After some discussion, Gao Ziping and Chen Chong took Yang Yongwang and his people up into the mountains to hide.

Ning Chen, Pan Yucheng and Feng Qizheng went on to Yangping County to investigate.

They rode all night.

It was nearly dawn by the time they reached Yangping County.

The three of them found a place and rested awhile.

The plan was to wait for full daylight and then find a way in.

There were government men at every crossroads in Yangping County, and the checks were strict.

They saw Ning Chen and the other two riding up.

The soldiers at the crossroads were instantly on their guard.

"Halt! Off your horses!"

The three of them swung down and led their horses up.

The bailiff in charge looked the three of them over. "Who are you?"

Ning Chen cupped his fists. "Officer, we're from Lingzhou. My name is Wu Wei, and I've come to Yangping County to call on an elder of the family."

"An elder? What elder?"

"His name is Zhang Jing. He's in the medicinal herb trade. We heard he'd fallen gravely ill, so my father sent me here to look in on him."

Ning Chen made it up as it came out of his mouth.

While he talked he stepped forward and quietly passed over a silver note.

The bailiff in charge glanced down and his eyes lit up all at once... fifty taels.

That fifty-tael note was one Ning Chen had borrowed from Eunuch Quan.

Which left him without a coin to his name.

The bailiff in charge slid the note into his sleeve without a flicker and said, "Let's see your registration papers."

The three of them took out their registration papers and handed them over.

The bailiff in charge looked through them and nodded slightly.

"The papers are in order! But His Honor the Magistrate has given orders—no outsiders stay the night... You can go in if you like. Leave the horses, and be back before dark."

Ning Chen smiled. "Many thanks, Officer!"

"Those two hand over their weapons too!"

Ning Chen nodded, and…