In the twelfth year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty, two strange things happened in the capital.

One is the seventh day of the seventh month of July, the demon fox comes out at night, kills one person, injures two people, and escapes over the city wall, since then, every seven or eight days, the demon fox will appear, or kill or injure, and the victim has left a very deep claw scar.

The second is that this winter, there are demons who have infiltrated the palace, and not once or twice, just like ordinary people, they can come and go when they want, although they are not close to the palace, but they are enough to be appalling.

The demon's name is Li Zilong, and after being caught, he admitted that he sent the demon fox. As he said, without the owner, the demon fox never showed up again, the hurting incident finally ended, and the people were at peace and prepared for the New Year in a down-to-earth manner.

Some people were punished for this, some people were promoted because of this, but there are still very few people who have doubts about these two things, and Zhao Ying of Baihu is one of them.

Zhao Ying's identity is quite special, he is a brocade guard, who works in the Nanzhen Fusi, and is responsible for arresting demon thieves, especially those treacherous people who pretend to be immortals.

Over the years, Zhao Ying has made outstanding achievements, captured more than 300 demon thieves, and saved several times the number of innocent people, so he has been rewarded a lot, and it is difficult for him to be promoted. There is no way, in Nansi, the biggest credit is to find the true immortals, not to expose one scam after another.

It was Zhao Ying who led someone to capture Li Zilong alive, proving that this person was just another liar and had no magic power, but after Jinyiwei's torture, the two things were actually linked.

A few years ago, Zhao Ying would definitely prove that the so-called demon fox was all a scam, but now he is resigned to it.

Zi said, "Fifty and know the destiny of heaven", Zhao Ying is already over fifty years old and understands where the "mandate of heaven" is, so his temperament has changed greatly, and he often says to his lieutenants: "On the surface, Nansi manages the Benwei military craftsman, but in fact, this is the Demon Removal Division, the Immortal Hunting Division, secretly searching for the art of immortality, in the bones-" Every time he said this, Zhao Ying would show a mischievous smile, as if he was still a scoundrel boy in his teens, "We are just arresting criminals, receiving money, and supporting our families." Of course, this is a good job, and look at my house, which has been renovated twice, each time bigger than the last. I'm too old to live in a bigger house, and if you're still young and working hard, you might have a chance to save a bigger house. ”

The lieutenants laughed at this time, and modestly said that they did not have the ability of a father-in-law.

Zhao Ying has a total of forty lieutenants, all of whom call him "father-in-law", and Zhao Ying also treats these young people as his own sons, who can scold, beat, and shout, but he does not allow others to bully them.

In recent years, Zhao Ying's life has become simpler and simpler, she gets up before dawn, is served by Yahuan, dresses and washes, punches in the courtyard, and then goes to the front hall to sit down, and listens to the righteous sons taking turns to reply while having breakfast. Sunrise three poles, Zhao Ying out of the house, usually escorted by the four sons, out of the Guanyin Temple Hutong, walk East Chang'an Street, through the left and right gates, into the West Gongsheng Gate, to the Jinyi Health Office, the distance is not far, you can walk.

Usually the yamen has already started to run at this time, Zhao Ying came later than others, he served in the South Division, but rarely visited the officials of the department, but went directly to the back hall to meet the top boss Yuan Bin.

Yuan Bin is not only Zhao Ying's boss, but also the protector of this stubborn hundred households, in the eighth year of Chenghua, Yuan Bin once complained: "Zhao Ying, you have done too much, no matter the demons, as long as it passes through your hands, it is all fake, all of them are liars, and there is no hidden secret in a case?" Let's see what other people do, and leave a little leeway, so that if there is a stranger afterwards, you won't be embarrassed. ”

Zhao Ying knows too well the methods of Nansi's colleagues, it is obviously a small case, and she has to lead to a cycle of heavenly justice and retribution, implying that there are ghosts and gods behind it.

He never does this, and if someone dies inexplicably, if there is an inexplicable vision, it is not a ghost or god who hides behind it, but usually a greedy heart.

In the eighth year of Chenghua, Zhao Ying was exactly fifty years old, and her heart was clear, but she was also unhappy because of this, and she didn't argue with her boss, but since then she has become lazy, rarely walks around, and handed over all the cases to the righteous sons, while she expanded the house and bought beautiful women, intending to enjoy her old age in peace.

One day in the second half of the first month of the thirteenth year of Chenghua, the remnants of winter were not over, and the road was half snow and half water, Zhao Ying, as usual, took the four sons to the Jinyi Health Office, chatting along the way, talking about who should be the turn to invite guests to drink at noon and evening.

Yuan Bin is much older than Zhao Ying, and now he has goosebumps, and he often naps when he sits on a chair, and his subordinates generally dare not wake him up.

Zhao Ying didn't dare, she moved the stool by herself, sat down with her hands down, and waited silently, Yuan Bin didn't sleep well, and would wake up soon, as soon as the snoring stopped, Zhao Ying immediately said loudly: "That's it, what else do you have to say?" ”

Yuan Bin woke up, sighed a few times, and said vaguely: "No, it's good, you're doing a good job." ”

"The next official retired." Zhao Ying got up and left, preferring to go home and stay instead of gossiping with his boss here.

"Wait." Yuan Bin stopped Zhao Ying, frowned and thought for a while, "Did I talk about the West Factory?" ”

"West Factory?" This is the first time Zhao Ying has heard of this word.

"Yes, the West Factory, which was only set up yesterday, is similar to the East Factory, but ...... On the west side. ”

Zhao Ying nodded and said that she knew, thinking that this was the result of the eunuch struggle for power in the palace, there was originally an east factory, and now there is a west factory, and there must be no north factory and south factory in the future?

"What do you want me to do?" Zhao Ying didn't care too much, he had always been an idle cloud and wild crane in the Jinyi Guard, and he didn't listen to anyone's orders except Yuan Bin.

Yuan Bin raised his hand and gently tapped the corner of his forehead a few times, as if he felt a headache, and after a while, he said, "You have been seconded to the West Factory." ”

"What?" Zhao Ying was taken aback, according to the convention, the East Factory is in charge of the eunuchs, and the school captains below are all seconded from Jinyiwei, Zhao Ying has never participated, but I didn't expect the West Factory to be set up, and it was actually my turn to go to the eunuchs, "My lord......"

Yuan Bin waved his hand weakly, "No need to excuse yourself, it's just a few days, explain the matter of Li Zilong and the demon fox clearly, and I will bring you back soon." Go today, the West Factory is near Lingji Palace...... Inquire about the place. ”

Yuan Bin closed his eyes and seemed to be asleep again, he was over seventy years old, and Zhao Ying, who could "do whatever he wanted" and "knew the destiny of heaven", could not compare.

Zhao Ying had no choice, walked out of the back hall, called the four sons, and went to report to the West Factory.

Along the way, Zhao Ying said little, but the four nobles were very curious about the West Factory, guessing which eunuch in the palace was favored by this and was able to set up a new factory in addition to the East Factory.

Lingji Palace is located in the West City, not too far from the Jinyi Wei Yamen, Zhao Ying has a lot of roots with this place, when he was still young, he killed people in the Lingji Palace, got out of trouble, transferred to the Jinyi Palace, and caught several swaggering Lingji Palace Taoists, the two sides have a deep enmity, more than 20 years without contact.

Zhao Ying sent a famous son to inquire about the situation, and tried to avoid meeting with the Taoist priest of Lingji Palace.

Yizi soon brought back the news that the newly established West Factory was located opposite the Lingji Palace, and there was no need to be introduced by Taoist priests.

The West Factory was originally an abandoned old factory, with a dilapidated courtyard, dilapidated houses, and plaques that had not yet been hung, and dozens of servants were busy cleaning everywhere.

Zhao Ying stood outside the door, and sent another person in to report, and soon an old eunuch came out, and invited Zhao Ying into the office with a smile, "Please wait for the hundred households, the factory is still in the palace and has not come out." ”

The old eunuch's name is Yun Dan, and he is one of the many powerful people that Zhao Ying has offended.

The so-called debts are not worried, Zhao Ying has long been unconcerned, the old eunuch laughed, he also smiled, and asked: "Dare to ask who the factory master is?" ”

"Eunuch Wang." Yun Dan said casually.

Zhao Ying couldn't remember which eunuch surnamed Wang was in the palace, so she didn't ask much, she entered the main hall and sat down, and at a glance, the furnishings were shabby, thinking that this eunuch Wang didn't know if he was really honest or didn't have time to lay it.

Yun Dan ordered someone to serve tea, exchanged a few words, and said with emotion: "More than ten years, right? I'm old, and so is Lord Zhao. ”

"Hmm." Zhao Ying thought of her boss Yuan Bin, so she lowered her head and closed her eyes slightly, revealing a drowsy and tired appearance.

Yun Dan said to himself, "There was a little misunderstanding between us back then, but now that I think about it, it's really ridiculous, what is there to fight for Your Majesty?" ”

"Ridiculous." Zhao Ying replied vaguely.

"Now, we have another chance to work together."

Zhao Ying raised her head, "I can't do it, my muscles and bones are weak, I can't compare to Yunzhongguan, I'm here to hand over to the West Factory, and I have to go home to recuperate." ”

"Hey, Lord Zhao gave birth to the demon Li Zilong not long ago, why talk about 'weak bones'?"

"Jin Yu is ruined on the outside, if Yun Zhongguan doesn't believe it, go and ask the maid in my room."

Yun Dan's smile stiffened, "Your Majesty's explanation, even if you are really seriously ill, you have to do it reluctantly." Lord Zhao, it's not enough to catch Li Zilong, you have to find the demon fox, and this matter will inevitably fall on you. ”

Zhao Ying shook her head, "It's not the demon fox that hurts people, and it has nothing to do with Li Zilong." ”

"Li Zilong's confession doesn't say so, Lord Zhao, you just have to catch demons, and you don't have to worry about anything else."

"Only if there is a demon can I catch it, but if I don't have a demon, what can I catch?"

Yun Dan's smile disappeared completely, "Zhao Ying, I told you a long time ago that when the Saint cares about the art of immortality today, it is when you lose power, and now the time has come." ”

Zhao Ying snorted from his throat, as early as the eighth year of Chenghua, he understood that the wind direction had changed, so he was not surprised at all.

"I was originally a small hundred, and I have never had power, where did I get the 'loss of power'? I'm leaving, please tell the factory father, I'll visit again tomorrow. ”

Without waiting for Yun Dan's permission, Zhao Ying got up and left.

The old eunuch just sneered and didn't stop it, and when Zhao Ying arrived at the door of the hall, he said: "There is something that Lord Zhao should know, the new factory official surnamed Wang Zhizhi was sent from Broken Tengxia in Guangxi. Hey, the world is impermanent, when Lord Zhao stopped us from moving, the factory was grateful for the knife back then. ”

Zhao Ying stopped, stepped again, and called Shangyizi to leave the West Factory together.

His forty nominees were also recruited from Broken Tengxia, and Wang Zhi was a fellow villager, but his fate turned against him more than ten years ago, a few people were rescued by Zhao Ying, exempted from palace punishment, and became a captain in Jinyi, and most of them entered the palace to become eunuchs.

Now, both groups have grown up.

On the way home, Zhao Ying was silent, and the righteous sons did not dare to speak, when passing by the West Gongsheng Gate, Zhao Ying glanced inside, but did not go in, he didn't want to go to Jinyiwei to find his boss Yuan Bin for help.

When she arrived at home, Zhao Ying called all the righteous sons around her, hoping to find a few right-hand men who could compete with the newly established West Factory.

"Cheer up your spirits and find out the so-called 'demon fox' as soon as possible, one of my old lives, as well as your future, are all tied to this." Zhao Ying originally wanted to designate a leader, but after walking for a day, she was too tired, thought for a while, and said, "Wait for Hu Guiyang and them to come back and make a plan." ”

There are still several of the most powerful righteous sons who have not returned, and Zhao Ying wants to wait and is unwilling to act in a hurry.

Lao Baihu didn't eat dinner, he got up early, he once went to Jinyiwei Prison, and several scars on his body are still faintly painful, and he needs Yahuan to gently rub his body in order to sleep peacefully.

On the third watch that night, the demon fox reappeared, and the target was Zhao Ying, a hundred households in brocade.