The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

The scholar was stunned for a moment on his horse, thinking that he was already at the place where Du Que was stationed. He felt bolder in his heart and said loudly: "What's wrong with me! Don't say that I have any wrongdoing. Even if I don't, I can still enter this city!" "

Seeing that the scholar was so ignorant, the soldier did not quickly offer him money as a filial piety. Instead, he became aggressive and angry. He shouted, and several soldiers rushed forward with their swords and spears drawn.

Seeing the cold light of the soldiers' swords, the horse was frightened, raised its front hooves, neighed, and stood up on its hind hooves.

The scholar was caught off guard on his horse, shouted loudly, and was about to fall off the horse.

Qintong had quick eyes and quick hands, and grabbed the reins. The horse's reins were pulled and it could no longer lean back, so he had to put down his front hooves and kick forward.

The soldiers shouted and surrounded the master and servant. The leading soldier stepped forward, pointed the long knife in his hand at the scholar, and shouted angrily: "You bold madman! How dare you break through and seize the pass! Get off your horse and be bound. This will save you from death!”

All the soldiers yelled and clinked the blades of their spears to show their prestige.

The horse was frightened, and the piano boy held the reins again, so it had to keep retreating. However, there were soldiers blocking the way from the rear. The horses twisted their necks in a hurry and trampled their hooves.

The piano boy quickly reached out and stroked the horse's neck, letting the horse slowly calm down. The horse gradually stopped panicking, stood firm on all fours, and snorted.

The scholar was almost thrown off his horse just now and was so shocked that he lost his mind. He saw many soldiers coming forward with their swords straightened, and they were so frightened that they were at a loss. Holding up his folding fan with the inscription "Mr. Tuizhi" to block the front right, he felt the danger on the left, so he went to block the left. Hearing the shouts of the soldiers behind him, he made a gesture and waved back. There was a stuttering in the mouth: "Ah! No, no, no! Dog, no, Zong, Zongdan! Save, save me!" By the end of the shouting, he was crying and sobbing.

The piano boy pressed close to the horse's chest and held the horse's reins tightly. Looking around, he saw a group of fierce-looking soldiers, holding knives and spears, in an awe-inspiring posture.

There were some people who were entering and leaving safely in front of the city gate. Seeing this change, they ran to avoid it. For a while, shouts, summons, curses, and scolds were heard everywhere, and scattered objects were thrown on the ground. Those who could not escape were also driven aside by the soldiers. Those outside the city could not enter, and those inside the city did not dare to come out. They formed a circle outside the soldiers to watch the excitement.

I saw a middle-aged woman carrying a bamboo basket and saying to an old woman next to her: "Hey, I don't know why, the officers and soldiers are armed here? Could it be that this scholar who has no power to tie a chicken is some kind of robber?" What?"

The old woman made a noise and said, "Humph! Even if they are really robbers, will they chop them with a knife or stab them with a spear?"

A strong man behind him couldn't help but interjected: "Yes, these officers and soldiers have many ways to bully us people. If they really encountered robbers and bandits, they would have fled long ago!"

"Yes! Look around here. Sun Feihu's bandits are rampant. Do the officers and soldiers dare to encircle and suppress them?" An old man beside him also sighed.

Another young man also said bitterly: "Huh! I think they are in the same group with the bandits!"

The people around him all agreed: "That's right!"

"It is! It is!"

"What officers and soldiers! They are just bandits!"

"Bandit! Bandit!"

Some people quietly covered their companions' mouths: "Don't risk your life! How dare you call General Feihu by his first name!"

"Hush! Say less! Don't piss off the bandits, oh, no! Officers and soldiers, don't arrest you too!"

A crowd of people gathered around the city gate to see what these soldiers wanted to do, and [-]% to [-]% wanted to see the officers and soldiers make a fool of themselves. But after all, he didn't dare to help the scholar and the piano boy, so he could only watch from the outside.

Seeing the bluff of these officers and soldiers, Qintong knew that they were not really trying to capture the key criminal, but were here to extort money.

He looked up again and looked at the scholar riding on the horse. He couldn't help but nodded. He thought, look at the fine clothes and fine food you have, who else could I take advantage of if I don't take advantage of you?

It is expected that these officers and soldiers will not be too embarrassed as long as they get the money.

So he bowed his hands to the leading officer and said: "This officer has invited me, my husband. I am Zhang Shangshu of the former Ministry of Rites. He is from Xiluo. Now he is going to the capital to take the exam. I would like to invite more officers." Accommodating guidance.”

He turned around and looked up at the scholar, pulled up the scholar's trouser leg, and whispered: "Mr. Lang, please quickly take out your prison and show it to this official."

As he spoke, he squeezed the scholar's thigh hard in his hands.

The scholar was so excited that he stopped crying and felt relieved. The children of these officials have been exposed to the influence of their elders who have been managing and accepting bribes since they were young, so they naturally understood. They quickly took out the residence from their arms, quietly sandwiched a few gold leaves in the middle, and hurriedly handed it to the officer.

At this moment, the officer's face changed drastically, and he asked in a low voice: "You, you, you, are you Zhang Sheng? Zhang Sheng from Xiluo? Going to the capital to take the exam? Your Majesty once paid homage to Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites?"

The scholar immediately handed the certificate to the officer. After hearing this, he nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, it is Xiaosheng!"

The officer suddenly changed his face to a flattering look, put away the long sword in his hand and sheathed it, and said: "Oh, it's my fault that I didn't ask you in time. I hope you can forgive me!"

Then he shouted to his officers and soldiers: "You are blind! Didn't you see it was Zhang Lang? Why don't you put away your weapons quickly!"

All the officers and soldiers agreed one after another and put away their weapons. The formation no longer surrounded the two men and returned to their original positions.

The scholar immediately held out his hand, but he couldn't close it well or hand it over well, and froze in mid-air.

When the piano boy saw it, he quickly took it, took two steps forward, held it to the officer with both hands, and said, "Sir, please check it out!"

The officer laughed and said, "No need, no need! Ah, hahaha!"

At this time, a breeze blew by, blowing open a corner of the room, revealing a hint of the golden leaves inside.

The officer's eyes lit up with the light reflected by the gold leaf. He snatched it with his hands and opened it with a look of serious inspection. He had already secretly put the gold leaf into his arms.

Then he handed the passed hands back to the piano boy and said with a smile: "After testing, there will be nothing wrong!"

Then he turned to his men and ordered: "Line up! Welcome Zhang Lang!"

The people watching were stunned and started talking.

"What Zhang Sheng?"

"Is it from Losey?"

"The husband of Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, huh, he is also a son of a noble family!"

"What exam are you rushing for? Haven't the family already made arrangements for it?"

"Hey, you don't understand. You still have to go through this process!"

"Hmph! How can we, the people, have any chance?"

"Shh! Be gentle! It's good if you have the chance to compromise!"

"Don't gather! Disperse!" The officers and soldiers waved their swords to disperse the onlookers. Under the leadership of the officers, they formed two teams on the left and right of the horse and marched towards the city gate.

The officer was just a deputy lieutenant from the ninth rank. He was the lowest ranking officer in the army and had no mounts, so he led the way on foot with his head held high at the front.

Everyone filed in through the city gate, and the deputy lieutenant accompanying him turned around and asked, "May I ask where Mr. Lang is staying?"

The scholar was at a loss for words while sitting on the horse, so he had to lower his head to look at the piano boy.

Qintong smiled and said: "My husband is going to the capital to take the first prize exam, so of course he goes to the first prize shop!"

The deputy lieutenant accompanying Rong nodded and said: "Yes! When Zhang Lang goes to the capital, he will naturally become the number one scholar in high school!" He shouted an order to his officers and soldiers: "Athletes, please send Zhang number one scholar to the number one scholar store!"

The two ranks of officers and soldiers shouted together: "Welcome and send off Zhang Zhuangyuan!" The momentum was quite alarming. Countless people who were waiting and watching suddenly gathered on the surrounding roads.

The scholar was very proud of himself on the horse, opened the folding fan, and started to sway gently.

Qintong raised his eyebrows, curled his lips secretly, and followed the accompanying deputy lieutenant forward.

Not far away, I came to an intersection and suddenly felt something was wrong. The route I had just chosen to avoid the bustling place should turn here. However, this group of officers and soldiers went straight forward. The horses were caught in the middle and could no longer pull. The reins turn in,

Going further, you will find the prosperous place in the city, with wine shops, teahouses, bars, and brothels all available. Isn't this going to take away the soul of this drunkard? How could he get him to go to the solemn and solemn Pujiu Temple?