You rascal, stop right there!

On the other side, Yanzhou Wharf.

The refugees lined up and began to walk down from the deck one by one.

There was no such order originally, thanks to the thorough scolding of Bai Wan and others.

Now, the boats provided by Pan Ying and Dingbei Painting Society were enough to curb the lack of combat power of Xuanli’s city defenders, which resulted in 20,000 people crossing the river in one night.

Ling Shumo was writing furiously with Ma Shang and other old acquaintances from Yanzhou.

He had been an official in charge of the imperial examinations and diplomacy, and a deacon of the Dingbei Painting Society. No one was more suitable than him to handle the affairs after the refugees arrived on the other side.

Gu Yang was right, this was simply not something that one person could do.

Just because of Ling Shumo's face, Han Miaoran's fame, Luo Wenqi Trading Company, and the original righteous men of Daqing, many officials and students came to help.

Not to mention, Xuanli himself has at least ten officials to help him get through the connections.

Some refugees had lost their registered residence, and it was not an easy task to report to the imperial court, organize their scattered crossings across the river, and complete their household registration.

They were sent on an urgent journey of eight hundred miles, provided with relief and compensation, and had their land taken over for cultivation, and all returned home one by one.

Emperor Qing had just ascended the throne and needed such political achievements even more.

It would be disrespectful to refuse this surprise given by Ling Shumo and others.

However, it is hard to imagine that it was accomplished by dozens of literati and heroes and a small number of border troops.

"You are Ling Shumo, the Lin'an Lay Buddhist, right?"

Suddenly, a man in black coarse cloth among the refugees saluted him.

"Who is your Excellency?"

Ling Shumo stopped writing and looked up and down at the fair and handsome man.

"My real name is Pei Yi, and I'm from Yanzhou. Those who follow me are my brothers from the building. Painter Han once said that I would find you after I returned to Daqing with the refugees and then give you the letter."

After saying that, he took out the letter from his luggage and handed it to him.

"Zi Chen, this man is skilled at mimicking the voices of others. He risked his life to deceive the defenders during the capture of the city, and performed a great deed. Unfortunately, they are now exiled to a foreign country and their status as slaves is difficult to change. I hope you can help them become good citizens and repay their kindness."

Ling Shumo saw the letters written in official script and stared at them intently, his face tense.

"Okay, I'll write a letter of recommendation to Lord Liu, asking him to release you. But you have to tell me what happened in the temple later."

"what?!"

Pei Yi was stunned for a moment and nodded reluctantly.

I always feel that the look in this Lin'an Buddhist's eyes when he looks at me is a smile, which is chilling.

Hearing this, Ling Shumo's brows relaxed and he smiled faintly.

Although he resigned from his post, according to Daqing law, officials of the third rank and above could still receive their salaries and retain their original rank. In fact, his influence on government affairs did not change much.

As a founding minister of Daqing, officials at all levels would still give him some face when he said something as a former imperial censor.

As a result, Ling Shumo had just finished writing a letter of recommendation when many people gathered around him.

Now they are a group of young women, who were the prostitutes in the laundry department back then.

Each of them handed over a letter, the content of which was not exactly the same as the previous one from Pei Yi, but it was very similar.

It was nothing more than that they obtained fireworks and gunpowder, and made great contributions to the salt officials, and asked to return to the country and become good citizens.

In order to save time, Bai Wan even wrote several names in one letter.

"Zichen, this is Wang Chaoyun, Liu Zihua, Wang Cuiqiao..."

wait wait wait……

Looking at the group of beautiful women, Ling Shumo's eyes were complicated and he shook his head helplessly.

That person ended the letter in a simple way.

However, when it comes to me, I have to write as many book recommendations as there are people, which makes my hands sore from writing.

The key point is that every letter is about someone else, and not a single one mentions oneself.

The letter is short but the meaning is deep. Why don’t you express your love for me more?

I didn’t even write about him...

Ling Shumo wanted to complain, but he didn't know if the person on the other side was okay?

As the former refugees from Daqing were resettled one after another, the noise gradually subsided as the sound of the mountain breeze echoed along the river bank.

"Brother Zichen, according to the pigeon message, Imperial Master Gu Yang intends to move this sacrificial ceremony to the Wenqing Mountain Altar!"

The Yanzhou prefect beside him said.

Hearing this, Ling Shumo's eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his voice: "I have to go back to Xuanli."

The people beside him stopped him: "This time, thousands of people crossed the river, and the burning of the national temple caused such a big commotion. The Xuanli border has become more restricted. You can't go back!"

The pen in his hand gradually slowed down and was gently put down.

He naturally knew what was more important.

Ling Shumo's tone was filled with the suppressed emotions he had been holding back: "They are stuck in the quagmire, and I can only watch from the other side."

"How...torturous."

That day.

The man in white said to him complacently, "Zichen, when everything is settled, we will all return to Daqing together."

Ling Shumo was forced to nod.

I have told you no a thousand times in my heart, and I want to hold the person in my arms, but my actions can only support him.

Because life is not only about love, but also about righteousness.

……

Xuanli, Xingling City.

The rain is stopping.

"Most of the paintings you created during your lifetime were burned. Aside from two murals, no authentic works can be found. Isn't that a pity?!"

Wang Zhi looked at the person lying on the bed with melancholy.

"Cough! Cough!"

Bai Wan coughed twice and raised his head.

He was still feeling unwell from the hangover and the smoke from the fire that had burned throughout the temple.

"Three thousand discarded paintings, the past is gone, why dwell on the past? It's not a big deal!"

Compared to his paintings, the dead and what he will do next are more important.

Thinking of this, Bai Wan immediately pulled himself away, sat up abruptly and drank the medicine.

After being smoked by the flames for so long, I have been coughing and haven't recovered yet.

"Han also has to thank everyone for sealing the entrance to the secret passage under the Buddha statue, which allowed us to escape so smoothly!"

Bai Wan bowed.

Who would have thought that under the large incense burner in the center of the Buddha statue was the entrance to the newly renovated secret passage.

The entrance was filled with incense ash and candle flames. It was very hot at first glance, so no one would bother to check.

The secret passage is connected to the painting pavilion, which is full of books and paintings and is the most flammable place in the entire temple.

No one would believe that Han Miaoran was willing to burn so many paintings that Puen had collected just to start a fire.

No one believed that there was another world beneath the flame of the incense burner.

"It's only because Painter Han drew the map in advance that we were able to modify the route of the secret passage. But..."

The king wanted to speak but stopped.

"How could you have thought of creating an entrance under the flames? It's so cunning that no one could have imagined it. You even used a yin-yang switch to hide it from others."

Bai Wan closed her eyes deeply, as if recalling something long ago.

"Then I have to thank Brother Cheng for teaching me the art of mechanical escape. I also have to thank Doctor Lin for teaching me how to escape by fire."

The person on the other side didn't know who he was talking about, but he thought this painting master was amazing, and there was a smile in his eyes when he talked about his old friend.

“Cough!! Cough!”

The coughing started again.

Wang Zhi sighed, "Now that the Daqing captives have crossed the river and returned home, the city gates are sealed and the entire city is under strict lockdown. How are you going to get back to Daqing?"

Unexpectedly, the person opposite raised his eyebrows and said, "Who said I want to go back? I have something important to do!"