Emperor Renzong of the Great Song Dynasty

Bao Zheng and Di Qing finally returned to Bianliang on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival the following year.

At that time, more than half a year had passed since they left Beijing.Jiang Ping's shipyard has successfully built fifty self-propelled boats, twelve wooden boats, and the remaining 38 steel giant ships.

Bao Zheng stood on the deck of the giant ship that was still moving slowly, looked at the bustling Bianliang market not far away, and said with emotion: "It's only been half a year, and things have really changed."

Di Qing said with a smile: "The city of Bianliang looks the same every day. Not to mention Bianliang, it is not changing with each passing day. This self-propelled boat has already passed the world. We just got on the boat from Yingtian last night, and it is not past noon yet, and we have already arrived. Beijing. Two or three years ago, who would have imagined it?"

They walked around the northern states and counties, and finally returned to Bianliang by bicycle boat from Yingtianfu.

It has been almost two years since the case of King Xiangyang, and there has been a new magistrate and transit envoy in Yingtian Mansion.None of the clans in the city dared to cover the sky with one hand like when King Xiangyang was alive, so although they had been baptized by natural disasters, the people of Yingtianfu still survived the catastrophe and managed a prosperous life.

When Bao Zheng passed by the city of Yingtianfu in his car, he saw that the wheat in the field was green and the farmers were busy in the fields, helping the plow and pulling the oxen, which was a sign of peace and prosperity.

He clenched his sleeves tightly to the booklet containing the evidence of corruption and perverting the law by officials in the Northland.

People's livelihood is not easy.This day of hardships and rewards cannot be ruined by corrupt officials.

Yingtian was at a critical point, and some of the emperor's clan members lived there.Nowadays, fifty self-propelled boats in the world travel day and night to major ports across the country, and the route from Yingtian to Bianliang is naturally extremely lively.

Bao Zheng still travels in micro-clothes, following Di Qing's team.Di Qing is the privy envoy, and now that he has completed the emperor's mission and returned to Beijing to report on his duties, he naturally chartered a self-propelled boat, packed all the accompanying people into the boat and brought them back to the capital.

The boat was about to dock, and the bow of the boat blew a horn to remind the people on the pier to pay attention to receiving and guiding, and also reminded the large and small ships still wandering on the river to prepare to avoid it.

Today's self-propelled boats are very fast. Although they have paid attention to slowing down before approaching the port, it is also very important to be bumped into.

Ships of all sizes by the pier quickly vacated a space for it, not daring to compete for space with this behemoth.

Di Qing smiled and said: "It's almost here. The news of our return to Beijing should have reached the official desk. If the official is in a hurry to see you and me, they will naturally send someone to summon you at the dock."

The self-propelled boat from Yingtian to Bianliang runs every two days.They were stationed in Yingtian for a few days to rest and recuperate, and the news of their return to Beijing had been delivered to the emperor along with the last ship.

Bao Zheng straightened his sleeves: "Even if the officials are not in a hurry to see me, I have to go to the palace to meet the officials."

Di Qing glanced at his sleeve: "There's no rush. You came out of Beijing by the emperor's order. Compared with others, the officials must trust you more."

Bao Zheng said: "All the mouths make money, and the accumulation destroys the bones. The sooner you face the saint, the more hope you will have."

Although he collected evidence of officials' crimes along the way, although it was a private visit in a low-clothes, it was inevitable that he would startle the snake.He is also a character who is always going to the end, and he doesn't get into oil and salt.Seeing that they could not bribe him, officials from all over the country wanted to kill the grass and roots.It's a pity that he has a martial arts hero like Zhan Zhao by his side, and Di Qing leads an army with him, but under the hatred of officials from all over the country, he saved his life.

He couldn't buy it off, and he couldn't silence it. Officials who had a handle in his hands had no choice but to make a living by sending people to Beijing first to sow discord in front of the emperor.

Di Qing patted him on the shoulder.Reassuring him, he said, "Bao Yushi, do officials have the temperament to be deceived by others? No matter how many people gossip in front of officials, they can't threaten you at all. Besides, don't you still have me?" ? If the officials unfortunately listen to the villain's slander, Qing will defend Bao Yushi."

Bao Zheng was touched and said: "Bao thanked Brother Di."

Di Qing waved his hand: "Why are you being so polite?"

Over the past six months or so, both of them have gained a deeper understanding of each other.Di Qing admired Bao Zheng's uprightness, and Bao Zheng also admired Di's young man's ability to manage the army well.The two refer to each other as confidants in their hearts, and they form an irreversible relationship.

only……

Hearing the sound of ping-pong-pong in the cabin behind them, the two sighed at the same time and smiled wryly at each other.

The two ancestors fell out again.

Di Qing walked to the cabin, and raised his voice: "Yutang! Stop making trouble, the boat is about to stop, pack up and get off the boat!"

Bai Yutang jumped out of the cabin, and said in high spirits, "I didn't make a fuss, this time it was Nan Xia who made the first move."

Zhan Zhao also rushed out of the cabin, his face flushed, he slammed his sleeves off, and saluted Di Qing, "Master Di."

Bai Yutang looked at him with folded arms, and couldn't stop smiling.Di Qing said helplessly, "I apologize to Nan Xia on Yutang's behalf."

Zhan Zhao hurriedly said that he didn't dare.Di Qing dragged Bai Yutang to a dark place, saw that his face was still full of smiles, couldn't help but sighed, "It's been more than half a year, and you've been bothering Nan Xia every day, don't you feel tired?"

Bai Yutang said solemnly: "How can you say that I caused trouble for him? Every time he fights back, it hurts me a lot."

Di Qing snorted and said, "I've done my own crimes! Well, I've arrived in the capital anyway. From now on, I will go back to the bridge. He will follow Mr. Bao and you will follow me. The two of you will see each other less, and you will not cause trouble for me."

He couldn't help but said again: "Senior Xia entrusted you to me, you should at least save me some time. We were away from home before, and to say something disrespectful, the sky is far away from the emperor, and you and Nan Xia are small and we are also Just pretend you can't see it. When you return to the capital, you will go to the barracks with me. The new army has strict discipline, and the officials value this place very much. If you continue to be so presumptuous, I will not be able to protect you."

Bai Yutang said with disinterestedness: "Understood, I will definitely not cause trouble for you after returning to Beijing."

Di Qing patted him on the shoulder: "Senior Xia has high hopes for you, don't let him down."

After a violent shock, the ship finally moored beside the pier.

Bai Yutang frowned: "The man at the helm is too edgy, he should slow down a bit before berthing. Fortunately, we don't have precious goods on board. If it was a merchant ship carrying porcelain, the porcelain would have been shattered by now. .”

He is Xia Yuqi's disciple, and he has his own views on self-propelled boats.

Di Qing said: "This thing has only been in the world for a long time, and it has not been run in the water many times. When they get used to it, they will naturally be more stable."

The gangway was thrown off the boat, Di Qing and Bao Zheng gave way to each other, and finally got off the boat one after the other.Not long after standing still on the pier, I saw a young man with a white face and beardless running over in small steps.

Di Qing and Bao Zheng looked at each other.

Sure enough, someone came from the palace.

The eunuch stopped in front of the two of them, saluted casually, and said in a low voice: "This place is chaotic, it's hard to talk. Please come with me, both of you."

Bao Zheng hurriedly said: "Can I take one person with me?"

The eunuch clapped his hands together: "Look at me, I almost forgot. Yes, you have to bring someone...in the past. Which one is it?"

Bao Zheng said: "It's my master, Mr. Gongsun."

At this time Gongsun Ce finally came down the gangway tremblingly, his face was still a little pale - the waves were slightly rough last night, which made him sleepless all night.

The eunuch looked at him in surprise: "You are..."

Bao Zheng hurriedly supported Gongsun Ce to stand firm, Gongsun Ce reluctantly saluted and said, "My servant is Gongsun Ce."

The eunuch said: "Okay. You can go. But there must be one."

Bao Zheng wondered, "Who else?"

The eunuch glanced behind him: "There must be someone surnamed Zhan Mingzhao who will enter the palace with your lord."

Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce turned their heads together, Zhan Zhao hugged Ju Que, and pointed at himself in doubt: "Me? What am I going to do?"

It's not that he has never been to the palace or met the saint.But that's all for good reason.Now that Bao Zheng is going to the palace to report on his duties, it's fine to bring a Gongsun Ce to help explain, but why bring him a guard?

The face saint who entered the palace also brought his own guards. Is it because he dislikes the security of the palace, or is he afraid of what the emperor will do to you?

What's more, it was the emperor asking him to enter the palace by name, which was very strange.

The eunuch nodded: "Yes. You want to go together. It's hard to say what you did here, but your name was called anyway."

He gestured sideways to a simple carriage parked behind him: "Several, please."

Di Qing told Bai Yutang, "I've entrusted all the people here to you. Be sure to take them back and settle them down. The officials never procrastinate. I can return to the camp before evening. Ask all the battalion soldiers to tidy up and practice. Wake up, I will have a military parade when I go back, if anyone slackens training while I am away, they will be dealt with by military law."

Bai Yutang was not happy at first that Zhan Zhao was named into the palace, he thought to himself that everyone came from the rivers and lakes, and their abilities were similar, why did the emperor only call him and not me?At this time, being instructed by Di Qing, he suddenly felt a sense of responsibility, so he said frankly: "Don't worry, my lord, I will definitely arrange them properly."

Di Qing was still assured of his ability to handle affairs, so he followed Bao Zheng into the carriage without looking back.

From the inside to the outside, this carriage exudes a royal air, which makes people know at a glance that it is the carriage that the emperor used to go out of the palace on weekdays - except for its simplicity, it is still simple.It looks unpretentious from the outside, and there are no decorations in the car.

Bao Zheng and Di Qing sat facing the car door, one on the left and the other on the right, while Zhan Zhao and Gongsun Ce sat opposite each other.The eunuch sat on the crossbar with his back to the door, and there was another person outside the door whipping his horse.

The carriage started to walk unsteadily, Zhan Zhao couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer, and couldn't help asking, "Eunuch, why did the officials tell me to enter the palace?"

The eunuch is also a kind person, hearing the words said: "I vaguely heard Eunuch Liu say something, it seems that the official wanted to meet you, a righteous man, because he heard about your deeds of guarding Mr. Bao and felt something. .It seems that you will be appointed as an official to show righteous deeds. Zhan Yishi, great joy."