The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

When we think about where the money went when Pangolin robbed the tomb, the answer becomes obvious.

Zhang Pingan knocked on the table and smiled. "I'm very sure that the orphan of the Wei family is definitely among these thirteen sons. According to their ages, the four people between ten and thirteen are the most likely. We will focus on these four people from now on."

"Well, but the four of them are not here now. It is said that they have gone to patrol the border with troops. If they really want to delay it, it is not impossible to delay it for two or three months"!

"Now that we have a target, it's easy. I have plenty of ways to force them out," Zhao Renzhi stood up and said excitedly.

Zhang Pingan nodded and agreed: "That's right. With our identities here, it shouldn't be that difficult to find a reason to get them back. While we're looking for them, we also have to collect evidence. We can do it one by one. There's no rush. Let Chi Bao take people to distribute the relief supplies to the people this afternoon so that they can have a good New Year too."

"So are we going back tomorrow?" Qian Jie asked.

Zhang Pingan shook his head: "Of course not. Since we are here, we can stay for a few more days and go back after the Little New Year. Yumen Pass is not far from Guazhou Camp anyway. Maybe there will be unexpected surprises!"

Qian and Zhao looked at each other and realized that something was happening in the city.

Zhang Ping'an said he wanted to stay, so he really stayed.

Every day he would take the well-fed soldiers out for a stroll on the streets, having a very leisurely time.

Jiang was a straightforward man, and he had asked several times, "Aren't we going back to the Guazhou camp?"

Zhang Pingan was listening to a story in the teahouse at the moment. He was very calm. "No, if you're in a hurry, go back first. I have enough people around me anyway. Don't worry, I'll write you a letter and take it back. General Wei won't blame you."

Da Jiang was scratching his head anxiously, pacing back and forth beside him and saying, "You know that's not what I meant? I can't explain this to the general."

"What does that mean?" Zhang Pingan helplessly spread his hands and pointed outside. "The roads are blocked by heavy snow and it's freezing cold. What can I do? Can't I even listen to a storyteller to entertain myself?"

Then he changed the topic with just a few words. Jiang was helpless and could only sit aside angrily, feeling very aggrieved.

After a few days, even Wei Cunxiao couldn't help but ask about it personally, secretly wondering if Zhang Ping'an had discovered something.

But when he was tested, Zhang Ping'an knew nothing about anything, which made him feel annoyed. If he couldn't save his thirteenth brother, he couldn't imagine how anxious his adoptive father would be.

Especially Zhao Renzhi and Qian Jie who were by Zhang Ping'an's side, who went out early and came back late every day and were nowhere to be found. The people sent to follow them were often thrown off, which made him even more worried.

A few days passed like this, and the people who stayed in the Guazhou camp suddenly sent a message to Zhang Ping'an, saying that many doctors had come from Guazhou City in recent days, and they suspected that Wei Chengfeng was seriously ill.

Zhang Ping'an took the letter and was not sure whether Wei Chengfeng was really sick or pretending, so he discussed with Qian Jie and the others whether they should go back.

Neither of them was very willing to do so. "We're so close to figuring out the clues. If we go back now, all our efforts will be wasted. This is most likely a trick set up by that old man Wei Chengfeng to lure the tiger away from the mountain. We can't fall for it!"

"What you said makes sense. I also had doubts, but if he is really seriously ill, it may not work without someone to take charge of the situation in the Guazhou camp." Zhang Pingan felt a rare dilemma.

After all, their main task is to gain control of the military power of the Guazhou camp. If they stay in Yumen Pass for too long and something happens in the Guazhou camp, they will be held responsible.

The three of them discussed for a long time and finally decided to stay for two more days. If there was still no result, they would set off back to the Guazhou camp.

Unexpectedly, plans cannot keep up with changes. On the afternoon of the second day, Zhang Ping'an suddenly received a letter for help from Green Bean Eye outside the pass.

The letter was very simple, saying that they were detained by the Shache Kingdom, and the Shache Princess wanted to recruit Lin Junhui as her husband. Once he became her husband, things would become complicated, and naturally they would not be able to move forward for a while.

Let Zhang Ping'an come up with a solution quickly.

Zhang Pingan was anxious at first, and then he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. What else could he do? Even distant water could not put out a nearby fire!

Zhao Renzhi and Qian Jie were also speechless.

"Okay, since Brother Ge has sent us a message, it proves that they are really in trouble. We cannot ignore it. Although Princess Shache wants to recruit Brother Lin as her husband, Brother Lin has a family in Lin'an. I am afraid that if he refuses, the princess will be angry. You know, in the previous dynasty, many ministers who were sent to the Western Regions but failed were detained outside the Great Wall for decades. Let's all think of a solution," said Zhang Pingan as he sat down.

Speaking of the previous dynasty, Qian Jie's expression became more serious. "Yes, in the three previous dynasty missions to the Western Regions, two of them ended up being detained outside the Great Wall to herd horses and sheep. If Brother Lin and his men were really kept outside the Great Wall for decades, they wouldn't have much of a position even if they returned to the court."

Before they could come up with a conclusion, Wei Cunxiao came to report.

"My Lords, I just received a report from our spies outside the Great Wall. They say Lord Lin and his group have angered the Prince of Shache for some reason and have been detained by the Shache Kingdom. Now they can't even leave freely. I wonder how we should handle this matter? Do we need to send someone to rescue them?"

Zhang Ping'an had just learned about this matter in advance and knew more details.

But at the moment, he could only feign surprise and ask, "What? Did the spy tell us what we can do to get the Yarkand people to be released? Is the situation serious? Are there any casualties?"