There was a dullness in the hot air, and the scorching sun overhead began to sink in the west, with a hint of dusk and finally disappeared.

After sunset in Lin'an City and a moment before nightfall, Xie Daoqing's carriage returned to the gate of Xie's mansion from Dali Temple, with a happy smile on his face, ignoring the forbidden army passing by the gate of her mansion, and jumped towards the mansion.

Lu Zhong looked at the youthful figure, then looked at the plaque on the door of the Xie Mansion, sighed slightly, and then continued to inspect this area with the forbidden army behind him.

The soldiers came to report, and Lu Zhong took a few people and began to rush to a remote tavern.

Wu Gui was already sitting inside, looking at Lu Zhong, who was dressed in armor, he beckoned, and then the two sat down in a remote corner.

Lu Zhong, who was covered with sweat, picked up the wine bowl and took a sip of it first, and then made a sound of admiration, before looking at Wu Gui and asking, "How are you patrolling over there?" ”

"All obedient. I just gathered those rabbit cubs together, and I have warned them to be honest for the past two days, and stop causing trouble on the street, even if they die at this time, no one will pay attention to them. Wu Gui sighed, the current situation is somehow, no matter how he says that it will change, and it has become so nervous all of a sudden, even the Emperor Taishang, who has been in Gushan for many years, will return to the palace tomorrow.

"Lord Lu, Lin'an's posture, but something big is going to happen again, you give me a thorough explanation, what's wrong this time?" After Wu Guizhi left the man, he asked Lu Zhong next to him in a low voice.

Lu Zhong, who put down the chopsticks, took another sip of wine unhurriedly, shook his head with the smell of wine, and sighed with a look of indescribability: "This world is such a world, originally...... I thought this was a peaceful world, but now it seems that the people don't beat us anymore, and this own people are going to fight again. ”

In the end, Lu Zhong couldn't help but lower his voice, as the commander and deputy commander of the forbidden army, his status in Lin'an City can be said to be declining, and now the forbidden army, no one pays attention to it anymore, so the only thing they can do on weekdays is to do chores, or to help the Criminal Department maintain the law and order in Lin'an City.

"Isn't it ......?" Wu Gui looked around, and after seeing that no one paid special attention to them in the room, he asked in a low voice, "This time it won't be related to Lord Ye again, right?" ”

Wu Gui clearly remembered that Ye Qing, who was born in the forbidden army, had just returned to Lin'an this time, and Lu Zhong, who was hiding in the shadows, had said to him that something big might happen in Lin'an City again.

A few days ago, everything in Lin'an City was peaceful, the people should live a good life, the women in the Qinglou should laugh and laugh, the gamblers in the gambling house should be in debt and pay off their debts, and even their forbidden army should be protected by the protection fee.

Then almost overnight, the atmosphere in Lin'an City suddenly became solemn, although up to now, nothing has happened, even the rogue who likes to find cats and dogs on the street on weekdays is extremely well-behaved, but since noon, this Lin'an City in Wu Gui's eyes, always feels different from usual.

Lu Zhong had an expression that I had expected, took a mouthful of food and put it in his mouth, and said while chewing: "I told you at the beginning, once this Lord Ye returns to Lin'an, something big will inevitably happen in Lin'an, isn't this fulfilled every time?" So, this time it must be related to Lord Ye. ”

"That'...... So what do we do? Jiahui Gate and Donghua Gate are all people from the front of the palace and the guard department, according to the past, there should be people from Lord Ye in Lin'an ......City at this time. Wu Gui held the chopsticks, but he always felt unsteady in his heart and asked.

"What else can I do? Naturally, it's the same as before, one eye is turned and one eye is closed, what? Do you still want to provoke Lord Ye? Have you lived enough? Lu Zhong raised his eyebrows and asked.

"No, no, no." Wu Gui held chopsticks and waved his hand and explained, "I just think it...... This time, the order given by the higher authorities is that from noon, no soldiers will be allowed to enter the city gate, and if we allow Lord Ye's soldiers to ...... again. ”

"Don't worry, even if you ask from above, there will be Lord Ye to help you at that time, after so many years, haven't you understood? Besides, Lord Ye walked out of our forbidden army, and he is considered his own person, can't this convenience be done? Lu Zhong said as he recalled the distant past.

Who would have thought that back then, all of them would be reduced to the head of the forbidden army who wanted to take care of the homes of Lin'an businessmen, and one day they would have a place in the court! It also helped the imperial court recover a large amount of lost territory. Although it is said that the reputation in Lin'an is mixed now, but then again, being a person and an official is actually the same, and no one can satisfy people up and down, left and right, right?

What's more, there are many officials sitting high in the court now, who has really only applauded the people and not secretly scolded? Obviously not, whether it is Shi Miyuan, who has always liked to accept bribes, or Lord Han, the left minister of the current dynasty who sends maids to the mansion every year, there are often some gossips circulating in the streets.

"Then if something happens, you can explain it to Lord Xie, and the last general will not dare to touch Lord Xie's mold." Wu Gui saw that Lu Zhong was confident, and finally began to move his chopsticks and said.

"Alas...... It's really difficult to be a forbidden army, if I knew this, I should have followed Lord Ye on the Northern Expedition back then. Even if it is to die in battle

The frontier, at least it is also happy, which is like now, even if it is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, it has to be controlled by the Lin'an Mansion, and many times it is not a person inside and outside, and both ends have to be angry. This Lord Xie is too, but it didn't take long for him to appease the envoy, and it turned out to be so unreasonable. In my opinion, I am afraid that he is ...... position as a pacifier. Lu Zhong shrank his head and looked around, and then said mysteriously: "I guess I won't be able to do it for long." ”

"I hope that anyone will be better than him, it's only been a long time, the brothers below have begun to complain, the big Lin'an City, this is not allowed and that is not allowed, our forbidden army is not taken seriously, and even the people are ridiculing us, this is good, since he served as the pacification envoy of Lin'an Mansion, the oil and water in the hands of the brothers are more than half less than usual." When Wu Gui talked about this, he was full of complaints.

When Xie Shenfu was not yet the pacification envoy of Lin'an, although the status of the forbidden army was low, but in the various squares of Lin'an City, it was also a slightly headed-up figure, especially like Wulinmen, Da Wazi, and some other places where fish and dragons were mixed, and the three religions and nine streams gathered.

Since Xie Shenfu was appointed as the pacification envoy of Lin'an, the oil and water, protection fees, personal relationships, etc. of the entire forbidden army have plummeted, and the most important protection fee for life support has plummeted in the past few months, and there are more and more people who dare to refuse to pay protection fees.

The forbidden army's salary was not much, but now, coupled with the strict moderation of the Lin'an pacification envoy, the silver in the hands of everyone in the forbidden army is getting less and less, and some people even have difficulty supporting their families.

The two of them obviously discussed more about things closely related to their own interests than the situation in Lin'an that they were aware of now, after all, whether it was in the eyes of Wu Gui or Lu Zhong, no matter how much trouble Lin'an City had, it was also a matter between those big people, and it had nothing to do with those of them who could not be on the stage.

Even if any big man in the court is suddenly absent tomorrow, how should they live the days of the forbidden army, or how to live, and the same is true for the people, what to do and what to do, and they will never change their poor lives because of the change of one or two powerful courtiers above the court.

Just like after Xie Shenfu was appointed as the pacification envoy of Lin'an, the people's lives have not improved much, and those businesses who paid protection fees and then refused to pay them did not increase their monthly revenue because of the lack of protection fees, but they were still the same as before, or even not as good as before.

Xie Shenfu is honest and fair, but just like the literati, what he cherishes is only his own feathers, and for the livelihood of the people in the world, they are obviously like those who are strong in their mouths, only have theoretical ideas, but no truth in practice.

Seeing the miserable people who are not clothed and hungry, although a fair and honest official like Xie Shenfu will also have compassion, and naturally understand the truth that it is better to teach people to fish than to teach them to fish, but they have no real way to help these people solve the problem of food and clothing.

And a tyrant like Ye Qing, who occupies the northern land and is not controlled by the imperial court, and the great rebel minister in the eyes of the people and officials, can let the people of the northern land who have been displaced by the flooding of yellow water live a life of food, clothing and peace in just a few years.

However, in just a few years, the northbound displaced people have almost disappeared, and even the two roads in Shandong, which have suffered the most serious floods, are no longer as full of bandits as before, but run down the mountain one by one, returned to their villages, and began to live a life in peace.

"Therefore, what Xie Shenfu doesn't see is a good official who is dedicated to the people, and Ye Qing is not necessarily an arrogant and domineering hero." Tao Qian sat opposite Wu Gui and Lu Zhong, and said with a sincere smile on his face: "As for why the reputation of the two is very different in Lin'an, it is entirely because of ...... Although Xie Shenfu is incompetent, he is foolish and loyal to the imperial court. Although Ye Qing has the ability and courage, what he did touched the interests of the court, so Ye Qing is a traitor and a hero. Some people are officials who uphold the principle of not seeking merit but seeking no fault, and being good to themselves, such as Xie Shenfu. Ye Qing is different, carrying the infamy of the court officials and some people who can't see the truth, and continuing his good deeds for the people ....... ”

"Tao ...... Tao Chief? How did you end up here? "Wu Gui and Lu Zhong looked at each other a little, Tao Qian, who was an ordinary outsider, it stands to reason that he shouldn't come to this mixed place.

"You think I'm willing to come here, if I wanted to see you, I would have sent someone to make an appointment with you in advance to make an appointment with you in an elegant place, how could I meet you in this noisy and dirty place." Tao Qian maintained his nobility and elegance as a fake officer, and he would not easily touch anything in the tavern, let alone touch the bowl of wine that Wu Gui silently pushed over.

Looking at Lu Zhong, who was full of doubts, the potter smiled majestically and said, "Naturally, on the orders of my master, Master Ye wants to discuss with Commander Lu, do you see, where is the carriage." ”

"Leaf ...... Lord Ye? Lu Zhong didn't expect that Ye Qing would personally send someone to find him, and he also sent the Tao chief who had a very high status and identity in the Ye Mansion.

Ye Qing didn't come to Lin'an these days, Lu Zhong and Wu Gui were in Lin'an City, and it was not that they hadn't touched the carriage of the Ye Mansion, although the carriage never stopped to say a word to them, but they were also the same, whenever the carriage of the Ye Mansion passed by, they and the forbidden army behind them would be in the shortest time

Immediately, a spacious road was made for Ye Fu's carriage.

As for Tao Qian, they are already quite familiar, nothing more than teahouses, restaurants, gambling houses, etc., Tao Qian took them to have fun, but for some reason, the elegant man with a white face and beard in front of him has never been to the Qinglou with them, even if they pay for it, Tao Qian is unwilling to go, which has always been a mystery in the hearts of Wu Gui and Lu Zhong.

"Commander Wu continues to sit, and I will pay for this drink." A silver ingot, a full ten taels of silver, slipped out of Tao Qian's cuffs, and landed lightly on the table, then he got up and led Lu Zhong to the tavern.

Wu Gui's eyes watched the two of them walk out of the teahouse, and then hurriedly picked up the silver ingot and looked at it, and at first glance, it was a new silver ingot, without the slightest flaw on it, and it was full of color.

Lu Zhong followed Tao Qian, and at a short distance, he quickly thought in his heart, what was the purpose of Ye Qing suddenly looking for him personally, and he chose Lin'an City at a tense and delicate moment.

Seeing Tao Qian and Lu Zhong walking quickly towards the carriage, Ye Qing had already jumped off the carriage first, and smiled at Lu Zhong who walked in front of him: "Disturb Commander Lu." ”

"Don't dare Lord Ye, you ......." Lu Zhong was a little flattered, although he was still in the tavern just now that Ye Qing was from the forbidden army and was considered his own person, but now that he saw his own person, Lu Zhong's heart became even more nervous and uneasy.

"Looking at the carriage, Commander Lu and I walked casually along the river embankment." Ye Qing said lightly to Tao Qian, and then turned back to Lu Zhong and said: "Since I left the forbidden army, you and I have rarely met, and I have to thank you for the matter of Tang Si's retreat back then, as well as the two things in Donghuamen, Commander Lu." ”

"Lord Ye, you are too polite. If you want to say thank you, it should be the last general who thanks the adults, if it wasn't for your recommendation, the last general wouldn't have gotten the position of the commander of the forbidden army, right? There is also Wu Gui, and it is even more impossible for him to get the ...... deputy commander of the forbidden army. Lu Zhong was half a position behind Ye Qing, and followed behind and thanked sincerely.

"How many forbidden troops are patrolling in Lin'an City tonight?" Ye Qing interrupted Lu Zhong's words of thanks with a smile and asked straight to the point.

Lu Zhong was slightly stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly said: "There are less than 10,000 people, and there are forbidden troops patrolling every street and alley. ”

"What does Xie Shenfu mean?" Ye Qing continued to smile and asked as he walked.

"Yes, it's what Xie Shenfu meant, the last general has no choice but to obey orders. But if you feel that your lordship is in the way, don't worry, I will immediately transfer back those who are not long-sighted in Zhonghe Lane. Lu Zhong was slightly shocked in his heart, the forbidden army was all soldiers who couldn't get on the stage and were used to being idle all day long, so he guessed that it would be the forbidden army patrolling the defense that disturbed the Ye Mansion.

"No, I didn't come to you for this." Ye Qing slowly stopped and stood still, looking at the brightly lit shops on the opposite side of the river embankment, as well as the intertwined picture of carriages and sedan chairs on the crowded streets, he looked at Lu Zhong calmly and said: "When the child prepares the armor of the three thousand forbidden troops at the Genshan Gate, there are my people outside the city gate to answer, and then they enter the city to change their clothes, instead of the three thousand forbidden troops in Lin'an City tomorrow's patrol." ”

"Three...... Three thousand...... Three thousand armor ....... Ye Qing's words hammered on Lu Zhong's head like a hammer, and for a while, Lu Zhong's mind was buzzing, and some of them couldn't react, but they were really shocked by Ye Qing's words.

As the commander of the forbidden army, Lu Zhong naturally knows why he will continue to patrol in Lin'an City tomorrow, after all, the Emperor Taishang, who has not returned to Lin'an for many years, is going to return to Lin'an, so he is preparing for this from top to bottom, just like the forbidden army patrol that began in the afternoon today, it is said that it is also for tomorrow.

But now, Ye Qing actually wanted to let his three thousand people replace the forbidden army, Lu Zhong didn't dare to think about it for a while, and the back of his neck suddenly felt a little cold under the hot night.

"This ...... The matter ...... Does this matter need to be performed by the last general...... Lu Zhong looked at Ye Qing's calm eyes, and stammered: "Lord Ye, this matter ...... at stake." ”

"You don't have to tell Xie Shenfu, it's still unknown whether he will still be the pacification envoy in Lin'an after tomorrow, this is the document of Qian Xiangzu of the Ministry of War, presumably you should be familiar with it." Ye Qing took out Qian Xiangzu from his sleeve pocket and when he went to the southwest, he explained the documents he wrote and handed them to Lu Zhong.

Lu Zhong's originally panicked face, following the faint dim light, looked down at the paperwork, and immediately smiled lightly: "Since this is the case, then the last general will obey the order and promise not to miss the ...... of the adult." ”

"Although the commander of the forbidden army is good, but now there is not much oil and water, go to Dali Temple tomorrow, there is a good dispatch there, you can go over and try it, just take this military document in your hand." By the way, you know what happened today, but no third person knows, how about it? Ye Qing said with a smile.

Lu Zhong's face was cloudy, but he still nodded quickly, reassuring Ye Qing and thanking him for his support.

After watching Lu Zhong leave, Ye Qing returned to the carriage and said lightly to Tao Qian, who was watching the night scene, "Go to Li Lifang's mansion." ”

"Just now, someone came from the mansion and said that Zhao Shicheng, the king of Xin'an County, and his wife Tang Wan want to see you." After Tao Qian Ye Qing got into the car, he turned his head and said to Ye Qing.

"Got it, go to Li Lifang's house." Ye Qing in the carriage said calmly.