Zhukeng Village got its name because of the dense bamboo forests on the left and right, and only a small road that is not very wide passes through the village. Now, on the path leading northeast from the entrance of the village, there are two ruts that should not be found in such a small village.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, can be regarded as a totalitarian who likes to control everything. Regardless of the officials and the people, he will set the rules for their food, clothing, housing and transportation, and among them, the regulations on the cars and sedans that people take when traveling are also under his regulations.

If it is an ordinary person, it is natural that he will not be able to see anything from the messy ruts on the ground, but Qinggele, as a brocade guard, has a far more acute sense in this kind of matter, and after only a few glances, he can see the problem: "My lord, judging from the distance between the two wheels of this rut, its owner should be an official of the seventh rank or above, or his family member." ”

Lu Jin, who was originally annoyed because the innocent people in this village were killed by the Japanese invaders, immediately rushed over when he heard his greeting. At the same time, Lu Baihu and several other officers also came over nervously: "Is this true?" ”

"Can't be wrong!" Qingler nodded affirmatively, and said the basis of his judgment: "Ordinary people would not dare to ride such a big cart, and there are still two horses in front of them!" As he spoke, he pointed his finger on the muddy road ahead, where a few horseshoe prints were the size of a bowl. In addition to these horses' hooves, there were other messy footprints on the road, which were also going down the ruts, and it was obvious that the would-be robbers in the village had discovered the carriage and chased after it directly.

"How can there be officials in this village?" Lu Zhen was really a little surprised: "Who could he be?" Is it a magistrate from a surrounding county, or an official passing through Hangzhou? ”

He couldn't even answer Qingle's question, so he could only shake his head silently there, while everyone's eyes fell on him, waiting for him to make further arrangements.

was looked at by everyone like this, and Lu Zhen suddenly woke up. This is not a small matter, I and others don't know, but now I know that some officials may be being chased and killed by the Japanese invaders, if they don't rush to the rescue, the court will blame it afterwards, but it's a little hard to shirk.

That's not all, what Lu Zhen is more worried about is that if this official is an official in a nearby town or county, once he really falls into the hands of the Japanese and lets them use him as a hostage to deceive the city gate, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Turning this thought, Lu Zhen didn't dare to delay any longer, and immediately turned back to Lu Baihu and said, "Lu Baihu, the matter is urgent, we must catch up." In any case, it is necessary to find the official who was hunted down by the Japanese invaders. ”

Lu Baihu opened his mouth, originally wanting to persuade Lu Jinmo to take risks. But after seeing the solemn face of this general judge, the words that came to his mouth were swallowed back. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said: "What my lord said is that this matter is very important, and we can't help but investigate." The small ones are at the behest of the adults. ”

"Then catch up!" Lu Zhen waved his hand, turned around and jumped on the horse that had followed him earlier.

At this time, Qingle came over again: "My lord, the villain thinks you should not take this risk." The pirates are ferocious, and if you do run into them, I'm afraid you will be hurt. Let's just catch up with these soldiers. ”

Lu Zhen pinched the reins in his hand, but when he heard this, he shook his head with a smile: "I know that you are doing this for my safety, but in this situation, how can I shrink back as the chief officer of this line?" In that case, what will these soldiers think of me? If they really encounter the Japanese invaders, I am afraid that they will not even have the courage to fight. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, I must continue this road! As he spoke, he kicked the horse in the belly and urged the horse to run forward.

Qingler's face didn't feel a pang of heat. When he followed Xu Gong's side in the past, the commander of the Jinyi Guard always ensured his own safety first before talking about anything else, which made him, a subordinate, also form a fixed thinking of self-preservation first. But today, he saw another attitude of being an official and doing things from Lu Jin, taking the lead and focusing on the overall situation!

Looking at the back of Lu Zhen urging the horse forward, Qinggeler was a little stunned, but at the same time, he was also moved in his heart, he would definitely be able to do everything that he couldn't do in the past if he followed such a boss!

"Don't worry, your lord has led the soldiers to confront the Tartars in Guangling City, and these Japanese robbers are not a problem." Lin Lie had already led the horse over at this time, and when he saw Qing Gele stunned there, he only said that he was worried about Lu Jin's safety, so he comforted: "Moreover, we are also following beside us." ”

"What Brother Lin said is that I was overly worried." Qingle smiled, then turned on his horse and followed.

Behind them, there were a group of officers and soldiers with serious expressions and some nervousness on their faces. For them, this past was much more dangerous than it had been before. When I came to Zhukeng Village just now, I wasn't sure if I would run into the Japanese Invaders, but this time I followed the traces to catch up, and I was afraid that there was a chance that I would have a battle with the Japanese Invaders......

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At this time, the atmosphere in Hangzhou City is much more solemn and depressing than yesterday.

Because last night and today, news came back one after another, and it was the scouts sent out who found the traces of the Japanese Invaders. However, those troops who were ordered to lead troops to encircle and suppress the Japanese have never received any feedback, as if the Japanese will fly away, so that the officers and soldiers who leave the city cannot find their traces.

Such news is even more shocking than learning the true location of the Wako. The folk continue to rumor the news that Ningbo City was broken, which makes people panic. Fortunately, the people of the Criminal Punishment Division sent troops in time to suppress it, so that this disturbing statement could be stopped.

However, the city defense was already much stricter than yesterday, and those people who were persuaded by Lu Zhen to come to Hangzhou had to go through layers of body searches by officers and soldiers before they were allowed to enter the city. Moreover, after entering the city, they were all concentrated in remote places far away from the city walls and yamen, obviously for fear that there would really be some Japanese spies mixed in.

When it got dark today, the gates of the city were closed early, and the last group of people were blocked from entering the city. It was only just now that a gap opened in the city gate, and a team of hurried brocade-clothed guards rode out, but they didn't know why they were in such a hurry.

At this time, the soldiers and civilians in the city all seemed worried, and even the eunuch Wu Miao, who had no hand in this matter, also sighed at this time.

At this moment, he was facing a young man who was four or five points similar to him in front of him and said, "Heir, I knew that we wouldn't have brought you from your hometown. I thought that Hangzhou was a paradise here, and with me taking care of it, you could live better. But now, I actually encountered the rebellion of the Japanese Bandits, which is really ......"

"Whatever the father says, the more this time, the more the child should be by your side and take care of you. The child is not willing to come to Hangzhou for happiness, but just to be filial to his father. The young man in front of him hurriedly said a word of flattery.

But this sentence made Wu Miao feel very relieved, and laughed: "Okay! Good! With these words of yours, you will be content with your father. ”

Of course, this young man could not be the son of Wu Miao, who entered the palace since he was a child and was purified, but the son of his own brother, who passed under his knees and inherited the incense for him. As a eunuch, the biggest grievance is that there is no heir after death, and now Wu Miao has such a stepson, of course, he values it very much. Even a few words of flattery could make this eunuch feel very happy.

Seeing this, Wu Jiji took the opportunity to say: "Father, in fact, the child has been asking for something recently, I don't know if you can help me achieve my wish." ”

"You said, as long as you can do it for your father, after this incident, I will definitely help you get your wish." Wu Miao nodded disapprenously. In his opinion, now that he has a special position in Hangzhou, there is almost nothing that cannot be done.

"The last time I saw a woman, it was really a beautiful country, compared with her, the concubines I included in the room before were only vulgar fans. So ......"

"But what kind of girl can make you so unthinkable?" Wu Miao asked disappreciatively. As long as it is not the daughter of Huang Qinru and several other officials, he is confident that he can help his son get it.

"I heard that it was Hangzhou Oiran, the Yunyan girl on the boat between the clouds." Wu Jisi said hurriedly.

Wu Miao was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "You have some vision, this woman is indeed beautiful and abnormal." Don't worry, Father will definitely help you get her! ”

"Thank you, father." Seeing that Wu Miao agreed, Wu Jihei was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly gave his hand again. I feel that compared to this, this time I am afraid of nothing at all.

After the two fathers and sons gossiped a few more words, Wu Miao sent his son away. And he, accompanied by two attendants, returned to his bedroom in the backyard and prepared to sleep. Although the situation in the city is tense, as long as he ensures the safety of himself and his son, he doesn't have to worry about anything else.

It's just that when she walked into her bedroom, Wu Miao still frowned, how did the people below do it today, they didn't light the lamp and candle in the room early, and they actually had to light the lamp in the dark!

Before he could have a seizure, he wanted to call someone over to light the lamp, and a cold and sharp weapon suddenly hit Wu Miao's neck, and then a voice cooler than the weapon also sounded softly in his ears: "Gonggong Wu, if you want to die, just scream!" ”

Wu Miao only felt that her body was like falling into an ice cellar, and her whole body froze, and her heart jumped up in a different way: "You...... Who are you? Why do you want to attack our family? But he said this very lightly, and he did not dare to alarm the people outside, for fear that the knife would really cut in.

"You don't need to know who I am, I came here just to cooperate with Gonggong Wu......" The man pressed Wu Miao's ear and said softly.

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It's another Monday, and I'm in time to ask for the last wave of recommendation votes for Ding Younian!!!

By the way, be warned, it's still the Year of the Rooster, so don't make jokes...