As he approached Shiqiao Bay, Zuo Zhong's nerves tensed, and he saw that the sky was getting darker, but the team didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

He rode his horse to catch up with Gong Chengyan and said: "My lord, there is Shiqiao Bay in front, the terrain is treacherous, the road is long and narrow, there is no hour that cannot be walked, now it is getting late, it is better for us to camp outside tonight, and set off again tomorrow morning." ”

"Isn't Lord Zuo scared?" Gong Xiru said with a smile.

Zuo Zhong frowned slightly: "Xia Guan is not afraid, but 100,000 taels of silver is not child's play, we have to be careful, if something happens, we will have to move our heads." ”

Gong Xiru's face sank suddenly, "Lord Zuo thinks that the official's judgment is wrong?" Or do you feel that this official is not worthy of the responsibility of this disaster relief? Or, do you have any questions about the emperor's will? ”

"The lower officials don't dare." Zuo Zhong lowered his head and said in fear: "Everyone hasn't rested for a day, and now they are tired, and their footsteps are getting slower and slower. ”

Gong Chengyan sighed: "Since Lord Zuo said that he would not question the official, then what else to say."

Lord Zuo should know that the emperor's intention is to let you listen to the arrangements of the official, and the official does not want to return to Beijing to report at that time, and he will add a charge of disrespect to the decree of Lord Zuo. ”

Zuo Zhong nodded apprehensively, and respectfully waited for Gong Chengyan to leave, before he loudly commanded the team behind: "Everyone cheer up, the victims in front are still waiting for us, one more delay will kill one more person, everyone will go through Shiqiao Bay in one go." ”

Everyone else was puzzled, everyone knew that Stonebridge Bay was a well-known den of bandits. Even if it is not as rampant as before, but with so much silver, it is inevitable that there will be no outlaws who want to see money.

Doubts are doubts. Everyone still cheered up and walked into Shiqiao Bay.

In the previous section, everyone remained vigilant, trying to move forward all the way, the speed was very slow, and the more back they went, the darker and darker it was, which made people feel more uneasy.

The only thing to be thankful for. I guess there wasn't any danger.

Zuo Zhong always felt unsteady in his heart, but he couldn't figure out why Gong Chengyan insisted on going his own way, so he could only pray that nothing would happen.

Halfway through the line. Gong Chengyan finally ordered to rest.

Zuo Zhong was in a hurry, it was the most dangerous thing to fall here, and he said to Gong Chengyan again: "My lord." It is not advisable to camp here. It's also difficult to defend here, and the lower officials are afraid—"

"What are you afraid of? Who else could there be but us in the middle of the night? Gong Xiru looked at him with a smile.

Zuo Zhong sighed, knowing that he had no intention of persuading him again, so he could only let everyone camp.

In the first half of the night, he was on guard, but there was no movement, Zuo Zhong couldn't help but wonder if he was overly worried, and gradually let down his guard in his heart. However, in the middle of the night, a scream woke him up.

"Get the money quickly. Whoever blocks kills whom. I don't know who shouted, and many people rushed down from the hillsides on both sides, each with a big knife in their hands, and their faces were fierce.

Zuo Zhong had been sleeping in a daze, so he woke up immediately, saw the fire around him, knew that it was not good, and took out his saber at his waist and shouted: "Get up, get up, the bandits are coming." ”

At this time, the movement was not small, and many people woke up, but they were too tired during the day, and they were woken up when they were sleeping, and their brains were not awake at all, and they didn't have time to draw their swords, so they were cut by the oncoming big knife.

All this happened too suddenly, unexpectedly, Zuo Zhong blocked the big man in front of him with a sword, and only one was in a trance, and he was stabbed in the arm.

He didn't care about the pain, and was busy holding his mind and facing the enemy seriously.

Due to the large number of bandits and the sneak attack, soon the soldiers could not parry, and the protective circle became smaller and smaller.

Gong Chengyan stood in the middle and roared: "Hurry up, those who have made meritorious contributions today will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold." ”

There were brave men under the heavy money, and the soldiers who were originally disheartened continued to resist with a hundred times more energy, but they had fallen behind in numbers, and now they were just stubbornly resisting.

Sure enough, before half an hour came, they either abandoned their troops or died or were wounded.

Zuo Zhong had multiple knife wounds on his body, and he was powerless to resist, so he could only watch as several large boxes of silver were transported away and disappeared into the darkness.

Gong Chengyan staggered in front of him and shook the latter's shoulder, "Lord Zuo, Lord Zuo, you are okay." ”

Zuo Zhong withdrew a trace of his senses, his face was as dead as ashes, and he muttered to himself, "It's over, it's over, the official silver is lost, and we—we all have to go to the saint with our heads up." ”

Gong Chengyan's eyes flashed with fierceness and pride, and he comforted: "Don't worry, Lord Zuo, Shiqiao Bay belongs to the jurisdiction of Ju County, and this official has already sent someone to notify the county order here, I believe he will definitely be able to catch those bandits." ”

"It's useless-it's useless-heh-hehehe-hehe-" Zuo Zhong stood up in a daze, looked at the corpses everywhere, his eyes were sharp, and suddenly glared at Gong Chengyan, and said sharply: "I obviously warned you, but you insisted on going your own way, and the theft of official silver is all your fault, I will immediately write a note to tell the emperor that all this is your fault." ”

There was a slight smile on the corner of Gong Chengyan's mouth, and he instructed the people around him: "Go and prepare a pen and paper for Lord Zuo, and let him write well, after all, this may be his last letter in this world." ”

The entourage was busy preparing pen and paper.

Zuo Zhong was stunned, "You want to kill me?" ”

"Who made Lord Zuo always look so righteous and awe-inspiring, you know, I really feel disgusting when I see it."

The attendant handed over pen and paper, pen and ink.

Gong Chengyan pointed to the ground: "Does Lord Zuo want to write while sitting or standing, don't worry, before you die, I can at least make you more comfortable - in this way, why don't you go and sit in the carriage and write?" ”

Zuo Zhong stepped back step by step, held the saber tightly, and said that it was too late, and then it was too fast, he suddenly drew his knife and slashed at Gong Chengyan.

But before he could get closer, there was a sharp pain in his back, and the sound of the knife entering the flesh was clear as if it were in his ears.

"I'm going to kill you." Zuo Zhong raised the sword in his hand, but before he could make a move, a frontal knife had already slashed at his face.

He only shook it, and then fell to the ground.

Gong Chengyan shook his head regretfully: "Let you be obedient and cooperate well." You don't listen, you say you're not looking for death. ”

The rest of the people are almost only Gong Chengyan's cronies.

The attendant asked, "Master." Now what do we do? ”

Gong Chengyan looked at the faint fire on the top of the mountain, and said with a smile: "What else can I do, of course, it is to report to the emperor quickly, the county order of Juxian County has neglected its duties, thieves have risen, and it is a serious crime to rob the official silver." I hope that the emperor can see that for the sake of the thousands of homeless victims, he can severely punish them. ”

Gong Yunrui wiped the blood on his face and came to Gong Chengyan's side: "I didn't find any trace of him." I shouldn't have caught up. ”

Gong Chengyan smiled contemptuously: "I thought I was extremely smart, but with his tricks, it was still very early to fight with me." ”

"Now the official bank has been robbed. We couldn't take off the dry cleaning. The child thought that it would be better for us to abandon our horses and return to Beijing on foot, so that we could show our sincerity in admitting our mistakes. ”

Gong Chengyan thought about it and felt that it made sense, "I have to go back to Quyang first, and then I will enter the palace on foot and ask the emperor for guilt." ”

When I came, there was a lot of turmoil, but only a few people went back. Pretty bleak.

Back at the palace, Gong Chengyan's face was haggard and covered in wounds. Weeping bitterly.

"Your Majesty, the thieves came really suddenly, and the minister wanted to camp outside Shiqiao Bay, but Lord Zuo insisted on going his own way, so he had to rush overnight, and the minister also understood that he wanted to send the official silver to Shi Nan as soon as possible, and he blamed the minister for not stopping it, which led to a catastrophe.

Please ask the emperor to spare his wife, children and family for the sake of Lord Zuo who has died in the line of duty. ”

Emperor Qinglong's anger was like thunder, and he immediately ordered the arrest of Zhao Lei, the county commander of Juxian County.

In the end, after everyone left, Emperor Qinglong left Gong Chengyan behind.

"Is the silver all right?" After no one was around, Emperor Qinglong asked in a low voice.

Gong Chengyan smiled and nodded: "The minister will meet you in Shihuaipo in half a month, and there will be a lot of silver at that time." ”

A sneer appeared at the corner of Emperor Qinglong's mouth: "If it weren't for their ill intentions, why would I use such a method." ”

"What the emperor said is that they are to blame for all this."

He was just about to retreat when an urgent report came from outside the palace.

Emperor Qinglong was slightly puzzled, what else was there to report at this time.

"Your Majesty, the good news came from the Shi Nan County Order, saying that 100,000 disaster relief silver has been received, and the victims have been appeased, and I believe it will calm down soon."

Emperor Qinglong was so shocked that he almost jumped up from the dragon chair, patted the armrest and blurted out, "Impossible." ”

The herald trembled with fright, and hurriedly explained: "It's true, the young master of the Gong family and the young master of the Bai family have already sent all the silver to Shi Nan, and they are now helping the county order arrange disaster relief." ”

Gong Yunrui is at home, and Gong Chengyan knows that he is referring to Gong Xiru, but how is this possible?!

"Are you sure it's Miya—it's my eldest son?" He asked incredulously.

"Sure." The herald was puzzled, this was obviously a good thing, but why did the emperor and Zhongtang Ling look unhappy.

He didn't dare to think about it, and retreated respectfully after replying.

The room fell silent again, and Emperor Qinglong looked at Gong Chengyan with a fierce gaze: "They are the bandits you said?" hijacked the silver and sent it to the heather intact? ”

Gong Chengyan was flustered, and pretended to be calm and said: "Your Majesty, please let the minister go and find out what is going on, that day in Shiqiao Bay, the silver was indeed robbed by the bandits, the minister saw it with his own eyes, it is impossible-"

He paused suddenly, a terrible thought in his head.

"Why don't you say it?" Emperor Qinglong's eyes were red, and he grabbed the inkstone on the table and smashed it.

Where did Gong Chengyan dare to hide, his forehead was smashed, and he immediately felt a heat on his face, but he didn't dare to wipe it, and said in fear: "Your Majesty, please give the criminal minister another chance - one chance, the criminal minister must find out what is going on." ”

Fuquan reminded in a timely manner, "Your Majesty, did you send someone to withdraw the will to arrest the county order of Juxian County?" ”

Emperor Qinglong suddenly came back to his senses and said hurriedly, "Hurry up, withdraw your will." ”

Regardless of whether Shiqiao Bay was really looted by thieves, and the silver was eventually sent to heather, then he could not be held accountable.

At this time, if the will is spread, he will become the great faint monarch of the world, even if Emperor Qinglong declares that he has listened to the wrong news, it will still leave people with unwise stains.

He looked at Gong Chengyan coldly, "I sent you to be in charge of this disaster relief, and the whole world knows about it, but you ran back halfway and told me that the silver was stolen, but now your son is helping with disaster relief in Shinan, you say, how can I explain to the people of the world?" (To be continued......)