At the beginning of the Shen period, Xuanyuan Ledao, the assassin of Yuzhou, led several arresters to Qinglong Town. Sima Cuo immediately got busy, went to the Qiang Restaurant to let Huangfu Dan roast a suckling pig, and rushed to the Qiang Cooking Shop to ask Murong Bai to prepare the Hu Wei Cooking Pot, and finally went to the brewery to find the proprietress Wen Renyu and ordered two jars of good wine.

Soon Mo Si rushed to tell each other, and Shangguan Yun, a member of the military department, and Shangguan Yun, who was in charge of the post, also took the postman to Baishupo to check the scene of the attack on the postman, and said that he would stay in Qinglong Town at night.

He thought that the four-hundred-mile urgent letter arrived at the state capital, and the state government would only send a few catchers to see the matter, but he didn't expect the Lord Thorn Shi to come in person, and the arrival of the Lord Thorn Shi in the little Qinglong Town was naturally full of brilliance, but he didn't expect the Ministry of War to send someone to come. It seems that what has happened in Qinglong Town recently is not small, which has alarmed the military department and the magistrates. He was a little nervous, he didn't notice what happened in Qinglong Town recently, especially the case of the dumb man and the imprisoned woman, the dumb man hid in Qinglong Town for ten years, and he didn't find any clues, and he still doesn't know what the identity of the dumb is.

Sima Cuo had arranged Master Thorn Shi in the back garden of the Barberry Inn, and the dinner was in the back garden pavilion, the two cooks, Huangfu Dan and Murong Bai, were busy preparing the main course, and the other dishes were taken care of by the inn itself, and the accompanying butcher was the cook of the inn. But this foreigner also came to Qinglong Town, and he didn't know how to arrange it, so he hurriedly looked for Duguyue.

Duguyue is wrong with Sima to take advantage of the benefits: Lord Xuanyuan is the governor of Yu Prefecture and a protégé of the Son of Heaven; And Shangguan Yun is also an official of the imperial court and an important member of the military department, all of whom came for the suspicious case of Qinglong Town...... After thinking about it, he said: "You report to Lord Assassin Shi, I will go to Hanguguan to greet the outsider, and dinner will be arranged in one place, so as to discuss the case." ”

"But it's the beginning of the unitary time, and Lord Shangguan Yun should be on the way to Qinglong Town."

"I'll have to go outside the town to meet you."

"But you're not eyed yet?"

"Out of the way. You hurry up and prepare for the dinner," after speaking, he went out and led her Saibei pony away.

Sima Cuo was hesitating, and an entourage of Lord Xuanyuan came over and asked with a deep smile, "Has the pavilion chief prepared wine and food?" Lord Thorn Shi was a little hungry. ”

Sima Cuo hurriedly replied, "It should be fine in less than a moment." ”

The entourage didn't leave, and continued to ask meaningfully, "Pavilion Chief, can you have a singer to help you have fun?" ”

Sima mistakenly heard this, and was so anxious that hot sweat broke out on his head, this little Qinglong Town, and not Chang'an, let me go to find the singer. But after thinking about it, it was difficult to refute the face of Lord Assassin's entourage, so he had to say to the entourage: "Let's go find it." ”

Subsequently, Sima mistakenly called the Ten Thousand Buddhas and told him about Lord Assassin's request for a singer, and asked him to find a way. Ten thousand Buddhas couldn't think of a way after hearing it, there are few people in Qinglong Town, most of them are a few acquaintances, if they don't fall into that situation, who is willing to be a singer. After thinking about it, although it is said to be the entourage of Lord Thorn Shi, maybe it is the meaning of Lord Thorn Shi?

Ten thousand Buddhas are the most brilliant one of Sima Cuo's entourage, he thought for a moment, came up with a plan, and said to Sima Cuo: "It's too late to go to other posts to find singers now, why don't we coerce and lure and make two temporarily?" Okay, anyway, yes, pavilion chief, don't you say? ”

"How to coerce and induce?"

"The father and daughter who came from the east have also lived in the inn for a few days, and I am not familiar with this place, and my brothers and I have tied up the old fellow, and the little lady has to be ......."

"That's a bit unorthodox. Okay? ”

"Don't worry, the pavilion chief will take care of the pickling matter. You don't know. ”

"Then you go and do it as soon as possible, don't hurt anyone, just scare the little lady obediently."

After explaining the Ten Thousand Buddhas, Sima Coo-went to the Qiang Cooking Restaurant and the Qiang Cooking Restaurant to see if the two main dishes had been prepared. Murong Bai's Qiang cooking shop is mainly engaged in mutton soup, and his family's soup pot has never been extinguished since his father handed it over to him, and it has been boiling like this, just adding new ingredients and spring water every day, and his small pot of mutton is very delicious. Cut the fat sheep into very thin slices, take a small red clay stove, put charcoal to make a fire, put the soup material of the old pot in the iron pot of life, when the soup is boiling, pick up the mutton that is very thin and put it into the soup with chopsticks, it is cooked in a moment, the entrance is fat but not greasy, and the teeth and cheeks are fragrant. And Huangfu Dan's shop, there is an earthen kiln in the backyard, put charcoal fire underneath, wash the suckling pig with hair removal and internal organs, smear the sauce, hang it in the kiln and bake it for an hour, the suckling pig is browned, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it is really delicious.

Seeing that the mutton soup and roast suckling pig were almost ready, Sima Cuo immediately went to the jade brewery to get wine, and the proprietress Wen Renyu saw that the pavilion chief was very courteous, with affection in her eyebrows, but she only said lightly: "The slave family has prepared the wine that the adults wanted." After speaking, he handed over two bottles of two jars of wine packed in bamboo baskets to Sima Cuo, covered his eyes through the counter, and pinched Sima Cuo's hand behind the counter, but Sima Cuo took out his right hand, took out fifty wen from the money bag and put it on the cabinet, "I've been busy with business lately, so I have to take wine from you, this is the wine money." He turned around and walked out of the Jade Brewery.

Sima Cuo came to the back garden of the Funiu Inn with the wine, and saw that Lord Xuanyuan was under the osmanthus tree in the garden, he put the wine and went over to ask for peace, "My lord, this is the osmanthus introduced from Shannan." Five trees were introduced, and several others were not tolerant to the cold and froze to death, but this one was the only one, but it also lived for several years. It's just that every winter, the main trunk and branches need to be wrapped with wheat straw. In case of severe cold, you have to burn some smoke with wheat straw to keep warm. ”

"Chief Sima Ting, it's really difficult to grow live osmanthus in Shanbei now. This official is a native of Jiangnan, and has been at the feet of the Son of Heaven for twenty years, and has seen a lot of flowers, but he is alone in the memory of the osmanthus in the south of the Yangtze River, and likes the fragrant fragrance of osmanthus flowers. I have a wish today, thanks to the pavilion chief. ”

"Lord Thorn Shi was able to come to Qinglong Town and stay in the cold house, which is really a blessing for Qinglong Town and his humble position. How to thank him, he dare not accept his humble position. Then he said, "Lord Assassin Shi, just obtained the information from his humble position, Shangguan Yun, a member of the military department, will also stay in Qinglong Town because of the case of the robbery of the mail car and the killing of the post guard." The humble post is to ask for advice, whether to arrange Lord Assassin Shi and Lord Shangguan together, or to arrange Lord Shangguan elsewhere. Please also ask Lord Assassin Shi to decide. ”

When Xuanyuan Ledao heard this, a gloom flashed on his face, he stroked his beard, and said as if he was a little reluctant: "This Shangguan Yun, I am familiar with it, so I might as well ask the pavilion chief to arrange a meal together, and I just happened to discuss these two cases in Qinglong Town with him during the meal." ”

As he was talking, he suddenly heard the sound of a fight in front of the inn, and there were screams of others, Sima Cuo hurriedly said to Xuanyuan Ledao: "Please stay here, and go to check it out immediately." ”

When they came to the front, they saw the blacksmith and Li Dao lying on the ground, one hand covering his stomach, the other breaking his legs, both grinning and wailing. Looking again, I saw Ling Huyong standing upstairs, his face pale. Wan Buddha and Mo Si held the rope and shrank their heads at both ends of the corridor, not daring to get close. At this time, the butcher who was in charge of the kitchen of the inn rushed out with a bone chopping knife, and wanted to go upstairs to find Linghu Yong to fight, Sima Cuo wanted to step forward to stop him, but the butcher was fat but sensitive, and he jumped upstairs with an arrow step and shouted: "Old horseman!" Dare to go wild in Qinglong Town! ”。 Lifting the knife and slashing, I saw Linghu Yong's head deviated, his body tilted, dodged the bone chopping knife, a fierce tiger pulled out the heart, and hit the butcher's chest and abdomen fiercely, the butcher "ouch", the knife fell, and the person rolled down the stairs and couldn't move.

This momentum made Sima Coo regret it, and he should not have listened to the bad idea of the Ten Thousand Buddhas. He immediately stepped forward and said, "Old man, my brothers don't know the depths, please stop and spare them." ”

"I don't know what is deep, you deceive people too much! I sent my little daughter to Chang'an to marry her virtuous son-in-law, who was Yulinwei next to the Son of Heaven and the captain of Zhaowu. What do you mean by making the little girl a singer? ”

Hearing this, Wan Buddha and Mo Si realized that this stubble had become a big mess, and they hurriedly knelt down and begged Ling Hu Yong for mercy. Nangong Han heard the movement in the direction of the inn, ran over and saw the scene where Ling Huyong knocked down the butcher with a fierce tiger, and then looked at the two on the ground, and couldn't help but think, with one enemy and five, it is really old and strong, and the courage is undiminished.

At this time, Xuanyuan Ledao also arrived, and he didn't know what to do, so he shouted to Ling Huyong: "Why did the old gentleman move so much and beat several strong men to the ground?" ”

Ling Hu Yong saw that this person was wearing an official uniform and official boots, and he knew that he was a stabbing history. Because the Buddha came to him before, he wanted to find a singer for Lord Assassin Shi and drink to cheer up. Ling Huyong heard that he was going to use Yan'er to be a singer, and he was forbearant and low-key all the way, but this time he finally couldn't hold back and broke out. Ling Hu Yong truthfully explained the situation in front of many people, so he talked about it all around. This made Sima Cuo a little embarrassed.

Xuanyuan Ledao was also very uncomfortable, he didn't know how to reply, looking for the singer was not a whim of the entourage, but he originally liked to indulge in lust, and the entourage knew his preferences, so whenever he went, he would naturally make arrangements.

In order to avoid this embarrassing situation from continuing to stalemate, he reprimanded Sima Cuo: "The imperial court has repeatedly ordered that officials are not allowed to prostitutes, and singers are not allowed to entertain at banquets. This is to trap me in disloyalty and injustice, and to violate the laws of the imperial court. ”

Sima Coo took the opportunity to say: "My lord is very right, these boys were confused for a while, and they did such a stupid thing. Then he turned to Wan Buddha, Mo Si and the others and said, "Don't apologize to the old gentleman yet, retreat, it's embarrassing and conspicuous here." A bunch of bastards!! Wan Buddha and Mo Si kowtowed to Ling Hu Yong three times in a row, picked up the three defeated brothers, and left.

Sima Cuo then bowed his hand to Ling Huyong again: "These guys, I am negligent in disciplining, and I hope the old gentleman will understand." ”

Ling Hu Yong was expressionless when he heard this, turned around and brushed his sleeves away. This made Xuanyuan Ledao and Sima Cuo very embarrassed. When the two of them returned to the back garden, Xuanyuan asked, "This old gentleman is not shallow. Not an idle person. ”

Sima Coo's response: "My lord is right, this father and daughter have only been a passer-by in the past few days, but I didn't expect such kung fu." ”

"Pavilion Chief, just now the official had to reprimand you in front of the public, don't take it to heart. I would like to ask the pavilion chief why he is looking for a singer for his own official. ”

"Don't hide it from Master Shi, Qinglong Town is a small town, there is no liquor store in the town, and naturally there are no people engaged in this business for a living. I also wanted to find one or two singers for the adults to drink with the adults, but there was no ...... in this town If it weren't for the special explanation of the adult you were with, the lowly position would have had to make this decision. It's really a disadvantage to do things in a humble position. ”

"Nonsense!! These guys have followed the official for many years, and they want to pull the official into the water, and if they violate the imperial decree, they will have the handle in their hands,"

Sima Cuo hurriedly comforted: "My lord is honest and honest, and it is a mirror in the hearts of the people. It's a lowly job that thinks too much, and it's really insulting to the prestige of adults. Damn it! ”

The pavilion chief said seriously. Although this Qinglong Town is small, it is an important place for the support of Hangu Pass. Although it is a peaceful world now, once a war starts, it will be extraordinary. This official can see the appearance of the pavilion chief Wolong, and one day he will jump out. ”

"The humble position is praised by Lord Thorn Shi, and I am terrified, and I am terrified." Sima changed his words and said: "My lord has come from afar, and there is really no way to entertain him. There is no singer, and there is no wine. The humble duty knows that the lady of the wine shop in this town has a good song, why don't you call it to cheer up the adults? ”

"That seems wrong. Pavilion Chief"

"The town is blessed with the grace of adults, what's wrong. If you are lowly, you will send someone to call it. ”

……

The banquet prepared by Sima Cuo for Lord Thorn Shi and Yuanwai Lang was very sumptuous, and the main dishes were naturally blanched mutton, roast suckling pig, and other sour pork, stewed pheasant, braised beef, and Bi Luo...... and winter sunflower rice porridge. Seeing the wild rice porridge, Xuanyuan Ledao couldn't hide the homesickness in his heart, and thought of Jiangnan Shuize.

The meal is on the table, Wen Renyu has come to the back garden with a guqin, the moon hangs in the air, the cinnamon is fragrant, and the golden autumn is a good season. Drinking and listening to the piano for the moon is really a beautiful thing, and Xuanyuan Ledao's careful arrangement of Sima Cuo is very useful.

The wine was also prepared, and they only waited for Shangguan Yun and Duguyue, the post chief, but after waiting for three moments, they still didn't come. Wen Renyu has finished playing two songs. Sima Cuo waited anxiously, motioned to Mo Si to go and investigate, and after a while, he heard a galloping horse's hooves stop in front of the inn for a moment, and then whipped away. Then he saw that Mo Si came back and forth, saying that Lord Wailang led the post station and a cadre to the broken temple, and he had to bring the rescued woman to interrogate, so he didn't come to the banquet, he asked Lord Assassin Shi to eat first, and he didn't have to wait for them.

Xuanyuan Ledao listened, his face showed a little uncomfortable, and muttered to himself: "It's still the officials of the court who are diligent in political affairs, and the officials are a little drifting." Hehe. Sima Cuo hurriedly took over and said: "My lord is diligent in government and loves the people, no one in this state knows, no one knows." It's just that the case on this post road should be investigated by the officials of his post road. Since Lord Shangguan is going to be busy with affairs first, let's drink and eat first. ”

Several of the attendants also echoed the words, and Lord Thorn finally picked up the cup, took a sip and said, "It's really good wine." Come! Come! Come! "Life must be happy, don't make the gold bottle empty to the moon". ”

"What a good sentence, what a good sentence," the crowd chimed in.

"This is the Taibai poet's "Will Enter the Wine", some time ago, my colleagues passed it to the official and had the honor to read it, and it was really well written."

"Then please ask the adults to recite it again, wouldn't it be a good time." And they chimed in.

"That annoying girl bullets a song "Ambush on All Sides"."

With the sound of Renyu's piano, Xuanyuan Ledao stroked his beard and took a deep breath, "You don't see the water of the Yellow River coming up from the sky, rushing to the sea and not returning." You don't see Gao Tang Mingjing's sad white hair, and the morning is like green silk turning into snow at dusk......"

"Master Cen, Dan Qiusheng, will enter the wine, don't stop the ...... cup", Xuanyuan Ledao picked up the wine glass and faced Sima Cuo, drank it all, Sima Cuo hurriedly got up and drank a glass together.

"Five-flowered horses, daughters and horses, Hu'er will exchange for fine wine, and sell eternal sorrow with you." After Xuanyuan finished reciting, Sima Cuo hurriedly said: "What a 'same eternal sorrow', today I am really happy to accompany adults to eliminate the troubles of this world." Fill up the wine, I want to toast the adults three bowls! Erniang hurriedly stepped forward to pour wine.

Xuanyuan Le Dao was in a place of affection, and also shouted: "Good wine! Beauty! Beautiful song! It's a good night. ”

As he finished speaking, he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching, and a few people came in the courtyard, and the people who came were Shangguan Yun, Duguyue and a few entourage. Shangguan Yun came in and said, "What a good wine, a beauty, and a beautiful song." Lord Assassin Shi, a member of the lowly military department, Shangguan Yun, visited Lord Assassin Shi. ”

"Lord Shangguan is serious, the contemptible and the adult are officials in the same dynasty, the adult is in front of the Son of Heaven, and the contemptible is far away from the emperor. Today, I see that the adults are tireless in their hard work, dedicated to the public, and the contemptible people are far from the adults in terms of diligence, which is really incomparable. ”

"Lord Assassin Shi is an important minister of the state capital appointed by the imperial court, and his position is high and powerful, which is beyond the reach of his humble position. Humble duties are just doing their duty, and if there is something inconsiderate, please ask for more guidance from adults. ”

"Without further ado, let's put our official duties on hold for the time being, how about we drink first tonight?"

"The lowly duty originally wanted to report the situation to the Lord Assassin Shi alone first, looking at this situation, I can't bear to disturb the adult's interest, it is better to obey the fate than to be respectful, and the lowly duty will respect the lord first." Shangguan Yun drank it all after speaking.

Xuanyuan Ledao was very unhappy when he heard this, but it was inconvenient for him to attack, so Sima Cuo hurriedly played a round: "Hurry up and sift the wine for the adults." Go to the Qiang boiling, roasting shop, and then a pot of mutton, and then a suckling pig. ”

Shangguan Yun hurriedly stopped: "Pavilion Chief, don't let me spend more, this official can accompany Lord Assassin Shi to drink a few glasses of wine and eat some food." Don't bother with big meat and meat. ”

Duguyue hurriedly said: "Lord Wailang doesn't eat meat. ”

"Could it be that the Lord worships the Buddha?" Sima asked cautiously.

"It doesn't matter if it's a Buddha, a Tao, or something. This official has not been allowed to kill since he was a child. ”

"I see. Go and prepare wild rice soup for the adults. Put vegetable oil. Mo Si hurriedly ran to the kitchen.

Just as he was about to take another drink, there was a rapid sound of horses' hooves on the post road......