Being ordered to track down a thief, but having his horse stolen by the thief, is a shame in every way and cannot be concealed. The six people were speechless, staring at each other, helpless.
One of the doormen said dejectedly: "No, no! How to return to the country?"
Mang Shen almost burst into tears and asked, "What are your plans, gentlemen?"
One person said: "Let us look around and see something."
Mang Shen had no choice but to nod. In order to avoid danger, it was agreed that two people would work in groups to look after each other. The three groups would not leave their sight and would report to each other if they discovered anything. Mang Shen knew that it would be difficult to achieve something, but he had no other plan and could only follow the nonsense. Turning around and closing the door of the post house, he suddenly found a crossbow arrow on the door. The door was not deep, so it was not shot from a distance. It should have been inserted casually, so it made no sound. What's even more surprising is that there is a bamboo knot tied to the arrow. Almost at the same time, six people screamed at the same time. Mang Shen hurriedly stretched out his hand to take off the arrow, and eagerly looked at the bamboo joint in his hand. The elixir on the joint read "Zhongda Fu Xu Shi Jia". A guest said happily: "This is a courtesy for a doctor. Is he fine, doctor?"
Another person said: "If Jie is fine, how can he be sure that the doctor is fine? If a thief robs the doctor and gets his jie, so he hangs it here, what can he do?"
Mang Shen looked at the crossbow arrow in his hand carefully and said: "The doctor should be fine. This arrow belongs to a soldier of our Wei Dynasty and cannot be owned by anyone else. Anyone who steals a horse must have a soldier there."
One person also took the crossbow arrow and inspected it, and said with surprise: "That's true!" He passed the arrows around one by one, some knew them, some didn't, but they all nodded and said: "It must be our Wei's, and no one else can have it." .”
Mang Shen said: "This is not a place for planning, but for planning."
One man picked up the earthen jar that had fallen to the ground. It was broken in half, so he had to change it inside. He went to the ditch nearby to get a jar of water, and returned to the post to light a fire for cooking. Everyone worked together to bring out vegetables, jam, salt, plums and other items, and put them all in order, leaving only the millet to be cooked. Fang gathered together to discuss.
One person said: "Now there is the Zhongdafu Festival Talisman, and there are also the crossbows and arrows of Wei Wu soldiers, which are enough to restore life. The Zhongdafu must be obtained by Wei Wei. In order to fulfill his mission, he will go to South Korea or return immediately."
One person said: "It's true, it's true! The doctor is anxious about the king's affairs, so he will not return immediately."
After hearing this, other people seemed to think that this was the case. Anyway, it was very reasonable and acceptable. At least it was much better than saying that we accidentally stole the horse. Only Mang Shen smiled bitterly and said: "If you haven't seen the person or understood the truth, how can you get any reward?"
One person said: "Although I haven't seen him, I can't say that I haven't found out the truth. We tracked into the posthouse in Liangxi, which is true. If we get the knot, it is actually owned by the middle official, which is true. If we get the arrow, it must be Wei Wei. All three things are true and true. If there are three true things, how can we say something that is not true?"
Mang Shen said: "What's wrong with it?"
One person said: "When the doctor first leaves the dangerous situation, he will be short of horses. Therefore, the young general will give them to him. The general will not sin."
Mang Shen smiled bitterly and said: "If you measure how many horses I can have in my house, I will give you six as a gift!"
One person said: "Although a horse is rare, it will be driven by a middle-aged man, and it will find its place!"
Mang Shen said: "Mr. Why must the doctor be fine in order to repay him like this? If I repay him, the doctor's head will follow. Wouldn't that be a way to die?" This question made everyone have no reply for a while.
After a long time, a person said: "If I can do it, the doctor will be safe. Who is it? If the doctor is robbed by thieves and seeks wealth and life, why bother driving thirty miles to Liangxi Posthouse without harming him? I will definitely get his head early." That's the place. This is one of the reasons. Perhaps the middle-ranking official was captured by a thief, and the thief will spread far away. Why did he steal the horse and leave its knot and tell each other? This is the second thing. Who are the six of us? The horse was stolen without knowing it. This person is powerful enough to take my head but I am ignorant. How can I sit here high, cook millet and cure fruit, and mix salt and plum blossoms? These are three of them. If there are these three, I hope the young general will think of them."
Mang Shen thought for a moment and said, "What do you gentlemen think?"
Everyone hurriedly replied: "Good, very good!"
Mang Shen could only say: "How can I repay you? I hope you will teach me."
One person said: "We have followed all the way to Liangxi Station. A senior official has been waiting here for a long time, and he said: 'The doctor is fine, and he has gone straight to Zheng State. He will definitely fulfill his mission, and I hope he will have no worries.'" Major General Seeing that there were no horses in the entourage, I gave him six horses as gifts. I rested in the post for a while and then returned. - This is not false. Although I have not actually met the person, I still want to see his feelings. Time is urgent, and I have no time to say more details. I don’t know things. There are no leaks.”
Everyone said: "This is exactly the reason." The general direction was determined, and everyone agreed on various details. When the millet is cooked, everyone takes his or her own plate, ladles out the millet, prepares the sauce and salted plums, and everyone is satisfied. Some people still wanted to take the few things left, but everyone persuaded them: "The journey is still long, and there is hope for recovery, so why not?" They gave up.
After getting up and putting out the fire, each one peed into the ashes and poured the remaining water on them to prevent the fire. All the pots, plates, lamps, etc. were left in the courtyard, walked out of the door, and walked back towards the beam. Along the way, the disciples didn't know what they were thinking. Mang Shen was always worried and uneasy, wondering whether such a lie was a disaster or a blessing. But if you don’t lie, how can you repay it?
When the six people left the city, they were riding horses, so they only carried bows and arrows. They did not carry troops, nor did they have crossbows. As soon as I started walking, the inconvenience of the bow and arrow became apparent: the long bow and arrows hung on both sides of my body, causing me to stumble constantly. If I was not careful, the arrows would fall out of the bag. After walking for an hour, all six of them were dripping with sweat; their bows and arrows were pushed behind them.
There are fields all the way from Liangxiyi to Daliang. In the middle of the fields, villages and towns face each other. A guest said: "I am really tired. I went to the countryside to ask for food." One person suggested it, and everyone praised it, so Mang Shen could not object. Seeing that it was still early, we left the main road and walked along the road to a village in the middle of the fields. Before arriving at the city, there was an old man waiting at the road entrance. Seeing that all six of them were dressed as scholars, he saluted and said, "This is war time. Where are you going, Master?"
Mang Shen said: "We, the military envoys, are returning from patrolling and are tired and thirsty on the way. I hope my father-in-law can give me a cup of water, which shows my kindness!"
The old man said: "How dare you! Since you are a military envoy, please come in and rest for a while." He led the six people to a high gate beside the road.
Mang Shen asked: "But the elder?"
The old man said: "The little boy is the leader of the house and leads the soldiers outside. There are no strong men in the house, only we are old boys... Da Mao, bring some water from the jar. All the military fathers are thirsty."
A child of seven or eight years old came over with great strength carrying a large water jug. The old man wanted to give way to the hall, but the six people refused, saying: "I just want to rest for a while, I don't dare to go to the hall." So they stayed in the courtyard. The old man and the child quickly took out two mats from the hall and spread them on the ground, and the six of them sat down. The child ran aside. The old man also set up a small table to accompany him. He scooped out the water himself and offered it to everyone. The six people finished drinking one after another, and the old man just returned to his seat.
There was nothing to talk about, so Mang Shen was at a loss for words and asked, "Where is your hometown? How many households are there? How many strong men are there?"
The old man seemed to be familiar with it, and he replied without hesitation: "We live in Donghongli, Xixiang Township, Liang. Young master, I dare to know that there is a pond next to it. According to clouds, swan geese once landed, so it is named Hongchi. It is surrounded by four miles. This pool is named after it. There are thirty-six households in the middle, thirty-five Dings, and one soldier."
One of the disciples seemed to have found the topic and asked casually: "Are there any soldiers here? What's the name of He?"
The old man said: "Zheng Anping is on duty at Liangxi Station. He has not been at home for a long time."
Mang Shen heard about the acquaintance and said, "Master Zheng lives here! Who else is at home?"
The old man said: "Mr. Zheng has been living here for ten years and has no family. At the beginning of the year, an old minister came from the state of Zheng. He thought that the family was in decline and it was difficult to maintain it, and this minister was also old and sick. Zheng was benevolent and only ordered him to cook and eat. , everything else can be done on their own."
Mang Shen said: "I didn't expect Mr. Zheng to be so benevolent and righteous!"
The old man asked: "Do you dare to invite the noble Zheng family? In my city, everyone is called Zheng family, and the young master only respects him."
Mang Shen said: "The Zheng family is the descendant of Duke Zheng. Although he lost his country, he won't be called upon as a son. Besides, he has made great contributions to the neutralization of the army. He will be rewarded soon. You all are welcome!"
The old man immediately became interested and asked, "May the master tell me the details!"
Mang Shen said: "Do you know Mr. Xinling, Mr. Wei?"
The old man said: "Master Xinling, no one knows. We are under one person and above ten thousand people. Xinyi is in the sea, and heroes from all directions have gathered."
Mang Shen said: "Of course. The young master was ordered to lead the army, but he was plotted by a traitor on the way. Mr. Zheng stood up and was killed, and Mr. Xinlingjun was fine. How can Xiaoye be rewarded for such a great achievement?"
The old man clapped his knees and sighed: "Saving Lord Xinling with one's own life is an unparalleled achievement. Even if others deserve a heavy reward, what's more, Lord Xinling's benevolence and righteousness will be doubled!"
Mang Shen said: "That's exactly what it is."
Everyone praised and sighed for a while on this topic. The six of them stood up and left. The old man walked straight out of the road and watched him go up the road and gradually go away.
Seeing the six people walking away, the old man thought to himself: "I didn't expect that Zheng would climb up with Lord Xinling when he was acting like this...but it should not be ignored..." While thinking about it, he entered the door and said to the child in the courtyard: "I'm going to When I come to Zheng's house in Houyi, you can guard the door carefully and don't be playful!" The boy responded. The old man closed the door, heard the door being locked inside, and walked back inside. In a patch of grass, a small courtyard surrounded by fences stood alone, with a row of houses in the middle. Only then did the old man notice that there were three steps - "It seems that Mrs. Zheng was indeed from a wealthy family, and she didn't notice it at ordinary times." The old man shook his head secretly, complaining about his carelessness, thinking that he would never lose this person again. Chance.
He came to the door and announced loudly: "At the door of Zheng's house, please see me."
After a long time, only a hoarse voice was heard: "There is no one at home, so I dare not welcome you!"
The old man said: "I just got news about your lord, and I came here to tell you. I am willing to pay you a price!"
After a long time, the firewood door at the end of the firewood room opened, and an old man with white beard and hair and a stooped body staggered out, leaning on a wooden stick. It seemed that he had been in the dark for a long time, and he suddenly saw the sun and couldn't open his eyes. He covered his eyes with his hands and came to the door. He cupped his hands and said: "The elder is coming in person. If you are not allowed to greet him, it will be a capital crime!"
The elder asked: "Is your body safe?"
The old minister said: "I don't dare bother the elders to ask questions. It's hard to cure chronic diseases, but they will only endure the years!"
