Chapter 265: How can a loyal person suffer injustice?
"The commander-in-chief is back!"
As soon as it was lunch time, Cheng Wuzhong led a group of hundreds of elite cavalry back to the village.
Their return route was not through a secret passage, but directly from outside the village, bringing a lot of food with them.
Li Yan was also eating, using food from the village...
A large bowl of coarsely shelled corn rice, a plate of pickled black beans, and five or six pieces of crispy rice cakes sprinkled with salt.
For the high-ranking nobles, these are not worth mentioning, but for the common people, it is already a good meal.
Cheng Wuzhong came to the front with a look of joy on his eyebrows: "Li Jiyi, fortunately we have lived up to our mission and gained a lot!"
Li Yan stood up and greeted him: "You have been busy all morning, so come and eat first."
When Cheng Wuzhong saw a bowl placed opposite Li Yan, which was filled with rice, he immediately laughed and said, "Haha, I'm not welcome then!"
He sat down, took a bite of the rice cake, and ate the rice with black bean sauce. He ate very deliciously, and even said happily: "I've found the Shence Crossbow! I've found both of them!"
When Cheng Wuzhong said this, he was really relieved and couldn't even suppress his joy.
What surprised him was that Li Yan's expression moved slightly, but there was no surprise. Instead, there was an inexplicable understanding.
After Cheng Wuzhong devoured his meal and regained his composure, Li Yan said, "Get the Shence Crossbow back. Have you found the whereabouts of Guo Wulang?"
Cheng Wuzhong shook his head: "No, he obviously knew what was wrong, so he simply dropped the crossbow and ran away..."
"Counties will soon issue wanted notices, and bad guys are being hunted everywhere, but it's hard to say whether they will be caught."
"I think it's his wife and children who are unlucky in the end. This man is so cruel!"
Li Yandao: "This is a disappearance in the true sense. I don't know whether I am alive or dead. Maybe I am at large, or maybe I have died unjustly..."
Cheng Wuzhong felt something was wrong when he heard this: "What does Li Jiyi mean?"
Li Yan did not answer and continued to ask: "Is there anything gained?"
"some!"
Cheng Wuzhong took out the account book, stood up and handed it over with both hands: "This was found on the bookshelf deep in the cave. The village owner seems to live in the cave. There are many books placed there, including accounts, recording the purchases in the village.
The goods were all bought with real money, and I don’t know where he got the money!”
Li Yan took the account book, opened the first page, and his eyes moved: "Although the writing is simple, it is quite sharp. If this account book was recorded by the village owner himself, he is indeed not an ordinary person!"
Cheng Wuzhong disagreed: "Jianghu people gather together to fight for justice, roar proudly in the mountains and forests, and think they are righteous. When the heavenly army arrives, won't they destroy everything?"
Li Yan said: "Hundred Cavalry are all elite soldiers selected from thousands of miles away. If they were replaced by soldiers from Zhechong Mansion, it might not be so easy. Moreover, the leader of the village came down from the mountain for some reason, and there is no real leader in the village. This is also a reason that cannot be ignored."
Cheng Wuzhong thought for a while and had to admit: "That's true."
Li Yan looked at it carefully, and soon his eyes became serious: "In addition to grain, is there also pepper and salt?"
Cheng Wuzhong said angrily: "Yes, it is a serious crime to sell rice, salt and rice to bandits privately. The Gong family has evil intentions and is so rampant!"
Li Yan shook his head: "Based on these accounts alone, it is difficult to accuse Gong, and the testimony of the thieves is difficult to accept. Apart from this, are there any other evidences?"
Cheng Wuzhong said: "There are quite a few broken bicycle frames in the cave, but there is no Chamber of Commerce logo on them, so it cannot be proven that they belong to the Gong family. The others have not been found yet."
Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "If this matter is really related to the Gong family, there are always clues to be found."
Cheng Wuzhong said: "I think so too. The cave leading to this secret passage extends in all directions and has many exits. It is obviously a well-arranged lair for thieves. It is indeed difficult to search every place in a short time, but I spent a hundred horses in it."
It’s here, don’t worry about not finding clues.”
Li Yan said: "After all, the number of Baiqi is small. Cheng is leading the army. Do you mind if the inner guards also join in?"
Cheng Wuzhong frowned: "Li Jiyi means to send someone to contact His Highness the Crown Prince and ask him to send internal guards to help with the search?"
Li Yan took out the letter: "This is what I just wrote. I am reporting the details in the village. Leader Cheng please read it."
Cheng Wuzhong took it over nervously and looked at it carefully.
I discovered what happened yesterday and described it in an impartial manner.
But the investigation conducted today made his expression change dramatically: "The head in the box? Is this serious?"
Li Yandao: "We can't be 100% sure, but based on the shape and size of the box, the residual smell of blood and the cover-up behavior in the village, this possibility is the highest."
Cheng Wuzhong was surprised: "Who could be killed? Even the head was cut off, and then it was carefully preserved to hide it from others?"
Li Yan shook his head: "There are too few clues at present, and we have no clue yet."
Cheng Wuzhong was puzzled: "But that's not right. Such a small box cannot be hidden anywhere. How could it make such a big fuss?"
Li Yandao: "I have a guess about this. The reason why the internal guards are here is to thoroughly investigate the case and prevent the thieves from going unpunished."
Cheng Wuzhong read the end and found that the letter had already written, asking His Highness the Crown Prince to correct the name of Baiqi, and the signature was Li Yan, the envoy of the Internal Guard.
He couldn't help but feel grateful: "This matter should have been the responsibility of my Baiqi, how can it be shouldered by Li Jiyi alone?"
Li Yan said seriously: "Baiqi is the elite of Bei Ya. It is important to protect the safety of the saint. As an envoy of the internal guard, I report to the prince of the prison country. It is natural for me to do so. How can I shoulder the responsibility?"
Cheng Wuzhong also showed a solemn look: "Li Jiyi, please let me sign it! When the Hundred Horsemen are in trouble, I, the leader, bear the brunt of it, how can I stay out of it!"
Li Yan nodded: "Okay!"
Cheng Wuzhong took the pen and ink, and with a stroke of his pen, added "Cheng Gang, the leader of a hundred cavalry," at the end.
Looking at the black and white words on the paper, he showed a complex look, but also felt a little relieved, and called Xu Sanlang, who was currently the most trusted: "Go and deliver the letter, make sure that this letter is delivered to the inner guard and presented to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Xu Sanlang took the order and left. Cheng Wuzhong rolled his eyes and came closer and said: "The saint also praised Li Jiyi in front of us in the past for his young achievements and long life. He will assist His Highness the Crown Prince in the future. He also hopes to take more care of us."
!”
These words were very explicit, but Li Yan's attitude did not change: "Cheng led the army to worry too much. For the sake of the Tang Dynasty and for the Mingjun, he deserves his deserved status, let alone the Baiqi of Beiya, the personal guard of the saint?"
Cheng Wuzhong keenly received the key word "Ming Jun", smiled and said: "What Li Jiyi said is true!"
He decided to reciprocate the favor: "As Li Jiyi said before, have you made any other discoveries? Can you tell me? I am also convinced by Li Jiyi, so please feel free to say it clearly!"
Li Yan looked at him, nodded and said: "Then I'll tell you straight away, I suspect Zheng Sanlang, but I haven't found any evidence yet."
Cheng Wuzhong was stunned: "Zheng Sanlang? He also rebelled?"
Li Yan saw the light and shadow of Gin faintly emerging behind him, and comforted him: "Leader Cheng, don't worry, I don't mean that you are surrounded by traitors, but the identities between Zheng Sanlang and Guo Wulang are likely to be reversed.
."
Cheng Wuzhong understood: "Zheng Sanlang is the traitor, Guo Wulang is the victim? But his severed hand..."
Li Yan said: "A severed hand cannot mean anything!"
"The authorities are confused, but the onlookers know clearly. For Baiqi, you and Pao Ze have a deep friendship. Naturally, they are happy to be able to rescue their companions."
"But from the perspective of an onlooker like me, the biggest doubt is that Zheng Sanlang can come back alive, even if he is disabled!"
"You must know that this kind of thing is of great concern, harming his wife, children, and the entire clan. Since Guo Wulang has control over him, how can he be spared alive without killing him?"
Cheng Wuzhong thought for a moment, but still couldn't believe it: "Li Jiyi, this is indeed doubtful, but Zheng Sanlang was once praised by His Majesty as a master of shooting when he was hunting. He has always been proud of it. If he is a traitor, then he will cut himself off."
This cruel trick is too cruel, life would be worse than death!"
Li Yandao: "What if this is not a bitter trick? His hand was indeed chopped off by Guo Wulang unprepared?"
Cheng Wuzhong was stunned: "What kind of statement is this? If Zheng Sanlang is a traitor, then he must have attacked Guo Wulang secretly. We are all brave and brave, and there is not much difference in strength, let alone an unexpected attack.
, if he takes the initiative to sneak attack, how can he get his hand cut off in turn?"
Li Yan did not answer, but suddenly the topic changed: "Leader Cheng, if you are the enemy and you want to instigate a hundred horses to rebel, what do you think is the safest way?"
Cheng Wuzhong was confused by the question and said with a wry smile: "My mind is in a mess and I can't think of any safe way for a while..."
Li Yan said: "In fact, it is not difficult. First instigate a person to rebel, and then use that person to persuade other Baiqi to develop and go offline."
Cheng Wuzhong suddenly realized: "Yes, with our internal relations in Baiqi, this is indeed convenient and more secure."
Li Yandao: "Then who do you think will be the first person among the Hundred Riders to be incited to rebel, and then start to develop other people down the line?"
Cheng Wuzhong's brows jumped and his expression changed: "Zheng Sanlang?"
He was not stupid. After being reminded, he immediately realized: "So, Zheng Sanlang may have secretly instigated Guo Wulang, so he was not on guard against him?"
Anyway, except for him, everyone else in Baiqi may be incited to rebel, so this result is not unexpected.
Li Yan nodded: "Guo Wulang is usually a brave and resourceful man. After he was instigated to rebel, he was probably angry at his family's land being occupied, so he agreed. Or he might have been arrogant, pretending to agree, and wanted to take a look.
What exactly is Zheng Sanlang planning?"
"When they gathered in front of the village yesterday, the two of them were actually in a superficial state of conspiracy. They entered the house together and wanted to burn the wooden box."
"I guess they didn't know what was inside at first, until the wooden box just burned and the head was exposed. They were so shocked that they chose to put out the fire. Then Zheng Sanlang opened a secret passage and prepared to hide the box inside."
"But Guo Wulang realized that the matter was very important, so he suddenly attacked and cut off his hand with a knife."
"It's a pity that Guo Wulang didn't expect that Wu Laoshi, who arrived right after him, was also a traitor!"
"Do you still remember Wu Liulang's exhausted appearance last night? If according to Zheng Sanlang's confession, he was attacked and severed his hand, then Guo Wulang was enough to deal with him. After Wu Liulang arrived, he didn't have to do anything. How could this happen?
So tired?"
"The reason why he is so exhausted is precisely because after the sneak attack on Guo Wulang and the battle with him, he hurriedly closed the secret passage and handed Guo Wulang over to Zheng Sanlang who had lost his hand."
"This man is also a powerful character. He was so seriously injured, but he was still able to take care of it. Then he was exhausted and couldn't escape anymore. He found that you had entered the secret passage, so he simply threw away the Shence Crossbow and let you find it on purpose.
, while he hid in the cell and used his severed hand to pretend to be the victim."
When Cheng Wuzhong heard this, he stood up suddenly and said in a trembling voice: "So, maybe Guo Wulang is still alive!"
Li Yan sighed: "No, since Zheng Sanlang dares to come back, it means that Guo Wulang has shut his mouth forever. His body must be hidden somewhere in the mountains..."
Cheng Wuzhong sat down sadly, his eyes red.
Li Yan said coldly:
"The key is that after Guo Wulang's death, he will still be stigmatized, bear the blame, harm his family, and have his wife and children exiled!"
"There is no evidence for this yet, it's just my guess. But if there are no accidents, we should be close to the truth of this case."
"A loyal person should never suffer such unjust injustice. I want to clear up Guo Wulang's grievances and restore his innocence!"