Chapter 113: The Scholars of Dongdu Are Bullying Others
The porridge distribution team suddenly stopped, and a dozen armored cavalrymen swarmed out of the city and charged straight towards this side with no intention of stopping.
Zhao Yushu was quick-witted and quick-handed. He immediately grabbed Master Wang's shoulder and stepped aside, barely avoiding the fast horse.
There was a series of neighing sounds and the knights all stopped. The leading rider immediately turned around and looked coldly at Zhao Yushu.
"Thank you for saving my life!" Young Master Wang was still in shock. After patting his chest to calm down, he quickly thanked Zhao Yushu.
"It's OK. It's just a piece of cake. Please be careful, brother."
The cavalry general raised his whip and pointed at Prince Wang: "The imperial court decrees that porridge cannot be served without permission. Prince Wang, you should also know this rule."
"General Sun, I just can't bear to see the people suffer from hunger and cold, and I have already submitted a request to the governor to provide porridge, but now the two governors are changing positions and there has been no reply, so..."
"My Lord, rules are rules. If everyone in the world could use one reason or another to break the rules, wouldn't the world be in chaos? For your father's sake, quickly close the porridge stall and go home."
It was really powerful! Zhao Yushu had to look at General Sun with new eyes. This man led his cavalry to deliberately charge forward, first giving a warning, then using the court laws to pressure Prince Wang, forcing him to be speechless, and finally doing him a favor, just like his whip, raising it high and then gently putting it down, leaving everyone speechless.
Except for these refugees.
Young Master Wang opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he sighed, waved his hand, and told his men to prepare to clear the porridge stall.
"Mr. Wang, may I ask if this decree was issued by Xijing?" Zhao Yushu suddenly had an idea and asked a question.
Prince Wang was stunned, and shook his head subconsciously: "No, it's just that recently more and more disaster victims have gathered around Nanyang, and a few times when wealthy merchants gave out porridge, they accidentally caused a rush to grab it, so the governor ordered that no one in Nanyang City should give out porridge privately."
"Is that so, Mr. Wang? You have already cooked all the porridge. It would be a waste to throw it away. Why don't you do me a favor and sell it to me?"
Prince Wang seemed puzzled, but he did it as a favor: "If you like it, just take it. There's no need to talk about whether it's for sale or not."
"No, that won't work. Business is business, even a penny is also a business. I'll take advantage of you and buy it for one tael of silver. I'll give you the money."
Zhao Yushu took out a small ingot of silver and stuffed it into Prince Wang's hand. He turned around and said to the long line of refugees: "I am in a good mood today. I will open a tent to distribute porridge. Twenty men are welcome to help. After the work is done, each of you will be paid 100 coins. Those with children or the elderly at home will be given priority."
As soon as the voice fell, the refugee team suddenly boiled. Zhao Yushu glared at them and activated his spiritual power: "Whoever dares to disobey the order will not be allowed to receive porridge today!"
The roar mixed with spiritual power exploded in everyone's ears. The refugees were startled for a moment, and then Zhao Yushu pointed out twenty young men to go to the porridge shed to replace the servants of the Wang family.
General Sun coldly watched Zhao Yushu's performance. After he finished, General Sun rode forward and asked, "Who are you?"
"A scholar from the White Horse Academy in Dongdu, General, I am distributing porridge outside the city of Nanyang. This does not count as a violation of Nanyang's order, right?" Holding the wooden sign of the academy high, Zhao Yushu looked at the general on horseback and exchanged glances without any politeness.
"The scholars of Dongdu are indeed domineering. Good, very good." After General Sun finished speaking, he whipped his horse whip fiercely. The horse neighed and galloped towards the city gate, followed closely by the knights.
Prince Wang looked at the cavalry going away and gave Zhao Yushu a bitter smile: "I don't know you, brother. You are very smart and I admire you very much. But you have offended General Sun. I'm afraid you will be in trouble in the future."
Wang Bushi? Well, it's similar to the name of that famous Han general, so easy to remember.
Zhao Yushu smiled and said, "When Prince Wang disobeyed orders and distributed porridge, did you ever think about the troubles that would come in the future?"
Wang Buzhi burst into laughter when he heard this: "Brother and I really regret that we met too late. If you have nothing urgent to do, follow me into the city and have a drink!"
"That's exactly what I meant. I'm Zhao Yushu, please come in, brother!"
Nanyang City is the seat of Nanyang County in the Tang Dynasty. It is connected to Dongdu in the north and Xiangyang in the south. It is a very important north-south transportation hub. Therefore, Lan Ling's father, as the new governor of Nanyang County, although the fourth rank does not sound particularly high, is already a very important local official.
Such a senior official risked his life to save him, so no matter how bad his attitude was later, Zhao Yushu could not feel any ill will towards him.
But he always wanted to see Lan Ling again. It was because they were friends after all. They had fought together and had risked their lives together. It was a bit sad that their friendship ended in such an unclear way.
"Brother Zhao, what are you thinking about?" Wang Buzhi raised his glass to toast him. Seeing that Lao Zhao seemed a little absent-minded, he asked.
"Oh, sorry, I was thinking about a friend in Nanyang. I still owe her a few jars of good wine."
"Oh? Since Brother Zhao has friends in Nanyang, why not invite them over? It's just a few jars of good wine. I'll serve it to Brother Zhao. I guarantee it's the best wine in Nanyang."
This kid is no simple matter. With this tone, he must be the son of a high-ranking official, or from a wealthy businessman’s family, or his father is a great master.
"Well, her father doesn't like me very much, so forget it."
Wang Buzhi immediately revealed an expression of understanding: "A confidante?"
"Friend, friend."
"I understand, I understand. It's okay. Since Brother Zhao has come to Nanyang, there will be plenty of opportunities to, um, ease the tension with her father in the future. Come on, come on, have a drink."
After lunch, Zhao Yushu stood up to leave, but Wang Buzhi pulled his arm and said, "Brother Zhao and I hit it off right away. How can I let you go alone? I am a small local in Nanyang. If you are looking for someone, I will lead the way. If you need help, I still have a few guest rooms at home."
Zhao Yushu was so amused by the young master's familiarity that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't blame me, my brother. I came to Nanyang this time to visit an elder on the orders of my teacher. I'm afraid I've failed your kindness."
"I wonder if you could tell me which elder you are looking for, so that I can do my best to help you."
"Oh, that's nothing. My elder is easy to find. He is the dean of Nanyang Academy."
Wang Buzhi immediately showed a very strange expression: "Brother Zhao is not lying to me."
Zhao Yushu was confused: "Why do you say that, brother Wang? How can such a thing be cheated?"
Wang Buzhi laughed: "Brother Zhao seems to have forgotten to ask who my father is and why General Sun wanted to show some respect to my father."
Zhao Yushu immediately showed a pained expression: "It can't be such a coincidence."
Wang Bushi straightened his clothes, closed his folding fan, bowed and said, "I am Wang Bushi, the youngest son of the president of Nanyang Academy, nice to meet Brother Zhao."
Zhao Yushu let out a long sigh. There are countless people in the world and many complicated things going on, but whenever two people meet, the word fate is always inevitable.
Zhao Yushu then straightened his clothes and said, "I am Zhao Yushu, a scholar from the White Horse Academy in Dongdu, nice to meet you, Senior Brother Wang."