Rui Hegui

Chapter 60

Thirty miles east of Kyoto, there is a post house built on a deserted hill. The place is indeed remote and inaccessible, but the post house is a hub for transshipment of letters and documents from east to west.

When Han Ting arrived with his men on horseback, the entire post house was already bleeding, and the corpses of post officials and guards were everywhere.

Han Ting flew off his horse, and his subordinates immediately followed into the post to check the situation quickly.

"Master Hui, the post house should have been attacked last night!"

Han Ting passed by the corpses of several postmen, went directly to the postman, bent over and searched, but found nothing left behind.

"My lord, do you want to inform Jingdu immediately?"

Han Ting shook his head: "There is always a connection between the posts. If we lose contact here, the front and back posts will soon find out. By the time we get back to Kyoto, the news will have already reached the Ministry of War."

Half a month ago, Han Ting accidentally seized a batch of privately forged weapons in Puyang. At that time, he suspected that his father and the Ministry of War did it, but unexpectedly, all the merchants captured were dead soldiers. They committed suicide before interrogation, which is really puzzling , the clue is also broken.

Seven days ago, merchants frequently returned to Beijing from Puyang. Although he asked the soldiers to check carefully, Han Ting was even more suspicious. pay attention to.

Until yesterday, Han Ting received the news that a group of merchants were coming to this barren hill, and he knew something bad was going on - this barren hill has only post houses, no inns and wine shops, usually merchants would not choose to rest here, Instead, go directly to the surrounding towns.

"The other party must be trying to destroy some news." Han Ting frowned and thought about it, and said, "It's the news that needs to be delayed for two days to reach the capital."

Is there any news that will be delayed by two days to reach Kyoto?

If the enemy's spies want to obstruct the emergency military report, a two-day delay would be too much, and there is no sign of war at the moment.If it is really a merchant, it is even more impossible, and the post house and the commercial firm are completely out of reach.

Could it be... yes!Calculating according to the date, if Zhao Liangyue and the others go well, it should be a few days before they leave for Beijing.

"Turn through the posthouse again." Han Ting said, "If I remember correctly, some posthouses will have hidden boxes to prevent accidents and keep secret letters in an emergency, let alone posthouses that are used as hubs. .”

The subordinates searched again, and after less than half an hour, they really found the hidden box, but it was already empty.

Han Ting said: "Then bring me all the urgent documents that the other party didn't take away. On the way back to Beijing, you carefully sort out and eliminate them to find out where the problem is!"

"My lord, taking away the documents of the post office is a serious crime against the Jiu Clan!"

"If you talk too much, I will kill you now!"

All the subordinates didn't dare to talk anymore, they hurriedly sorted out the urgent documents from the post house, and then quickly boarded the carriage and left.

Han Ting himself was riding a horse, and he led his people ahead to prevent accidents. From time to time, he turned his horse's head to the side of the carriage, knocked on the window, and asked them if they had found the problem. Han Er, who treats his subordinates with a warm spring breeze, is completely different. Several subordinates inside complained endlessly, so they had to move their fingers like flying, and looked at ten lines. up.

At the end of Yinshi, Han Ting led his people to the outside of Donghua Gate, and his subordinates handed him a paper with the results. Han Ting only took a look, and immediately decided to enter the city immediately.

"There is still a moment to open the city, who will come!"

Han Ting directly took out a private order from the prime minister's mansion and showed it to the city gate soldiers, who immediately opened the gate and let them go.

The door was half opened, Han Ting had already rode his horse and headed straight for the prime minister's mansion.

"Where's father?"

As soon as he arrived at the prime minister's mansion, the servant at the door was a little surprised at Han Ting's appearance, but seeing his anxious face, he hurried forward and replied, "The prime minister and Wang Shangshu have both been ordered to go to the Nuan Pavilion."

In fact, the emperor has been ill all the time, and the strikes have become more and more frequent recently, but today he specially called the prime minister and the minister of the Ministry of War to the Nuan Pavilion. Han Ting knew that the emperor deliberately bought time for Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue, and the two guessed for a while It's impossible to get out of the palace - but obviously, the emperor was self-defeating and did something bad with good intentions.

"Second Young Master, you must advance to the mansion..."

Before the boy could finish talking, Han Ting had already turned his horse and headed north of the city.

After crossing the Chenshui River, Han Ting had to dismount in front of the Meridian Gate, and then ran towards the west of the palace wall.

When Han Ting arrived at the government office of the household department, he was already sweating profusely. The government servants at the gate recognized him and rushed to meet him.

Han Ting took out a golden cicada that had been carefully hidden in his sleeve and gave it to the servant, saying, "Quickly call your Master Xiang to come out!"

The government servant took the golden cicada and hurried to the government office. After a while, Xiang Mian rushed out with his official robe.

The two went to a hidden back alley to talk.

"Mianzhi, Big Brother Zhao and the others may have big troubles when they return to Beijing." Han Ting said and showed Xiang Mian the results compiled by his subordinates.

Xiang Mian immediately frowned: "Is it because the fire letter submitted by the local government to the Ministry of War has been lost?"

The laws and regulations of this dynasty have long stipulated that because gunpowder is needed to open mountains and build roads, it will be managed and distributed by the Ministry of War, and all localities must submit detailed accounts of civilian gunpowder to the Ministry of War strictly on time, which is a letter of fire.

Han Ting said: "I suspect that someone used the gunpowder privately, and it should have passed through the hands of Puyang merchants."

Xiang Mian had a lot of thoughts, went over the past few days, and said, "Yesterday, there was not much movement in the military department, but the hussar battalion seemed to be very active. It was obviously going to patrol the east, but in fact it was to stop Brother Zhao and the others. But Jin Luanwei has obtained the imperial edict, and has secretly left the city with the three guards of the Beiya to escort Chu Shangshu and others back to Beijing."

"Moreover, there is no place to bury gunpowder on the way to Beijing from the south, and there is no time to bury it. You can't just throw the gunpowder on Chu Shangshu and the others and ignite it? What's more, if that's the case, the Hussars The people in the camp will die together, Wang Yunming took them there personally, even if the prime minister is willing, Wang Shangshu is not stupid, could it be possible to blow up his son?"

When Xiang Mian said this, he suddenly paused, and frowned: "Unless someone really wants them to die together, the Prime Minister and Wang Shangshu don't know about it."

Han Ting sighed and said, "Mianzhi, in fact, I encountered a few strange things in Puyang before, which were not caused by my father, but they had a lot to do with it. Looking back on some of my father's strange behaviors, I always felt that he was hiding a big thing from me. And he can't control himself."

"Yuanting, don't be in a hurry, let me think about it." Xiang Mian squatted down, took a broken branch and drew a topographic map of the vicinity of Kyoto on the ground, and marked a few important places. After thinking for a while, he raised his head Said, "I think of a place."

"Heng En Temple."

The two spoke in unison, and then frowned at the same time.

Xiang Mian said: "That's right, you once mentioned to me that Master Mingwu of Heng'en Temple had a secret relationship with the prime minister, and when I saw Mingwu at that time, I didn't think he looked like an ordinary monk, but like a half-returned wine and meat Wealthy people."

Han Ting nodded and said, "And if we put the gunpowder in a place that is not easy to detect in Heng'en Temple, then it will be much easier to lure two groups of people into the temple."

"But is there any reason to lure both groups of people to Heng'en Temple?" Xiang Mian was puzzled, but when he looked up and saw that the sky in the early morning was covered by dark clouds, he suddenly realized, "It's been rainy recently, maybe it's raining." The purpose of the riding camp was to lure Chu Shangshu and Brother Zhao to Hengen Temple to get rid of them by taking shelter from the rain?"

"There are too many doubts and doubts, but Brother Zhao and the others must be informed of this matter as soon as possible." Han Ting glanced at the alleyway and said, "The movement of me rushing back to Beijing is too big, and it must be noticed by all parties soon. So why don't I make the commotion even bigger, to attract their attention, and let you do it secretly."

Xiang Mian: "This matter is of great importance, I will leave immediately."

"Okay, take care!"

"Take care of yourself!"

The two of them clasped their fists together and went out of the alley to act separately.

Over the entire Gyeonggi, dark clouds kept gathering, and all the palaces and pavilions were covered with a layer of gray and white, losing the brilliance of blooming flowers, and it was the wind and rain that was about to come.

At Xidingmen, a gorgeous carriage rushed out of the city first. The gate guard glanced at the "Wangfu" sign on the carriage and immediately let it go.

"Miss, why do you want to come out this day? It might rain at some point. If something happens..."

Inside the carriage, the maid Bi'er looked at her master who was already pregnant with Liujia, and couldn't help but worry.

Shen Linglan, who was leaning on the soft pillow, smiled lightly, and said: "I'm just a little bored, I'm going out for a walk, there are guards here, and you are here, what can I do?"

Bi'er looked at the unconcealable sadness on Shen Ling's face, and sighed softly.

Bi'er has been by Miss's side since she was a child. She knows that Miss, as the daughter of the Shen family, marrying the eldest son of the Wang family, General Wang Yunming, is just a family marriage, but Miss herself is not willing at all, and General Wang doesn't cherish Miss at all after getting married.

Miss Mingming was such a bright and lively woman back then, obviously back then...

"Bill, what are you thinking?"

Shen Linglan pulled Bi'er back from her thoughts, gently plucked a leaf off Bi'er's head, and said: "How old are you, and you are still as reckless as before, what will you do when you get married?"

"Bi'er doesn't want to get married, Bi'er wants to stay with Miss for the rest of her life!"

Shen Linglan smiled, and what else to say, the carriage stopped abruptly, Shen Linglan's body was unstable, and she fell forward, Bi'er quickly grabbed her.

Bi'er scolded: "What's going on outside? What if I fell off the lady!"

The coachman hurriedly said: "Miss Bi'er, it's the members of the Xiang family who suddenly appeared with knives, we have to stop."

"The Xiang family?" Shen Linglan was stunned for a moment, then lifted the curtain of the side window of the carriage, looked forward, and saw that the members of the Xiang family were arresting someone.

The man seemed to be very good at martial arts, and it took a while before he was restrained.

Bi'er reminded from the side: "Miss, they are fighting and killing over there, what should we do if the hostility offends the little master? Let's go back to the city."

Shen Linglan touched her stomach, thought for a while, and said, "That's fine." As she said that, she was about to put down the curtain, but saw that it was Xiang Mian who was tied up by the Xiang family.

Xiang Mian happened to look over, looked at Shen Linglan, and immediately winked, his face was full of anxiety, and then he was put in a sack by the Xiang family, carried them into the carriage and walked to the city.

Bi'er at the side didn't notice, she just poked her head to let the carriages turn around and go back.

Shen Linglan thought for a while, then ordered: "Go to the Xiang Mansion."

Bi'er was puzzled: "Why are you going to the Xiang Mansion?"

Shen Linglan frowned and said, "Xiang Mian seems to have something important to tell me."

"Miss, didn't the master say it, I don't want you to get involved in other things."

Regardless of Bi'er's dissuasion, Shen Linglan directly probed herself and told the carriage to go to Xiang's mansion quickly.

When they arrived at the Xiang mansion, it was Madam Xiang who came out to greet Shen Linglan in person, smiling, for fear of being slighted.

In the main hall, a servant came up to finish the tea, Shen Linglan took a sip of the tea with a calm face, and said: "Madam Xiang, there is no need to be polite, I am here today to visit Mr. Xiang."

Mrs. Xiang remembered the master's order to go out before, so she said to Shen Linglan: "My son is sick, I'm afraid I won't be able to see Mrs. Wang, please forgive me."

Shen Linglan smiled slightly, observed the expression change on Madam Xiang's face, and said: "Madam, there is no need to prevaricate me in such a hurry, my father sent me to visit Mr. Xiang."

Mrs. Xiang couldn't help being startled when she heard the words, and clenched the handkerchief tightly in her sleeves.

Shen Linglan, the daughter of Dali Temple Minister Shen Mingwei, Shen Mingwei sent her to visit unexpectedly, she must have heard something and wanted to find out the truth.

However, the Xiang family has never been involved in party struggles, and it has been the same for ten years. If anyone suspects it, they are not afraid to investigate.

So Mrs. Xiang sighed, and said: "To tell you the truth, Mrs. Wang, my son has recently lost his mind and is locked up in the courtyard. It is natural for you to meet each other, but...you are pregnant, so I am really afraid." Collided."

Shen Linglan said: "How about this, I'll greet you outside the door, Madam Xiang will send someone to follow, how about it?"

Only then did Mrs. Xiang nod her head, and came to help Shen Linglan in person, and brought more than ten servants to protect her.

"You dare to stop me! It's against the sky!"

"Young master, this is the meaning of the master, we can't help it!"

As soon as he entered the backyard, he heard Xiang Mian and his servants arguing.

Mrs. Xiang explained: "It was this kind of insanity that caused the master to lock him up."

Shen Linglan nodded, looked at the room tightly locked by three locks, walked over, and raised her voice, "Master Xiang, it's me, Ling Lan, the second daughter of the Shen family, who came to visit you at my father's order."

It became quiet inside, then laughed, and said, "Shen Linglan? I don't know her. I just remember a girl from the Shen family who gave me a palace lantern when I was young."

Shen Linglan froze for a moment, then smiled: "I'm that girl."

"You are not! That girl knows how to set fire trees and silver flowers, can you?" Xiang Mian asked again, "Can you set fire trees and silver flowers?"

Shen Linglan actually didn't know about the fiery trees and silver flowers in Xiang Mian's mouth, but she still replied: "I know, I let it go a lot."

"You're lying! You never let it go. Only the monks of Heng'en Temple can do it. You should take a good look and learn it before you know how to do it!"

Shen Linglan smiled: "Okay, I'll go and have a look when I have time."

Mrs. Xiang stood by and watched the two talking nonsense, confused, and finally stepped forward and said, "Young Madam Wang, you have also seen that my son is talking nonsense, why don't we go back and sit down and drink tea and chat? "

"No." Shen Linglan said, "Since I know that Mr. Xiang is fine in the mansion, I should go back to keep my father safe."

Sure enough, they came here to test something, but fortunately, the master sent someone to stop Xiang Mian in advance.Mrs. Xiang thought to herself.

After getting out of Shen's residence and getting into the carriage, Shen Linglan's face collapsed almost instantly, and Bi'er hurried up to give her a break.

"Brother must have returned to Beijing. He is in trouble at Heng'en Temple!" Shen Linglan grabbed Bi'er and said, "Hurry up, go to Heng'en Temple!"

Bi'er wondered: "Miss, why did you think of Chu Shangshu after meeting Mr. Xiang?"

Shen Linglan: "Xiang Mian and I didn't meet each other very much when we were young. I only gave palace lanterns to two senior brothers, and only two senior brothers would call me a girl. Not many people know about this. Now, Xiang Mian has always been with me. Mr. Zhao is very close, and the capital has recently learned that they are going back to Beijing after investigating the Ningzhou case, the Wang and Han families must be thinking of ways to prevent them from coming back... By the way, Wang Yunming has indeed left the city long ago!"

Bi'er said anxiously: "But Miss, if this is the case, we shouldn't bother, and you still..."

"No, I can't ignore them while they're in danger." Shen Linglan looked at Bi'er with a firm tone, "If you don't want to, get out of the carriage and leave immediately, and I'll go by myself!"

Bi'er understood that the miss had made up her mind, and understood that although she said she wanted to forget the past, she didn't let it go at all, so she said, "Miss has decided, so Bi'er supports miss!"