"That is not for you to worry about, Lord. I would be grateful if you would simply write me a document then!"
As Zhang Ruhui spoke, he cupped his hands towards Zhang Xiaochun.
After a cold snort, Zhang Xiaochun showed no deference. He immediately had the Four Treasures of the Study brought over and, in front of Zhang Ruhui, wrote a written order before impassively stamping his seal on it.
"Thank you, Lord!"
The two men already disliked each other, and having gotten what they wanted, neither even bothered to spare the other another glance.
"What a piece of work!"
Only after leaving the Spider Yamen did Zhang Ruhui let out a cold laugh and get back into his carriage.
"Did you get it?"
As soon as Zhang Ruhui returned to the Shenxiao Sect's encampment, Xu Fengnian, who had visibly shed weight, immediately rushed forward.
"I went out myself, how could I not succeed? The item has been obtained. This is the Prefect's token. Take your men into the city tonight! There's just one thing I don't understand. Why are your lord and my master playing coy like this? Bringing so much grain here and not planning to sell it locally, what are they trying to do?"
After tossing the item to Xu Fengnian, Zhang Ruhui couldn't help but complain.
If not for his master's instructions, he would have already ordered people to deal with Zhang Xiaochun.
Given the Shenxiao Sect's current influence, if he were to speak up, there would be plenty of people willing to deal with him.
He couldn't afford to offend the powerful figures in the imperial court, but dealing with a mere Hedong Circuit Inspector was certainly within his capabilities.
"How would I know? If you don't know, then I know even less..."
As Xu Fengnian spoke, he too wore a wry smile.
His frustrations were no less than Zhang Ruhui's. They were working for Han Mo, and whether they invoked Han Mo's name or that of the Grand Princess's manor, they should have been untouchable along the way.
However, Han Mo specifically forbade them from revealing any information and also prohibited them from letting anyone know their destination was Taiyuan.
In this era, transporting grain over long distances was no easy feat.
The empire was only just recovering from widespread chaos, and the fertile six southern prefectures had yet to regain their strength. Grain from Shu could not be transported out at this time, and the local authorities were exceptionally strict about the movement of grain.
Even though Han Mo had given them a considerable amount of money, they couldn't escape the numerous official checkpoints along the way!
To safely deliver this grain to Taiyuan City, he and his father had endured countless inconveniences.
Fortunately, it was all over now. Once this task was completed, he could finally return and report his success.
"Alright, alright. I've given you the item. I'm going back to rest. I'll wait for you at the city gate tonight. Make sure your men keep their mouths shut!"
"Rest assured, my men will not speak carelessly. We will only ensure the goods are delivered. We will ask nothing further."
Seeing Zhang Ruhui's impatience, Xu Fengnian dared not dally further. He accepted the item, bowed, and then turned to leave.
"How did it go?"
Seeing his son emerge from the Taoist temple, Xu Sanbao immediately went to meet him.
"We've got the goods. We can bring them into the city tonight!"
"Really? Then after this, the Lord should grant you a real official post, shouldn't he?"
"That's what the Lord promised back then..."
As Xu Fengnian said this, he actually became a bit shy.
After completing this task, he would truly become an official of the Great Song. For someone of servant background, this was an unimaginable prospect.
"Our old Xu family must have ancestors with exceptionally good fortune! Hahaha! From now on, your sons will also be from an official family! No, I must start planning. When we return, I'll quickly find you a wife so you can continue our Xu family line! If you have ten or eight sons, and they can also pass the imperial examinations in the future, I'll have no regrets even in death!"
After hearing his son's words, Xu Sanbao immediately began envisioning a bright future, even planning how he would thank his ancestors when his grandson passed the imperial examinations!
"Father, let's head back first. We can't enter the city until tonight!"
Seeing the peculiar glances from passersby, the more bashful Xu Fengnian felt a little embarrassed.
"What's there to see? What are you looking at? Can you see your sons becoming officials? My son is a legitimate official, with a background personally bestowed by the current Emperor!"
Seeing that his son was on the verge of achieving great success, Xu Sanbao spoke with more confidence than when he was the steward of the Grand Princess's manor.
The passersby, who had initially wanted to say something, immediately lowered their heads upon hearing the words "Emperor" and seeing the reverence in the eyes of the young Taoist priests looking at the father and son.
Seeing their reaction, Xu Sanbao, satisfied, took his son's arm and led him out of the city to rejoin their caravan.
It wasn't until nightfall that the father and son, token in hand, led their caravan triumphantly into Taiyuan City.
Under Zhang Ruhui's guidance, hundreds of carriages silently entered the vast underground palace of the Huguo Formation.
As the carriages moved in and out, the entire night was spent making seven or eight trips, only then managing to transport all the goods they had brought into the Huguo Formation.
"Lower the Dragon-Blocking Stone!"
After meticulously inspecting the area three times and confirming that the lime underground was completely dry, Zhang Ruhui gave the order without hesitation.
"Lord, if this Dragon-Blocking Stone is truly lowered, it will not be easy to open it again!"
Upon hearing his words, a junior official in charge of construction hastily reminded him.
"I am well aware of that. The goods have already been delivered, why would we need to open it again?"
Glared at by Zhang Ruhui, the junior official immediately shut his mouth and, under everyone's gaze, ordered the dismantling of the mechanism.
"Boom—"
With a deafening rumble, the Dragon-Blocking Stone, weighing tens of thousands of pounds, heavily crashed onto the ground.
"Hoo—"
"Send a carrier pigeon back to Bianliang and inform Master that the foundation of the Taiyuan Huguo Formation is complete!"
Seeing all the grain he had painstakingly transported sealed within the underground palace, Xu Sanbao's lips moved a few times, but ultimately, he asked nothing.
Their mission was merely to deliver the grain. As for whether it was buried underground or used for some other purpose, it was no longer their concern...