After coming to Wu Dynasty for so long, Song Liyun had not really dealt with these wealthy and noble families, so she couldn't help but feel a headache.
Lin Qingyuan was a little anxious just now, but now he comforted Song Liyun: "We don't need to be too anxious. Today is the first night in Hecheng. No matter how bold the Qi family is, they don't dare to do anything. We should come back at another time."
In the garrison house, several maids stood aside with hot water, while a beautiful concubine helped Zhao Tinglei take off his official uniform and boots.
The name card sent by Abu was thrown into the book box in the corner by one of the maids.
Those who interacted with Zhao Tinlei were all from the military camp, and they would come directly to his door if they had anything to do. They did not have the habit of using these famous names.
Only those who want to give them as gifts can have these things. Anyway, the master doesn't think much of them and just throw them away as he pleases.
Over in the prison cell of the garrison, the Lin family members were tied in a string with a rope and moved from the wooden cage.
This is a remote courtyard. Although it is still simple, it at least has a roof to protect it from the cold wind.
Lin Qinghua, who had always been in poor health, finally developed a fever after going through all this trouble.
At this time, his face was flushed, his hands and feet were cold, his whole body was shaking, and his consciousness was unclear.
Mrs. Lin was so distraught that she hugged Lin Qinghua who was lying on the cold bed and cried.
Several concubines ran to the door and asked the guards for hot water and medicine.
As the head of the family, Lin Shouzhuo turned pale when faced with this tragic situation, but closed his eyes tightly and said nothing.
I finally asked for hot water, but there was no medicine, only a bowl of ginger soup.
Fortunately, after Lin Qinghua drank the ginger soup, she just woke up and started moaning loudly.
His mouth was bruised by a slap, and the ginger soup caused it to burn.
Lin Qinghua cursed vaguely: "That bastard doesn't care about hiding his parents. He is unfaithful, unfilial, and unkind."
He knew clearly that Lin Qingyuan was fished out and he would still have to suffer.
The night is gradually getting darker, and Hecheng has fallen silent at the first tong drum. Now all you can hear is the trampling of horse hooves by sentries and the strange whining of wild dogs.
A fire suddenly lit up in a courtyard, followed immediately by the sounds of killing and shouting.
Amidst the knock on the door, Zhao Tinlei turned over and sat up, his clothes neatly dressed.
The guard who rushed in didn't care that there was a beautiful concubine shivering in bed next to him, and said directly: "General, there were thieves in Subei Lane who broke into and set fire to them. My brothers killed three and captured five, but...
…”
"But what? Say it quickly!" Zhao Tinlei was a little anxious.
When he was a member of the Zhenbei Army Qianhu, he had no direct conflict with the Qi family.
Now that anyone is on guard, the first thing to be removed is the cancer of the Qi family.
However, the Qi family has deep roots and luxuriant leaves, and Hecheng is just a small branch. If there is no real evidence that others have stolen the goods, the foundation cannot be shaken.
The guard knelt down and said, "Those five people committed suicide by taking poison on the spot!"
Zhao Tinglei slapped his thigh: "Oh! Such a good opportunity! I would rather lead the troops into the grassland and wrap my body in horse leather than mess with these snakes, insects, rats, and ants."
The guards were also upset. They were all warriors on the battlefield, and it was really frustrating to have to deal with these hidden people.
More words were not suitable to be said in the dormitory. Soon the lights in Zhao Tinlei's study came on, and Mr. Yu rushed over with a few sergeants.
Zhao Tinglei said: "How is the situation?"
Yu Laodao: "After investigating the identity tokens, they are all cattle and sheep traders who came in from outside the customs today."
These are people from the Wu Dynasty. They frequently come and go between the two places and can deliver the latest tribal news to the Wu Dynasty. They are also the most unstable factor, making the Zhenbei Army both loved and hated.
"All dead?"
"They are all dead, and not a single confession was left. They must be the dead men of the Qi family."
"A single businessman can raise dead soldiers. The Qi family is very courageous!" Zhao Tinglei looked gloomy.
The Qi family is indeed very courageous.
In the past, the Qi family had colluded with the prefect of Hecheng. In the name of the government and with the imperial merchant brand, they almost monopolized the trade route in Hecheng.
Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, the prefect of Hecheng has returned to Beijing and been imprisoned. As the Qi family has the eldest princess and the imperial concubine in the background, they naturally don't have to worry about being implicated.
It's just a personnel change and some lower branches need to be cleaned up.
Mr. Yu continued: "Actually, the Qi family has not given up on the Lin family. Their people from Pingyang Mansion are following behind, and our new courtyard is also under their surveillance."
Zhao Tinglei's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot: "So, Zhou Yushi and the others' attempts to distance themselves from each other were in vain."
"It can be said that all our actions are under the control of the Qi family."
If Zhao Tinglei had not arranged fifty people around the Lin family, the Lin family would have turned into corpses tonight.
Only this time, the conflict between the two sides was clearly revealed.
Especially when Zhao Tinglei realized that he, the majestic commander of the Northern Army and the garrison of Hecheng, was being completely monitored by a merchant, this feeling was very bad.
"Yes, my lord, when dawn comes, Qi Kexian will invite the two censors as guests!"
This is a clear demonstration.
Zhao Tinglei lowered his voice and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Yu, you said that if a fire suddenly fell from the sky and burned down the Qi family..."
"No! My lord, you are no longer on the battlefield killing enemies. Remember to act recklessly."
There was no need for Zhao Tinlei to say anything, Mr. Yu flatly denied it.
It would be easy to burn down the Qi family, but it would definitely cause a storm in the court.
Governance lies in the word "balance".
The court is relatively peaceful now. If the eldest princess and the imperial concubine are offended, the senior ministers in the court will be divided into two rows.
This is not a good thing for the new emperor and An Guogong who have just taken over the government.
Hecheng East Alley, on the second floor roof of an ordinary inn.
Song Liyun sat on the ridge of the roof, raised his brows as he watched the fireworks rising and extinguishing from a distance, and then praised him until the shouts gradually disappeared: "It deserves to be a military city. It only lasts for half a stick of incense. Look at the streets."
Blocked."
Next to her was Lin Qingyuan, who was lying on all fours.
Hearing Song Liyun say that the street had been sealed off, Lin Qingyuan had no time to spare and did not dare to get up from the high roof. He could only stretch his neck and look down, and sure enough he saw torches densely packed in the streets of Hecheng like dragons.
"Young madam, do you think something will happen in that yard?" Abu asked from the side.
He was a little sad. The young lady went to see the eldest son this afternoon just to say that the Lin family might be silenced, but now it happened.
In the night, Song Liyun couldn't see Lin Qingyuan's face clearly, but he made a quick guess: "It should be fine. Those torches are moving in an orderly manner. If the person inside dies, they will spread out to search for the murderer."
After being pointed out by Song Liyun, Abu looked again and saw that the torches were evenly distributed around the streets and alleys, with no signs of scattering.
As the two of them were talking, a figure moved beside them, and Lao Qian turned to the room.
He came specifically to inquire about news.
As soon as they got on the roof, Lao Qian ran to Lin Qingyuan and whispered: "Sir, no one was injured inside, but all the thieves were dead and there were no survivors.
Looking at the skills of those people, they look very much like the people from Laoshanlinzi."
Lao Qian was a member of the Jianghu community, and he interacted with Lin Qingyuan in the grasslands, so he naturally knew some of the bandits who often robbed the roads.
I just don’t understand how they are different despite being so far apart?