After leaving Bianliang City and traveling to Chenliu County, Yang Lin abandoned his carriage, rode a steed, whipped his horse, and headed straight for Mizhou with the guards of the 100 Long Live Battalion.
During the day, we passed through cities and towns, and stayed in hotels at night. We did not disturb the prefectural and county offices along the way, and we did not put up imperial guards of honor.
Even so, after traveling for half a month, we have just reached the ground in Shandong.
It's midsummer, and the sun is baking in Jeju's Jein County, which burns the soles of your feet when you walk. At dusk, the feeling of heat has not dissipated.
The sun sets in the west, the afterglow is like fog, and everything you look at is smoky red.
Yang Lin was sweating all over, and his whole body was sticky and uncomfortable.
Reaching out to drive away the buzzing mosquitoes, Yang Lin asked impatiently: "Where are you now?"
"Back to Tiju, ahead is Yuncheng County."
Yang Lin nodded and said: "The small shop I have been staying in these days does not even have a bathtub. Since we have arrived in Shandong, there is no need to rush on. Let's hang up our flag and go to the county town to have a good rest tonight.
"
At the gate of Yuncheng, several gentlemen were leaning lazily on the gate, chatting away.
Suddenly, a group of strong horses came galloping in from outside. The man guarding the gate suddenly panicked, wiped his eyes and said, "Could it be that strong men are attacking the city?"
"Open your eyes clearly. This is the military uniform of our Great Song Dynasty Forbidden Army. They are probably the Forbidden Army who are on business trips abroad."
When he arrived at the gate, he showed his documents and made his identity clear. Then the man guarding the city opened the city gate with a respectful look. The fast runner had already rushed back to the county government office to report the news.
After a while, all the county officials, policemen, and servants came out and walked to the city gate to greet the imperial envoy.
It was the first time that Yang Lin received such a welcome. Even though the Bianliang people hated dogs, he was greeted with loud gongs and drums and colorful ribbons waving in the air.
The county magistrate was nearly sixty years old at that time, and he looked like an old man. His wrinkled old face was neatly dressed and full of nervousness.
This was the number one scholar of the Song Dynasty. Not only did Wen Quxing come down to earth, but he also led a hunt in the sky this time.
No matter what reputation Yang Lin had gained in Bianliang, Tokyo, he was still a big shot in Tianting when he came there. Yuncheng County had not had a top scholar in a hundred years.
Yang Lin didn't even get off his horse. Lu Yuhou, who was standing next to him, said directly: "The imperial envoy has come from afar to be exposed to the dust. Let's arrange a place to clean up and change clothes first."
The county magistrate quickly turned around and whispered to a fat little black man. The man stepped out from the crowd, clasped his fists and said, "Imperial envoy and everyone, please go this way. I will take you to the door."
Yang Lin then dismounted, threw the whip in his hand to the man, and let him lead the horse.
Along the way, I asked about the customs and customs in Shandong and compared them with those of later generations. As expected, they were very different. The others were bored, but Yang Lin was interested. The fat man saw how interested the young Imperial Envoy was, so he cheered up and worked hard.
started talking.
When they arrived at the restaurant, naturally they couldn't accommodate so many people, so Yang Lin ordered them to station themselves in the county town.
The fat, dark official looked ashamed and said, "It's a small county with few people and poor people, but it makes the imperial envoy laugh."
After a month of special training, these people can sleep standing up, let alone set up camp. Yang Lin smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, as long as your cooks show off Shandong cuisine, the first of the eight major cuisines, it will be better."
right way."
"We have prepared a banquet a long time ago, and I just hope that the imperial envoy will reward you."
After washing up, Yang Lin walked out of the restaurant comfortably, feeling reborn and indescribably refreshed.
The banquet was arranged neatly, and the county magistrate invited some squires from the county to accompany him. They were all from prominent families in the county and the county, so they would not have stage fright when meeting the number one scholar.
The banquets in small counties cannot be said to be extravagant, but they are quite unique.
Yang Lin took a bite of the roasted fish. The meat was delicious and the soup was rich.
At that time, the county magistrate raised a glass of wine and said: "This is the first glass of wine that I will give to the people of Yuxian County to thank the imperial envoy for coming."
Everyone said so together. After Yang Lin drank with him, he sighed lightly and looked lazy.
He is the best at saying these high-sounding words in Tokyo, and he also speaks the most. Somehow, he has no interest in them after leaving Bianliang, and every time he hears them, they feel like nothing.
When the county magistrate took a look, the imperial envoy was playing with the wine cup, thoughtfully, and pursed his lips in silence.
He swallowed back all the official talk and asked cautiously: "The imperial envoy seems unhappy?"
Yang Lin stood up and said: "I serve as an official for a long time, but I still know how to benefit one party. I am an official who patrols the world. This is my job. How can I say thank you?"
"Today's officialdom in the Song Dynasty is full of civility and martial arts, and the corpses are eating plain food. The princes are wearing bright clothes and angry horses, and they are proud of their crowns and belts. However, they only care about good land and beautiful houses, and their children and treasures. They don't care about the safety of the country. The world of the Song Dynasty seems to be
The flowers are like a brocade, and the fire is cooking the oil, but in fact, the fire is gathering fuel, and I am frightened everywhere. How can I, Yang Lin, enjoy it!"
At that time, the county magistrate muttered a few times, but nothing was said.
But I heard an excited voice coming from outside: "Okay! Well said!"
Yang Lin asked suspiciously: "Who is he?"
The county magistrate hurriedly said angrily: "Song Jiang, you have no right to speak here, why don't you leave quickly?"
His original intention was also to protect this capable subordinate, for fear that he would not understand the rules and talk nonsense, which would make the imperial envoy unhappy.
Yang Lin was excited and asked: "Who? Song Jiang?"
Then he suddenly realized and said, "Why do I think this Yuncheng County sounds so familiar to me? It turns out to be this Yuncheng County."
This sentence was said carelessly, and everyone present was stunned. Yang Lin said in a concentrated voice: "The man outside named Song Jiang, come in and talk."
When he opened the door, it turned out to be the fat black man who sent him there during the day. Of course Yang Lin knew that Shi Naian's Water Margin was a fiction, but Song Jiang did exist.
This kid actually rebelled not long after, but it was not that powerful. Thirty-six people gathered in Liangshan to raise flags to rebel, and were wiped out by Zhang Shuye within a few days.
In the Water Margin, it is said that he defeated Fang La, which is just a joke. If he were really asked to fight Fang La, he would have been crushed to pieces and wiped out. The two are not on the same level.
At this time, this "rebel" showed no signs of rebellion. After entering, he bowed and sang in a polite manner: "The little man Song Jiang, after hearing the imperial envoy's golden words, couldn't help but applaud. I hope your superior will not be surprised."
Although Song Jiang worked in the government office, the biggest official he had ever seen was the prefect of Jeju, but he still lowered his head when he saw him from a distance and did not dare to look directly. Now facing the number one scholar of the Song Dynasty, the imperial envoy who led the sky patrol, he was even more nervous. His eyes were fixed on him.
Staring at his feet, his waist was bent like a shrimp.
There is no hint of the rebelliousness in this respect. It seems that the prototype in Water Margin is not much different from his character.
The first impression was preconceived. Yang Lin had a good impression of him during the day. This boy's knowledge and conversation were unusual for the county police officer. He secretly thought that this man was dedicated to serving as an official and was very capable. He was short of people under his command, so he just stayed by his side to listen.
use.
This was not a miraculous opportunity for Song Jiang. Yang Lin nodded secretly, not worrying that he would be ungrateful and use it for himself.