On the fifth day of the fifth month of May, it is advisable to drink realgar wine, soak wormwood in water to clean hands and faces, and avoid five poisons.

As soon as the rooster crowed, Wang Jiucheng got up, woke up his sleeping son Runshui, and wrapped the five-colored silk thread around the latter's wrist, and the father and son picked up the wicker basket and went straight to the Zeshui River in front of the village.

On the banks of the Zeshui River, wormwood is everywhere. However, only wormwood that is harvested from the early morning of the fifth day of May and carries morning dew is the best choice for washing your face during the Dragon Boat Festival. For no other reason, wormwood, when it is newly picked from the ground, will exude an elegant fragrance. After a long time away from the soil, the taste changes from a faint fragrance to a rich smell of artemisia. If you put it at home for three days in a row, you don't need to soak it in water to wash your face, and it is the right way to dry the smoked mosquitoes directly.

As a farmer, Wang Jiucheng was not so particular about it. On the morning of the fifth day of the fifth month of May, when I went to the field to clean up the crops, I grabbed a handful of wormwood from the ridge of the field and rubbed it on my face, and the Dragon Boat Festival passed. However, three years ago, he stumbled upon a big secret. That is, the gate of Zezhou City, even on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, can only be opened at three o'clock in the morning.

In other words, the old ladies and gentlemen who live in the city, the young men and young ladies, will definitely not have time to go out of the city to pick dewy wormwood anyway. No matter how many servants there are in the family, unless they are willing to risk being troubled by the government and send their servants to climb the city wall in the middle of the night!

According to Wang Jiucheng's calculations, the richer the family, the more exquisite their lives. If they had fresh wormwood with dew to spare, they wouldn't use the wilts left over the evening before. So, starting four years ago, on the morning of the fifth day of the fifth month of May, Wang Jiucheng got up when the sky was just dawning and went to the riverbank to pick wormwood.

When he filled the large wicker basket on his back, the sky was completely bright. When he carried wormwood on his back and walked to the gate of Zezhou City, the city gate just opened. Then, he can walk the streets and alleys, and sell the wormwood, which is usually stumbling and no one looks at it, at a high price of two cents "a handful", and make a lot of money.

A basket of wormwood can probably catch more than 300 handfuls, and one trip down is 600 wen. If you're lucky, you'll earn even more if you pick up a nest of duck eggs or a few frogs while you're picking wormwood. (Note: During the Dragon Boat Festival, the frogs will hide and be very difficult to see.) Therefore, the frogs caught in the wild during the Dragon Boat Festival used to be a traditional Chinese medicine. ）

Unlike Chang'an, Taiyuan and other big places, everything is expensive. Zezhou is a small city, and the income of 600 wen can already buy 12 stone millet, which is equivalent to the yield of three acres of good land. Therefore, since the discovery of the "financial road" of selling wormwood to people in the city, for three consecutive years, the life of the Wang family has been thriving. (Note: The yield per mu of millet in the Tang Dynasty was much higher than that of wheat.) The average yield per mu of millet is 334 catties. ）

Although since last year, many people have begun to follow his example, picking wormwood and selling it in the city on the fifth day of the fifth month of May. However, with the reputation accumulated before, Wang Jiucheng's income is still very considerable. In addition, the wormwood he sells is indeed of better quality than other people's wormwood. Not only are the leaves fuller and greener, but the taste is also fresher.

There must be a secret, and Wang Jiucheng will definitely not tell anyone, except for his own son. And today, he will take his son to witness the existence of the secret.

Although the father and son got up early, on the road, they could still meet early pedestrians. In order to avoid the prying eyes of his neighbors, Wang Jiu relentlessly quickened his pace. Although the son next to him is only twelve years old, he is quite sensible. I didn't ask why my father was in such a hurry, carrying a wicker basket on his back, trotting all the way to follow closely.

The father and son first pretended to go to the riverbank, and then continued to rush eastward along the riverbank, turning around and turning around, and the people who had gone to the river early to pick wormwood, break willow branches, dig wild vegetables, and go down the net to catch loaches were all gone, and finally gasped and slowed down.

"Give!" Turning his head to look at his shoulder-high son Runshui, Wang Jiucheng handed over an egg, "Pad the mat first, and then go faster." Where we are going, we have to walk another quarter of an hour. ”

"Hmm!" Wang Runshui was the age when half of the eldest son ate Lao Tzu to death, and he couldn't hear what his father said at all, so he took the egg, turned it horizontally and vertically around his mouth, and swallowed it cleanly.

"Beware of choking!" Wang Jiucheng was taken aback, and quickly untied the water hyacinth on his waist and handed it over, and then, he raised his hand and touched the back of his son's head, "Little bastard, what are you in a hurry, no one is robbing you!" ”

"Uh, uh!" The egg yolk was indeed very choking, and Wang Runshui jumped a few heights on the spot before he gasped again. While drinking water, he looked around with a red face.

"Look at what, Lao Tzu beats you, it's right. Are you still afraid of people's jokes? Wang Jiucheng slapped it again and counted it loudly. Immediately, he was worried that his son would be choked by the water, so he walked quickly behind the other party and patted his son's back with his hand, "I know that I am afraid of people's jokes, so I don't know how to eat slowly?" Alas, with your appearance, you want to marry a daughter-in-law when you grow up! ”

Wang Runshui still doesn't quite understand the meaning of marrying a daughter-in-law to life, but he just laughs. When Wang Jiucheng saw it, he couldn't help but kick his son's ass again, and counted loudly: "Laugh at the fart, be careful of choking on water!" Hurry up and take two sips to continue on your way, and when the wormwood is sold, let's go eat soup cakes! Let you eat enough with your belly open today! ”

There was a son in this compartment, but in that compartment, his own stomach made a "grunting" sound. Suddenly, he didn't dare to delay any longer, turned around, and strode forward.

As a son, he realized that his father gave him the only egg, and suddenly felt a little guilty in his heart. Hurriedly carried the wicker basket and chased after it, and after a while, he ran away covered in sweat.

This time, even if he felt sorry for his son, Wang Jiucheng did not stop. I walked a long way along the riverbank in one breath, turned to a tributary, and then rushed up along the tributary, until a large-scale Buddhist temple appeared in front of me, and then slowed down: "See, White Horse Temple, there are tens of thousands of acres of land around here, all of which belong to the monks in the temple." We're going to pick wormwood, right at the back door of the White Horse Temple facing the stream. The feng shui over there is better than elsewhere, and the wormwood is listened to every day in Buddhist scriptures, and it looks far more beautiful than other places. ”

Wang Runshui was skeptical of his father's words, but he only had the strength to nod. Step by step, he followed Wang Jiucheng and bypassed the Buddhist temple and came to the bank of the back gate stream.

Sure enough, it is a treasure of feng shui, not only wormwood has grown into a large patch, but also yellow artemisia seeds and vinegar grass have grown far more lush than the main stem of Zeshui. Wang Jiucheng immediately forgot about hunger and exhaustion, rushed over, pulled out his waist, pulled out a sickle and began to harvest. It wasn't until he filled most of the wicker basket on his back that he straightened up again, beating his waist with his fists, and at the same time teaching his son face-to-face, "You can see clearly, don't pick like pigweed." For each wormwood plant, only take the half-foot-long part at the tip of the plant. No matter how low it is, you can't ask for it, the taste is too strong. If you're too short, you can't ask for it, it's not growing, and it doesn't look good......"

Eyebrows and Eyebrows introduced a lot of experience, but didn't get any response. Wang Jiucheng froze, frowned and glanced around, "Runshui, Xiao Shuizi, where did you go?!" The sun is coming up soon, and we don't have time to delay......"

Still without a response, his son's wicker basket lay in the grass not far away, slowly rolling in the morning breeze. At this time, Wang Jiucheng was really anxious, he didn't care about picking wormwood again, he rushed to his son's wicker basket in three steps and two steps, and called out loudly, "Xiao Shuizi, Xiao Shuizi, where did you go?" Xiao Shuizi, you ......"

"Grandpa, I'm here!" A very low voice suddenly came from the river channel of the Zeshui tributary. There was still a little trembling, "Grandpa, don't shout so loudly." Hurry up, there is money in the river, a lot of money, and, grandpa, it seems that there is a silver lump......"

"What do you say?" Wang Jiucheng was frightened, and went straight to the direction where the sound came from with a sickle. "You say it again? Who are you, don't harm my son! Otherwise, Lao Tzu will fight hard with you! ”

There has always been a legend in the countryside that if the mountain spirits and water ghosts want to harm people, they will use various ways to confuse people's eyes. Trick people into jumping into the water and drowning, or go into the mountains and be eaten by wild beasts. And the yang energy of children is not strong enough, and they are most likely to become the target of mountain spirits and water ghosts......

With the intention of fighting with the mountain spirit and water ghost, Wang Jiucheng went crazy and rushed to the side of his self-driving son. However, he didn't find any demons, only his own son, who carried a lot of yellow and white things in his clothes, and smirked at him.

"Stinky boy, you go up first and go ashore." Wang Jiucheng used a sickle to slash several times in mid-air to make sure that there were no mountain spirits and water ghosts invisible beside his son. Immediately, he rubbed his left eye vigorously with his hand stained with wormwood juice.

The left eye was irritated and tears immediately flowed. Closing his right eye, through the green tears, he struggled to look into his son's arms. It's still a lot of gold and white, like a fake. Looking down at the river at his feet, he found that the river was only as high as his calf, and it was difficult to drown a mouse, let alone a twelve-year-old half-year-old!

There are no mountain spirits and ghosts, copper coins and silver ingots are real, just in the river! The strong sense of happiness made Wang Jiucheng dizzy. Ignoring his son, who had already reached the shore, he rushed back to his big wicker basket like a whirlwind, emptied the wormwood inside, and then rushed back into the river like a whirlwind, bending down to quickly collect the money.

Most of them are tongbao, with only a few silver ingots. However, Wang Jiucheng is not picky, whether it is yellow or white, as long as it can be seen by the naked eye, it will all be put into the basket. In the blink of an eye, the copper coins and silver ingots around him were picked up cleanly, and he stared at the reddened eyes, gasping and glancing upstream, and in an instant, he found more copper coins and silver ingots.

"Put the copper coins and silver you are carrying in the basket first, and then come down to help!" Turning his head to let out a strange roar at his son, he strode towards the copper coins and silver ingots, breathing as heavy as an ox.

However, Wang Runshui once again disobeyed his father's orders. Pointing to the river further upstream, his body trembled like chaff, "Grandpa, there are people, there are people over there." Yes, it's a dead man, it's a dead monk. ”

"What?" Wang Jiucheng was startled, and all the copper coins that he had just fished out in his hand fell back into the water. Straightened his waist and quickly looked in the direction of his son's finger, and the corpse of a monk quickly entered his sight!

"Poof!" He threw the wicker basket containing the copper coins and silver ingots into the water, trembling and stumbling to the corpse upstream. Immediately, more was discovered.

The corpses were all on the shore of the water, all the way from the middle of the river to the back door of the temple, all of them bald, carrying large bags and small wrappers. Copper coins and silver ingots that fell on streams were only a small fraction of them. Close to the temple near the pool of blood, more.

The pools of blood had turned black, and they were crowded with crows and flies. Hearing Wang Jiucheng's footsteps approaching, there was a "boom", crows and flies rose into the air, and in an instant, the sky was dark!

………………

"Thorn history, the White Horse Temple in the eastern suburbs was slaughtered last night, and the monks in the temple were killed cleanly." About half an hour later, a thunderous news reached Zezhou.

"Is the news true? You, you're not mistaken. This, this big Dragon Boat Festival, don't listen to the wind or rain! "Zezhou assassin Wu Liangmou held the table case with his hand, wanting to cry without tears.

It's so unlucky, it's really bad luck for eight lifetimes! He spent more than 4,000 yuan to buy the official position of the Thorn History, and spent three times the price to operate, until March this year, he finally made up for a Zhongzhou Thorn History. Before he could start recovering the book, a shocking case happened under his rule!

"That's right, Thorn History!" Jiang Nan, who joined the army, cried and shook his head again and again, "The state government's Ma Kuai has already verified, the White Horse Temple in the eastern suburbs, from the abbot, the forty-two monks who have a degree of anger have all been killed. In the whole temple, only two small novices who had just entered the temple for less than half a year were left behind by the murderer. ”

"So, then what are you waiting for? Arrest the little novice and torture him! If the murderer didn't know them, why would he open up to the two of them?! Wu Liangmou stomped his foot violently and gave the order in a rage. It must be that the little novice colluded with the robbers, and if you can't get it right, the two little novices are the undercover agents who were deliberately sent to the White Horse Temple by the robbers, and then secretly opened the mountain gate for the robbers while the other monks were asleep! Yes, definitely. No one knows how to combine inside and outside better than I do, grab it, grab those two little novices, pry their mouths open, and do whatever it takes! ”

"Assassin Shi Mingming!" Sima Xiayan, Xiao Jian, Hu Lie, and Qi Cao joined the army, all bowed down and praised. However, no one took the initiative to take the order.

is different from Wu Liangmou, who assassinated Shi Shi, and their official positions were either obtained by virtue of real talent and learning, or they were promoted step by step from the bottom by relying on solid political achievements. Therefore, everyone doesn't need to think about it at all, and they can also know that what their own assassination history has issued is a chaotic fate.

The little novice escaped death, and he was already stupid, so he didn't need to be caught at all. If the yamen could provide them with a place to live temporarily, even if it was a prison, they would be grateful. As for the situation that came out of the mouth of the little novice, it must have been clues deliberately left by the robbers, and if you follow those clues, the final result is guaranteed to be in vain.

"Then go!" Wu Liangmou stomped his feet vigorously and urged repeatedly, "Catch the little novice, ask who the robber is and where he lives, and immediately ask the Governor's Mansion to send troops to exterminate him!" The reign of the Son of Heaven, Haiqing Heyan, how can he tolerate bandits to destroy people indiscriminately? ”

"Beginning the history of assassination, Xiao Shami has already pointed out the murderer. The thieves came from Baiwangzhai and were led by Qi Mo, the fourth master, saying that they wanted to avenge their big boss, the second boss and the third boss! Jiang Nan, who joined the army, said kindly, and couldn't bear to watch Wu Liangmou make a fool of himself, and continued to report with a sad face.

"White King Village? Where is Baiwangzhai? How does the name sound familiar? Wu Liangmou frowned and asked. Immediately, he slapped the table hard, "Oh, Lao Tzu, the old man remembered." Baiwangzhai, isn't it the gang of bandits who were rumored to intercept and kill the secretary and young eunuch Zhang Qian a few days ago, but were unlucky enough to kick the big iron plate? Didn't the three bandit leaders who led the team die at the hands of Shuo Fangjun? Why did you rely on the head of the White Horse Temple again?! ”

No one answered his words, and even Jiang Nan, the kindest person who joined the army, reluctantly stepped aside, bowed his head and pretended to be dumb.

Not to mention the case of the bandits intercepting and killing the secretary and young eunuch Zhang Qian, it is only a "rumor" at present, and it has not been confirmed by the official residence newspaper. Even if the rumors are true, it is not a smart choice to link the case of Dongshan White Horse Temple with this case.

If there is a case of destroying a building in the jurisdiction, even if the murderer cannot be traced, the worst result is only to make the performance appraisal of the assassin and the county order more ugly, spend more money on it, and after the three-year term expires, there will be no delay in transfer or promotion. And mixing the case of destroying the door with the case of intercepting and killing the incumbent official, the final result is completely out of the control and expectation of the person concerned.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, how many cases have robbers intercepted and killed incumbent officials? Which time, there was no factional struggle behind it. As for the whirlpool of factional struggle, there has always been no distinction between right and wrong, only about winning or losing. Originally unrelated people plunged into it, and if they were lucky, they might be promoted three levels in a row. In case of bad luck and wrong teaming, the consequence may be to raid the family and exterminate the clan!

"What, Lao Tzu, is the old man wrong?" After not getting a response from anyone for a long time, Wu Liangmou finally realized that he might have spoken in layman's terms, frowned, and asked in a low voice. "If the old man is wrong, just say it bluntly. The old man will not hold grudges, so there is no need for you to pretend to be deaf and dumb. The old man asked himself if he came to office, and the money he should send was not less than you. The old man did not violate all the rules in the yamen. You have to use dim sum to help a group of old men, otherwise someone else will do the history of assassination, and your life may not be better than now! ”

It's a rough statement, but it's very true. Immediately, all the officials present began to communicate quickly with their eyes. After a while, Sima Xia Yan sighed, slowly stepped forward, and bowed his hand to Wu Liangmou, "Assassin Shi, you still admit bad luck in this matter!" It's better not to solve the case than to solve the case! ”

"Bad luck? What do you mean, this official is already unlucky enough, how else can you recognize it? Wu Liangmou was confused, and asked with a pair of "innocent" eyes.

"Subordinates can't speculate, they can only assume. It's not necessarily true, you assume we're gossiping. Sima Xia Yan hesitated for a moment, and his voice suddenly became extremely low, "Suppose, suppose that on your way to your appointment, someone bribed the bandits to intercept you. You're unscathed, will you swallow this breath later? ”

"How is it possible, Lao Tzu must find the person who bought the murderer and skin him and cramp him!" Wu Liangmou slapped the table case hard again, gritting his teeth, "Otherwise, who can guarantee that he won't have a next time?!" ”

"That's the truth, it is rumored that there is a monk who died with the bandits, and the Dharma name is bitter." Cheyenne grinned bitterly and slowly added. "And the abbot of Dongshan White Horse Temple, the law is difficult!"

"You mean, you mean, Young Eunuch Zhang, Young Eunuch Zhang pretended to be a robber to take revenge!" Although Wu Liangmou's official position was bought, his IQ was not low, and he immediately widened his eyes and gasped. "God——, he's so bold. He, he, yes, the court has not given him an explanation until now, and if he changes Lao Tzu, he has to ask for an explanation himself! ”

"Assassin Shi Mingming!" Cheyenne had done her duty and bowed.

"Wise has a fart, no one can afford to mess with me!" Wu Liangmou raised his hand and slapped himself, and fell back into the chair, "Forget it, you're right, Lao Tzu admits bad luck!" Come on, block the White Horse Temple, and then report the case as a headless case. Lao Tzu has no ability to track down the murderer......"

In the middle of his words, he stood up abruptly again, staring at the officials under his command like knives, "How is the murder scene protected?" Did anyone sabotage? ”

"Enlighten the history of assassination, monks have more gold. After the murder spread, the surrounding people entered the temple one after another, and the scene was already messy! Zhang Baosheng, a judicial officer, gritted his teeth and responded loudly.

"Damn it!" Wu Liangmou pretended to be annoyed and patted his head, and then quickly asked, "What about the two little novices, do they know who the murderer is?" ”

"The little novice is frightened, the preface does not match the afterword, and the confession is not enough as evidence!" Xiao Jian, the narrator, understood and responded loudly on the other side.

"Then report it, there is nothing the official can do!" Wu Liangmou let out a sigh of relief and sat back in his chair again.

"Assassin Shi Mingming!" All the officials shouted in unison, and their faces were full of solemnity, like statues of gods in the temple.