Chapter 172 Night Raid on the Harem
Song Jiang blinked and saw Yang Chang getting closer and closer. It turned out to be this guy.

I'm so envious, you deserve to die!

Although he was unhappy that Yang was wearing a red robe, they had already met on a narrow road at this time, so he had to ride his horse forward to greet him.

"what?"

Yang Chang had the skill of [Eagle Vision and Owl Eyes], and he saw Song Jiang and his two companions from a distance, but he pretended not to see them. Only when he got closer did he reveal his surprise: "Brother Gongming, Mr. Lu, and Hua Zhizhai? What a coincidence."

"I saw you from a distance, but I didn't recognize you because you were wearing this outfit. I heard that you captured a group of rebels, so you got promoted again?"

“It’s improved slightly.”

"What official title was Sanlang given? Tell us so that the brothers can be happy."

When Song Jiang saw Yang Chang playing dumb, his expectations continued to rise.

He was really curious about what position Yang Chang held now. He thought to himself, you were just an eighth-rank official before, how could you be promoted slightly to be able to wear a scarlet robe?

"Military Doctor, Inspector of Qinzhou, and General Manager of the Army"

"hiss"

Yang Chang spoke slowly, word by word. Song Jiang was not surprised to hear the word "Doctor Wu Lue", but the three words "Observation Envoy" were enough to shock him.

It turned out to be a fifth-rank official. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations, Manager Yang"

"I was wrong. I have to ask Yang to observe from now on!"

"Brother, please stop joking. We are all from Liangshan. You can just call me Sanlang."

"That won't do. You have to call your position when you are outside."

Several people chatted for a while at the city gate. Because Song Jiang was in a hurry to meet General Su, he invited Yang Chang to stay in the capital for one more day, and politely asked him to have a drink together.

How could Yang Chang agree? He hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I have an imperial order to carry out, so I dare not stay in the capital for long. Brother, go and see General Su, and we will be reunited in the future."

"That's a pity. I wanted to gather all the brothers to celebrate for you, but since Yang Guan has the emperor's order, Song Jiang dare not keep him."

"Brother, are the brothers stationed outside the city? I can take a walk around if I'm in a hurry. Is that convenient?"

"Why is it inconvenient? Hua Rong, take Yang Guancha back to have a look. Remember not to be rude!"

"Ok."

Song Jiang was very afraid of Yang Chang. He thought that if Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen and others were there, there might be fewer deaths in this expedition against Wang Qing. Now that Yang Chang was going to the military camp wearing a scarlet robe, wouldn't his brothers have wild thoughts?
But since he had made the request, how could he refuse the request of a fifth-rank official? So he asked Hua Rong to lead the way and monitor.

Only after seeing the two men and their horses slowly disappearing down the corridor of the New Song Gate did Song Jiang look back reluctantly.

The cheerful face just now suddenly became serious.

He and Lu Junyi rode side by side, thinking all the way, and did not speak for a long time.

Soon, the two men passed through the Old Cao Gate and entered the inner city. Their speed slowed down due to the heavy flow of people, and only then did Song Jiang come to his senses.

"Mr. Lu, what official position do you think His Majesty will give us when we return to the capital this time?"

"It's unknown, but Yang Chang was appointed as the governor of Qinzhou after he captured the rebels. We fought bloody battles in Huaixi, so we shouldn't be inferior to him, right?"

"Haha, don't worry, sir. We are better than him, not worse. The emperor is happy about the recovery of Yanjing, and the recent rewards are good, but he doesn't know what we are."

"The next level above the Observer is the Commissioner of Propaganda?"

"It should be at least this. If His Majesty considers our hard work and contributions, he may even give us a military governorship."

After hearing Song Jiang's bold words, Lu Junyi couldn't help but pull the reins and murmured, "From the second rank governor? Brother, you really dare to think so!"

"Only those who dare to think and fight can gain something. Zhu Yan collected stones for the government and was promoted to Jiedushi this time. We fought with swords and guns in Huaixi. Aren't our contributions more prominent than his?"

"Having said that."

Lu Junyi didn't want to spoil Song Jiang's fun, so he smiled and said, "Actually, I would be satisfied if I could be like Yang Chang."

"Haha, that's inevitable. Minister En has promised."

Song Jiang thought to himself that Lu Junyi dared not think about it, and thought that Su Yuanjing had promised to wear a red robe, so he should be at least a fifth-rank official. If His Majesty sympathizes with our hard work, it may not be a problem for us to wear a purple robe.

The two looked forward to the future and followed the crowd to move slowly into the city. Yang Changze and Hua Rong had a smooth journey out of the city. He first found Sun An and told him to set off that day, and then the three of them went to the Liangshan military camp together.

Yang Chang was wearing the robes of a fifth-rank official, and he was particularly eye-catching when walking in the camp.

For successful people who have returned home rich, their former neighbors and friends come up to them to congratulate them, while those who are unfamiliar with them feel that they are out of their reach and stand on the periphery, becoming a background for passers-by.

Song Jiang and Lu Junyi were not at home, and the military advisor Wu Yong was in charge of the camp. When he saw Hua Rong bringing Yang Chang here, he knew that Song Jiang was worried about him, so he stayed close to him and never left his side.

Yang Chang was once the deputy vanguard of the Liangshan Army, and now he is a fifth-rank observer.

When they arrived at the central military tent, they naturally sat down in Song Jiang's main seat, with Wu Yong and Hua Rong accompanying them on his left and right. In addition to the brothers who were recuperating from their injuries, old friends from Liangshan also came to meet them.

Those who were close to him, such as Li Jun, Xiao Rang, the three Ruans, Xuan Zan, Zhu Wu, Shi Qian and others, stayed in the tent to keep him company, while those who were not so close, such as Yan Shun, Zheng Tianshou, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng and others, entered the big tent, exchanged a few polite words and then left tactfully.

The people in the tent were like having a symposium, recalling with Yang Chang their past experiences in Liangshan and the critical moments in this expedition to Huaixi.

Sun An, his old friend Qiao Daoqing, and the surviving Hebei surrendered general Ma Ling came outside the tent to reminisce and chat alone. They were all saddened when they talked about the deaths of Bian Xiang, Shan Shiqi and others in battle.

There were more than 20 people in the big tent, and they chatted for about half an hour. Wu Yong saw that everyone was like stars surrounding the moon, and was worried that Yang Chang's staying would be detrimental to unity, so he deliberately spoke out to retreat in order to advance.

He smiled and asked, "My two brothers are coming to the city to pay their respects to the Grand Commandant. They should stay in the city to accompany me at noon. If Yang Guancha is not in a hurry to travel, he can stay here for half a day. I will ask someone to buy some good wine and meat, and we will have a drink together when my two brothers come back."

"Military advisor, there is no need to trouble you. I have told you two brothers before that I am on official business and cannot stay for long. I am ready to leave now. We will meet again when we have the chance. So, I will take my leave now."

Yang Chang could hear the hidden meaning behind the words and thought that his buddy had something important to do and only came here to meet a few friends. After saying this, he stood up and said goodbye to everyone.

Seeing that Yang Chang was so sensible, Wu Yong called everyone outside the tent to come out and see him off. Afterwards, he encouraged everyone to serve the country well, and Yang Chang's current achievements were an example.

Yang Chang and Sun An were escorted out of the camp by the crowd, and they rode side by side towards the Qinzhou military base. Soon they lined up and marched towards Yangwu.

On the way, Sun An talked about the war in Huaixi. He felt sad about the large number of surrendered generals from Hebei who were killed. He also mentioned that more than ten people from Liangshan were injured and had not recovered. Among them, Deng Fei was stabbed in the left leg while saving his companions, and his bones were injured. Even if he was cured, he would most likely have difficulty in moving.

Just now in the Liangshan camp, Wu Yong and Hua Rong had briefly introduced several wounded soldiers, including Qin Ming, Kong Liang and other direct subordinates of Song Jiang, so Yang Chang did not suggest visiting them.

Now after listening to Sun An's introduction, Yang Chang lamented that although Liangshan defeated Wang Qing, it paid a high price.

At this time, the number of troops was reduced and dozens of leaders were injured. If the court was cruel enough to let them fight Fang La again, it would be hard to say who would win in the end. Even if they could win, it would only be a pyrrhic victory, and the number of casualties would most likely be more than in the original book.

After I finish the things at hand, I have to find a chance to contact San Ruan, Li Jun, Xiao Rang and others, and persuade them to slip away as soon as possible.

Without the surrendered generals to serve as cannon fodder, and if Li Jun had to fight Fang La in a weak state, perhaps even Li Jun, who survived in the original novel, might not have been able to save his life.

Of course, the premise is that the Liangshan army will fight Fang La again. If the court directly appoints him as an official this time, that would be another matter. We set out from Bianliang around 9:00 pm and stopped at Guoqiao Town on the way to rest at sunset.

Yang Chang ordered his troops to spend the night in the town, and he and Sun An went to the official post station to order a table of food and wine. He pretended to be drunk and was helped back so that the post station clerk would see him drunk in Guoqiao.

The next morning, Sun An helped the fake Yang Chang, who was wearing an official robe, into the carriage. The Zhaoye Jade Lion was led forward by a special person, and the five hundred people continued their journey towards Yangwu.

The real Yang Chang was helped back to the camp last night, and when it got dark he disguised himself, changed horses and returned to Tokyo.

This guy has the night vision ability of [Eagle Vision and Owl Eyes]. Traveling at night is like driving on the highway alone. He rushes all the way until he arrives outside the city on the eve of dawn.

After the founding of the Song Dynasty, Tokyo Bianliang was free from the threat of war for a long time, and the concentration of population directly promoted the prosperity of commerce. Not only did the city break the market system of the Tang Dynasty, but it also gradually lifted restrictions on business at night.

The city gates are not closed all day on major holidays. On ordinary days, they are closed at 195: a.m. ( minutes after dark) and opened at : a.m. (: a.m.). In summer when the days are long, the gates are closed for less than three hours.

The Liangshan troops were stationed outside the east gate of Bianliang. In order to avoid meeting acquaintances, Yang Chang deliberately took a detour and entered the city from Nanxun Gate in the south with a peddler.

It was just daybreak and all the shops on Imperial Street were closed.

Yang Chang found a breakfast shop, and after eating, he checked into an inn in a quiet alley nearby. He slept until noon, then went to buy some women's clothes before going to a fancy teahouse outside the palace to wait.

Although the Northern Song Dynasty relaxed the control over the gates of the capital, the gates of the palace were as strict as in previous dynasties.

The gates of the palace are guarded with the strictest laws.

Officials on duty in the imperial city had to enter when the gate was open with the help of a "gate register". The "gate register" contained the official's name, position, age, physical characteristics and other information for inspection by the gatekeepers.

(The "Gate Guarding Rules": Anyone who enters the palace gate without a registered address or pretends to be someone else will be convicted of a crime. The palace gatekeeper will be sentenced to two years in prison, the hall gatekeeper will be sentenced to two and a half years in prison, and those who carry a staff will be sentenced to two more years in prison.)
(In September of the fifth year of Jiayou, Emperor Renzong's beloved daughter, Princess Fukang Zhao Huirou, quarreled with her husband and mother-in-law, ran back to the palace late at night and asked Renzong to open the palace gates, crying and asking for a divorce. Afterwards, Sima Guang, Lu Hui and others submitted memorials, asking Renzong to reprimand the princess according to the law and punish her for entering the palace without permission.)
No one can stop Yang Chang's skills, but he has to consider the delicate Zhao Fujin, so he spends a lot of time scouting out locations and designing routes to ensure that everything is foolproof.

The Imperial City Gate and the Palace City Gate are closed at 120: a.m. ( minutes after dark) and reopen at : a.m. (: a.m.).

After repeated consideration, Yang Chang finally decided to sneak into the palace before the gate was closed, and then rush out of the palace and the outer city after the gate was opened.

As night fell, the guests of the teahouse left one after another.

Yang Chang also paid for the tea and went downstairs. Then he put on the [camouflage feather] in a secluded place and swaggered into the palace from Xuande Gate.

Although the palace gates are not closed until eight o'clock in the evening, the complicated process needs to be prepared in advance, and time should also be reserved for provincial and ministerial officials who are working overtime to leave the palace.

Yang Chang used the [Centipede Step] all the way north. On the way, he could see patrolling and guarding palace guards from time to time, as well as many officials who were off duty because of overtime.

Although this guy had an invisibility prop, it could not hide the sound of hurried footsteps, so after entering the palace he walked and stopped, and it took him half an hour to find the princess's residence.

Zhao Fujin gave birth to a child out of wedlock. Zhao Ji was worried that the scandal would be leaked and affect the reputation of the royal family, so he raised the security level of her residence to the highest level.

Several teams of imperial guards were on duty outside Zhao Fujin's residence day and night. Daily expenses and food were delivered by special personnel. The maids and wet nurses in the courtyard who were responsible for serving were only allowed to enter but not leave. No one was allowed to go out without Zhao Ji's order.

Zhao Fujin was in the prime of her life, but was forced into "solitary confinement" by Zhao Ji. Most people might have gotten sick from being held back, but she was pregnant, gave birth, and raised her child in the past few years. Although her daily activities were limited, she still lived a fulfilling life.

Even so, Zhao Fujin has recently started to get anxious.

My son is growing up day by day. He is no longer a baby who eats and poops and sleeps every day. Now he is an almost two-year-old boy who can walk and talk. The yard is too small for him.

Every day is like being in prison, and the night is the hardest.

In order to find comfort, Zhao Fujin liked to write for a while at her desk at night. She used words to record her son's "interesting things" or her longing for Yang Chang.

Interesting things don’t happen every day, but longing for you is there every day.

You can tell others interesting stories, but you cannot show your thoughts to others.

She wrote thousands of words to record her son's interesting stories over the past year, and asked Li E to keep them for her. She planned to share them with Yang Chang when she had the chance. However, she would only keep the words for one night and burn them the next morning.

After dinner at night, Zhao Fujin coaxed her son to sleep first, and then sat down at the table according to the old rules. Li E had already prepared paper and pen for her.

"You go to sleep first. Huang'er won't make a fuss now. I'll turn off the lights myself later."

"Okay, Master, go to bed early. I will clean up in the morning."

"Go."

"promise"

Li E bowed and left the bedroom. She was afraid that Zhao Fujin and the young master would be overheated in the summer, so she left small gaps in the doors and windows for ventilation.

Zhao Fujin saw the door was ajar, and then he calmed down and wrote his feelings: Yang Lang, Dad came to see Huang Er today and said that you would marry me in two months. I always feel like I had a dream. How could a bold guy like you abandon your loving original wife? But I really hope that it is true
Yangyang wrote dozens of words. Zhao Fujin looked at the rice paper with a bitter look, crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the trash basket at his feet, then continued to pick up his pen and write on the new paper.

I XXX again last night, I will never forget XXXXX, you XXXX
Zhao Fujin crossed out key words as she wrote, leaving many ugly ink blobs on the rice paper but leaving lovely rosy cheeks on her face.

No more random thoughts
"What did you do last night? What can you never forget?"

"Ah? Who is it?"

Zhao Fujin was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the door being pushed open.

Yang Chang quietly came behind him and peeked, and when he saw that 'Luanma' forgot to remove the [Camouflage Feather], he spoke.

Zhao Fujin heard the voice but did not see the person. She turned around and screamed in horror, frantically looking for the flying knife that she treasured like a treasure. Before she found it, Yang Chang covered her mouth with his hand.

"Uh-huh."

"Princess, don't shout. I'm Yang Chang."

"Uh-huh."

"I'll let go and listen to you."

Zhao Fujin heard clearly that it was Yang Chang's voice. After releasing her lips from restraint, she hurriedly asked nervously, "It's your voice, but I can't see it."

"Hey, I forgot."

After Yang Changyan finished speaking, he took off his [camouflage feathers], revealing the face that Zhao Fujin had been thinking about day and night.

She was so excited that her eyes sparkled. She couldn't help but cover her mouth with excitement, and then flew directly to Yang Chang, sobbing, "This is a dream, this must be a dream."

"Don't cry, this is not a dream. There is no body temperature in dreams."

"It really is"

On the evening of the second day of July, the midsummer heat made my body feel hot.

Zhao Fujin felt Yang Chang's passion and immediately realized that this might not be a dream.

She let go of her hand and looked at the man in front of her, and asked in surprise and surprise: "The palace gate is closed at this time, how did you get in?"

"I know how to become invisible."

"Then what are you here for?"

"Stealing people."

(End of this chapter)