He Ruohuai Bao was obviously dead. He who had just ascended to heaven and earth and was omnipotent turned into something like a broken sponge almost instantly after the arrival of a grandmaster, until he suddenly fell to the ground. So far, Zhang Xingdu has not felt any warmth at all.
Obviously, I don't know whether it was because of the shattered inner elixir and the burning sea of qi, or because the crossbow was not fatal, and it was because he didn't get any real qi.
But it doesn't matter anymore, because after experiencing such a real life and death ordeal, Zhang Xing's heart at this moment is not much different from that of many other Jinwu Guards and Jinyi Patrolmen - the sense of joy of escaping made them feel a moment of joy. Without any extra thoughts, even the energy he had just raised to lift the shield and shoot the crossbow dissipated in an instant.
What kind of vitality and what kind of benefits seem so ridiculous in the face of the preciousness of life.
Not only that, the rain was already very small at this time, and the sound of water in the culvert under Tianjie was still there. Zhang Xing, Qin Bao, Qian Tang, Li Qingchen and other friends stood at Tianjie blankly. Looking around, there were only Xiao Suo and Xiao Suo. Afraid.
There were big holes in Tianjie, and countless side corridors were broken. The same was true for the walls of the square. As for the houses and courtyards in Zhengpingfang, not to mention - countless people were broken and collapsed.
At the same time, wailing sounds were heard one after another, as loud as the sound of running water; at this time, more casualties in the square were difficult to see outside Tianjie due to the shielding of the buildings; but at the drainage ditch on Tianjie, A slightly reddish-yellow flowing water seems to be reminding me of something.
There were even faint sounds of fighting and shouts of killing coming from the distance.
However, all this does not matter.
If nothing else goes wrong, the heavy rain will wash away all traces, and the Eastern Capital City will be able to absorb all living and dead people with their own thoughts, and the buildings will be quickly repaired after the rain.
Everything seems to be back to normal.
"Where are you?" Qin Bao suddenly asked beside Tianjie. "How did Brother Zhang feel when he escaped from Luolongtan that day? No wonder only Brother Zhang dared to stand up and shoot that crossbow just now."
Several people around came to see Zhang Xing... Unexpectedly, Zhang Xing had planned and arranged things like that in Jiaqing and Jiajing Second Square. It was not unattractive or unsuccessful, but it seemed that none of them were as successful as today's crossbow. Have more respect.
Even Qian Tang, who had higher cultivation and martial arts skills, and Li Qingchen, a member of an aristocratic family, looked at Zhang Xing with something strange in their eyes.
Zhang Xing smiled bitterly for a moment, but his words were sincere: "I came back from Luolongtan that day, and my legs were useless. Then there was an earthquake, and it rained for days. I didn't think much about the uncertainty of life and death. I just wanted to have a hot meal. , looking for a clean place to lie down... but as soon as they arrived at a safe place, internal strife broke out, and four of the seven soldiers died."
"Then don't think too much about it."
After sending away a Nan Ya Xianggong and a grand master, Bai Yousi, who was also in a state of embarrassment, walked over with a sword, glanced at his subordinates, and forced himself to give a clear military order. "Most of the thieves have been captured... There is an order from above. Those of us who came to support, Baishou and below, can go home and rest for one night. We will go to Taichung early tomorrow morning to listen to the order and hand over the officers and horses... Big money, small money Wu is injured, you send him back... The rest of you, don't think too much, just go back today."
Everyone from Qian Tang to Zhang Xing, including Zhang Xing, said yes.
But soon, Zhang Xing was stopped.
"Zhang Xing." Bai Yousi suddenly spoke. "Stop."
Zhang Xing turned around, realized immediately, and then raised his hands to thank him: "I haven't thanked the patrol for saving my life and covering up."
"What we should have done." Bai Yousi saw the others walking away slightly and turned his eyes to the dilapidated Zhengpingfang. He lowered his voice and spoke in a strange and inexplicable way. "I just want to remind you not to think too much about some things."
However, Zhang Xing understood what the other party meant.
When he just heard that the bandits were divided into two groups, attacking in the east and west, echoing from the north and the south, and actually killed a minister of the Ministry of War who had just been promoted to prime minister, he was shocked and of course he couldn't help but think more, because the behavior of Zhang Shizhao and Duke Zhang was too passive and perfunctory. A little too much, which is too different from what his reputation and position should be.
In fact, even if they don't think much about it, ordinary people will still feel resentful and uneasy because of what happened before.
In order to protect them, Bai Yousi had to make them think less, otherwise he wouldn't have quickly shielded Zhang Xing's too cold sight just now when the big shot was present.
"I didn't think much about it." Zhang Xing, who also looked at the dilapidated Zhengpingfang, paused for a moment and shook his head. He calmed down and told the truth. "I still remember what happened in Hongshan... The inspection shows that I have extra 'thoughts' on weekdays?"
"As long as you understand in your heart." Bai Yousi took a deep look at Zhang Xing and finally couldn't hold it back. "Actually, let me tell you, even if you don't take into account the suddenness of the incident, the thief is indeed more skilled. I am afraid that Mr. Zhang was tricked by others, so he was a little angry... Today's incident is different from the previous incident in Hongshan. It is even more Like the defeat at Sunset Dragon Beach that day, even if you really thought about it and figured it out, you might not know who you should hate or who you should look for."
Zhang Xing nodded, then shook his head... He understood this, but he didn't think there was no person responsible.
But after all, that's the saying, now is not the time to have ideas.
Seeing this, Bai Yousi didn't say anything more and could only nod. Even she was rarely tired and exhausted at this time - the Minister of Punishment was dead, God knows what will happen next? Things in the future and what happened today made her feel that she had to go back and talk to her biological father, Marquis Ji'an.
"Zhang Sanlang?"
After Bai Yousi left, an unexpected person came over. "I never met you that day... I really didn't expect that a man as civilized as you would have such a spirit of righteousness."
"I've seen Sima Erlang." Although his mind was racing, and his body and spirit were exhausted, Zhang Xing still chose to be humble and generous, not qualified for official position, and greeted each other in a polite manner. "It can't be called a spirit of righteousness, it's just a dog barking at the point of despair."
"Today the dogs are barking, but the dragons may not be roaring tomorrow. The key is that you dare to roar like this!" Sima Zheng didn't waste any time, and walked away.
Zhang Xing was too lazy to wait any longer, so he and Qin Bao, who was waiting for him, went south first to get the official horses they rode during the attack, and then headed north together.
We were speechless all the way, but when we arrived at Quanshanfang, we turned to the west, and when we were crossing the Old Middle Bridge from Luoshui, we suddenly saw a group of brocade clothes coming towards us on the bridge, and the leader was a Zhu Shou, so we quickly got out of the way. Stop for a moment.
As for Zhu Shou, he was also in a hurry. He crossed the bridge and turned directly to the west.
"It's Chai Changjian." Qin Bao recognized this person.
"It's him." Zhang Xing's heart moved slightly, and he suddenly remembered something. "Qin Erlang, please go back. I'll go to Xiuye Workshop to see if my acquaintance is okay. You go and help buy some hot food and wait for my return at my place."
Qin Bao understood and rode directly across the river.
Zhang Xing also reined in his horse and walked slowly along the road he was most familiar with to the north gate of Xiuye Square.
When we arrived here, it was almost evening, and Xiuyefang had already been surrounded. Fortunately, there were many people from Jing'an Terrace here, which made it easier for Zhang Xing to get in and out.
After entering the square gate, he turned into the house of Master Liu who was also sealed on one side. It was empty inside. Zhang Xing sighed on the spot, but he didn't feel any surprise at all.
"brother."
Zhang Xing turned around and grabbed a patrolman in brocade clothes. "What is the crime of this boss?"
"I don't know." The patrolman glanced at the stains and blood on the opponent's body, and his tone immediately became gentle. "How do you recognize me, brother?"
"Before I transferred to Jinyi, I worked as a Jingjiehu of this generation. I lived here and I recognize the owner." Zhang Xingyi said. "I'm in Zhengpingfang today. I heard the news when I was just crossing the bridge, so I came here specially."
"Zhengpingfang..."
The other party sighed mid-sentence, then lowered his voice to answer.
"Brother, I have just arrived, and I really don't know the specific story, but as far as I know, Zhang Shangshu was captured by Gao Changye at Fangmen, and then escorted back to the house like a prisoner, and then executed on the cross street... In this case, since you are an old acquaintance and the owner of Beimen Square, you are not colluding with me, but you were forced to open the door because of a temporary disaster."
Zhang Xing could only nod when he heard this.
"And if you think about it again, the person who died was the chief officer of the Criminal Department, and he was also a new rich man in Nanya. He was a man of heaven and earth... Then no matter which branch your acquaintance is from, I'm afraid it won't be good, that is, whether his family can protect him. Distinguish...you don't have to do what he thinks." My colleague sincerely advised me. "Go back early and get some sleep. It's going to be difficult. Let's talk about it tomorrow!"
Zhang Xing nodded, but just continued to ask: "Nothing else, I just want to meet once and know the result... Brother, do you know where they are probably being held?"
"It's simple. All the criminals are at the crossroads. They neither escaped nor were transferred out... Just go and identify them."
"Has Zhong Cheng left?" Zhang Xing nodded and suddenly asked another question.
"After taking down the prisoners, they went directly into the palace, otherwise they wouldn't have been placed there indiscriminately."
Zhang Xing understood, saluted and thanked him again, then led his horse and walked inside.
Zhang's Mansion is located on the north side of Xiuyefang Cross Street, facing west and east, occupying most of the street. It is also sealed at this time. There are loud cries inside, but no one pays attention to it... It is the same as when Zhang Shangshu gained power before. The difference is huge.
Zhang Xing said nothing and crossed Zhang Mansion. Before he reached the crossroads, he saw from a distance that the place was in good order - there were no onlookers. Jing'an Taijinyi were lined up in two circles on the outside and surrounded on the inside. More than 30 prisoners were all sitting upright with their hands bound, and there was a stone execution platform in the middle that still had bloodstains on it. Coupled with the rain dripping on it, it actually had the beauty of a third-level spectacle.
Zhang Xing came to the front and tied up the horse, and heard a man with a black ribbon reporting to Chai Changjian:
"... That's it, they all confessed... They were the ones who robbed the prison before. Most of the people who were robbed were He Ruofu's old troops back then... and then hid them in the culvert... Today at Zhengpingfang, in addition to He Ruofu's old troops, there are several other followers The gang that Li Shu had contact with was forced out by Gao Changye's design... When Zhengpingfang took action, leading Chen Shangshu to dispatch, Gao Changye waited for work and ambushed them directly at Fangmen."
"Why did it happen to be He Ruofu's old men who were robbed that day?"
"This leads me to ask why Chen Shangshu mentioned so many of He Ruofu's old ministries?"
"Gao Changye was also a prominent figure in the military with both civil and military skills back then, but he actually tolerated this matter for more than ten years? And he's still doing it right under our noses?"
"yes."
"These people really can't think of anything!"
"Who says it isn't?"
"What are you doing here?" Chai Changjian finally saw Zhang Xing, who had been standing beside him for a while. "Aren't you from the Bai Inspection Bureau? You should be in Jiajingfang or Zhengpingfang, right?"
"Already back." Zhang Xing bowed his head and saluted, and quickly and sincerely stated the purpose of his trip.
Chai Changjian was silent for a while, and then asked: "When you were under Feng Yong that day, you happened to be rented in the house of Master Liu?"
"yes."
"Then let's go look for it." Unexpectedly, Chai Changjian facilitated him very happily.
Although Zhang Xing was a little surprised, he quickly passed through the encirclement and entered the group of prisoners under the strange looks of Chai Changjian and Hei Shou next to him.
There are no women, all men.
After confirming this, Zhang Xing was just doing identification when a man sitting directly under the execution platform with his hands tied turned to look at each other, and then greeted him with a smile from a distance in the drizzle: "Brother Zhang, I haven't seen you for a few days. Stay safe! It’s rare that you think about me, brother, Gao Changye is so polite! Thank you very much, Chai Changjian!”
The prisoners around him laughed loudly, and behind him Chai Changjian seemed to snort.
This time, Zhang Xing was not surprised at all.
PS: Happy New Year everyone.
