes... the moment they see me, the Lü family father and son might just bow down in reverence."
"This way, we can both recruit more people and humiliate Wang Yun..."
Thinking this way.
With a broad smile, he immediately released his grip on the clerk's hand and got back into his carriage.
"Let's go! Let's go to the drill ground too!"
"I'd like to see what this Prince Wang Yun is really up to!"
The wheels rolled slowly.
The carriage started moving again, heading towards the training ground.
The terrified clerk, seeing the carriage carrying the Prefect of Wuyuan County quickly depart, finally came to his senses and spat viciously on the ground.
Feeling quite aggrieved, he returned to his official residence, grumbling and cursing.