The Shanxi Road affair began with the suppression of bandits. However, it can't be said completely, because at the beginning he did come with the purpose of suppressing bandits, but His Majesty gave him another task.

Zhou Shilin's face looked a little solemn in the hot air of the tea.

"Your Majesty only asked me to suppress bandits at first, and the other task was to ask me to find someone." Zhou Shilin took a sip of the tea handed by Bai Zhijun, and said, "According to Your Majesty, he is a hermit who has lived in seclusion for a long time, and he is in the mountains of this Shanxi Road generation. ”

When Qiao Ran heard this, she was silent for a moment and said, "Did you find it?" ”

Zhou Shilin shook his head: "The hermit was not found, but it was just ......"

He came with a large army, and the bandits on Shanxi Road did not dare to face them head-on no matter how arrogant they were, so to speak, as long as he Zhou Shilin did not suddenly hit his head and became a fool, this errand would not be difficult.

Therefore, when he had almost eliminated the bandits who often showed up to harass the people, he began to look for the hermit in His Majesty's mouth.

Qiao Ran opened her mouth to interrupt him: "In this case, even if you don't say it, but after a long time, you are looking for someone to think about it, everyone can see it!" ”

Zhou Shilin nodded: "At this moment, things began to surprise me." ”

Obviously, the bandits have almost been eliminated, but at this time, bandits have appeared again.

"No, these people can't be called ordinary bandits anymore." Zhou Shilin thought for a while, then shook his head and corrected his rhetoric, "They are well-trained, and the occasional two appearances and fights can be seen that they march in a uniform manner, the horses under them are excellent, and they are proficient in military formations. ”

So that can be called an army, and a well-trained army.

Qiao Ran thought for a while and said, "In addition to the army, there are also assassins?" ”

Zhou Shilin's eyelids jumped when he suddenly mentioned assassins in the West Pavilion, but he still nodded along with her words, and said, "Yes, there are powerful assassins who dare to assassinate court officials." ”

Whether the deaths of General Gu and Lord Zhao were committed by that little guy is still controversial, but the assassination is an indisputable fact.

"The army and the assassins are already in trouble," Qiao Ran nodded, as if with emotion, "But these two are not the most terrible, the most terrible thing is the disease." ”

This is also the disease they want to know the most.

Zhou Shilin hurriedly said, "Let someone bring the patient over for you to see in a while," he said, glancing at Zhang Jie, who was silent on the side, and said, "Miss Yuan said that it should be related to the Yin-Yang Warlock, but unfortunately she knows how to cure the disease, but she doesn't know what this disease is and where it comes from." ”

Naturally, there is no way to satisfy Zhou Shilin with this answer, but Miss Yuan is conclusive, saying that she has always been like this when she sees a doctor. Zhou Shilin was still slandering at the time whether this was the so-called miracle medicine, one side of the cure for all kinds of diseases or something. Of course, I can only think about these in my heart, but because of Miss Yuan's identity, I can't say it.

Naturally, there was no problem with this arrangement, Qiao Ran turned his head to look at Bai Zhijun and Zhang Xie on the side: "General Bai, Zhang Tianshi, do you have any other questions to ask?" ”

"No need." Zhang Xie glanced at Bai Zhijun, and when he saw Bai Zhijun bowing slightly at him, he said, "Please bring the patient over!" ”

Zhou Shilin snorted, raised his hand and beckoned his henchmen to bring a few patients over, and after ordering all this, he looked at everyone again.

"You don't have a problem, but I have a problem." He was right.

Well? Qiao Ran paused with the tea, seeing that his expression didn't seem to be fake, he couldn't help but be curious: "What's wrong with the Great Governor?" ”

Zhou Shilin said: "I haven't completed the task given to me by His Majesty. He Zhou Shilin has no habit of shirking, and the iron-clad man naturally can't forget this stubble.

"I'm looking for a hermit for Your Majesty." Zhou Shilin said and looked at the few people present, his eyes skimmed over the faces of several people one by one, and finally stopped at Qiao Ran who was holding a teacup.

"Mistress Joe." "I'll leave that to you." ”

As soon as these words came out, the girl laughed out loud, and Pei Qingqing, who had been quiet for a long time, handed her a handkerchief, wiped the tea left at the corner of her mouth for her, and then made a grimace at Zhang Jie, who had not had time to touch her sleeve pocket.

This grimace reminded Zhou Shilin that there was such a person present, probably because he was too young, or he didn't say a word, so that he forgot about her existence for a while.

But children around the age of 10 should also remember, if they go out and talk nonsense...... Zhou Shilin immediately coughed, glanced at Qiao Ran, and turned to Pei Qingqing: "Look at this child." After saying this, without waiting for her to answer, he added, "If you can't stand me, I have another way." ”

Zhou Shilin's method? Pei Qingqing was immediately shocked: "Are you going to throw me into prison and lock me up?" After a pause, he immediately threw himself into Qiao Ran's arms and howled.

Zhou Shilin does have a bit of a scoundrel in his temperament, but this scoundrel still has the upper hand when facing a child who is the same scoundrel, after all, how can adults be as knowledgeable as children?

Listening to Pei Qingqing's magic voice, Zhou Shilin's forehead cracked with green tendons, and he looked at Qiao Ran: "Master Qiao, look at ......"

Qiao Ran patted Pei Qingqing and signaled her to accept it when she saw it, and then said, "Don't worry, she is a good child and won't go out and talk nonsense." ”

A good boy who opens his voice and cries when he doesn't agree with him? Zhou Shilin raised his eyebrows, laughed dryly, and didn't insist anymore, but he didn't forget to shake the pot: "Lord Qiao, if she leaks the news, Your Majesty will ask ...... when the time comes."

Qiao Ran said: "The people I brought are naturally borne by me. ”

What I wanted was her words, Zhou Shilin nodded, didn't look at Pei Qingqing again, and talked about the previous thing again. He, Zhou Shilin, is not the master who can fool her by waiting for her to say a few words casually.

So, Zhou Shilin spoke again: "That hermit ......"

"There is no such hermit." Qiao Ran said and looked at Zhou Shilin, seeing that he immediately looked at herself because of her words, and looked like she was unwilling to give up without saying a reason, she couldn't help laughing, she shook her head, and said again, "There is no hermit." ”

Originally, he didn't want to say it, but seeing that Zhou Shilin was so resolute, if he didn't give a reasonable reason, Zhou Shilin was afraid that he wouldn't stop asking, so Qiao Ran told the truth: "There is no so-called hermit from beginning to end. ”

This answer made Zhou Shilin feel that it was not an exaggeration to say that it was a thunderbolt in the sky for a moment, and he was about to catch Qiao Ran in a hurry: "Master Qiao, what do you mean?" ”

But the hand was about to touch the girl's arm and was immediately pushed aside.

Zhang Xie withdrew his hand and glanced at Zhou Shilin, who didn't realize what he had done.

Talk and talk, what do you do? What's more, Zhou Shilin is still his people who want to move. With His Majesty's relief, he can stay by her side openly, and naturally he will no longer be restrained like before.

Pei Qingqing, who witnessed all this, nodded again and again, knowing Miss Hu Qiao, this is not bad. Like a mother, she knows to protect her and prevent her father from stealing her snacks.

Zhou Shilin didn't care that his hand was blocked, he just casually put his hand on the table on the side, stared at the girl in front of him, and raised his voice a little higher: "Master Qiao, if you don't make this matter clear, Zhou Mou won't be out of this door today." ”

It's a scoundrel again, it's really nature!

Qiao Ran smiled, of course she wouldn't let Zhou Shilin stay, and since he insisted on hearing about this matter, she didn't mind talking about it.

"May I ask the Great Governor, what is the condition of Shanxi Road before the bandits are suppressed?"

Why do you suddenly ask that? Zhou Shilin was puzzled, but he still recalled it and said: "Bandits are rampant, and the people suffer from it. ”

"Where is the bandit?"

Why do you always ask for things that everyone knows? Zhou Shilin frowned, he was dissatisfied with Qiao Ran's nonsense, but it was only dissatisfied, since he had a request for others, he naturally knew everything and said everything.

Thinking like this, Zhou Shilin shook his hand, pointed out, and said: "Since I rely on mountain dangers, easy to defend and difficult to attack, occupy the mountain as the king, when I led the troops to suppress the bandits, this generation of mountain bandits have all made up the name of several kings of Shanxi Road, which can be described as rampant." ”

Qiao Ran said: "These mountain bandits occupy the mountain so much, and their sense of territory is so strong, can there be people other than their own people or who have been taken up the mountain by themselves?" ”

Zhou Shilin thought for a while, shook his head and said, "No, not only that, but these mountain bandits will occasionally do things against each other for the territory under their jurisdiction. ”

Of course, bandit infighting is a good thing for the people.

Qiao Ran smiled and said, "Then dare to ask the Great Governor, if you were to come to seclusion, what kind of place would you find?" ”

Zhou Shilin said: "Isn't it also sung in the play? Find a secluded paradise with beautiful mountains and rivers. ”

"The Great Governor thinks that this generation of Shanxi Road is beautiful?"

There are many mountains in Shanxi, but there are many dangerous peaks and valleys, and the scenery is just an ordinary mountain scene, and I have not heard of any special places.

At this time, listening to her ask two questions in a row, Zhou Shilin had faintly noticed the strangeness of this task given by His Majesty, but these strangeness were not enough to make him convinced that there was no such hermit.

"Nope." Zhou Shilin said, "It's not a paradise. ”

"Not only that, banditry is rampant, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a poor mountain and a bad water to make the people out." Zhou Shilin rolled his eyelids as he spoke, "I know what you asked is a question, but what if this hermit has a different temperament from the world, he likes to stay in this kind of place?" ”

The girl didn't refute him, she only nodded when she heard the words, and said, "Well, it's not impossible to be too bizarre." After all, the little guy who was born in Chaozhou may also be born on Shanxi Road. ”

Qiao Ran didn't care, in terms of probability, it was also possible.

However, in this regard, Bai Zhijun finally couldn't sit still, he coughed, and said loudly: "Great Governor, if everything is solved by such bizarre things, I am afraid that it will be grabbed by the Chinese official!" ”

Qiao Ran smiled and shook her head slightly, if Bai Zhijun's words are translated into the vernacular, it is, "You Zhou Shilin don't always be a bar master, the reason for this kind of nonsense is that I don't wait to say it, and those civil officials in the court will also mention it." ”

Zhou Shilin naturally understood this truth, he closed his eyes, and said: "I know that this Shanxi Road does not seem to be out of the hermit's land, but this is His Majesty's order, and it will not ...... Scamming ...... There are fakes. ”

Your Majesty, Chrysostom Yuyan!

In this regard, Qiao Ran only smiled, looked at Bai Zhijun, and said, "General Bai can bring His Majesty's holy decree over?" ”

Bai Zhijun nodded, got up and walked out.

Qiao Ran smiled and said, "It's hard work", and turned back to ask Zhou Shilin: "If Your Majesty makes two holy decrees on one thing one after the other, which one does the Great Governor think should prevail?" ”

Zhou Shilin was stunned for a moment before he said: "I'm still an oracle, you don't have to explain, I already understand." ”

This sentence is sufficient. In the holy decree that Bai Zhijun took, it was pointed out that what they wanted to do was to assist Zhou Shilin in investigating the collusion of Shanxi Road bandits and Shanxi Road officials.

As for the hermit, it is not mentioned in the decree.

Without this hermit, he understood the problem, but there were some things he still didn't understand.

"I still have some doubts," although Zhou Shilin understood that the matter of the hermit was purely illusory, he was still a little unwilling, "Why did Your Majesty ask me to find a person who is nothing." ”

The face of the girl who was still smiling in front of her suddenly became solemn, and she said in a deep voice: "Naturally, it is to attract the real bandits. Or the one who hides behind the rampant bandits.

"This is a game between His Majesty and the people behind the scenes," the girl explained, "and the other party is extremely powerful......

As soon as these words came out, several people present nodded in unison. If you are not powerful, how can you never hear of the existence of such people before?

"I think the news Your Majesty got should not be very sure whether these people are hiding in the Shanxi Road generation, and it is inconvenient to tell the Great Governor about such a fictitious thing, if not, it is naturally the best, otherwise it is very likely to cause speculation and turmoil." Qiao Ran glanced at Zhou Shilin and did not forget to "appease" him.

After all, it is good for His Majesty to turn a blind eye to this kind of "deception" as much as possible, and it is best for Zhou Shilin not to have any complaints about "being tricked" in his heart.

Can His Majesty's "deception" be called deception? That's a bureau for the peace of the world. Qiao Ran shook her head secretly.

Zhou Shilin glanced at her, obviously aware of it, and asked her to continue.

Now that the matter has begun, it is better to make it clear.

"Because His Majesty is not very sure, and he can't mention this matter clearly, he thought of a way." Qiao Ran said, "In the eyes of outsiders, the Great Governor has obviously eliminated the bandits, but he still did not collect the troops, but searched for them vigorously. ”

Zhou Shilin said: "I'm looking for someone." ”

Qiao Ran said: "People who are open-minded are naturally not afraid, but if they have ghosts in their hearts, they can't sit still, they think that the Great Inspector has discovered something, and the Great Inspector refuses to stop. ”

Because he didn't find anyone, Zhou Shilin slandered, so he naturally didn't dare to stop.

In fact, at this point, she continued.

So the bandit is obviously gone, and suddenly he pops up again. It can be seen how wise Your Majesty is, and this booby trap game really lured people out.

It is really a good thing to have a son of heaven and wisdom. But he was not very happy to be a knife in His Majesty's hand.

"Don't be upset, too." The girl accepted it when she saw it, and did not continue, but comforted her, "Your Majesty told you the problem in the morning, and asked you to make a show to lure people out, will you come?" ”

Of course not. Zhou Shilin touched the saber on his waist and said in his heart. What simple characters would be those hiding behind the bandits? Although he is happy to go further, how could he do such a dangerous thing that is very likely to cost him his life? If His Majesty had said it, he would have escaped this catastrophe by sacrificing the "sick" Dafa.

If you are already rich, you don't need to take risks.

What a wise man! This is clearly the trap for him.

As a minister, you can't say that Your Majesty is not. Seeing that it had been quiet for a while, Bai Zhijun thought for a while and said to help comfort him: "Such a tricky matter will never be done by others, which shows Your Majesty's importance and trust in the Great Governor. ”

Zhou Shilin looked at the three people in front of him again, no, plus the little one on the side who changed his face and cried and couldn't shed tears.

It's true that the Son of Heaven is wise, and these people don't mix much! The tongue is messed with lotus, and the dead can be said to be alive.

He laughed dryly twice and said, "I don't dare to live up to Your Majesty's trust." ”