How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

Not knowing how many vacancies were left in this inn, Xie Chengze asked Bian Yangchun and others to go into the city first, and he would come to find him after he found a suitable inn.

Bian Yangchun was still a little reluctant, but he had no choice but to do so. After Bian Yangchun and others entered the city, Xie Chengze asked Zhu Xiaobiao to hand over the identity card.

The soldiers guarding the city saw the ID card and hurried forward to salute. Xie Chengze waved his hand and said, "Go tell Prefect Liang that I am entering the city in a low-key manner. There is no need to make a big fuss."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The soldier left in a hurry.

A line of carriages drove into Jiangdu County and entered from the back door of the prefectural government office in a very low-key manner. Liang Wanda was already waiting there. When he saw Xie Chengze and Xie Zimiao getting off the carriage, he hurriedly went to greet them, "Welcome to the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince! Long live the Second Prince! Long live the Fourth Prince!"

After the ceremony, Liang Wanda couldn't help but secretly glance at the Second Prince.

A few days ago, he received a private letter from Xie Chengze, asking him to arrange accommodation for the students and secretly reminding him that the students were good at verbal and written criticism. If he drove them away or targeted them, if anyone mentioned a word about it in the next spring examination and His Majesty heard it, it would affect the official career of Prefect Liang.

Liang Wanda was originally troubled by these students coming to cause trouble, but now that the Second Prince has pointed out a clear way, Liang Wanda does not mind gaining some good reputation among the students. Maybe in the next spring examination, this matter will be reported to the emperor, and he will be rewarded. At the very least, he can make himself familiar to the public.

As for the cost of renting the inn... Liang Wanda smiled deeply in his heart, he had plenty of ways to get it back.

Xie Chengze also glanced at Liang Wanda.

A few days ago, he sent a private letter to Liang Wanda, telling him the importance of treating students well. Liang Wanda would surely choose to wear the high hat of "good official" for the sake of his reputation so that His Majesty would hear it. And as long as this precedent is opened, can he keep wearing the high hat specially prepared for him by Xie Chengze...

Xie Chengze smiled deeply in his heart. He was really looking forward to it~

"Prefect Liang, you have done a great job. I believe that once the river embankment is rebuilt and the students leave happily, your good name will spread throughout the world. By then, all officials will take you as an example, and the emperor will be very pleased and promote you to be an official in the court." Xie Chengze spared no effort in painting a big picture.

Serving as an official in the court is the ultimate dream of local officials. It must be said that Xie Chengze really grasped Liang Wanda’s pain point.

Sensing the "deep meaning" in Xie Chengze's words, Liang Wanda knelt down excitedly and said, "I will definitely die for the Second Prince!"

Shen Yuan watched all this with a mysterious look.

His guess turned out to be correct. Xie Chengze was now much smarter and knew how to use the communication and influence of students from all over the country to shape his own image of being approachable and gentle. He also used this strategy on Liang Wanda.

By then, if Liang Wanda responds to the imperial edict and serves as an official, he will become a powerful assistant to Xie Chengze's party, work for them, overthrow the prince, and rebel to ascend the throne.

only……

Shen Yuan swung the green sword in his hand again and again, with a hint of sarcasm in the corner of his lips.

Given Liang Wanda's character, how could he let the students stay in those inns for free?

……

"What? It costs 50 coins to stay a night?" Bian Yangchun frowned when he heard the price and asked in confusion, "Didn't they say that students can stay at this place at a lower price?"

The cost of a common bed in the inn is only 10 cents a night!

"Oh, sir, there are quite a few students coming to Jiangdu County these days. The bunk beds, the woodshed, and even the stables are all full. The cheapest rooms are only left with these two!" The innkeeper said helplessly, "If you don't want to stay here, don't bother the people who want to stay behind!"

"But..." Bian Yangchun counted the money they had. They didn't know how long they would stay here, and most of the money was used to buy food along the way, so they could only save money on accommodation. "Boss, there are many of us and we will stay for a long time. Is there really no cheaper room?"

"Our house is already the cheapest. If it weren't for the subsidy from the prefect, I wouldn't have let you all move in!" The shopkeeper shook his head. "There's not much food in the city right now. I'll give you two free buns every day. It's already charity!"

Bian Yangchun had no choice but to grit his teeth and took out 150 coins. "Well, let's book for three nights first. I hope we can use the kitchen later."

There were five of them in total. Ouyang Jiu and Gu Ying paid the most, so they slept on beds. As for him, Ji Songhua and another student, they just had to squeeze together and sleep on the floor.

"Okay! No problem!" The shopkeeper took the money and pointed out a clear way. "If you are short of money, we need to move a lot of stones to rebuild the river embankment outside the city. If you are strong, you can go to the gate of the prefectural government to sign up and earn some money for accommodation."

"There is such a thing? Thank you so much, boss!" Bian Yangchun said in surprise, and then he and everyone else went upstairs carrying their bags and rice bags.

After packing up, Bian Yangchun said to Gu Ying and Ji Songhua, "We brought so much food, it's better to leave someone to guard the gate to prevent villains from coveting it. Xiaoying, you know martial arts, so don't go to move the stones, the rest of us will take turns. Brother Ji is weak, so you should rest for a day today."

Gu Ying and Ji Songhua nodded.

Bian Yangchun took the other two people to the prefectural government office and registered the names and hometowns on the pass. They found that many students came here to register. Because the stone quarry was quite far away, those who registered on that day had to meet here at the hour of Mao the next day, and there would be soldiers leading the way to the stone quarry.

So Bian Yangchun took the two of them back to the inn.

The next day, the students set out for the quarry and found many prisoners with chains on their feet digging at the stone mountain. They were obviously not treated as well as the students. Even if they could not dig any more, they were not allowed to rest and would be whipped.

The soldier leading the way pointed to the straw baskets on the ground and said, "Fill them all with stones. We'll set off in half an hour. We won't wait for anyone!"

The wages were calculated according to the number of baskets carried. One would become familiar with the route after walking a few times. The students had just finished trekking through mountains and rivers and were not full, so naturally their carrying speed slowed down. But no one cared. After all, the money they earned was for themselves, and they could not be beaten or scolded. The guarding officers and soldiers naturally would not pay attention to them.

After a day, Bian Yangchun's shoulders were covered with blisters.

Gu Ying felt distressed and blew on his wound, "Brother Bian, don't go, I still have some money on me!"

"Xiaoying." Bian Yangchun looked at him disapprovingly. "Keep the money for yourself in case of any accidents. You can hire a car to leave Jiangdu County."

He knew what would happen in famine-stricken areas, so he absolutely could not let Gu Ying stay there without any worries.

"Then I'll work as a security guard and make some money!" Gu Ying said stubbornly.

"No, Ji Songhua and the others don't have martial arts skills, so they can't protect the rice in the room." Bian Yangchun rubbed Gu Ying's head. Gu Ying was short, cheerful and simple. He also regarded him as his own brother, so naturally he didn't want him to suffer. "Just stay in the inn."

Gu Ying pouted, "Okay, but don't be too tired. At worst, we can find a kind family and give them some money to live with us."

"Okay." Bian Yangchun smiled and rubbed his head lovingly.