Chapter 134: Yang Wei Escort Agency

Ever since they received that strange escort order, their people would often pass by the Yang Wei Tavern in Xinghua Alley.

Ah, in fact, there is no connection between the Yang Wei Escort Agency and the Yang Wei Tavern. The owner of the Yang Wei Tavern is a local from Chang’an, and the tavern was originally bought from relatives. The relatives had been operating it for two or three decades and had quite a reputation in the area, so they didn’t change the name when they bought it.

The first generation leader of the Yang Wei Escort Agency was named Yang Wei, who was from out of town. After his hometown suffered a disaster, he came to the capital to make a living. With some martial arts skills of his own, he opened this escort agency using his own name. It was only after opening that they realized they had the same name as the tavern.

It was quite awkward. Those who didn’t know might think the two were related. But when asked, both sides gave a negative answer.

For the owner of the Yang Wei Tavern, the Yang Wei Escort Agency overshadowed their family name, and they were not happy about it.

But for the escort agency, they felt wronged. They had already named and opened the agency, changing it again would be unlucky. Besides, what’s wrong with naming it after oneself?

Initially, the tavern was a bit angry. But when they saw that the other side had opened an escort agency, they backed off. They thought, well, the other side opened an escort agency, it has nothing to do with our tavern. It’s better to get along peacefully. The third-generation tavern owner firmly denied that they were afraid.

A few days ago, the front of the Yang Wei Tavern was tied with red cloth, and the people from the Yang Wei Escort Agency knew it was time to set off, so they began preparing for the journey as agreed.

The day before yesterday, someone delivered two baskets of prepared sweets and rice cakes to the escort agency, saying they should take them on the road. When the head of the agency asked, he found out that these were for the escorts accompanying them, as the other party couldn’t carry them at the moment, so they asked them to take them along. Later, some other things were sent, such as blankets, mattresses, cotton jackets, rice, flour, oil, charcoal, and even two sets of pots and pans were prepared.

The head of the agency suddenly had a very bad feeling.

But the other party was considerate. When they first sent the sweets and cakes, they also separately brought a basket for the agency to taste. As more things were sent later, the other party kept saying how grateful they were and asking them to bear with the trouble.

The head of the agency couldn’t say anything to such kindness.

“These sesame milk peanut sweets and rice cakes are really delicious. It’s just that the peanuts seem to be a bit too finely ground, not satisfying to chew.”

“I don’t like those overly sweet candies, but I really like the sticky rice cakes they sent. They are solid, slightly sweet, very filling, eating two or three can sustain me for the afternoon. They are much tastier and more filling than the dry rations we used to bring on the road.”

“Yeah, yeah, Head, let’s prepare these two items when we go out on an escort in the future. They are tastier than the dry rations we prepare ourselves.”

A group of young men were eating sweets and cakes, discussing.

The head of the agency said irritably, “You guys, all you do is eat, eat, eat. Don’t you know that I, as the head of the agency, am worried sick?”

The others didn’t pay him any attention.

“I say, don’t you guys find something unusual? Who receives an escort like this? Look at how much stuff they have brought.” It looked like all the luggage had been sent to their agency. Were the other party traveling light, without luggage, and relying on them to escort them? Thinking about recent events in Chang’an City, he thought of a certain possibility, making his scalp tingle.

“You!” the young men all said in unison.

“What about me?”

“Aren’t you the one who asked who receives an escort like this? It’s you.”

The head of the agency was speechless.

The head of the agency began to sigh heavily. He was really stressed out, especially since all these old buddies were still carefree, eating and drinking without a care in the world.

“Just eat, or the food will be snatched away by them. Don’t worry so much, things will work out when we get there.”

“Uncle Zhang,” the head of the agency looked at his uncle, who was picking up a piece of dried vegetable for him with chopsticks, with emotion.

Uncle Zhang picked up a piece of meat for him, “You worry too much, that’s why you look like you’re in your forties even though you’re only in your twenties.”

The head of the agency: … He felt like he couldn’t eat anymore.

Just as he was about to say something, he noticed a woman wearing a veil being led in by their escort agency’s gatekeeper.

The woman saw him and took out the token they had given them when they received the escort order.

The head of the agency took it and cautiously asked, “May I know who you would like us to escort, where to, and when will we set off?”

“Escort the former Pingxi Marquis’s family, the Qin family, to Pingzhou. If possible, you can set off as soon as possible and wait on the main road leading from Chang’an to Pingzhou.”

The head of the agency: As expected! His hunch was true!

“Miss Mo Bing, is it you?” Uncle Zhang Shilun suddenly asked.

At this time, the woman removed her veil, revealing a maiden’s face. Mo Bing nodded to Zhang Shilun, “It’s me, Master Zhang.”

The head of the agency: They know each other? Could this Miss Mo Bing have chosen their Yang Wei Escort Agency because of Uncle Zhang?

“Head of the agency Yang, I need to confirm with you if your Yang Wei Escort Agency will take this escort order.”

Hearing this, the others looked at each other, surprised to learn that the strange order they had received earlier was to escort the Qin family, a family of exiles, to Pingzhou.

It’s absurd.

Unheard of!

No wonder they had been sending so many things to the escort agency these past two days, all blankets, mattresses, food, kitchenware, bowls, chopsticks, etc., for daily necessities. It turned out they were all for the Qin family.

“Give us a moment to discuss?”

“Alright, can you give me your answer in two hours?”

The head of the agency thought for a moment, two hours should be enough.

So, Mo Bing was invited to the side hall to wait.

After Mo Bing left, Uncle Zhang gently slapped himself in the face, the kind that sounds loud but doesn’t actually hurt.

“Uncle Zhang, what are you doing?”

“I think I know why our escort agency received this escort order.”

“Why?” Is it because of you?

“It’s all my fault for talking too much. A few months ago, wasn’t I doing some private work for the Lu family? You know your Uncle Zhang, when I drink, I can’t help but chatter. Those Lu family guards invited me to drink every night.” Uncle Zhang smacked his lips, seeming to reminisce.

“And then?”

“Cough, I just told them about our heroic past.”

The head of the agency already guessed what would happen next.

“Then, you know, after I finished talking about myself, I mentioned you, the head of the agency…”

The head of the agency sneered, “Uncle Zhang, you’ve stripped me bare.” Now he understood why their escort agency received this order.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Zhang didn’t ruin your reputation. In the Lu family’s eyes, you are a strong, capable, and righteous man.”

The head of the agency: Thanks for that?

Forget it, “Uncle Zhang, what do you think, should we take this escort order?”

“Head of the agency, what’s your opinion?”

His opinion was that he decided to take this escort order. Thinking back to before they received this order, both the Qin family and the Lu family were fine. They had foreseen trouble and made arrangements for a way out.

Moreover, the Qin family had guarded the northern border for many years, and General Qin Yue died heroically during the conquest of the Qiang Hu tribes. They could offer some protection to these old, weak, women, and children of the Qin family.

Besides, they were paid for it.

Most importantly, this escort order would probably be fairly easy, as it was not escorting valuables, so they didn’t have to worry about bandits. Besides, no bandits in their right mind would dare rob a group of exiles! Not only would there be no profit, but they would also offend the government.

The only concern was the Qin family’s enemies and political rivals.

At this time, the head of the agency saw his gatekeeper hurrying back into the courtyard, followed by a sound of orderly footsteps from outside.

“What’s going on?”

“The Jinwu Guard is in action.”

Hearing this, the head of the agency and Uncle Zhang felt a pang in their hearts.

Soon, more news came, the Jinwu Guard had surrounded the Xie family and the Zhao family. The Xie and Zhao families, like the Qin family, were sentenced to confiscation of their property and exile!

The head of the agency and Uncle Zhang looked at each other. Just now, he was still thinking about preventing the Qin family’s rivals from taking advantage of the situation. He also knew that the Qin and Lu families had some disagreements with the Xie and Zhao families.

But before the Qin family was exiled, their mortal enemies were suddenly taken down. It was a bit frightening, what was going on?

Uncle Zhang patted the head of the agency on the shoulder, “A Wei, we should take this escort order.”

Don’t offend people like this if you can avoid it. They must have other plans up their sleeve. Don’t think that just because Zhang the Butcher is gone, they will eat hairy pigs.

Zhao Manor

Faced with the imperial edict of confiscation and exile announced by the deputy commander of the Jinwu Guard, the Zhao family members could no longer bear it. There were tears, pleas, angry curses, and even moments of madness.

Zhao Wenkuan was trembling all over. He felt a bit dizzy, perhaps because too much had happened recently. The emotional ups and downs were overwhelming for him.

The eldest son of the Zhao family noticed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to support him.

Because Zhao Yutan had gotten married, and the year-end was approaching, the main sons of the Zhao family had all returned to Chang’an. With the announcement of the imperial edict, it conveniently caught them all in one go, so there was no need to send people to various places to arrest them.

Zhao Wenkuan raised his eyes and looked at his eldest son. Zhao Dalang understood his father’s gaze and shook his head, indicating that it wasn’t him who had leaked the information. He then looked at his second son, who also shook his head. The third son also shook his head.

They were all equally puzzled and shocked.

They had all heard the crimes read out in the imperial edict just now, and they had listened very carefully. Some of the charges were very secretive, and when their father committed them, he had been extremely thorough in covering his tracks—like when he was serving as Minister of rites and provided certain conveniences to foreign delegations. Such secrets were known only to the very core members of the Zhao family.

The Zhao brothers were young and quick-thinking, and suddenly, they all thought of one person—the fourth brother!

The brothers exchanged glances, and they decided to ask him directly when they saw him. This was a catastrophe for the entire family. If it was indeed the fourth brother who had done this, he wouldn’t escape either!

Zhao Wenkuan noticed the silent exchange between his three sons and thought of the same possibility. He then recalled the hidden resentment in his fourth son’s eyes when he was sent away, and suddenly, he felt a chill all over his body.