Chapter 144 200~201 Ice and snow, encountered halfway
After the words fell, Huang Shihu's eyes showed hesitation. Most of the people present exchanged glances and no one responded.
Including Chen Zheng, they also looked at their eyes, nose and heart without saying a word.
He got "Thunder Zen Shock Kung Fu" and he has been obsessed with practicing it recently. He doesn't know how much time it will take to do this, but of course he doesn't want to be distracted.
As for the entire Supervision Department, except for Huang Shihu, who has some pursuits and is still fulfilling his duties, the other three inspectors are also in the same position. Everyone shows them up and no one asks for them.
When Liu Yuanming saw that no one answered, he immediately became angry:
"No one wants to go? In that case, I will assign you directly!"
Everyone present remained silent.
Liu Yuanming couldn't bear it any longer. He looked around and then landed on Chen Zheng:
"Chen Zheng, I plan to give this task to you, is there any problem?"
Um?
Unexpectedly, he would be chosen. Chen Zheng raised his eyebrows and said:
"Your Majesty delegates, and my subordinates should obey it. However, after all, I have just joined the Supervision Department not long ago, and I have relatively little experience in tracking down evil demons and so on."
Liu Yuanming obviously had some considerations and immediately waved his hand:
"I see your ability in my eyes, don't underestimate yourself. The reason why I arranged for you to go is also based on strength considerations. After all, according to Li Hongda's intelligence, the things causing trouble in Liangshan County are difficult to deal with, whether they are cult monsters or evil monsters.
Only by leaving can I feel more at ease."
Except for Teng Qilong, several inspectors looked at it quite complicated.
The incident at the birthday banquet of the Thunder Martial Arts Center spread like wildfire, and they also learned that Chen Zheng had already had an astonishing level of cultivation after three blood exchanges.
His immediate boss, Liu Yuanming, has been in command for twenty or thirty years, and has only had three replacements so far. How old is Chen Zheng?
At this age and in this state, his future is unimaginable. The small temple of the Supervision Department will not be able to accommodate him for long, and they and others will naturally feel inferior to him.
Speaking of which, Chen Zheng couldn't find any more excuses and could only agree:
"Mr. Liu, thank you for your praise. In this case, I will prepare one."
"etc."
However, at this time, a careless voice suddenly sounded:
"Master Liu, I am also somewhat interested in this case. Why don't you let me go with Inspector Chen?"
The one who spoke was surprisingly Teng Qilong, who had been wandering around just now.
Um?
Unexpectedly, this second-generation ancestor would take the initiative to take the job. Chen Zheng and everyone else present were extremely surprised.
Liu Yuanming's eyes also flashed with surprise:
"Do you want to go too? Liangshan County is not that far away, but the situation there is quite complicated. It will take at least ten days and a half to go there."
Teng Qilong ignored everyone's surprised looks and smiled slightly:
"It doesn't matter, I've been staying in Lingqiu County for a long time, and I also want to go out and do some activities."
With a status like Teng Qilong's, he can't control what he wants to do.
However, Liu Yuanming was happy to make a good purchase and waved his hand:
"In that case, you can go with Chen Zheng. You can discuss it yourself and set off tomorrow!"
Teng Qilong raised his hand casually.
Chen Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, looked away from the unmoving opponent, and responded:
"yes."
Afterwards, everyone dispersed.
"Inspector Chen."
Chen Zheng had just walked out of the meeting hall, but Teng Qilong stopped him behind him and asked with a smile:
"Since we are both on the same mission, shall we set out together tomorrow?"
Teng Qilong was highly regarded by the Supervision Department, and even Liu Qiming didn't pay much attention to it. Such behavior was undoubtedly a bit abnormal. Chen Zheng raised his eyebrows:
"Okay, how about we start from here at 3:30 tomorrow?"
"Okay, then tomorrow at 3:30 p.m."
Teng Qilong nodded, turned and left without saying anything more.
After his figure disappeared, Huang Shihu walked up to Chen Zheng behind him, his eyes showing suspicion:
"The sun is out in the west today? Why does Teng Qilong have to go on a mission with you?"
Chen Zheng also frowned slightly:
"I don't know. Is it because I'm bored?"
Huang Shihu thought for a while and reminded in a low voice:
"It's hard to say. A son of a noble family like Teng Qilong has a surly temperament and is not a kind person. Please pay attention on the road and try to avoid conflicts with him."
The other party obviously meant well, Chen Zheng nodded slightly:
"Thanks for the reminder."
After chatting for a few words, Huang Shihu also said goodbye and left, while Chen Zheng narrowed his eyes and thought quickly.
He had a vague feeling that Teng Qilong suddenly got involved, not out of necessity, but rather with an ulterior motive.
However, the other party had a distinguished background and looked down upon his colleagues like them at all.
In the month since he joined the Supervision Department, he has only met with the other party a few times, and they have spoken no more than five sentences. He could not figure out what the other party's purpose might be for the moment.
"never mind."
Without thinking about it, Chen Zheng turned around and went to summon four of his men to make preparations.
In the blink of an eye, a day passed.
Early the next morning.
Gray lead clouds were densely covered, and heavy snow fell between the sky and the earth, covering the whole city.
On the avenue, a layer of ice and snow has accumulated covering the feet. Everywhere you look is covered in silver and dazzling white.
When Chen Zheng braved the wind and snow to arrive at the Supervision Department, he saw Chai Tiefeng, Chang Qing and others already prepared and ready to go at the gate of the government office.
After the four subordinates greeted each other, Chen Zheng asked:
"Where's the Tengqilong people? They haven't come yet?"
Chang Qing shook his head and said: "Not yet."
It was not long before the agreed departure time. Chen Zheng frowned: "Then let's wait."
However, a full two-quarters of an hour passed during this wait.
More than a quarter of an hour after the agreed time, when Chen Zheng was becoming more and more impatient, in the biting cold wind and heavy snow, he saw a cavalry team arriving belatedly.
I saw Teng Qilong wearing a big cloak, sitting on a handsome black horse, followed by nearly ten riders.
In addition to the four attendants, there were actually two pretty maids disguised as men, following him around.
The attendants and maids seemed to be Teng's servants.
The other empty horses were carrying blankets, tents, wine jars and other miscellaneous things on their backs. At first glance, they looked like they were out for a sightseeing tour.
Teng Qilong rode up to the waiting people and said with a smile:
"Commander Chen, I'm sorry to keep you waiting."
After waiting in the wind and snow for a long time, Chang Qing and others did not dare to be dissatisfied, but Chen Zheng said expressionlessly:
"Commander Teng is planning to go on a winter trip?"
Teng Qilong didn't seem to hear the irony in Chen Zheng's words, and said slowly:
"It's a journey of six to seven hundred miles. It's a long journey and we'll have to eat and sleep in the open. Naturally, we need to be more prepared."
Chen Zheng was too lazy to talk nonsense with such an eccentric second generation ancestor. He immediately got on his horse and waved his hand:
"Walk!"
Without further ado, the two parties set off.
As they filed out of the east city gate, Chen Zheng and his men took the lead, galloping down the snow-covered road towards Liangshan County.
Behind him, Teng Qilong and his entourage followed leisurely.
Not long after, on the vast snowfield, Teng Qilong and others were left far behind, almost invisible.
Chai Tiefeng, Chang Qing and others looked back, and then said loudly to Chen Zheng in front:
"Sir, how about we slow down a little and wait for them?"
Chen Zheng didn't want to pay attention, but after seeing the pleading expressions of his four men, he still raised his hand to pull the rope and slowed down.
Naturally, he was not afraid of people like Teng Qilong, but his four subordinates were obviously very wary of him, for fear of offending him.
After all, with Teng Qilong's family background and the methods used to deal with Yingzong, how could Chai Tiefeng and several petty officials not be afraid?
However, it was easy to lose direction in the heavy snow and the speed could not be increased. With Chen Zheng's approval, their team also slowed down.
Then, as the snow fell heavier and heavier, there was a vast expanse of white everywhere, and the sky and the earth were indivisible, making the journey more and more difficult.
Fortunately, Chang Qing has been to Liangshan County several times, so he knows the way and can stop and go to identify the direction.
It was not until late afternoon that everyone had reached less than half of the journey.
However, with Chang Qing's guidance, they found an abandoned inn before dark, avoiding the trouble of sleeping outdoors on a snowy night.
However, when they arrived at this abandoned inn when the sky was dark and night was approaching, there were already people inside who had arrived first.
Teng Qilong's cavalry was still a mile or two behind. When Chen Zheng arrived outside the inn's wall, he saw faint firelight coming from the broken doors and windows inside.
Now he is different from what he used to be. Naturally, he is fearless. He immediately gets off his horse and leads people into the courtyard.
Then at a glance, two unkempt and ragged figures were seen looking through the broken doors and windows of the inn, fearfully.
Chai Tiefeng glanced at him: "Sir, they seem to be refugees."
Chen Zheng stepped into the dilapidated inn, and then he saw a small, nearly extinguished fire. A dozen or so scrawny refugees in ragged clothes gathered in a group to keep warm. There were even three or three people with children.
woman with child.
There were also several bodies lying stiffly on the other side, motionless, and seemed to have lost their breath.
Seeing Chen Zheng and his group of people with bright clothes and angry horses coming in, the dozen or so refugees who were keeping warm were so frightened that they shrank into the corner.
One of them, a middle-aged man who looked like a leader, was wearing a coarse single coat and was skinny and skinny. He asked shiveringly:
"Who, how many masters are you?"
"An official from the government office is out on business!"
Chang Qing took a step forward, looked at it and asked:
"Who are you?"
Upon hearing the official announcement, a kind of refugee became even more frightened. The leading man trembled and said:
"Come back, sir, we are tenants in Lianshan Town nearby. A few days ago, horse bandits robbed the villages and towns. From the landlords down to farmers like us, most of the people's homes were looted.
We, the common people, had no food left in our homes. After being looted, we had no way of living. Two to three hundred of us starved to death in a few days and froze to death. We, as a family, had no choice but to go to Liangshan County or other counties.
Go begging for a living.
However, there was a sudden heavy snowfall today. Several of our family members were frozen to death on the way. We really couldn’t make the journey, so we took shelter from the snow and wind at this post station for a night. We will leave early tomorrow morning. I also asked some gentlemen for their permission."
Two to three hundred people froze to death and starved to death.
The looks of these people were obviously not fake. With so many panicked and pleading eyes coming towards them, Chen Zheng sighed in his heart:
"It doesn't matter, you can just stay here."
As he spoke, he glanced at the fire that was about to go out, and then looked at Chang Qing: "Did you say you brought some charcoal?"
It was cold and freezing, and it was windy and snowy all the way. Although the martial arts practitioners were strong and not in great need, Chang Qing carefully prepared some charcoal before setting off.
He immediately understood what Chen Zheng meant:
"Sir, are you going to give them some?"
In the ice and snow, there was not much available for making firewood in this abandoned inn. Chen Zheng nodded:
"Since we meet them, let's give them some. They should be able to arrive before dark tomorrow. It doesn't matter if we use less. We also have the dry food we brought with us. Give them some extra so that they can hold on longer.
Time."
Already understanding Chen Zheng's style, Chang Qing didn't say much. After answering, he went out and took a leather bag from the horse, and then poured a pile of charcoal next to the fire where the refugees were keeping warm.
The other three people said nothing, and took out the dry food they carried with them, divided some of them into a bag, and handed it to them.
It seemed that they had never expected that there would be such a good official. The refugees, whose faces were blue with cold and hungry, were all stunned, and then they all knelt on the ground in ecstasy, crying with gratitude:
"Thank you, sir, thank you, gentlemen!"
"Blessed by the Savior of the World, you are great good people. You will live a long life and have many descendants!"
"My lords are so kind and merciful, I will kowtow to you!"
The sound of banging and banging kowtows could be heard endlessly. Chen Zheng waved his hand:
"Okay, get up, don't kneel. Otherwise I will take all these things back!"
As soon as these words came out, all the refugees were so excited that they immediately got up and stopped kowtowing.
In such a world, there is only so much that can be done. Chen Zheng ignored these people and waved them to another corner to settle down.
As for the refugees, they did not bother to express their gratitude, and the leader immediately began to distribute the dry food, and brought back handfuls of snow from outside, mixed the dry food with snow water, and wolfed down the dry food.
Chen Zheng and others brought fine dry food, mainly dried meat. It seemed that these refugees had never eaten such good food in their lives, and they even cried with joy while eating.
Chen Zheng glanced at it and then withdrew his gaze, involuntarily thinking of Ge Tiandao.
The Guangwu Celestial Dynasty lasted for 1,800 years, but now it is in decay and turmoil.
Although there are evil and terrifying existences in this world that harm people's lives, corrupt officials, powerful landlords, horse bandits, and thieves are no less harmful.
Just like in the villages and towns where this group of refugees live, a single robbery by horse bandits can cause hundreds of people to die of cold and starvation, and even more harm from evil spirits.
If the original Getian Dao and its leader Lu Weixian had succeeded, I don't know if the world would be different now.
Just as my thoughts were whirling.
There was a sound of horse hooves and neighing, and it was obvious that Teng Qilong from behind finally arrived at this place with a group of followers.
The refugees who were devouring their food were stunned for a moment. After a while of noise, a gust of wind and snow came from outside the door, and they saw Teng Qilong wearing a big cloak, with stars holding the moon, and his maids walking in.
However, as soon as he entered, he saw the circle of refugees surrounding the corner and was stunned for a moment.
Then, with a look of extreme disgust in his eyes, he coldly ordered behind him:
"Where did so many mud-legged untouchables come from here? Wu Da, Wu Er, throw them all out!"