These two horses are chasing after me, galloping through the streets of the square,

From time to time, it stops and turns sharply, kicking up a huge amount of smoke and dust.

Cars and pedestrians on the road dodged, causing more commotion. On the 14th day of the first month of the third year of Tianbao, at the beginning of noon.

Chang'an City, Chang'an County, West City.

The market in the West Market has not been depressed by the riots just now. As noon approached, the squires of the common people in Zhufang, the white-robed buyers in the Gaomen Mansion, the officials to be elected scattered in the capital, and the literati from all over the country flocked to the city, hoping to rush to buy the latest Hu goods entering the city. Even in the crowd, you can see many female dependents with their heads inserted into the spring victory, they are not worried about others, so they have to choose them themselves.

Zhang Xiaojing walked on the street, walking like flying. Behind him, a young man with a round face who had not yet shed his childishness was closely followed. This person's name is Yao Runeng, a young cadre who has only joined the Jing'an Division not long ago, and he was born as a Jingfu catcher and has a talent that he will never forget. Li Mi sent him to assist Zhang Xiaojing in his investigation—of course, with the intention of surveillance.

"Duwei Zhang, where are you going?" Yao Runeng couldn't help but ask. Zhang Xiaojing's feet are too fast, and there are many people around, so he has to do his best to keep up.

Zhang Xiaojing's feet did not stop: "Roujia Yuzhenfang." ”

The name of this Roujia Yuzhen Fang, Yao Runeng has heard of it, it is a shop specializing in women's face medicine and lipstick. The shop is full of secret beauty ointment from the big food sellers, the effect is wonderful, it is quite famous in the noble lady circle of Chang'an City, and the shopkeeper is a wealthy merchant in the West Market.

Yao Runeng suddenly took a step forward and stopped him: "Please explain the purpose of going here." Zhang Xiaojing frowned: "What time is it, you are still here to instigate!" Yao Runeng said solemnly: "You have a special identity now, and you must explain the reason before acting, so that Li Sicheng can rest assured." ”

"What if I don't explain?"

Yao Runeng grabbed the handle of the knife at his waist: "I can catch you back at any time." As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xiaojing stretched out his five fingers, grabbed the blade, and broke it gently, and the saber was about to leave his body. Yao Runeng hurriedly turned sideways to grab it, but Zhang Xiaojing was hooked under his feet, and he fell into the dust.

Zhang Xiaojing looked down at him and said coldly: "If I really want to run, you have died several times now." ”

After saying that, he turned to leave, Yao Runeng got up from the land in embarrassment, didn't care about patting off the soil on his body, and shouted repeatedly: "Hey, Captain Zhang, if you do this, I will report it!" ”

Zhang Xiaojing ignored him and walked straight forward, and Yao Runeng had to follow angrily.

Yuzhenfang is in the north side of the curved alley at the entrance of the second southeast street of the West City, and it needs to turn a corner, which can just block the hustle and bustle of the outer street and the sight.

As soon as you enter the workshop, you are facing three pepper mud walls, and there are nine rows of long shelves on the top, and the shelves are wrapped with powdered silk, and there are large and small glass bottles and porcelain on it. At this time, there were only a dozen women dressed in various colored silks, and they lowered their heads from time to time to talk, revealing their snow-white necks. The scent of the incense fills the surroundings softly and is intoxicating.

When the guy saw that it was actually a man who entered the door, he was stunned for a moment. Zhang Xiaojing shook his waist card and said in a deep voice: "Jing'an Division, take me to see the shopkeeper." The guy was about to speak, Zhang Xiaojing narrowed his eyes and swept towards the women. The guy didn't dare to disturb the customer, so he had to say that he would go to the shopkeeper, but Zhang Xiaojing grabbed his arm and walked straight to the back of the shop: "The military situation cannot be delayed, I will go with you!" The man was still struggling, and he knocked his waist with the hilt of his knife, and he didn't dare to move.

In this way, Zhang Xiaojing dragged the two trembling guys and walked towards the back with a big bang. Yao Runeng followed, and he had no objection to this approach. Time is urgent, how can he be allowed to go back and forth slowly.

Behind the square is a large courtyard, a fat man with a beard is leaning on a Persian felt carpet with crochet flowers, holding a goblet in his left hand, supporting a hidden sac under his elbow, and sitting with his left leg bent. Next to him, a little waiter in black boots stood holding a pot. In the atrium, a beautiful singer is singing "Spring Oriole" around a plum tree, singing and dancing.

As soon as Zhang Xiaojing and the others broke in, the singing and dancing couldn't go on. The two guards walked over to stop them, but the shopkeeper frowned and waved them back: "Your Excellency is ......?" ”

"Captain Jing'an, Zhang Xiaojing." Zhang Xiaojing let go of his man, showed his waist card, and then motioned to Yao Runeng to close the courtyard door.

"Oh...... But Zhang Yanluo of Wannian County? "The shopkeeper has been in Chang'an for many years, and he has heard of people who are a little famous. Wan Nian Zhang glanced at it, known as the Five Yamas - vicious and ruthless, and a killing god who suppressed the gangsters in the east. But...... I heard that he was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging a few months ago, why was he released from prison again at this time?

Zhang Xiaojing arched his hand expressionlessly: "There are a few questions, I want to ask the driver." ”

The shopkeeper stretched out his right index finger and slid slowly and methodically down the beard at the corner of his mouth until he reached the tip of his beard that was raised high, and then he couldn't finish it. Zhang Yanluo, this is no money for the festival, right? actually blackmailed the head of Yuzhenfang, and he didn't ask about the relationship between this fang and the palace.

"Come on, get a road silk for Zhang Ye."

The official set of 40 feet of silk is used for ordinary transactions. If it is a long-distance transportation, it will have to be stacked with another forty feet, which is called a road silk, which is only suitable for mules and horses, and ordinary people cannot carry it away at all. The shopkeeper deliberately gave Lu Juan a handkerchief, with the intention of humiliation.

Want money? Then go out as a beast.

Zhang Xiaojing stepped forward and made a gesture to pick up. The shopkeeper smiled contemptuously, but before his smile could disappear, he saw a flash of white light in front of him, and a sharp blade was placed on his neck.

Not to mention the shopkeeper, even Yao Runeng was taken aback. He thought that this death row prisoner had some friendship with the shopkeeper, but he didn't expect to come up and make a ruthless move. Yao Runeng pulled out his saber with a "sigh", but he didn't know whether to cover Zhang Xiaojing or stop him.

At this time, a group of guys from Yuzhenfang rushed in, Yao Runeng's heart and knife were horizontal at the same time, and he said sharply like Zhang Xiaojing: "Jing'an Division is doing things, stand up for me!" "Those guys really didn't dare to come forward.

Zhang Xiaojing's voice was still indifferent: "I haven't asked my question yet." ”

"If you dare to touch me, just wait to be beaten to death!" The shopkeeper was annoyed.

Zhang Xiaojing lowered his head and leaned into the shopkeeper's ear: "I won't tell you, I'm a death row prisoner." If I can't do my errand, I'll die if I go back—guess what I'll do? The shopkeeper looked at the one-eyed man, and his heart tightened, what he was most afraid of was an unruly mad dog. His eyes flickered for a few breaths, and he had to speak, "What are you asking?" ”

Zhang Xiaojing moved the knife a little away: "Have you dealt with the Turks recently?" ”

The shopkeeper was a little surprised by this question, but replied very simply, "No!" ”

"Then have you heard of any merchants who have been in contact with the Turks recently?"

"Nope. Turks? I haven't seen it in Chang'an for a long time. ”

The Turks had collapsed as early as the Zhenguan period, and the Western Turks also fell apart after the Xianqing period, leaving only a few small tribes to return from time to time on the steppe. As for the Turks who remained in Chang'an, they were completely naturalized. With the exception of captives, envoys, and chieftains who went to Beijing for the Hajj, Chang'an had been unaware of the Turkic name for many years.

"Why don't you call your people over and ask, maybe they know." Zhang Xiaojing insisted.

The shopkeeper had to order the men to come over, and one by one asked if they had any contact with the Turks, and the results were naturally yes. Zhang Xiaojing waved them away, and continued to ask: "Then do you know who has a Chang'an Fang map in Xishi?" ”

When the shopkeeper heard this, he hurriedly shook his head: "I don't know if other families don't know, anyway, I don't." He added: "This violates the laws of the Tang Dynasty, it is like a rebellion, who dares to hide it privately?" ”

Zhang Xiaojing put away his knife and took a step back: "To tell you the truth, a few Turks have sneaked into Chang'an recently, wanting to make trouble on the Shangyuan Festival, and now there is only a map of Chang'an Fang. It's best if you don't collect it, otherwise the court will find out who has hidden the fang map afterwards, and it will be a catastrophe. ”

Only then did the shopkeeper understand why this official was so anxious and roaring, it turned out that there was this layer of cause and effect. He straightened up and changed his expression of concern: "Although Xiao Lao is only a businessman, he also has the heart to serve the court, I don't know what shape and origin of those Turkic people, Xiao Lao can also help to investigate." ”

Zhang Xiaojing said coldly: "No need, if you see a suspicious person, you can report it to the official in time - by the way, this matter is a secret of the imperial court, and you can't talk to others." ”

"Nature, nature." The shopkeeper agreed repeatedly, and was just about to instruct the slave maid to bring a few bottles of rouge cream to wipe the hands of a few people, but when he looked up, the two had already left. When the shopkeeper saw them leaving, he gathered his cheeks, called a confidant, and whispered a few words.

Zhang Xiaojing and the others left Yuzhenfang, stood still under a banner opposite the mouth of Quxiang, and said to Yao Runeng: "Have you written down the faces of all the guys in the workshop just now?" ”

Yao Runeng nodded.

Zhang Xiaojing said: "You carefully stare at the front and back doors of Yuzhenfang, if there are any suspicious people coming out, let the bad people of the West City Bureau embellish them, see which business they enter, and write down their names." ”

Yao Runeng suddenly realized that Zhang Xiaojing was knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger. After such a fuss just now, the shopkeeper must have been horrified in his heart, and hurriedly went to warn those merchants who had privately painted the map of the workshop - in this way, he only had to keep an eye on the messenger of the Yuzhen Fang, and he could know who had the map of the workshop. With the store taking the initiative to lead the way, this is much easier than going to interrogate one by one.

This may seem crude, but it is the least effortless. Yao Runeng's eyes when he looked at Zhang Xiaojing changed, he was not an old official, but he couldn't think of this trick, and he had just the right amount of proportion.

"How do you know there's something wrong with Jade Place?" Yao Runeng asked studiously.

Zhang Xiaojing replied expressionlessly: "Whatever you choose." Among the wealthy businessmen in this West Market, there are not too many innocent people. ”

Yao Runeng "sizzled": "...... What if you guess wrong? ”

"Then the entire Chang'an City will be finished."

“……”

Yao Runeng thought that this was Zhang Duwei joking, but there was no smile on the other party's face.

Yao Runeng is a native of Gizhou, Gyeonggi, and his family has been a thief for generations, and his father and uncle died of thieves one after another. Later, the imperial court favored him and promoted him to Chang'an as an official. So before leaving, he made an oath that he must be a cadre in Chang'an City who makes the wicked fearful, so as not to disgrace his family.

Zhang Xiaojing has been unhandsome for nine years, and the entire Wannian County is obedient, which is simply the most perfect idol in Yao Runeng's opinion. Before he set off, he secretly encouraged himself that he must learn more from this old-timer, and maybe he could become a bad handsome or even a county lieutenant in the future. I didn't expect this Zhang Duwei to be different from what I imagined.

Yao Runeng's imaginary veteran thief should be righteous and awe-inspiring, as sharp as a strange knife, and the thieves are tied to it. But this Zhang Duwei has an evil energy in his actions and words, and he can't say what is wrong, in short, he has a faint uneasy aura from the dark side. He suddenly remembered Li Mi's advice before leaving: "Just look at this person from a distance, don't get close." I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart.

At this time, Zhang Xiaojing suddenly asked, "You haven't been a catcher for long, right?" ”

"Huh? That's right, three months and eight days. Yao Runeng replied.

"Then I ask you, how should you act as a catcher?"

"Naturally, it is as evil as hatred!"

Zhang Xiaojing shook his head regretfully: "Then you can't live too long in this city." ”

Yao Runeng stood up: "I respect you as a senior, and I admire your methods, but don't plan to scare me away with such words." I will continue to do my duty to assist you and report any suspicious movements, unless you kill me. ”

In the face of this axis person, Zhang Xiaojing was also a little helpless. He gestured casually and didn't say anything.

The bad people had slowly gathered at this time, Yao Runeng explained a few words, suddenly thought of a detail, turned around and asked: "Zhang Duwei, in a hurry, the manpower is limited, and there are so many people in and out of those businesses, how should I keep an eye on them?" ”

"Just stare at the Hu people. They don't trust foreigners in this kind of thing. Zhang Xiaojing replied without hesitation.

In fact, the Tang Dynasty has never been based on blood, Chang'an City is mixed with Han and Hu, and there are many civil and military officials who are not from the Central Plains. Even among the subordinates of the Jing'an Division, there are quite a few Hu officials who are proficient in arithmetic and familiar with business. However, there will always be people who occasionally muttered in their hearts about the argument of Yixia's defense.

"When it comes to Hu people, do you want to report to the West Market Bureau......" As soon as Yao Runeng put forward some opinions, he was immediately interrupted by Zhang Xiaojing unceremoniously:

"What I need now are hands and feet, not a mouth!"

Yao Runeng didn't dare to delay and took the order. Jing'an Division does not have its own bad people, and the bad people are all recruited from various offices nearby, and it takes some time.

Zhang Xiaojing stood under the flag, his hands and arms were motionless, his expression was frozen, and no one knew what he was thinking. At this time, the sun was almost reaching the zenith, and time was passing as fast as Weishui. His one eye kept looking at the watchtower in the distance. There was calm on the watchtower, and no flags were waving.

The other news he was waiting for has not yet moved.

Jing'an Division, which is one square away from the West Market, is falling into unprecedented busyness at this time.

All the scribes were buried in the countless scrolls, and the only sound in the hall was heard as the scrolls were unfolded.

The servants kept bringing more files from outside and piling them up in front of the scribe's desk. To increase efficiency, they unfold the scrolls in advance and lay them on a simple bamboo slot. This allows the scribe to go through the content directly without wasting time on the scroll.

Each scribe was given three shelves: one for spreading, one for browsing, and one for unloading, so that whenever the scribe raised his eyes, he had a readily available volume to read.

They had to do a simple and difficult job in two moments.

After the first century, trade between the Turks and the Tang Dynasty has been at a standstill, but the needs of both sides will not disappear. The shrewd merchants of the Western Regions had long noticed the business opportunities and quietly established a transit trade route. They purchased fur livestock from the grassland, transported them into Chang'an in the name of goods from the Western Regions, and then transported silk, tea, and salt from Chang'an to the grassland. Many of Chang'an's Hujia merchants are inextricably linked to the Turks.

Li Mi transferred all the caravans that had entered and exited Chang'an in the past five years, focusing on checking the inflow and output of four goods: sheepskins, beef tendons, mud salt, and iron tools. The first two are specialties of the steppe, and the latter two are urgently needed by the steppe, and the larger the volume of goods handled by the firms, the closer the ties with the Turks - for Jing'ansi, this means that Cao Poyan is more likely to find his way.

This is the method that Zhang Xiaojing set with Li Mi before leaving.

In the past, these statistics would have to keep the household busy for several days before they could produce results. But now time is more precious than Zhuyu, and these case masters transferred from various ministries have to fight hard, and the calculations are almost not enough.

Although Li Mi did not participate in specific affairs, he kept pacing back and forth between the books with his hands behind his back, like an old master of the country. After a while, he glanced at the water clock in the corner of the temple, then shook his head irritably, and turned back to the sand table.

"Tan Qi, what do you think of Zhang Xiaojing?" Li Mi asked suddenly.

Tan Qi was putting the latest report from the watchtower on the sand table, and when he heard Li Mi's question, he couldn't help but shrug his nose in disgust: "I think he is a rough apprentice, I really don't know why you bet your future on a death row prisoner." ”

Tan Qi is of mixed Chinese and Hu descent, with a high nose bridge and a faint amber pupil. She is Li Mi's maidservant, her mother is a little Bolu, she grew up in Li's family since she was a child, she is smart and knowledgeable, so she is most trusted by Li Mi, and she speaks very casually.

Hearing Tan Qi's question, Li Mi tapped the table with his fingers: "When Taizong rescued Li Weigong in the Dharma field, there was a holy precept: It is better to make merit than to do it. Taizong can use Li Weigong, why can't I control this person? ”

Tan Qi pouted: "Where is he worthy of being compared with Li Weigong." ”

"I see he's been peeking at you, don't you be a red whisk."

“…… Belch. Tan Qi's face turned red, and he couldn't continue his words, so he glanced at him fiercely. Li Mi laughed, his fatigue disappeared for a while, and he suddenly sighed softly: "If you knew his origin, you wouldn't say that." ”

"Could it be that the Rakshasa ghost can't be reincarnated?" Tan Qi pouted.

Li Mi said: "It was in the twenty-third year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, and the Sulu Khan of the Turkic Turkic Cavalry Department rebelled and besieged the city of Anxi. At that time, thirty miles north of the city, there was a beacon fort city with a garrison of 220 people. They held the fort and withstood the Turkic army for nine days. When Beiting Du Gai Jiayun arrived with the army, only three people survived in the city, but Daxu never fell - Zhang Xiaojing was one of the three surviving. ”

Tan Qi covered his lips with his sleeves in surprise, just from these few unexaggerated descriptions, he could smell a tragic smell of blood.

Zhang Xiaojing returned to China to recount his merits, awarded the Flying Cavalry Captain, and as long as he worked in the military department for a few years, he could be released as an official, and his future was immeasurable. It's a pity that he had a falling out with Shangfeng, so he had to be disarmed and expelled from his class, and he became a bad handsome in Wannian County, and his term was nine years. Half a year ago, he was imprisoned for killing his boss. ”

Tan Qi gasped, the bad and handsome boss was not the county lieutenant of Wannian County? Killing the officials, that is an unjust crime, one of the ten evils that cannot be forgiven in the Tang Law.

"Why did he kill his boss?" She asked. However, Li Mi only shook his head slightly, Tan Qi knew the temper of the son, and he would never say what he shouldn't say, so he changed the question:

"Childe, why did you choose such a dangerous guy?"

Li Mi raised his palm and grabbed it in the void suddenly: "Only the most dangerous guy can complete the most difficult task." Chang'an City is now in danger, and it has to take a fierce medicine. ”

Tan Qi sighed: "Childe's vision, Tan Qi never doubts. It's just what the people around will think? What will Supervisor He think? And the one in the palace...... Childe has put too much burden on himself for the sake of that one. ”

She knows the Tang Dynasty too well. A place like Jing'an Division is a natural target. Even the slightest mistake or omission, the person in charge will face countless open guns and hidden arrows.

Li Mi put the dust across the crook of his arm, and his eyes were resolute: "For him, for the people of Limin, this Chang'an City, there must be someone to protect it-who can have this mind and courage besides me?" Although I am a cultivator, I also have the heart to help the world. This painstaking effort does not have to be known to everyone. ”

At this time, Xu Bin hurriedly ran over with a piece of paper and shouted: "The list is out!" ”

Xu Bin and the others completed a miracle that was not big or small, and they really summed up the numbers in two moments. There are seven or eight names on the list, all of which are Hu businessmen who have a relatively large import and export volume of four types of goods in the past five years, and they are ranked according to their volume.

Li Mi simply glanced at the list and immediately said, "Spread the look...... No, the translation of the watchtower is too slow - where is Zhang Xiaojing now? Tan Qi knew that Gongzi had entered the state of work, put away his talk, pointed to the sand table and said: "In front of Beiqu Lane, the twentieth character street in Xishi, Yao Runeng is with him. ”

On the sand table, Zhang Xiaojing is represented by a lone gray figurine, which is different from the Zhu pottery figurines representing the brigade Benjun and the black pottery figurines representing the Turkic wolf guard.

"Send him this list with a fast horse." Li Mi commanded.

There are fast horses under the porch, and the riders are on standby at all times, specially designed to deliver complex messages. The list was quickly swept into a small fish tube, and the rider thrust into his sleeve, clamped the stirrup, and the sound of the horse's hooves quickly faded away.

At the same time, the loud voice ran into the hall and happened to pass by the fast horse.

"Report, Prison He returns." He has full lung capacity, and he is full of energy when he sings fame.

Li Mi frowned, why did he come back so soon? This is unusual. He glanced at Tan Qi, who understood, and with a blow of the moon staff, he removed the gray terracotta figurine representing Zhang Xiaojing from the sand table.

The communication also handed over the other documents that had just been delivered, which required Li Mi to sign for them first. He looked at it and signed, suddenly raised his eyebrows, took out a copy of it, handed it to a small official next to him, and explained a few words in a low voice.

As soon as Li Mi finished giving the order, Old Man He hurriedly walked into the hall and asked in the first sentence:

"Changyuan, you actually appointed a death row inmate?"

Wen Ran patted off the wax residue in his hand, put his father's tablet on the tablet, and then sighed lightly: "Today is the Shangyuan Festival, do you really want to leave?" ”

There was no one in the room, she was just talking to herself.

Someone sent a message just now, and there was a unique code in the message, and she knew that it was sent by Engong.

The message said that she should leave Chang'an immediately, but did not mention what it was. This made it a little difficult for Wen Ran. Since her father's death, she resolutely took over the signboard of this incense shop, and ran it alone with gritted teeth. With a bit of stubbornness and perseverance, her business has now improved. Incense should be used everywhere during the Shangyuan Festival, it is a good time to make money, if you leave now, you will have to make a lot of money.

But this is Engong's order, and I can't help but listen to it. If it weren't for Engong, the Wen family would have died last year. Before his death, his father repeatedly told her that she must obey Engong's words.

She sighed softly, straightened her bags, and glanced up at the sign on the wall. The wooden plaques are densely packed, and each piece represents a heavy order. Wen Ran is not very literate, and he can't write a ledger, so he can only record business in this way. She saw that one of the wooden plaques had the word "king" written on it, and there were twelve pink ink dots next to it.

This is the eldest lady of the Anrenfang Wang Jiedu family, and she has ordered twelve excellent séance incense, which is scheduled to be delivered today.

Smelling two faint moth brows, his brows furrowed. This order is very important for Wenji Fragrance Shop. The young lady couldn't put down her own Hexiang and always wanted a few new ones. If you make her happy, she will become famous in the entire circle of high-ranking ladies in the future.

Anrenfang is in the northeast of Dunyi Fang, separated by three avenues, and the distance is not particularly far. Wen Ran thought to himself, why don't you send this order over first, and then it's not too late to go out of the city.

She made up her mind, turned around and took the rue incense, put it on a bamboo incense stick, and carried it out the door. Wen Ran wanted to rent a mule, but during the festival today, all the livestock in the nearby foot shop were booked, and there was no price increase, so he had no choice but to carry the incense shelf all the way.

At this time, there was a lot of travel on the road, and she was crowded in the crowd, barely walking to Chongye Fang, but she couldn't walk. There is a Xuandu view here, the dignitaries and nobles come here to make incense, and all kinds of cattle and horses are parked at the entrance of the fang, blocking the road to the water. The common people can only stop for a moment and wait patiently.

Wen Ran stood quietly in the line, unaware, on the second floor of the Fangjiao Liquor Store opposite Huaizhenfang, a gloomy gaze crossed the wide street and swept back and forth on her several times.

A middle-aged man in a light green official robe withdrew his gaze and slowly raised the wine lord. His eyes are narrow, the tip of his nose is straight and hooked, and he pulls the wings and eyelids of his lips when he moves, like a snake swimming under his face.

"Do you see that woman?" He took a sip of wine and asked lightly.

There were several brocade-robed teenagers standing beside him, and when they heard the inquiry, they all nodded.

The middle-aged man said resentfully: "She and her father's case last year made the chickens and dogs restless, and they also gave the life of a county lieutenant in vain. Since I bumped into it today, it can be seen that it is providence. If you don't take revenge, others will say that I am a bully-

You'll have to take good care of her for a while. ”

The brocade-robed boys all laughed, their eyes full of lust.

Feng Dalun put down the wine lord: "You can just let it go, King Zhang Yan is waiting for death in prison, and no one can save her this time." At the mention of the name, a flash of fear and hatred flashed in his eyes. Even he couldn't tell which emotion was stronger. To dispel this unpleasant emotion, he waved his hand:

"What are you doing standing? Why don't you hurry up and get to work? ”

The brocade-robed boys took their hands apart and ran downstairs.

It was not easy for Wen Ran to get out of the crowd of Chongye Fang and walk along the street for a while. Unconsciously, she found that there were a few more floating teenagers around her. These teenagers are all lightly dressed, and a few dark tattoos can be seen under their necks at the placket of their robes.

At first, the Drifters just wandered around, then one by one they quietly approached, crowding out the other pedestrians. Slowly, the front and back of the smell were occupied by them. These people are loosely separated from each other, but they are connected to an impregnable human wall, and she is locked in it.

It feels a little wrong to smell and want to rush out. The Drifting Boys stopped her with a hippie smile and pushed her back with their shoulders and arms. Wen Ran angrily grabbed one of the men's arms, and pulled them hard, but instead of tearing them apart, he pulled off his robe, revealing two dark arms.

The young man's two arms were written with two lines of hideous blue characters: "I am not afraid of Jingzhao Mansion in life, and I am not afraid of King Yama in death." ”

This, this is the mark of the Bear Fire Gang! This gang is a tyrant in Wannian County, raising hundreds of scoundrels and idlers, who are picking quarrels and provoking trouble, killing people and stealing goods, and running rampant on the streets all day long, unscrupulous.

Don't...... Is this the danger mentioned in Eun Gong's message? Smell thought to himself. But she didn't understand, why did the people of the Bear Fire Gang come to her trouble?

It was as if he had fallen into a torrent, completely involuntarily, wrapped in a human wall, all the way to the remote part of the north. Wen Ran gritted his teeth stubbornly, and his eyes kept looking out through the gap between the human walls. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she found that there was a Wuhou shop in the corner of the front fang, and several Wuhou were sitting in front of the shop with fork rods in hand. She accelerated suddenly, bumped into a floating boy, and ran to Wuhoupu and shouted for help.

When the martial marquis heard the shout, they picked up the fork pole one after another, but as soon as they saw the floating waves of more than a dozen double-armed words behind the girl coming over, their faces changed. The young man led by him walked over unhurriedly, and arched his hand and said, "The mother-in-law at home doesn't listen to discipline, so she makes a few masters laugh." After speaking, he took off a few pieces of money from his waist and sent it over.

This is not true, but the martial marquis did not want to have more rights and wrongs, so they collected the money and retreated together. The teenagers laughed, dragging their desperate sniff back into the human wall. At the intersection ahead, an arched carriage was parked, its two windows covered with black cloth. The Drifters shoved and shoved her, twisting her into the carriage, and then jumped on two more men and closed the door from the inside.

The carriage ran slowly, and it was very panicked in the darkness, but there was nowhere to run. After a short while, suddenly there was a magnificent bell outside the car. This bell is very special, with a bit of clear sound in the grandeur, and it comes from the purple gold Buddha Bell of Jiduni Temple when you hear it. Wu Zetian once became a monk here, and the temple bell was cast in purple gold, which was quite different from the bells of other temples.

The sound of this bell suddenly calmed down.

Not because the Dharma is boundless, but because she suddenly realized that she had not yet reached the point of complete despair.

Jiduni Temple is located in Anye Fang, smelling and dying often come here to send incense, and is very familiar with the nearby paths. As soon as she heard the bell, she immediately judged her position at this time - probably on the west side of Anye Fang, very close to Anren Fang, which was originally going to be, and there was only a Suzaku Street in between.

Suzaku Street is the north-south road in the middle of Chang'an City, about 100 steps wide, leading directly to Miyagi. If you have the opportunity to run on the royal gallop, you may be able to get out of trouble.

Thinking so, Wen Ran straightened up with her back against the wall of the compartment, her hand touching a loose nail in a crack in the floor in the darkness.

Her temperament never gives up easily.

With an extremely suppressed scream, Cao Poyan's body suddenly lifted forward, his eyes red. The stick in his mouth was almost bitten off.

A swarthy crossbow shaft was picked out by the sharp knife in the bamboo craftsman's hand, and blood was dripping with blood. Then he put down the knife and skillfully sutured, dressed, and bandaged the wound.

"The crossbow bolt has no head, it won't hurt your life, but the elbow won't be used for a few months." The bamboo craftsman said, washing away the blood from his hands with a basin. Cao Poyan's forehead was covered with sweat, and he nodded weakly.

At this moment, there was the sound of footsteps outside the door, and a man with a gloomy face walked in. The man was a typical Turkic man, with a long, narrow horse face and two thick white eyebrows. He wore a plain silk robe that stretched to the ground, and the style was neither Middle-earth nor Hufu, and he wore a bucket-like hood at the back.

"Kill the nobles on the right." Cao Poyan and the bamboo craftsman bowed down together.

The right kill is not a personal name, but a Turkic official position. The royal family is divided into all the tribes, and the one in the east is called the left killing, and the one in the west is called the right killing, and the authority is great. Such a big figure is actually hiding in Chang'an City, if the imperial court knows, it will definitely be an uproar.

Right Kill glanced at Cao Poyan's elbow wound: "I just got the exact news that the fifteen warriors you brought have been reincarnated. Cao Poyan knelt on the ground with a "plop", and ashamedly picked up the sharp knife next to him and pointed it at his heart: "All the blame is on his subordinates, and he is willing to atone for his sins with death." ”

The Wolf Guard was the Great Khan's most loyal guard. They were ordered to enter Chang'an, and they had no intention of returning to the grassland alive. But the lives of these wolf guards should have been exchanged for hundreds of times the blood of the Tang people, so that they could be considered loyal to the Great Khan. Dying in a dilapidated warehouse is a great waste.

Right Kill sneered: "Your life belongs to the Great Khan, what qualifications do you have to decide for yourself?" He took the sharp knife from Cao Poyan's hand, shaved off a strand of hair on the top of the latter's head, and wrapped it around his wrist - this in the grassland, it represents the collection of the soul of the guilty. From this moment on, Cao Poyan was completely dead, and only a shell was left to obey any orders.

"Then you have to complete all my orders before you are allowed to die."

Cao Poyan's head hung low, silent. This right-hand nobleman, with the noble bloodline of the Ashina family, was the commander of the Turkic operation in Chang'an this time, representing the will of the Great Khan. His will is Cao Poyan's fate.

Right Kill threw away the knife, raised his hand and said, "You don't have to worry about Fangtu's affairs, I have sent someone else to get it." Now there's another task for you. ”

"Huh?" Cao Poyan looked up.

Right Kill said: "I just got the news, at this time, the family of Wang Zhonghe, the envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, is in Beijing. Go and tie up his daughter, chop off her fingers, and send them to the camp in the steppe section by section. When he said this, the corners of his mouth unconsciously showed cruel pleasure.

Wang Zhongsi is a Turkic nightmare, the culprit who makes the Turks breathless. It's rare for Wolf Wei to come to Chang'an once, and it is really rude not to give a big gift.

But Cao Poyan frowned. This operation in Chang'an has been planned for a long time, and seeing the implementation stage, how can it be changed at will because of a whim? There is one sentence that he has never said, that Cui Liulang was also arranged by the right killing, but it turned out to be the meticulous work of the Tang people. He didn't suspect that Right Kill was colluding with the Tang people, but he didn't even do a good job of the minimum review, and as a result, more than a dozen elite wolf guards died before they could play their role, and it was Cao Poyan who was responsible for the black pot.

The temperament of this right-hand nobleman is similar to that of the Turkic nobles, too careless and casual, and it may work in the grassland, but in the operation of Chang'an City, he is not suitable to be a commander.

Cao Poyan forcibly suppressed these thoughts, and humbly prostrated on the ground: "In the battle of Xishi, the Tang people have been alert, and they may have laid a net at this time. Subordinates are worried...... Suddenly, there are extraneous branches, which will not help the overall situation, but will easily cause chaos. ”

Right Kill's face was gloomy, this was a stroke of genius that he suddenly thought of, and he was actually questioned so much by a lowly wolf guard.

"Shut up!" Right Kill angrily waved his robe sleeves, "You wolf guards don't need mouths, just fangs!" ”

Cao Poyan was still about to defend himself, but the right killer raised his leg and kicked him to the ground. It's a pity that I don't have a whip in my hand, otherwise I would have to whip this arrogant bastard hard.

When it came to this, Cao Poyan had to shut up, silently got up from the ground, and kowtowed to apologize. But his fists clenched slightly, and his eyes danced with unwilling flames. A small necklace of colored stones hung from his neck, looking like it had come from a child's hand.

Right Kill drank back Cao Poyan, turned around and pushed the door open, and walked to the outhouse.

Outside, there is a large workshop, where dozens of Turks are doing carpentry work in full swing. They are not as strong and strong as the wolf guards, and most of them have a rickety back and large calloused hands. Each of these craftsmen is a treasure on the grassland, but at this time they are hiding in this small workshop and working hard. There were also more than a dozen sturdy wolf guards patrolling back and forth around, their eyes sharp.

The bamboos were cut off from their leaves, cut into straight poles three feet long, and ten and a half inch holes were drilled on each side and placed diagonally under the windows. In addition, there are five or six people who are loading the lanterns into the car in batches, these lanterns have gourds, peaches, bats, auspicious clouds, etc., with different shapes and similar volumes, and the same point is that a cylindrical gap is left in the middle, which can just be inserted into a bamboo tube.

Right Kill clapped his hands, and all the craftsmen stopped working and looked at him.

"The Khan is looking at you through my eyes." This is his opening line, and each craftsman kneels on one leg, caress his left chest with his right hand, and hangs his head.

"Many years ago, the city was at our mercy, and the women, cattle and sheep were at our mercy. Now we are cowering in a corner of the grassland, allowing the Tang Dynasty and the Hui people to enslave us. But this time, we will regain the glory of our ancestors and set off from under the tent of Bai Daxu, through the wind and snow, through the sword and arrow. Hatred is the best mount, and only it can take us to Chang'an, thousands of miles away. Each of us is a messenger of the Great Khan's wrath and a flame of vengeance. Now, like snakes, we burrow into the hearts of our enemies and build graves out of the stones of their dwellings. The sun will not shine on the enemy's pastures forever, there will always be wind and snow falling! ”

Right Kill's eloquence is very good, his voice is very low, but it can be heard clearly by the whole room. Everyone, is infected by his emotions.

"I just checked the progress of your manufacturing, and it's not fast enough! It's not a grey tent, it's not a calf cart, it's the great quelehodo! You have to work harder to complete its flesh. Its soul is also close to Chang'an. At sunset, the two become one, and we will see it descend on Chang'an, devouring the city's prime, old age, women, and children, leaving nothing from blood to bone! Your name will be glorified more than the bravest of the Great Khan; Your children and grandchildren will be blessed by both the ancestors and the heroic spirits! ”

The last sentence of the right kill was shouted out. The eyes of the craftsmen and wolf guards showed an extremely high fierce light, and they did not dare to shout loudly, but could only beat their chests rhythmically, stomp their feet, and whispered "Quelehodo!" Quelehodo! ”。 Their boots clattered against the floor, like the drums of a march south.

Cao Poyan stayed alone in the inner room, and also maintained a posture of half-kneeling and caressing his chest, but he was not as excited as the people in the outhouse, and just coldly watched the speech of the right kill.

After the final mobilization, Right Kill explained a few more words and left the shop.

In front of the bamboo workshop is a long and narrow alleyway leading to the main street. As he walked slowly, he lifted his hood from behind with both hands, covering his Turkic face, revealing the cross mark embroidered with gold thread on the back of his robe. He took out a string of glass prayer beads and hung them around his neck, and with his right hand he pinched the wooden cross in the center.

When he stepped onto the street, his whole person had changed his image - kind eyebrows, kind eyes, amiable, smiling and clasping his palms together to every passer-by: "May the merciful Lord be with you." ”

The fast horse galloped past, without stopping for a moment, and directly threw the fish tube towards Zhang Xiaojing. Zhang Xiaojing stretched out his hand and grabbed it firmly.

At the same time, Yao Runeng's side also gathered the surveillance of Yuzhenfang and hurried back. Hu Ren's reaction was very fast, and after Zhang Xiaojing left, the shopkeeper immediately sent five servants to the five merchants. Then the five businesses sent people to other shops. Thanks to Yao Ru's proper scheduling, he was able to successfully collect the names of all the shops that were notified.

Now Zhang Xiaojing has two lists in his hand, one is a merchant with a map, and the other is a merchant with close ties to the Turks. Comparing the two lists together, the most suspicious ones are clear at a glance.

It's a miracle that Jing'an Division was able to produce such a thing in such a short period of time.

"Li Sicheng is the prime minister's talent." Zhang Xiaojing put down the list and praised sincerely. He has been a bad handsome man for so many years, has solved countless cases, and knows that many things do not need to be searched for secrets, and the truth is hidden in the documents that everyone can see, it depends on whether you can find out - this so-called "big case" technique. Li Mi deliberately gathered a group of capable officials in the Jing'an Division to inspect and inspect the school, which was suitable for dealing with the current situation, which shows that this person is insightful.

Zhang Xiaojing made a gesture towards the watchtower in the distance, informed him of the receipt, and then began to assign tasks.

The list ticked off four of the most suspicious firms. Although these are all in the West Market, their locations are scattered. Zhang Xiaojing and Yao Runeng had no choice but to lead a team of men and horses and act separately.

Before the breakup, Yao Runeng respectfully asked for a course of action. Zhang Xiaojing clenched his fists and slammed it in his heart: "It's as simple as that to kill the uncooperative." ”

It's not that Yao Runeng hasn't met a gangster in the public gate, but he really hasn't seen someone like Zhang Xiaojing who handled the case so roughly. He was like a flying hammer, impatiently taking out gold and silver from the vase, and simply smashed the vase to pieces. Yao Ru could have a strange feeling that this person would do the same even if there was no urgent time limit.

"Don't you think that's unkind?" Zhang Xiaojing's tone was sarcastic, and he pointed to the pedestrians who were coming and going, "Being benevolent to the enemy is tantamount to indulging the cruelty of these people—remember, this is your first lesson." ”

"But we don't know if they're enemies or not."

"He who does not cooperate is the enemy."

Zhang Xiaojing first went to a gold and silver shop called Xifu, and the owner was from Kangguo. Although the main business of Xifu is gold and silverware, it often participates in bulk trade in the form of loans, so it is included in the list of Jing'an Division.

The place used by Cao Poyan when he entered the West Market was written from Kangguo and stamped with a local seal. This kind of document, if there is no relationship between the upper echelons of Kangguo, it is not easy to get - you know, Kangguo was originally a Turkic country, although the two have been separated for a long time, but who dares to guarantee this thing of ethnic blood?

Of course, this is not out of discrimination. In fact, among the four suspected firms, two are Hu and two are Tang, and there is no prejudice. Jing'an Division is different from Honglu Temple, and has never been afraid to speculate on anyone with the greatest malice.

Xifu store is located in the northwest corner of the third cross street in the west market, which is a prime location, the intersection of all roads, the most prosperous. The weather in front of the door of this house is quite different from that of others, with two pillars on both sides, both painted with a shiny black background, and inlaid with a circle of dragon moire. Zhang Xiaojing lifted the curtain and stepped into the shop.

The shop is quiet and there are not many customers. As soon as I entered, I was stopped by a crescent-shaped tall wooden platform. The stage is just a head taller than ordinary people, and I can only barely see the empty table, but I can't see the situation behind the stage. He shook a brass bell hanging beside him, and soon an old bearded man with a goat's beard poked his head out from behind the stage and looked at him condescendingly, his face expressionless.

"Redeem or redeem?" The old man asked dryly, in a very bad tone.

Zhang Xiaojing lightly tapped three times with food and his middle finger on the countertop, and showed his waist card: "The government is doing things." Are you a shopkeeper? ”

The old man nodded.

Zhang Xiaojing said bluntly: "We now suspect that Xifudian has a map of Chang'an Fang and colludes with the Turkic remnants, so we need to search it." ”

This accusation was very serious, but the shopkeeper did not show any expression, and replied slowly: "The shop is engaged in gold and silver business, and it has never selfishly hidden the maps, nor has it actively colluded with the Turks. "He is very fluent in Tang dialect without any accent.

"That's until the captain searches it."

The wrinkles on the shopkeeper's face twitched, and he glared at Zhang Xiaojing and said, "The old man is very familiar with Jing Zhaoyin, you might as well ask him about the old man first." ”

This kind of gold and silver shop has a loan relationship with many big officials in the court, and there are many backers, and ordinary officials dare not come to the door easily. Zhang Xiaojing's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he was about to use his strength, when suddenly a bad person broke in in a panic.

"Duwei Zhang, there's yellow smoke outside!" He shouted.

Zhang Xiaojing frowned, immediately turned around and lifted the curtain and walked out. Many pedestrians on the street outside the store had stopped and pointed to the north-western sky. He looked up and saw two plumes of smoke rising in the distance. One is a thick black smoke, the other is a slightly fainter yellow smoke, and the two are intertwined with each other, soaring upward, and very striking in the clear sky.

In that direction, it was the Yuanlai Merchant Inn that Yao Ru could search. Yuanlai Merchant Inn is the industry of Shule merchants, mainly engaged in the bulk of cattle, horses and sheep business, and has a closer relationship with the steppe Turks, and the degree of suspicion is not inferior to that of Xifudian.

The yellow smoke was emitted by the cigarette pills carried by the Jing'an Division, and when he saw the smoke, he must immediately gather to help. Yao Runeng is very good at it, and he brought seven or eight bad people. He raised yellow smoke, indicating that he must have encountered hard stubble.

Zhang Xiaojing immediately summoned the bad people around him and ran in that direction to help. Running past a street corner, Zhang Xiaojing suddenly stopped, and the person behind him was caught for a while, almost crashing into it.

A trace of doubt flashed in Zhang Xiaojing's mind.

He suddenly remembered the words of the shopkeeper in Xifu, and felt more and more suspicious. "There is no selfish collection of maps, and there is no active collusion with the Turks." - If you don't actively collude, then you are passive?

If you think about it this way, the old man's tone was slightly unnatural when he mentioned Jing Zhaoyin, could it be that he was hinting at the official?

Zhang Xiaojing snorted, and patted his cheek with his palm in annoyance. It's only been how long I've been in prison, and I've been sluggish to this point. If it had been the past, I would have realized that something was wrong on the spot.

"You continue to support Yao Runeng, I'll go back and see."

Zhang Xiaojing immediately turned around and ran back to the Xifu store at an astonishing speed. When he arrived at the door of the store, he pulled out his crossbow with a "swoop", put it flat on his left elbow, clasped the hanging knife with his right hand, and bowed down and stepped in.

The shop was still very quiet, and this time the old man did not poke his head out to greet him. Zhang Xiaojing cautiously glanced around, then walked to the end of the high platform where it was connected to the column, kicked open the small door on the side, and broke in sideways - the front of the crossbow was always aimed at the direction of the platform.

Behind the stage, Zhang Xiaojing saw the old man leaning against the feet next to the wooden wall, his head tilted to one side, and his eyes widened. Zhang Xiaojing went over and squatted down, reached out to probe his neck, and found that the old man was out of breath. He turned the body over and saw a deep wound on his back.

Obviously, when the old man was talking to Zhang Xiaojing just now, there was another person standing behind the stage, holding a sharp weapon against his heart. The old man did not dare to call for help, so he could only remind him through various hints. It's a pity that Zhang Xiaojing was negligent and didn't investigate deeply, so he was brutally murdered.

Zhang Xiaojing's eyes lit up, he held the crossbow more flat, and walked towards the back of the store. From the time he left just now, it has not been the time for a small half incense, and the murderer may not have left yet.

Behind the high platform was a slightly cluttered long room, in the center of which was a plan, on which rested several volumes of account books, small scales, and scissors. The surrounding circle of high and low sandalwood shelves are filled with all kinds of gold and silver utensils, each of which is polished brightly. On the floor, there are still more than a dozen large animal skin chests wrapped in embroidered horns, and several of them have half-open lids, so that you can get a glimpse of the golden coins of various countries inside.

In addition to the gold and silver business, Xifu store also has a business is exchange, gold and silver coins from Daqin, Persia, Dashi and other places, which can be converted into Tang copper coins and silk here, and vice versa, so there will be Wanguo Spring goods gathered here.

The corpses of several men and guards lay between the money, and they were all stabbed in their hearts, so that there was not much bleeding, and the smell of blood was not easy for outsiders to detect.

Zhang Xiaojing walked through this mess, and he can probably restore the scene at that time: the Turkic wolf guard broke into the store and killed the guys in the store as soon as possible. As soon as he left, he immediately killed the shopkeeper.

This wolf guard was even more ferocious than Jing Ansi estimated, and he had no intention of negotiating peacefully from the beginning.

Zhang Xiaojing took a deep breath and saw a small door at the end of the long room. There was a square lock that had been opened on the door, and a flower handle key was stuck in the keyhole. This is supposed to be a small room in the Xifu store where valuables are stored. Zhang Xiaojing walked to the door, grabbed the doorknob, pulled it out first, didn't move, and could only push inside. But he pushed it slightly, feeling a slight resistance, and then there was a series of clanging gold objects crashing through the door.

Zhang Xiaojing secretly screamed badly, and hurriedly pushed open the door to see. Inside the door was a series of steps leading down to the cellar at the bottom of the shop, and at the bottom of the steps lay a flattened chrysanthemum-petal marigold. The intruder, apparently experienced, placed a piece of gold in the door. If someone pushes the door and the marigolds roll down, you can immediately sound the alarm.

Zhang Xiaojing tightened the string of the crossbow again, and then stepped down the steps step by step. After reaching the bottom, there is a narrow road in front of you, and you can see a faint candlelight after turning a corner in front of you. Leaning against the wall, he slowly reached for his crossbow and then leaped in.

There was no one in the room, only a candle lit on the wall. Through the dim candlelight, Zhang Xiaojing saw that the room was not big, and there were not many objects, but all of them were high-quality products, shining under the candlelight. Zhang Xiaojing lowered his head and saw a gilded immortal crane pattern tea Luozi overturned on the floor, and the Luo drawer was half pulled out, and it was empty.

"Damn it!" Zhang Xiaojing scolded in a low voice. Obviously, the shopkeeper hid the fang map in the tea Luozi, but was found by the wolf guard.

This is not good news.

At the other end of the room, a flying tapestry is half-hung, and behind the wall is a pitch-black hole that can accommodate a cat's waist. This is a secret passage that the shopkeeper has built for himself, and these merchants have always been cunning rabbits. It is estimated that the intruder immediately fled through this dark passage after hearing the alarm.

Zhang Xiaojing rushed to the entrance of the cave, suddenly retracted his steps, took off his robe and wrapped it in a ball, and threw it into the cave first. Almost at the same moment, there was a sudden sound of rubber bands in the cave, and then a crossbow arrow flew out, right in front of the outer robe. Zhang Xiaojing raised his hand without reluctance, aimed the crossbow at the hole* for a shot, and then quickly replenished the arrow and pulled the string, and made up another shot.

The people in the cave were careful and deliberately did not extinguish the candles in the room, and lay in ambush at the inside of the cave. If a pursuer rushes to the entrance of the cave and blocks the candlelight, it becomes the best target. However, the crossbow machines were all single-shot, and Zhang Xiaojing used his robe to scrap his arrows, which gave him the upper hand, and did not allow him to backfill the string and make up for two arrows - in such a narrow hole, it was almost impossible to dodge.

Regardless of whether he was shot or not, Zhang Xiaojing plunged into the cave, and the footsteps in the darkness in front of him hurried away. It can be seen that even if those two arrows hit the opponent, they were not fatally wounded. Zhang Xiaojing held the crossbow machine, winding it as he walked, and chased after it. But after only chasing out a dozen steps, he suddenly felt a slight pain in the center of his feet, hurriedly raised his legs, and then leaned over to touch it, only to find that there was a string of thistles scattered on the ground. If he chases a little harder, he will be impaled through the instep of his foot. After such a delay, the intruder fled a few more points.

But in just a few breaths, the two have been fighting back and forth for several rounds. Zhang Xiaojing swept away the thistle, raised the crossbow and shot blindly, and shouted at the same time: "Don't kill if you are low!" Only the sound of hurried footsteps could respond to him.

This secret passage is not wide, but there are many turns. Fortunately, there is no fork in the road. The intruder ran in front, and Zhang Xiaojing chased behind. The former didn't know how many thistles he was carrying, and he threw them irregularly along the way, which seriously hindered Zhang Xiaojing's speed. But Zhang Xiaojing's two arrows just now also caused a lot of damage to the intruder, which can be judged from the staggering footsteps.

The two of you chased after me, and unconsciously chased hundreds of steps away. Zhang Xiaojing's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he saw a beam of sunlight projecting down in front of him, and it seemed that the exit was about to arrive, and it was a vertical shaft. A figure climbed up the wooden ladder, and when Zhang Xiaojing rushed over, the person had climbed to the top, pushed the wooden ladder a few times, and found that it could not be knocked down in the shaft, and there was no time to demolish it, so he smashed the empty * down casually.

Zhang Xiaojing dodged and raised his crossbow to shoot, but unfortunately the crossbow arrow grazed the man's scalp and flew into the sky. He also threw away the crossbow and climbed up the ladder with his hands and feet. When he poked his head out of the exit, his head was cold and almost hit a wheel.

It turned out that this exit was disguised as an abandoned well, and the bed was readily available. Zhang Xiaojing climbed out of the wellhead, pulled out the obstacle knife as soon as possible, and raised it sideways to his ear to prevent a possible sneak attack. The barrier knife is shorter and lighter than the horizontal sword, which is suitable for close combat, and can be deployed in such a narrow place as the wellhead.

Nothing happened, though, and the intruders seemed to have lost faith in the ambush and fled.

Considering the distance and direction of the secret passage, Zhang Xiaojing probably judged that this should be in Huaiyuanfang in the south of Xishi. The shopkeeper has a lot of skills, and he actually dug a tunnel across the square.

There are a lot of Hu people gathered in Huaiyuanfang, and if you let that intruder get in there, it will be a big trouble.

Zhang Xiaojing saw a series of footprints on the grass stretching into the distance, and immediately chased after it. This well is located in the backyard of a small temple, this is a folk shrine, the temple is dedicated to Huayue Fujun, even the temple wall is not there, and the door is the horizontal street in the square. At the time of the Middle Yuan, many nearby residents would come to burn a stick of incense, and the incense was still quite vigorous.

Zhang Xiaojing walked around to the front of the temple and saw a group of people pointing in surprise. Two stalls selling dumplings and yokan fell to the ground in shambles. Looking further, a young man wearing a folded scarf was lying on the ground, holding a horsewhip, and scolding in one direction, apparently that his mount had been robbed for nothing.

Zhang Xiaojing's face turned pale, if he let the Turkic wolf guard grab the mount, he would have lost all his efforts. He pushed through the crowd and rushed to the side of the street, flying to intercept a one-wheeled carriage that happened to be passing by. The coachman was suddenly attacked, and subconsciously whipped to whip it, but was kicked out of the car by Zhang Xiaojing. A woman in the carriage poked her head out in panic, and Zhang Xiaojing shouted: "Jing'an Division is doing things!" Recruit Erma! She covered her chest in fright and shrank back.

Zhang Xiaojing raised his knife in his hand, cut off several reins between the horse and the cart, jumped on the bare back of the horse, clamped his legs, and galloped away in the direction of the Turkic escape.

Huaiyuanfang is densely populated, the roads are crowded, and no matter how fast the horse is, it can't run. Zhang Xiaojing soon saw the figure of the galloping horse in front of him, that guy was a good rider, knocking down various vendors along the way, causing a series of exclamations and angry scolding, but he always maintained his speed.

It's a pity that the mount that Zhang Xiaojing grabbed is not for riding, and it has no saddle resonance, no matter how much he whips, he can maintain three or four positions with the Turks at most, and he can see the cloth towel wrapped around the back of his head, but he can't get closer.

The two horses chased after me, galloping through the streets of the fang, stopping and turning sharply from time to time, and kicking up a great deal of smoke and dust. Cars and pedestrians on the road dodged, causing more commotion. The confusion finally alarmed the guards in the workshop, and two guards came from both sides of the street with wooden forks to stop the startled horses. The Turkic wolf's right leg was deflected, the reins were slammed, and the mount hissed, its front hooves raised, just to avoid the pinch of the fork, and then he quickly adjusted his stance and continued to gallop.

But this obstruction has bought Zhang Xiaojing enough time. He took a few steps closer, pulled a cigarette from his waist, and threw it forward. This cigarette pill contains white phosphorus, sulfur, reed tassels, rosin, camphor and other substances, and burns when it encounters the wind, and it emits smoke when it burns.

With this throw, he just threw the cigarette pill into the pocket that he put in front of him next to the saddle. The young man who had his horse snatched away was probably a literati who was about to talk to the powerful, and his pocket was full of bundles of poems. As soon as the cigarette was lit, the bundles of paper were immediately set on fire. Billowing yellow smoke came out of the pouch like a flowing pan on horseback.

At this moment, the Turkic wolf guard was faced with a dilemma. If you ignore this, the smoke column will leave you with nowhere to hide; However, this pouch is tied to the saddle with a leather rope, and if you want to untie it, you must free one hand, and the speed is bound to be greatly affected. The bastard who is chasing after him will not miss any opportunity.

He subconsciously turned his head and saw a sneer in the pursuer's single eye, and he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He was familiar with that look, it was the most dangerous lone wolf on the grassland.

The wolf guard gritted his teeth, ran forward a few more steps, and suddenly took out a dagger and stabbed it into the skull along the horse's ear. The horse roared and fell to the ground, and the wolf guard leaped into an alley beside the street. The horses' huge bodies just blocked the alleyway, creating a great barricade. Zhang Xiaojing, who arrived later, had to tighten the reins and stop.

He wasn't anxious. After the watchtower of Huaiyuanfang sees the yellow smoke, it will beat the drum as soon as possible to warn, and the guards will immediately close the gates on both sides. Next, it is to catch turtles in the urn. He didn't believe that the Turkic wolf guard would be able to find a second secret passage across the square.

The two guards who stopped the horses ran over panting, and Zhang Xiaojing identified himself to them, and then asked if this direction could lead to the outside of the fang. A backguard told him it was a dead end. Zhang Xiaojing asked again if there were any buildings on the other side of the alley. Lieutenant hesitated for a moment and said yes.

"What is it?"

"Zoroastrian Shrine." Riwei scratched his head in annoyance.

At the end of this alley, the view suddenly widens, forming a square about two hundred steps wide. In the middle of the square is a two-story shrine. This shrine has white walls and red tiles, and there are arches on all sides, and the shape is very different from that of the Middle Earth. The door is engraved with three statues of camels standing on lotus pedestals, carrying discs with fires on their backs, and priests in the form of birds on both sides.

The tiles used for the eaves of this ancestral hall are all the color of vermilion, like flames. Stacked on top of each other, the top of the shrine looks like a blazing bonfire.

When Zhang Xiaojing and Li Wei rushed into the square, the believers in the square were already noisy. Zoroastrianism does not establish a temple in Chang'an, does not promote religion, this shrine is only for the believers in the Hu people in Chang'an to worship, so almost all the people gathered in the square are Hu people.

At this time, they were all horrified and looked in the direction of the temple. Zhang Xiaojing narrowed his eyes and saw the Turkic wolf guard standing at the door, holding an old man in his arms. The old man was dressed in a gold-rimmed white robe, with two red bands crossed over his chest.

Li Wei's face changed greatly, and he said that it was the official of the Zoroastrian Temple, and his status was similar to that of the abbot of a temple in China. If something happened to him, the entire Huaiyuanfang believers would only be afraid of boiling. Zhang Xiaojing nodded slightly, and looked over there carefully. It wasn't until this moment that he could see the face of the Turkic wolf guard. It's not Cao Poyan, his face is as wide as a cake, his eyes are slender, and he has a big rosacea.

Among the Turkic people, Zoroastrianism was also very widespread. But looking at the ferocious appearance of this wolf guard, I am afraid that the loyalty to the khan is still above the gods.

Zhang Xiaojing strode forward, walked to the front of the ancestral hall steps, and actually spoke fluent Turkic: "You are now surrounded, if you let go of the hostages and be captured, I can guarantee that you will get the courtesy that a warrior deserves." ”

The dagger of the Turkic wolf guard pressed against Zoroass throat, and his voice was a little hoarse: "Only the Great Khan is qualified to praise the name of the brave." Zhang Xiaojing sighed, the wolf guards who can be selected to come to Chang'an are all diehards, and it is more difficult to persuade them to surrender than to let the Son of Heaven not sleep with women.

However, to deal with hostage-taking, he, a former bad handsome, has the means.

Zhang Xiaojing sneered and stepped forward: "You will definitely die, but your name will not." Next, we will announce to the public that you have confessed all the secrets of the Great Khan and the royal court, and personally lead the way for the party. Soon the whole grassland will know that it was this man who betrayed the entire tribe, and it was this man who defiled the dignity of the wolf guard. ”

"No way, you won't know my name!" The Turkic wolf guard let out a low growl.

"You can bet on it."

Zhang Xiaojing aimed the tip of the knife at his crotch, slashed into the void, smiled without saying a word, and his eyes flashed with a hideous light. Wolf Wei suddenly felt his throat dry, and his wrist shook involuntarily.

The Turkic Wolf Guard has an extremely secret ritual. Every warrior who becomes a wolf guard is served by a beautiful slave girl, who is *full*, and then has a special name on it. When * hangs down, what is seen is a wolf name; When *, the real name is revealed. The Turks believed that * symbolized a strong life, which would give the warrior an extra wolf life.

The wolf guard didn't know how Zhang Xiaojing learned about this ceremony, but he realized that if his body fell into the hands of this one-eyed man, nothing good would happen.

"Let go of the hostages, and I will let you die heroically, or your name will live down in disgrace forever."

Zhang Xiaojing walked five steps away from the two and stopped. He was waiting, waiting for fear to ferment in the other person's heart. The Zoroastrian was closing his eyes and muttering to himself, not knowing whether he was begging for mercy or praying.

The surrounding believers watched the confrontation nervously, and some even fell to their knees, gathered a small fire, and threw in spices and grease. Zoroastrianism honors fire and worships the god of fire. This move has caused many people to follow suit. For a time, more than a dozen small fires were raised around the shrine, and prayers rang out.

At this moment, a loud shout came from the square:

"Give me back my life!"

A shadow swooped out of the crowd and pounced on the Turkic wolf guards. The Turkic wolf guard was already extremely nervous, and when he was suddenly attacked, he subconsciously exerted his wrist. There was a bloody light on his neck, and he fell to the ground with a ho ho in his mouth. Then the shadow slammed headlong into the Turkic wolf guard to the bottom of the steps.

This caused an uproar. The Zoroastrian followers first screamed in horror, and then all of them rushed over, and in an instant they surrounded the Turkic wolf guards who had fallen from the stage, and the sound of angry scolding and fists and kicks came one after another. Zhang Xiaojing hurriedly rushed over, but the angry believers couldn't control it at all, the crowd was crowded, you hugged me and squeezed, and it was extremely chaotic for a while. Zhang Xiaojing and the two guards tried to separate the crowd and squeeze in, shouting out of the way, but they were repeatedly knocked out of the way.

At this time, dozens of warriors dressed in soap clothes rushed out of the mouth of the alley. It's not the Liwei of this fang, but the bad people directly under the jurisdiction of Chang'an County, and the leader is Yao Runeng. When they saw the yellow smoke coming from here, they immediately rushed to help. These unscrupulous people, all with iron rulers in their hands, quickly divided the believers after entering, forcibly dispersed, and those who did not accept were served with iron rulers, and quickly suppressed the situation.

However, this was only temporary, and most of the people refused to leave, gathering around, making loud noises, waiting for a reasonable explanation from the government. One of them was being killed in front of everyone, which was a shocking change.

Zhang Xiaojing couldn't care so much, he stepped forward quickly, and saw the Turkic wolf guard lying on the ground, his facial features bleeding, his limbs twisted, and he had been beaten to death. He leaned over and touched the wolf guard, and his face changed color.

Fangtu, gone.

Rao is Zhang Xiaojing's psychological quality is wonderful, and he can't help but break out in a cold sweat. Just now, the believers were in turmoil, and there were too many people who came to the side of the wolf guard, maybe some of them took the initiative and stole his abacus - this is the best result of luck, if it was taken away by the Turks' secret pile...... He hurriedly looked around, but all he saw was a myriad of hostile faces, and he couldn't tell them.

Zhang Xiaojing turned his head in annoyance, and the figure who was disrupting the situation was lying in front of Zoro Zheng, looking at a loss. Zhang Xiaojing recognized his face, it was the young man who had just been robbed of his horse by the wolf guard.

"What's your name?" Zhang Xiaojing forcibly suppressed his anger.

"Xianzhou Cen Shen." The young man glared back at him without showing any weakness.

"Why did you kill him?"

Cen Shen was happy: "He robbed my horse on the street, why can't I catch up and ask for it?" He suddenly felt a low mood, and cried: "Rob it, grab it, why kill it?" Green eyebrows are so understanding, with me for so many years, just die at the mouth of the alley......" The tone suddenly paused, "The horse can still be compensated with gold, and my poems have been burned out, how can this be compensated?" ”

Zhang Xiaojing didn't have time to listen to his nagging, and said to Yao Runeng with a calm face: "Take away the corpses of this guy and the wolf guard-

By the way, what's going on over there at the Far Away Merchant Inn? How can yellow smoke ignite? ”

"Alas, don't mention it. Suddenly there was a commotion on the side of the business inn, several raw horses ran out, but they didn't have a photo, just in time for us to come to the door, as soon as they showed their identities, the people in the business inn thought it was the West City Bureau's anti-smuggling, and they started fighting without saying a word...... "Yao Runeng explained helplessly, and touched his forehead at the same time, there was a fresh narrow wound.

Zhang Xiaojing tilted his head, and before he could express his opinion, he suddenly heard a few drums in the distance from the watchtower. This is a reminder, indicating that there is about to be an order from Jing'an Division. The two of them looked at the watchtower at the same time, and after a while, Wuhou upstairs began to wave the flag. Yao Runeng hurriedly began to translate. His face became very strange as the translation progressed.

Zhang Xiaojing asked, "Who gave the order?" Li Sicheng? ”

"No, Li Sicheng is just a deputy, and this order was issued by Supervisor He himself."

"Eunuch?"

"Hey, don't you know? is the real chief of the Jing'an Division - He Zhizhang. ”

Hearing this name, Zhang Xiaojing was slightly moved: "What is the order?" ”

After Yao Runeng finished translating the order, the whole person was completely stunned. Fortunately, the watchtower's orders were repeated three times, and he hurriedly translated them again and found them correct. He looked at Zhang Xiaojing, a little at a loss:

"Zhang Xiaojing, the governor of Jing'an, immediately seized his post and returned to the ...... of the division immediately"