Late Song Dynasty: From Imposter Magistrate to Emperor Donning the Imperial Robe

Chapter 64 Traveling in the Mountains

In the early morning, Zhujiazhuang was no longer bustling as it had been the night before, leaving only a mess.

Zhu Zhicheng arrived, leaning on his cane, his expression somewhat surprised: "Are you saying, Clerk Sun, that the County Magistrate set off for the mountains early this morning?"

Sun Jun sighed, "Indeed, the county magistrate has always been...decisive."

After hesitating for a moment, he chose to say "decisive" rather than "autocratic".

"I was still dreaming when I heard a commotion outside and realized something was wrong. By the time I was dressed and ready to go, everyone had already been urged to get up, saying that the county magistrate said that speed was of the essence in war and that we should advance immediately."

Zhu Zhicheng was speechless after hearing Sun Jun's words.

This new magistrate is really acting on a whim! If speed is truly of the essence, why did he let everyone drink last night?

However, looking at the chaotic campsite and the fact that everyone had left, it seems that this was indeed the case.

Zhu Zhicheng felt more at ease. What right did someone like that have to go into the mountains to suppress bandits?

Once he learns this lesson, things will be much more stable in the future, and his family's business will be able to continue to expand.

"However, those two are getting increasingly greedy," Zhu Zhicheng said absentmindedly. "If we're going to let them go down the mountain to plunder again, we'll inevitably have to invest even more. Or perhaps we could instigate a fight between them?"

On second thought, Zhu Zhicheng sighed again.

Neither of his two sons was any good. Even if one of them had achieved the rank of a scholar, they wouldn't have had to cooperate with bandits to acquire land.

Thinking about his own company's development, Zhu Zhicheng became somewhat distracted.

"Grandpa Zhu? Grandpa Zhu?" Sun Jun called out a few times. "The county magistrate has already set off. We still need to make logistical arrangements. Please send someone to lead the way, so I can take stock of the warehouse."

Zhu Zhicheng chuckled, snapping out of his reverie: "Of course, of course. Clerk Sun is indeed a capable man of the county magistrate; he takes official duties very seriously."

His words seemed to have a deeper meaning.

Sun Jun's expression was somewhat unnatural: "Grandpa Zhu, you flatter me. It's just my duty."

"Hehe." Zhu Zhicheng turned and led the way. "I have already ordered people to guard the things the magistrate instructed. Clerk Sun, please come with me. You may use any of the servants in my household as you see fit, so that I may do my part."

He couldn't let Sun Jun's men handle the warehouse; if someone set it on fire, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

Sun Jun understood what he meant, pursed his lips, and did not refuse.

The two walked together toward the warehouse where the supplies were stored.

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Li Chong was already covered in sweat in the mountains.

Using the blade of his knife to support himself on the ground, Li Chong gasped for breath.

"Whoosh~ whoosh~ whoosh!"

They started their ascent into the mountains at dawn and walked for several hours. Now that it was completely daylight, Li Chong, who hadn't exercised in a long time, was feeling exhausted.

Beside him, Zhongmei's face was also flushed with exhaustion, but she still had energy left.

Seeing Li Chong stop to rest, she laughed heartily, as if she had regained some strength. She took a few steps and came to Li Chong's side: "How are you? Can you still walk? Do you want me to give you a hand?"

Li Chong glanced at her, took a few more breaths, and then replied, "The roads in these mountains are really, really difficult to travel."

Looking back, apart from him, even Jia Zhuo, a scholar who looked to be getting on in years, remained calm.

Having grown accustomed to traveling, they were naturally more persistent than Li Chong, a modern man.

Wu Dalang kindly approached and said, "Sir, would you like to stop and rest for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song, Hu Changyong, Xue Ming, and the others stopped and looked at Li Chong, waiting for him to speak.

Glancing at the crowd and then at the overgrown road ahead, Li Chong gritted his teeth and straightened up: "Don't stop, keep going! We said speed is of the essence, and that's what we need to do. It's only a three-day journey, isn't it? We have to catch them off guard!"

After saying that, Li Chong started walking again and continued on his way.

Upon hearing his words, the sneer on Hu Changyong's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a complex expression.

This county magistrate seems really different.

Wu Dalang raised his hand and called out, "Brothers! Hurry up and keep up! Even the master isn't complaining about being tired, so what right do you have to complain?"

"Hey!"

Everyone shouted in unison and followed suit.

Those who had followed him this far knew why they were there, and seeing that even a county official like Li Chong could persevere, they felt admiration for him, which boosted their morale considerably.

A group of over a hundred people traveled through the mountains, following a barely visible path.

As the sun rose higher, the temperature in the mountains gradually increased, and by noon, Li Chong's face had turned somewhat pale.

"Stop...stop and let's rest."

Li Chong, panting, gave an order, but he was almost completely exhausted, and his voice was too low.

Fortunately, Zhongmei was beside him. After catching her breath, she shouted, "Stop! Everyone stop! It's time to rest!"

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief; they were all exhausted.

With a forced nod to Zhong Mei, Li Chong leaned against a large tree and slowly sat down.

"Hey!" Zhong Mei walked over to him and helped him up. "Don't rush, sit down in a bit."

She tapped the fallen leaves on the ground with the knife in her hand, startling a group of reptiles that scattered and fled. After a moment's thought, Zhongmei raised her hand and tore off a piece of the hem of her clothes and placed it on the ground.

"Okay, you can sit down now. Be careful and go slowly."

At this moment, Li Chong was too exhausted to think about why Zhong Mei's attitude had suddenly become so good and considerate.

Upon hearing that he could sit down and rest, he plopped down and buried his head to calm his racing heart.

Seeing Li Chong sit down, Zhong Mei looked around and sat down not far from him.

At this moment, Hu Changyong's displeased voice came: "Xiao Mei'er, I've never been served like this by you before, and you're serving an outsider."

Zhongmei paused, then retorted, "You weren't like him, were you, Third Uncle? When you're this tired, I'll take care of you like this too."

"Hey, you little rascal..."

Before Hu Changyong could finish speaking, Jia Zhuo interrupted him.

"Third brother, come here for a second, I need to talk to you!" Jia Zhuoqiang pulled Hu Changyong away, while smiling at Zhong Mei, "Little Mei, don't mind him, Third brother is just jealous."

After saying that, Jia Zhuo pulled Hu Changyong away.

Faintly, Jia Zhuo's voice could be heard: "Have you forgotten what I told you? Don't ruin Xiao Mei'er's plans..."

Zhong Mei watched her two uncles leave, feeling somewhat puzzled.

What are they doing?

She glanced back at Li Chong, then stood up again.

"Don't give him that!" Zhongmei rushed forward and snatched the dry biscuit from Wu Dalang's hand, scolding, "He's exhausted like this, giving him dry rations is tantamount to killing him! Go fetch some water first!"