When Zhiwei returned to the camp of Hengchuan City, it was almost dusk.

As soon as he walked outside the camp gate, he saw a forbidden army from Thousand Winds City coming, and one of the leading officials was wearing an official uniform and holding an edict to lead those forbidden troops into the camp of Hengchuan City.

Seeing this, Zhi Wei hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Dare to ask where did the Lord come from?" What do you have to do in this great camp? ”

The official said: "This official is Huaide, the squire of the Criminal Department, who came here to announce the decree on the order of the emperor, is Taihao, the general of the thief, here?" ”

Zhi Wei said: "Here is the deputy general here, let me take a look in the advanced camp, if General Taihao is here, I will tell him to come out to receive the order." ”

"No need, we'll go in and find it ourselves." Wilder said.

With that, Huaide led the forbidden army into the camp and soon walked outside a camp tent. Zhiwei followed behind them, still speculating about what was going on with the squire of the Criminal Department, when Huaide shouted: "Vice General Zhiwei, which camp should General Taihao be in?" ”

Zhiwei hurriedly walked to the nearest camp tent, where Taihao was discussing combat countermeasures with Gu Sheng. Zhi Wei hurriedly informed him that the squire of the Criminal Department had come here to be ordered to announce the decree, and Tai Hao hurriedly led Gu Sheng and Zhi Wei out of the camp when he heard this.

Huaide asked, "Are you General Taihao?" ”

Taihao arched his hand and said: "This official is Taihao." ”

Huaide said: "This official is Huaide, the waiter of the Criminal Department, and Taihao will take the order......

Taihao listened, and hurriedly knelt on the ground to listen to the order, and Gu Sheng and Zhiwei also knelt down.

Huaide unfolded the edict and read: "The emperor's edict, I heard that the thief general Taihao, collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country, bullying the king, the crime is unforgivable!" He was specially taken into a prison and strictly guarded to be released. If you violate the order, you will be killed! Chin this! ”

When Tai Hao heard the charges against himself in this edict, he was immediately frightened into a cold sweat, and hurriedly defended: "Wronged, how could I collaborate with the enemy and betray the country? ”

Gu Sheng and Zhiwei also helped to intercede: "My lord, General Taihao is dedicated to the country, and he has no intention of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country!" ”

Huaide said expressionlessly: "The emperor's will, who dares to disobey it?" Don't say anything more about the two of you, General Taihao, let's go with this officer. ”

Tai Hao said: "Okay, I can go with you, but I have a few things to tell the two lieutenant generals about attacking the rebels, I wonder if Lord Huaide can allow it?" ”

Huaide said: "Say it! ”

Tai Hao said to Gu Sheng and Zhiwei: "I don't know who framed me, it seems that I can't avoid this difficulty, but I didn't expect that the plan we sent to the imperial court to attack Yichuan City has not yet been approved by the emperor, but we have waited for the holy decree to put me in prison, it seems that our battle plan has changed." ”

Zhi Wei said: "General Taihao, I haven't had time to inform you that Liangshu, the lord of Dingchuan City, and Xun'an, the general of the city guard, have agreed to surrender, but they have put forward several conditions. ”

Tai Hao said: "After bringing me back to Thousand Winds City, the emperor will definitely send a new thief general here, and when the time comes, you can report this matter to him, you take care, the emperor is sage, I believe that the emperor will not listen to the villain's slander, and after the case is clarified, I will come back." ”

After speaking, Huaide took the forbidden army and escorted Taihao out of the camp. Gu Sheng and Zhiwei looked at Taihao's back as he was taken away, and they both felt very uneasy in their hearts. They knew that this must be a false accusation by traitors and villains in the DPRK and China. And those so-called sins, in fact, are just an excuse.

Taihao was locked in a prison car by the forbidden army that night and escorted to Thousand Winds City.

The next day, a new thief general sent by the emperor arrived at Hengchuan City, he did not take office alone, he was also ordered to bring 200,000 soldiers and horses. And who is this thief general? He is the young spirit of the horse.

When Gu Sheng and Zhiwei saw the new thief general Shaoling, they immediately stepped forward to report to him about Taihao's imprisonment and asked him to clear Taihao's name.

After Shao Ling listened, he pondered for a moment, and then said: "Taihao was arrested by the forbidden army sent by the emperor, and the emperor will definitely find out about this matter, this matter is not simple, but this official will do his best." You go and rest first, and the official will send your appeal to the emperor as soon as possible. ”

Gu Sheng and Zhiwei were very grateful for Shaoling's words, and they thought that Shaoling would definitely do his best to clear Taihao's grievances. Immediately afterwards, Zhiwei told Shaoling about the situation in Dingchuan City.

After hearing this, Shaoling asked: "Regarding the story of Yi Guogong, this official has read it in historical materials, but I didn't expect that his descendants are now just a city lord, and suddenly they can't enjoy the glory and wealth of their ancestors, and no one can touch it, what conditions did you just say they proposed?" ”

Zhi Wei replied: "Xun'an, the general who defends the city of Dingchuan City, put forward four conditions, first, after they lead the troops to surrender, they must ensure the safety of the people in Dingchuan City, as well as the generals, soldiers, and their families in Dingchuan City; Second, after they surrender, they must ensure that their property is not confiscated or lost; Third, after they have surrendered, they must not have their official positions revoked or demoted to the border; Fourth, after the army of thieves entered Dingchuan City, they were not allowed to be identified as rebels, and he thought that the army of thieves could take Dingchuan City without spending a single soldier, and it stands to reason that they were also heroes, so they should be rewarded for their meritorious deeds in the name of 'countering the rebellion and thieves'. ”

Shao Ling said: "We can all do these requirements, we don't need to ask the emperor, we can go to Dingchuan City today and surrender to them." ”

In the afternoon of the same day, Shaoling personally led his troops to Dingchuan City, successfully took over the rule of Dingchuan City, and protected all the national treasures in the city and the people in the city.

After a few days of traveling, Tai Hao was escorted to the Thousand Winds City Heavenly Prison, and Shangshu Banfu of the Criminal Department personally tried his case.

After Taihao was escorted to the Heavenly Prison of Thousand Winds City, he felt very depressed and lost. He knew that he had been convicted of treason, that his future was dark, and that he did not know if he would have a chance to clear his name.

In the prison, Taihao spent a long time of several days. Every day he silently pondered his situation, trying to find a way out. However, he soon discovered that the case was extremely complex and required a lot of time and effort.

With Taihao's force, he could have escaped from the prison, because he would not only know "Snow Cat Fluttering Shadow", but also "Idle Cat Listening to the Sea" and "Jiuqiu Swordsmanship", but he didn't think about escaping. Because once he escapes, he will no longer be able to avenge himself.

After a few days of waiting, Taihao finally waited for the arrival of Shangshu Banfu of the Criminal Department. Banfu is a very strict official, and he is also very serious and meticulous in his handling of cases. He asked Tai Hao to recount his experience of fighting the rebels in detail, and at the same time subjected him to strict interrogation and investigation.

Taihao knew that he had to go all out to be able to clear his name. So, he began to tell Banfu a lot about fighting the enemy, hoping to prove his innocence.

Banfu said to Taihao: "The emperor knows that you have done a lot for the Eastern Empire, you led the troops all the way to the battle, recaptured more than ten cities from the rebels, and made great achievements. Therefore, the emperor attaches great importance to your affairs, and instructed the official to find out clearly, to tell the truth, saying that you collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, and deceived the king, and the official could not find a single clue. But there is one incriminating evidence that has confirmed one of your crimes. ”

Taihao's eyes widened, and he hurriedly asked, "What crime?" ”

Banfu Zhengse said: "Violated the crime of officials taking sedan chairs." ”

Tai Hao suddenly understood the real reason why he was arrested, and he hurriedly explained: "But I didn't know that the Eastern Empire had a rule prohibiting officials from riding in sedan chairs. ”

Banfu listened to Taihao's explanation, pondered for a while, and then said: "Although you don't know that Thousand Winds City has this rule, but you still break the law after all, the emperor still minds that there are officials in Thousand Winds City to take the official sedan chair, this is a way to challenge the imperial power, the emperor thinks that the official sedan chair is a reason for officials to become lazy." ”

Taihao lowered his head, feeling very ashamed. He knew that he had indeed made a mistake, but he did not have malicious intent, and it was only because he did not know much about the rules of the Eastern Empire that he would make such a mistake.

Banfu looked at Tai Hao, and said: "However, the emperor didn't want to convict you of a big crime because of this matter, after all, this rule was not set by him, but by Emperor Xuangang, as early as when Emperor Xuanyu was in power, he wanted to cancel this 'ban on officials taking sedan chairs', but it was opposed by several princes at that time." But how to deal with you has to ask the emperor to decide. ”

Taihao asked: "Dare to ask Lord Banfu, who is suing me to the emperor?" It's just that it violates the regulation of 'prohibiting officials from riding in sedan chairs', why do you say that I am collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country and deceiving the king? ”

Banfu shook his head and replied, "You don't have to know who it is, and this official won't say it." ”

"Isn't it the city lord of Zizai?" Taihao asked.

Banfu didn't reply, Taihao knew that it must be the lord of Zicai City, because the official sedan chair was sitting on him. Tai Hao muttered, "Why did he want to harm me? ”

Banfu said: "Taihao, your days in officialdom are still too short, many things are different from what you think, no matter how capable Zi Cai is, it is impossible to arrest you from the front line and ask for guilt just by his words." There are clouds in ancient books: the enemy is easy to general, and the soldiers are taboo. It can be said that the emperor replaced you from the position of the front-line general, how can it be just a city lord? However, the official will truthfully report to the emperor the status of your case review and plead with the emperor to try to get leniency. ”

When Tai Hao heard this, he was very grateful. He knew he had a lot to do, and he couldn't stay in prison forever.

The next day, above the court, Banfu pleaded with the emperor and exonerated Taihao. When the emperor heard about this, he ordered the forbidden army to bring Tai Hao to Zichen Palace, and he wanted to interrogate Tai Hao in person.

After Taihao arrived at the Zichen Palace, he first bowed to the emperor, and then said: "Sinner Taihao, see Your Majesty." ”

Xuan Cheng ordered the guards around him to open the shackles on Tai Hao's hands and ask the guards to give him a seat.

Xuan Cheng said: "Taihao, you have made great contributions to the Eastern Empire, I have received a good report from you, I am very relieved that the Eastern Empire can have a loyal and good general like you." ”

Hearing the emperor's affirmation of himself, Tai Hao said gratefully: "The guilty minister thanks Your Majesty for the praise, Your Majesty, I am wronged, I have never done anything to collaborate with the enemy and betray the country, and deceive the king......"

Xuan Cheng nodded and said, "I have already found out, except for violating the rule of 'prohibiting officials from taking sedan chairs', you have not done anything other illegal." But you must know that twenty ministers of the DPRK and China, including Shaoling Horse and Zi Cai, jointly wrote that you are guilty, and how should I deal with this, so I can only choose to face the enemy and bring you back to Thousand Winds City for review. ”