Eun Qiang is still green, like a newborn sapling, trying to grow in the wind and rain. Taihao looked at him, his eyes were full of elder-like warmth and care. He said softly to Huan Qiang: "Huan Qiang, you take off your pants, and I will help you apply the gold sore medicine." ”

When Huan Qiang heard this, his face showed shyness and uneasiness, as flustered as a fawn. He hurriedly shirked and said, "No need, Vice General Taihao, I can do it myself." ”

Taihao smiled and shook his head, his tone firm and gentle: "Don't be polite to me, come, let me help you." ”

Tai Hao softly comforted Eun Qiang, letting him lie on the bed like soothing a frightened fawn. He gently took off his pants, trying not to touch the wounds on his body.

Subsequently, Tai Hao took out the gold sore medicine and began to carefully apply it to Huan Qiang. His every movement is filled with care and concentration, as if he were treating a precious piece of porcelain. The coolness of the ointment and the warmth of Taihao's palm were intertwined, bringing an unprecedented comfort to Huan Qiang.

In this process, Huan Qiang felt Taihao's care and kindness, and a warm current surged in his heart, which was extremely moving. He closed his eyes and let Tai Hao treat his wounds, and the tranquility and warmth of this moment was something he had never experienced.

After treating Eun Qiang's wounds, Tai Hao whispered to him: "Eun Qiang, in the next few days, you can rest in bed with peace of mind." Don't go anywhere, I will arrange for the shopkeeper of Snow Lotus House to come and bring you food every day to make sure you don't go hungry. ”

After hearing this, Eun Qiang was grateful in his heart, and he responded respectfully: "Thank you for your care and care!" ”

Taihao nodded and continued, "When the wounds on your body are healed, you can come to me." But you have to remember that you must never do those things in the future. You have to be a citizen of the Eastern Empire, you know? ”

After hearing this, Eun Qiang sighed deeply and explained: "Vice Admiral Taihao, in fact, I shouldn't have gone there last night. It stands to reason that Ah Goose should go because he is literate. But because Ah Goose had something to do at home, he let the little one go instead of him. I didn't expect such a thing to happen. ”

After hearing this, Taihao couldn't help but feel curious, and he asked: "Why do you want to find a literate person to steal a box of gold bars?" It doesn't seem logical. ”

Hearing this, Eun Qiang had a confused expression on his face, and he explained: "Gold bars? Vice Admiral Taihao, did you hear it wrong? Mu Dalang didn't let us steal the gold bars, but let us go to the Snow Lotus House Inn and steal a cheat book from your room that was in a brocade box. ”

"Cheats?" After Tai Hao heard this, he couldn't help but be surprised, and he asked rhetorically: "How does Mu Dalang know about the secret book?" ”

After hearing this, Eun Qiang shook his head and said that he didn't know: "I don't know, but I just happened to hear that when he was discussing with Mu Erlang, he said that he had received an order from the general who defended the city." The specific inside story is not clear. ”

When Tai Hao heard this, he was suddenly empowered, and the mystery in his heart was instantly solved. He muttered: "I see, the poor two wanted to get the secret book from me, so they found the Yuhong City Lord, the Yuhong City Lord should have found General Houfeng as a helper, and General Houfeng used the Mu family brothers who were good at stealing. In the end, the Mu brothers sent eunuchs to Xuelian Residence to steal. ”

His voice revealed his understanding and emotion of the truth of the matter. Tai Hao has completely linked the relationship chain of this case, and every detail is clearly presented in his mind.

Tai Hao's voice sounded again, but this time there was a hint of seriousness in his tone: "Do you have anything to hide about Yangshun?" ”

When Huan Qiang heard this, he fell into a deep silence. His eyes revealed a complex emotion, both guilt and helplessness. After a while, he raised his head, looked at Tai Hao, and slowly spoke: "Vice General Tai Hao, as an official of Jiutu City, you should know it. In this city, if any of the subordinates of the four major families suddenly die violently, or are caught by the government, they must all be the subordinates of the four major families who want to clean up the portal. ”

After hearing this, Tai Hao's brows tightened: "How do you say this?" ”

Eun Qiang took a deep breath, as if he was mustering up his courage: "The officials and bandits of Jiutu City are a family, raise Shun...... Yangshun offended the Mu brothers, so his death was inevitable. ”

After hearing this, Taihao was silent for a moment, as if digesting this information. He frowned slightly, and his voice revealed his helplessness about his new position and his doubts about the current situation of Jiutu City: "I have only been here for a few days, and I haven't even been to the camp of Jiutu City. I am somewhat aware of the official and bandit family you are talking about. But Yangshun, how did he offend the Mu family brothers? ”

Eun Qiang sighed lightly, as if recalling the unbearable past: "I heard from the brothers of the Mu family that Yangshun was caught by an official, and he was already considered to be a subordinate who could not stay in the Mu family. What's worse is that he was suspected of being a fine work of the government, and was bought by the government, which is a big taboo, and he also stole the things of the official's family, so the Mu brothers were furious, and after beating him hard, they handed him over to the lord of Yuhong City. ”

After Taihao heard this, his heart tightened, and a wave of remorse surged into his heart: "I hurt him." His voice was low and self-reproachful, and a trace of pain and remorse flashed in his eyes.

Tai Hao looked at Eun Qiang, a trace of complicated emotions flashed in his eyes, and he said gently: "Eun Qiang, what you need now is to rest well and take care of your body." I'm going back to the Yamen. ”

Huan Qiang didn't keep Taihao, he responded respectfully: "Vice General Taihao, you go slowly." His voice revealed respect and gratitude for Taihao. He knew that Taihao really cared about him, and he remembered this friendship.

Tai Hao soon returned to the yamen, and when he stepped into the yamen, he found a familiar figure already waiting in the front hall - General Houfeng, who had quietly arrived at some point.

The City Lord of Yuhong was also present, and they were sitting around a table, as if they were talking about important matters. Their conversation came to an abrupt end as Tai Hao entered, and there seemed to be a subtle tension in the air.

General Hou Feng was the first to break the silence, he stood up with a warm smile on his face: "Vice General Taihao, how are you doing today?" ”

Tai Hao replied lightly: "It's not a big deal, it's just that I'm just cooperating with the Yuhong City Lord to investigate the case." ”

After hearing this, Hou Feng nodded, and changed his words: "Vice General Taihao, now that you have officially taken office, you still don't know much about the officers and soldiers of Jiutu City, right?" ”

Hearing this, Tai Hao frowned slightly, and replied frankly: "I have indeed been busy with other things in the past few days, and I have been delayed in official affairs. I'm really sorry, I don't know if General Houfeng has anything to do? ”

After hearing this, Hou Feng waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's not a big deal." Vice Admiral Taihao has only been here for a few days, so he will have a good rest in the city first, and it will not be too late to go to the camp when he is rested. ”

After hearing this, Taihao's heart warmed, and he said gratefully: "Then thank you General Houfeng." ”

The Yuhong City Lord turned to look at Tai Hao, and a hint of inquiry flashed in his eyes: "Vice General Tai Hao, you have already sent that eunuch strong young man home safely, right?" ”

Taihao nodded, his eyes revealing sympathy for what happened to Eun Qiang: "Yes, I have already sent him back." After all, he was only a teenager, and he was punished by the thirty boards, and his injuries were indeed somewhat serious. Looking at his fleshy body, I couldn't bear it. So, I went to the pharmacy, bought a healing medicine for him, and applied it to him myself. ”

After hearing this, Yu Hong couldn't help but express his appreciation for Taihao's kindness: "Vice General Taihao really loves the people like a son, and treats the people like his own children." ”

Tai Hao smiled slightly, but with a hint of seriousness: "As parents and officials, how can we emulate the actions of those corrupt officials?" They thought that in this place far away from Emperor Gao, they could act recklessly, collude with bandits, and treat the people like mustard. We can't go down that path. ”

His words echoed in the air, and every word was like a sharp arrow, pointing directly at the hearts of the city lord of Yuhong and General Houfeng. It's hard to ignore that obvious directionality. The collusion between them was like a dark cloud over Jiutu City, which made Taihao feel angry and helpless. He was angry at this injustice and helpless at his own powerlessness.

Yu Hong and Hou Feng, the two powerhouses of Jiutu City, glanced at each other after hearing Tai Hao's words. That glance contained too many emotions: embarrassment, shame, and a trace of dissatisfaction and resistance. They smiled awkwardly, like a remnant of the winter sun, pale and weak.

They understood the deep meaning of Taihao's words. It was not only an accusation of their actions, but also a question of their personality. They couldn't respond to his accusations, because they knew they were true. In this remote town, they did too many shady things, and they did treat the people like mustard, but they didn't think of changing them.

The Yuhong City Lord was slightly straight, and his tone revealed a solemnity and seriousness: "Vice General Taihao, there is another important thing that needs to be prepared in advance. That is next year's imperial examination, and now there are still three months to go. According to the practice of our empire, candidates who are eligible to participate in the 'Beijing Examination' in each city are personally escorted to the capital by the deputy general who guards the city. A month later, we will have the selection for the 'city exam', and I will conduct the exam myself. At that time, I hope that Vice Admiral Taihao will be able to fully assist me. ”

When Tai Hao heard this, he immediately hugged his fists and promised: "The city lord can rest assured, this is the duty of the lower officials, and he will do his best to ensure the smooth progress of the exam." His voice was full of firmness and confidence, as if he was assuring Yu Hong and swearing to himself.

In the Eastern Empire, the annual imperial examination was a grand ceremony. It has been a practice for many years that the deputy general of the city will escort the candidates to Beijing to take the exam. For Taihao, he is looking forward to this mission. Because it's not just a tolerance, it's a rare opportunity. He could take this opportunity to return to Thousand Winds City, where he had been absent for a long time, and explain to the emperor the corruption of officialdom in Jiutu City. He knew very well that only with the help of the emperor's power could he truly change the status quo of Jiutu City and return justice to the people.