Xuchang County Government.
When Xia Houxuan, Guan Qiujian and his entourage came to the county government office and explained their identities, Chang Chang immediately summoned all the officials and meritorious officials in the government office to greet them.
Although they are just a group of teenagers, after all, they are His Majesty's personal envoys to collect customs and appease the people. Naturally, the local magistrate does not dare to neglect them at all.
"Young gentlemen, please follow me to the back hall. Your Excellency has prepared a banquet to welcome you."
A well-mannered official wearing a Jin Xian crown and a black t-shirt, after instructing the government officials to clean up a little, came to invite Xia Houxuan and others.
Xia Houxuan and his party followed the clerk and headed towards the back hall of the government office.
Although the Xuxian County Government Office is spacious and grand, it is not extravagant or extravagant. Except for some necessary objects for handling cases and a majestic stone carving of the Haechi beast at the door, there are no other unnecessary ornaments.
After a while, the clerk led Xia Houxuan, Guanqiu Jian, Cao Xi, Sima Zhao, Zhuge Dan, Gao Xun, Wei Lie, and Yu Huan outside the back hall.
"The lower official welcomes the angels and invites all the angels to take their seats. The lower official has prepared some wine to wash away the dust for all the angels."
Xu Changchang looks very smart and capable, and his behavior is also very sophisticated and appropriate.
Xia Houxuan couldn't help but admire in his heart, sighing at this man's talent, I am afraid that one day in the future, he will not be able to live in this place hundreds of miles away.
"Brother Xuan, why did he say that we are angels?"
Yu Huan, who had just begun to study poetry and calligraphy under Xia Houxuan's guidance, quietly asked Xia Houxuan about the way.
Xia Houxuan couldn't help laughing. He smiled and replied in a low voice: "Angel, I'm talking about the messenger sent by the emperor."
Yu Huan suddenly realized it, patted his head and said with a smile: "That's it!"
"Angels, please come and take your seats." That Xuchang Chang still had a cheerful expression on his face.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Xu Chang." As the leader of the trip, Xia Houxuan returned the gift with a smile, neither humble nor overbearing.
Eight people were arranged in two rows, with Xuchang permanently occupying the main seat.
Since most of the people at the banquet were young people, Chang Chang did not arrange any wine, but frequently changed the fruits and vegetables. At the banquet, Chang Chang did not forget to ask each boy about his name and family background in order to prepare for the next step.
After Xia Houxuan had eaten his fill, he felt it was time to tell Xu Changchang what he and his party had discovered.
"Thank you for your hospitality, sir. Xuan and all the young masters are deeply grateful."
"There is no wine at this banquet, and I hope all the angels will forgive me."
Xu Changchang would never forget to remain humble and cordial in front of these young men who were the emperor's ears and ears at any time.
"To be honest, sir, the next group of people discovered a strange thing in Xuchang County today."
Xia Houxuan's trip was nominally to observe the public sentiment in various counties and counties. In fact, their more important task was to investigate the nursery rhymes. While His Majesty knew about this matter, Xia Houxuan did not know that the local county magistrate reported it on his own. , or the school affairs officer investigated it himself. If it's the latter, I'm afraid it will be more troublesome. At this moment, Xia Houxuan just used words to test.
This Xuchang Chang seems to be smart and capable, so it is impossible for him not to know about the rumors. If this Xuchang Chang does not mention this matter today, it means that this person is not worthy of trust, and Xia Houxuan will not tell him more. If If Chang Chang tells the truth, he can count on him to help him.
"What Mr. Xiahou said is that rumors of nursery rhymes have appeared inexplicably in various counties and counties in Yuzhou recently. However, the messenger sent by Xu County to report to the emperor should have arrived in Kyoto two days ago, but it has been more than ten days since you set out from Luoyang. No more, it seems that the emperor has known about it for a long time."
Xuchang Chang was quite honest, and Xia Houxuan finally dispelled his doubts.
"Yes, this matter has indeed alarmed His Majesty." Xia Houxuan took out the Shu brocade money bag he had begged from the old man who was deceived by the villain from his sleeve pocket, looked at Xu Changchang and said: "We, in your honor This was found within the county.”
Xu Changchang asked someone to take the Shu brocade money bag, and after looking at it carefully, he nodded: "I see, so I have an idea. Originally, nursery rhymes alone were not enough to determine whether this was a Wu invader or a Shu invader. It’s nothing more than this Shu brocade money bag, which is made of exquisite workmanship and doesn’t look like fabrics that people in Wu can buy.”
Xia Houxuan, Guan Qiujian and others understood that what Chief Xu Chang said was true. The Shu captives only occupied a corner of Yizhou. Even though Yizhou was known as the land of heaven, it was difficult to compare with the eleven states of the Wei Dynasty. The Shu captives were trapped in Shu, but they were still able to separate themselves from one side. One of the important sources of their military expenses was selling Shu brocade to Wu and the Wei Dynasty. Although they knew that buying Shu brocade was a trip to support the enemy, Shu brocade was really too valuable. It was so exquisite that not only was it difficult for the people to ban it, but even the high-ranking officials in the imperial court couldn't help but buy it and use it.
Even so, the Shu brocade purchased by Wei and Wu was not the finest fabric. The truly top-grade Shu brocade fabric is also the Shu brocade used daily by Shu people, which is what Chang Xuchang is holding in his hands at this moment.
"Therefore, we can conclude that the person spreading the rumor is undoubtedly a Shu captive."
Gao Xun, who was proficient in prison laws and regulations due to his family background, thought about this and nodded.
"That's right." Xia Houxuan nodded thoughtfully: "This Shu Brocade Money Bag, coupled with the nursery rhyme itself, can confirm this."
"Although this nursery rhyme has been discovered in this county, gentlemen, do you know why I can't do anything?"
Xu Changchang couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.
"Bailihou [Bailihou is an honorific title for the head of a county], but what's the problem?"
Cao Xi didn't think it through for a moment, so he couldn't help but frown and asked.
"The reason why Marquis Baili has nothing to do, I think it must be because public anger is difficult to offend." Zhuge Dan immediately figured out the key point.
"That's right." Guan Qiujian nodded thoughtfully. He looked at Xuchang and said: "Guixian and other counties should be facing a dilemma. That is, this rumor is based on a nursery rhyme. In other words, the rumor spreaders are basically the children of Wei Dynasty, and once the government issues an order to arrest these children, it will trigger civil unrest, wouldn't it play into the hands of the Shu captives?"
"Young masters, you are worthy of being personally appointed by your Majesty. You are indeed very smart. It is precisely for this reason that I am unable to do anything. This is really a taboo."
Xu Changchang, who had always been calm and composed and appeared to be smart and capable, finally showed a trace of sadness at this moment.
"Marquis Baili, I have a plan. I wonder if Marquis Baili can use it." Xia Houxuan thought for a moment and thought of a countermeasure. He asked Xuchang with a smile.
"I pray that Mr. Xiahou will not hesitate to teach you!" Seeing that Xiahouxuan seemed to have a good idea, Xu Changchang actually bowed and spread his sleeves and made a big salute to Xiahouxuan.
"This method is quite simple." Xia Houxuan said with a smile: "I hope you can use it with officials from your county who are good at calligraphy."
"Everyone in this county, from top to bottom, is willing to be driven by the young master if he has any use for me!"
Xu Changzhang seemed to have met a savior. For some reason, he had unconditional trust in the fifteen-year-old boy in front of him.
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"The red flames are extinguished, and the yellow dragon is born. The yellow dragon first grows up, and the wild fire rises in Shulong. When the yellow dragon casts clouds and rain, the wild fire extinguishes the dream..." [Note 2: This nursery rhyme is the same as the one above. Editor]
Above the Xuchang neighborhood, a group of playing children were laughing and playing, while singing this nursery rhyme that had just been heard from the government office.
"Axuan, you are smart enough to come up with such a solution. Then Chang Chang, who has been Bailihou for so many years, has been at his wits' end."
Cao Xi kept praising his cousin, while Yu Huan looked at Xia Houxuan standing on the street corner with a smile on his face with admiration.
Hearing this, Xia Houxuan smiled warmly and replied to Cao Xi:
"Xuchang is a well-educated, insightful, and capable man. However, he has been immersed in government affairs for many years, so it is normal for him to be lacking in the minor skills of making nursery rhymes."
This nursery rhyme sings, red flames give birth to yellow dragons, which refers to the great Wei Dynasty in which His Majesty accepted the abdication of Yan Han and established the virtues of the loess.
The wild fire in Shulong is talking about the Shu Han who claims to be the orthodox Han Dynasty.
This nursery rhyme is diametrically opposed to the nursery rhymes passed down by Shu captives, which is quite interesting.
Xia Houxuan understood that the Shu captives' dirty plan this time was nothing more than an attempt to use stupid people and ignorant children to make Wei officials and people suspicious of each other, thereby disturbing the hearts of the Central Plains.
Since the other party is using this dirty trick, it would be better to treat him in his own way.
Zhuge Dan and Guan Qiu Jian, together with Wei Lie, Gao Xun, Sima Zhao and others, assigned Xu County officials to sing and teach this new nursery rhyme everywhere in Xu County.
Xia Houxuan, Yu Huan, and Cao Xi stood on the main road, observing the movements everywhere.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion in the crowd.
Not far from Xia Houxuan, a tea egg vendor suddenly rushed towards him!
In an instant, the vendor took out two daggers from nowhere and rushed to his side!
When Xia Houxuan saw this, he had no time to be surprised. He made a prompt decision and immediately drew out the sword from his waist to resist the man's attack. When Cao Xi saw Xia Houxuan being attacked, he immediately drew his dragon scale sword and stepped forward to protect him. Yu Huan held a dagger and used the Yu family's sword skills to stab the attacker.
The man wielded two swords and was not afraid at all when faced with the attack from Xia Houxuan, Cao Xi, and Yu Huan. This does not mean that the man was extremely skilled in martial arts.
Although that man was very skilled, he was still no match for Xia Houxuan, Cao Xi, and Yu Huan. However, his fighting style was a life-threatening style. Every move he made was aimed at taking Xia Houxuan's life. He didn't even care whether he was injured!
Even so, Xiahou, Xuan, Cao, Xi, and Huan all had good swordsmanship, so that man did not take advantage.
Seeing that he was unlikely to succeed, the assassin immediately jumped out of the circle, climbed over the wall, and fled.
Xia Houxuan immediately picked up his knife and chased after him, but he didn't expect that the man fired three concealed crossbows when he was escaping!
"Brother Xuan, be careful!"
Seeing that Xia Houxuan was unprepared, Yu Huan rushed forward with his sword and knocked away the two short arrows with two "dang-dang" sounds. However, no matter how fast his sword was, he could not open the third short arrow, and the hidden arrow was shot like this. Hit Yu Huan's left arm!
"Tiger!" Xia Houxuan threw down his "Quality" knife and hurriedly sealed Yu Huan's left arm. At this time, he saw the red short arrow on Yu Huan's left arm.
"It's the Mysterious Flame!"
