You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 26 Sophistication
A group of horsemen rode along East Cross Street, heading straight towards Jinshui Bridge in the west of the city.

Soon, following Yang Sanqi's directions, Chen Shao saw a group of idle men strolling around the street.

Among this group, four or five were the leaders, all between thirty and forty years old. They walked along the road, looking left and right, pointing and laughing.

A group of people dressed in blue robes and small hats followed behind on foot; it was clear at a glance that they were the attendants of these men.

Chen Shao only needed one glance to tell that these people were no ordinary people.

Too embarrassing!

That's too smug!

If someone can overcome even the slightest financial difficulty in their family, they are bound to be a benefactor who has no worries whatsoever.

The horses led by their servants were even more outrageous—all tall, fine horses of excellent quality!
The Song Dynasty's horse shortage was somewhat alleviated during the reign of Emperor Huizong. The Western Xia Dynasty, weakened, had loosened its control over the horse market.

In recent years, there has been trade with the Mongols and the Tibetans, and horses have also been frequently sold to the Song Dynasty.

However, when spread across a vast empire like the Song Dynasty, it was still a drop in the ocean. Unless one possessed a certain status and position, there was simply no way to travel by horse on ordinary days.

Upon closer inspection, Chen Shao indeed saw Tong Guan among the crowd.

Xuan Shuai Tong Guan, who was always the center of attention and surrounded by admirers wherever he went, followed the crowd like an old servant, wearing a smiling face.

That obsequious demeanor completely betrayed any trace of the heroic spirit that once commanded a million-strong army in the Northwest.

Chen Shao had already guessed their identities and glanced back at Yang Sanqi.

"Seventh Brother, who is that person?"

Yang Sanqi laughed and said, "It's just as you think. The one closest to you on the left is Young Master Cai, the one on the right is Junior Minister Wang Fu, the one in the rich man's robe is Grand Commandant Gao, and the one at the very back is our Grand Tutor Liang."

Is Liang Shicheng here too?
Chen Shao couldn't help but glance at him again.

Liang Shicheng's power was probably the only one that could be compared to Cai Jing's, and he might even have been more powerful than Cai Jing.

To put it nicely, this group of people exudes wealth and elegance. To put it bluntly, they are a bunch of hooligans, yet they happen to be the most powerful and influential figures in the Song Dynasty.

The fate of the empire and the nation was in their hands.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao couldn't help but sigh, and then he was about to step forward.

Yang Sanqi grabbed him and said, "Brother, are you out of your mind?"

After a moment's thought, Chen Shao realized that his actions made it seem as if he were trying to curry favor with the emperor.

In the eyes of people like Liang Shicheng and Tong Guan, this kind of thing is the most intolerable.

Because the hatred between peers is the most naked. They obtained high-ranking positions and unlimited power by flattering Zhao Ji, and what they feared most was that someone would follow suit.

Then take away their power, or even replace them.

Chen Shao sneered inwardly. Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, the Six Traitors, huh? You'd better not give me a chance, or who knows what might happen.

What's so difficult about flattering superiors? It's nothing more than being observant, eloquent, and opportunistic.

I was from Shandong in my previous life. I was the host when I was sixteen and I was already drinking with you guys. Why would I be afraid of you?
Yang Sanqi found a plainclothes guard hidden in the crowd and whispered something to him.

A moment later, a guard approached and whispered to Tong Guan.

Tong Guan looked in this direction and immediately spotted his personal guards and Chen Shao.

Before long, someone led Chen Shao to a teahouse on the side of the street.

They were immediately surrounded by people.

No one was allowed to approach the private room on the second floor. This obsequious old eunuch, once away from Zhao Ji, was a powerful figure with great authority and command of a large army.

After Tong Guan sat down, he wiped his sweat. For him, staying by Zhao Ji's side was more tiring than fighting in the Northwest.

Chen Shao stood to the side, forcing a fearful smile; he too was constantly honing his acting skills. "Chen Shao, what's wrong?"

"Commander En, Biao Xia," Chen Shao bent down and leaned forward, saying, "Biao Xia... has killed someone."

Tong Guan frowned slightly. It wasn't that he particularly disliked his subordinates for violating the law and killing people, but rather, "You killed someone in Bianliang?"
Do you know who you killed? This is Bianliang.

Chen Shao quickly said, "Commander, this is what happened."

He did almost nothing to hide, and he arrived very early; he killed the man yesterday and came today.

As Tong Guan listened, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he became more and more satisfied.

If this matter were in Chen Shao's hands, it would create very limited value. If Li Shishi were a grateful person, she might give him some money, or at most, express her gratitude and help him out once in the future.

In Tong Guan's hands, this was an excellent resource.

After Chen Shao finished speaking, he said with a bitter face, "Commander En, I have failed to discipline my subordinates properly, which has caused you a lot of trouble."

Tong Guan sneered and cleared his throat. "So you do know you're a big problem!"

Chen Shao looked extremely apprehensive.

Tong Guan then said, "However, you are my man, and no matter how troublesome it is, I will not sit idly by."

Tong Guan felt quite relieved. This newly promoted person didn't hide anything from him when things happened, and was someone who could be put to good use.

Moreover, it allows one to show their subordinates that they can protect them, thereby winning their hearts and minds.

He could also take the opportunity to showcase his abilities to the emperor and befriend Li Shishi.

"As you know, the family that died was no ordinary family. Here's what we'll do: I'll send some people with you to find out who's behind this, so they can put in a good word for you."

"Thank you so much, Commander!" Chen Shao said excitedly, wiping his forehead. "I knew that Commander would not abandon me. It is truly a blessing from my ancestors that I can work for Commander. I will go to the ancestral graves to offer sacrifices and burn paper money when I get back."

Tong Guan wore a look of disdain on his face, but felt quite pleased inside. If you're so good at talking, then say a few more words.

Chen Shao was practically his mouthpiece, loudly proclaiming what he couldn't say himself, so that his subordinates would all hear it and remember it.

Chen Shao was also very satisfied. In this way, his identity changed from murderer to investigator.

kill?
Dude, that's eliminating evil!

After making a few arrangements, Tong Guan quickly returned to the group.

To outsiders, these people, who control the empire, must be most concerned with military and political affairs.

But for them, nothing was more important than having fun with the emperor.

Because this is the source of everyone's power.

Emperor Huizong was full of energy, watching the group of people from the teahouse window.

He was glad he hadn't taken the first path and gone directly to Li Shishi.

At this moment, Zhao Ji looked cheerful and carefree, showing no sign of sadness.

Li Shishi's entire family was wiped out, and her parents are dead. If he truly loved Li Shishi, he would at least spend some time with her today.

Chen Shao immediately reminded himself that this was a heartless man who only knew how to enjoy himself, and that women did not hold much importance in his heart.

Otherwise, even after arriving at the Jin Kingdom's main camp, when his empress, concubines, and daughters were all forced into slavery, he still had the mind to father children.

He's a complete scumbag.

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(End of this chapter)