On the morning of the fourth day of the fifth month, the rain had stopped for a day. At this time, the Southern Qi master Zhu Tongjing was in a small town less than twenty miles away from the grain transport fleet. He waited for the road to clear and then headed north.

Zhu Tongjing got up early in the morning and looked at the weather outside, and finally felt a little refreshed. This time his purpose of going north was not to transport food and grass, and there would be others responsible for the matter of food and grass. His purpose of going north was not to go to Jiangdu, but to Luoyang.

Being a double-faced person is what Zhu Tongjing is going to do. He is holding a letter from the Qi Dynasty to Luoyang to congratulate the new emperor of Luoyang for ascending the throne. Two months in advance, the letter from Southern Qi had already been sent to Luoyang to congratulate Yang Yu on ascending the throne in advance. However, the letter was very secret, and even the Eastern Palace was not clear, and Yang Yu was not in a hurry to announce the world. This time, Yang Yu brought the letter of the country to Luoyang to confirm the matter.

As an envoy of a country, Zhu Tongjing knew his current position very well. The people of Southern Qi wanted to watch the fire from the other side to watch the Wei people's internal struggle. As for whether Jiangdu wins or Luoyang wins, the Qi dynasty must be prepared and cannot make one side unable to handle itself after one side gains power. The best way is to repair it on both sides. On the one hand, lend food to Jiangdu, while on the other hand, it is to bring close relations with Luoyang.

"Master Zhu, the water level on the river has dropped today. It is time to continue to escort food and grass north. Are you..."

This time, the official sent by the Empress Dowager of Southern Qi to escort food and grass was an official in his fifties who liked to flatter him, named Han Xi. Zhu Tongjing didn't like such a person very much. It was precisely because Han Xi could speak that he was valued in the court, not Han Xi had any ability.

This time, Han Xi was asked to do such a big deal of escorting food and grass. Zhu Tongjing believed that Han Xi would mess up the matter, and that at that time, he would only offend Jiangdu's side.

"You are not responsible for the escort of food and grass. If I have other things, I will not accompany Han Zuocheng to Jiangdu." Zhu Tongjing said coldly in his voice.

The Zuo Cheng, who was originally the Left Prime Minister in the Qi Dynasty, originally meant to be the Left Prime Minister. He was ranked below the Right Prime Minister and could be said to be a real-powerful figure of the second-level auxiliary among all officials. He could call the wind and rain in the court.

But now in the Qi Dynasty, Xie Rumo, as the Right Prime Minister, has monopolized the power. In order to balance Xie Rumo's prime minister's power, Empress Dowager He of the Southern Qi Dynasty has continuously established Left Prime Minister, so that there are more than a dozen left prime ministers in Jinling City. With more left prime ministers, the power is as good as it is. In Jinling, being the Left Prime Minister cannot represent his high power position. It can only represent that he is the Empress Dowager's confidant. That's all.

"Didn't Master Zhu go to Jiangdu? That's it?"

Han Xi was a little puzzled. He originally thought that Zhu Tongjing had followed the orders of the Empress Dowager to escort the fleet of food and grass to Jiangdu, and he should have gone to Jiangdu without any accident, but now Zhu Tongjing said that there was something else. Now the war is urgent. A national envoy entered the enemy's territory, not for the purpose of serving an envoy. He really couldn't think of any purpose.

"How can Han Zuocheng ask about what the Empress Dowager ordered?" Zhu Tongjing said aggressively.

When Han Xi saw Zhu Tongjing's expression, he knew very well and did not ask more questions. His name as the Left Prime Minister was higher than that of the master, but everyone knew that among the officials who could compete with Xie Rumo in Jinling, Zhu Tongjing was the largest. The people of the Empress Dowager's party almost followed Zhu Tongjing's horse.

Han Xi can still tell who is the first horse and who is the second horse.

"Han Zuocheng has nothing else to do, and he can escort food and grass on the way." Zhu Tongjing said, "I will say goodbye today and see you again in Jinling in the future."

"Master Zhu is polite."

Han Xi was about to send Zhu Tongjing out in person, but saw the guards rushing in, as if something had happened.

"Why are you so furious? There is no rule!" Han Xi immediately stepped forward to stop the guard. He was very charming. In his opinion, Zhu Tongjing was also a person worthy of flattery. Even if he was talking bad things about Zhu Tongjing in front of the empress dowager behind his back, he would still show goodwill. At this time, he acted as Zhu Tongjing's "personal guard" and did not allow reckless guards to approach Zhu Tongjing.

"Master Zhu, it's not good." The guard was stopped by Han Xi and did not dare to hit the hero in front of the empress dowager. He said nervously, "Last night, the Beiwang's soldiers attacked the camp that came to protect the food and horses of Jiangdu. I heard that the camp of Jiangdu was burned to the sky and the soldiers were defeated."

"Ah!" Han Xi shouted when he heard this, and hurriedly turned around and looked at Zhu Tongjing, saying, "Master Zhu, what should I do? The Northern King Army is victorious, then... we are also in danger... Should we turn the bow of the ship quickly and escort the food back?"

Zhu Tongjing said with a dark face: "The empress dowager's explanation has not been completed yet, how can we go back?"

"Yes, yes." Han Xi also wiped his cold sweat and said, "Now that he will go to Jiangdu, he will definitely be robbed of food by the Beiwang Army. If you go back... you can't go back again? Master Zhu, you have to give your subordinates some advice."

At the critical moment, Han Xi didn't care about his identity as Zuo Cheng, and whispered to Zhu Tongjing to "ask for advice".

"Let the Jiangdu go to the city first and transport the food to the city. You stay here first, and I will go north now." Zhu Tongjing seemed to be very anxious.

"Master Zhu... Now that the north is not peaceful, where are you going?" Han Xi was also confused. He had already learned that the eight thousand soldiers sent to Jiangdu to pick up were almost "annihilated". Now the road from here to Jiangdu must have been blocked by the Northern King's Army. Isn't Zhu Tongjing going like this like a death sentence?

"How can I not do what the Queen Mother told me?"

Zhu Tongjing thought to himself, after all, I went to Luoyang, and I had already compiled books in advance, expressing my willingness to make peace with the Southern Qi. Even if he was captured by the Northern King's Army, it would be fine.

Zhu Tongjing hurriedly left and took less than a hundred servants north. Han Xi sent Zhu Tongjing out of the city, thinking that if Zhu Tongjing died, I don’t know who would take his position and show off in front of the empress dowager.

Han Xi was about to go to the county yamen to find local officials in Jiangdu and asked him to find someone to unload the food and transport it to the city. When he arrived at the yamen, he saw a woman coming over. Han Xi was stunned. He was considered a "people in the flowers". The woman in front of him seemed to be a jasper in the family, but she gave people a very smart and capable feeling, as if she was in charge of the shop, and was the "professor".

"What are you doing here at the government office?" Han Xi took the initiative to come forward and say hello.

As he spoke, before Han Xi could approach the woman, he was stopped by a group of big men in casual clothes.

"Rareless!" Han Xi said angrily, "You unruly people dare to act wildly in front of me?"

The woman glanced at Han Xi with a squinted look on her face and walked towards the yamen. Han Xi made a fuss about the boss. If it were in the city where he was the prefect of Southern Qi, who would dare to be so rude to him, he would have to search the man's house and exterminate the clan.

I want you to see my methods! Han Xi thought to himself, and then he told the local county magistrate to see if he would do anything.

Just as he was about to walk forward, he saw the local county magistrate, who was already wearing official uniforms and hurriedly greeted him. Han Xi sorted out his clothes and prepared to express the prestige of the envoy of the "Shangguo" to the county magistrate. But he did not expect that the county magistrate who was respectful to him yesterday, went out of the yamen today, and ignored him. He kept bowing to the woman and repeatedly accused him, as if he was saying things like negligence.

"Hey!" Han Xi thought to himself, is this a traitor? A county magistrate is so respectful to a woman who seems to be from an ordinary family?

Based on Han Xi's experience in reading people, a woman from a wealthy family, even if she is just a shopkeeper in an ordinary shop, she still rides in a sedan chair like a woman in a boudoir. However, this woman, except for bringing some followers, she doesn't even ride in a sedan chair when she goes out, which shows that she is not a god, demon, and noble.

"Prince Li, it's like a three-year absence!" Han Xi thought the county magistrate hadn't seen him, so he personally greeted him and greeted him.

County Magistrate Li explained to the woman next to him. At this time, the woman looked at Han Xi again, and Han Xi was a little proud. The woman finally looked at him directly.

"Are you the food delivery envoy of Qi? " the woman asked directly.

Han Xi was stunned at first. What kind of greetings was this? In Southern Qi, even if Xie Rumo saw him, he would call him "Han Zuocheng". When he arrived in Jiangdu, an ordinary woman dared to call him by his name?

"You!" Han Xi didn't know how to answer.

I wanted to get angry, but remembered that this was the territory of Jiangdu, and the county magistrates were obedient to this woman. Could it be that hundreds of people who were responsible for escorting food and grass outside the city were transferred into the city to make an excuse?

"Bold woman, how dare you call us Han Zuocheng?" Fortunately, the entourage behind Han Xi relieved Han Xi and shouted.

This sentence also made Han Xi very satisfied. He thought to himself that the servant could speak and would go back and promote him.

The woman glanced at Han Xi with a slanted look and said, "Forgive me, Han Zuocheng, the little woman has neglected." As she said that, she bowed her back, as if she was very impatient.

Han Xi smiled and said, "Those who don't know won't blame me."

Just as he was about to continue to promote his "demeanor", he heard the woman say, "Han Zuocheng can now go back to the house. The Dongwang Mansion has sent people to take over the grain. This is the acceptance order issued by the Dongwang, and Han Zuocheng can take it back and hand over the service."

As he said that, the woman took out a letter from her arms and asked the follower to hand it over.

Han Xi took the official letter and opened it and found that it was indeed a receipt issued by the King of Dong. With this thing, whether the food and grass were robbed later had nothing to do with the people of Southern Qi, and his mission was also completed.

"This..." Han Xi was completely confused. Isn't it said that Jiangdu's troops suffered heavy losses yesterday, so why did such a woman come to receive food, and she is so domineering and rude?

Even though Han Xi has been in the officialdom for decades, he is puzzled for a while and doesn't know how to deal with it.

The woman said again: "Han Zuocheng should leave quickly. The cavalry of the Northern King's Mansion will arrive at any time. You all may not be able to leave at that time."

Han Xi smiled bitterly on his face. If someone else said this, he would still be convinced, but now he was a little uncomfortable from a woman's mouth.
Chapter completed!