The Child Emperor

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Before dawn, Cui Teng's group came back in the middle of the night, knocking on the city gate, shouting, and wanting to enter the city to rest. Cui Teng didn't feel that he had violated the military law at all, and publicly shouted to his companions: Next time. Go, bring a few more horses, as well as dry food and water, you useless bastards, don't remind me.

The city gate was closed, and when the people outside were a little quiet, the military officer on the gate said loudly: No one can enter or leave the city gate without the order of General Zhenbei.

Brother-in-law is angry. Cui Teng smiled disapprovingly and shouted up, Then go and notify General Zhenbei and tell him I'm back!

The military officer on the gatehouse replied, The general is resting, and he said that as long as the Huns are not attacking, no one is allowed to disturb him. Are you Huns?

Cui Teng was furious, cursing, then threatening and persuading. The military officer on the gatehouse replied at first, but in the end, even the figure disappeared.

Not long after, Cui Teng was too tired to speak, everyone outside the city looked at each other, and the night outside the fortress was howling with cold winds. Although it was a desolate place, it seemed that there were beasts hiding... Tired, thirsty, hungry, and fearful, Cui Teng's temper became stubborn again, and he said loudly: Follow me, even if you die, you can't die here.

Cui Teng turned the horse's head and galloped south again. Except for his two followers, everyone else hesitated, looked at each other, and did not follow.

A quarter of an hour later, with the sound of horses' hooves, Cui Teng came back, furious, and threw away with his horse whip covered his head and face, Traitors! All traitors! You have the same virtue as the King of the East Sea.

Everyone didn't dare to hide, so they could only protect their faces with their hands. When his anger subsided a little, a companion said, The city gate will open at dawn, let's... wait a while.

Cui Teng scolded for a while, but he had no other way. If he ran further, the people could bear it, and the horse couldn't bear it, so he had to dismount and stand against the city gate. He was inside, the others surrounded the outside, and the horses were The outermost circle is a little bit colder.

Han Ruzi... Cui Teng shivered, cursing his brother-in-law not to die.

After suffering for an hour, the sky finally lit up, but the city gate did not open. Cui Teng really had no strength, so he let others shout loudly, and another military officer from the gate came out and replied: Without the general's order, the city gate will not be opened during the day. not open.

Stimulated by the anger, Cui Teng regained some strength, ran a dozen steps, turned and pointed at the gatehouse and cursed, but the military officials above had already hid, and only a few flags were fluttering listlessly.

Cui Teng was quickly defeated. Looking south, he saw endless mountains and mountains. When he turned to look in another direction, only the wind blew sand, and as far as his eyes could see, Broken Iron City was the only human being. There seems to be a small town to the west of the building, but he can't run anymore.

Exhausted and aggrieved, Cui Teng suddenly burst into tears. Not only was his companions startled, but some people from the gatehouse came out to watch.

A noble child stepped forward cautiously and persuaded: Second Young Master, let's... let's take the blame.

Will it be useful? Cui Teng sobbed, he just wanted to enter the city now, and any means were acceptable.

It must be useful. General Zhenbei didn't send someone to arrest us in the city, that's just waiting for us to admit our mistakes.

I-I just want to go home, what, what's wrong?

That noble disciple's lips were cracked by the wind, and he forced out a smile, It doesn't matter if it's wrong, it doesn't matter, just admit it first.

Other noble children also came up to persuade him. Cui Teng had a little more face, wiped his tears, and asked, I won't be laughed at, right?

Who dares to laugh at Second Young Master? Everyone said in a vain voice, and at the same time they stretched out their hands and pressed Cui Teng to the ground, and then they also knelt down.

Cui Teng half pushed, and he really felt more comfortable after kneeling than standing, and said loudly, Please tell General Zhenbei that I confessed my mistake. Look, I have already knelt down and begged for mercy.

The heads on the gatehouse quickly disappeared.

Cui Teng leaned on a follower and hummed to one of his closest companions: If I die here, you must send my bones back to the capital, definitely, understand?

The companion was dumbfounded, so he nodded and vaguely agreed.

After another quarter of an hour, the city gate finally opened, and a group of soldiers came out. Cui Teng was overjoyed. He was about to stand up, but he was pulled from left and right. He was finally able to enter the city, and he must not offend General Zhenbei again.

A general read out the order of General Zhenbei: All deserters must go to repair the city wall, a total of 36 people, and some earth and stones.

Cui Teng and the others just wanted to enter the city, and they didn't care what the punishment was. They immediately kowtowed and thanked them. They then entered the city under the escort of the soldiers. Instead of going to the Xungui Camp, they turned directly to the Nancheng warehouse.

After resting for half a day, they ate a meal of rice porridge. Starting in the afternoon, thirty-six deserters began to work with the slaves in the city, moving earth and stones, and strengthening the damaged city wall.

Looking at the wicker basket full of mud, Cui Teng was dumbfounded, Brother-in-law is really here.

An entourage whispered: Second Young Master, bear with it, we have already made arrangements, you can just hold the basket for a while, and we will hire someone to complete the ration for you.

There are more than 200 slaves in Broken Iron City, and they are basically prisoners sent outside the Great Wall. The female prisoners wash and pound rice, and the male prisoners do the rough work. At the corner of the city, there was a crack, and reconstruction was impossible, so we had to pile up earth and stones in the city to prevent the wall from breaking.

Although he didn't have to carry the basket in person, he ate poorly and slept little. Two days later, Cui Teng was miserable and wanted to run away, but no one left with him this time, and even the two entourages advised him not to bother.

On the third day, Han Ruzi came to visit Cui Teng.

Cui Teng thought of a hundred ways to take revenge on this person, but when they met, he couldn't help crying, and the tears flowed more and more, begging: Let me go, brother-in-law...

Han Ruzi came prepared and said coldly, Destroying a soldier is a capital crime. Punishing you for a month's labor is already magnanimous.

One month? Cui Teng looked at the dust all over his body and felt that he couldn't hold on for even a day. Let's change the punishment, it's really not good... Kill them. I remember there were examples of surrogacy.

The two attendants were so frightened that their legs were softened, and they knelt down, Second Young Master, we have always been loyal...

I know, now is the time for your allegiance again, and I will remember the two of you. Cui Teng just wanted to get out of the predicament himself, and didn't care about the lives of others.

Han Ruzi didn't want to kill anyone, so he turned his head and asked Junzheng who was following him, Is there any other punishment that can replace labor?

Junzheng replied: If you have a rank, you can cut off your rank, but you can also pay for the punishment without a rank.

I'm rich and rich! Cui Teng's eyes lit up, It turns out that this is still possible, you should have said it earlier.

The other noble children also came together, and they were all willing to redeem their punishment with titles and money, and the smarter ones were more willing to pay.

It is convenient and quick to pay a fine to cut the lord. The army is giving the amount, and the fine of the entourage is counted on the owner. .

Everyone was disheartened, but the matter was not over yet. General Zhenbei said, Although you have only worked here for two days, you have received a lot of help. You can't just leave like this. You should entertain everyone to show your gratitude.

It's all paid to hire, it's not cheap at all... Cui Teng still wanted to explain that the other noble children had already agreed in a hurry, and the money and goods they needed would still be accounted for.

There is nothing good in Broken Iron City. You can eat cured meat, bacon, and drink a few bowls of wine, which is a great improvement for the prisoners who work all year round. More than 200 people are sitting on the ground under the city wall, eating a lot After drinking, many people came over with wine to thank General Zhenbei and the noble children who paid, Cui Teng and others agreed with a wry smile.

Punishing deserters is just one of Han Ruzi's goals. He came here to meet someone, Fang Daye, whom Yang Feng specially recommended to him.

Most of the prisoners came over to make a toast, and the timid ones came with others and stood behind to drink. Even if the task was completed, only a few people refused to come, either too old or too arrogant. Even if the emperor came in person, they would Just eat and drink.

Fang Daye has both, he is tall and burly, and he stands out in the crowd. His face was not very good, as if he had not recovered from a serious illness, but his appetite was not small, his movements were not hasty or slow, and the wine and meat in front of him disappeared much faster than others.

Han Ruzi had already ordered the meal to be full and adequate, so soldiers kept going to add wine and meat, and someone kindly reminded Fang Daye that he should thank the general, but he didn't even look up.

Han Ruzi was thinking about how to call Fang Daye over for questioning, when the army beside him had already noticed General Zhenbei's gaze and whispered, Alas, it's a pity that a fierce general has been reduced to the company of prisoners.

Fighting general? Are you talking about that old man? What deeds does he have to be worthy of the title of fierce general?

Jun Zheng's face changed slightly, and he said with a smirk: I also listen to other people's nonsense, so I can't take it seriously.

Han Ruzi didn't ask any further questions. When the banquet was almost over, he said, The wall in the backyard of the General's Mansion is not strong, so I asked five people to fix it.

Yes. Jun Zheng replied, understanding what General Zhenbei meant.

Han Ruzi returned to the mansion, Cui Teng and others returned to the camp. They were shameless and hid in the room for two days before they came out to participate in cavalry training. Since then, they have been much more honest. Cui Teng occasionally has troubles, but no one answers.

There is a reason why Han Ruzi didn't summon Fang Daye immediately. He checked that Fang Daye had been serving in the frontier in his early years, and he had been promoted and promoted. In addition to his advanced age, he was sent to Qi State to take up a military position. King Qi wanted to rebel. Confused by the court, Fang Daye was specially sent to escort the prince to Beijing.

Prince Qi was arrested and imprisoned. Fang Daye was not implicated at first. As long as he did nothing, he could successfully escape this catastrophe, but no one could have imagined that this veteran in his sixties would lead more than A desperado who wants to rob the prison and rescue the Prince of Qi.

The prison robbery failed, and Fang Daye's relatives and friends made arrangements to let him be exempted from the death penalty, issued to the frontier, and never hired.

Han Ruzi still remembered Prince Qi, and knew in his heart that Fang Daye probably wouldn't have a good impression of him, and Yang Feng had a problem for the student.