The next day, at three o'clock in the sun.

Qin Mubai and Chen Yan both walked out of the small building again. Qin Mubai was still yawning and stretching his waist, and smirked: "Yan, don't say it, it turns out that being an assassin is also quite exciting, when the moon is dark and the wind is high, when you kill people and sell goods." Walk through the beams and transfer the eaves and walk on the wall, come and go without a trace, haha! I won't be an official another day, I'll mess with you! Let's go walk the rivers and lakes and be a pair of fairy heroes. ”

"Nonsense. Let the princes and generals not do anything, and go to the rivers and lakes. Chen Yan smiled and said, "How did you talk to Li Ke last night?" ”

"Well, almost." Qin Mubai sighed and said, "I have set a plan to deceive those traitors, mainly to deceive them into trusting me. Now I understand what it means that the strong dragon doesn't suppress the head snake. These people are all Xiao Xiao, and they are not worth mentioning. However, we, the so-called big men in the court, came here to fight with you, and we really felt that our fists had hit the cotton, and we couldn't use our strength. So, now we've changed our strategy. You can't do it with them in a big way like before, and you have to use some clever little means to deal with it. Yeon, you're an expert at this, you have to teach me. ”

"Okay-" Chen Yan dragged out her voice and said with a smile, "I can finally have some places where I can play a role, can I not work hard?" Let's go, and then go back to the Assassin's House. I see how you and Li Ke act. ”

At noon, the Assassin's House.

Qin Mubai and Chen Yan entered from the main gate of the Assassin's Mansion and met Zhou Laojiu, the leader of the government officials.

Zhou Laojiu greeted him in surprise: "General Qin, you can be regarded as back!" You're old and sound, aren't you? His Royal Highness King Wu can be regarded as in a hurry! ”

"I'm fine. Do you think there's something wrong with me? Qin Mubai smiled to himself, and patted Zhou Laojiu's shoulder, "Where is Your Highness?" ”

"It's in the back house, the villain will lead you there!" After that, Zhou Laojiu led the way with affection.

Qin Mubai and Chen Yan looked at each other and smiled, and followed him silently.

Along the way, Zhou Laojiu still seemed to have something to say, and looked at Chen Yan, but he wanted to speak again and again. Qin Mubai said: "Just say whatever you want, she is not an outsider." ”

"Oh, oh!" Zhou Laojiu smiled awkwardly, greeted Chen Yanzuo, and said in a low voice: "General Qin, you went to the Flower Lady's Mansion for three days, but you have a harvest?" ”

"Yes!" Qin Mubai nodded, put his shoulder on his shoulder, walked a few steps forward to avoid Chen Yan's audio-visual appearance, and snickered in a low voice: "Flower lady, you are really coquettish!" ”

"Huh? ......" Zhou Laojiu was stunned for a moment, and then laughed dryly, "General Qin, you are really romantic, romantic, haha!" ”

"Be quiet, look for death!" Qin Mubai slapped him on the skull angrily, gritted his teeth and said, "Do you have to let the whole mansion know that I went to have fun?" By the way, go and help me get those two hundred horsemen. ”

"Those two?" Zhou Laojiu blinked his eyes and looked dazed.

"It's the two idiots I sent to protect Zheng Anshun!"

"Yes, the villain will go right away!"

Zhou Laojiu ran away in a fart. Chen Yan hugged the sword in his chest and smiled coldly: "His kung fu is not very good." ”

"In the eyes of an old Jianghu like you, of course it's not very good." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Now it's not about who is smarter and more patient than whom, but who is more able to cover up and deceive." Hey, when I knew that I should really be in Chang'an, I learned how to act with those Liyuan disciples. ”

"No master is willing to accept an apprentice like you."

"Why?" Qin Mubai was stunned, "Is my qualification really so bad?" ”

"Because...... They have nothing to teach you. Chen Yanyan smiled and walked forward.

"Am I really that good?" Qin Mubai shook his head and sneered, and followed.

In the past few days, Li Ke, who was in a depressed mood, ignored government affairs and locked himself in the residence of the back house of the Assassin's Mansion, either angry or drinking to drown his sorrows, which was known to almost everyone in the whole mansion. Therefore, no one dared to touch his head at this time, at most, Quan Wanji came to visit sooner or later to help persuade him, but it was to no avail. Li Ke's mood is getting worse and worse, and he often hears that he scolded and scolded people after drinking.

When Qin Mubai walked to the front of the hall of the back house, he heard Li Ke roaring like thunder from a distance: "What are you guys eating!" It's a big Xiangyang City, and you can't find anyone! This king orders you, be sure to find me Qin Mubai's thief today! Even if you dig three feet into the ground and dig the Han River, you will see the corpses when you see the living! ”

"Yes......" Yuwen Hongtai and Xue Rengui bowed their hands with sad faces, and were about to turn around and exit, when they suddenly saw Qin Mubai and Chen Yan coming over, and immediately shouted in surprise: "Your Highness, Your Highness!" General Qin is back! ”

"Where?" Li Ke almost jumped up from his seat, rushed to the threshold and shouted, "Mu Bai, it turns out that you are not dead!! ”

This voice roared so loudly that the servants and maids walking around the house were all startled, and they stopped to look at it sideways.

"Without His Highness's order, how dare you die easily." Qin Mubai walked forward quickly with a smile and arched his hand, "Your Highness, I'm back." ”

"Okay, okay, just come back." Li Ke was pleasantly surprised and took his hand and walked into the house, "Tell Xiao Wang about the progress of your discovery?" Will the princess and the others be okay? ”

Chen Yan stood under the eaves with a sword in her arms, and secretly snickered: These two big men are really good at pretending. Needless to say, even Xue Rengui and Yuwen Hongtai had to be deceived. If I'm not an insider, how can I see through it? In this way, it is not difficult to deceive Zhou Laojiu and Zhang Tong, the two spies.

As they were muttering, two hundred horsemen came to the front of the hall under the guidance of Zhou Laojiu. Zhou Laojiu arched and said: "General Qin, the villain was ordered to invite the two hundred cavalry generals. ”

"Bullshit, what a general, two rice buckets!" I heard Qin Mubai roaring loudly inside, "Get out of here!" ”

Zhang Tong and the other hundred cavalry soldiers suddenly changed their faces, bowed their heads and walked in with trembling.

Yuwen Hongtai and Xue Rengui also stood outside the door together, and they all showed shocked expressions at this time. Yuwen Hongtai said in a low voice: "Brother Rengui, have you ever seen Third Brother Qin angry and scolding people in public?" ”

"Never."

Yuwen Hongtai smacked his lips with a slurp: "That dare to love him is really angry." I don't know where he has been and what he has been doing these days? I kept wanting to ask, but I didn't dare to speak. After glancing at Chen Yan twice, he leaned up with a smile and said, "Chen ...... Woman, may I ask you a question? ”

"I can't." Chen Yan didn't reply to her face, and said coldly.

"Uh......" Yuwen Hongtai was stunned, "I haven't opened my mouth yet!" ”

"You just want to ask, where has Qin Mubai gone and what has he done in the past few days, right?" Chen Yan said with a bit of ridicule, but her face was still as cold as ice.

Yuwen Hongtai was really stunned: "How do you know?" Do you know how to read minds? ”

"I don't understand." Chen Yan said, "It's just that the ears are better." ”

"What do you mean?" Yuwen Hongtai was even more stunned.

Xue Rengui smiled bitterly on the side, and hurriedly pulled Yuwen Hongtai back: "Don't be ashamed, come back quickly!" ”

"What's the hurry, let me ask clearly!" Yuwen Hongtai was confused.

At this time, the two hundred horsemen in the main hall had already knelt down, and they didn't dare to raise their heads.

Qin Mubai stepped forward, raised his feet, and without saying a word, gave the two of them a left and right turn, and kicked them to the ground on the spot. The two didn't dare to say anything, rolled on the ground and hurried back, kneeling in place, not even changing their shapes.

"You are also worthy of being called a hundred horsemen?" Qin Mubai sneered, "Pack up the package and go back to Chang'an to marry your mother-in-law and your child!" ”

"General! Humble duty knows mistakes, humble duty deserves to die! But please give us a chance to atone for our sins! The two horsemen pleaded with great sorrow.

"Get out! Lao Tzu's subordinates don't need rice buckets like you! Qin Mubai roared angrily.

"Mu Bai, Mu Bai!" Li Ke hurriedly stood up and pulled Qin Mubai twice, and said, "Everything is easy to discuss, why be angry?" As the saying goes, an old horse still stumbles, let alone a person? The two of them have been following you for a while, and they have traveled thousands of miles from Chang'an to Xiangzhou, at least this loyalty is commendable! Even if you make a mistake for a while, there's no need to kick them away. This is a little too unkind. ”

"Am I unkind?" Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows, and shouted angrily, "You ask the two of them." What is the first article of the Hundred Cavalry Regulations? ”

The two hundred horsemen were stunned for a moment, and replied in unison with a bitter face: "All the tasks that the hundred horsemen take over are not allowed to fail. Offenders are dismissed. ”

Li Ke was stunned: "It's not so serious, right?" ”

Qin Mubai said: "That's because the hundred cavalry is different from other armies. In fact, all the tasks we take on can only succeed, not fail. If we fail, it means that the lives of the people we protect are in danger. Your Highness, think about it, who will be the person protected by the hundred horses? In this way, this punishment is still light. ”

"Hey, military regulations are dead, people are alive!" Li Ke was still in front of the peacemaker, and persuaded bitterly, "You sent them to protect Zheng Anshun, but it doesn't mean that he is ...... Lives are in danger! The most important thing now is to find a way to save people, not to be busy punishing their own brothers. I also know that you have strict military rules for the hundred horses, but this time, you just look at Xiao Wang's face, how about a light hair? Now is the time to employ people, I hope you think twice. ”

The two hundred horsemen knelt and did not dare to move, and listened quietly to the fall.

Qin Mubai was silent for a moment, and snorted coldly: "Don't thank King Wu soon!" ”

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness King Wu, thank you General for your kindness!" The two hundred riders were pleasantly surprised.

"Alright, alright, get up." Li Ke stepped forward with a smile and helped the two of them up, and said, "Actually, your general is most reluctant to you, but he is just hard-mouthed and soft-hearted—hmm, Mu Bai, where did you tell me just now?" ”

"Oh, speaking of ...... I went into the flower lady's house. Qin Mubai said casually.

The two hundred horsemen obediently stood behind Qin Mubai, as if they were usually guarding from the side. Qin Mubai naturally did not drive them away, but sat down with Li Ke and began to discuss things.

Qin Mubai was 1510 and truthfully informed Li Ke of what had happened in the past few days. Of course, the private affairs with Chen Yan are naturally obscure.

In the end, Qin Mubai said: "Your Highness, I have no choice. At the moment, it seems that we have no choice. In fact, since the water ghost has agreed to my two conditions, not only to ensure the safety of the hostages, but also to promise not to commit crimes in Xiangzhou in the future, and to dissolve himself within a year. Let's compromise for the time being, and it doesn't hurt. ”

"What did you say?" Li Kejian raised his eyebrows, made a look of surprise, and was a little angry, "This gang of thieves killed people and robbed official ships, and also kidnapped my princess, and captured your subordinate officials to use it as a threat." Such audacity is simply unreasonable, and you actually want to compromise with them? If you are like this, where will you put my Tang Dynasty Wangfa, and how will you put my Li Ke's face? ”

Qin Mubai's face was embarrassed, and he said in a low voice: "Your Highness, don't be angry first. Isn't the top priority right now to save people? I'm also out of helplessness! The princess and the county lord have several lives in their hands, as long as they move their fingers, it is a matter of human life! Why don't we take a step back and get people out first? ”

Li Ke snorted coldly: "Then who can guarantee that they will really disappear in Xiangzhou after they succeed?" Will it really be disbanded in a year? Let me tell you, thief nature is hard to change. If they succeed by coercion this time, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no next time. We compromised this time, but what about the next time? Besides, if we compromise with a thief, it is a great sin to condone and shield! With such a big handle in their hands, I really don't know, how will I be a thorn in the future! Maybe when they are unhappy, they will throw a fold to Chang'an, and I, the prince, will not want to go now! ”

Qin Mubai wrinkled his brows: "Then in your opinion, what should I do?" ”

Li Ke slapped one hand on the table: "If we can't even deal with a few bandits, how will we gain a foothold in the future?" What you don't say, don't compromise! ”

Qin Mubai shook his head and sighed, "Does Your Highness think I want to compromise?" What's the difference between this and smashing your teeth and swallowing them in your stomach? In the end, it's not because of the few lives in their hands! ”

"Qin Mubai, when did you become so greedy for life and afraid of death, gain and loss!" Li Ke suddenly became angry, pointed at Qin Mubai and scolded, "I will never compromise!" If they harm the princess and her daughter because of this, I, I ......"

"What will you do?" Qin Mubai said coldly.

"I think they both died of dystocia a year ago!"

Yuwen Hongtai and Xue Rengui outside the house both changed their faces, and there was a bit of chill in their expressions. Chen Yan smiled and lightly picked the corners of her mouth, still silent.

"King Wu......" Qin Mubai took a deep breath and said, "I know that you are just righteous and angry. No one cares more about the well-being of their mother and daughter than you. ”

"It doesn't have to be said so beautifully." Li Ke's face suddenly became a little cold, even a little sad, and said in a deep voice, "I have my bottom line and principles. If I want a prince to compromise with the bandits, I will never be able to do it! Not to mention that I captured my concubine and daughter, even if I put a knife on my Li Ke's neck, it would never be possible! ”

"I see what you mean." Qin Mubai nodded, snorted coldly, and said, "Compared to your throne and future, a woman, a little bit of blood and bones, is really nothing. Anyway, the last thing you need around you is women, right? ”

"What did you say?" Li Ke was suddenly furious, turned around and grabbed Qin Mubai's clothes, gritted his teeth and shouted, "You say it again?" ”

"Am I wrong?" Qin Mubai looked at Qin Mubai coldly, and used a little dark power in his hand to open Li Ke's hand, and snorted coldly: "Only today can I really see you clearly." Maybe one day, someone from me Qin can also sacrifice for you, right? Because compared to the princess and the county lord, it is clear which relatives are and who is sparse! ”

"Qin Mubai, you're going to turn your face with me, right?" Li Ke's eyes widened and he stared at Qin Mubai, trembling a little with anger.

Qin Mubai shook his head indifferently: "I don't have any face to turn over, because I think it's shameless enough for me to stay here in vain." Let's put it this way, His Royal Highness King Wu. I, Qin, am the commander of Xiangzhou, and there are bandits under my rule, so I will take care of it, and I won't worry about it. ”

"Qin Mubai! Hello so bold! Li Ke was furious, almost roaring, "You mean, what are you going to do, I don't care about you, right?" ”

"If you want to understand it that way, you can do it." Qin Mubai said coldly, "Historically, the history of assassination and the lieutenant have nothing to do with military and political affairs. You take care of your people's livelihood, and I will manage my military affairs. The case of the water ghost is a big case, and the case should be tried by the yamen of your assassination mansion, but it is the responsibility of our military government to clean up the thieves and deal with the bandits, and we don't need you to point fingers at you. As long as I have sorted out the case of the water ghost, I will hand over the criminal to you for trial. Nothing else, don't bother. ”

At this time, Yuwen Hongtai, Xue Rengui and the two hundred horsemen in the hall were all stunned. The four of them all wanted to come forward to persuade them, but when they saw Li Ke and Qin Mubai's posture, they were all a little stunned and didn't dare to step forward.

"How so? How could the two of them turn their faces? ”

"According to you, I'm in trouble?" Li Ke glared, surprised and angry, "You mean, you insist on doing what you want?" Compromise with the water ghosts and exchange them for hostages? ”

"It's not helpful to say more." Qin Mubai sighed, soothed his tone a little, and said, "Your Royal Highness King Wu, I understand your distress, but if things are done according to what you say, you will definitely take a lot of lives with more blood." You are ruthless, I can't do it. If anyone wants to accuse us of fornication and banditry, let me Qin bear it alone. From today onwards, this case has nothing to do with you. You can rest assured in the history of assassination, and be your upright, strict and radiant prince assassination history! ”

"You are presumptuous!" Li Ke casually picked up a teacup and smashed it on the ground, and suddenly the cup was broken and splashed, startling everyone.

"Qin Mubai, if you are obsessed, the king of Hugh will really turn his face and be ruthless!"

"Feel free." Qin Mubai said coldly, "You are just preparing to impeach me, report me to the Imperial Historical Tower, and denounce me to His Majesty the Emperor, right?" However, I would like to ask for the sake of our friendship, for the sake of your loyal subordinate Yin Yang and those royal soldiers who sank to the bottom of the river, for the sake of ...... For the sake of your dearest princess and the county lord, you will do such a thing after the case is over. ”

"Do you think you're great?" Li Ke's face changed, his expression was distorted, he glared at Qin Mubai, and danced with exaggerated movements, "Compared to this, I, Li Ke, am a cold-blooded and ruthless animal, and you are willing to defy the law for the sake of friends and family affection, isn't that so?" ”

"Farewell." Qin Mubai snorted coldly in his extremely disdainful nose, arched his hand, shook his robe, and strode out.

"Stop! - Come on, take down Qin Mubai! Li Ke yelled behind Qin Mubai.

A group of officials and personal soldiers rushed forward, but Xue Rengui and Yuwen Hongtai were dumbfounded, looking at Qin Mubai's eyes.

Chen Yan's figure flashed to Qin Mubai's side, holding the sword, and coldly glanced at everyone in front of him: "The former is dead." ”

Yuwen Hongtai swallowed a mouthful of saliva: "General Qin...... Third Brother Qin! Y-What's wrong with you? ”

"Yuwen Hongtai, do you dare to resist the order? Get me someone! Li Ke yelled.

The two hundred horsemen also strode to Qin Mubai's side, holding the hilt of the knife in their hands, and their eyes were fierce, waiting for the battle.

Xue Rengui stared at Qin Mubai for a long time with thick eyebrows, and said, "You go, General Qin." ”

"Xue Rengui, what did you say? You can't do it! Li Ke roared angrily.

"General Qin dares to risk killing his head for benevolence and righteousness, Xue Ligan suffers with him, and he is willing to lead His Highness to kill and chop him!" After Xue Rengui whispered this to Qin Mubai, his eyebrows suddenly sank, and he shouted: "The army is scattered!" ”

Xue Rengui, the captain of the military academy and the commander of the royal army, gave an order, and all the sergeants really dispersed in a circle.

"Your Highness, Third Brother Qin! You—Don't do that! Yuwen Hongtai was anxious, jumping in and out of the anxious shouting like a child who had lost candy, "Don't, don't do this!" We, aren't we all in the same boat! We should live and die together! ”

"That was yesterday, Hongtai." Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Tao is different, and we don't conspire with each other. You and I are so good to gather and disperse, why bother to use swords and soldiers, it will be difficult to see each other in the future? You and I are no longer friends, but we are still colleagues. If you are dissatisfied with me, you can write a letter of impeachment and let your people detain me in private. ”

Li Ke gritted his teeth, his bones rattling.

"Good, good. Now that you've talked about this, our old friendship is written off. Qin Mubai, from today onwards, you and I will not violate the river water. Let's do everything on business. Li Ke gasped and said almost word by word, "From now on, I, Li Ke, don't know Qin Mubai, I only know the Xiangzhou Military Mansion's Zhichong Lieutenant - 'colleague'!" ”

"Your Highness is wise." Qin Mubai smiled coldly and strode forward.

The officials and sergeants surrounded him layer after layer in front, stopping him or scattering it, so they could only retreat with Qin Mubai with their swords and guns, and actually "escorted" him like this until he left the palace.

After leaving the house, Qin Mubai and Chen Yan rode on their horses, without saying a word, whipped away from the dust, and went back to Xiaolou directly.

At this time, Qin Mubai exhaled and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead.

"It's really like it. Even I was almost deceived. Chen Yan smiled, "Those two hundred horsemen have been running behind our horse's butt for a while just now, and they don't dare to make a noise to tell you to stop and wait." ”

Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I don't think it's like it enough." Because...... Xue Rengui seemed to see the clue. ”

"Not necessarily." Chen Yan smiled slightly and said, "Perhaps, he is revealing his true feelings?" I think he is a man with a real temperament. ”

"None of this matters." Qin Mubai sighed again and again, and said, "The key is to ...... deceived that Zhou Laojiu and Zhang Tong. Perhaps, there are other spy eyeliners who are ambushed in the palace. ”

"What are you going to do next?" Chen Yan asked.

Qin Mubai thought for a while and said, "I'm going to go back to the military mansion and explain some things." Then get in touch with the water ghosts and lay out the plan. I think the water ghosts should trust me a little more by now. ”

However, you agreed, but Li Ke didn't nod, and you turned your face because of it. Will they be reassured? Chen Yan asked.

"The grain trade must be carried out on the water, and Li Ke can't manage it even if he wants to. Besides, I can explain that Li Ke turned his face against me like this, just for the sake of his throne and future, how could he not care about the princess and the county lord in his heart? If he doesn't turn against me, he's an accomplice; Now that such a fuss can not only avoid being dragged into the water by me, but also rely on me to let go and save people, isn't it the best of both worlds? Qin Mubai said, "So, I will definitely be able to convince the water ghost to start the trading plan boldly and boldly!" ”

Chen Yan shook her head with a wry smile: "Is this the mental technique of your officials?" ”

Qin Mubai laughed dryly: "It's not as vicious and insidious as you think." At least, Li Ke and I are not. ”