Wei Chi Jinxian secretly interrogated Hailancha, and until late at night, he had already figured out the cause of the case. It's just that Hailancha himself does not have an official seal, and his identity cannot be confirmed. Faced with the 100,000 taels of silver tickets found, he was stunned for a long time, and ordered Hailancha and Ding E'er to be detained in the two empty houses of the Houya, and then took a sedan chair and went straight to the Yamen of the Salt Administration Department in the north of the city to find Gao Heng.

This yamen occupies a large area, because together with the salt storehouse is in a large compound, with a radius of two miles, rows of warehouses on the east and north, and a small garden on the west. Adjacent to the garden, there is another three-entry compound, which is a well-known wealthy horse widow's house in Texas. This "horse widow" is the Ma Shen clan that Gao Heng met when he was suppressing bandits in Taiping Town, Laiwu County. Ma Shen was born beautiful, but he married a rich man and had impotence. The two people were in love, and after they separated, Gao Heng missed it a lot, and donated a salt treasury on behalf of her husband Ma Jiyao, and both husband and wife were transferred to Texas to manage the salt warehouse. He also built the Yamen of the Salt Administration Department nearby, and even the courtyard was open. This matter is almost a household name in Texans, and it is said behind her back that it is "a widow recruits a man", and when she is called, she becomes a "horse widow", but in fact, her husband lives a strong life, and he will not fool around with women, and he is a good hand at holding money. When Captain Chi Jinxian got off the sedan chair in front of the ya, he was a person who was very familiar with moving around here, and the door was a nine-rank military attache inspection, so he came up to call Qian'er to ask for peace, and said with a smile: "Lord Futai, we are all Yintai [1]

The old man was talking to the horse-cous in the western courtyard, and he hasn't come back yet. Pi Yizun is also waiting in the flower hall! If you come here this morning or evening, there must be something important, and I will go and tell him about the old man. ”

"Pi Zhongchen is also there?" Wei Chi Jinxian stepped into the ya, looked at a large dark and dreary warehouse, and said, "You can go and say goodbye." Let's just say we're waiting here - has the wall in the northeast corner of the storeroom been raised? You always throw salt and tell us to solve the case, and you are busy with you all day long. ”

"Higher, higher, higher!" The door politician replied, called a thousand children again, and said with a smile: "We dare not do what you order?" Humble this is the past to tell you - please! I'll be back in a minute. After that, he went west and hurried to find Gao Heng.

Gao Heng was angry with the horse widow. Men Zheng entered the courtyard three times, saw that the west chamber where Ma Ji lived was dark and turned off the lights, only to listen to Gao Heng and Ma Shen talking in the upper room, covering his mouth and smiling, about to go up the stairs, listening to the horse widow crying, hurriedly stopped, quietly stood under the patio pomegranate tree and waited for the opportunity, did not dare to go, did not dare to listen carefully, looked up at the stars, but in the end still listened to an eyebrow, it turned out that the horse widow had bought a garden in the west of Sulu Ling, and the two were fighting.

Gao Heng in the house was so hot that he was covered in sweat, and he thought that Concubine Xiang's fan was not windy, so she fanned a big banana fan, and only wore a lapsed blue gauze short gown, and said: "You look like this, now is not the time to be angry." It was already a big move, and the imperial court issued several edicts to clean up the deficit. Buying a garden at this hour, isn't it fucking breaking your ass and calling for wind - asking for your own illness? ”

"We bought the garden from our Ma family—what does it have to do with you?" Ma Shenshi leaned on the back of the chair and cried and said, "Chen Xixi also bought the garden, Liu Ajuan also bought it, and Sister Cui!" Don't you know who paid for it? - They can buy it, why can't I? Gao Heng approached her, hugged her shoulder and wanted to kiss her, but was pushed away by Ma's hand, so he had to smile bitterly and said, "Good aunt, keep your voice low...... What is it to hear? - Who's out there? ”

Gao Heng suddenly found the door Zheng standing in the patio, coughed, paced out as if nothing happened, looked at it, and said, "It's Xiao Gongzi!" - What's the matter? Xiao Gongzi hurriedly told Wei Chi and Pi Zhongchen about coming to worship, and said: "They came in the middle of the night, and the slave thought that there must be something important, so he hurried over to say hello to the master." Gao Heng sighed and said, "You talk back to them, and I'll go over in a while." Then he stepped into the house and said, "It's my clothed servant, it's okay—hear me!" They must have come for a salt shortage! You're confused! I'm done, can you stand? ”

Only then did the horse widow know that the matter was not small, and she was "crying", but she "sneered" and said, "What's the salt shortage?" Didn't you say, if there are no clean officials today? If the law does not govern the people, can the emperor kill all the officials who are in vain? She stood up and gave Gao Heng her handkerchief to wipe her tears with the sweat on her head. Look at what scares you - I haven't paid for the garden yet, say no, don't you just say a word? You are the uncle of the country, don't you also come to the governor of Zhili? It's a shame that you've been boasting about Haikou all day long - I'm angry, and you're too greedy! In this house, I, and all the girls, it's not enough for you to play, what else do you want to get 'Twelve Golden Hairpins', this one is called 'Lin Daiyu', and the other is called 'Xue Baochai'......" She said at one end, and called "hot" at the other, and then took off her clothes. After taking off the coat, there was only a water-red cicada wing gauze skirt inside, two snow-white shoulders were exposed, and she was wearing close-fitting lotus-colored shoulders, pink thighs, and pale red milk beans on the towering **...... All hazy swayed in front of Gao Heng. Because of Qiaoshengsheng, he snatched a handful of sideburns that were as black as crow's wings, came up and climbed Gao Heng's neck, blew Ruolan in his mouth, and said in a loud voice: "Didn't you say that people have two heads, the upper one is troubled, and the lower one is ...... Is it a relief from sorrow? Master Gao......"

Gao Heng has devoted his life to working on women, and he has been with each other for a while, and after a fresh time, he will put a few dollars and let go. Only this Mashen clan not only has a good body and appearance, but also has other skills that ordinary people can't match. She smiled freely, fiddling with Gao Heng **, but she didn't allow Gao Heng to get wet, she was annoyed when she was serious, but she was coquettish, when she came, she was "new". Gao Heng also has a problem, he doesn't like yellow flower girls, he loves to fool around with middle-aged beautiful women, saying that the girls are cowardly and too reserved, and they are not as good as middle-aged beautiful women and half-aged. The two of them get along well, and Ma Shen's appearance is similar to Tang'er, and they have been like fish in water for many years, and they are like newlyweds. At this moment, looking at Ma Shen's under the lamp, a person in his early thirties, still frowning with autumn water in his spring mountain eyes, ten thousand kinds of graceful style, he couldn't help but get angry, and laughed: "Come and let go of the troubled water!" - You don't want to roll in your arms again and run away, do you? And he took off his clothes.

"No, it won't." Ma Shen smiled and said, "Sometimes that's because I'm afraid of you...... Hungry and homesick. ”

"Then you strip naked, too."

"Girls......"

"Don't be afraid."

"It's too hot......"

"It's too hot," Gao Heng whispered into her ear: "So naked, covered in sweat, slippery, and comfortable...... Smooth...... You pinch your hands, beware of getting it wrong...... I forgot the last time, the two of us took a shower, and we were covered in pancreas...... Hee ...... "The woman was swaying by him for a while, becoming more and more excited, a dizziness and sucking her tongue and licking her legs and feet, the cow panting and moaning, suddenly turned over on it, pressed him tightly, and quickly sent it on it, and said in a trembling voice: "Good my father and brother...... This time I made up my shortfall......"

mentioned the word "deficit", but Gao Heng was defeated, and the work was soft. Ma Shi Wu didn't let go, no matter how he fiddled, sucking and playing was always useless, so he had to sigh down and complain: "This is what I don't give to you, or do you not give it to me?" When it came to the critical juncture, the army was defeated like a mountain, and it was as soft as noodles - it was all those few prodigal cunts and little hooves, hollowing you out......" Gao Heng thought about "deficit" in his heart, and he didn't know what was important about Wei Chi Jin's loyal ministers, but it was inconvenient to say it. Seeing that Ma was dressed and sideburns, he looked unhappy, and he also got up with a smile, pulled her shoulders and said: "I didn't listen to what I told you, 'When it comes to that critical moment, it will be soft and soft...... 'I'll tell you the reason, and you'll understand.'" Song Gaozong was doing that, and when he heard that 'Jin Bing is coming', he was so frightened that he became impotent for life - I'll go do serious things first, and then I'll fight you for 300 rounds when I turn back! "Let's go. Ma Shi smiled and said to his back, "Come back later—listen?" ”

"I heard you!" Gao Heng agreed and hurried away.

Wei Chi Jinxian and Pi Zhongchen were talking and discussing at the envoy's yamen, and they were also worried. There is a letter in the inner court, and he wants to send Liu Yong to check the porcelain and sell porcelain and silver. In fact, the transaction was made by the two of them. Borrowed 50,000 from the Shandong Domain, Gao Heng asked them to write a note of borrowing 70,000 yuan, and collected 20,000 silver for nothing. These things have already been given to Gao Heng, but he has not come up with a serious idea. Both of them felt that the 100,000 silver on Hailancha's body, even if they could borrow it for half a year, everything could be managed. This money is eye-catching, but it feels hot. In case they go out, the four-character crime of "embezzling military salaries" is enough to send them to the West Market.

The money is so tempting. There is no root to be found, no account to check, and whoever falls into his hands is his. It's just that it is not easy to seal the mouth of Hailancha. Both of them are accustomed to wading in the troubled waters of the sea, and they both have the intention of killing people and destroying their mouths, but they don't say anything. Just the name of the case. If the crime of "fugitive" is to be handed over to the ministry for trial, but if Gao Wanqing kills several people according to civil punishment, he can be tried on the spot, and at most one "improper use of punishment" can put Hailan Cha to death.

The two of them were slowly reasoning, and they were discussing the case word by word, and Gao Heng had already come in with a fan. Seeing that the two of them had to salute with their sleeves and robes, Gao Heng said impatiently: "Excuse me!" What's the matter, come to stir up three watches in the middle of the night? ”

"The humble post is for the fugitive general Hailancha who is wanted by the imperial court." Wei Chi Jinxian said with a smile, "He killed six people in a row at Caoyun Wharf today, and three more serious injuries are being treated. There is such a big case in the place, and it is in the heavy land of Caoyun, so I can't help but come to the seventh master. Pi Zhongchen bowed down and said, "The whole city is in a stir! Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it is the first time that such a big case has occurred in Texas. ”

Gao Heng said "um", sat on the easy chair, sipped a cup of herbal tea, and listened to Wei Chi Jinxian's detailed description of the case from beginning to end, frowning for a while, shaking his head slightly, and smiling for a while, until he heard it, he didn't squeak. After a long time, he sighed and said, "It's like a hero saving a beauty in the words of a drum." I know this Hailancha - looking at the hippie smiling face on his face, he is actually a chivalrous and courageous, thoughtful and courageous hero! ”

He appreciated it like this, and Wei Chi Jinxian and Pi Zhongchen couldn't help but glance at each other. Pi Zhongchen said: "He is indeed smart. Declare yourself in front of 10,000 people. We can't be so lightly tried...... However, he is a double criminal, the original 'fugitive general' was the main case, and now he is committing a major daytime murder case. It seems to be heavier than the previous case, I don't know how to deal with it? ”

"So-what are you going to do?" Gao Heng seemed to be careless, playing with the gold-carved porcelain teacup, and asked, "It sounds like you want to try the murderer on the spot?" Wei Chi Jinxian was afraid that this uncle would say the word "Qin criminal", so he smiled and said: "His sea fishing document was issued by the Ministry of War, and it was just a capture." Since the main crime is in Texas, it should be judged in Texas and dealt with by the imperial court. ”

Pi Zhongchen was listening anxiously, this mansion was too detouring - Inha said: "His case is more than this, he also has 100,000 taels of silver tickets on him, which is not clear, and it is difficult to reply when the Criminal Department knows about it in the future." He has been dismissed from the military, but in fact, he is a common man, and he killed so many people in Texas at once, if he is not tried, the province will not be able to say it. ”

Lakh! Gao Heng's eyelids trembled. He immediately understood the intention of the two: they wanted to torture and kill people on the spot, and they swallowed the money. It's terrible to wear it for yourself and make such a name. But this silver is also very tempting to him, and the amorous debt he owes to a woman is taken out of the salt money, and it is also a deficit. If the 100,000 silver is freed, at least 40,000 or 50,000 yuan must be honored to him, and he will be debt-free and light-hearted immediately. Gao Heng is in a high position, and the inside of the court knows a lot. Qianlong is full of gentle and elegant face all day long, and seems to be more merciful and lenient than Yongzheng, but Yongzheng is extremely serious about killing people, and no longer thinks about Zhu Bi, but Qianlong has never hesitated, and the more senior officials are, the more decisive they are...... and Liu Tongxun's black face, he is always an unbreakable iron blue when he does things, which makes people palpitate even more when he thinks about it......

Gao Heng picked up the cup, his eyes were shining, and he looked at the slightly flickering lamps and candles. Pi Zhongchen and Wei Chi Jinxian stared at him with four eyes, not knowing what his idea was. After a long time, Gao Heng smiled and said: "He killed people in Texas, and the prefect of Texas doesn't care who cares?" I don't care about salty (idle) salt, and I don't care about idle things. This is tantamount to making a claim and not making a decision. Wei Chi Jinxian listened to the first half of the sentence, but Pi Zhongchen listened to the second half. Pi Zhongchen laughed dryly, but changed the topic: "Seventh Master, Jinan sent someone to bring Xin'er, saying that Qian Du was already annoyed, and if he didn't open the library and let his people check, he would impeach Gong Mingzhe, the secretary of the Shandong Domain." Gong Mingzhe just opened his mouth to ask for interest, and naturally pushed it away without evidence. We have an IOU of 70,000 taels here, and the grinding plate is rolling our hands! Last time you said to Qian Sinong[2]

Write a letter, I don't know what he said in reply? This is also one of the reasons why the lowly officials visit at night. When Gao Heng heard this, he was naturally unhappy, and after a long time, he asked, "What kind of business is yours?" Satin? Or a loom? How much is the total capital - when will the principal and interest be recovered? The IOU is my guarantee, and the insurance period is only half a year. Not yet, even I can't get rid of it! ”

"So we and the Seventh Master are in the same boat, and we have to be in the same boat." Pi Zhongchen stroked his forehead that was shining under the lamp, smiled with a scoundrel, and said: "There are looms shipped to Nanjing and Suzhou, and they come back with silk, and there are medicinal materials and cloths shipped to Sichuan, and they go to Tongling, Anhui Province to buy copper, and bring back copper-making utensils......"

"Copper?" Gao Heng interjected coldly, "There are prohibitions here, the most taboo is not afraid of killing your head?" ”

Wei Chi smiled and said, "Go back to the Seventh Master!" Selling copper is very profitable! A reversal is a thirty-fold profit. Last time, we folded the book, and we had to repay the debt-let's put it bluntly, the medicinal materials shipped to Sichuan this time also had to be compensated, because the Jinchuan war had been suspended, and only some medicines to escape the heat and dispel the plague were sold, and the rest were sold at half of the discount. If you don't get some copper, what will you lose money? Gao Heng said: "You are really lost in money, and you don't even want your life!" - What should I do if I find out illegal copper on the road? Wei Chi Jinxian said: "With the introduction of the salt government and the political envoy Yamen, the copper is in the salt, who dares to check?" - Seventh Master, these things are easy to deal with. It's up to you that matters! Liu Yong is the same as Liu Laozhongtang, and he also likes private visits. He has been in Wuhu for two months, and yesterday Erdi reported that according to Liu Yong's clear fold, he had been removed from Wu Wentang and temporarily detained in Anqing Mansion for investigation. There are our friends in Wuhu officialdom, as well as the people we sent, and we didn't even see what he looked like! Do you think this person is powerful? Maybe it's on the road to Texas now! We don't have a relationship with him, we don't know him, he is a young man, and it is when he steps on others to climb up. Even if they knew, who would dare to come to the door and hit his wooden clock? ”

"Don't talk about business. Cook your own! Gao Heng saw that the two of them were getting tighter and tighter, but they were aggressive, thinking left and right and couldn't turn their faces, he yawned for a long time, and said, "I don't know how to help each other in the same boat?" I was stunned when I watched the play, thinking that I was the second-faced straw bag uncle in the play! I said that you will be tried by Hailancha, and you will be judged. Do you mean to ask me to produce a note, or do you want me to interrogate myself? ”

"Don't dare, don't dare!" Both of them peeked at Gao Heng's uncertain face, bowed down and replied.

Gao Heng stood up, his eyes staring at the candlelight. The bottomless pupils are as dark as two pieces of black bluestone looming and half-hidden under the root of the earthen wall. Said slowly: "He may not be Hailancha. Why is there no supply under the five trees? - Go ahead! ”

"Yes!"

Wei Chi Jinxian and Pi Zhongchen gladly resigned. Gao Hengzhi watched their backs disappear into the darkness, a grim smile hung on the corner of his mouth, and he took out his pocket watch to see that it was already time for the card. He took a long breath with his face up, and shouted softly outside, "Little Gongzi come in!" ”

"Master, the minion is here!"

Xiao Gongzi appeared in front of Gao Heng almost immediately as if he had come out of the ground, Gao Heng waved his hand to prevent him from saluting, and asked, "The guest who stayed at the Hongda Inn, has you figured out your identity?" ”

"Got it!" Xiao Gongzi blinked, and said neatly: "It is indeed Liu Yong, Tang Gechen, the head of the household department, is on an errand in Wuhu, they are the same year, often in one place, and they are recognized at a glance in Wuhu Lao Maogan Shop." Yingcheng in our house has followed from Wuhu to Texas, and there will be no mistakes. ”

"Didn't let him see that he was stalking, did you?"

"Nope! A few substitutions followed! ”

"Good!" Gao Heng smiled: "This mission is beautiful!" He walked around the room, went to the table to write a letter, but stopped, opened the cabinet, took out a Wolong belt, carefully checked it, and handed it to Xiao Gongzi.

This is a very delicate belt, inside and outside the dark color Ning silk wrapped in tribute, are densely sewn with the same color filament, the edge of the belt pinched gold digging cloud inlaid with gold line letters. The most eye-catching is an embroidered dragon with a winding curved plate, but it is made of fine embroidery with Ming gold thread - this is his extermination of Liu San's bald bandit village in Taiping Town, and Qianlong personally awarded the imperial reward. Just because of this bright golden dragon, even his identity never dared to tie it in front of the public. Not to mention ordinary officials, it is rare to meet them.

"You take this Wolong bag to see Liu Yong now." Gao Heng saw that Xiao Gongzi's face was full of surprise, and said with a smile: "Just say that it is inconvenient for me Gao Heng to go over, so I will wait here!" ”

"What if he refuses to come?"

"He won't not come, and he won't dare not come."

"Does he want to admit himself?"

"Let's just say that he was eating in a restaurant, and I recognized it with my own eyes." Gao Heng smiled, "If there is no important matter, I will not invite him at this hour-if you really don't come, don't say much, you just come back." ”

"Wow!"

Xiao Gongzi went. It was already the fourth watch, and the sound of roosters could be heard in the distance, and it was the blackest time before dawn to "buckle the bottom of the pot", the sweltering heat was long gone, and the cool air through the window soaked people comfortably. Gao Heng waited quietly for this official of the Criminal Department who was ordered to investigate the case, and he felt nervous and calm, and he also felt a burst of regret and remorse. He wasn't a money-grubber, and he wasn't a drinker. Shrewd and capable, familiar with salt affairs, although not as capable as Fu Heng, he is still a top-notch talent among many "uncles of the country". But he only made one mistake, he loved women. When he was in Beijing, he was greedy for Fu Heng's wife Tang'er, and he couldn't get it by all means, but later he learned that Tang'er had an affair with the emperor, but it was forbidden, and he was still unwilling. Going out of Beijing on a business trip is a free body, from Shanhaiguan to Dezhou, all the way to show mercy everywhere, where is there no money? It's just that the handsome bird from the poor mountain village of the Mashen clan doesn't know how to converge, so he has to show off his money and make himself lose his mind, and he still owes a lot of debts, and he has a playboy reputation outside. I want to kick out the horse widow, first, I can't bear it, and second, this woman knows that she has too many things......

Just as he was thinking about it upside down, there was a sound of small footsteps under the porch outside the window, and Xiao Gongzi came in with a young official and said to Gao Hengyu: "Master, Lord Liu is here!" With that, he withdrew. Gao Heng stood up, but did not speak, and looked at Liu Yong in silence.

This is simply a little Liu Tongxun, the same stocky height, medium stature, the same slightly circled legs, the same black and red rectangular face, a pair of bright triangular eyes under the thick eyebrows of the broom, but the upper lip of the wide mouth is only a layer of fluffy mustache, and there are only some wrinkles on the face. Dressed in a six-grade suit, wearing a clams on the top, and the eight pythons and five-clawed robes are also covered with heron supplements, and the end is not muddy and water-this one is significantly more elaborate than his Lao Tzu. Gao Heng couldn't help but smile when he saw that he was also looking at himself, he looked a little casual, waved his hand and said, "Chongru, don't be restrained, sit, sit!" ”

"Thank you, Lord Gao!" Liu Yong's demeanor was steady, he sat down in the guest seat, took the tea brought by the little servant, and put it on the table, "I don't know what instructions and instructions Master Gao summoned to his humble position at night?" ”

Gao Heng sighed, smiled bitterly, and said: "You are such an official, so righteous and awe-inspiring, it really makes me unspeakable-your father Yanqing is my best friend, but he is not reluctant, and I also respect him, so I visit him a little less, back then in Fengtian, what kind of friendship we had - what about him, he wrote to impeach Zhang Tingyu and his relatives, and got off to behead Chen Qunxing, the governor of Huguang, and now he is a famous minister. I have a reputation as a 'national uncle', and I am in charge of money and salt, which one of the messengers has always been not a swill tank, which stinks? Relationships are even more scarce......"

He looked sincere and eloquent, Liu Yong just listened quietly, only bowed slightly when his father's name was mentioned, and his demeanor was a bit like the wine of the country's priest [3]

, patiently listening to the students who have just entered the school talk about "Zhu Zi Daquan". Gao Heng secretly admired his instrument, and his mouth turned sharply, becoming strangely sad: "I could have learned from Fu Liuye, made military merits externally, cultivated government affairs internally, and honestly been a good courtier." But he was in charge of the salt administration, and the people he dealt with were all indiscriminate businessmen. Last time, my mother counted me down, saying that she was attracting bees and butterflies outside, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get a good reputation. Chongru, you think, this is like a dung tank, can there be no flies around? To tell you the truth, I have romantic sins, and I owe romantic debts. There is a deficit in the salt business, and the responsibility is naturally my responsibility. I know my own business. You said that you want to check, and you can open the warehouse and move the account tomorrow. Done? ”

"Master Gao," Liu Yong listened to him self-examination and self-blame, such a tall "Uncle Guo" was like a friend of his old age, and he couldn't help but be moved in his heart, and sighed slightly: "You are so open and honest, it is really my surprise." It is not in my position to open the treasury and check the accounts, but the adults are commenting on the outside, and there are indeed some subtle words. I can't say anything more, if I owe a debt to the treasury, I should pay off the debt as soon as possible, and if I have a deficit in the salt business, I should rectify it quickly. What about men and women...... It's just rumors, and it's not a big obstacle - these two things are actually just one thing, and it's a principle of cultivating morality. The students are small and small, and the younger generations should not have said these words to you. However, adults and students have a heart-to-heart relationship, and students dare not disobey sincerely. He raised his hand.

Gao Heng seemed to be much more relaxed. sighed: "Every day is to weigh catties, abacus, and silver money, and I haven't listened to reason for a long time." I'm happy. "How did Liu Yong know that he had entered Gao Heng's trap? smiled and said: "If you smell it, you will be happy, and it will be very good." I rejoice in my lordship. Gao Heng changed the subject and said: "Just for these words, I can calmly talk to you - did you hear Hailancha's case?" ”

"Texans are well known, or it won't be long before it will cause a sensation in the world!" Liu Yong said, "I went to see it too." ”

"That's nature. Wei Chi Jinxian and Pi Zhongchen have just left from me. They were going to hear the case on the spot. ”

"Hmm?"

"I don't pay much attention to the grievances here. I heard that this Hailancha still carries 100,000 taels of silver tickets. ”

Liu Yong's cheeks trembled, he immediately understood what Gao Heng meant, leaned over, leaned back again, and asked, "Master Gao, how did you reply?" "They said they were going to be tried." Gao Heng smiled indifferently and said, "I said that I just care about salt and salt. I can't interfere in local affairs, and I don't take responsibility for it – it occurred to them that there was an article here after they left. Hailancha is a 'fugitive general', and he is a clear thing; killing people at the dock is a crime committed in front of all eyes, and he is arrested with his hands tied; he is a Qin criminal, and when he asks for the reason for his case, he just needs to go up, so why should he be punished? What does the torture ask? This is so weird! So I have to be abrupt, please come out and intervene. Liu Yong thought nervously, the "strangeness" here is obvious at a glance, but why does Gao Heng care so much, and why does he call himself alone? …… After thinking about it, he asked, "Lord Gao, how do you know that you are in Texas?" ”

Gao Heng smiled and said, "What Fu Lao Liu told me - why, I can't know?" ”

"That's not what it means." Liu Yong was stunned by the question, and said: "Humble position means that you can personally intervene." Hailancha is a criminal who is ordered to investigate - the magistrate is the governor, and he has no power to try the criminal - to put it bluntly, Pi Zhongchen and they smuggle copper from Anhui, and their deficit, has anything to do with the adults? "Nothing at all." Gao Heng said solemnly, "With my position, it is natural for them to come and go diligently on weekdays. They borrowed 70,000 taels of silver from the treasury of the domain, and I was the guarantor of someone. Officialdom, who doesn't want to be perfunctory? The incident of Hailancha is so loud that I don't think even his charge of 'fugitive' is untenable. If you want to doubt me, you don't have to intervene, I'll sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, to see who dares to come to help me? ”

These words were said in a straight and strict manner, and Liu Yong felt uneasy. Standing up with a little restraint, he took a sip of tea and said, "I have been taught by my humble position." Adults are tired, and they are not shallow. Let's go back. When the time comes, the hall will pass. Gao Heng also served tea with a smile and asked, "I'm afraid I can't take it anymore, right?" You have to be measured, you must know that Wei Chi's official position is higher than yours. ”

"This is a lowly position." After Liu Yong finished speaking, he bowed and retreated. Gao Heng had already missed the sleepiness at this moment, and he didn't feel sleepy at all, seeing that the clear morning light reflected the blue window paper, he simply washed up, and called Xiao Gongzi to order: "Go to the mansion to see a few people to see the trial, and report to me in two minutes!" He sat down and wrote a secret letter to Qianlong, and wrote letters to Fu Heng, Liu Tongxun, Ji Yun, A Gui and his own mansion one by one. Needless to say, depending on the person.

The two churches in Texas and counties tried the murder case of Hailancha, and before it was published, it was posted all over the city, and Hailancha himself was still in the dark. When he came to the Ya yesterday, Wei Chi Jinxian treated him very politely, not only did he not tie up or lock him, but he also treated him with four dishes and a pot of wine in the evening. It's just that "Mrs." Ding E'er and him are separated from two hospitals, and they can take a leisurely walk in the courtyard, but they can't be discharged. Wei Chi himself did not see him again.

The snoring sound was like thunder and black and sweet, the sky was already bright, Hailan Chashang slept deeply, heard the door "clang", trembled in shock, and sat up with a "sigh", but saw five or six officials breaking into the door, all of them were fierce and vicious, and they didn't wait for him to say, they hugged him with seven hands and eight feet, and in an instant he was tied up like a dumpling, and a heavy flail was put on his neck with a "horn". The governor of Hailan has changed greatly, and he is being teased by the officials and walks out, thinking in his heart: "Did you follow the holy order, or take the ministry?" Texas to Beijing, even if it is eight hundred miles to step up paperwork, it is not so fast......" looked down at the prison clothes on his body just now, and his heart "boomed", knowing that the Texas prefect was attentive and wanted to swallow this military salary! "He must have tried to torture me! What should I do...... "The official pushed and rubbed away, thinking about countermeasures.

When I arrived at the west back of the lobby, I could already hear the voices of people outside the yamen, the sounds of whipping and driving people, the sound of scolding, and the shouting and crying of the people watching the trial, and it was a mess. Hailan Cha didn't know where this Wei Chi Taishou stuttered himself, and it was difficult to prepare countermeasures in detail, so he only gritted his teeth and locked his eyebrows to think. Seeing that Ding E'er was brought over from the east backyard by two prison mothers, she couldn't hesitate anymore, because she shouted loudly: "E'er! Remember two, what he wants to provide for him; Second, I'm Hailancha, don't be suspicious—don't—" Before he finished speaking, he had a handful of hemp walnuts in his mouth. Ding E'er is not a stupid person, but she also knows that Hailancha is ten times smarter than herself, chewing on Hailancha's two items, just a meaning of "not eating the immediate loss", and sat on the east side with the prison wife without squeaking.

Knock, knock, knock!

After three dull drums, I saw two lines of officials entering from the east and west gates, and then listened to "Hey...... Oh ......", with an elastic trill, shook people's hearts. There was a commotion outside the yamen, followed by a chant: "Take people to the court!" Immediately there was a dead silence again.

Hailancha was brought in through the west side door, and Ding E'er was seen coming in through the east gate. The two looked at each other, and Hailancha smiled and said, "Madam, it seems that it is still cheap for women, and I didn't put a rope on you and put a flail on it-" Before he finished speaking, a servant who was guarding the public case came over a few steps, slapped Hailancha in the face, and shouted: "Don't speak!" Only then did Hailancha take a closer look at the scene in the court:

This is a three-winged five-ridge blue brick roof of the trial hall, a color of square bricks, because it is too empty, there are two red lacquer pillars under the middle beam, and a couplet is also written on the pillar, the upper link is "the people are easy to abuse", and the lower link is "the sky is difficult to bully". The two rows of officials each stood in eight sandwiches, holding black and red water and fire sticks in their hands, and the upper seat was set on the north platform, and the screen was painted with a map of the Jiangya sea, and the top of the screen was written in white characters on a black background:

The mirror hangs high

In the middle, the captain Chi Jinxian sat solemnly in his official robe and boots, and there was a small case next to him, sitting a seven-rank county commander, who was Pi Zhongchen, and a few scribes, but they were all low and low stools, and the four treasures of the upper room were all prepared. Hailan inspected E'er, and saw that her face was pale, her hands were clenched, her little feet were half exposed, and her legs seemed to be trembling.

"Looking at what?! - Get on your knees! ”

"Get on your knees! Shot! The officials shouted in unison.

Hailancha sighed, smiled suddenly, and did not say a word or kneel. Pi Zhongchen whispered something to Wei Chi, and Wei Chi Jinxian realized that he was so angry with Hailan that he forgot the rules, and ordered: "Give him a punishment - kneel!" "Although it is still very loud, it is a little discouraged anyway. Hailancha was untied, and he had a hippie smile at Ding E'er, lifting the corners of his robe and kneeling. Ding E'er also knelt. Hailancha looked like a ruffian, and actually kowtowed, and said: "Old man Yu Chi, and this Mrs. Pi!" He asked me what I was looking for. I'm looking at this plaque above. The word 'Spiegel' is written too sloppily, and it looks like two 'Pengjian' (Pengbi is a traitor), and 'Friend Rape Gaozhao' seems to be unsmooth......"

Wei Chi Jinxian and Pi Zhongchen discussed all night, knowing that this person must be extremely difficult to judge, and wanted to kill his prestige at the beginning, and then force him to obey step by step. Unexpectedly, Hailancha had no "prestige" to kill at all, and he also released a pine bubble on the spot, which provoked several officials and masters not to turn their faces and snicker. Wei Chi Jinxian couldn't help but be a little discouraged. routinely asked Hailancha about his name, age, place of origin, etc., and then asked about the case. Only then did Hailancha know that he had killed six people yesterday, and two were still dying. I couldn't help but sigh and said, "Alas...... It's so useless, just kill six! ”

"What do you say? Loud! ”

"I said—" Hailancha raised his voice, and the sound shook the roof tiles, and even the dense crowd of people outside the yamen gate heard it harshly, "This is the least number of people I have ever killed, only six fucking people!" Wei Chi Jinxian swallowed, such a prisoner is really rare, saying that he roared in court, but he called him loud, so unruly and naughty, how to try it? After a pause, he asked, "Why kill people?" What is the enmity between Gao Wanqing and you? ”

"Back to my husband's ancestor. He robbed my wife and beat my son. I'm going to save it, and they're going to hurt me. Kill them by accident. ”

"Texas is the king's important land, he robbed your wife, can't you report it to the government for disposal? How dare you kill several lives in a row under the blue sky! ”

"Yes—but I didn't understand that yesterday. The king's law is important, and there are people who dare to rob the ** son and plunder the children under the blue sky! ”

Pi Zhongchen was secretly anxious when he heard this, and it turned into a child's play, and Wei Chi Jinxian was not an opponent at all. Because he coughed lightly on the side, he said gloomily: "You are not Hailancha at all. His eyes flashed fiercely, "Who is the thief, abducting the women and running for their lives?" Speak! ”

"Your Excellency!" Highlanza asked, "And who am I?" ”

"Now I'm asking you!"

"Then I'm still Highland."

The people who were watching the excitement outside almost crowded the wooden fence, and they heard bursts of laughter. Wei Chi Jinxian ordered the official to be suppressed, at this time he had woken up, thinking of the identity of the person who knelt down, he suddenly soaked in a cold sweat, but now, it is difficult to stop, because he asked: "Hailancha is a wanted criminal in the imperial court, and it is known all over the world. Since you are Hailancha, you should have fled in hiding, or surrendered to the nearest government, and you dared to openly come forward to kill people in the daytime? It is obvious that he killed someone, fearing the ruthlessness of the punishment of the government, pretending to be a minister of the court, delaying the time to escape - isn't it?! ”

"It's not! I can't trust the Sichuan and Henan governments, so I can't surrender. I am innocent and meritorious, so I refuse to flee. Hailancha pointed at Ding E'er and said, "You ask her, is what I said false?" As far as what you do today, I see that the Texas Mansion lacks virtue - you can't ask about my case, apply for the imperial court! Yu Chi Jinxian was stunned by him, and immediately became furious: "Stubborn! Do any generals in the army carry their dependents? ”

"We are halfway to marriage!"

"Whose media certificate is it, and what kind of hiring?"

"Sha Yonghe is the matchmaker, and Ge Zhimin is the proof. As for the next hire...... "Hailancha smiled, "it's a pig's head." ”

After this sentence of "confession", the hall and the hall immediately burst into laughter, several scribes recorded confessions, laughing so much that they couldn't hold the pen tube, coughing prostrately, and the officials were holding water and fire sticks, and they were all laughing backwards. Seeing that it was not a problem, Pi Zhongchen hurriedly handed over his eyes to Wei Chi Jinxian. Wei Chi Jinxian understood, sneered and said, "Imperial court general, how can there be a scoundrel like you? Don't move the big punishment, forgive you for not recruiting - come! ”

"In!"

"Stick waiting!"

"Wow!"

With a "bang", two new clusters of oak sticks were thrown in front of Hailancha. Seeing Ding E'er trembling, Pi Zhongchen's face turned pale, and he designated with one hand, and said: "Give this woman a finger too, give me a picture of death, and clip it in death!" See if he's still pretending to be Hailancha? ”

At this point, Hailancha was no longer laughing. He shook his head and said, "It's not too late to listen to my words before you start punishing." Whether I am Hailancha or not, some of the six departments know me, and Beijing can verify it in an instant if it sends people or releases Beijing from custody. As for daytime killing, it is also clear and straightforward. Listen up. I will never endure the punishment, and neither will E'er. You just say that I am a rebel, and I admit it all - I confess, you dare to be punished, and you may not be able to do it if Lord Qianlong is late! I'm afraid that you will hack me, and I will show my identity among thousands of people, and you can't hide me! He smiled and retracted, "After confessing, you have to sort out the copywriting, and 'Ah Er Ah San Killing by Daytime' is declared to the province, and then to the ministry, and then play Long Live Lord to decide, how many days will it take to approve it, have you calculated?" By that time, my case would have been clear long ago—for some reason, that I would be put to death, as you yourselves know. You don't have human heads, you look like pigs! - That's right, pig's head! - I can't imagine that it was really the pig's head that hired me and E'er - E'er, the matter between you and me has not been decided, and now I am here, since we are all kneeling, even if we worship heaven and earth-is it done? ”

"I've long thought of you as my man!" E'er's heart was hot when she heard this, she had already burst into tears, and she trembled with excitement: "I was satisfied if I wanted to be a maid with you, but I took it if you lifted it like this!" ”

The two of them sincerely confessed their feelings to each other in the public court, and worshiped heaven and earth as a "cousin"! Even the scribes and officials were thrilled, and thousands of listeners outside were humming and chanting to each other. The two presiding judges were bluffed. The more Wei Chi Jinxian thought about it, the more he felt that it was not okay to follow Pi Zhongchen to wade into troubled waters, so he stood up and said, "Suspend the trial today and retire!" - Hailancha and Ding E'er are still temporarily detained in the government! With that, he brushed his sleeves and left.

The whole house immediately dispersed. Only Pi Zhongchen sat stiffly like a couple.

[1]

Yintai, that is, the political envoy. Gao Heng is in charge of the national salt transportation and has the identity of a waiter, so he is called "Duyintai".

[2]

Si Nong, that is, the head of the household, Qian Du is a waiter, and he has the title of Shangshu, so he is called.

[3]

Guozijian: At that time, the highest university, the head of the sacrificial wine, has always been held by the champion.