readytorunbook Chapter 759 School Bus
Chapter 759 School Bus
Chapter 759 School Bus
Outside Hanshan City, a convoy of more than a dozen horse-drawn carriages awaited inspection.
This is Zhu Youjian's entourage. At this moment, in the carriage in the very center of the entourage, Zhu Youjian had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Because Zhu Youjian was the emperor, even though the capital was under lockdown and the Ming court was practically non-existent, he couldn't stay away from the capital for too long. He had to travel through the night, rushing all the way. As a result, Zhu Youjian was exhausted.
Cao Huachun, who was accompanying Zhu Youjian, was also very tired. He gently helped Zhu Youjian put on a blanket and then sat down in the carriage to rest for a while.
This time, Zhu Youjian came to Hanshan to do business under the guise of being a member of the imperial clan. Therefore, he had prepared his travel permits and other documents quite thoroughly, and his caravan quickly passed through the inspection and entered the city.
The person in charge of the convoy's security was Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was an intelligence agency, its primary duty was to protect the emperor. In the Ming Dynasty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was essentially the imperial bodyguard.
Luo Yangxing was the son of Luo Sigong, the previous commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal guard, most of the positions were passed down from father to son.
This was Luo Yangxing's first time visiting Hanshan. Although he was over fifty years old and no longer young and passionate, he had been angry quite a bit since arriving in Hanshan.
Actually, this matter cannot be blamed on Luo Yangxing. He was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had weakened since Wei Zhongxian's downfall, Luo Yangxing was deeply trusted by Zhu Youjian. In the capital, even the Donglin Party members dared not easily offend him.
However, once they reached Hanshan territory, he, as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was not as respected as the merchants of the Hanshan Chamber of Commerce. Along the way, no one stopped or inspected the carriages of the Hanshan Chamber of Commerce, but Zhu Youjian's convoy was stopped and inspected by soldiers from time to time.
Although the local constables in Hanshan didn't dare to act like big shots in front of the common people, they certainly didn't treat outsiders well. This was simply because Sun Chuanting's troops had attacked Hanshan some time ago, incurring too much hatred.
Luo Yangxing sat in the carriage at the front, closing his eyes to rest.
Suddenly the carriage stopped, and the Imperial Guard driving it shouted angrily, "Who goes there? How are you driving? According to the Hanshan Public Security Regulations, you're not allowed to park anywhere!"
Having arrived in Hanshan, the Imperial Guards diligently studied the Hanshan Public Security Regulations. This was at Cao Huachun's insistence, as he had experience in Hanshan and knew that one could easily be arrested there. Moreover, Cao Huachun had received information that Ajige had been arrested in Hanshan for violating the regulations and was ultimately castrated by Wang Wenzhou's subordinates. Of course, the Western Depot's spies had not obtained concrete evidence to confirm this news.
Luo Yangxing lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. He saw a yellow carriage blocking the front of the caravan. Inside the yellow carriage were children dressed in matching uniforms.
This carriage was the school bus of Hanshan School. In Hanshan, school buses were privileged vehicles, allowed to stop anywhere to pick up and drop off students, and other vehicles were not permitted to overtake them when they stopped—a fact well understood by the people of Hanshan. Therefore, upon seeing the school bus stop, the people all waited where they were.
The school bus driver glanced back and recognized the convoy behind him as being from out of town. He didn't bother arguing with these bumpkins and ignored them, continuing to nag the children to slow down.
Because of the shouts from the Imperial Guards, the people of Hanshan who were waiting nearby all glared angrily. These bumpkins have no sense of public morality; how dare they rush the school bus?
Luo Yangxing frowned as he saw the gazes of the common people. This was blatant discrimination! Only the Imperial Guards had ever acted like royalty; who gave the common people the right to discriminate against them?
The Imperial Guard driving the carriage was immediately enraged. He thought for a moment, then turned to Luo Yangxing and asked, "Sir, according to the Hanshan Public Security Regulations, stopping arbitrarily is prohibited. The vehicle ahead is clearly violating the rules. Should we continue to wait, or pass it?"
Luo Yangxing said coldly, "Go ahead!"
"Yes!" The Imperial Guard smiled slightly. His master was also angry. You commoners of Hanshan are really lawless. How dare you provoke the Imperial Guard? If it weren't for His Majesty's insistence on keeping a low profile, I would definitely have made you pay!
"Crack!" The Imperial Guard driving the carriage lashed his whip across his horse, turned it around, and began to overtake.
"What are you doing?"
"Didn't you see the school bus ahead?"
In an instant, the waiting crowd became enraged and rushed forward to block the convoy.
The Imperial Guards were bewildered by the sudden turn of events. What was going on? Why were so many people suddenly surrounding them?
"An assassin!" A member of the Imperial Guard, who was under a lot of stress due to lack of rest, shouted out in a moment of panic.
In an instant, the Imperial Guards jumped out of the carriage, all drawing their swords and standing on high alert.
"There are thugs!" someone in the crowd suddenly shouted. "Protect the children!"
The people were so nervous because after Sun Chuanting's troops captured Hanshan, the people of Hanshan, led by Mu Yiyun, launched a counterattack.
The people of Hanshan were incredibly fierce fighters, and Sun Chuanting's troops were quickly routed. However, some people, in their escape, took the elderly and weak hostage. This left a thorn in the hearts of the people of Hanshan. They always felt that most outsiders coming to Hanshan these days had ill intentions.
"Protect the master!" Luo Yangxing shouted.
The Imperial Guards, armed with swords, surrounded Zhu Youjian's carriage.
"Fellow villagers, let's charge together! Don't let these thugs get away!" Led by a brave and strong man, the people of Hanshan charged towards the Imperial Guards.
"Beep beep beep..." At this moment, the school bus driver blew his whistle.
"Huh?" Zhu Youjian was woken up. He lifted the carriage curtain, looked out, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" Luo Yangxing leaned against the carriage window and said worriedly, "It's very likely that our identities have been exposed! Now, the only option is for me to protect Your Majesty and help you escape with my life!"
Zhu Youjian shook his head with a wry smile. He thought about it and realized he was right; he had been careless! Wang Wenzhou had been planting spies around him, and he was sure Wang Wenzhou had spies around him too. He had truly lost Jingzhou due to carelessness; he shouldn't have insisted on coming to Hanshan in the first place.
"Your Majesty! Let's go quickly!" Cao Huachun pulled Zhu Youjian out of the carriage.
At this moment, the Imperial Guards had already fought their way out, and Zhu Youjian and Cao Huachun fled in haste.
Young racing prodigy Sheng Liang, dressed in military uniform, rode his horse and led his troops over.
Sheng Liang asked, "Where are the rebels?"
"Brother Liang, they've run east! They want to kill the children, but how can we, the good men of Hanshan, let them succeed?"
"Well done!" Sheng Liang waved and ordered, "Brothers, give chase! Don't let them get away!"
In an instant, Sheng Liang led his men and gave chase.