Traces and Thoughts

It was getting dark, and the city gate guards were at their most exhausted. They braced themselves and waited for their shift to change.

But at this moment, the shouts of patrolling guards came from the city wall.

"who!"

"Don't get close to important city defense areas!"

Something happened? The city gate guard suddenly lost his tiredness and hurriedly walked out and looked around. He saw someone squatting under the city wall in the distance...

The guards on the city wall were raising their crossbows.

"Ouch!" A guard slapped his leg, "It's Zhang Yuan!"

Another person also reacted, angry and anxious: "This kid is sick again!"

The two hurriedly ran outside and shouted to the guards on the city wall.

"It's one of our own——"

"Don't shoot the arrow—"

…

…

The city gate guard couldn't remember when Zhang Yuan started to suffer from this habit of squatting under the city wall.

I vaguely remember it was after a rainy day.

He first walked around the city wall every day, muttering to himself and touching here and there.

After wandering around for a few days, he suddenly yelled and laughed a few times, and then he always stood in a fixed place and stared at the city wall.

"Can't you see this mark?" He also asked them, pointing to the halfway point on the city wall.

There was a long scratch there.

The city walls of the capital have been around longer than the founding of the Zhou Dynasty. Although they have been repaired many times, they are still full of mottled marks. There is nothing strange about it.

Fortunately, Zhang Yuan was not too crazy. After being scolded by the superior several times, he stopped coming here and started running around.

Why did you suddenly go to see the city wall again?

Several people dragged Zhang Yuan back to the city gate, shouting and scolding him.

"Where did you go again?"

"General Wu said that he will drive you away and not let you guard the city gate anymore."

"Hurry up and say good things to him, and then talk to your second uncle and the others. Where is the old family relationship?"

Before they finished speaking, Zhang Yuan snorted: "I am willing to come here to guard the city gate to handle the case. Now I have a clue. I don't need him to rush me. I can just leave."

After saying that, he threw up his sleeves and strode away.

The few gatekeepers left behind are baffled.

"What case?"

"What case did he come to the city gate to handle?"

"Didn't he come here because he offended the governor and was dismissed from his post?"

After Zhang Yuan walked out, he looked back and saw that no one remembered the murder of Liu Xiucai.

But it doesn't matter, he remembers.

He will definitely bring the murderer to justice.

…

…

The gate of Jingzhao Mansion is majestic, but unlike other yamen that make people shy away and are solemn and solemn, it is in charge of thirteen cities in Gyeonggi and is very busy and noisy.

Officials, soldiers and guards came and went, some were crying or telling the people with angry expressions, and there were also prisoners being escorted by the police.

The past two days have been even busier. It was said that a massacre occurred in one city, with a large number of deaths. In addition, the killers and Mo disciples were involved, and the local officials immediately sent them to Jingzhao Mansion.

The Jingzhao Mansion did not dare to ignore it, because there was also the Ducha Si present at the time.

With the Du Cha Si watching over them, there was no way to pretend to be confused, otherwise it might become an excuse for the Du Cha Si to capture them in the future.

The gentlemen at the top are even busier than the miscellaneous officials below.

Several book offices were busy from early morning to noon that day, and they didn't even bother to drink tea.

"Is Mr. Lin here?" Someone raised the curtain and shouted.

An old official who was sorting out documents behind his back said angrily: "Not here."

Someone came up from behind and said, "Master Lin is so busy."

Lin Li turned his head and looked at the person. He was wearing old clothes, with an unkempt beard and a dark face...

He looks like an idle guy who would be kicked out if he stood at the door.

But he was able to walk all the way into the official hall...

"Zhang Canjun is here again." Lin Li said nonchalantly, "What are your orders this time?"

In the past, Zhang Canjun was an honorific title, but now it is an insult and ridicule.

However, Zhang Yuan was not angry at all, and he would not punch anyone who dared to tease him like before.

Now he was smiling all over his face and holding out a clay pot with both hands: "I came here to tell the officials to drink a bowl of licorice soup no matter how busy they are."

Lin Li smiled, and the other two people in the room also looked over and joked, "Zhang Canjun's command is awesome."

"This is Cao's store's iced licorice soup, which is the best for relieving heat and fatigue." Zhang Yuan said, taking out a paper bag from his sleeve, "There are also candied fruits."

Lin Li saw the name of the shop written on the candied fruit, which is also a famous product in the capital. The impatience in his eyes disappeared, and he put his hands in his hands and said, "This is not cheap. Zhang Canjun spent a lot of money."

Zhang Yuan poured a cup of licorice soup with his own hands and held the candied fruit in front of Lin Li in one hand.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Lin? Please tell me, what does it mean to waste money?" He said with a glare, then smiled, "And this is not a waste of money. When I really resume my duty as a soldier, then I will let everyone know what a waste of money is.

"

As he spoke, he lowered his body and handed it over again.

Lin Li did not refuse anymore. He took the tea with one hand, squeezed a candied fruit with the other, and said with a smile: "Then let's take advantage of Zhang Canjun's honor and enjoy it."

The other two officials also brought tea soup. Zhang Yuan invited them to eat candied fruits, and then supported Lin Li's arm and walked a few steps aside.

"Master Lin, I'm really troubling you." He said with a smile.

Lin Li drank tea slowly and glanced at him: "Why bother? Didn't I just open a letter for you and let you go for a run? Isn't that enough?"

Zhang Yuan smiled apologetically: "Not enough, not enough. I also want to look at the registration list of people who have come to our capital over the past year."

This matter is not trivial. Lin Li frowned and looked at him: "Why are you looking at this? Moreover, if you want to check the census register, you need to have the official to approve it."

Zhang Yuan put his shoulder on his shoulder, almost leaning against him, his beard almost piercing Lin Li's face: "Master Lin, Grandpa Lin, approving papers is not a big deal. When I make a comeback, I will just give you a patch of papers."

After saying that, he bowed again and again, and stuffed a money bag into the sleeve of Lin Li.

This is indeed not a big deal, and the records of Jingzhao Mansion are not as important as the Ministry of Personnel.

Lin Li was helpless because of being entangled. He touched Zhang Yuansai's money and pulled out a pair of cards from his sleeve: "Okay, okay."

Zhang Yuan grabbed the pair of cards and said, "Thank you, Lao Lin."

After that, he rushed out.

Lin Li was almost knocked down and sighed angrily: "Call Lao Lin when you're done."

An official next to him laughed and said: "Just be content, he used to call us old guys."

Lin Li shook his clothes: "No, who would have thought that we could still be called "Master" by Zhang Yuan and drink his tea and preserves."

"I didn't expect to see Zhang Yuan groveling and begging for mercy." Another official said, with disdain on his face, and curiously asked, "What on earth is he checking? He has no face and skin day and night? I heard that the city gates are all

If he doesn't guard it properly, the city gate guards will drive him away as well."

"It is said that someone was found hiding a forbidden weapon some time ago." Lin Li said, "I want to catch him, perform meritorious service, and then be reinstated."

One of the officials laughed: "What a dream."

Zhang Yuan was demoted not because he was unfavorable in his job, but because he acted recklessly and offended the governor.

If you want to come back, it's not enough to make a contribution.

Lin Li smiled and said: "It's pitiful to see him look so crazy. Let's just dream. It's just a thought."

The other two people shook their heads: "It's all your own fault."

While he was talking, someone came in again, raised his eyes and said in a long voice: "Get yesterday's newspaper brochure -" before he finished speaking, the person turned around and went out, and the lingering sound came from outside the door, "-send it to Counselor Luo.

"

Lin Li hurriedly said to the outside respectfully: "Send it over now." Then he stood up and looked at the two people, and glared, "Why are you still standing there in a daze? Let's get to work!"
To be continued...