Chapter 140 Do you want it?

Outside Chang'an City, the Qin family walked with difficulty.

One of the officers drove a horse-drawn carriage and walked in front. The carriage was filled with their bedding, food, pots and pans and other supplies.

Next came Qin Zhao in shackles, his wife Nie Yunniang holding his arm tightly with one hand and holding his second daughter Qin Zhen with the other hand.

Qin Heng was also in shackles, carrying the luggage they had packed in the prison on his back, and his clothes were tightly held by his son Qin Han and daughter Qin Jia.

Qin Yu from the third family followed Qin Sheng.

Qin's mother (renamed after identity change) held her granddaughter who had just been born not long ago, and Lu Songli supported Mrs. Qin, and occasionally took turns holding the child with her.

They all walked forward with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

Several officers were scattered around them to supervise.

Lu Songli found that the road was really difficult to walk on at this time. The road was bumpy and uneven, and there was snow on the ground. It was difficult for adults to walk, not to mention children.

This was still the official road around Chang'an City. As they walked further and further, the road would only become more difficult.

Moreover, they were walking in the wild, and the north wind was unbearable. Fortunately, they all wore thick and windproof clothes, otherwise they would probably get sick after half a day.

When Lu Songli thought that they would have to travel like this for the next three or four months, his scalp tingled. Fortunately, he made some preparations, otherwise the days would be really sad.

Another good thing is that the Great Cold in the 24 solar terms has passed, and the next solar term is the Beginning of Spring, and the weather will gradually warm up.

After leaving Chang'an City, they walked about seven or eight miles. Xu Zheng saw that the women and children of the Qin family could not walk anymore, so he found a slope with a leeward side and rested temporarily.

After stopping, Xu Zheng brought them some dry food. There was no water, so they were preparing to boil some snow water to drink.

Lv Songli gave the child back to Nie Yunniang and asked her to take him aside to feed him. Mother Qin naturally went to help.

Qin Sheng looked around and walked to the side.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm thirsty and want to eat some snow." He said, hesitantly asked her, "Do you want it?" If she wanted it, he would dig a clean piece.

Lv Songli looked at him speechlessly. Regardless of whether it was clean or not, it was so cold, wouldn't it upset her stomach if she ate it? But she also knew that she had no choice now.

After Qin Sheng asked, he remembered that his mother said that women can't eat cold things, so he frowned.

Drinking water is indeed a problem. Lv Songli glanced at Xu Zheng.

Qin Zhen was still a five-year-old girl. Hearing what Qin Sheng, the little uncle, said, she asked softly, "Dad and Mom, I'm thirsty too. Can I eat snow?"

As soon as he said this, the other children couldn't help licking their lips, obviously thirsty too.

The children were very sensible and didn't ask for hot water or anything.

"Don't eat yet, wait for me." After saying that, Lu Songli walked towards the officers.

Lu Songli found Xu Zheng and other bailiffs and officers, "Commanders, can you take off the shackles on my husband and two uncles? We promise not to run away. In fact, there is no place for us in Chang'an. It's icy and snowy all the way. Where can we run to?"

"They are three grown men wearing shackles. They won't run away. If they run away, will we women and children be abandoned?"

"If their handcuffs are removed, they can help carry more luggage, and we can walk faster. Officers, don't you think so? If you are worried, then remove the locks when you are on the road during the day, and put them on when you rest at night."

As she spoke, Lu Songli handed the silver in her hand to Xu Zheng.

This silver was given to her by her father when he left the city just now. She was not sure if anyone saw it. She took it all out now, without leaving a single ounce. If the wealth is exposed, it will be a disaster if it is still on the body.

Besides, the backup plan she had arranged before will surely come in handy soon. The people from Yang Wei's escort agency must be waiting to pick them up in front.

The most urgent task now is to see if the shackles on the three of them can be removed. If not, they can also find out the bottom line and use this incident to see if there are any officers who have great malice towards them, so as to prevent them in the future.

She dared to make this request, and there was a basis for it.

The exile system has certain written standards. First, it takes Chang'an City as the starting point and is divided into three levels according to the length of the distance. These three levels are 2,000 miles, 2,500 miles and 3,000 miles.

The Qin family was exiled to Pingzhou, which is Liaoyang City in Liaoning Province in later generations. Chang'an is about 1,700 kilometers away from Pingzhou, and the exile distance exceeds 3,000 miles, which means that their Qin family was exiled at the highest level.

There is also a time limit for escorting prisoners. They must escort the prisoners to the place within the specified time and complete the task, otherwise there will be punishment. Almost every dynasty has a clear regulation on this. Escorting prisoners must walk 50 miles a day.

Walking 3,000 miles, people with poor health will definitely fall down. The prisoners are wearing shackles and anklets, which is extremely hard. Most people will die before they can reach the destination.

Lu Songli believes that they, the escort officers, have requirements for the survival rate of prisoners.

So she guessed that later, when the prisoners can't stand it, the escort officers will appropriately relax the restrictions, such as letting the prisoners remove some locks or something.

Because the prisoners have no possibility of escape in such an environment, because the terrain is complicated, walking will also be hindered. Of course, except for those who are extremely vicious and have high martial arts values, they will not be considered to remove the locks.

Xu Zheng flipped his hand, and the silver was just right for others to see.

"You go back first, we need to discuss this matter."

"Yes, yes, please trouble the officers. If the shackles cannot be removed, we can understand your difficulties. But in that case, can you give us some hot water?"

Before Xu Zheng spoke, a young officer under him said, "Boss, give them some hot water?" He actively gave convenience, all because the other party was too sensible and what he said was comfortable to hear.

Xu Zheng nodded, "Yes, you do it."

So the young officer took a porcelain basin for their own use and poured half of the hot water for Lu Songli.

Lu Songli estimated that it was about three pounds. She thanked him and went back with the water.

Xu Zheng glanced at her and then looked away. His third brother-in-law's younger sister is really good at handling things. She builds bridges and passes ladders, and many things are done smoothly. He has never been embarrassed, and their relationship has always been well hidden.

Lu Songli is not stupid. It is obvious that the judge is on their side. What good will it do for them if she reveals the relationship between the two parties?

After Lu Songli left, Xu Zheng divided the silver, "You heard what she said just now. I think what she said makes sense. I agree to remove the handcuffs of the three of them. It will be easier for them to walk during the day, and lock them up at night. What do you think?"

"Boss, we have no objection." Several officers took the silver and said with a smile.

Zhao Long weighed the silver in his hand, and his eyes swept over the Qin family, especially Lu Songli, who was the focus of his investigation.

Qin Sheng's eyes deepened when he noticed his malicious gaze. He pulled Lu Songli behind him and blocked the other's sight with his body.

Zhao Long raised an objection, "I don't agree!"

Xu Zheng's face darkened, "Why? Don't forget that we have a time limit for this trip! We must escort the people to Pingzhou within two and a half months. You are responsible if it's overdue?"

"The three brothers of the Qin family are all martial artists. What if you remove their handcuffs and they escape?"

After all, if the prisoners are lost, they will face extremely cruel punishment when they return to the yamen.

Xu Zheng said, "Zhao Long, you really think too much. They are three grown men, but don't forget that they are still wearing leg cuffs. In addition, the six of us, can't we take care of three sick and elderly women and five children of several years old? As long as a few of them are held hostage, they dare not move."

The two groups of people are actually not far away, and their voices are not low, so the people on the Qin family side can hear it clearly.

The three brothers of the Qin family all lowered their heads slightly, thinking disapprovingly that if you really want to compete, the six of you may not win.

But now, they have seen something. Xu Zheng, the bailiff, has some problems. The other party is biased towards them.

Lv Songli and Qin Heng did not tell each other about their prepared back-up plans. First, there was no time. From their marriage, to the news of Qin Yue's death in battle, to the death of the previous emperor, to the Qin family being confiscated and exiled to prison, one thing after another, one after another. Second, the fewer people know about this back-up plan, the better.

"No matter what you say, I just don't agree." Zhao Long insisted on this point.

"Zhao Long, don't be unreasonable. This is not the first time for us to escort exiled prisoners. We all know what will happen in the end and whether to remove the shackles of the prisoners. Now we just move the time forward a little. It's not easy for everyone to go on such a long journey during the New Year. I believe everyone wants to send the prisoners safely and come back safely. At this time, if we give them a little convenience, we can also save some trouble."

"Yes, Deputy Chief of Police Zhao and Chief of Police Xu are right. We only have two and a half months, which is actually quite tight. Like now, it's been more than half a day, and we have only walked seven or eight miles, which is too slow."

"Zhao Long, you don't need to say more. Just say that if the prisoners are lost, I will take responsibility, okay? Now answer my question just now. You refused to let them remove the handcuffs during the day. If we can't send them to Pingzhou on time this time, can you take responsibility for this?" Xu Zheng pressed him.

Zhao Long still didn't speak.

"If you say you can take responsibility, then I won't take it. If you can't take responsibility, then listen to me. If you don't say anything now, I'll assume you can't take responsibility." After Xu Zheng finished speaking, he asked someone to remove the shackles from the hands of the three Qin brothers.

Those who can go on this trip have been arranged before departure.

He has a chief bailiff and a deputy bailiff, and four runners. He has already made arrangements with these four runners, but this deputy bailiff named Zhao Long is unyielding. He originally wanted to find a way to replace him, but found that he couldn't. Now he can only find an opportunity and a reason to suppress him.