(9000 votes, add an update first, and add 2 new alliance leaders. Thanks to Ye Ye Blurred, Bamboo in the Wind, Above the River, Bohu Nevsky, Yijian Hong and other brothers for their support...)
Xu Huai didn't really notice the two assassins in disguise at first, until he heard the disturbance behind the team, saying that they were the two people from Biyang who were traveling with him. Suddenly, they turned into a side road and rode away without saying a word.
Then he looked fearfully at the figure that was running deep into the forest in the distance.
"stop!"
Tang Wenbiao is a member of the Gu clan, but he is an estranged branch. When he was young, he followed the family and started as an ordinary clerk. At this age, he is able to stand alone. It is not entirely because of his seniority than others.
He narrowed his triangular old eyes and stared at the two people leaving Juechen, frowning like a mountain, and waved to signal the camel caravan to stop advancing.
Horse thieves disguise themselves as caravans and approach caravans for reconnaissance. This is stepping on the plate, which is nothing new in Tongbai Mountain.
Two businessmen with foreign accents said early in the morning that they were going to Biyang. At this time, they had only traveled more than 20 miles from the Huaiyuan Military Village. They suddenly left from the side road without saying a word. If Tang Biao was still careless, he would have thought that there was no such thing.
What's the matter? He has died countless times on this road over the years.
What's more, there were horse thieves near Yingzizui yesterday!
After Tang Biao stopped the caravan, he did not hesitate for long before deciding to turn around and return to Huaiyuan. He did not think of sending anyone to explore the way ahead.
This time there were only eight armed guards accompanying him. In addition, Xu Xin'an and Xu Huai escorted Wang Zhen to Biyang on behalf of the Inspection Department.
As long as there is no danger ahead, if there is a large group of thieves ambushing ahead, send two or three people to explore the way, isn't it a gift?
Return to Huaiyuan now. This batch of medicinal materials will be sent to Biyang in three to five days, so nothing can go wrong.
If Tang Wenbiao were to stumble into an ambush by a large group of bandits, even if Tang Wenbiao was not afraid of death, he would not be able to bear the responsibility.
Xu Huai longed for an excuse to return to Huaiyuan, but he did not expect that the assassin would sneak into the caravan.
"Is he yesterday's assassin?" Xu Huai reined in his horse, leaned towards Lu Xiong, and asked in a low voice with some uncertainty.
Lu Xiong sat at the front of the car to control the car all the way, his line of sight was blocked by the carriage, and he had no chance to meet the two people.
However, appearance can be disguised, but it is difficult to disguise the backs of the two men as they hurriedly fled into the woods.
Lu Xiong frowned and nodded, but he was as puzzled as Xu Huai. Why did the two assassins leave so suddenly?
"What's going on?" Wang Zhen asked as he opened the car curtain with a pale face.
"Two assassins were following us in disguise, but just now they suddenly turned off and left. I don't know what happened - there might be an ambush on the road ahead," Lu Xiong whispered to Wang Zhen, "We are going to follow now.
The caravan returns to Huaiyuan Town!"
Wang Zhen was not afraid of death, but he could not insist on dragging Lu Xiong, Xu Huai and another junior named Xu to go on a dangerous road. He sighed miserably, said nothing more, lowered the curtain and sat back in the carriage.
Go inside.
Xu Huai jumped off the horse and helped Lu Xiong turn the carriage around in the narrow mountain road. The girl Wang Xuan, who had been hiding in the carriage all morning, poked her little face out of the curtain and looked behind uneasily.
The caravan turned back, and Xu Xin'an couldn't be so rash as to say that they should continue moving forward...
…………
…………
After a lot of trouble, Xu Huai, Xu Xin'an and Lu Xiong escorted Wang Zhen back to the Huaiyuan military camp. It was already afternoon, and they were catching up with the inspection envoy Deng Gui and his patrolmen returning from outside.
The inspection also embarrassed Deng Gui.
Generally speaking, if you go out to inspect the military stronghold, you will not be able to leave for more than three to five days.
Deng Gui left at noon yesterday and returned to the military camp just one day later. Doesn't this make it clear that he deliberately wanted to avoid Wang Zhen yesterday?
"...these horse thieves are so rampant that they stepped on my Tang family's head by stepping on the plate!"
The caravan was still parked at the ferry and had not all returned to the warehouse at the east end of Hedong Market. Tang Wenbiao stopped Deng Gui from complaining angrily.
Xu Wujiang and Tang Tiande, who served as deputy director of the Inspection Department on behalf of the Tang family, both rushed over after hearing the news.
Xu Huai was not an official soldier of the Inspection Department, so he just stood aside with his horse. Looking at Deng Gui from a distance, he didn't look particularly angry, but more hesitant and suspicious. He was even more sure that he had concluded that Wang Chen had encountered a bandit yesterday.
This matter is not simple.
The assassin refused to give up, and Wang Zhen had to return to the Huaiyuan military camp under his rule. How could Deng Gui, who wanted to stay out of the situation, be in a good mood?
"Horse thieves are spying on the left and right, and road bandits are not at peace. For the safety of Wang Laoxiang, we need to stay in the military camp to observe the situation. Deng immediately sent someone to Biyang to report to Chen Langjun, the governor, and asked Chen Langjun to decide everything!
"
Deng Gui thought for a while with a gloomy face, then came over to talk to Wang Zhen who was weak and sitting in front of the car.
Under the current situation, he could either temporarily leave Wang Zhen in the Huaiyuan military stronghold and send people to Biyang City to report to the magistrate Chen Shi, or he could personally lead his troops and horses to safely escort Wang Zhen to Biyang.
Otherwise, he would have been the "scapegoat" who would have been pushed out to take the main blame, even though he knew that horse thieves had been around many times and still sat back and watched Wang Zhen "encounter bandits" and be harmed on the way.
Wang Zhen is now deprived of all official positions, but it would be foolish to regard him as a commoner and to think that his death in an encounter with bandits would not cause any ripples in the court.
"Everything must be arranged by Deng Langjun." Wang Zhen knew that Deng Gui would not let him go easily again, and he could only listen to his arrangements with Tangzhou officials in the future.
Xu Huai was not secretly proud because Wang Zhen was forced to stay in the Huaiyuan military camp. He was still confused that the two assassins had already infiltrated the caravan, so why did they have to escape halfway like frightened birds?
Deng Gui seemed to have noticed Wang Xun's pale face and asked with concern: "Ms. Wang doesn't look well. Is he feeling unwell?"
"I just feel a little cold and have gastrointestinal discomfort, it's nothing to worry about," Wang Chen said.
"Xu Xin'an, go to the market and find a doctor to come and diagnose Wang Xianggong." Deng Gui saw that he couldn't get rid of this matter, but he also handled the matter quickly. He first ordered Xu Xin'an to cross the river to find the doctor, and then said sternly to Xu Huai with a threat, "Xu Xin'an
Huai, if Mr. Wang stays in the military camp, you will serve him and not slack off at all; otherwise, if you look carefully, I will peel off the skin of you fool——"
"Yes." Xu Huai responded in a loud voice.
Xu Huai was not yet old enough to enlist, but since he had secretly received military pay from the Inspection Department, Deng Gui had ignored him in the past, but he couldn't really pretend that he didn't know.
However, what does it mean that Deng Gui just threw Wang Zhen, a clumsy "idiot", into his care?
This means that he has fulfilled his duties as an inspector and strengthened his protection of Wang Zhen, but his protection of Wang Zhen has limits. If the assassin refuses to give up, is there still a chance to kill him by force?
When the assassin kills Wang Zhen, Deng Gui leads his troops to surround and kill the assassin. All parties can explain it. Even if the whirlpool of fighting around Wang Zhen's death in the court will not stop easily, with him
It won't matter much?
Is this what Deng Gui thinks?
Xu Huai felt secretly nervous, suspecting that Deng Gui's arrangement was not simple.
Deng Gui didn't know that Xu Huai had so many thoughts, and said to Xu Wujiang: "As soon as I write an official letter, you and the two of you will rush to Biyang immediately and hand the official letter to the county magistrate. Biyang Military and Horse Supervisor Deng Lunying
Deng Langjun and Master Chen Shi, the magistrate of the state. When Deng Langjun and Master Chen give instructions, you can come back and let me know."
"Di Niang has been feeling unwell these past few days..." Xu Wujiang said hesitantly.
"There are so many bad things, just ask you to do them. I can't send you, why? Your mother-in-law is not feeling well, just find a mother-in-law to come and take care of you. You stay here to do nothing?" Deng Gui said in a tone of voice.
He scolded him unkindly, not allowing Xu Wujiang to shirk his duties.
Deng Gui usually did not have much authority, but he was an upright and upright inspector. In the county, only Cheng Lunying, the county magistrate and county military supervisor, could show his dignity.
Xu Wujiang did not dare to stroke Deng Gui's tiger beard in public, so he had no choice but to agree.
Logically speaking, ordinary soldiers with official letters may not be able to enter the gate of the state or county government. This matter has to be handled by people like Xu Wujiang, but there are two captains and six section leaders in the military camp.
Anyone can be dispatched.
At this time, Deng Gui sent Xu Wujiang away alone and did not allow Xu Wujiang to find excuses to refuse. Xu Huai felt that the matter was not simple.
At this time, Xu Huai suddenly thought of a possibility: the assassins had successfully mixed themselves into the caravan, and then suddenly left halfway. Could they have deliberately disturbed the enemy, and would they have frightened Wang Zhen and Lu Xiong back to the Huaiyuan military stronghold?
Xu Huai felt a chill running down his spine: Deng Guidan arranged for him to serve Wang Zhen, but resolutely sent Xu Wujiang away. Did he also expect that this was the assassin's intention?
He did not expect that after taking office, Deng Gui, who only drank alcohol and had sex with prostitutes, would be so scheming and even vicious.
Although Xu Huai guessed like this, he didn't have much regret in his heart.
After all, Tang Wenbiao decided to withdraw, and it was not for him to change his mind. If he could not go with the caravan, he and Xu Xin'an insisted on accompanying Lu Xiong to escort Wang Zhen to Biyang, which would actually be more dangerous.
Looking at Lu Xiong's surprised look, he must have had the same idea as him, so he didn't say much at the moment and just helped lead the horse and carriage towards the post house.
They couldn't even guess that the assassin was actually scared away by them, and there was no plan waiting for them to alert the enemy!
