Chapter 434: Chapter 435: Do You Want to Know?

They had a simple meal of dry rations and didn’t dare to rest for long before packing up and setting off again.

To their surprise, they ran into an oncoming merchant caravan after traveling just a dozen miles.

He Shiniu, who was scouting ahead, hurried over to gather information.

Seeing this group with their tall, sturdy horses, the caravan’s leader, Li Damao, could tell at a glance they were an official family.

He quickly stopped an armed guard beside him who was defensively drawing his blade. "Sir, can I help you with something?"

Jiang Shiniu said, "Sorry to bother you. I was hoping to ask about the road conditions ahead."

Li Damao was already ordering his men to pull their carts aside, preparing to let the other party pass.

"The road ahead is long, and this stretch is especially difficult. It’s taken us three days to get through it, but that’s only because we travel this route year-round and know it well. For someone without experience, it would probably take another four or five days."

He Shiniu’s expression grew solemn. "Then how much longer until we reach the next post station?"

Li Damao glanced at the sky. "Well, Sir, you’d better pick up the pace. From here to there... even we might not be able to make it before nightfall."

He Shiniu understood the implication. "Thank you."

He Shiniu hurried back to the horse-drawn carriage to relay the news.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Let’s travel as fast as we can from here on out. We won’t stop unless it’s absolutely necessary."

"Yes, sir." He Shiniu found two more men to speed ahead and scout the path; otherwise, they would likely be sleeping in the wilderness tonight.

The carriage began to move forward. As it passed the caravan, Li Damao, hoping to build some goodwill, shouted to them, "You should still be able to see our caravan’s tracks! Following the ruts will make things much easier!"

Ancient Wen Heng’s carriage was just passing. He lifted the curtain and nodded to Li Damao. "Many thanks!"

Li Damao glanced up, then quickly lowered his head. "It’s only right," he said hastily.

The three officials following behind had been traveling for most of the day. Having finally encountered a merchant caravan, they couldn’t resist their curiosity and opened their curtains to look, which in turn allowed Li Xiaomao and his men to see them.

Once the procession was far in the distance, someone inevitably asked out of curiosity, "Mr. Li, what’s the deal with that group? They look important."

Li Xiaomao naturally had his own sources. Putting two and two together, he quickly reached a conclusion. "They must be officials on their way to Lu City. If I’m not mistaken, the one at the very front must be the newly appointed Magistrate."

"But he’s so young," said one of the many who had seen him. "Can he really handle the responsibility?"

Li Xiaomao retorted, "The last Magistrate was old enough, and what happened with him...?"

At his words, everyone fell silent.

After a long silence, someone sighed. "Let’s hope he’s capable. A stable border makes it easier for us merchants to travel and trade."

Despite following the caravan’s tracks and rushing onward, they still completely missed their chance to find lodging for the night. With darkness falling, their only option was to find a nearby village for a brief rest.

Seeing the three officials once again lined up before him, Ancient Wen Heng could only tell Ming Feng to prepare some tea.

"Mr. Gu, the road ahead is only getting harder. Do you have a plan?"

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Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "That’s something we’ll have to overcome ourselves. Our superiors haven’t given us much time to assume our posts, and we can’t afford any delays."

The other three cried out in silent misery. ’Just this short stretch of road has been agony on our backs and backsides. We’re afraid we’ll die on the road before we even get there.’

"Tell me, how did the four of us get so unlucky? Nobody wanted this godforsaken assignment, so it got dumped on us," Lu Shenggen griped, causing He Gaofei and the other man to subtly distance themselves from him.

"Mr. Lu," Ancient Wen Heng reminded him coolly, "Even though it’s just the few of us who know each other here, some things are better left unsaid."

Lu Shenggen realized his mistake and immediately looked at the other three defensively. "I... I spoke without thinking. I’ve already suffered enough because of my big mouth.

If I’ve caused any offense, I ask for your forbearance."

Ancient Wen Heng scoffed. "’Speaking without thinking’ is no excuse.

Besides, this world is full of strangers. You can’t expect them to tolerate your thoughtlessness time and again."

’What a convenient excuse. Is he trying to imply that we all just have to put up with whatever he says?’

He Gaofei and Wu Yichen also grew wary. ’No one likes a two-faced person,’ they thought. ’It seems we need to re-evaluate our colleague.’

Lu Shenggen was inwardly furious. ’This Mr. Gu is no pushover. He just planted a thorn of suspicion against me in the other two’s minds.’

His expression didn’t show his anger. Instead, he apologized profusely. "You are right, Mr. Gu. I am trying my best to correct this bad habit.

It’s just that this journey is so arduous. I was hoping Mr. Gu could devise a good strategy to ensure we arrive in time to assume our posts."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "They say two heads are better than one, and there are four of us here. Why don’t you share your thoughts first?

I imagine since you’re the one who raised the issue, you must already have a solution in mind. Why don’t you start, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Shenggen was speechless. ’I want to curse him out so badly, but I have to hold it in. I have to hold it in.’

"You jest, Mr. Gu," Lu Shenggen said. "I am a simple man who has never even left Shangjing. My experience with travel is nothing compared to yours, Mr. Gu."

Ancient Wen Heng caught the double meaning. ’Is he mocking me by alluding to my past as a refugee?’

He didn’t answer immediately, instead raising an eyebrow at the other two men who were slowly sipping their tea. "Do you agree, Mr. He and Mr. Wu?"

He Gaofei, who had been enjoying the show while drinking his tea, replied casually, "Let’s hear Mr. Gu’s opinion first. After all, you are our superior. We subordinates will certainly obey your command."

Beside him, Wu Yichen quickly nodded in agreement. "Mr. He is right. We will all listen to you."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Since you put it that way, there is, in fact, one method that could significantly shorten our journey."

The moment they heard there was a way to reduce their suffering, they dropped their pretenses. All three stared intently at Ancient Wen Heng. "We’re listening."

"You all know that just a few years ago, I was a refugee struggling to survive," Ancient Wen Heng began, speaking frankly. "Do you know how we refugees travel?"

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t wait for an answer. He slapped his thighs. "We rely on these, measuring the land one step at a time."

He then gave them a wicked grin. "When we came to a mountain, we climbed it. When we came to a river, we forded it. Traveling in a straight line saves a great deal of time.

When we got tired, we rested right where we stood until our strength returned. If you gentlemen have the will for it, I can certainly draw a dedicated route for you. I guarantee you’ll arrive ahead of schedule."

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