It was getting late, and two horses galloped in the thick darkness, and soon entered the urban area of ​​Shangmu County. The two riders reined in their horses and stopped, looking both tired and excited.

The middle-aged man in the lead patted the dust on his body and said to his companions: "Damn, it took us a whole day to get here. I'm really exhausted."

His companion was a young man. After hearing what the middle-aged man said, he clenched his fists excitedly and said, "We finally arrived in Shangmu County. This time we have dealt with that Jiang Mingyu, and our good days will come."

Returning to the gorgeous and spacious study room in the county government office, Jiang Mingyu immediately picked up the large wolf brush neatly placed on the table, dipped it in ink, started writing quickly.

I could see his eyes staring at the paper, and the pen tip in his hand sliding on the rice paper, leaving neat and smooth words one by one.

Zhuge Yu, who was standing aside, watched intently, his mouth wide open in surprise, and murmured to himself: "Master is so strong, his writing skills are so skillful, it's really unprecedented!"

"We, master and apprentice, can definitely make a name for themselves in the Dafeng literary world by joining forces, what do you think?"

Jiang Mingyu casually threw the written article into Zhuge Yu's arms. The paper fluttered in the air, and was finally caught by Zhuge Yu: "Take it." Jiang Mingyu said with disdain in his tone.

"Just make yourself famous. I'm not interested in these false reputations. Remember what I told you before? Even if you die, you can't say that I wrote these articles!" Jiang Mingyu asked seriously.

Zhuge Yu nodded repeatedly with a smile on his face: "Remember, don't worry, I will never say that you wrote it. I still want to be famous for these articles. You think too much!"

After getting the article, Zhuge Yu immediately said goodbye: "The student resigned!" After saying that, he couldn't wait to leave.

Zhuge Yu's eager look made Jiang Mingyu couldn't help laughing: "It's okay to stay in Shangmu for a few more days and wander around."

Zhuge Yu snorted and rolled his eyes: "Let's forget it. What a mess your Shangmucheng is in. How can it get better?"

"If I have this time, I might as well go back to Zhoucheng and expand my reputation as a talented man several times more."

Seeing Jiang Mingyu's helpless expression, Zhuge Yu chuckled and said: "Master, don't worry, I will definitely make that collection of poems as soon as possible, and I will not forget about helping you sell coal. I will leave now."

La!"

Just when Zhuge Yu was about to turn around and leave, Jiang Mingyu stopped him: "Wait a minute."

Zhuge Yu asked puzzledly: "Is there anything else?"

As soon as he turned around, he saw Jiang Mingyu's sly eyes: "Well... after you pretend to be a talent in the city, you can go to other counties in the county and try to use your talent.

Then help me spread the word about this coal."

Jiang Mingyu said earnestly: "This matter must not be delayed. If spring starts, the coal will not be sold."

Zhuge Yu looked at the heavy snow falling outside the window and was speechless: "Master, you are really going to tire me to death."

Then he grinned again and said: "Forget it, in order to let more people admire my talent, I accepted this deal." When he mentioned the word "talent", he didn't blush at all.

After Zhuge Yu left, Jiang Mingyu returned to the street and continued to supervise the people to repair their houses.

Seeing more and more damaged houses being repaired, Jiang Mingyu nodded with satisfaction: "We can finally get through this winter."

"When the spring comes and the flowers bloom, and we survive the massive attack by the foreigners, everything will be easy." Thinking of this, he smiled mockingly and shook his head: "It's not easy to withstand the attack of the foreigners. You can't do it alone."

King Qi? What a joke!"

Jiang Mingyu showed a faint smile and said to himself: "It seems that it is time to pay a visit to His Royal Highness, King Qi."

His tone was calm, but there was a shrewd light in his eyes, as if he was already planning some strategy.

Jiang Mingyu turned around and strode towards the county government office...

In the small innermost room of a dilapidated inn in Shangmucheng, two men in black sat silently under the flickering candlelight.

The middle-aged man with a gloomy face and a messy mustache on the left seemed to be unable to sit still. He tapped the table and said, "Hey, have you come up with any ideas? We've been sitting here for several times.

It’s time!”

The tall and thin man opposite him raised his head sluggishly, came back from his thoughts, and said slowly: "Well... it seems that killing Jiang Mingyu is not simple."

"Jiang Mingyu is an imperial envoy after all. Killing him in broad daylight is simply impossible."

After entering the city, the two of them first inquired about Jiang Mingyu, and then they found out that not only was he alive, but he had also brought Shang Mu back to ruins and was deeply supported by the people.

It is simply impossible to kill him in front of the public.

The man with the moustache wrinkled his sparse and thick eyebrows, with a stern expression: "What should we do? Master Chang Shi has given the order that we must kill Jiang Mingyu this time, and we cannot delay it any longer."

"If we two go back with nothing this time, we brothers will be the ones who lose our heads."

The man with the bamboo pole talked for a long time and finally said: "It's too risky to do it during the day. Let's do it at night."

"When I inquired before, some people said that the Shangmu County government office only has a few gatekeepers. It is very easy for us two brothers."

"Let's have a good rest today. Tomorrow night we will sneak into the county government office quietly, take advantage of Jiang Mingyu's sleep, and kill him directly."

"If necessary, we can also get rid of those government officials. Anyway, there are only a few dispensable lives. It's a pity that we can't afford it."

"Complete the task assigned by Mr. Chang Shi and then return to the state capital to report immediately. This is the most important thing."

"I can't bear to stay in this desolate Shangmu County for another quarter of an hour. The weather is so cold that my jaw almost froze."

A cold light flashed in the mustache's eyes: "Okay, let's go with this plan!"

It was getting late in the Shangmu County Yamen. When Tukesluo returned, Jiang Mingyu noticed by the light that his face did not look good.

Jiang Mingyu smiled and said: "What's wrong with you? You look sad?"

Tuckslow patted the snow foam off his body, sighed and said, "Those people who participated in the training were so clumsy that they couldn't learn how to use weapons no matter how hard I taught them. It really pissed me off."

Looking at his irritable look, he looks more like a big girl making trouble unreasonably.

Jiang Mingyu smiled bitterly and advised: "They are all common people who farm the land. They have never touched a sword or a gun in their lives. It is not easy to be able to train with you in the wind and snow. Don't ask too much of them."

"We will have to rely on them to guard Shang Mu from now on. Please be more patient and take your time."

Tuxlow sighed again: "My lord is right, I was too impatient."

"By the way, sir, there is good news. The number of people practicing martial arts with my subordinates has increased from thirty to fifty-eight."

"These people are very grateful to the adults for helping them repair their houses and make a living, so they also joined the training team."

Jiang Mingyu nodded: "Very good, the number of people has nearly doubled in just a few days. If this continues, it won't take long for us to form an armed force, and by then we will have guard Shang Mu."

Tukslow said with some worry: "What you said is true, but what will happen if the private recruitment of soldiers is revealed?"

"Especially King Qi. You have already formed a rift with him. He will definitely seize this opportunity and hold on to it. This is a serious crime that deserves to be executed!"

Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I already have a plan to deal with it."

"I can claim that these people are civilians and will be organized into armed forces when foreign enemies attack."

"Even if the King of Qi wants to argue, what can he do to me? Which law of Dafeng State stipulates that people cannot practice martial arts?"

Seeing Tukesluo nodding, Jiang Mingyu continued: "Speaking of King Qi, I plan to meet with him tomorrow."

"Ever since what happened at the coal mine that day, I have always felt that there is something fishy hidden among the border guards."

Tuckslow recalled the situation that day and asked: "Your Excellency, are you saying that the number of people reported for military rations is incorrect?"

Jiang Mingyu nodded: "That's right. I suspect that King Qi has been falsely reporting the number of troops to defraud the imperial court of military pay."

"The county government army salary account book states that there are 11,238 border troops, and there are 872 people in the city defense camp that Shangmu County is responsible for. This is also the number of people who are paid."

"But if you think about the scene that day, King Qi was obviously very eager to get the coal mine. If he really had so many people, how could he give the mine to me just because there were no miners? This is very strange, isn't it?"

"It happens that the salary will be paid tomorrow, let's go and see what's going on?"

"If he is really like this, I can only deal with this moth. This is not a bad thing for us or Shang Mu."

Tuckslow echoed: "Yes, he is definitely the number one in doing whatever he can't do, making money and making trouble."

"If this trouble is solved as soon as possible, we can free up our hands and fight the foreigners with real swords and guns."
Chapter completed!