Early in the morning, Luo Xizao prepared to leave the imperial city and go to Pingkangfang to meet the right minister.

He carefully interrogated Xiao Fangzhi and was surprised to find that the mastermind behind this case was really an imperial historian under the right minister.

Is it someone who didn't hold his breath and did it without permission? Or was it bought? Luo Xizao first suspected Yang Zhao.

Xiao Fangzhi didn't know the name of the other party, but the matter was simple, just call the imperial history to identify it, and he could find out soon.

"Luo Yushi!"

Before he came out, the officials of the criminal department suddenly hurriedly chased after him.

Rohi turned around and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"Human Criminal...... The man committed Xiao Fangzhi and died. ”

"What?" Luo Xi was surprised: "How did you die?" ”

"Isn't that ...... Isn't that ...... Was you tortured to death by Luo Yushi? ”

"Nonsense!" Luo Xizao was furious and shouted: "Do you know who this official is, dare to say that this official can't grasp the proportions of torture?!" ”

……

Returning to the dim cell, under the light of the torches, Xiao Fangzhi hung on the torture rack, his head bowed, and his body was covered with wounds.

Roshizao walked in, his eyes wide and he watched the scene in disbelief.

"Luo Yushi, it is common for people to miss hands and horses to stumble."

Luo Xixiao picked up Xiao Fangzhi's hair, carefully observed the dead man's eyes, and muttered, "He was killed by someone." Who did it? Xiao Yinzhi, the secretary of the criminal department? Examine! ”

"Luo Yushi ......"

"Call me again? There's no way I'm going to miss it! ”

The sound of footsteps behind him, Luo Xixiao turned around, and saw that it was Wang Jie, so he hurriedly bent over, stepped forward, and said respectfully: "Zhongcheng actually came to such a filthy place in person......

"What's wrong?"

"The Criminal Department, there is a problem with the officials of the Criminal Department, and they have killed important witnesses."

"It's clear that Luo Yushi used excessive punishment!"

"Zhongcheng understands the official ......"

Wang Ji was not unlucky, personally probed the corpse, frowned and pondered, beckoned Pei Mian and asked, "What do you think?" ”

Pei Mian stepped forward and said: "If the verdict is to extinguish the mouth, it will not be beneficial to the right minister and the prince, it is a trivial matter caused by the failure of the marriage contract between the Xiao and Xue families, but it has become a conspiracy, which makes people see jokes." ”

"How?"

"Check. For example, in the case of Liu Yan, it was Xiao Fangzhi's false accusation in the end, but all those who should have been killed with a rod were killed with a rod, and the result that should have been had was also achieved. ”

Wang Ji nodded, turned around, and walked out.

"Luo Xizao, don't worry about this case, leave it to Pei Mian to handle."

"Zhongcheng, I ......"

Pei Mian gently patted Luo Xizao's back and comforted him softly: "Don't be impulsive, it's not important to try the case, it's important to be an official." You are not a judge, you are an official. ”

After that, Pei Mian left the prison of the Criminal Department, recruited a few henchmen, and ordered: "Escort Xiao Fang's family to Dali Temple Prison, and this official will interrogate them one by one." ”

"......"

~~

At the same time, Du Wulang was coming out of Xue's house and preparing to go to Guozijian.

"Du Cheng!"

Looking up, there was a beautiful young man standing at the entrance of the alley, it was Xiao Fan.

Before Du Wulang could react, Xiao Fan had already rushed forward and grabbed him by the collar.

"Why did you frame my grandfather?!"

"Framing your grandfather? We? Du Wulang said confusedly: "I heard that your grandfather has arrived in the prison of the Criminal Department, but I don't know why." ”

"My grandpa went to sue you, but he was taken, and he was not framed by you?!"

"Listen to for yourself what this is saying."

Du Wulang sighed and shook his head. Xiao Fan followed behind him, scolding non-stop.

"It must be you who framed my grandfather in order to rob my relatives, and you released me alone! Otherwise, I will not spare you......"

Talking endlessly, Du Wulang just took it as a deaf ear, yawning all the way to Wubenfang, anyway, Xiao Fan always didn't have Lu Fengniang's chatter.

All the way to Guozijian, I saw a few officials in front of me escorting an old servant.

"Gorou run!"

"I've found Xiao Wulang, take it!"

Xiao Fan was still stunned, and Du Wulang suddenly thought of the conversation between Xue Bai and Wang Zhonghei that he vaguely heard yesterday, and ran away as soon as he pulled Xiao Fan.

"Run!"

"Stop!"

~~

"Whew...... Call...... You go, go to Yanshoufang...... West Street 2nd Lane, find General Wang to save you......"

"I'll believe you?!"

"Let's go, your family is in trouble, something terrible...... I'm going to lure them away......"

The panting Du Wulang pushed Xiao Fan again, pushing this empty idiot into the alley, and suddenly remembered something again.

"That's right, Yun Niang...... Yun Niang is mine! ”

Xiao Fan was stunned for a moment, looked back at the ugly boy again, hesitated, and ran away.

Du Wulang was panting there with his knees propped up, and when he saw the official chasing after him again, he screamed strangely and ran into another alley.

Soon after, he was pinned to the ground.

"I got Xiao Fan!"

"I'm not Xiao Fan. The five sons of Chunfu, Du Cheng, have you heard of it? ”

"Believe you? If it weren't for Xiao Fan, what would you run? ”

"Gorou, I'm also Gorou. Hey, which yamen are you from? Look like a jailer in Dali Temple? Have you seen me? ”

"It's really you kid, why are you protecting Xiao Fan?!"

"What am I doing to protect him? You went to Jingzhao Mansion to inquire, and I just started a lawsuit with him, and he came to take revenge on me today. Ah, I thought you were his people, and you came to get me. ”

~~

It's night, the Ten Kings' House.

Li Jingzhong entered the hall with a tray and saw Li Heng playing chess with Zhang Ting.

With Zhang Liangdi, the candles in the prince's residence are much brighter.

Putting the wine glass in front of Li Heng, Li Jingzhong wanted to speak and stopped.

"Say something when you have something." Li Heng said, "I won't hide anything from Liangdi. ”

Zhang Ting smiled slightly, glanced at Li Jingzhong, and already had the posture of a hostess.

Li Jingzhong bent his back lower, and said in a low voice: "Our people are in trouble cleaning up the mess, and the Xiao family has been saved by General Wang. ”

"Why does the righteous brother protect the Xiao family? It was the Xiao family who dealt with the righteous brother, didn't they? ”

"The old slave doesn't know why."

Li Heng got up, personally turned around and took a very old slingshot, handed it to Li Jingzhong, and said, "Try to tell the righteous brother that you can't be soft-hearted, the Xiao family can't protect it." ”

"Whoa."

Li Jingzhong withdrew, and the couple continued to play against each other.

"I thought it was a decisive general, but it turned out to be such a woman's benevolent nature?"

"It is precisely because of this kind of temperament that the righteous brother is unwilling to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers to storm Shibao City and make great contributions for himself."

Zhang Ting said: "I'm very strange, why did Xue Bai help him? ”

"Maybe the cannon was made just for merit?"

"No, this time's trick is the same as the last time, it must be to help Wang Zhonghe."

Li Heng groaned: "Li Cong also wants to win over my brother-in-law. ”

"Are you sure he's the son of Xue Rust?"

"Not bad."

"Li Niang is too stupid, she has no evidence at all, but she runs out and calls again and again."

"yes." Li Heng stared at the chessboard, pondering, and muttered, "They are getting more and more powerful, but they still don't know how to expose them. ”

Zhang Ting stretched out his hand, picked up a chess piece from Li Heng's chess basket, pressed it on the chessboard, smiled, and said, "Don't worry, as long as Your Highness doesn't make a big mistake, you can win to the end." ”

~~

Two days later, Xue Zhai.

Xue Bai came back from the Lady of Qiuguo's mansion and went to Yan's Mansion to pay a visit before finally returning home.

He has been in the Xue Mansion recently, and he can almost be regarded as a rare guest.

"You're back, I have something to tell you, about Xiao Fan."

Du Wulang was mysterious, pulled Xue Bai to the guest room in the front yard, and carefully talked about what he saw and heard, but Xue Bai didn't say anything.

"Hey, what do you think?"

"General Wang is unwilling to sacrifice the lives of soldiers for his personal exploits, and he will protect the Xiao family."

"Really?" Du Wulang was still worried, "It's one thing for me to fight for marriage with Xiao Fan, but it's another thing for him to be harmed." ”

"If there's any news, we'll let it know." Xue Bai said goodbye and went back to the west backyard to study.

Du Wulang didn't understand what news would be, so he stayed in the compound to talk to Xue Xian and the others.

At noon, Guan Chongsi really saw Xue Bai.

"The general has made a promise of a thousand gold, so that someone will protect the Xiao family to settle in Longyou, Xue Lang can rest assured."

"So, thank you, General Wang."

……

With a result in this matter, Xue Bai immediately led the horse out.

He went all the way east, arrived at the Green Gate, and stationed his horse under a fire-watching tower.

After a short time, Tian Shengong and Tian Shenyu walked down from Wanghuo Tower, didn't look at Xue Bai, and walked into the alley.

Xue Bai then smiled and beckoned, and the Tian brothers were stunned for a moment, and immediately stopped pretending not to know each other and greeted him.

"Lang Jun, aren't you afraid that people will know about our relationship?"

"Let's go, have a drink."

"Haha, Lang Jun really only drinks one drink."

Tian Shenyu laughed, but was kicked by his brother.

"If you can't speak, you won't talk ......"

The three of them entered a restaurant, Xue Bai asked for wine and meat, and asked, "It's been some time, have you been promoted?" ”

Lang Jun laughed. Tian Shengong said: "We haven't been transferred for a long time, how can there be any reason for promotion. ”

Tian Shenyu said with a smile: "Lang Jun, I'm busy getting married and having a baby these days, thanks to the money Lang Jun gave, I want to invite Lang Jun to drink a glass of wine, but my brother refuses to let me." But this thing is interesting at the beginning, and after a long time, the eldest husband still has to go into battle to kill the enemy......"

"Listen to Lang Jun."

Xue Bai said: "Time is running out, it's time to be promoted, there may be two choices at the moment." ”

Halfway through the words, the Tian brothers were already wide-eyed.

They knew that this Lang Jun was motivated, but they still didn't adapt to such a fast promotion speed.

"The first choice, you can go to the Four Towns Festival to make General Wang Zhongsi under the command, General Wang first looks at the martial arts skills, or Ren Team Zheng, or Ren Brigade Marshal, the advantage is that there are many opportunities, once the stone castle city is captured, the promotion will be very fast, but it is very dangerous, life and death are unpredictable, no one can say how many people can survive this battle at the moment, maybe half, maybe nine deaths......"

Tian Shenyu's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Thank you Langjun!" I'm willing to go! Just choose this, thank you Lang Jun! ”

"You sit down for me and listen to Lang Jun."

Tian Shengong grabbed his brother.

He originally didn't want to join the border army, but he knew that Xue Bai had introduced him into the eyes of General Wang, and he made contributions as a team leader and brigade commander, which was a world of difference from ordinary pawns.

"The second option, the Northern Ya Long Wu Army, is transferred from the South Ya to the North Ya, you should be clear about the difference, I don't need to say more."

In this matter, Xue Bai was sure to let Chen Xuanli sell him a face, and sometimes asking for help from each other was also a way to improve his connections.

Tian Shengong first got up and saluted, and stood there thinking.

He knew what a great opportunity Long Wujun was......

Tian Shenyu also stood up, leaned to Tian Shengong's side, and said in a low voice: "Brother, Stone Castle City." We're going to choose Stone Castle City, brother. ”

Xue Bai was not in a hurry, and took a sip of wine.

"Lang Jun." Tian Shengong quickly made a decision, "Let's go to Longyou!" ”

"Why?"

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow the world's famous generals to fight a big battle."

"Okay, I'll arrange it."

Tian Shengong immediately expressed his position and said: "I hope that Lang Jun will be named on the gold list as soon as possible, and the official will be conferred, so that my two brothers can serve under Lang Jun." ”

Tian Shenyu hurriedly said: "Me too!" ”

"What's the same, can you also be named on the gold list?"

~~

The next day, Xue Bai was not in a hurry to introduce the Tian brothers to Wang Zhonghei, but first introduced Yuan Zai to Yang Chen.

Power is really a very amazing thing, Yang Yun was originally Hongluqing and Shangzhuguo, but he has no real power, and now he is also a servant of the door and a salt and iron envoy for a short period of time, and his aura has changed.

He was still very enthusiastic about Xue Bai.

"Now Chang'an is saying that you are erudite and talented, endowed with poetry, dominoes, food, and weapons. Xue Lang is talented and famous. ”

"I should have told my uncle about the armament. It's a pity that my brother is keeping an eye on him, so I played a trick with him to darken Chen Cang. ”

Yang laughed.

He didn't care about this credit, but Xue Bai could say this, which still made him happy.

"I understand, I understand, and put my brother and slave together, haha. Don't be polite, you and I are forgetful friends, and in the future, we will be called brothers, you can call me 'brother'. ”

As he spoke, Yang Yan also blinked, not quite like a serious person.

Xue Bai was not polite, and immediately called: "Brother." ”

"Hahaha, okay."

"Come to introduce Brother A, this is Yuan Zai Yuan Gongfu, Gongfu has great talents, and he is well versed in money, grain, salt and iron, and he will definitely be able to arm Brother A."

Since Xue Bai said this, Yang Yan immediately raised his eyebrows and looked at Yuan Zai solemnly.

He had heard that Yuan Zai was Wang Zhonghe's son-in-law, and at this time, he really looked good, but this identity made him a little afraid to reuse Yuan Zai.

After greetings, the three of them entered the hall and sat down.

Xue Bai seemed to have guessed Yang Chen's thoughts, and said in a deep voice: "Gongfu has great materials, Brother can use it with confidence, and Brother Nu dares to bite me again and wait for the East Palace to be constructed?" ”

At this time, he was the mastermind of the Yang Party, and his tone was different from usual, and he called Yuan Zai's name.

"For my brother, the power struggle is not important at the moment. Without the results of one year or two years, let the saint see the ability of the elder brother to rule the world, how can the elder brother worship the prime minister? Therefore, employing people should pay attention to talents, not factions, and all of them are working for Datang Sheji, how can you and me be different? ”

"Exactly." Yuan Zai said solemnly: "If I can serve the power of the uncle of the country, I will never abolish the public for personal reasons, but only think of the society and the people." ”

Yang Yan was in power, and it was easiest to be persuaded by Xue Bai, only these two sentences were enough, and he stepped forward to hold Yuan Zai's hands.

He didn't understand practice for the time being, so he pondered for a long time, and simply asked, "Gongfu, what official position can you take?" ”

This kind of courage to let his subordinates choose their own official positions has recently allowed Yang Yun to subdue many capable people.

However, Yuan Zai was not so frightened by him, and said calmly: "I am willing to follow Uncle Guo to give advice, and it is enough to make a judge for the transfer of salt and iron." ”

Yang Qian was stunned.

Now the salt and iron transshipment envoy is set up, and it is planned to be a third-grade official. The salt and iron judge has not yet been set, and is ready to be set from the sixth grade. And Yuan Zai, a nine-grade official, dared to open his mouth to ask for a six-grade official, and it was "enough", which could not be described as not bold, nor conceited.

He definitely couldn't agree, but he was already very impressed by this person in his heart.

Xue Bai smiled slightly, thinking that Yuan Zai deserved to be Yuan Zai, this desire for fame and confidence in his own ability was indeed an important quality of his career and progress.

It's just that if the bottom line can't be kept, it's like no matter how high the ladder is, it has no foundation.

……

In fact, the friendship between Xue Bai and Yuan Zai is not deep, but Yuan Zai is good at climbing relationships, Wang Yunxiu is bold and enthusiastic, and everyone's interests are temporarily aligned, so it seems to be a good match.

But Xue Bai was still willing to help Yuan Zai's officials.

For the sake of Wang Zhonghe.

He knew that sooner or later, the matter of Yuan Zai would reach Li Heng's ears, and maybe Li Jingzhong would ask, "Your Highness, could it be that Wang Zhonghei has other thoughts?" ”

There's no hurry, he can take his time......

~~

Wang Zhongsi was in a hurry, and he was going to rush back to Longyou in three days.

The crown prince Li Heng did not come to see him off.

Due to his sensitive identity, Wang Zhonghei returned to Chang'an this time and never met Li Heng from beginning to end.

Xue Bai was sent to the ten-mile long pavilion outside Chang'an City, and he stood beside Yuan Zai and Wang Yunxiu and his wife, and he didn't say much.

When he looked at Wang Zhonghe's team, he could see that there were craftsmen who could make boulder cannons and stone paint fireballs, the Xiao family who were saved, and the Tian family brothers.

Once we met, these were enough.

"Alright, it's enough to send it here, don't pass by."

Wang Zhongsi turned over and got on his horse, and finally glanced at the send-offs, suddenly grabbed the reins, and said in a loud voice: "This time I returned to Beijing, I have received a lot of gifts, but I am greedy, I heard that Xue Lang is extraordinary, can I have poems for me?" ”

Xue Bai came back to his senses and said, "What does it mean to give a farewell poem?" When General Wang breaks through the Stone Fort City, he will congratulate the general. ”

"Hahahaha."

Wang Zhongsi laughed, pointed at Xue Bai, didn't say much, and rode away.

"Drive!"

The horse's hooves stepped on the ancient road of Chang'an, raising dust and smoke.

Xue Bai raised his eyes and looked into the distance, and the remnant sun in the west was about to fall into Wanliguan Mountain.

At the end of Guanshan is a completely different scene from the prosperous Chang'an City, and it is precisely because there are people guarding there that there is such Chang'an.

(End of chapter)