Chapter 222: Make a plan

"Ouch! Be gentle, be gentle!"

Li Qing pulled open his collar, let out a long breath, and turned around and complained: "Wearing this piece of clothing, even if you don't get shot to death, you will be strangled to death by it."

This is a close-fitting inner suit, just like a ballet suit from later generations. It was woven several layers of silk. Li Jingyan spent several days and, together with her two maids, densely decorated with nearly a thousand small iron pieces, and installed several iron mirrors on the vital parts such as chest, abdomen, and back. Later, a thin silk woven clothes weighed more than 30 kilograms. Li Qing wore it on her body, and the tiles were bright, and thousands of iron pieces were like fish scales. He was like a mermaid reincarnation.

"Okay! OK! Stop calling."

Li Jingyan held back her smile and carefully smoothed the wrinkles from all over the place one by one. Finally, she patted the iron mirror on the back and smiled: "There is no way. Who wants you to attend any celebration? Daddy said that King Qing raised many strange people and some of his martial arts are so high that you are so frightened. Now that you have reached this point, it is hard to guarantee that he will not be anxious and use despicable means to plot against you."

"I know, but don't you still have to wear fine armor? If you wear these underwear weighing dozens of pounds, how can I walk?"

Li Qing moved his arm, struggled very hard, and frowned again, "It's like a puppet. If the killer rushed forward, I can only wait to die."

"Go! Go! Stop complaining. You have hundreds of loyal guards, are you still afraid that the killer will rush up? Go and come back early, and you will be fine if you don't show up outside." Li Jingyan put his thin armor on his clothes and put on his official uniform for him. Seeing Li Qing's body was bloated, he swayed and walked like a duck, she couldn't help but giggle and bent.

Li Qing smiled bitterly and walked into the carriage with a duck step. The gate of the JAC Salt and Iron Service was open, and hundreds of soldiers guarded him and went out rumbled. What made Li Qing go out was that Wang Baoji Cabinet moved the Chang'an cabinet to Yangzhou. Today is its opening ceremony.

The Tang Dynasty's cabinet shop was the early prototype of today's banks. With the development of the commodity economy, the earliest reason for its emergence was that it was inconvenient for merchants to carry money. For example, the weight of 6 kilograms is 600 kilograms. If you go to another place to do business, you have to transport money by car and ship. It is very inconvenient. So the original cabinet shop appeared. This is also recorded in "Taiping Guangji", but the Tang Dynasty's cabinet shop was only a savings bank. If you deposit money in Chang'an, then you agree to go to Yangzhou to collect the token (the cabinet tickets that often appear in this book are Lao Gao's professional imagination, and there is no basis).

Wang Baoji New Cabinet House is about five miles away from Jianghuai Salt and Iron and Iron Store, close to the wharf, covering an area of ​​more than 100 acres. It has built several solid and thick treasuries underground with large bluestone. It has many institutions. More than 200 guardians came from Chang'an to strictly guard the first Cabinet House. At this moment, colorful flags were rushing in front of the Cabinet House, drums and music were noisy, and several lion dance teams rushed high and shook their heads. It was very lively. There were endless people coming to congratulate him. There were always high officials and great masters coming forward to sign their signatures.

The atmosphere reached a climax again and again. The big shopkeeper of Wang Baojijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijijiji

"Big shopkeeper, can you start?" Seeing that the time was approaching and the people were almost there, the host ran to shopkeeper Qin for instructions.

Manager Qin looked at both sides and saw that many guests showed impatience on their faces, but still shook their heads and said, "No hurry, there are still the most important guests who have not arrived."

Even though he said this, Manager Qin was a little nervous. The opening of a store was very particular about the time. He spent a lot of money to invite famous Taoists to read Feng Shui and set auspicious time. The customers were impatient and could use some exciting programs to make excuses, but if the time was missed, the owner would not be happy.

The shopkeeper Qin and Li Qing had a lot of personal relationships in Chengdu back then. Now Li Qinggao is promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. It is precisely because of this that Wang Baoji's boss thought about it and chose him as the new shopkeeper. He did not disappoint everyone's expectations. He soon took office and brought the money-storage business of the newly established salt and iron envoy. This is also Li Qing's new method. The salt and iron departments in various places manage salt and iron, and the money is stored by the cabinet shop, and the court regularly sends troops to Beijing.

The hour was about to come, and Manager Qin ran to the steps and looked into the distance again. Suddenly, he seemed to see some small black dots flying in the dust, coming quickly towards this side, "Ah! Come on." Manager Qin hurriedly directed the host and asked the drummer to play hard again. A group of charming dancers also flew into the venue to dance gracefully.

The lively ceremony again made the drowsy guests cheer up, tiptoed and looked into the distance. Which great god had made everyone wait for so long? Gradually, the roar of horse hooves began to sound louder and louder, making everyone's heart jump out. Several teacups were also shaken to the ground. The drummers were snatched, and they were all stunned. The dancers were also panicked. They hid behind two big stone Pixiu like frightened birds, squeezed together and looked at the scene. When people with a little knowledge could guess one or two, this must have turned Yangzhou upside down. The Minister of Revenue Li came.

Hundreds of riders hugged a carriage and suddenly appeared. The sound stopped abruptly. Nearly half of the cavalry jumped off the war horses, like a flowing line. Huge shields on one side were arranged one after another, instantly forming a shield alley, from the carriage to the steps. Everyone held their breath and stared at the scene. The entire venue was silent.

‘Squeak!’ The car door made a harsh sound and slowly opened. Li Qingmai walked out of the car. He was dressed very bloated. At first glance, he looked like he had been a tax director for thirty years. He was slightly modified when he went out. He took his hands behind his back and took a bigger step. He became a standard official step. He endured the bite of sweat stains all over his body, and had a knowing smile on his face. Five or six personal guards guarded the left and right, and observed the situation around him vigilantly.

This made Manager Qin stunned. He sighed in secret that he was still energetic in Chang'an last month. Why did he become the deputy minister in Yangzhou just a month? But since he has arrived, he must not be neglected. He hurriedly greeted him with a smile and bowed repeatedly: "My Lord is here in person, and I am really glorious."

"Where! Where! The shopkeeper Qin has the courage to move the head office to Yangzhou."

Li Qingqin held his arm warmly and laughed in a low voice: "I have revealed another news. I have already written to the emperor and suggested that the establishment of a Salt and Iron Supervision Bureau be established. In the future, the government office may be located in Yangzhou."

"Really?" Manager Qin was surprised. If the salt and iron supervision was set up in Yangzhou, the business here would become more prosperous. He moved the main store and took the right bet.

"But it will take a few years to include iron and tea in the monopoly."

Let’s talk about Li Qing walking and shopkeeper Qin in Shield Lane while greeting. Among the guests outside, in the drums, and among the dancers, murderous aura quietly emerged. Several pairs of sharp and ruthless eyes stared at Shield Lane, staring at the moving target.

Li Qing walked up the steps, and the shield was also removed one by one, replaced by cold steel crossbows, surrounded by Li Qing.

Manager Qin looked at the soldiers who occupied most of the venue, and showed a hint of bitterness on his face. In this way, the opening ceremony would not be possible. Li Qing seemed to know his thoughts and smiled: "I came here just to understand the process of the cabinet shop, and then look at the protective measures and regulations of your money warehouse. It was not for the sake of attending the ceremony. Manager Qin might as well send someone to take me there, so that he would not disturb your ceremony."

Manager Qin breathed a sigh of relief and apologized: "Thank you, Lord, for your understanding, I will send someone now."

Li Qing had already walked up the steps and stepped into the gate with one foot. Suddenly, his eyes found that Li Qing was going to enter the gate instead of going to the host to cut the ribbon and spread the red color. Something happened. If the target entered the gate, there might be no chance.

With a light sound of 'clang!', a gray shadow suddenly flew out of the guests, extremely fast, pounced towards Li Qing from the air like a strong wind and rain. A shiny long sword reached one meter away in an instant, but dozens of crossbow arrows were shot out almost at the same time, blocking all his approach. This man's martial arts skills were extremely high, and his body fell sharply. He avoided the rain of arrows. A rabbit rose and fell, and his body jumped over the soldiers' legs. The tip of the sword pointed directly at Li Qing's lower abdomen. At the same time, a flying knife shot out from the drum's hand. The tip of the knife was flashing with blue light, and it was extremely fast. He arrived with the swordsman in an instant and took Li Qing's face.

Almost instinct, Li Qing took the arm of the shopkeeper Qin and pulled the thin shopkeeper Qin to him, forming a flesh shield, and blocking the attack of the flying knife and the sword. However, others turned over and fell to the ground and rolled into the house. The swordsman then bounced his index finger and shot the sword into the house. There was only a muffled sound of "Tong!", as if he hit a gong, but he heard a scream from inside. The swordsman was about to turn around and find his way, but suddenly woke up. His right foot was on the ground, and then pulled out a soft sword from his waist, and rushed into the house with the force.

Lan Zhanzhan's flying knife had arrived first, and it was inserted into Manager Qin's nose with a "puff!". Manager Qin shouted and fell to the ground and died, his face instantly turned black.

But the swordsman was as smooth as a loach and was about to pounce into the house. At this moment, a powerful arrow shot, as fast as lightning, and was nowhere to be bad. He shot through the swordsman's neck with an arrow, and nailed him to the ground. The angry and angry soldiers rushed forward and dismembered him.

Li Fei Shouyu proudly retracted his bow on the roof of the carriage. He quickly drew out a long arrow and pulled the bow perfectly. The arrow shot towards the assassin who had just escaped from the drum. The arrows flashed with cold light, like shadows, and like horns. Hundreds of steel crossbows were activated at the same time. The crossbow arrows were densely packed like rain. The assassin had no choice but to escape, but was shot like a hedgehog, screaming and falling into the river.

At this time, a soldier rushed out of the house and shouted loudly: "The governor was assassinated! The governor was assassinated!" His voice was panicked and crying.

It took only a very short time for the two assassins to be killed, until the shouts of Li Qing being assassinated, and the dumb guests suddenly burst into screams. The scene was chaotic, the tables and chairs were knocked over, and people kept falling, crying for their parents to crawl outwards, but half of Li Qing's hundreds of guards rushed into the house, while the other half was motionless like sculptures. They had been through the battlefield for a long time, their hearts were as hard as iron, and they were not moved by chaos at all. They only firmly guarded the gate and blocked all offensive lines.

At this time, the last female assassin hidden among the dancers saw that there was no other way to wait, turned around and ran with the crowd. After escaping hundreds of steps, she quietly turned back. Her mission was to confirm the death of the target, or look for an opportunity to perform a third strike in the chaos. She was hiding a hundred steps away, but less than twenty steps away from the carriage. She saw the soldiers quickly lifting Li Qing out of the house and trot towards the carriage. Her hand shook slightly, and a sharp flying knife slid out of her sleeve and pulled out the scabbard. The blade shone with a faint blue light in the sun. Her eyes were staring at the target being held by the soldiers. Strange! There was no blood stain on his body. Suddenly, she felt a little movement behind her. When she turned around, a big bow suddenly appeared in front of her eyes, and a long arrow aimed at her face. Dozens of steel crossbows pointed at her coldly.

I heard Li Fei Shouyu laugh coldly, "My lord said that there must be a third person in this assassin, so it should be you."

An hour later, the city of Chang'an was full of chaos, with soldiers and yamen runners everywhere, and suspicious people were constantly arrested. The news that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was assassinated and seriously injured spread throughout Yangzhou City. People were talking about it, saying that Li Qing was retaliated for promoting salt administration.

At the gate of the city, in the bustling streets, there are a lot of notices posted by the government to seek medical treatment. Anyone who is good at treating poison can register at the Salt and Iron Department. If the doctor is effective, the reward of 3,000 guan will be given.

A young man looked up at the medical notice with his hands behind his back, and a smug smile appeared in his eyes. He couldn't help but say to himself: "Will I do the same without you?"

"Young master, are we going to Suzhou?" a family member next to him asked carefully.

"What are you doing in Suzhou? Is it necessary to go now? Besides, people don't have the intention at all, so why bother to eat his leftovers?"

He waved his hand excitedly, "Let's go! Tell everyone to pack up, and we will return to Chang'an immediately."

A hundred steps away, two rascals squatted by the wall and slapped their feet and basked in the sun, but their eyes were staring at the young man, and they were reluctant to leave.

In a small courtyard of the Yantioxin Department, Li Qingzheng admired the white pear blossoms all over the trees with his hands behind his back. The pear blossoms bloomed brilliantly, and the delicate flowers were fascinating. At this moment, Li Qing was like this vibrant pear blossom, full of flying spirits, but his eyes were quiet and peaceful, staring at the white dove-like pear blossoms, and remained silent for a long time.

There were news of his serious injury in Yangzhou City. If he could deceive the killer and think he would stay in Yangzhou to recuperate or even die, then he would have less trouble on his way back to Beijing.

Today is his last day in Yangzhou. He has collected 600,000 guan and will be escorted to Beijing tomorrow. As for the hard work and contributions to rectifying the canal transportation, he will leave it to Di Wuqi. With his experience and ability, he may not be worse than himself. There is also Liu Yan, who is also a promising official. He has paved the way for them and should let them go later. There are more important things for him.

The warm sunshine shone on him, feeling extra comfortable. Li Qing walked slowly in the yard with his hands behind his back, thinking about his next plan while enjoying the spring sunshine.

Not far from him, Li Jingyan was sitting in front of the window, holding her cheek and looking at her lover in the courtyard with affectionate expression. She felt sincere joy in her heart that the inner armor she sewn could save Li Lang's life.

Tomorrow they will return to Chang'an. When she returns to the home she has long been looking forward to, she will become one of them and stay with the one she loves forever. Although the storm of marriage with Tubo has not passed, and although the consequences of Er Li's blind date have not come yet, she is full of confidence in her lover and has never tasted the joy of being protected like today.

Suddenly, footsteps came vaguely outside, and Li Fei Yuanli's rough voice was always there, "I want to see the governor, can you still report it to you?"

"Brother Lifei, don't be angry. The governor is resting, so it's not easy to disturb you now."

"But I have something urgent!"

The brief quietness of the courtyard was interrupted. Li Qing turned around and walked slowly to the gate of the courtyard. Seeing Li Fei Yuanli being stopped by several personal soldiers, he was so anxious that he grabbed his scalp. As soon as he saw Li Qing, he immediately shouted: "Governor, that young man is Li Qiu. They have just left, and it seems that he is going back to Chang'an."

These days, Li Fei Yuanli summoned a group of thugs on the streets of Yangzhou and bought information from them at a high price to spread false information for him. Two of them sold him one of them and found that a group of people from the capital was a young man, who had also been to the governor's house. Li Fei Yuanli ordered them to keep track of these people. Just an hour ago, he learned that the group of people were leaving Yangzhou, so he rushed there himself, but suddenly found that he knew the young man, who had met Li Qiu, who had once faced him at the royal military competition, was of great importance. He did not dare to delay and came to report immediately.

Li Qing couldn't help but smile and said, "Oh! Li Qiu is actually in Yangzhou?"

This news was both unexpected by Li Qing and a little surprised him. According to the female assassin who caught them, they had been lurking in Yangzhou. This operation was sent by a big man from Beijing, with a gold medal from King Qing. But they didn't know who this big man was, but Li Qing guessed one or two. Since even King Qing's brother-in-law was not qualified to call these assassins, then this big man is likely to be King Qing's only son Li Qiu, who was the young man who visited Li Chengshi a few days ago.
Chapter completed!