Chapter 227

"In front of the Prefect's mansion, galloping is forbidden. Dismount!"

The soldiers shouted loudly.

However, it was as if the rider's destination was right here; as the soldiers shouted, they had already pulled on the horse's reins and then flipped off the horse.

I don't know if it was because of riding for a long time, but after flipping off the horse, the rider's legs went soft, and they knelt directly on the ground.

Just when the gate-guarding soldiers were wondering what this person was going to do.

The rider fished out a token from their bosom and held it high in their hand.

"I am a messenger from Jinyang in Taiyuan, and I have an urgent matter to seek the Prefect!"

"Hand this token to the Prefect; it concerns the Prefect's life!"

The rider shouted repeatedly.

The several soldiers guarding the gate were stunned on the spot.

The person in front of them was either crazy or really had an urgent matter.

So one soldier stepped forward, while the other soldiers continued to look at the rider vigilantly.

Inside the mansion gate.

A middle-aged man in a black robe with an average build but very sharp eyes was sitting in the front courtyard study, holding a bamboo scroll.

The study door was wide open.

Outside the door stood two delicate-looking maids in white long dresses.

The study was furnished in a simple and ancient style. Although there was no sign of luxury, whether it was the sandalwood desk or the bronze mysterious bird vessels standing on both sides of the antique shelf, they all revealed a sense of solemnity.

Wang Rou sat behind the desk, wearing a high mountain cap, and his hair bun and the long robe on his body were very neat and particular.

The arrangement on the desk in front of him was also very orderly.

The brush, ink, paper, inkstone, official seal, and paperweight were placed in an orderly fashion.

Outside the study.

A middle-aged man dressed as a scholar walked to the door of the study, then stopped and glanced at Wang Rou inside.

"My Lord, there is a person from Jinyang outside who says they have an urgent matter to see you."

"That person was also shouting that the matter concerns your life," the middle-aged scholar said.

Hmm?

Wang Rou in the study frowned and looked up.

The middle-aged scholar didn't wait for Wang Rou to ask and held up a token with both hands.

"Come in," Wang Rou said in a deep voice.

The middle-aged man walked into the study carefully, holding the token.

Wang Rou straightened his back and glanced at the token, then his gaze changed slightly.

"You go and bring this person here. Also, it is best not to be seen by anyone," Wang Rou waved his hand.

"Understood!" the middle-aged scholar agreed, then placed the token on the desk in front of Wang Rou.

After the middle-aged scholar left, Wang Rou stood up, picked up the token from the desk, and his eyes were thoughtful.

A moment later, the middle-aged scholar brought the rider into the study.

Wang Rou, standing in the study with his hands behind his back, looked the rider up and down.

Then he waved his hand.

The middle-aged scholar understood and exited the study, closing the study door behind him.

"Speak, what matter did your master send you here for?"

The rider didn't speak but took out a bamboo tube from their bosom.

The circular bamboo tube was sealed at both ends.

"My Lord, my master said that once you see this, you will naturally understand."

The rider held the bamboo tube with both hands.

Wang Rou frowned tightly, then took the bamboo tube from the rider's hand and examined it carefully, then broke the red lacquer seal of the bamboo tube and took out a piece of white silk from inside.

The silk was densely written with small regular script.

Wang Rou only frowned when he first glanced at it.

But after reading three lines at a glance, the expression on Wang Rou's face could no longer be described as shocked.

Those eyes, which in the eyes of others were always calm and composed, now became very panicked.

Even his hands began to tremble slightly.

After reading the content on the silk, Wang Rou inadvertently looked up at the rider standing in front of the study door.

Seeing that the rider did not look up, Wang Rou breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he took a deep breath, folded the silk, placed it against his chest, and patted it gently.

After taking two deep breaths, Wang Rou calmed his mood and said, "I have received the letter. Go back and tell your master that I will remember this favor."

"Pingwu, go to the accounting office and take ten gold, and also, send him off," Wang Rou said toward the outside of the study.

"Understood."

The middle-aged scholar's voice came from outside the study.

Hearing that there were ten gold, the fatigue on the rider's face diminished significantly.

They hurriedly bowed and thanked Wang Rou.

Wang Rou smiled slightly and nodded.

After the rider turned and left and the study door was closed again, the expression on Wang Rou's face changed immediately.

Where was there any of the calmness from just a moment ago?

Wang Rou walked hurriedly behind the desk.

He didn't even wait for the ink in the inkstone to fully dissolve before picking up his brush and starting to write on the letter paper.

Before long.

Just as Wang Rou finished writing the letter, a knocking sound came from outside the study door.

"My Lord, the person has been dealt with," the middle-aged scholar said outside the door.

"Come in," Wang Rou said without raising his head.

The study door was pushed open, and the middle-aged scholar walked in with his head bowed.

Wang Rou put away the letter on the desk and sealed it with red lacquer.

"Deng Xi, have someone send this letter out. It must be delivered to Qiangqu."

"Also, notify the wives to pack up everything that needs to be packed."

"And remember not to alert anyone in the city."

"Select three hundred cavalry from the commandery troops, and prepare more carriages."

"After dark, replace the north gate guards with our own people, then open the city gate and wait."

The middle-aged man in the black robe didn't ask a single question, just nodded repeatedly to take note.

After Wang Rou's orders were finished, the black-robed man took his leave.

Before long, the previously quiet back courtyard of the mansion became busy immediately.

Night fell.

In a large camp outside Yinguan city, troops and horses were being mobilized.

Hundreds of cavalry slowly drove out of the camp gate holding torches.

The soldiers on horseback complained to each other.

At the very front of the team of three or four hundred cavalry was a young man of about twenty.

The young man was tall, wearing black armor, and holding a large spear.

"Military Officer, in the middle of the night, the Prefect suddenly mobilized troops; the brothers have no preparation at all."

A squad leader following behind the young man complained.

The young man's surname was Zhang, his name was Xun, and he was from Mayi, Yanmen.

He had been in the army for five years and had been promoted to the rank of Military Officer based on his military merits.

He also had a younger brother at home named Zhang Liao, who was currently serving at Loufan Pass.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xun turned his head and looked at the squad leader who was complaining behind him and said, "The Prefect has an order. As subordinates, we should naturally obey and execute it." ===== CHAPTER 229 =====