Tai Hao was a little at a loss in the face of Yao Fuji's question, and after a little thought, he replied: "That day in the examination room, I wanted to assassinate the emperor, but unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to do it, so I didn't succeed in the assassination, because I did well in the next exam, so the emperor wanted to assign me to be the deputy general of a city, and gave me a few city options, including Pinghe City, after thinking about it carefully, I happened to meet Brother Gu Jicong and Brother Ajirong from Pinghe City, and we all have the same aspirations, therefore, I came to Pinghe City below. ”

Yao Fuji was even more puzzled when he heard this, because according to what Taihao said, it was Pinghe City that Taihao chose to come to. And since it is assigned by the emperor, how can Taihao choose where he wants to go? But Yao Fuji did not continue to investigate the root cause, but showed a sudden realization and said to Taihao: "I see! Yao Fuji changed his words and asked Tai Hao, "Can Lord Tai Hao please a miracle doctor who can control the spread of the plague?" ”

Tai Hao arched his hand and said: "I just sent my men to invite, and it is expected that it will be in less than a month." ”

"Less than a month? Lord Taihao must remember that the time limit is only one month, if he can't reach Pinghe City within a month, and the plague can't be controlled, the position of the general who guards the city can only be held by Lord Bi Luojing. Yao Fuji said lightly.

Taihao nodded lightly and did not speak again. Yao Fuji continued to ask in a low voice, "Do you like the gift you gave to Lord Taihao yesterday?" ”

Tai Hao replied without thinking about it: "Thank you city lord for sending me, those two things are too valuable......

Yao Fuji heard Taihao say that it was two things, so he hurriedly interrupted Taihao's words and said: "There are more than two gifts that this official gave to Lord Taihao, could it be that the subordinates in the palace are not doing well and have given one less gift?" ”

Tai Hao inadvertently said two things just now, because he didn't take Miss Maoru as a gift. Hearing Yao Fuji's reminder, he hurriedly explained: "I was negligent just now, it's three, it's three, I like all three gifts, I really bothered the city lord!" ”

Yao Fuji listened to it and laughed: "It's good if Lord Taihao likes it, it's good if you like it." Then he continued: "Lord Taihao has just arrived in Pinghe City, and he still doesn't know about the affairs in Pinghe City, yesterday, the official and Lord Bi Luojing discussed it, and Lord Taihao is responsible for the management of the grain and grass of the officers and soldiers and horses in the city. I don't know what Lord Taihao thinks? ”

After listening to Yao Fuji's words, Tai Hao remembered that the first task given to him by the emperor was to investigate how many soldiers and horses there were in Pinghe City, including officers and soldiers and militia. Taihao thought to himself that he could just ask the number of soldiers and horses of Yao Fuji, so why bother to investigate. So, Tai Hao asked: "I don't know how many officers and soldiers there are in the city, how many horses, and how much grain and grass are needed in total?" ”

Yao Fuji said with a smile: "Lord Taihao has just taken office, there is no need to remember those things, Lord Taihao is only responsible for managing the officers and soldiers who take care of the grain and grass, these brain-consuming figures, just let those officers and soldiers record them!" ”

Seeing that Yao Fuji was reluctant to disclose the number of officers, soldiers and horses in the city, Taihao thought to himself: "It seems that Yao Fuji deliberately didn't want me to know this, and I can't ask it, but how can I investigate?" He pondered for a long time, and then continued to ask, "May I ask the city lord, where am I going to handle my official business?" ”

In the Eastern Empire of the Cat Clan, the yamen of a city is divided into three areas, the front is the public hall where the city lord hears the case, the middle is the office of the city lord, the general who guards the city, the deputy general of the city and other officials, and the back is the inner hall, which is divided into the front hall, the middle hall, and the back hall. The central hall is also the main hall, and the yamen of some cities will also set up two side halls. This is the place where officials rest and are on duty, and it is also the first stop to Yamen Yingmao every day.

Yao Fuji heard Tai Hao ask him where he was dealing with official business, so he said to Tai Hao: "Lord Tai Hao doesn't know, there is an advantage to being an official in our Pinghe City, that is, you can directly handle official business in your own residence, and when there is a major matter to discuss, you will ask the official to invite Lord Tai Hao over." ”

As soon as Yao Fuji said this, Tai Hao suddenly realized, listening to the meaning of Yao Fuji's words, that is, he wanted to empty him in terms of power, and did not give himself real power, and his position as the deputy general of the city guard became an idle position, which shows that Taihao did not get Yao Fuji's trust. Taihao was depressed for a while, and it seemed that it was still difficult to really gain the trust of Yao Fuji.

At this time, Bi Luojing hurried to the front hall, he saw that Taihao was also here, and said hello briefly, and whispered in Yao Fuji's ear, Yao Fuji nodded while listening. Subsequently, Yao Fuji said to Tai Hao: "Lord Tai Hao, we will talk about this today, you go back to the house first, there is no official business to deal with in Pinghe City today, if there is a major matter to discuss, this official will let the official go to the deputy general's mansion and then invite Lord Tai Hao to come." "Taihao knew that they must have something secret to tell, and he still couldn't let him know the secret. So, Taihao could only say goodbye to Yao Fuji and leave.

As soon as Taihao walked out of the gate of the yamen, he saw Gu Jicong and A Jirong still standing next to the door. When the two of them saw Taihao coming out, they hurriedly greeted him, and Gu Jicong smiled and said, "Twelve brothers, no, I should call you Taihao Lord now." Lord Taihao, are you going home now? ”

Tai Hao asked curiously, "What's the matter with Brother Gu Jicong and Brother Ajirong?" ”

Gu Jicong arched his hand and said, "Lord Taihao, the two of us have ...... Ask for everything. ”

Tai Hao thought that he would need the help of the two of them in Pinghe City in the future, so he told them that there was something they could go to the deputy general's mansion to say. On the way from the Yamen to the Deputy General's Mansion, Taihao only listened to Gu Jicong and A Jirong say some sloppy and flattering words. Although Taihao listened comfortably, he didn't know what was going on with the two of them. Soon, they arrived at the Adjutant General's Mansion, and Taihao led them to the front hall. After letting the maid serve three cups of tea, Tai Hao asked them, "What is the matter with Brother Gu Jicong and Brother A Jirong?" Just say it. ”

Gu Jicong said: "It's not a secret, we do have something to ask for." Since the emperor was almost assassinated in the examination room, the two of us brothers were arrested and put in the prison, but fortunately, the prison officials in the prison were all the main ones of Yaofuji City, and the officials in charge of interrogating us were also the former subordinates of Wanyan Horse, so we were able to avoid death, and spent money to find two substitutes for the dead ghosts to replace us. But the city lord of Yao Fuji asked us to dress up and take next year's exam, can Lord Taihao let other people go, we really can't complete the task of assassinating the emperor, the city lord of Yao Fuji also said that if we can't succeed, we will be given death......"

Taihao finally understood at this time, it turned out that the officials in the prison were all in collusion with traitors, no wonder they were able to escape from the prison.

Taihao said: "This matter ...... Let you go to the exam, it was the city lord who asked you to go, how can I be the lord? ”

Gu Jicong begged: "The Eastern Empire's annual exam is taken by the deputy city lord, these two times because the city guard general Da Shunqu is seriously ill, so the city guard deputy general Bi Luojing did not take us there, now there are two deputy generals in the city, the city lord said that the next exam, is Lord Taihao to take us to the capital for the exam, therefore, I want to ask Lord Taihao, next time don't take us there, you can choose two more among the people in the city." ”

Tai Hao said: "When did the city lord say it, why didn't he tell me?" ”

Gu Jicong said: "Early this morning, the city lord asked the official to call us to the yamen to tell us, and when we go to the exam next year, we will tell Lord Taihao......

Tai Hao asked: "It's still early for next year's exam, what's the rush now?" ”

Ah Jirong said: "Lord Taihao doesn't know, although the exam is held once a year, but our purpose is to assassinate the emperor, we have to prepare half a year in advance, and whether the assassination is successful or not, we are all a death." We were lucky to be saved this time, but not so lucky next time. ”

Taihao pondered for a while and said, "You guys go back first, I have my own plans." ”

Gu Jicong and Ah Jirong heard Taihao say that they had their own plans, so they didn't say anything more, said goodbye to Taihao and left.

After they left, Tai Hao muttered: "It seems that Yao Fuji is very protective of me, not only let me be responsible for taking care of the grain and grass, but also said that the office only needs to be in the official residence, and is ready to arrange for me to take them to the exam, on the surface it seems to be for my good, but in fact, I am going to empty the authority of the deputy general of the city, and the top priority is to become the general of the city." ”

When Tai Hao talks to Yao Fuji, it is obvious that he is being watched out for everywhere. seems to listen to Taihao's words in his heart, but in fact, he is testing him many times. Now that I think about it, Taihao told Yao Fu Ji that he was because he did well in the exam, and the emperor let him choose to come to Pinghe City, Yao Fu Ji definitely didn't believe it. Tai Hao knew very well in his heart that now that he had to find a way to dispel his doubts in Yao Fuji's heart, otherwise he would not be able to move an inch in Pinghe City.

At that moment, Tai Hao called Daxi, and took two pots of wine, ready to visit the general's mansion in Da Shunqu again, just walked out of the deputy general's mansion, and saw a team of officers and soldiers escorting several people passing by the door of the deputy general's mansion, those people were wearing white scarves, still crying and crying.

Tai Hao asked one of the officers and soldiers, "Are you arresting them because they have committed a crime?" ”

The officer and soldier replied: "These are the people who have suffered from the plague, and Adjutant General Bi Luojing ordered that they all be taken to the Cat Temple for isolation, and we are now searching from house to house!" ”

Taihao thought to himself: "Bi Luojing has already begun to catch the people of the plague now, and he is very eager to become a general who guards the city." ”