At the beginning of September of the twentieth year of the reign of King Qin, an Ancha was speeding on the post road to Anlu County.

The carriage was painted in red and black to show the status of its owner, but it had not been replaced for many years and was a little old, with two horses, one white and one black, dragging the wheels, and every time the coachman flicked his whip in the air, they would quicken their pace.

It was Xi who was sitting in the middle of the car, and although he was dressed and sitting upright at the moment, his heart still did not recover from yesterday's shock: Ling Shi Le told Xi that the envoy sent by Yan Wang Xi to Xianyang ten months ago was actually an assassin, and openly plotted to assassinate the king in the main hall - this Yan Wang actually had the same name as him.

Le said: "The assassin of the Yan Kingdom is very hidden, I heard that when he pulled out the dagger, the ministers and guards were helpless, but fortunately, the king was extraordinarily brave, and he pulled out the sword he was carrying on the main hall to fight with the assassin, and cut off the assassin's leg in just a few times, forcing him to the temple pillar, and killing him on the spot with another sword." ”

"Worthy of the king!"

Xi was quite happy, and only said: "God bless the Qin country!" ”

Although this assassination was thrilling and the King of Qin was unharmed, he was already angry and determined to let the enemy ambush millions of corpses! In addition to dismembering the Assassins to show the public, the King of Qin immediately sent troops to the Yan Kingdom. After such a big incident, the atmosphere in the entire Qin State suddenly became tense, and Nanjun was no exception, and the county order was worried that after the news came out, An Lu Youxiao took the opportunity to make trouble, so he asked the officials of each department to be in place in case of accidents, which made Le Lai recall Xi.

Since such a big thing happened, Xi couldn't care about keeping the three-month filial piety period, he only hoped to accompany him for the last night in front of his parents' graves, and Le rode back to the county seat to resume his life first. Early the next morning, after taking care of the housework, he entrusted his wife and children to his younger brother to take care of him for a few more days, and then set off in a hurry.

Sitting in the violently shaking car, Xi only felt that the short quiet life was over, and the world became bumpy and turbulent again, and Xi couldn't help but worry about his little brother Yulai.

"Originally, I only had to go to Zhao to defend it, but now the king suddenly sent troops to attack Yan, and Zhao Di is adjacent to Yan State, and my brother may not be able to escape the pain of conquest."

Yandi is thousands of miles farther than Zhaodi, and it is said that the winter is extremely cold, is Tian's winter clothes enough to wear? Can he still send his two brothers home with a letter to tell him that he is safe? Xi can only pray that the spirits of Weng and Fei in the sky can protect the little brother.

Fortunately, the war in the far north will not affect Anlu County, passing through several village markets along the way, looking out of the car window, it is still in order, Li Shu is bustling with transactions, and the city officials sit under the city flag, supervising everyone and arresting those thieves who are mixed in. Yunmeng Daze in the suburbs is also very calm, with flocks of gulls and herons, and even dragons lazily basking on the shore......

Yunmengxiang is located in the south of the county, which is quite a distance away from the Yicheng in the north of the county, and it takes a day to ride a horse, and it takes half a day to take a car. I like to let the coachman drive faster, and strive to arrive at the pavilion on the edge of the county seat after dark, and enter the city early tomorrow morning. But God did not let him get his wish, and just after the market (15 o'clock - 17 o'clock), it rained continuously in the sky, and it became heavier and heavier. The plantain grove on the shore crackled with raindrops, the gulls and herons flapped their wings and flew away, and the dragon crawled back into the lake, and at the pleading of the coachman, he agreed to go to the nearest pavilion to take shelter from the rain.

This is a small pavilion named "Hudong", the far-sighted Huan table is erected, this is the symbol of the pavilion of the Qin State, there is a strange shape of the monster statue sitting on the top of the Huan table, its shape is like a raccoon dog, and like a dog, let the wind and rain beat, erosion and wear, still stand still. This is the tengu, its shape is like a raccoon dog and the white head, its sound is like a grenade, the Qin people take the tengu as the beast to catch the thief.

Behind the watch was a low building shrouded in rain, and the coachman ran over and knocked on the door, and there was a dog barking inside, followed by a cough, accompanied by an old man's inquiry.

"Who?"

The coachman said: "When it rains, come here to stay!" ”

It took a long time for the door to open a crack, and the white-eyed "Sheren" was carrying a stick in his hand, and he looked out, and he was about to ask angrily what the identity of the visitor was, but he glanced at the carriage parked at the door.

In the hierarchical Qin State, those who are qualified to ride are all knights, and then look at the middle-aged scholar who walked down with an umbrella in the car, he was dressed in a deep coat, with two sagittal thick beards on his lips, and black cloth shoes on his feet. When he got closer and took a closer look, Sheren's face was suddenly full of smiles: "Isn't this Xijun!" ”

In the past many years, whenever he went home to visit relatives, he would occasionally stay in this Hudong Pavilion, and he was a big official in the county, so of course the people knew him.

"Pavilion Chief, it's Doctor Peng Xi here!" The housekeeper shouted loudly, and the pavilion chief, the thief and others rushed out.

Although the pavilion department is directly under the management of the county governor's office, every time there is a case, the prison department has to send someone down, and they are considered their direct bosses if they like to round up, how dare they slack off? So he begged the thief to run to set up the carriage for Xi'an, and the pavilion chief personally held an umbrella for fear of getting Xijun wet, and the housekeeper went into the door to pick up the dog, so as not to bark at the nobles who didn't know the dog.

Everyone was about to welcome Xi in, but Xi reminded them that they had missed the procedure: "Pavilion chief, Sheren, let's take a look at my inspection first." ”

Lao Sheren hurriedly said: "Xijun has stayed here many times over the years, can we still not know you?" ”

Xi shook his head: "The law stipulates so, as a prisoner, how dare I know the law and violate it?" ”

This is the rule set by Shang Jun, and Shang Jun also died because of it. Xi then showed the certificate that proved his identity at a glance, as well as the official seal that represented him to enjoy better accommodation and food in the pavilion, and watched the pavilion chief and the housekeeper carefully register, and then walked inside. At this time, Xi saw a lot of official documents and descriptions of wanted criminals hanging on both sides of the pavilion, so he turned back and reminded them:

"It's not just me, it's an extraordinary time, I'm afraid of extraordinary things, everyone who comes to stay here, their test must be carefully checked! Don't be careless! ”

……

After all, it is separated from Anlu County by Yunmengze and the Yangtze River, which is the southern part of the Chu State, although since the confession broke the Ying, the Chu State has always been afraid of Qin for decades, and there has been no large-scale war, and the peace in this area has basically been maintained, but from time to time there will be a little nervousness. For example, last year, Nanjun was once prepared for the police, and there were often some non-Qin and non-Chu robbers in Zezhong, and the pavilion was fully equipped with five soldiers, and the pavilion chief also promoted more powerful people to take on the role of security and security.

This pavilion is not big, it is a courtyard with two entrances, there is an old camphor tree that has fallen half of its leaves, the ground is paved with cracked bricks, and the people of the house bring the joy into the "East House" that specializes in receiving officials, which is probably the most decent place in the small pavilion, and there is also a low table with miserable white insect candles on it. Although the utensils in the house are slightly old, they are all cleaned and wiped very cleanly, and it can be seen that the people in the house are quite careful.

There was still half an hour before the meal, and there was nothing to do after Xihe came to the door, so he sat behind the desk, wanting to read the book again while it was still dark - Le, as a subordinate who knew the habit of Xi, came to inform him to return to the county, and even brought the "Sealing Ceremony" that had just been issued by the county.

The so-called sealed diagnosis is the internal document of the Qin State prison officer system, which is generally ordered by the court lieutenant to sort out, collect the major cases reported by each county every year, select their typical cases and compile them together, and then distribute them to the prison officials and judges of each county for study. Each article is extremely detailed, and in addition to the methods of the criminal, even the steps of investigation, interrogation, and conviction in the case are also recorded one by one.

This year's "Sealed Diagnosis" lists a total of 20 cases, ranging from theft cases to murder cases and escape cases, and the most attractive case is a case called "Wei Thief Kills An, Yi and Others".

The case occurred in Liyang, the former capital of Qin Guoguan, where a soldier and two women were found dead in a room in the Gaomen mansion, with slash wounds on the head and neck, leaving an ochre skirt at the scene, that is, an earthy red garment, much like the clothing of a Chengdan prisoner. The deceased's clothes, skirts, and undergarments, as well as his silk and shoes, were stripped away.

This case was foggy at first, but thanks to the day and night search and arrest of "Ling Shi", who was responsible for solving the case, it was successfully solved. It turned out that the murderer was a captive from Wei, he was taken to Qin Guanzhong as a subordinate, found an opportunity to escape, originally just wanted to steal the money to go back to Wei, but alarmed the master, so he picked up the knife in the room and hurt the killer, ran out and sold the stripped clothes, bought a big knife and prepared to continue the crime......

The sinner was finally sentenced to the punishment of "磢", and Ling Shi, who solved the case, was promoted to the county pawn Shi Yingong. The court commander and the imperial history office recorded the case and announced it to the counties to encourage the vast number of Qin officials to learn from it......

After reading it, Xi Xin sighed, not that he felt how strange this case was, there were many more outrageous and tortuous cases, but he suddenly thought of himself when he saw the experience of solving the case.

This Liyang Lingshi has been a junior official for twenty-two years before he has to be promoted, but what about himself? Xi was hired as a village official in the fourth year of King Jinwang to assist the husband of Yunmeng Township in handling paperwork; In six years, he was promoted to Anlu County to make a history of orders because of "Wen is not harmful", and then transferred to Yan County in the same county; At the age of twelve, because of his excellent amateur ability, he was appointed by the county order to serve as the prisoner...... After that, he went to the north to fight for three years, and was lucky enough to win all the way, and was promoted to the rank of doctor, and after returning to his hometown, he became an official prisoner.

But five years have passed, Xi has not been promoted, Anlu County Commander values him very much, and once said to Xi in private: "Xijun is honest and honest, proficient in the law, and honest and honest." When he conducts his official duties, he is fair and courteous to the people. In addition, you have been promoted to the doctor, and you have the opportunity to continue to be promoted and become an official in the county, only ......"

That's right, there is only one big case that is beautiful enough to be written into "Sealed Diagnosis", so that the county can see his talent and diligence.

To say that Xi has no enterprising heart, it is impossible, even if the benefits of promotion are excluded, he is also quite looking forward to his name being recorded in the "Sealed Diagnosis": Xi is very clear that although he is respected in his hometown, he is still an insignificant little person in the huge Qin State, and there are thousands of Qin officials like him.

Therefore, he can only remember the small things of his own family and the major events of the country, so as to prove the traces of "Xi" and his family in this world, and that's it.

But if he can solve difficult and serious cases, his name and deeds will have the opportunity to be compiled into the "Sealed Diagnosis Style", so that the story of Xi will no longer be a self-entertainment recorded by him in his spare time, but will be read and remembered by thousands of Qin officials...... Now that the king has been assassinated and the war has resumed, as a border county, the security of Nanjun and Anlu is likely to become a big problem, will this be an opportunity?

At this moment, the dog on the side of the pavilion barked a few more times, but quickly shut up, probably someone sheltering from the rain came to stay, right? Xi was thinking about it, and was so shocked by this voice that he reached out and slapped himself, he was ashamed of his selfishness!

"The ancients said that those who are good at fighting have no great merits, and I think that those who are good at governing have no great reputation, and this kind of big case has occurred in Liyang in the center of the Qin State, which is not a glory, but a shame of being a hell official!"

In Xi's view, it is his ideal society to let everyone in a place, from doctors to subordinates, be protected by the law, follow the rules, and have their own share. An Lu's current situation is very good, he has been in prison for five years, and he has never been in a big prison, but all walks of life can be orderly, and the pavilion can also maintain law and order, and there is no tragedy that shocks the whole county, which is quite proud of him in his heart.

Even if "there is nothing to do in the county" is not a reference condition for the promotion of officials of the Qin State......

"I'd rather never be promoted, and my name won't be included in "Sealed Diagnosis"."

Xi whispered to himself: "I just want that no matter the wind, frost, rain and snow, An Lu can always be calm as usual." ”

At this time, a noisy voice came from the house opposite the courtyard, and then the angry scolding of the housekeeper sounded! The noise died down and turned into whispers......

Soon, the old Sheren knocked on the door, and when he opened it, he saw him with a flattering smile on his face, followed by a young girl in a brown dress, she hung her head, and held a tray of food boxes in both hands.

Xi's meal is very good, there are polished rice and white rice, clear slurry water, and meat, since it does not exceed the specifications of the reception, Xi will happily eat it.

She sent his daughter to leave first, and he knelt down at the table and said: "There is a group of Qianshou who go to the county seat to serve in the courtyard, and they are noisy like monkeys, disturbing Xijun. ”

According to the rules of the Qin State, people of different levels live in different places, they like to live in a separate room, the coachman lives in the deputy room, the head of the Qian, and the pawn have to squeeze the big shop, and the subordinate concubines are even more pitiful, so they can only squat in the horse pen cowshed.

"It doesn't matter." Xi stopped the chopsticks, and suddenly remembered the little brother who went to Yanzhao, he sighed in his heart, and then said more: "They are all young Qianshou, many of them are probably far away from the township for the first time, and it is not easy to come and go in the wind and rain, as long as they do not break the law and make trouble, the pavilion should not embarrass them." ”

Sheren was busy with promises, at this time the pavilion chief also carried out the wine that he didn't know where to get back, he was quite embarrassed after learning that Xi could not drink during the filial piety period, and he asked the pavilion chief to hurry up and do the things within the division, he reluctantly left, and repeatedly told the housekeeper to prepare hot water for soaking feet for Xi before leaving.

When they all took their leave, it was already dark, and they were very tired after a long day's travel, and they didn't want to waste the candles of the government, so they simply didn't read the book, and lay on the couch with their clothes. He heard the sound of rain outside, and there was no stopping, and there was still a violent snoring in the house where the Qianshou servants lived next door, the wind and rain were like obscurity, the trees were swaying, and the lake was rippling, only the tengu outside the pavilion was still as safe as a rock......

……

There was nothing to do that night, and the next day I got up early in the morning, but when I saw the rain and the first glow, I pushed the door out, and the housekeeper had already brought a basin full of hot water to wait for the happy wash. On the opposite side of the courtyard, the Qianshou who got up late could only wipe their faces with the rain that was faintly dripping last night under the eaves, and hurriedly waved at him after seeing the joy.

The pavilion chief came to keep the joy of eating breakfast, but he was in a hurry to return to the county seat to return to his life and refused his kindness, the pavilion chief could only be sent out of the pavilion with the thief, the housekeeper, etc., the coachman had already fed the black and white horses, wiped the car, but the road was still a little muddy, and the speed could not be fast.

Xi sat in the middle of the court, holding the slip that he hadn't finished reading last night, but his eyes had drifted out of the window, the bright sun was shining on the clouds, the withered yellow reeds had dried off the dew and swayed in the breeze, and everything seemed to have returned to its usual calm......

Walk to noon, the roadside of the Lu gradually scarce, the next section of the road will pass through the boundary of Huyang Pavilion, there are many deserted places in this area, Xi is hanging his head to read, but the coachman suddenly "Huh", the speed of the carriage slowed down.

"What?" Hi asked in the car.

"Xijun, on the side of the road ahead, there seems to be an argument between them." The coachman saw from afar two groups of men facing each other outside the reeds, four or five men on one side, heavily armed like pawns, and even stranger on the other, two people standing, and three others sitting on the ground bound by ropes......

"Maybe it's the local pavilion chief who is catching thieves." The coachman guessed like this, and Xi was not too relieved, since it was a part of the local pavilion's internal affairs, he didn't need to stop and ask, and he had to wait until the trial procedure was adjudicated, and the prison bureau would not intervene.

The carriage was getting closer to the group, and a violent quarrel could be faintly heard, and he suddenly felt that something was wrong, and was about to speak, when the speed of the carriage suddenly stopped, and the crown of joy was almost crooked, and the two horses also neighed violently. It turned out that the coachman suddenly pulled the reins, and then he scolded: "Where did the shaft come from, dare to be a roadblock, do you know whose car it is?" ”

"Of course you know!" A deep voice sounded outside, and the man shouted loudly: "The villain has grievances, and he still wants the doctor to call the shots!" ”

Xi was quite strange, so he straightened his crown, slowly lifted the curtain, and looked out, but saw a bronze black Qiantou, bending towards the carriage......

He said, "What grievances do you have?" Let's talk about it. ”

The black-faced man said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "The villain went to the county seat to serve in the sergeant, and he stayed in the guest house with the doctor last night. This morning, I was walking with my comrades, and I encountered thieves robbing and killing businessmen on the road, so I stepped forward to stop them, captured three thieves, and was about to send them to the county seat to deliver them to the government, who expected ......"

Two people capture three thieves? Xi was a little shocked in his heart, and looked the black-faced man up and down again, he was indeed powerful, and what was even more strange was that this person's words were still clear in the chaos, not like an ordinary Qiantou.

At this time, the rear footsteps were hurried, and several parties rushed over, in addition to a thin monkey-like Qianshou standing beside the black man, there was also the local Huyang Pavilion Chief and his subordinates, the Pavilion Chief recognized Xi, and his face turned pale immediately.

The black-faced man immediately pointed at him and said, "Who would have thought that the local Huyang Pavilion Chief wanted to seize the thief and take the credit for himself!" ”

"The Superior Inspector Clears!"

The head of the Huyang Pavilion was very flustered, and hurriedly bowed down and paused repeatedly: "The subordinate just asked according to the usual practice, and there is no intention of defrauding the reward!" This soldier, he is falsely accused! ”

This case is interesting, I pinched the slip in my hand, according to Qin Law, whether it is stealing merit and impersonating it, or falsely accusing and reversing, it is a felony. Xi eyes roamed back and forth between the two sides, observing their expressions and postures, the black-faced man was still calm despite his anger, and the chief of the Huyang Pavilion was sweating like rain, Xi remembered that he seemed to be a relative of the county lieutenant Zuo......

Xi quickly had a plan in his heart, and nodded to the chief of the Huyang Pavilion first, giving him a little hope and hint, so as not to make this person too nervous and do more foolish things, after all, he and his subordinates have five soldiers: "Your name is Zhenba?" ”

"No! It's me! The head of the Huyang Pavilion looked relieved.

But Xi ignored the pavilion chief's overtures, touched the beard on his lips again, and said calmly: "Which is true or false, you and the others escort the criminals, and go to the county with this official, and you will know." ”

At the end, he revealed his identity to the black-faced man: "This case is within my authority, I am the prison of Anlu County, happy!" What is your name? ”

The black-faced man shook it again and reported a simple name:

"Heifu!"