Qin Huaiyu actually wanted Zhao Chen to leave directly.
In this way, he will not conflict with the young minister of Dali Temple.
But Zhao Chen obviously had no intention of leaving. Instead, he stood up, clasping his hands behind his back, looking at the motorcade slowly coming in from outside the city.
"Sir, those lowly merchants at the city gate are still there." Someone in the motorcade saw someone wearing merchant clothes standing by the city gate from a distance.
The merchant who was severely beaten in the morning is still here now.
This undoubtedly questioned the majesty of their young minister from Dali Temple.
What's even more strange is that in front of them, there is actually someone holding a horse, and when they pass some merchants, they hand over two copper coins.
And the person who handed over the money was an official in a green robe.
Not just this person, everyone who passed in front of me obediently handed over their money.
"Sir, it's strange. There are so many people in front of us who actually pay those merchants when they enter the city."
"Moreover, these soldiers guarding the city seem to be different from when we came out in the morning. They look a little familiar."
"Sir, these soldiers guarding the city seem to be all noble sons of Chang'an City." Next to the carriage, the man who spoke before suddenly raised his voice.
"Oh?" A faint voice came from the carriage.
"Yesterday, His Majesty punished Zhao Chen to guard the city gate, which must be the Mingde Gate." The voice from the carriage came again, still as cold as before.
"Zhao Chen?" The attendant beside him raised his voice.
"Sir, this Zhao Chen is very powerful. If he insists on us paying tolls..."
"Awesome? He, Zhao Chen, only has His Majesty's support, but a mere county magistrate dares to stand in his way?"
"Tell the person in front that if Zhao Chen dares to stop him, he will directly press him to the ground together."
"Zhao Chen is used to being arrogant in the court, it's time for him to remember it for a long time!" came the voice, and then fell into silence again.
The motorcade of the Dali Temple Shaoqing continued to move forward, and soon reached the city gate.
"Stop, pay!" Zhao Chen stood forward, looking calm and indifferent.
Behind him, standing were everyone from the academy.
After that, there are a group of merchants!
"Eh? Isn't this the convoy of the Dali Temple Shaoqing who left the city in the morning? They are back now?"
"In the morning, County Duke Zhao hadn't come here yet, but these merchants were taken care of by Lord Shaoqing's people. Does County Duke Zhao want to take revenge on them?"
"No, that's the young master of Dali Temple. What's the benefit of County Duke Zhao offending him?"
"It's just a few businessmen. No one would be so stupid as to do something that is not good for themselves!"
"But County Duke Zhao himself blocked it in the middle of the road. He didn't even move before."
Seeing Zhao Chen taking the initiative to stop in the middle of the city gate for the first time, the people who were originally in twos and threes all looked this way again.
Many people recognized that the convoy entering the city was that of the Dali Temple Shaoqing who left the city in the morning.
"Mr. Zhao, the person sitting in the carriage is the Young Minister of Dali Temple. You have to think clearly!" The entourage around the Young Minister of Dali Temple did not expect that Zhao Chen would actually stand in the middle of the road.
No matter what, without the clear instructions from the young minister of Dali Temple, they would not be able to take the initiative to attack Zhao Chen.
Although they say they despise Zhao Chen in their hearts, Zhao Chen is the county magistrate after all. If he really takes action, none of them will end well.
"Dai Shaoqing, the county official has been ordered to guard Mingde Gate here and assist Huang Zhi and others in collecting tolls."
"I heard that Dai Shaoqing not only refused to pay the money this morning, but sent people to beat these merchants. I wonder if this is the case?" Zhao Chenli ignored the entourage who was talking and slowly walked to the carriage of the Dali Temple Shaoqing.
"Zhao Chen, do you want to vent your anger on them?" The curtain of the carriage opened a corner, revealing a thin old man inside.
He is Dai Zhou, the young minister of Dali Temple.
"Taking out your anger? Lord Dai, as a young minister of Dali Temple, openly indulged his subordinates and beat up merchants."
"I wonder if Mr. Dai is also venting his anger?" Zhao Chen looked at Dai Zhou in front of him and said slowly.
"Can I be the same as them?" Dai Zhou said jokingly.
Wherever there are people, there are classes. Since ancient times, the status of merchants has been the lowest.
Although what Dai Zhou said was unpleasant, officials are indeed different from merchants.
However, Zhao Chen didn't care about this today.
"Dai Shaoqing, let me tell you this." Zhao Chen cleared his throat and said, "Or, you can exit from here now and enter the city through other gates."
"Either, pay the money and apologize to the merchant who was beaten by your men this morning."
"Or, you can try to get through here!"
"Zhao Chen, you have thought clearly!" As soon as Zhao Chen finished speaking, he heard Dai Zhou shouting.
"I know it very well." Zhao Chen nodded and waved to Cheng Chumo, who then pushed the head of the Cui family of Qinghe over, who was still a little unconscious.
"Principal Cui!" Dai Zhou's face, which had not changed color just now, changed drastically when he saw the appearance of Patriarch Cui at this moment.
At this moment, the head of the Cui family was wearing the clothes of a soldier guarding the city.
His face was covered in stains and he looked lonely, completely lacking the aloofness he had before.
"Dai...Master Dai...save...save me."
Xu Shi didn't even take a sip of water all day, and the Cui family leader's voice was hoarse as he begged and shouted to Dai Zhou.
His eyes didn't even have the courage to look at Zhao Chen.
"The Cui family leader is unwilling to apologize to us, so we have to let him reflect here."
"I think Master Dai has a good relationship with Patriarch Cui, so why not stay here and be company of Patriarch Cui." Zhao Chen said to Dai Zhou with a smile.
As if he was just talking about a trivial matter.
"Master Cui, it will get dark soon. I don't want to see you here again tomorrow. Have you considered apologizing?" Zhao Chen turned around and asked Master Cui.
"I...I..." The Cui family leader never thought that he would have such a day.
Back then, he, the Cui family of Qinghe, together with other aristocratic families, had the power to call the shots in Chang'an City.
Even the emperor avoided them.
But since the person in front of him appeared, in just one year, he helped the emperor reduce the power of their family time and time again.
Until Cui Yan was killed and he was detained here today, no one came to rescue him.
The head of the Cui family understood that the era of their family was over.
After staying here for a day, the Cui family leader had already realized that the Cui family of Qinghe had already lost all face when he was detained.
Even if he apologizes or not, he can't restore any dignity.
What's more, Dai Zhou in front of him didn't seem to expect that Zhao Chen would be so determined.
To put it bluntly, Dai Zhou himself could not protect himself.
save him?
How can it be!
"Mr. Zhao, it's all Cui's fault. Cui is willing to apologize to the previous brother."
"Please County Duke Zhao release Cui's horse!" the Cui family leader's voice sounded slowly, and he turned around and bowed to the merchants.
"He...is he apologizing?"
"The head of the Cui family in Qinghe, did he apologize to these businessmen?"
"Today is really eye-opening. The head of the Cui family in Qinghe was forced to this point today."
"The head of the Cui family in Qinghe has apologized. The young minister of Dali Temple, Mr. Dai, he..."
Patriarch Cui's apology surprised everyone.
Not only were the people unexpected, but Dai Zhou was also completely unexpected.
How can the head of a dignified family apologize to a lowly businessman?