Another World Da Ming: I use a hundred lives to become holy

After figuring it out, Tu Jie immediately followed Li Yan out.

With Li Yan present, it might be a bit embarrassing, but it's still better than facing Zhao Zheng's scorching heat directly.

"Master, Lord Li just now..."

"master?"

"Master! Which way is Lord Li heading?"

The coachman waited and waited at the door, and the longer he waited, the more he felt that they must have met a big client. Otherwise, why would Li Yan, a prefect, have a private talk with Tu Jie, an ordinary rich man?

Even if you want to be close to the people, you can't lock them up to be close to them.

Unexpectedly, Li Yan ran out first, with a smile on his face, while Tu Jie, the old man, came out later, looking regretful.

He's underestimating the problem!

It must be that Prefect Li Yan promised Tu Jie some benefits in exchange for a promotion, and then he just ran away!

The client realized what was happening and changed his mind!

An opportunity to shine!

"Over here? Whew~ Whew~"

Tu Jie had no idea that the driver he had hired had so many ideas, so he quickly turned back and continued to chase after him.

However, he was already panting after only a couple of steps, giving the driver another opportunity. He quickly caught up with him, his smile continuing.

"Sir, let's get in the carriage. I promise I won't let the prefect notice."

"Get on the carriage?"

Tu Jie finally stopped.

He looked down at his clothes, dressed as a wealthy merchant, and his figure was already obese and out of proportion.

Taking a horse-drawn carriage would definitely be faster and more practical.

Moreover, he knew the driver's skills.

"No! No way!"

But then Tu Jie realized that he wasn't going to see Li Yan, but Zhao Zheng.

If the Zhao family members here saw that he hadn't done his job immediately after receiving the money, but instead wanted to come to Yangzhou City to enjoy himself, he would be in trouble.

That would be terrible!

He really didn't dare to gamble on what kind of personality the Zhao family members in Yangzhou would have.

"Master! Sir!"

The poor drivers, thinking their plan had worked, turned around and lifted the curtains, only to find Tu Jie nowhere to be seen.

A few steps further away, Tu Jie's wriggling could be seen.

"master?"

......

......

The new Yangzhou city, the future Yangzhou station, is currently under construction.

"Tu, Brother Xu?"

Why did you follow me here?

Li Yan had just finished reporting Tu Jie's matter to Zhao Zheng and was about to get into his carriage to return to the yamen to handle affairs when, unexpectedly, Tu Jie caught up with him on foot.

His clothes, soaked with sweat, completely suppressed the smile that had barely appeared on his lips.

"Li! Brother Li!"

"Where is Lord Zhao? Where is Lord Zhao?" Tu Jie was too exhausted to chat and leaned on Li Yan.

Li Yan instinctively tried to break free, but failed, so he had to hold on.

There's nothing Tu Jie can do; he's panicking right now.

When a person panics to the extreme, if they don't tremble or shed tears, all that's left is a stiff calm.

“It’s over there, Brother Tu. Well then, I’ll lead you there.”

Realizing this, Li Yan sighed inwardly for some reason, but still decided to go to Zhao Zheng again.

In the eyes of the common people, Zhao Zheng was a saint.

In Emperor Zhu's eyes, Zhao Zheng was a traitorous saint who wanted to overthrow the emperor.

However, no one considered that Zhao Zheng's men were just as intimidated by him.

Li Yan was just such a good student, afraid that Zhao Zheng would interfere with his homework.

"Where, where is it?"

With Li Yan by his side, Tu Jie felt a little more at ease, but he still quickly looked in the direction Li Yan was pointing.

However, Zhao Zheng, a member of the Zhao family, used to be so imposing that he could be easily spotted in a crowd.

He couldn't find it.

Tu Jie only saw a group of workers, craftsmen, and part-time farmers doing manual labor.

A group of people, all of them gray and covered in sweat and dust, none of them particularly special.

However, Tu Jie immediately realized that there was another important matter.

That was Li Yan, the Yangzhou prefect who is publicly accessible to everyone, who has just finished his report!

Right in front of this group of people!

Right there in this group of people, he couldn't tell who was Zhao Zheng and who was a soldier!

why?

How dare you?

Tu Jie still didn't understand, but this time, his face no longer showed admiration, but rather simple confusion.

He had questions.

After all, this wasn't the capital city, nor was it the Ministry of Works' camp, so there was no need to mention the Embroidered Uniform Guard escorting them.

Openly leaving Beijing and maintaining a public presence—what difference is there between that and rebellion?

"Teacher! Brother Xu is here!"

Li Yan, who had been watching everything, waited until Tu Jie was no longer panting so much before quickly putting on a smile and shouting loudly to the crowd.

Even among comrades, there are sometimes perverse interests.

"Brother Xu? Xu Jie?"

Swish!

Sure enough, Tu Jie, whose thoughts were in turmoil, immediately turned around in alarm, but upon hearing that familiar tone, he immediately froze on the spot.

In the crowd, a man with a painted face, whose face became even more painted after wiping it, looked at him.

Naturally, others also turned around when Li Yan called out to them.

But among the puzzled looks, that thoughtful and composed smile was so special that Tu Jie had a premonition that he would probably remember this scene for the rest of his life whenever he was greedy for money.

"Master Zhao... Master Zhao!"

As the crowd slowly approached, Tu Jie's premonition grew stronger, and he straightened his body even more.

Snapped!

However, when the unease he felt actually approached, Tu Jie didn't expect that Zhao Zheng wouldn't slap him.

There was only one pat on the shoulder.

And a greeting.

"You're going to Yangzhou to have some fun first?"

He then followed with a series of questions and answers, defending his hobbies.

"That's right. After being confined to the cabinet for so long, it's time to relax."

"But you might be disappointed."

"The fun places you know are all key locations, and they're probably all like this now."

"But luckily there's a performance tonight, and you've made it. Watch it, and you can leave tomorrow."

Zhao Zheng didn't give Tu Jie a chance to speak; he simply took the opportunity to give the puppet another sip of water.

After exerting yourself and getting covered in dust, just a sip of water will immediately cause you to sweat, squeezing out the dirt from your pores, making you feel even more refreshed than taking a bath.

After that, Zhao Zheng returned to the crowd.

The crowd acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to focus their attention back on their hands and shoulders.

Tu Jie was left standing there, bewildered, trying to process all that he had just heard.

There was no blame, no preparation, why?

"Let's go, Brother Tu, we'll come back this evening."

"...Where to?"

"Of course, we're going to rest. Lord Zhao actually anticipated this and made the arrangements long ago."

"...What did you anticipate? And what did you arrange for me?"

Faced with Li Yan's words, or perhaps it was Zhao Zheng who didn't say anything more, Tu Jie felt as if he had returned to the carriage.

In just one day, Tu Jie, who had a clear goal in mind, took a break in Yangzhou and fell into deep self-doubt.

"Sichuan...is a major problem." At this moment, Li Yan's face turned serious for the first time when he looked at Tu Jie. He remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I, Tu, will certainly do my best, but..."

Is this the crux of the problem?

Why do they all act so nonchalantly and calmly, as if it were all perfectly normal?

Tu Jie didn't understand, since Zhao Zheng had told him personally that he wasn't planning to rebel.

However, the reality is that the Zhao family members did not conceal themselves at all when they were moving around outside.

Could it be that Tu Jie is the only person in the world who still retains a shred of awe for imperial power?

"An answer you come up with in your spare time is not the answer. You will understand when you get close to Sichuan and enter Sichuan."

Li Yan patted his former friend, now a half-comrade, on the shoulder, but on the other side.