*

When Ashina came to the door of Zuo Ying's room next to him, he didn't stop, but walked straight to the direction of the stairs at the end of the corridor.

But he had only taken a few steps when the sound of the door being pushed open behind him stopped him.

He turned his head vigilantly, only to see Scarlet Feather come out of the room and whisper to him, "Uncle, Miss is invited." ”

Ashina showed a stunned look for no time, glanced around, and walked quickly into Zuo Ying's room with a little helplessness.

*

A quarter of an hour later, Zuo Ying and his entourage of five people left their money in the room and rode on horseback through the streets of this small county town.

This small county town, nearly 200 miles away from their destination, Pingzhou, is a small place with a population of only a few thousand households and no city walls. Because there is still a long distance from the disaster area, only a small number of disaster victims have wandered here, and they were quickly arranged by the county to help, which did not affect the order here.

Under the indefinite opening of Ashina, everyone rode forward all the way by the moonlight, and did not slow down until they left the small county town.

Su Bo, the middle book supervisor, straightened his clothes with his hand holding the whip, and then stepped forward and asked Ashina indefinitely: "Miss, I am in a hurry to leave the inn, what is the matter?" He was about fifty or sixty years old, thin and small, and his voice was high-pitched, but his small eyes were so smart that no small detail seemed to escape his eyes, but this time he was really a little unable to see through them.

Kaifu Sima Xu Hong also came forward to listen. He is the younger brother of Jianjie General Xu Shou, because he stretched out his hand and was trained in the army for many years, he was promoted to protect Zuo Ying.

Zuo Ying rode a horse by herself, and only when she was too tired did she ride with Scarlet Feather's horse. At this time, she was silent, waiting for Ashina to speak indefinitely.

Ashina said indefinitely: "There is something wrong with the group of people we met outside the city yesterday. ”

"Is my uncle talking about the group of people who claim to be passing merchants?" Xu Hong recalled the three men and one woman, who claimed to be a few merchants who came from Yuncheng to do the medicinal herb business. In his opinion. They are just more talkative, and there is nothing suspicious about them other than that. However, a few of them who also called themselves "passing merchants" were actually not worthy of their names.

"Why did my uncle say that?" Su Bo's eyes narrowed slightly. Although he was also wary of the strangers who accosted them, they parted ways after meeting each other while resting at the tea pavilion outside the city, how could this constitute the reason for them to leave the inn in the middle of the night?

"They look at us the same way we Turks look at their prey when they hunt." Ashina's eyes flickered indefinitely, "When it's night." I looked at our horses in the afternoon and realized that their horses were also in the stables. Do you remember, they said they had something to do outside the city? He couldn't go with us, but turned around and stayed in the same inn as us. ”

Zuo Ying thought that he even recognized the horse at a glance, and he really deserved to be the person who dealt with the horse every day. At that time, when he met those "merchants" in the tea pavilion, he seemed to only care about drinking tea as a hooligan there, and glared at the man who praised his sword as a treasure knife very unfriendly, but he did not expect him to be so meticulous in this regard.

She is based on her years of experience in dealing with people such as three, six, nine, etc. In fact, it can be seen that those people are not telling the truth, and there is a hint of snooping in their words, but the information she can notice is not as much as Ashina's indefinite.

"But uncle," Xu Hong was puzzled, "it is estimated that there are only one or two inns in that small county, and if they change their minds and enter the city, it will not be surprising that they will live in the same inn as us." ”

"I've already gone to ask the shopkeeper," Ashina continued, "When those people moved in, they also described the characteristics of our group to the shopkeeper, and asked if we also lived here. They would have wanted a room on the same floor as we were staying in, but they stayed upstairs because it was full. ”

"So to speak. These people do have problems. Su Bo nodded and said, "If they are upright people and want to come and make friends with 'our young lady' in a dignified manner, why don't they come to visit us generously?" After they inquired, they quietly lived next to it, and it seemed that they really had bad intentions. It doesn't matter if they are bandits and strongmen in the vicinity," Speaking of this, Su Bo glanced at Xu Hong next to him, intentionally or unintentionally, "Whether it's a spy or not, we should indeed bypass this trouble and go straight to the point." ”

Ashina snorted from his nose and glared with his eyes: "If it weren't for ...... You young lady is in the way. I have tied them all up and asked them to find out, and if they have the slightest concealment to shirk it, I will take up the knife and let them all go to hell. What's the use of sneaking away like now? ”

"Uncle's words are wrong." Su Bo shook his head and said: "Miss wants to understand the people's feelings, understand the people's suffering, but it is redundant, light and simple, although Longwei Shengguang does not need to rely on anything, but the so-called 'strong dragon is invincible to the head snake', we are waiting for the protection of Miss Wei outside, there is no personal guard, and no one recognizes or fears our identity, so it is better to be careful in everything for safety." Besides, the young lady didn't let her uncle make a move, but it was also for the sake of the local people. The four people invaded Longwei and plotted against each other, and they were innocent and not sorry to die, but if there were four dead bodies in this small county, it would be a big murder, and the locals did not know that they were being punished by their uncle, and they only thought that they had encountered bandits, and they must be panicked; The government will also disturb the people's peace because of its eagerness to buy the murderer, and there may even be unjust imprisonment, which the young lady does not want to see. ”

"Hmph, you have a lot of unnecessary concerns." Ashina slapped his horse forward silently for an indefinite period.

Zuo Ying had to admire Su Bo's personal business level, and when he said this, things became more and more impeccable.

She smiled slightly and said, "Su Bo is indeed a person who once served as a parent official in this area, not only is he familiar with the situation here, but he is also very considerate of the people. ”

"Miss Xie compliments." Su Bo hugged his fists.

The bridge of Xu Hong's nose wrinkled slightly, showing a trace of disdain, and then stepped forward and said: "When the young lady returns to Beijing safely, Xu Hong will definitely report this matter to Tingwei for a thorough investigation and investigate the evildoer." ”

Zuo Ying saw all these details, but smiled without saying a word. How could she not know that this Su Bo was the backbone of Li Kaizong's party, and this Xu Hong was an important member of the Helan Chu Group. The reason why she chose these two people among the many guarantees was to deliberately let people in both parties be by her side, so that none of them would be anxious and uneasy, and the spies and eyeliners in private would be avoided.

As he spoke, the sky was already slightly bright, and Su Bo pointed ahead with a horsewhip and said, "Miss, here is more than ten miles ahead, over a hill, and we will arrive at Ziyang City, I can rest in Ziyang City later." Go out from the west gate of Ziyang City, and then go forward sixty or seventy miles, and you can reach the territory of Pingzhou. The sixty or seventy miles of the road is difficult to complete in half a day, and the young lady did not rest well last night, and she has been in a hurry for half a day, and her body must have been very tired, Su Bo suggested that the young lady should rest in Ziyang City for the night first, and then set off for Pingzhou early tomorrow morning. ”

Zuo Ying nodded. The saddle is hard and uncomfortable, and people sit on it without a backrest to rest on the waist board, and they have to step on the stirrups and clamp the horse's belly from time to time, which is very tiring. So it's also a good idea to be able to take a break before heading out.

*

At the same time, outside the city of Pingzhou, a group of people were riding forward, and the first rays of sunlight could only allow them to see the road ahead.

Tuoba Shou, who was walking at the front of the team, asked Shi Guoliang, who was walking side by side with him, and said, "Shi Taishou, I don't know what you think about the robbery of military rations?" Has there been any bandits in this area this year? ”

Shi Guoliang frowned slightly, pondered for a moment and said: "In the next ignorance, in the next Pingzhou City for five years, only when he first took office, someone reported that there are often bandits on the nearby Danping Mountain to rob the property of merchants, and even kill people and goods, seek money and kill people. The occasional report is a small case of loss of livestock, and it is impossible to hide bandits who can kill all the more than 100 officers and soldiers! I can't figure it out, I don't know if there are thieves who take advantage of the disaster today, entrenched nearby, and are still in the dark. is incompetent, what a shame to be the official of Pingzhou's parents! ”

After Shi Guoliang finished speaking, he lowered his head and sighed.

"Shi Taishou should not blame himself." Tuoba Shou waved his hand and said: "Those heinous people who take advantage of the fire to rob will definitely be punished as they deserve, so as to show the king's law and conform to the principles of heaven." ”

Shi Guoliang raised his head, solemnly hugged his fists and said, "Lord Tuoba has worked hard!" I am ashamed that because the disaster relief matters are complicated and cumbersome, I really can't allocate too many people for Lord Tuoba to send them. The thirty brave men who traveled with Lord Tuoba were small in number, but they were all the most elite soldiers in the city, hoping to help the adults! ”

Tuoba Shou raised his eyebrows and said: "The fifty elite people led by this general, plus the thirty strong men sent by Shi Taishou, are already very sufficient. Thank you for sparing no effort and being thoughtful. There are still many things busy in the city, please send Shi Taishou here, and after thoroughly investigating this case, I will go to Pingzhou City to meet with Master Dong and Shi Taishou! ”

Shi Guoliang clenched his fists again and said loudly: "Since this is the case, please forgive me for being on official business, and I can't send it far." It's all thanks to Tuoba-sama! ”

Tuoba Shou also returned the salute and said, "Shi Taishou, please go back." With that, he patted his horse forward.

Shi Guoliang and his entourage were stationed on the side of the road, watching Tuoba Shou and his entourage gradually move away meaningfully. The red sun on the horizon showed its head slightly, dyeing a cloud near the horizon a bloody color, adding a little treacherous to the already dark sky.

*

*(To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )