Chapter 73

When Qu Tongsun climbed into the carriage, he still sighed in his heart. Since last year, he could no longer ride a horse. Even when he was helped onto a horse, he no longer had the strength to pull the reins and spur the warhorse. However, he quickly put aside this moment of melancholy. He had spent his entire life charging into battle, and it was no exaggeration to say he had killed countless people. Many of his comrades had died or been injured in battle. Now, in his old age, he had discovered a talent who solved a major problem in the army, so he had no regrets. It seems I am really old. These civil officials no longer take this old man seriously. A mere clerk, without even the rank of a chief secretary, dares to let his son run rampant and even arrest the person who solved the army's problem. Do they really think I am powerless to manage the affairs of Luoyang? Just right, the eunuch from the palace has just arrived in Luoyang, bringing the emperor's rewards. I want to see what kind of expression that chief secretary will have!

Instead of going directly to the prison, he brought the eunuch straight to the governor's residence. The chief secretary was the assistant to the governor of Luozhou, helping the governor handle affairs. He should be found in the governor's residence.

A squad of bodyguards escorted the carriage, the hooves clattering. These few bodyguards were used as experiments, all having horseshoes nailed to their horses. When they arrived at the governor's residence, a squad of bodyguards immediately formed two rows at the gate. The sound of hooves and armor startled the gatekeepers inside, who opened the gate a crack to look out. Seeing two rows of armored soldiers with their hands on their sword hilts, exuding a fierce aura, the gatekeepers were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they hurriedly shouted for help.

Qu Tongsun did not enter, but was helped down from the carriage by his bodyguards and stood outside the governor's residence. These civil officials, I don't want to argue with you. Do you really think I am blind and deaf, unable to see or act? This time, I will be a bit overbearing to remind you that I am the one who has fought through countless battles and still commands respect!

Qu Tongsun sneered, coldly watching the governor's residence. Soon, the heavy gate creaked open, and a group of people came out, led by the governor of Luozhou, who hurriedly walked up to him.

"Your subordinate greets Duke Jiang. What instructions does Duke Jiang have?" the governor bowed and asked.

Qu Tongsun did not even look at him, but stepped past him, pointed to the chief secretary behind him, and shouted in a deep voice, "Seize him!"

"Yes!" The soldiers loudly obeyed, rushing over and pinning the chief secretary to the ground in a few moments.

"Duke Jiang! Why are you seizing me?!" The chief secretary, not knowing what had happened, was already pinned to the ground, his face full of fear, struggling and shouting toward Qu Tongsun. Seeing no response, he shouted to the governor, "Lord! Lord, save me! Lord, save me..."

Everyone stood there in shock, not knowing what had happened or what the chief secretary had done to provoke this famous old general to personally bring his bodyguards to arrest him. The governor was also greatly surprised, hurriedly stepping forward to bow to Qu Tongsun and ask, "Please, Duke Jiang, explain. This person is my advisor, the chief secretary of Luozhou, who has been very diligent in handling affairs. The stability of Luoyang is largely due to his efforts. Why are you bringing soldiers to arrest him?"

"Do I need to explain my reasons to you?" Qu Tongsun coldly glanced at the governor. As a general who had fought in countless battles, having killed many, his cold stare made the governor suddenly feel a chill, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

However, as the governor of a province, though he was somewhat intimidated by Qu Tongsun, he still bowed and asked, "This person is the chief secretary of the governor's residence. If Duke Jiang wants to arrest him, please give me a reason. I am the governor of Luozhou and should know what my assistant has done wrong. Please, Duke Jiang, explain!"

"Hmph, nothing more, Governor. You are overthinking it. I am just asking this chief secretary to lead the way to the prison," Qu Tongsun sneered. "If the governor has time, you may come along as well."

"Since that is the case, I will accompany the old lord," the governor bowed to Qu Tongsun and then called out, "Someone, prepare the horses!"

Soon, horses were brought out. Qu Tongsun had already gotten into the carriage, and the chief secretary was escorted by the soldiers to the prison.

When they arrived at the prison, everyone dismounted. Qu Tongsun got out of the carriage first, then ordered someone to jump down from the carriage. The governor, seeing the person's clothes, his eyes narrowed, sensing something was amiss. This was a palace eunuch! Why was a eunuch here? The emperor would not easily leave the palace, so there was no need to worry about the emperor coming in person. The most likely reason for a eunuch to be here was to deliver an imperial edict. But why deliver an edict at the prison and arrest the chief secretary? The governor felt a growing sense of unease.

The presence of the governor of Luozhou, Duke Jiang Qu Tongsun, and the governor of Luozhou at the prison frightened the guards, who hurriedly ran out to greet them. Seeing the soldiers escorting the chief secretary, they were all shocked.

"Let me ask you, has anyone been thrown into the prison today?" Qu Tongsun glanced sideways at the guard and asked.

"Well..." The guard hesitated, looking at the governor and then at the chief secretary.

Seeing the guard's hesitation, the governor's heart sank, realizing something was wrong. He immediately stepped forward and slapped the guard across the face, "Why don't you answer quickly?!"

"Yes! Lord, spare my life!" The guard quickly knelt and begged for mercy, saying, "Just now, the guards from the chief secretary's house brought someone in, saying he had disrespected the young master and ordered me to lock him up!"

"What?!" The chief secretary, being escorted by two soldiers, was shocked and exclaimed, "Duke Jiang, Governor, I really didn't know about this! I really didn't know!... It must be..."

"Shut up!" The governor, his face now ashen, shouted at the chief secretary. The chief secretary had failed to discipline his son, who had now arrested someone from Duke Jiang's camp, leading to this confrontation and implicating the governor himself.

With a loud "Bang!" Qu Tongsun slammed his fist into the prison bars, his face full of anger, "Just as I thought! Cough, cough, cough..."

"Duke Jiang, calm down!" The eunuch quickly stepped forward to comfort him, gently patting Qu Tongsun's back to help him calm down.

After a while, Qu Tongsun calmed down, nodded to the eunuch, and said, "Thank you, eunuch."

"Not at all, please, Duke Jiang, calm your anger and take care of your health," the eunuch, not daring to be disrespectful to a distinguished duke, quickly bowed and said.

Qu Tongsun turned to the guard, who was trembling on the ground, and said, "Take me to him."

The guard quickly got up and led everyone to a cell. Qu Tongsun looked inside and saw a person sleeping with his head in his hands—none other than Xia Hongsheng, who had contributed the horseshoe method!

"Chief Secretary Zhao, do you recognize this young man?" Qu Tongsun turned to the chief secretary and asked coldly.

"This... I don't recognize him. I really didn't know about this. Please, Duke Jiang, be merciful. I will strictly discipline my son and apologize to the general..." The chief secretary knew his son's character. Having a late son after several daughters, he had always been overly indulgent, though he had scolded him a few times, he had never been strict. Now, he had offended a duke, and the consequences could be dire.

"Apologize to me? Chief Secretary Zhao, are you misunderstanding something?" Qu Tongsun coldly glanced at the chief secretary and then turned to the eunuch, "Eunuch, tell Chief Secretary Zhao who he should apologize to."

With that, Qu Tongsun turned to the cell and shouted, "Brat, get up and receive the imperial edict!"

Inside the cell, Xia Hongsheng jumped up, saw the group outside, and smiled, bowing, "Nephew greets Uncle Qu and the lords."

"Get up and receive the edict quickly!" Qu Tongsun shouted again.

Xia Hongsheng obediently clasped his hands and bowed deeply. Qu Tongsun also stood to one side, and the eunuch took out a yellow silk scroll from his sleeve, cleared his throat, and read, "By the decree of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty: There is a person from Luozhou named Xia Hongsheng, who has shown great talent and virtue from a young age, and his name is known throughout Luocheng..."

The eunuch read for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. At first, Xia Hongsheng listened carefully, but later he lost patience. It was all praise, about his contribution to salt production and the horseshoe method, and the emperor's satisfaction, followed by a lot of encouragement to continue serving the Tang Dynasty. Finally, the rewards were mentioned. Xia Hongsheng listened carefully, but what? No money? No cattle or sheep? No silk? No gold or silver? Even a few thousand copper coins would be fine! All he got was the title of "Noble of Jingyang County." Was this a government position? What rank was it? He wasn't very familiar with ancient official titles.

When the eunuch finished reading, Xia Hongsheng bowed three times and nine times, then received the imperial edict. The chief secretary, upon hearing the edict, had already collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

The eunuch, after reading the edict, immediately put on a smile and bowed to Xia Hongsheng, saying, "Congratulations, Lord, on your new title. At thirteen, you are the youngest noble in our dynasty. You will surely achieve great things and rise to prominence!"

Hearing such flattering words, Xia Hongsheng knew the eunuch was asking for a tip, as seen in historical dramas. He searched his pockets but found nothing. The few coins he had were taken by the guards earlier. Feeling awkward, Qu Tongsun noticed and said to the eunuch, "Thank you, eunuch, for your long journey. How can we let you leave empty-handed? Please come to my residence, and I will prepare a banquet to show my gratitude. I hope you will not refuse."

It was customary to give a tip for delivering an imperial edict, and the eunuch did not refuse, smiling and bowing, "I thank Duke Jiang and Lord for your generosity!"

Lord? Lord! It sounds so impressive!

Xia Hongsheng was stunned. He was now an official?!

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