Nanxi County, early morning.

As soon as the faint light of early spring was revealed on the horizon, Yicheng Lao Cheng got up and walked in the post house with a lantern.

Check the drinking water and fill the manger.

Although Nanxi Post is not a big post station, the post horses must always be taken care of, and the origin of each horse must be recorded in a detailed book, otherwise it is dereliction of duty.

This is written in Tang Lu.

Most of the post envoys who set off from here are local post soldiers in Nanxi, although they don't know when there will be work, and they don't know when there will be other post envoys passing by, but they are prepared, and the water is also changed regularly every day.

There is also an inventory of letters.

Covered with fire paint seal, stamped with the official document of the county government, next to it is placed as a voucher for the survey, and there is a fire plate that is docked with the military department.

Although the documents sent by the county commander yesterday evening were not urgent, they could not be sent out in the morning, and they had to be sent out when the post soldiers came in the morning.

Lao Cheng, who had a glimpse of his eyes, returned to his hometown Nanxi County after leaving the army, worked in the post station, and worked diligently for nearly 30 years, from a post house to a post house, because of his meticulous temperament.

But there was never a mistake in the letters and messages that passed through his hands.

After the routine work was done every morning, Lao Cheng came to the cage of pigeons he raised, grabbed a handful of millet from the cloth pocket on the side, and sprinkled it in the trough.

This is one of Lao Cheng's few hobbies.

He keeps pigeons just like his own.

Although the color is not bright, the feathers all over the body are straight and hard, combed to the roots, and look at it with a sense of spirit.

People in the county know that Lao Cheng loves to raise pigeons, loves to watch pigeons, twice a day in the morning and afternoon, he will release the pigeons out to fly for a while.

Twenty-eight or nine pigeons circled in a large circle over the county seat, cooing incessantly, mixed with pigeon droppings randomly falling on which stall, causing a burst of scolding and ridicule.

Lao Cheng and this group of pigeons have added some ordinary but interesting talking points to the ordinary life of the people of Nanxi County.

Datang's post stations can also serve civilians, as long as they can afford to pay.

The woman who marries Nanxi far away, the wanderer who goes out, most of the words of some thoughts will be passed through the post station.

Although Lao Cheng glanced at him and looked a little scary, when he thought of his experience as a soldier, he felt inexplicably relieved.

As he grew older, Lao Cheng became more and more kind, and the children in the city liked to come to him to watch the pigeons lay eggs and the little pigeons were released.

I don't know why, Lao Cheng, who is in his sixties, is still single, has no wife and no queen, and anyone who says that the media is indifferent, and after two days, he shirked it, saying that he is used to being alone and can't delay others. After many times, others gave up.

But in any case, Yicheng Lao Cheng is recognized by the people of Nanxi County, indispensable, and a good person.

The good man Lao Cheng gently took out a pigeon from the pigeon cage, and muttered in his mouth: "Rice cake, rice cake, it's you today, wait for the next time to let the rice balls go." You fly well, and when you come back, I'll make up a handful of green peas for you, and keep it delicious......"

He took out a small reed pipe from his bosom, sealed the mouth with wax at both ends, and tied it to the pigeon's leg with a silk thread of similar color to the feather, and then he went to the window, and threw his hands away, and the pigeon called "rice cake" flew into the distance.

Lao Cheng held on to the window lattice and quietly watched it go in the direction of the rising sun, feeling very relieved, thinking that it would be time to release the other pigeons for breath.

Yesterday, a "seasoning" fell from the sky in Lao Qian's wonton pot, which caused his mother-in-law to scold her ears for a while, and the neighbors were watching the jokes on the sidelines.

Lao Qian raised a small one outside when he was rich a few years ago, but he was discovered by his mother-in-law and has been in a slump since then. was watched to death all day long, getting up early and working greedily at night, not to mention, on weekdays, his mother-in-law also caught him if he didn't like it.

But the trouble is in trouble, the two of them haven't really dispersed, Lao Qian's mother-in-law has given birth to two big fat boys for him in recent years, even if Lao Qian is scolded in public, the corners of his mouth are also smiling, and he never goes out to have fun.

The neighbors all said that they would be grateful to the little one, if it wasn't for the old money and her separation, there might not be today's day.

Lao Cheng sneered, and his heart might as well thank himself for the anonymous report.

However, such a dull and flavorful life is probably coming to an end.

He thought this when he heard the sound of the bowstring and the rice cake that fluttered its wings and flew high in response.

The tension that had been in the northwest when fighting with Dangxiang and Tubo came back in an instant, and Lao Cheng closed the window, bent over, and turned around with a reaction that did not fit his age. One rolled over to the wall, plucked the bow knife from above, and in a breath equipped, as it had been decades ago, looked warily at the window and doorway.

Luckily, this inn is the only one who lives there......

A short time later, there was a knock at the door.

Tu, tu, tuk, knock without hurry.

Lao Cheng narrowed his only remaining eye, and couldn't help but be a little puzzled.

Since you shoot down the pigeon that you have released, you should have come prepared, so why do you behave?

Seeing that there was no reply in the room, a sharp blade was inserted through the crack in the door and slashed down.

There was only a click, the door latch snapped, and the door creaked and slowly opened.

With a strong wind blowing in, the lanterns in the house were also extinguished, and the people outside the door turned their backs to the morning light, just looking at Lao Cheng quietly.

In the darkness, although Lao Cheng couldn't see the face of this person clearly, he already knew the identity of the person who came.

He sneered and said, "I also said that people are so polite and don't forget to knock on the door when they enter." It's still going to be so arrogant, and it's really worthy of you. ”

This person didn't pay attention to this stubble, and said lightly: "Cheng Feng, Tianbao's fourth-year soldier, once followed Gao Xianzhi to break the small Bo law, and was later assigned to be a personal soldier under Feng Changqing, who joined the army in the Qingwang Mansion. You have fought in the four towns of Anxi for many years and killed countless enemies, why would you be willing to return to a small place like Nanxi County to be a post man? ”

Yi Cheng, named Cheng Feng, snorted coldly and said: "The Tubo thieves will not be eliminated for a day, and my Tang sergeant will not stop for a day!" I only hate that I didn't kill enough Tibetan thieves back then, so that they still have the courage to reach out to the hinterland of my Tang Dynasty. ”

The man sighed lightly and said, "Then why don't you go back to the battlefield, that is where you belong, why bother wading into troubled waters here?" ”

"Humph! There is a traitor like you who forgets his books, and he is in a foreign country, and I will kill the same everywhere! ”

As soon as the words fell, the bowstring in Cheng Feng's hand sounded, and the sharp arrow shot hard.

The man struck with a flash of his sword, and slashed the arrow to the ground.

But the veterans who survived from the battlefield are not the only ones who have this ability.

After Cheng Feng shot the arrow, he abandoned the bow in his hand, rolled forward and drew the knife in his hand at the same time, sheathing his left hand and holding the blade of his right hand, which was the skill of sword and shield in the army.

The blade slashes from the bottom up.

The man unhurriedly pressed down with the weapon in his hand, intercepting the blade, and blocking the scabbard with his left hand.

Cheng Feng bent his knees to change his moves, and the whole person was like a spinning top, with a scabbard to protect his head, and he slashed around this person's blade, and his moves did not leave the next three ways.

This man didn't care, and stepped directly into the house, the knife in his hand swaying around his body, blocking the fierce attacks one by one.

Cheng Feng was old after all, and after a while, Cheng Feng was a little weak after a while, and he was kicked away by this person.

Cheng Feng, who rolled off the side, knelt on one knee and gasped for breath on the ground with a knife.

This person sat on the stool in the room, looked at Cheng Feng and sighed: "It's really rare for you to have such skills at such an age, isn't it good to take care of your old age?" How about if you confess your companions in the city, and I will let you go? ”

Cheng Feng was furious and shouted: "Fake benevolence and false righteousness! I am inseparable from foreign thieves, and today you will either die or I will die! ”

The man said impatiently, "As long as you fall, I will spare your life, and I will also ...... your relatives Well, you don't seem to have any relatives......"

"I've been expecting this work for a long time! Lao Cheng is alone, he comes and goes freely, except for death, no one can handle the threat, you miscalculated! ”

The man finally couldn't hold it anymore, changed his face and shouted: "Stubborn! It's better to capture you and concoct it, I'm not afraid that you won't tell the truth! Then he deceived himself and went up, and the two fought together.

Although Cheng Feng had rich experience in fighting, and used the furnishings in the house to support him for several rounds, he was still defeated, and was slashed in the wrist with a knife, breaking his muscles and bones, and he had no power to resist.

This person showed the cow tendon rope and was about to tie up Lao Cheng, but he smiled inexplicably at himself, and then struggled to thrust the tip of the knife into the abdomen, and the person lay on the ground softly, out of breath.

The man was shocked, and hurriedly leaned over to check, only to see that the blade was half a foot long in the abdomen, and the viscera had been cut off, and there was no power to return to heaven, and he could not be saved.

This person was extremely angry, but he had no choice but to slash Cheng Feng a few times to vent his anger.

Taking advantage of the fact that the sky was still dark, this man arranged the scene again, and then turned around and left.

When the post soldiers arrived, they saw Lao Cheng's corpse lying quietly on the ground, a dead pigeon and a note were stuck on the table by an arrow, and a few big characters were written in blood on the wall next to it: Tubo spies, everyone will be punished!

A bold post soldier stepped forward to inspect the corpse and the note, and couldn't help but be frightened and fell backwards, shouting loudly: "Go and ask for thanks, master!" ”

Half an hour later, Nanxi County ordered Xie Shizhong to rush to the scene with the county Cheng Wu Huizhou.

Xie Shizhongsheng was so fat that his official uniform could barely cover his belly, he arrived at the scene panting, covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, looked into the room, and frowned: "Lao Cheng? Tibetan spies? An honest man like him also defected? ”

Wu Huizhou was polite, spoke slowly and logically, pinched his nose and said: My lord, not to mention whether Lao Cheng is a spy needs to be confirmed, but he is a poster. Although the rank is low, after all, it is still an official body, and the murderer must also know about it.

"If Lao Cheng is not guilty, then the murderer is a big crime, if Lao Cheng is guilty, then it is also a big deal that there is a spy under the rule of the adult, and the left and right are all the face of the adult and the court."

Xie Shizhong glanced at Wu Huizhou and said, "You still need to say it...... Today's plan is first and foremost to reassure the people. Nanxi County is not far from Tibet, if there are really thieves or spies mixed in, it may cause chaos. Hasn't the old stone arrived yet? ”

Wu Huizhou thought for a while and said, "Lieutenant Shixian works day and night, so he must have gotten up late, and it is estimated that he will be there in a while." ”

"Hmm...... Did you read that note? ”

"Your Excellency, I've seen it."

"What's your opinion?"

"Uh...... The subordinates don't know ......"

Xie Shizhong smacked his lips, glanced at Wu Huizhou dissatisfied, and then looked at the soldiers and people around him, and then pulled the person to a secluded place.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw a tall military general with a helmet and armor trotting all the way.

"My lord, Wu Xiancheng, Lao Shi is one step late, and I hope to forgive my sins!"

The armor on Shi Liran's body was crooked, obviously not the silk of the personal soldier's bundle, Xie Shizhong took a closer look, and there was a smell of fat powder coming to his face, almost choking his nose.

Wu Huizhou raised his hand and fanned his nose, raised his eyebrows and said, "This look, Lieutenant Shi went on a night patrol last night, it must have been very hard, right?" ”

Shi Li grinned and laughed: "That's a must!" Old Wu, you don't know, the new lady is really moist ......"

Xie Shizhong pursed his lips in disgust, stopped Shi Li, a rough man, and said: "Yicheng Lao Cheng was killed, and a word was written on the wall, saying that he was a Tubo spy, and there was a note left on the table, without a signature, saying that there would be a Tubo messenger coming here in ten days, and someone in the county town would answer. What do you think of Lao Shi? ”

Shi Li also frowned when he heard this: "Although we are closer to Tubo, this is the first time this kind of thing has happened in so many years. If Lao Cheng is really a spy, then he has been a post man for many years, maybe how many secrets will be passed out...... Oops, this kind of thing is too brain-consuming, and I can't figure it out for Lao Shi! Alas? My lord, isn't this kind of thing always handed over to Wu County? Why are you bothering? ”

Xie Shizhong was so angry by Shi Li's straightforward words that he almost rolled his eyes, but he still pressed his temper and said to Wu Huizhou: "Wu Xiancheng, Lao Shi is a fool, you ignore him." Now that there is no one else, I will make it clear. Nanxi County's political achievements over the years have basically relied on the support of Wu County. As the saying goes, those who can work harder, if you have any ideas, just say it! ”

Wu Huizhou still said unhurriedly: "It all depends on the wisdom of adults to know the English and know people well." It is the duty of subordinates to share their worries for adults, and they should not be praised by adults. ”

"Don't talk nonsense, talk!"

"Yes." Wu Huizhou crossed his hand and saluted.

"The murderer of Lao Cheng's death needs to be identified, and this is the first thing. And how did this person know that Lao Cheng was a spy, which is the second thing. The third, and most important, was the messenger who came here ten days later. ”

Speaking of this, Wu Huizhou took the note from the soldier on the side and showed it to the two: "This piece of paper is the evidence obtained in the house, please take a look." ”

As he was talking, he heard the ringing of the neck bell in the distance, and someone rode a horse to gallop this way.

The three of them looked up, and saw a pair of horses galloping on the official road, and two young people sitting on it, both of them were full of wind and dust, and they came straight to the post station.

When they got near, the two knights pulled the reins and stopped, looking at the many soldiers with puzzled looks.

One of them had sharp eyes and was full of essence, glanced at the three people in official uniforms a few times, and then whispered a few words to his companions and continued to Nanxi County.