Later, Zhao Zongji was only seven days younger than Chen Ke. Chen Ke was the first time to leave Sichuan, and he was also the first time to leave Beijing. But Chen Ke wanted to go wherever he went, no one could control him, but he couldn't take a step away from his father's side.

  So what's this 'Stockholm syndrome', it's just Little Prince's juvenile delusion, wanting freedom, wanting adventure, wanting to pay a visit to Ouyang Xiu.

  On the way to Jiangxi, Chen Ke and others kept sizing up Zhao Zongji. It was really unthinkable that under such a rigid face, there was actually a sulky heart hidden.

  Zhao Zongji was getting a bit annoyed, just about to warn these rude guys, when he heard the guard outside say in a low voice: "Young master, we are being followed."

  "Is it because Father is worried?" Zhao Zongji lightly lifted the curtain and said: "Did you send someone to follow up?"

  "If it's a brother from our own family, why hide from us?" The guard shook his head and said anxiously: "I suggest that we should immediately go to the nearest county town and enter the government office, where it will be safe."

  "'You're too timid,' Zhao Zongji said coldly. 'More than 20 of you are skilled fighters, yet you can't even protect us completely?'"

  "If it were ordinary thieves, I wouldn't be afraid." The guard said seriously: "However, the ones who are lurking around seem to be military scouts."

  "What?" Zhao Zongji exclaimed in surprise.

  Chen Ke and others also changed their faces at the same time, a picture suddenly appeared in front of them...

  A team transporting grain and hay, shortly after leaving the city, attracted icy gazes. After entering the mountain path, the army that had been ambushing for a long time suddenly rose up and fired arrows in unison; agile knife-wielding hands rushed down the mountain, beheading the civil officials who were lagging behind...

  Is this scene they inferred together going to be reenacted on themselves?

  "They don't dare." Zhao Zongji had regained his composure and said, "If I were to flee, the bandits would change from being punished for their crimes to being put to death." Apparently, he also realized that those people were after Chen Ke and the others, and it was probably the same group of people who had robbed the grain carts.

  "Don't be too confident, if everyone was that rational, we'd still be in the Qin dynasty." Chen Ke spoke up, "Let's listen to him and go to the government office, then we'll figure out a way to leave." Since he had promised Old Master Wang, he couldn't let Young Master Wang get into danger.

  "They listen to me." Zhao Zongji looked at Chen Ke with pride.

  "You're awesome." Chen Ke spread his hands out to the sides.

  "Haha......" Zhao Zongji smiled, finally suppressing this kid's arrogance.

  "But we should consider Lord Ou Yang's situation." Who knew Chen Ke had more to say: "We're bringing our tails along, aren't we inviting trouble for him?"

  "Who dares to harm Ouyang Xiu?"

  "It's not that no one dares to make a move openly," Song Duanping said coldly, "but I know dozens of methods that can make someone die without leaving any evidence or clues."

  "......" Chen Ke and others were shocked to look at him, this is getting out of hand.

  Song Duanping stuck out his tongue, indicating that he had a sudden urge to speak smoothly.

  Fortunately, the inexperienced young master believed him. He sank his face and thought for half a day, lowering his voice to say: "Let's use the 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell' trick! Let the guards attract those scoundrels, and we can easily escape."

  "We were originally quite relaxed," Song Duanping sneered: "With you, it's tiring."

  "I have been practicing Tai Zu's Long Fist since I was a child." Little King Wang angrily said: "You dare to choose a day for a trial?!"

  "One hand can knock you down." Song Duanping said coldly.

  "Alright, alright." Chen Ke hastily pulled out a chair and said to Young Master Wang, "Can you persuade your guards?"

  "Get rid of them."

  It's estimated that after being suppressed for too long, young master Wang became willful and even Chen Ke couldn't control him.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Having obtained the consent of Xiao Wangye, the team turned towards the nearest county town in the north, but it was already late and they could only stay at the post station first. However, the guards also breathed a sigh of relief, as the gathering place for merchants from all over the country should be a safe haven where no one would dare to make a move.

  But the next morning, when they were preparing to serve the young king at dawn, they were horrified to find that the main bedroom, which had been specially vacated by the postmaster, was empty. There was only a handwritten letter from Zhao Zongji.

  The letter only had a few words: 'I'll be back in a few days, you're not allowed to move around or look for me, otherwise I'll be in danger if the bad guys find out. To outsiders, just say that I've caught a cold and need to rest here for a few days...'

  The guards looked at their captain and saw that he had already lost all his color.

  At the same time, a grain convoy that took advantage of the coolness and set out on the road at four watches, was traveling on the road thirty miles away from the relay station.

  As soon as the sun came out, the sky became scorching hot. Suddenly, a carter rubbed his eyes... He stared at the sacks on the cart in front of him and they actually started moving.

  He was just about to speak, reminding the person in front to stop and check, when a **naked black giant wearing only underwear** rushed out from inside, shouting: "It's killing me!"

  Immediately afterwards, several sacks of rice on other cars also moved, and a few naked men jumped out, all shouting "it's hot, it's hot..."

  "Spare our lives!" The atmosphere of terror enveloped the grain team, and some timid ones urinated immediately.

  Who were those good men? They didn't even look at them and just walked away with a swagger.

  Under the gaze of everyone's astonishment, the five good men walked out for a mile, then scattered and ran...

  They ran to the bank of a big river in one breath, threw the bundle in their hands on the shore, and the five people jumped into the river with a splash. It wasn't until half a day later that they emerged one after another, wiping the water from their faces with both hands, and burst out laughing together, including the bald monk.

  "What a thrill!" Zhao Zongji was the happiest he had ever been in his life, and with a flourish of his arms and legs, he splashed water everywhere, exclaiming: "Wasn't it worth coming out for this trip?"

  "The young master is running naked," Song Duanping said with a strange smile: "Isn't that too much?"

  "It's all settled, don't mention my identity again." Zhao Zongji said: "There is no Young Master Wang here."

  "Is that what you said?" Chen Ke and Song Duanping burst out laughing: "Then we won't be polite!" They rushed towards Zhao Zongji, pinning him down in the water and started tossing him around. It was a joke, an opportunity to bully a noble young master, if they missed this chance, it would be gone forever, even Wu Lang couldn't help but get excited.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Torture poor Little King Wang thoroughly, and a few unscrupulous companions climbed ashore, dressed in clothes, identified the direction, walked seven or eight miles to the official road, and then they could find Luling without using a map.

  China has attached great importance to the construction of official roads since the Qin Dynasty. The prosperous Song Dynasty would not let the previous dynasty monopolize beauty. The rebellion of Nong Zhigao less than two months ago is a good example - why was he able to kill from Yongzhou to Guangzhou in less than half a month, wasn't it because of the smooth official roads built by the Song Dynasty at no cost?

  The imperial court, after being defeated in Yongzhou, established an ultra-rapid communication post road from the various prefectures of Lingnan to the capital city of Kaifeng. Every day, without distinction between day and night, fast horses galloped, transmitting the latest news to the northern capital - with high efficiency, within just five days, there were orders returned to the south.

  Five days, including travel time and decision-making time! Behind this terrifying record is the Song Dynasty's investment without counting costs since its founding... After a hundred years of construction, the empire's east, west, south, and north all had well-drained, flat official roads that connected various states and counties.

  According to the rules of the Song Dynasty, willows and cypresses must be planted on both sides of the road. In the north, they block the wind and sand, while in the south, they stabilize the road foundation. Every five miles along the road, a stone tablet called "Li Ting" is erected with inscriptions of traffic rules such as "yield to nobles, yield to elders, yield to heavy loads, and give way to oncoming traffic". The numbering is also clearly marked. By looking at the numbering, one can tell how far they have traveled, all at a glance.

  Besides, at the boundary of provinces and counties, there are also 'boundary tablets' that clearly indicate which province and county you are in, as well as where east, west, south, and north are, making it easier to ask for directions.

  And every twenty miles on the official road, there must be a horse shed with a resting horse pavilion; every sixty miles, there must be a postal station, some are run by officials, and some are bought by civilians to operate, all providing full food and accommodation. Scholars traveling often stay at the post station, resting at night and leaving in the morning, safe and worry-free, can be said to be considerate and thoughtful.

  It is said that people in the Song Dynasty liked to travel. With such good transportation conditions, as long as they had money at home, who wouldn't want to go out and have a look around?

  According to Little King's personal wishes, after this return, he is afraid that there will be no such opportunity in this life. Of course, he also wants to stay overnight and leave early the next morning, and take a good look at the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Great Song Dynasty.

  But Chen Ke and others were anxious to rescue people, and they hated to rush day and night, how could they let him stay here.

  After haggling over the price, they finally reached an agreement and traveled 120 miles before resting at a post house.

  Only when they really started walking did Zhao Zongji realize that he had been conned... one hundred and twenty miles, having to run like a dog for almost the whole day, with only the hottest two hours spent eating some dry rations and taking a nap by the side of the road.

  Poor and delicate young master, how can he compare to Chen Ke and the others who have been tempered since childhood? After just one day of walking, his feet are covered in blisters, his crotch is rubbed raw, and he walks like an old duck with a limp.

  Chen Ke and Song Duanping discussed whether to buy a mule to carry him, but Zhao Zongji refused. His competitive spirit was extremely strong, seeing the four of them walking very easily, he didn't want to admit defeat.

  "If we keep this speed tomorrow, you won't be able to catch up with us."

  "Don't wait for you guys!"

  The road behind, I don't know how he persisted, and more than 200 miles followed all the way. This stubborn willpower also won the respect of several Chen Kexin.

  Two days later, they finally arrived at Yongfeng County in Luling Prefecture. Chen Ke had learned that Ouyang Xiu was living in Sha'ao Town outside the county seat. It was a long distance away, but they could take a boat, so several of them went to the dock and coincidentally ran into a ship that was about to set off for Sha'ao.

  The boat was almost full of passengers, and the people in front had taken all the good seats in the cabin. The outside deck was empty, but the sun was too strong, and no one wanted to go out and get sunburned.

  Although the five of them were not good people, they didn't bully kind-hearted masters, so they all smiled and said: "Let it go, let it go."

  On the boat, there were scholars, farmers, workers and merchants, all sorts of people. Looking at these five dusty and tired "stinky guys", they reluctantly made some space, allowing them to sit cross-legged in the cabin.