"Squire-sama! What exactly does this stall owner mean? He who speaks secretly, refuses to sell us face, and refuses to tell us why?

It's really infuriating! ”

"Yes, yes! It is! It is! It's not that we don't give money, so why don't we sell noodles to you? ”

"That's right! We didn't bully him, and we didn't have any grudges against him, so why should we be targeted? ”

After sitting down, several officials complained indignantly.

Zhou Lin was alone, silently contemplating there, and only after a while did he raise his hand to stop everyone's words.

Raising his head, Zhou Lin said with a solemn face: "Everyone, the real test is coming!" ”

Just now, after some thought, according to all the information that the stall owner said, as well as his reaction, he himself waited for the purpose of coming.

Zhou Lin finally deduced the truth of the matter!

There is only one answer to all this!

It should be the Zhao family who made a move!

Only the Zhao family, as the head snake of Bian'an, can let even a small stall owner who is setting up a stall next to the official road know the news of their arrival.

Only the Zhao family has the ability to restrict the people in Bian'an County from doing business with them.

Zhou Lin guessed that the Zhao family was afraid that they had given some orders to these people, and if they traded with them, these people would be retaliated against and punished by the Zhao family.

Only with the Zhao family's status in Bian'an and the deterrent power accumulated over the years can they scare even the roadside stall owners into not daring to do business with them.

There is no doubt that this is the Zhao family behind the scenes.

The Zhao family knew that they were coming, and they didn't come to Bian'an like other officials, so they went to Zhaojiabai Wharf first.

So I specially gave myself a dismount, a meeting gift!

The officials sent you to look at me, and I looked at you, but they didn't understand the meaning of Zhou Lin's words.

Zhou Lin had no choice but to inform them of the status of the Zhao family in Bian'an County, the orders they might make, and the situation he and the others would face next.

When several officials listened to Zhou Lin's analysis, their eyes widened in disbelief.

When have they ever seen this kind of thing when they have been on errands in the capital, they are the team sent by the imperial court!

This Zhao family is a local force, even if it is a family, how dare to go against the imperial court.

Are they tired of being crooked?

The rest of the team around them also heard their conversation.

At this moment, the expressions are almost exactly the same as those of several officials, and they can't believe it.

Zhou Lin solemnly confirmed the authenticity of the matter, and everyone was convinced.

But after being convinced, this also means that they may really have to face the situation that Zhou Shilang just said.

On the rest of their journey, I am afraid that even if they have silver, they can no longer buy anything in Bian'an County, and no one has the courage to trade with them.

They could no longer replenish any supplies in the cities along the way, so they could only watch as they rushed to their destination with these things they were carrying now.

"Lord Squire, don't we even have a place to rest on the rest of the road?"

An official said with a sad face.

Zhou Lin nodded: "I'm afraid that I can only sleep in the wilderness next, and the imperial court will make you suffer." ”

The officials waved their hands again and again: "Where did the lord say, I am waiting to eat the grain of the imperial court, and it is nothing to suffer a little for the imperial court."

Just ......"

"Just what?" Zhou Lin asked.

The official who spoke just now looked at the front of the official road and sighed: "It's just that if we can no longer trade in Bian'an County, then when we arrive at the station, how will we carry out our work and how will we strengthen the river embankment?"

According to what Lord Zhou just meant, this Zhao family is in the same situation as a soil overlord in Bian'an County.

Will such a family allow us to recruit local people to build a dam? ”

"If you can't recruit it, let the local government send out conscription!

The living can't be suffocated by urine! ”

Another official said immediately.

Zhou Lin frowned, and the worries of the official at the beginning were not unreasonable.

The current situation is just an appetizer, as long as he and others do not give in to the Zhao family for a day, the Zhao family will always make small moves behind his back.

But he is a member of the imperial court, which means how the imperial court can be soft to the Zhang family.

Besides, with the appetite of the Zhao family, if he softens to the Zhao family, then most of the money, grain and materials allocated by the imperial court to repair and strengthen the river embankment will be handed over this time, so what should be done with the river embankment?

At that time, the remaining three melons and two dates will not even be enough for the people to eat!

The two sides have irreconcilable conflicts of interest, and it is impossible to give in to each other.

The next trip was really just as Zhou Lin guessed, everyone went all the way, and the villages and towns they passed through were like seeing ghosts, and when they saw them, they hid one by one, let alone made a deal with them.

Fortunately, the food they brought was enough, but the dry food was only dry food after all, and it could only satisfy the appetite, but it could not satisfy the appetite.

After a period of time, eating dry food every day, everyone's face is not very good-looking.

Fortunately, after these days of traveling, they were not far from the station of the embankment on the north bank of the Bianhe River in Bian'an County.

At most, tomorrow morning, their party will be able to reach the station.

At this time, Li Dingguo and the others stationed in the station finally received the information that they were about to arrive.

In the military tent, Li Dingguo looked at the news sent back by Tanma and breathed a sigh of relief.

I've been waiting for so long, and this Zuo Shilang is finally coming.

But then he remembered the information transmitted by the secret guards, and the fact that the Zhao family had issued an order in the entire Bian'an County that no one was allowed to trade with them also made Li Dingguo frown.

However, he didn't dwell on it for too long, this was a matter for the imperial court after all, and the order he received was to assist the imperial court in protecting the people sent by the imperial court to build and strengthen the river embankment.

How to solve this matter was not within his responsibility, so Li Dingguo soon left the matter behind.

Nothing was said all night.

In the early morning of the next day, with the red sun rising in the sky, on the official road outside the station, Zhou Lin and his party finally slowly appeared on the horizon.

Seeing that the sergeants were already stationed in the distance, not only Zhou Lin, but also the other officials and messengers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It's finally here!

They didn't dare to stop for half a moment on the way, the supplies in their hands were limited, and they couldn't be replenished, if they dragged on for a long time, they were afraid that they would all go hungry on the road.

If the Qincha team sent by the imperial court went on the road hungry, it would really be laughing and generous!

……

Li Dingguo had just finished breakfast when he received a report from his subordinates that the people sent by the imperial court to build the river embankment had arrived, and they were here to serve the Ministry of Works or the left waiter.

Li Dingguo did not delay, and immediately walked out of the camp with people after receiving the news.

When he came to the entrance of the camp, he simply led Zhou Lin and his entourage, who had changed into official uniforms, Li Dingguo smiled and greeted him:

"Hahaha! Finally waited, Zhou Shilang, you have finally arrived, I have been waiting here for a long time, you are finally here! ”

Zhou Lin strode over in a heroic young man wearing black armor and a red cloak, and when he heard the words in his mouth, he immediately judged that this person should be the commander of the Ping Wei Army, which one was already famous among the hundred officials of the imperial court and was called the family executioner Li Dingguo!

He also showed a smile, and said from afar: "There is a delay on the road, I am late for a long time, General Lao is waiting, but the official is wrong, please also ask General Haihan!" ”

While speaking, Li Dingguo had already come to Zhou Lin and his entourage, waved his hand, and the soldiers guarding the camp immediately got out of the way, Li Dingguo pulled Zhou Lin and laughed while walking in:

"It doesn't matter. It's good to come, Zhou Shilang quickly followed Ben into the house, Ben will immediately let the brothers settle you down, I'm afraid you are tired after walking for many days, take a good rest first, rest well, and then we will talk about the affairs of the court. ”

"In this way, there is General Lao!"

Zhou Lin was indeed a little tired, and so were the officials, so he didn't excuse himself, and was taken by Li Dingguo, and everyone entered the barracks one after another.

……

(End of chapter)