Chapter Thirty-Two: Du Ling

  "Why did he come looking for you?" Yang You found it somewhat strange, as he remembered that Xu Duan was not usually in charge of specific projects.

  He waved his hand, signaling the guards to release Dr. Wang, and as soon as they did, he immediately rushed to Xu Duan's side.

  "Xu Zhuanjia, I've finally caught up with you. Since you're back at this three-forked road again, it means you must know why the Disaster Relief Agency specifically built this brick road leading to Du Ling."

  Xu Duan hadn't replied yet, when Dr. Wang said with a pleased smile.

  He had noticed this peculiar brick road for a long time. In the main roads that crisscrossed the east and west of Jingzhao, before they were completed, a fork in the road leading to Duling suddenly began construction, and the specifications of the brick road were second only to the main road.

  "Uncle Wang, I'm just in charge of supervising the quality of the brick road. The specific planning of the brick road is not my responsibility. The construction of that road has already been taken care of by the Relief Bureau. I can say with certainty that this road is fine." Xu Duan replied helplessly, rolling his eyes.

  "Nonsense, of course I know this road is fine. If there were a problem, do you think you'd still be able to loiter around here? A large number of scholars would have already shown up." Dr. Wang said irritably, he simply wanted to know the reason.

  After investigation, he also knew that there was no corruption in this brick road, and the quality of construction was very good, fully up to standard.

  But in the case that the main road has not been completed yet, suddenly sharing the construction of this road would make people feel strange.

  Other volunteers also noticed these things, but after checking that there was no problem, they had already given up. Only Dr. Wang remained steadfast, his intuition telling him that there must be a reason for this.

  "Xu Xiaozhi, I must warn you! Don't bother making any mistakes! The outcome of the head of Wan Nian County is still fresh in my mind!"

  Dr. Wang's "main thin" refers to the poor devil who was pulled down from his horse by that group of rather arrogant scholars.

  "You should ask the master himself, why are you bothering me!" Xǔ Duō glanced at King Dài Wáng who was watching the commotion with interest. The Disaster Relief Agency had already spread rumors that this brick road was personally designated by King Dài Wáng.

  Thinking so in his heart, Xu Duan naturally didn't dare reveal half a thought on his face.

  "Uncle Wang, rest assured that I will remember your teachings." Dr. Wang and Mr. Xu's father were old acquaintances, so Mr. Xu usually addressed him as Uncle Wang.

  Dr. Wang asked a few more questions and saw that he really couldn't ask anything else, so he left with a sullen face.

  While walking, he kept looking back, obviously still resentful of this redundant brick road.

  "Please don't mind, Your Highness. Dr. Wang is also acting out of loyalty to the Empire." Xu Dang was afraid that Yang You would be dissatisfied with Dr. Wang, so he pretended to be brave and spoke up for him.

  "This king will certainly not get angry, with so many loyal subjects of the empire, this king can only be delighted." Yang You smiled and said.

  Xu Dang saw Yang You and didn't get angry, so he relaxed. Actually, the most depressed ones weren't Xu Dang, but those big shots from Daxing who had obtained the right to distribute over 10 million guan of wealth and were just about to indulge in this feast of riches.

  As soon as they started working, a group of arrogant scholars followed closely behind, making it impossible for them to accomplish anything.

  Sly Yang You had long since set a trap, and this money must be used under the supervision of the Disaster Relief Office. Now those officials will regret it to their intestines turning green.

  ……

  "Alas!"

  With a loud whoa, a pink carriage screeched to a halt in front of Yang You.

  A head stretched out of the car window, revealing a delicate and lovely face, wearing a red palace dress with small water-colored flower patterns, isn't that our Princess Yungui Yang Jier?

  "Yang You, hurry up! Stop dawdling!" Yang Jier's words completely ruined her princess demeanor.

  Yang You's face was covered in black lines, and he helplessly looked at Yang Jier. It seemed that this little follower couldn't get rid of him no matter what, and Yang You also discovered that Yang Jier had recently taken a liking to street racing.

  "Farewell, Your Highness!"

  Xu Duan bowed from a distance, resolutely not taking one step closer to Yang Jier, otherwise he would definitely be embarrassed again.

  "Timid" Yang Jier saw Xu Dang's appearance and smiled slightly, but her words were still merciless.

  Yang You stepped onto his carriage, and the accompanying guards mounted their horses one after another. The group turned into the fork in the road and headed towards Duling.

  Xu Dang suddenly enlightened, the doubts in his heart were instantly answered. It turned out that the rumors were true, and this road was indeed personally designated by King Dai himself.

  ……

  Duling is not far from Daxing, located in the south of Sanzhao Village, Daxing. It is the mausoleum of Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun, in the late Western Han Dynasty. Since the Han Dynasty, Duling has always been a tourist resort in Daxing, where scholars and writers often gather to climb high and enjoy the scenery.

  Du Ling area is also a relatively affluent region, and all along the way, there are horses and carriages constantly passing by. Before long, they had already encountered several four-wheeled horse-drawn carriages.

  Since the brick road was built, the Ministry of Works in Daxing has been recruiting craftsmen on a large scale, increasing production capacity, and the output of four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles has soared.

  Now it can produce 100 four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles per day, but it is still in short supply. The daily sales have reached 3,000 yuan. This makes the entire imperial court jealous, and the Ministry of Works has risen from a marginal department to a popular one overnight, with everyone eager to get in.

  However, Ping Honggui did not let desire get the better of him and has maintained this output to create a scarcity effect.

  "Yang You, what's the point of going to Duling?"

  Yang Jier leaned on the car window and shouted towards Yang You's carriage, she had already asked several times along the way but still didn't get a response.

  "Hum! What's so great about it?" Yang Jier pouted, but in fact she wasn't really interested in knowing what they were going to do. As long as she could get out, she was satisfied.

  "Hurrah!" A four-wheeled carriage sped by, kicking up a whirlwind.

  A young man in his early twenties, dressed in a brocade garment, stuck his head out of the car window and burst into loud laughter.

  Obviously a young master of a wealthy family, he has just bought a four-wheeled horse carriage and is showing it off.

  "Come on!" Yang Jier shouted, "Catch up with him and let him know what a real horse carriage is like!"

  Yang Jier ordered the coachman to speed up, Yang Jier's carriage was specially made by Ping Honggui, and the materials used were all top-notch, and it was not on the same level as the carriages sold by Ping Honggui.

  Four fine horses from the Western Regions were whipped by the charioteer, and with a loud whinny they galloped away, instantly increasing their speed and leaving Yang You far behind.

  "Ah!"

  Yang You only had time to poke his head out before discovering that Yang Jier was already nearly a hundred meters away from him.

  "Is it for His Highness the Crown Prince?" Dong Yue stepped forward and asked anxiously as he looked at Yang Jier's carriage.

  "Go after her and protect Princess Chūun!" Yang You ordered.

  "Yes!"

  Dong Yue responded with a sound and led a team of guards on horseback in pursuit.

  Yang You's carriage also accelerated and rushed forward quickly.

  After chasing for a long time, I finally saw Yang Jier's carriage stopped by the road, and Dong Yue was guarding on horseback beside it.

  "Are you hurt?" Yang You hurriedly asked with concern as he jumped off his horse carriage.