After appeasing the sixth master of the sect, Zhao Liang decided to set off overnight. Although everyone agreed to negotiate peace with Shenhou in private, it was difficult to guarantee that there would not be a few people who were loyal to King Zhou You and secretly reported the matter to Hojing. Therefore, he must now race against time, before King Zhou You takes precautions or the Dog Rong people sneak attack Ho Jing, go back to meet Wang Xiaosi and them, and then complete the task of capturing the traverser in one fell swoop.

Because he was not familiar with the way back to Beijing, and with his riding skills, he was not up to the requirements of traveling alone in the dark, so Baofu specially assigned more than a dozen capable guards to accompany him. By the time the sky was slightly bright, Zhao Liang and the others could already see the outline of the pickaxe capital pool.

After some consideration, he decided not to use the secret passage of the South Gate for the time being, but simply took advantage of the bright light to enter the city gate from the city gate. When the guards reported the name of General Zheng Ni to the soldiers at the head of the city, a burst of cheers immediately rang out in the city. Zhao Liang knew that they must have received the news of Pegasus who had won the first battle yesterday, so they would be so happy about their arrival.

The officer in charge of guarding the city gate hurriedly ordered the gate to be opened, and then rushed out in three steps and two steps to meet Zhao Liang. As the commander of the whole army, Zhao Liang naturally didn't need to explain to the other party why he came back suddenly, he only nodded slightly and walked inside, and the officers followed closely behind, constantly shushing and asking for warmth.

After passing the doorway, Zhao Liang suddenly stopped his horse, pointed to the high platform not far away and asked the officer, "Huh?" Did you light a beacon fire? ”

The officer glanced in that direction and hurriedly replied: "Yes, General." Early yesterday morning, after a military report on the enemy's strength had been sent from the front, the king ordered the beacon to be lit and summoned all the princes to meet here. ”

Zhao Liang nodded, looked around and asked, "You don't have many people here, where did they all go?" ”

"There was something unusual in the palace the night before, and the brothers were temporarily transferred to the streets to cooperate with the search and vigilance." The officer reported.

Hearing this, Zhao Liang was shocked, and immediately thought of the action of rescuing Wang Xiaosi and Zheng Luya. He deliberately lowered his voice and asked casually, "What happened?" ”

The officer replied without hesitation: "The lowly position is not very clear. Listening to the Imperial Forest Army, it seems that Shen Ziyan sent a large number of assassins to raid the palace prison in the middle of the night and rob important prisoners. ”

Zhao Liang asked: "Have you been robbed?" ”

"The robbery is robbing, but the enemy certainly did not leave the city." The officer said: "Fortunately, the Royal Foresters patrolling nearby found it in time and started a fierce battle with the other party. In a hurry, those guys panicked and could only hide for the time being. So I received an order to cooperate with the Imperial Guards to carry out a search and arrest throughout the city. ”

Zhao Liang put his mind at ease, and estimated that he was hiding in his mansion away from them, and he had not been found for a while. He then inquired to the officer, "Do you know that there is a troop of soldiers and horses outside the city?" It's those bandits I recruited back from Demon King Ridge, where are they now? ”

The officer said, "It's still in the same place." The city guard general didn't know why they didn't go to the front with you, and he was going to let them help defend the city, but those people said that they only listened to the general's orders, and the others ignored them. The general of the city guard was also worried that something would happen if he let them in rashly, so he dispelled this idea and continued to let them stay there in peace, and sent the last ten days' rations to save those life troubles. ”

"You take my order to find them," Zhao Liang ordered, "just say it's my order, tell them to hurry into the city and help search for the enemy's spies together." ”

Hearing him say this, the officer was greatly embarrassed, and said, "Please forgive the general." It's not that the order is disrespectful, there was a decree in the palace last night, and all the current transfers of the city defense require the king's personal nod, so ......"

Zhao Liang originally planned to let the brothers of Demon King Ling enter the city and disrupt the situation, so that it would be convenient for Su Li and Shen Changlie and the others to get out. But now it seems that this trick is not working. He said calmly: "Oh, since that's the case, forget it." I am going to enter the palace now to meet the king, or you should make a hard trip, and order the people and horses of the Demon King Ridge to be on guard from now on, ready to fight at any time. ”

Zhao Liang hurried up and went straight to his mansion. Zheng Ni's courtyard was within the palace area, but how could the Imperial Forest Army at the gate of the palace dare to stop the general, although they had some doubts in their hearts, they hurriedly opened the door to make way and let Zhao Liang and his party enter the palace.

When he came to the gate of the small courtyard, Zhao Liang ordered all the guards to stay outside the courtyard to be on guard, and no one was allowed to enter without his order, otherwise they would be killed. After explaining, Zhao Liang almost rushed into the small courtyard. However, to his surprise, when he searched the house, he found no trace of anyone.

I'll go! What's going on? Zhao Liang's heart couldn't help but sink. It stands to reason that even if Su Li, Wang Xiaosi and Zheng Luya are not here, Shen Changlie should always be there? Why is he gone?

An ominous premonition instantly filled his heart, causing chills to run down Zhao Liang's back. What the hell is going on? Don't...... He didn't dare to think any further, and turned around and came out into the courtyard.

Standing in the courtyard, Zhao Liang slowly bent down and carefully observed the ground. With the knowledge of trace analysis that he mastered when he was a student at the police university, he was able to identify them inch by inch. Zhao Liang left here the morning before yesterday, although a large number of generals of the Sixth Sect Master were present at that time, but after more than forty-eight hours of wind and sun, those footprints had already changed to a certain extent. If someone comes here in the future, it will inevitably leave a different trail.

In this way, Zhao Liang observed for more than ten minutes, and then simply knelt on the ground and took a closer look. Finally, several sets of untraceable footprints came into his field of vision. The footprints were noticeably newer than the previous ones, one group was smaller and apparently female, and the other group had very faint blood stains on them.

These footprints did not extend into the house, but remained in the courtyard for a while before moving to the back of the house. Zhao Liang crawled forward like a police dog, all the way to the back wall of the house. There, he found clearer traces of circumvention. Based on this, Zhao Liang can roughly infer that after rescuing Xiaosi and Xiaoya, they did return here first, but for some reason, they felt that it was not safe here, so although the Imperial Forest Army did not search the courtyard later, at that time, several of them still called Shen Changlie, who was hiding in the house, and escaped from the back wall together.

Thinking of this, Zhao Liang immediately stood up, returned to the atrium of the small courtyard, and searched around again. It didn't take long for him to find a mark in the middle of the trunk of the tree that had been destroyed by electric shock—yuxia written in pinyin.

I'm Nima! These guys actually hid in Yuxia Palace? Zhao Liang looked at Hanyu Pinyin, which only modern people understand, and knew that it was either Wang Xiaosi or Zheng Luya's message left for him. Although the most dangerous places are often the safest, this is an exaggeration, right? Just now, he tried to call Zheng Luya with a dialer a few times, but the equipment was always in a state of no answer, and it is estimated that it is not a signal problem, but like Wang Xiaosi, the dialer is malfunctioning.

He pondered for a moment, his mind constantly recalling the structure of Yuxia Palace, guessing where they might be hiding. last time

When they went there at night, they found that Yuxia Palace had more than one main hall, and there were also large buildings surrounded by three sides, forming a fully functional architectural complex. Some of those houses were the residences of the palace maids, some were kitchens, storerooms, bathrooms, etc., and some were vacant all year round, and a few companions were probably hiding there.

Zhao Liang pondered, it was impossible to hide his return to Haojing for too long, and it wouldn't be long before King Zhou You would get the news. Rather than being called over for questioning at that time, it is better to take the initiative to go to the audience, so as to seize the opportunity to find Mi Li and the others. He made up his mind, turned around and left the small courtyard, and went straight to the harem.

Zhao Liang met the palace maid on the road and inquired, King Zhou You had just left the early dynasty and returned to Yuxia Palace to rest as usual. Zhao Liang said in his heart, and he came to the queen's bedroom.

At this time, someone had already sent a message to King Zhou You, saying that General Zheng Ni had come to see him. King Zhou You and Bao Xi couldn't help but be stunned when they heard this, and hurriedly ordered to summon them.

When Zhao Liang, under the guidance of the chamberlain, walked through the "labyrinth" and came to the spacious main hall, King Zhou You spoke in surprise: "Cousin, why are you back?" ”

Zhao Liang unhurriedly saluted King Zhou You and Bao Xi, and then replied: "Brother Wang, Niangniang, our army won a big victory yesterday, and the front line was temporarily stabilized. ”

According to common sense, Zhou Tianzi took the stage to worship the commander, and after leading the generals to the battle, he could not leave the front line without being called. Like Zhao Liang, who decided to return to Beijing to face the saint on his own, was already a big taboo. Especially if a big war suddenly breaks out on the front line at this time, then no matter what the outcome is, the main general will be killed and questioned.

But Zheng Ni has a special identity, and she has just won a victory against the enemy, and even captured the opponent's main general, and suddenly became the star of hope for Haojing and even the entire Zhou Dynasty, so it is inconvenient for King Zhou You to blame her, so he can only politely give Zhao Liang a seat, and said gently: "Cousin has worked hard." Don't say anything, let the widow toast you first, congratulate the general on his victory in the first battle, and capture the world-famous Yuan Wuli, hahaha, come, drink this knight. ”

Bao Xi also joked beside her: "If you don't say it's still a sister." I heard the king say that Yuan Wuli is strong in martial arts, and it is not easy to defeat him. I'll also accompany you for a drink. ”

Zhao Liang said two modest words and drank the wine. After he put down the wine glass, King Zhou You said: "Cousin, when you come back this time, there must be something extraordinary, tell the widow about it." ”

Zhao Liang secretly scolded in his heart: Damn, it is indeed extraordinary. Lao Tzu tosses back and forth, isn't it because of you bastard? He thought so in his heart, but he said: "Brother Wang, this time Shenhou and Yan Guo joined forces to rebel, with a force of 50,000 or 60,000 troops. The younger sister wants to discuss with Brother Wang to see what happens next? ”

"Cousin don't worry about this." Bao Xi replied on behalf of King Zhou You: "Yesterday, the king has issued an order to light the beacon fire message and recruit all the princes to come to King Qin. According to the estimation of the Elder Doctor Yu Shifu, within ten days, several princes who were closer to each other could be the first to arrive, with a strength of about 40,000 troops, which was comparable to the size of Shen Ziyan's rebel army. In less than a month, the Eighth Division of Chengzhou will also arrive in time, and by that time, the rebels will be in danger. ”

While listening to Bao Xi's introduction, Zhao Liang secretly observed King Zhou You's expression, and he found that the other party did not show any doubts, as if he was quite confident in using the beacon tower to ask for help. Zhao Liang was puzzled by this, and couldn't help asking: "The king, the queen, what if the princes saw the beacon smoke but couldn't come in time to reinforce it?" ”

"Huh? Cousin, why do you have this concern? Zhou Youwang said.

Zhao Liang was startled when he heard the other party say the word "also", and wanted to explain quickly, but he heard King Zhou You say again: "You don't have to suffer so much. The widow had already thought of a perfect plan. Not only have I ordered beacon towers everywhere to warn me, but I have also sent several special envoys to the nearest vassal states, promising them large fiefdoms and leaving them with threats, and those who dare not hesitate will be regarded as rebellion and ruined their families and countries! In addition, in order to prevent the dog Rong from taking advantage of the fire to rob, in addition to letting Ying Kai defend the western frontier, the widow also arranged a large number of scouts to monitor the main roads in the northwest direction, and the slightest wind and grass could not escape the eyes of the widow! ”