Chapter 95

PS: It's late again, I'm sorry. I don't know if I can finish the update for tonight, but I'll try my best! If it's past midnight, everyone don't wait anymore!

A fast horse from Luoyang galloped towards the city, the rider continuously urging the horse on, showing no intention of stopping even when he saw pedestrians at the city gate from a distance.

The gatekeeper, seeing the fast horse approaching, turned pale and quickly waved his long spear to push the people waiting to enter or leave the city to the side.

This was an eight-hundred-li fast horse, carrying urgent military news. Although no one knew what had happened, anyone who saw an eight-hundred-li fast horse had to obediently move aside. If you were trampled to death, no one would sympathize with you. On the contrary, if the urgent military news was delayed, the higher-ups would punish you.

The fast horse galloped through the Mingde Gate without stopping, heading straight for the imperial palace. When it reached the palace gate, someone came to help the messenger dismount and led him directly to see the emperor.

Cheng Chumo has been found!

As soon as the messenger reached Li Er, he immediately took out a sealed letter and handed it to Li Er. Li Er checked the seal and, unable to wait, opened it. His eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the contents.

The letter was from Luoyang, stating that Cheng Chumo's horse had been found in a mountain valley on the way to the Qinling Mountains. Based on the footprints left at the scene, it seemed that Cheng Chumo had gone deep into the Qinling Mountains alone.

What was Cheng Chumo's purpose in going to the Qinling Mountains? The answer was almost obvious. In the past few days, a decision had already been made: Cheng Chumo must have found Zhao Chen's whereabouts and, avoiding everyone, pursued him alone.

However, the thought of Zhao Chen being in the Qinling Mountains made Li Er's mood complex. The boy hadn't gone anywhere after leaving Chang'an! For days, he had studied the map, considering countless possibilities, but he never thought Zhao Chen would return to the mountains.

The boy came from the mountains and now he was going back to the mountains!

Li Er suddenly remembered the words Zhao Chen said when he left the court in disappointment, and his fists clenched tightly. Why did he always overlook the words this boy had said!

After discovering Cheng Chumo's trail, the army from Luoyang sent an urgent message to Chang'an and sent Qu Tushou, the eldest son of Qu Tugong, with fifty cavalrymen to enter the Qinling Mountains.

Li Er then sent people to Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin's residences to summon the two old generals.

Now that Zhao Chen's whereabouts were known, it was almost certain he was in the Qinling Mountains. However, what could be done even if he was found? As Guanyinbi said, finding Zhao Chen's whereabouts was not the main issue; the key was how to bring Zhao Chen back!

Zhao Chen had left in a fit of anger. If just anyone was sent, it wouldn't work. Only Qin Shubao or Cheng Yaojin could go.

Li Er thought that Qin Shubao was the most suitable, but unfortunately, Qin Shubao had a leg ailment and was not suitable for a long journey in the icy and snowy weather. It seemed that only Cheng Yaojin could go.

"Your Majesty!" In a short while, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao arrived at the palace together. Upon hearing that Zhao Chen had been found, they were naturally overjoyed. However, when they heard that the emperor wanted them to personally bring Zhao Chen back, Cheng Yaojin became hesitant.

"Zhao Zhi, speak your mind!" Li Er, seeing Cheng Yaojin's sudden hesitation, waved his hand generously.

Cheng Yaojin glanced at Qin Shubao beside him and then hesitantly said to Li Er, "Your Majesty, are you sending just this old minister to call that boy back?"

"Your Majesty!" Qin Shubao also looked at Li Er with a troubled expression, "This boy left Chang'an suddenly. If Zhao Zhi goes to call him, he probably won't come back!"

"Could I not have thought of this!" Li Er took a deep breath and frowned, looking at the two old generals, "The reason this boy left in a fit of anger is that I promised the school to Kong Yingda and others!"

At this point, Li Er couldn't help but clench his teeth. If it weren't for Kong Yingda and others suddenly causing trouble that day, such a major incident wouldn't have happened. Now, no one in Chang'an didn't know that the emperor had driven away a disciple of a sage.

The commotion caused by that day's events was so great that it almost shook the entire city, and it was impossible to cover it up!

He was eager to bring Zhao Chen back, partly because of Zhao Chen's identity and partly to suppress the public opinion in Chang'an.

"However, regarding the school, I have already promised it to Minister Kong in court. I can't go back on my word!" Li Er understood Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao's concerns, but he had already promised the school to Kong Yingda and others and could not renege on it.

Seeing the troubled expressions of Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao, Li Er thought for a moment and said, "However, if this school cannot be built, I can promise to let this boy build a new school in Chang'an, and I will not interfere with him!"

Since the emperor had said this, no matter how dissatisfied Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao were, they could only accept it. They then bid farewell to Li Er and left the palace together. Cheng Yaojin gathered two hundred soldiers and set off for the Qinling Mountains without delay.

Cheng Chumo was already so engrossed in the hot air balloon that he had forgotten about his worries. On the first day, he had screamed in fear, but in the following days, he was completely immersed in the experience of being in the air, unable to tear himself away!

Every day, as soon as he opened his eyes, he would rub his eyes and ask Zhao Chen when they would set out to search, showing more enthusiasm than Zhao Chen himself!

Before Cheng Chumo arrived, Zhao Chen had been searching for several days. Adding the time they had been searching together, it had been about a month, but there was still no sign of anything. Zhao Chen was starting to lose hope!

"Let's stop searching!" One day, when Zhao Chen was urged by Cheng Chumo, he answered without even looking up.

"Why not search?" Cheng Chumo, who was enjoying the high-altitude experience, immediately opened his eyes wide and started to protest.

He kept nagging Zhao Chen, saying things like not giving up halfway, which made Zhao Chen roll his eyes. This guy didn't know how to persuade anyone; he just wanted the hot air balloon to take off.

Zhao Chen, annoyed, came out of the tent and looked around with a telescope. This was something he had to do periodically. They were in a primeval forest, and you never knew when a fierce beast might suddenly appear.

The best way was to spot the beast early and scare it away with firecrackers.

"Cheng Chumo, let's go!" After looking through the telescope, Zhao Chen put it down and called to Cheng Chumo, who was in the tent behind him.

"But you said we wouldn't search anymore!" Cheng Chumo, who had been lying in the tent, grumbled but sprang out of the tent in a few steps.

"Take a look yourself!" Zhao Chen handed the telescope to Cheng Chumo and turned back into the tent.

Li Er's people had found them, probably following Cheng Chumo's footprints. There were several hundred of them, lying in wait a few hundred meters away. They must have seen the hot air balloon still floating in the air and were hesitant to rush over.

This place was no longer safe. Zhao Chen didn't know what orders Li Er had given these people, but if they were to capture him and take him back to Chang'an, he would be in trouble!

He had left Chang'an so publicly that if he fell into Li Er's hands this time, Li Er would probably have him skinned alive!

A man who could kill his own brother in a fit of rage, could you expect him to be merciful?

"Chen, why are they lying there?" Cheng Chumo was very confused. Since they had come and found them, why didn't they rush over? Why were they lying in the snow?

"They're ambushing us!" Zhao Chen, who had packed up the things inside, said irritably to Cheng Chumo, "They're not sure if our hot air balloon will take off immediately, so they're hesitant to come over!"

"Ambushing?" Cheng Chumo was even more confused. From his vantage point, he could see everything clearly, even the face of the Hu leader. How could this be an ambush?

Zhao Chen took the telescope from Cheng Chumo, who was scratching his head awkwardly, and said, "Now, take a look. Can you see them?"

Seeing Cheng Chumo's embarrassed expression, Zhao Chen handed the telescope back to him and said, "Let's go! Don't wait until they really come over, or we won't be able to escape!"

Zhao Chen, already with his backpack, went to the tree where the hot air balloon was tied and climbed into the basket. Then, he reached out and pulled Cheng Chumo up.

"Where are we going?" Cheng Chumo, excited, climbed into the basket and asked Zhao Chen with an eager look.

"South, directly to Lingnan!" Zhao Chen said without hesitation. This was the decision he had made after careful consideration over the past few days. Lingnan was currently in the midst of a war. Although it nominally belonged to the Tang Dynasty, it was not actually under Tang control. If he wanted to go to sea, he had to go to Lingnan!

Liu Gao was the commander of the cavalry. This time, he led fifty cavalrymen to search for Zhao Chen.

At that moment, they were lying far away, watching the mysterious balloon. The emperor had ordered them not to disturb Zhao Chen once he was found, so even though they had been there for half an hour, they had not dared to make a move.

"They've spotted us!" Just as everyone was lying quietly in the snow, Qu Tushou suddenly looked at the distance, where Zhao Chen was climbing onto the hot air balloon, and shouted loudly.

Liu Gao, hearing this, looked in surprise and indeed saw Zhao Chen and Cheng Chumo climbing onto the mysterious balloon. They were preparing to leave!

Seeing this, Liu Gao dared not delay. He roared and jumped out of the snow, running towards Zhao Chen as fast as he could.

The others, seeing Liu Gao jump out, immediately followed, rushing towards Zhao Chen like madmen!