The attack appeared suddenly and ended inexplicably.
After the crazy rain of arrows, normally they would pounce on some personnel responsible for melee combat, break through the defense of the guards, and finally achieve the assassination goal.
But the strange thing is that, just like an inexplicable thunderstorm in summer, after the thunder and lightning, a few raindrops fell, and then disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace, if it weren't for the shields and vehicle wooden stakes
The missing arrows were still dangling, and the miserable state of those unlucky servants almost made people think it was a farce...
Wang Ying, the head guard, hesitated and poked half of his head out from behind the shield. His movements were very slow and he was ready to retract at any time.
But it was quiet inside the dense forest, with no sound at all.
The guard next to him still held up his big shield, and gradually stretched his head out. After looking around, he exchanged glances with the leader.
The guard leader waited for a while and listened.
The rustling sound seemed like an animal retreating away.
Could it be possible that these thieves...
Ran?
How could he run away like that?
The guard leader was a little in disbelief, but he still stretched out his hand and signaled. The two guards held up their shields and approached in the direction where the arrows were originally dense, and finally walked into the dense forest step by step...
After a while, he came back again, "The thieves have run away! There is no one in the forest! The thieves have all run away! Run away!"
"Run away?" This news made the guard leader unable to understand. Immediately, he also took several guards to the dense forest again. The result was just as the guard said, only a messy trace was left in the dense forest, and there was no trace of it.
Other figures.
It's like this group of thieves just came here, poured out a batch of arrows like crazy, and then didn't care about anything else and did nothing.
At least use some rockets or something...
Forget it, the guard leader, with a feeling that he didn't know how to express, ordered a stay on guard and asked a few people to search for more traces in the forest.
Then, just like most things, the garrison soldiers from Beiqu arrived when Da Ju was about to reach his penis.
Wang Ying did not show up and asked the guard leader to contact the reinforcements from Beiqu County.
The leader of the team in Beiqu County is the inspection commander Cheng Yun.
Cheng Yun felt very strange after hearing the whole story of the incident. The two parties entered the forest again, checked for traces, and then expanded the search area this time and found some things.
After passing through this large forest, there was a place that was obviously used as a temporary horse camp. There were some traces of horse manure and the leftover fodder of the war horses. Then, following the horses' tracks, they continued forward, but at a long way.
The traces were cut off at rivers of all sizes.
"There are no traces on the other side of the river!" a guard shouted loudly as he rode across the shallow river bank.
"Did the thief use this river to go upstream or downstream..." Cheng Yun said, and then asked, "It's possible that they all went there and went separately..."
The guard leader was silent for a while and decided not to pursue him, because he would not find anything if he pursued him.
However, the traces of the thieves cannot be traced, and some arrows and weapons used by the thieves in the forest and camp have been recovered.
Yawenba
The guard leader's expression changed after he saw it. He took it back to the camp and presented it to Wang Ying, "My lord, this is a standard weapon! The mark has been specially worn off! This must have been planned for a long time!"
Wang Ying was a little confused at first, but after the guard leader's signal, he understood what these things meant. His face suddenly turned pale, then turned red again, and he couldn't say anything for a while.
After a while, Wang Ying decided to go to Beiqu County, so the two parties got together, swung back and forth, and escorted Wang Ying to Beiqu County. It seemed that this incident had come to an end, but in fact, the entire incident was over.
The incident has just begun.
Looking at the few things left in the woods above the hall, Zhang Shi, the magistrate of Beiqu County, had a face as deep as water.
Zhang Shi was originally a leading soldier, but later changed his position to become an envoy. After accumulating some merits, he practiced in Pingyang for a period of time, and now serves as the magistrate of Beiqu County.
County magistrates are generally called "chief" for large counties, and small counties are generally called "chief". However, there is also a huge Gongfang City here in Beiqu, so there is nothing wrong with calling it "Ling". But Zhang Shi himself knew that as the magistrate of Beiqu County, he
, can only govern these matters of people's livelihood. As for military power and matters within the workshop, they are not under his jurisdiction.
So facing this "evidence" in front of him, Zhang Shi couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
After a while, the inspector Cheng Yun arrived. After meeting Wang Ying and Zhang Shi, his eyes fell on the "evidences" and he frowned. Then he sat down without saying anything, except that his eyes were on Wang Ying and Zhang Shi.
After swaying for a while, he closed his eyes slightly and rested his mind.
After a while, the manager of the workshop, Huang Haicai, came late. His fat face was shiny with a smile. Before he could enter the room, his voice came in first, "I'm late, I'm late. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Ha, ah ha ha... uh..."
As soon as Huang Hai walked in, he glanced around and let out a sigh, then his eyes fell on Wang Ying, "This... this is..."
Zhang Shi introduced him, and Huang Hai hurriedly came forward to pay his respects, then sat down and said, "What's the matter? These people are all here, let's talk!"
Wang Ying was silent.
Zhang Shi coughed, then bowed his hands to Wang Yinggong in salute, and said: "This morning, the prince was attacked by thieves outside the city..."
Zhang Shi narrated the incident, and then Cheng Yun said, "After receiving the call for help, under the order of the county magistrate, a certain person sent people to rescue... By the time a certain son arrived at the Junhou camp, the thieves had already withdrawn, and Lin
These are the rest..."
Cheng Yun gestured to the "evidences" in the middle.
Huang Hai's fat face wrinkled up, and he glanced at the left side and the right side, "So, what do you mean..."
There was a moment of silence.
Zhang Shi was helpless and coughed again, "I just want you to see where these things come from."
"What is the origin of what?" Huang Hai looked stupid, with a big face and fat, but he was not confused at all. "These things can be found everywhere. Missing arrows, bows, swords, let alone workshops, you
Are they not in the warehouses in the county? Are they not in the hands of the soldiers in your team? Well? These are all standard parts. Do you know what standard parts are? They are all the same size, and there is not much difference! Just look at it like this. What can you tell?
Come?"
Wang Ying still said nothing.
Cheng Yun glanced left and right, also with a sullen face.
Zhang Shi was helpless and continued: "Nothing else, it's just weapons and equipment. I think you are familiar with Huang Dagong and can help find some clues and make some suggestions. Is it possible that Huang Dagong...is unwilling?"
"Hi!" Huang Hai chuckled, "Wasn't that what you said earlier?! When you ask me to help, I just say help, but you have to tell me where you came from... It's really awkward..."
Huang Hai stepped forward, picked up an arrowhead, flipped it over skillfully, and immediately frowned, then picked up another one, and frowned more and more: "Well, the mark has been smoothed! Here, here.
...』
Huang Hai turned the arrow in his hand at an angle and showed it to Wang Ying and Zhang Shichengyun, "Here, here, and here, they have all been polished... Just looking at this mark, it must have been at least a month..."
If you identify it carefully, well, this is the word Wu, but it is useless. All the arrows in the Wuzi workshop are lost, thousands of them every day. Without the specific number, who knows where they went on that day and that month.
?』
Huang Hai shook his head and casually threw arrow shafts and other things on the table, making a jingling noise. "It's useless. We still need to catch people. Just with these... Haha, it's useless..."
Zhang Shi glanced at Wang Ying sideways, and found that Wang Ying still said nothing, so he frowned a little, "Well, Yuyang Hou... this matter, you see..."
Wang Ying still had a serious look on his face, but he couldn't think of anything to say for a while, and the situation became a little awkward for a while.
Huang Hai rolled his eyes, "Ah ha, since the Lord has no objection... Well, there are too many things going on in my workshop over there. Those guys can burn the whole stove if they don't watch. There's no way, haha, there's no way."
, I am just a hard-working person, so I will take my leave first... Ah, my lord, I will take my leave..."
Zhang Shi turned to look at Wang Ying.
Only then did Wang Ying feel that something was wrong, but she couldn't tell what was wrong. She wanted to leave when she saw Huang Hai. She wanted Huang Hai to stay, but how to stay and what to do if she stayed, Wang Ying was thinking
Not sure again, I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
When Huang Hai saw this, he smiled even more and saluted Wang Ying. He cupped his hands and walked out: "I'll take my leave... When the Lord arrives in Beiqu, the county magistrate must entertain you well. Don't neglect the Lord."
Hou... If there is anything missing, the county minister can come to me again... Farewell, farewell..."
Cheng Yun sat aside, frowning.
Zhang Shi looked at Huang Hai, then at Wang Ying, but when he saw that Wang Ying was silent, he lowered his half-raised hand...
At this moment, suddenly a guard from outside the county government office hurriedly ran in and shouted: "Special envoy of Pingyang, Magistrate Puziwang wants to see you!"
Beiqu County Magistrate and Puzi County Magistrate are now affiliated with Pingyang Kingdom, and there is no hierarchy between them. However, with the addition of the title of Pingyang Special Envoy, there is some difference. Even this so-called "Pingyang Special Envoy" is
From what I heard, I knew it was a temporary position, but I couldn't afford to neglect it.
Zhang Shi quickly stood up and walked out. Cheng Yun also walked out without saying a word, and Huang Hai followed. Wang Ying in the hall was stunned for a moment, stood up hesitantly, and also walked out.
It's Wang Ling who's here.
Behind Wang Ling, there were six hussar guards wearing heavy armor and clearly belonging to the Pingyang Inner City Guards logo, which naturally represented Wang Ling's identity this time.
When Zhang Shi saw him, he bowed deeply and said, "I have seen the special envoy!"
Cheng Yun was also present at the ceremony, and Huang Hai was also present, both bowing.
Nowadays, when a lower official meets a superior official, it is enough to bow to him. Until later generations become more feudal, the more grown-up they are. Parents, officials, kneel down, kowtow, and do whatever they want.
Wang Ling frowned and did not immediately return the salute. Instead, he waited until he saw Wang Ying coming out, then took two steps forward and saluted Wang Ying: "I have met the king."
Wang Ying nodded ignorantly, "Forgive me...this...brother Cong..."
Wang Ying was interrupted by Wang Ling before he could start his words, "Your Majesty, please discuss official matters first and then private matters."
"Oh..." Wang Ying nodded, blushing a little.
Wang Ling glanced at Wang Ying and sighed slightly in his heart.
He knew this would happen, so he hurried over...
"Your Majesty, I have been sent by Prime Minister Pingyang to assist you in handling these matters..." Wang Ling bowed to Wang Ying and said, "Please give me your permission."
Wang Ying was startled for a moment, seemed to understand a little, and nodded slowly, "That's right."
So, he returned to the hall and sat down.
This time, the priorities are clearly distinguished.
Zhang Shi asked Wang Ying and Wang Ling to sit at the top. Wang Lingyou just asked Wang Ying to sit at the top and he sat on the side. Zhang Shi and others could only sit at the bottom.
Wang Ying watched silently, somewhat touched in his heart.
Wang Ling said in a deep voice: "County Magistrate Zhang."
"The official is here." Zhang Shi nodded slightly in response.
Faced with Wang Ling claiming to be a lower official, it is actually not an unacceptable thing for Zhang Shi. Wang Ling was a leader among the cultivators back then, and now there are many rumors that he may soon be promoted to a certain place.
He is a county magistrate, so he doesn't feel embarrassed to call himself a subordinate.
But for Wang Ying, this is a little different. At least, just now, Wang Ying did not see the serious expressions on the faces of Zhang Shi and others.
"Please tell Magistrate Zhang what happened," Wang Ling ordered.
Zhang Shi nodded and did not say any stupid words that he had already said before. He simply told the story again briefly.
After Wang Ling listened, he confirmed the entire process again, including the specific time, who checked who it was, and what Zhang Shi did to deal with it after learning about it.
Wang Ling asked and Zhang Shi answered.
There is no nonsense, every point is identified.
Then Wang Ling turned around and asked Cheng Yun.
Cheng Yun was even simpler. He directly reported the arrangements, dispatches, and dispatched personnel of all the soldiers who had received the alarm from last night to today, and explained what was found in the camp and the woods outside the camp.
Various types of utensils, arrows, weapons, etc.
Wang Ling also confirmed the key points of the matter again.
Finally there is the Yellow Sea.
Huang Hai's face no longer had the shiny smile before, and his fat face became tight.
"Huang Dagong." Wang Ling nodded, "I have a few questions to confirm."
"Yes, please ask the special envoy." Huang Hai answered with cupped hands.
"Huang Dagong, are you sure you can't identify the origin of these weapons?" Wang Ling asked.
There was a slight sweat on Huang Hai's fat face, "Well, this, I'm talking about... I'm talking about these weapons and arrows, the marks have been worn away..."
"Yes. The marks have been worn away. Everyone can see this and everyone knows it." Wang Ling nodded, still staring at Huang Hai, "I just want to make sure, are these weapons with the marks worn away?"
As a great craftsman, are you sure there is no way to identify the source? What I am asking is that there is no way..."
Huang Hai took a deep breath and was silent for a moment before saying: "This...this, there is actually a way, but it's troublesome. You need to transfer the mold archive and compare the arrow material..."
Wang Ling did not chase and fight, or ridiculed Huang Hai for saying it couldn't be done before and now saying there was a way. Instead, he said calmly: "Then I would like to ask Huang Dagong to trouble me, so that we can compare and determine the source."
Huang Hai nodded, and immediately sent someone to the workshop to deliver the relevant molds and the corresponding person in charge.
Wang Ling did not let the scene remain silent. Instead, he asked some questions about the customs and customs related to Beiqu. He also laughed and talked with Zhang Shi and others. The atmosphere was not cold at all. He went to the Yellow Sea to call the people who came back.
…
Huang Hai also relaxed a little at this time, showing the skills of a great craftsman. He arranged all the collected arrows and other weapons, and asked his subordinates to hold lamps to enhance the light. He quickly divided the arrows into two or three
Different templates were used, and then the handle of the sword was pried open, and a hidden symbol was found in the handle.
This was not over yet. Huang Dagong also asked people to cut the arrow in half on the spot, and hooked some lead for weighting in the center of the short handle of the arrow, and looked at the bottom of the lead to make some hidden
The label...
Several people in the hall were stunned.
That's right.
It's not that there's nothing I can do, but it's just that it's troublesome.
Huang Hai chuckled, his fat face covered with oily sweat, "Ah ha, I'm glad I didn't disgrace my life, I'm glad I didn't disgrace my life... I found them all, I found them..."
Wang Ling looked at the relevant data delivered by Huang Hai, his eyes moved slightly, and then he smiled and said, "Thank you for your work, Huang."
"It's easy to say, haha, it's easy to say..." Huang Hai smiled, as if he had completely lost his previous expression of "this can't be done" and "that can't be helped". Coupled with the sweat on his face and all kinds of dirty marks on his body, he actually felt a little better.
Honest appearance.
Wang Ling raised his hand to Zhang Shi and said, "I want to borrow Magistrate Zhang's pen and ink."
"Easy to say, easy to say!" Zhang Shi turned around and ordered, asking the attendants to bring up pen and ink.
Wang Ling pondered for a moment, then started writing. After he finished writing, he handed it to Wang Ying for review. Naturally, Wang Ying had nothing to add. Wang Ling then motioned for Zhang Shi and the others to read. After the three of them read it, they said:
After a few glances, there was a little more smile on their faces, and they all said they had no objections. So everyone was happy, signed their names together, and sent someone to Pingyang immediately. Zhang Shi also said that he would give Wang Ying and Wang Ling a clean slate.
.
At night, the lanterns are lit.
The hustle and bustle has passed, and what remains is silence.
In the back hall, Wang Ling was preparing to leave.
Wang Ying stopped him, and then was silent for a while, "Brother Cong... I, did I do a very bad job..."
Wang Ling frowned slightly, "There is nothing wrong or not wrong about this. This is not writing an article or writing a poem."
"What is that?" Wang Ying asked.
"Life and death." Wang Ling replied very calmly, "If you can do it, then live. If you can't do it, then die. If you, Junhou, have not thought about it, or have not made this determination... then please return to Chang'an."
I will handle the Taiyuan area..."
"No!" Wang Ying raised her head, "I'm not going back to Chang'an! Please teach me, Brother Cong!"
"I can't teach you." Unexpectedly, Wang Ling shook his head and said, facing Wang Ying's doubtful eyes calmly, "I have no one to teach you. I am me, a county magistrate, and you are you, a king."
Hou. You have learned from me, but you are just a county magistrate. If you want to learn, you are not learning from me..."
"That's..." Wang Ying hesitated, "Is it possible..."
Wang Ling lowered his head and said, "I'm going to take my leave. Please take a rest early."
Wang Ling left.
In the back hall, silence fell again.
The bright moon hung high in the courtyard, the night wind blew by, and the shadows of the trees danced and rustled.
Wang Ying raised her head, recalling and thinking. The doubts and dullness on her face seemed to be slowly changing in the night...
