Since sneaking away from Xingqing Mansion at the end of February, Sun Tu finally returned to the Song Dynasty safely after many twists and turns. Fortunately, it had been a long time since the incident a year ago, and there were constant disputes in the Xia Dynasty. They did not bother to search and track his whereabouts with all their strength, so he was able to truly escape.
After returning to the Song Dynasty, after some weighing, Sun Tu did not rush to reveal his identity or rush to Bianjing to meet Tong Guan, but directly returned to Qingzhou, Shandong. Because he knew very well that this was his fundamental place. If he really entered the capital and was accused or plotted by some people in the court, it would be extremely difficult to return to Qingzhou.
But as a result, Sun Tu spent more time on the road. It was not until the middle of May that he arrived in Qingzhou, but he saw many changes along the way that he did not want to see. At this time, a conversation in the tea room made him even more angry, and his emotions were a little out of control.
What kind of person is Sun Tu? He has thousands of lives under his command. How can these ordinary people in front of him be able to bear his anger at this moment? At that moment, several people exclaimed and looked at him in fear. To him. It was only then that he suddenly came back to his senses, hurriedly regained his momentum, put down the broken tea bowl, and smiled apologetically at everyone: "I was a little too angry just now, I hope you don't take offense. Old man, Let this bowl be included in the tea money!" As he said this, he picked up the teapot in front of him, drank all the tea in one go, took out twenty or thirty cash and put it on the table, stood up and wanted to leave. .
Originally, Sun Tu was in a hurry to return to Qingzhou, but now after hearing about all the changes there, he was even more eager to return and didn't want to delay any more. When the old tea seller saw that he had left so much money, he hurriedly waved his hand and said: "The guest officer gave you too much. Even including the price of the tea bowl, it doesn't even cost ten cents..."
"Your tea is the best for me. The rest is just a thank you for the old man's hospitality today." Sun Tu smiled and strode to the horse. As soon as he untied the reins and was about to get on the horse and continue on his way, he saw Suddenly a group of soap-coated officers appeared on the road ahead. The guests and the old people in the tea house looked panicked when they saw their arrival. A few people who were still drinking tea and chatting slowly immediately stood up and hurriedly walked to the other side.
But the old man couldn't leave. He could only stay there with a worried face, his shrinking eyes not even daring to look at the official who was already walking straight to the tea room. These officials walked into the teahouse as if there was no one around, and asked in a condescending tone: "Mr. Jiang, today you should pay both the grain tax and the tax on your tea stall." Come on!"
"I'd like to ask some gentlemen to be accommodating. I really can't afford so much food and tax money... My sons have all been drafted into the army, and no one is cultivating the fields at home. Where can I get food from? Tax? Also, this tea stall only charges thirty or fifty cents per day, so everyone asks for ten cents if you ask, this... "
"Bold! You are so clueless. I have already given you time to raise money and food because of your boss. I didn't expect that you are not only ungrateful, but you still want to shirk and delay today. You really think that I, the Song Dynasty, can't handle it. Did I kill you?" An officer immediately glared and shouted threateningly.
At the same time, the eyes of another companion beside him quickly fell on the twenty or thirty copper coins that Sun Tu left on the table. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed one of them in his hand. He looked at the increasingly pale old man and said with a sinister smile: " You old man is really a boss who wants money before his life. How dare you lie to me at this time! Your tea stall only earns dozens of coins a day? It’s just past noon. Where did you get this money? Look. I'll take you back to the city and punish you severely, you won't pay the money!"
As soon as these words were said, several officials rolled up their sleeves and tried to capture the old man who was already trembling with fear on the spot. The other two guests in the tea room were also silent at this time, not daring to say a word, let alone step forward to explain something to the old man.
Just when the old man whispered that he was wronged, but did not dare to dodge, a voice sounded from behind them: "I gave the money to this old man, do I have to ask some of you about this? "
The cold voice startled the few officers. They quickly turned around and saw a cold and solemn young man dressed for a long trip looking at him and others with cold eyes. The leader, Zhong Yi, vaguely felt that this person's appearance seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember it for a while. Just when he met the other person's eyes, a chill suddenly rose up.
However, several other officials were still looking arrogant at this time. They stared at Sun Tu who had returned and said, "Which guy didn't put on his pants properly and exposed you? Boy, the government collects taxes and other things." Is that something you can take care of?" As he said that, he glanced at the horse he was holding, and his eyes showed greed again: "By the way, our prefecture government office just lost a good horse two days ago, don't you just steal it? Come on! You are unlucky today. Since you have shown your face, just follow me back to the city to convict you!" As he spoke, he conveyed it with a look in his eyes, and the other officials immediately understood and held up the sticks in their hands to take down the person.
Sun Tu really didn't expect that these officials were such scoundrels and could convict people casually. His face immediately became gloomier. When he saw someone hitting him with a stick, he only dodged the stick slightly, and then He grabbed the head of the stick with one hand and shook it again, causing the officer to let go of the stick with a cry of surprise, and the man staggered back.
Seeing that he had snatched away his brother's stick with just one move, the officials finally became a little nervous and immediately shouted: "What a thief, he not only stole horses but also dared to resist arrest. Aren't you afraid of the king's law?" As he spoke, they all danced. He picked up the stick in his hand and struck Sun Tu's head, face, neck and other vital parts.
Although the momentum of these guys is not small, in Sun Tu's eyes, they are no different from a few children. He only heard a cold snort, and the stick in his hand made a strange sound, and he came first to fight these people. Before hitting him, he used the tip of the stick to hit the wrists of these people one after another. After several cries of pain, all the sticks in their hands fell to the ground, but Sun Tu didn't even move a step from beginning to end.
"You... have rebelled. The Liangshan bandits have come down from the mountain to kill officials!" An official suddenly shouted loudly, turned around and ran towards the official road leading directly to Qingzhou. Others also made the same choice. Only the leader Zhong Yi still looked at Sun Tu with some hesitation. There was a look of fear in his eyes, but he was not like the others.
Run for your life.
When Sun Tu saw this, he was really angry and funny. These guys really took the word rogue to the extreme. Of course, he couldn't let them escape at this time, so he immediately chased them forward, waving the long stick in his hand casually, and quickly knocked all these officials to the ground.
It was only then that these people really gave in and begged for mercy on their knees: "Hero, please spare my life. I know I was wrong. I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child to raise. I hope you can spare my life." Waiting for your life!"
Sun Tu stared at them with dark eyes: "Now you know how to be afraid? In that case, why did you have to deal with this old man so hard just now? He just opened a tea stall to make a living, and you actually want to take it Is he going to see an official?"
"I... We are also acting under orders. He has defaulted on the government taxes and has not paid the taxes. We always have to come to collect him." The official hurriedly explained.
"It's just a tea stall, and you have to charge him ten thousand tons of heavy taxes? How can this be a tax? It's clearly killing people! I have never heard of such a rule in Qingzhou Prefecture. Even when Murong Yanchao was in office, There is no such heavy tax!" Sun Tu stepped forward and asked: "Tell me, are you trying to collect a lot of benefits in the name of the government?"
"The hero has been wronged. How dare you villains have such thoughts? We really did it under orders, but it was not to force him to death, but to bring him back and serve him in the army..." Facing Sun Tu's frightened Such a person's aura, this person finally told the truth.
When Sun Tu heard this, he was startled. What kind of purpose was this? You actually want to force such an old man in his sixties into the army. What use can such a person have
Seeing that he was hesitant, everyone thought he was afraid, so someone bravely said: "This good man, we all act according to the regulations. If you are not from Liangshan, this matter has nothing to do with you. The government's Things are beyond the control of people like you! If you just leave, we won't embarrass you. But if you insist on entangled, when my Qingzhou army arrives, no matter how good your martial arts skills are, don't be afraid. I want to get some benefits!”
"Hahaha..." Sun Tu burst into disdainful laughter when he heard this: "You are not a serious official, but you were a street gangster before, right?" Seeing the stunned expressions on several people's faces, he knew that his judgment was right. The words and deeds of these people are really no different from those of rogues. The only difference is the clothes.
Then, he glared again: "Who said I can't control the ridiculous things done by the Qingzhou government? I'm not afraid to tell you, as long as it's something within Qingzhou, I can control it, and I should Who cares!" When he said this, his aura suddenly erupted, so much so that these officials did not dare to say another word, and no one raised any questions or questions.
At this moment, Zhong Yi, who had been standing by the tea room, finally understood and let out a exclamation. His eyes were fixed on Sun Tu, his body was shaking rapidly, and he said in horror: "You... you are... You are Superintendent Sun...are you back?"
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically and they were stunned!