Duke of Zhenguan

The scene Lin Chuan had envisioned, where an aura of dominance would instantly command people to bow down in worship, did not materialize.

The siblings were picked up from the snow by Shi Po Long many years ago and were raised as assassins from a young age.

He fed them, clothed them, and personally taught the siblings martial arts. So, although Shi Po Long only treated them as assassins, in the eyes of the siblings, Shi Po Long was both their master and a father figure.

So when Shi Polong agreed to give them to Lin Chuan, Lin Chuan became their new master. Even though they were unwilling, they obediently stood behind Lin Chuan.

They were taught from a young age that only the loyal and obedient would get to eat meat and survive.

They had many companions, but those who were disloyal and disobedient all died tragically.

Seeing that Lin Chuan was clearly satisfied with the siblings, Shi Polong knew that the trouble of assassinating the official was resolved, and a weight was lifted from her heart. She bowed to Lin Chuan and said:

"Chief Secretary Lin, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now!"

"Take care, Stone Master!" Lin Chuan was in a good mood and bowed to Stone Master Long.

As the leader's figure completely disappeared from sight, the siblings looked bewildered and subconsciously glanced at Lin Chuan, their new master.

Lin Chuan frowned as he looked at the siblings, especially their sheepskin coats which emitted a distinctive smell, and whispered to Xu Laosan:

"Old Xu, take them to wash up, and get them two sets of my clothes and shoes to change into!"

After settling the siblings in, Lin Chuan went to the military clerk to hand over his military duties.

Cheng Yaojin was genuinely satisfied with Lin Chuan's interrogation methods. Such methods could save a lot of trouble, so he specifically requested that Lin Chuan teach the registrar how to use them.

A day later, Lin Chuan led two thousand Right Guard infantrymen out of Liangzhou City and headed east to the salt lake in Guzang County.

Although it was said to be two thousand infantrymen, Cheng Yaojin still allocated more than a hundred cavalrymen to Lin Chuan in order to deal with emergencies, as well as several hundred naval horses to transport grain and fodder.

Liangzhou City is only about 100 li away from Guzang County. Two days later, Lin Chuan led his men to Guzang County.

After resting overnight at the camp in Yanchi, Lin Chuan set off early the next morning with hundreds of carts of salt, heading towards Chang'an.

It was already August, almost the hottest time of the year. Every day, apart from replenishing supplies at the chariot and horse mansions along the way, they were either on the road or preparing to travel, which was extremely tedious and arduous.

But for Lin Chuan, having experienced soldiers like Lao Xu and Lao Qi by his side to guide him, leading a force of two thousand men was a rare experience in commanding troops.

Soldiers falling ill or injured during the journey, problems with food and supplies, daily campsite selection, and the arrangement of guards... all require expertise.

The more difficult the conditions, the more you have to learn.

Many things cannot be learned by reading a few military books. Lin Chuan knew he didn't have that kind of talent, so he studied with exceptional seriousness.

Cheng Yaojin put him in charge of leading a group to escort salt back to Chang'an, which was undoubtedly intended to train him.

Lin Chuan managed to find some joy amidst hardship.

After traveling for more than ten days, the team passed through Yuanzhou and entered the Wei River basin. Further east, the terrain became much flatter, and the team's speed of travel increased significantly.

After traveling for several more days, the group entered Qizhou, where the population began to increase and the cities they passed through became more and more prosperous.

Ah Shui and Ah Lang, siblings, rode their horses alongside Lin Chuan's personal guard. The siblings had long since changed out of their smelly fur coats, and their initial discomfort with the hemp cloth robes had turned into a habit they now couldn't bear to change even when sleeping in them.

Its attitude towards its new master, Lin Chuan, changed from initial apprehension to limited loyalty.

Along the way, they received the same treatment as Lin Chuan's personal guards: they ate the same food, lived in the same tents, and practiced martial arts with Lin Chuan for half an hour every day.

Lin Chuan didn't show the booklet Qin Qiong gave them, because even if he did, they wouldn't understand it. But he taught them everything without reservation, especially his younger brother A Lang, whom he taught with exceptional strictness.

He trusted Cheng Yaojin's judgment, so he taught him with exceptional seriousness.

The siblings were simple-minded, and Lin Chuan never deliberately showed them any favors, yet they gradually became loyal.

After entering Qizhou, not only did the marching speed increase, but the food in the army also improved significantly. After all, it was the capital region, where supplies were more abundant.

Cheng Yaojin's banner was still effective, and with the official documents from the Ministry of War in hand, the cavalry offices along the way were quite cooperative as long as the demands weren't excessive.

On the evening of August 22, Lin Chuan, travel-worn, led two thousand soldiers back to the Right Martial Guard camp outside Chang'an.

The hundreds of carriages were all completely covered with straw mats. The procession entered the camp in a grand manner at dusk, and many people who were secretly concerned about the movements of the Right Guard were speculating about what was loaded on the carriages.

After resting for a while at the Right Guard Camp and drinking some water, Lin Chuan, dressed in full armor and covered in dust and sweat, entered Chang'an accompanied by Xu Laosan and Lao Qi, and went to the palace to request an audience.

With news from the Hundred Cavalry Commandery, Li Shimin was fully aware of Lin Chuan's itinerary. Knowing that Lin Chuan would arrive in Chang'an today, he had someone wait for him at Chengtian Gate. As soon as Lin Chuan requested an audience outside the gate, a eunuch came out to greet him and bowed respectfully.

"Chief Secretary Lin, His Majesty is waiting in Xiande Hall. Let's go!"

Lin Chuan handed over the sword, crossbow, and other weapons to Lao Xu, then followed the eunuch into the palace and arrived at a side hall of Xiande Hall.

Besides Li Shimin, there were also a group of ministers in the main hall, including Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Gao Shilian, and Xiao Yu.

Seeing Li Shimin waiting below the imperial steps, Lin Chuan quickly stepped forward and bowed to him.

"Your subject Lin Chuan pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Haha, no need for formalities! Chief Secretary Lin, you must be tired from your journey!"

Li Shimin laughed heartily, showing no disgust at Lin Chuan's body odor. He strode over to Lin Chuan, reached out to help him up, and asked with a smile:

"Coming to see me without even taking a bath, was that something Cheng Zhijie taught you?"

"Your Majesty is wise..." Lin Chuan replied awkwardly.

This was naturally not something Cheng Yaojin taught him; Lin Chuan learned it from Cheng Yaojin.

"This scoundrel doesn't teach you anything good, he only teaches you useless things..." Li Shimin said with a smile.

Lin Chuan felt no guilt about letting Cheng Yaojin take the blame. He took out the memorial written by Cheng Yaojin himself from his pocket and presented it to Li Shimin with both hands, saying:

"This was entrusted to me by the Grand General to be given to His Majesty!"

Li Shimin took the memorial, but instead of reading it first, he asked:

"How much salt was delivered?"

"Your Majesty, 300,000 jin!" Lin Chuan replied.

"Haha, great!"

Li Shimin clapped his hands and laughed.

After laughing, he solemnly instructed Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, and the others:

"Fuji, you will personally lead the Jinwu Guards to the Right Wuwei Camp to transport salt."

"Hyun-ryung, Ke-ming, the net can be closed in all the prefectures of Gyeonggi Province now. Make the arrangements immediately!"