Three Kingdoms

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 goal of assassination.

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 planks and 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 in the dense forest, and there was no sound.

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 just run away like that?

The guard leader was a little unbelievable, 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. Finally, they walked into the dense forest step by step...

After a while, he came back again, "The thieves have all run away!" There is no one in the woods! The thieves have all run away! Ran! 』

"Ran? ” This news made the guard leader unable to understand, and he immediately 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 were no other figures.

It was as if this group of thieves just came here and poured out a batch of arrows like crazy. After missing, they 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 the spot and asked a few people to search for more traces in the forest.

Then, just like most incidents, Beiqu's garrison soldiers came slowly only 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 was 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 something.

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 fodder left by the war horses. Then, following the horses' tracks, they found a road that was not far away. The traces were cut off at rivers of all sizes.

"There is no mark on the other side of the river!" ” One of the guards shouted loudly as he rode his horse across the shallow river.

"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.

It's just that the traces of the thieves cannot be traced. Some arrows and weapons used by the thieves in the forest and camp have been collected.

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 was also specially removed! 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, Beiqu County Magistrate Zhang Shi's face was as dark as water.

Zhang Shi was originally a leading soldier, but later changed his position to become a civil servant. 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 usually called "large counties" and small counties are usually called "chief". However, there is also a huge Gongfang City in Beiqu, so there is nothing wrong with calling it "Ling". However, Zhang Shi himself knew that as the magistrate of Beiqu County, he could only govern these people's livelihood matters. As for military power and matters within the workshop, he did not have 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 a word, 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, Huang Haicai, the manager of the workshop, came late. His fat face was shiny with a smile. Before he could enter the room, the voice came first, "I'm late, I'm late. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Ha, ah ha ha... uh..."

Huang Hai just walked in, glanced at him, 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 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, a certain person, on the order of the county magistrate, 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 silence.

Zhang Shi was helpless and coughed again, "I just want you to see where these things come from." 』

"What is the origin?" Huang Hai looks stupid, with a big face and fat, but he is not confused at all. "These things can be found everywhere, including arrows, bows, and swords. Not to mention workshops, are they not found in warehouses in your county?" Do you have any soldiers in your team? Um? These are all standard parts. Do you know what standard parts are? They are all the same size, no difference at all! Just look at it like this, what can you tell? 』

Wang Ying still didn't speak.

Cheng Yun glanced left and right, also with a sullen face.

Zhang Shi was helpless and continued: "There is 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. Could it be that Huang Dagong... is unwilling?" 』

"Hi! ” Huang Hai chuckled, “Didn’t you say that earlier? ! When you ask me to help, just say help, but you have to tell me where you came from... It’s really awkward and awkward..."

Huang Hai stepped forward, picked up an arrowhead, turned it over skillfully, and immediately frowned, then picked up another one, and frowned more and more: "Well, the mark has been smoothed away!" Well, this way..."

Huang Hai turned the arrow in his hand at an angle and showed it to Wang Ying and Zhang Shichengyun, "Well, 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 specific numbers, who knows where they went on that day and that month. ? 』

Huang Hai shook his head and threw the arrow shaft and other things on the table, making a jingling sound. "It's useless. We still need to catch people. Just based on these... haha, it's useless..."

Zhang Shi glanced sideways at Wang Ying and found that Wang Ying still said nothing, so he frowned a little, "Well, um, Marquis Yuyang... look at this matter..."

Wang Ying still had a serious look on his face, but he couldn't think of anything to say for a while, and the scene was 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. If those guys don't watch, they can burn the whole stove. There's no way, haha, there's no way." , I just have a hard life, so I will take my leave first... Ah, my lord, I will take my leave..."

Zhang Shi turned to look at Wang Ying.

Wang Ying felt 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 prince arrives in Beiqu, the county magistrate must entertain him well and don't neglect him." 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 hurried 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 are some differences. Even this so-called "Pingyang Special Envoy" is From what I heard, I knew it was a temporary position, but it couldn't be ignored.

Zhang Shi quickly got 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 followed him out.

It was Wang Ling who came.

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 lower officials meet superior officials, it is enough to bow to them. Until later generations, the more feudal they are, the more adults they are, parents and officials, kneeling down and kowtowing and doing whatever they want.

Wang Ling frowned and did not immediately return the salute. Instead, he did not take two steps forward until he saw Wang Ying coming out, and saluted Wang Ying: "I have met the king." 』

Wang Ying nodded confusedly, "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 his hands towards 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 clear.

Zhang Shi asked Wang Ying and Wang Ling to take the lead. Wang Lingyou just let Wang Ying sit on top and he sat on the side, while Zhang Shi and others could only sit down at the bottom.

Wang Ying watched silently, feeling 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 expression on the faces of Zhang Shi and others.

"Please tell Magistrate Zhang what happened." ” Wang Ling ordered.

Zhang Shi nodded and did not say anything stupid that he had already said before. He simply and briefly told what happened.

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.

No nonsense, every point is nailed down.

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 and said, "I have a few questions to confirm." 』

"Yes, please ask the special envoy. Huang Hai cupped his hands and replied.

"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..."

"right. The mark has been worn away, everyone can see it, everyone knows it. Wang Ling nodded, still staring at Huang Hai, "I'm just going to make sure, are these weapons with their marks worn off? As a great craftsman, are you sure there is no way to identify their origins?" What I asked 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 was impossible before and now saying there was a way. Instead, he said calmly: "Then I'll 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 pass on 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, and then talked with Zhang Shi and others with laughter. The atmosphere was not cold at all, until the people who went to the Yellow Sea to call 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 is 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 above 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, fortunately I did not disgrace my life, I fortunately did not 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 the various dirty marks on his body, he was actually a little Simple and honest appearance.

Wang Ling raised his hand to Zhang Shi and said, "I'll borrow Magistrate Zhang's pen and ink." 』

"Easy to say, easy to say!" ” Zhang Shi turned around and asked the attendants to bring up pens and ink.

Wang Ling pondered for a moment, then started writing. After finishing writing, he handed it to Wang Ying for review. Wang Ying naturally had nothing to add. Wang Ling then motioned for Zhang Shi and the others to take a look. After the three looked at each other, they looked at each other a few times, then there were more smiles on their faces, and they all expressed no objections. So everyone was very happy, signed the name together, and sent someone to Pingyang immediately. Zhang Shi also expressed 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 all that 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 answered calmly, "If you can do it, then live. If you can't, then die." If you, Junhou, have not thought about it well, or have not made up your mind...then please return to Chang'an. I will handle the Taiyuan area..."

"No! Wang Ying raised her head and said, "I won't go 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 me. I am me, a county magistrate, and you are you, a prince. You have learned my things, 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'll take my leave." Please also ask your Majesty to rest early. 』

Wang Ling left.

In the back hall, silence fell again.

The bright moon hangs high in the courtyard, the night wind blows, and the shadows of the trees are dancing and rustling.

Wang Ying raised her head, recalling and thinking. The doubts and dullness on her face seemed to be slowly changing in the night...