When the Forbidden Army's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry burst into the Wannian County Prison, there were no traces of the assassins except corpses everywhere. Hundreds of soldiers spread out, carrying spears and swords, and walked around the cell several times, but they were still unable to encounter the enemy. They couldn't help but be surprised.
At this time, a corpse crawling on the ground suddenly moved.
The people around were shocked, and when everyone took a closer look, they suddenly discovered that the guy pretending to be dead was actually their leader, Zheng Ouyang Lin of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Ouyang Lin got up from the ground, wiped the blood on his face, and shouted loudly: "The enemy has disguised himself as the Forbidden Army and escaped! You should go after him immediately and use the password I set before to identify you. Anyone who cannot answer will be killed without mercy." !”
All the men responded in unison and rushed to the street outside. A deputy approached and asked, "Sir, send in the hounds. They can't escape."
Ouyang Lin shook his head: "I'm afraid it's useless. I just saw that before those people escaped, they deliberately wrapped Rui Ji with a strange black cloth, even her hair. It should have the effect of blocking the smell. The scent clues I left on her in advance were in vain.”
"The opponent is actually so smart?" The deputy asked in surprise: "Is it Shen Lie?"
Ouyang Lin sneered: "Those guys called Rui Ji Madam, so it's definitely not Shen Lie, but the southern rebels. Also, the so-called Iron Hand Wen Xiao really showed up."
The deputy was stunned: "Have you seen him?"
Ouyang Lin nodded slightly: "Although the intensity of the enemy's surprise attack was beyond our expectations, I had every chance to evacuate the dangerous situation at that time. The reason why I had to risk pretending to be dead and stay here was to see more of the opponent's tactics. I saw a thin, withered old man, who was very ruthless in his attacks, and he used claw skills, so he must be Wen Xiao."
The deputy secretly praised Ouyang Lin for being brave and careful, and then asked: "Sir, what should we do next?"
Ouyang Lin responded while changing into clean clothes: "I had no intention of guarding the Wannian County Prison. It would be best if they kidnapped the people so that we could impose martial law throughout the city."
Hearing this, the deputy general couldn't help but be stunned.
At this moment, he suddenly realized that Ouyang Lin's previous arrangements were actually a game of chess with ulterior motives. The rebels robbed the prison, and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry suffered casualties. If these reasons were put in front of the emperor, then it would be logical to obtain the decree and implement martial law throughout the city.
The power of the imperial capital under martial law is a more powerful operation than promoting officials and nobles.
The longer martial law lasts, the greater Ouyang Lin's influence becomes.
At this time, Ouyang Lin continued: "Those rebels are trapped in the imperial capital. Unless there is a secret passage out of the city, they can only be captured. You go and notify the city guards and ask them to send out cavalry patrols to search the surrounding areas of the city closely. Once If you find any traces of rebel spies, immediately encircle and suppress them!"
The deputy agreed, turned around and left. Ouyang Lin straightened his new official robe, strode out of the Wannian County government office, mounted his horse and headed towards the palace.
At this time, he had already heard about the situation at the Prince Consort's Mansion in Cheng'enfang, and about the raid on the prison by masters led by Iron Hand Wenxiao. Therefore, he had to quickly enter the palace to meet the emperor, first to report the progress, and secondly to assist Emperor Li Bing in handling the matter. problem.
The imperial capital gradually fell into chaos, which was a rare opportunity for Ouyang Lin.
Li Bing summoned Ouyang Lin in the imperial study, and Queen Cheng Wen was also sitting with him. After listening to him tell what happened in Wannian County Prison and his response strategy, Li Bing nodded: "Okay, the situation is still under control. We only need to do our best to hunt down Wen Xiao and other rebel spies. Ouyang, you have to keep an eye on me and don't let them escape easily."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will go all out to capture Wen Xiaoruiji and others and bring them to justice." Ouyang Lin raised his hand and said loudly: "I ask your Majesty to issue an order to comprehensively search for spies in the imperial capital."
Li Bing agreed: "I have ordered someone to write the edict in advance. If you take it with you, all the soldiers and horses in the city will act according to the order and cooperate with you to arrest people. Just go ahead and do it."
Ouyang Lin was secretly happy, and then said: "Your Majesty, what should we do with Cheng'enfang?"
"It's a good thing you didn't mention it. I feel a headache when I talk about it." Li Bing shook his head helplessly: "Tian Mu was too procrastinating in doing things and actually caused big trouble. There are already four royals and three The prince and six ministers blocked the Prince Consort's Mansion, clamoring for me to issue an edict. Even Hu Yufei, who had been retired for a long time, jumped out to cause trouble, saying that it was against the rules for the Imperial Army to invade the Mansion, and he wanted an explanation from the court."
Cheng Wen sneered from the side and said: "This just shows that there is an ulterior secret in the Prince Consort's Mansion, otherwise Princess Fenyang wouldn't be so hasty and white-faced as to call someone to block the door."
Li Bing sighed softly: "I am worried about this. If Murong Xue and his wife are really harboring important criminals, how to deal with them later will be really troublesome."
Ouyang Lin responded: "Your Majesty, the royal family has royal rules, and the imperial court has the laws of the imperial court. No one can betray the emperor, let alone form a clique for personal gain or conspire to cause chaos. Wei Chen suggested that an edict should be issued immediately to conduct a thorough investigation of the Prince Consort's Mansion. , catch Shen Lie and others hiding inside!"
Li Bing looked at Cheng Wen next to him hesitantly: "Do you really want to quarrel? What if nothing is found in the end?"
Cheng Wen smiled sweetly: "Your Majesty, Shen Lie has not been found. At least there are Jiangyang thieves arranged by us. If they can find the stolen Seven Treasures Phoenix Hairpin, it will be a good thing."
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Wen Xiao took the lead and led a few people into an uninhabited courtyard near the east city wall. They planned to take a short rest here, put on a set of standard armor of the city-defending imperial army, and then slip out through the secret passage.
Wu Ling untied the straps on his body, put Rui Ji down gently, and said worriedly: "Mrs. Rui was seriously injured. Although the bleeding has basically stopped, her breath is getting weaker and weaker. What should I do?"
"Are you worried that she won't be able to hold on?" Wen Xiao said with a smile while putting on the armor: "Don't worry, she is your master's most proud spy. She is in very good health and will not die. Hurry up and change your clothes. Time is running out. .”
Wu Ling agreed, immediately took the armor handed over by his subordinates, stretched his arms and put it on his body. Unexpectedly, he was only halfway through the action when he heard a low voice from the sentry stationed on the roof: "Who is it?!"
Immediately afterwards, a bowstring sounded, and another scream came from the room.
A figure fell from the sky and fell heavily in the courtyard. Looking carefully, it was the sentry on guard.
Wu Ling and others were immediately shocked and quickly picked up their weapons and were on full alert.
This small, remote courtyard was their pre-selected retreat point. It had never been used before tonight, and there was no way it would be exposed early. Now that there is an enemy situation, the other party must be chasing them.
Wen Xiao cursed, and at the same time ducked behind the pillars of the room. While using the pillars as a cover to prevent the enemy from firing arrows again, he carefully looked out.
Wu Ling then ordered his men to protect Rui Ji and make sure nothing went wrong.
After waiting for a while, there was nothing unusual outside the yard, as if the cold arrow never appeared, and the fallen sentry was just going crazy.
Wen Xiao lowered his voice and said solemnly to Wu Ling: "Something is wrong. The people coming are not the Forbidden Army."
Wu Ling nodded when he heard this and agreed.
The reason is very simple. If Ouyang Lin's people were chasing him, they would have surrounded the courtyard by now and launched a fierce attack.
"Is it...the Suppression Army?" Wu Ling asked in a low voice.
Wen Xiao frowned, hesitated, and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Which friend is there outside? The one whose surname is Yuan, or the one whose surname is Shen?"
Shen Lie's voice came from the roof: "Brother Wen, long time no see. How are you?"
"Damn it, after all, I'm still being targeted by this evil star!" Wen Xiao cursed in a low voice, and then he laughed strangely and shouted: "Who do I think I am? It turns out that it is really Brother Shen. What? You are willing to do it again?" Are you going to be a court eagle dog again? Haven’t you suffered enough yet?”
At this time, Shen Lie appeared on the rooftop opposite, standing with his hands behind his hands under the bright moon: "Brother Wen, this is a private grudge between Shen and Lao Jianhua. It has nothing to do with the court, and it has nothing to do with you. As long as the pistil Ji and Wu Ling stay, you can leave at will."
Wen Xiao turned to look at Wu Ling and sneered: "I really want to do that. However, I am also a moral person. If you ask me to leave them both, I'm afraid that's impossible."
Shen Lie laughed loudly: "That's good. In the Nilin Division back then, Brother Wen's reputation as an iron hand was second to none in Beiya. Shen never had the opportunity to seriously learn from him. If we have a chance tonight, let's try a few tricks as brothers."
After that, he lifted his spirits and landed lightly in the middle of the yard.
Immediately afterwards, Yuan Bin, Shi Feng and other intelligence department spies also appeared from their hiding places and surrounded Wu Ling and the others in a fan shape.
There are more than twenty people on the Zhenjiang Army side, but the opponent, including Wen Xiao and Wu Ling, only has seven combat forces, plus a semi-conscious Rui Ji. The strength of the situation is clear at a glance.
Wen Xiao's eyes rolled wildly, and he snorted deliberately: "Shen Lie, you are so leisurely. Now half of the imperial army of the imperial capital is arresting you, and the Prince Consort's Mansion in Cheng'enfang has been surrounded by the Nilin Division. The water is running out, but you are still in the mood to ask me for martial arts tips here."
Since the people from the Intelligence Department went to the Wannian County Prison to ambush in advance, Shen Lie and the others did not know what happened at the Prince Consort's Mansion. When they suddenly heard Wen Xiao say this, everyone couldn't help but be startled.
Wen Xiaoren is an experienced man, and he instantly caught the surprised and strange reaction from the expression of the spy from the Intelligence Department. He changed his mind and chuckled: "Huh? It seems you don't know yet? Tsk, tsk, tsk, the Prince Consort's Mansion is about to happen. The seventh princess, Li Xixiang, is about to be confiscated, and the prince of Hejian County, Dong Tianxing and others who came to protect her will also be punished for treason. Otherwise, how could we sneak attack on the Wannian County Prison tonight? "
Wu Ling knew what he meant and hurriedly helped: "Shen Lie, you are like a mud bodhisattva who can't save yourself when crossing the river! We only need to shout a warning, and the nearby forbidden troops will soon surround and kill you. By then, none of you can even think of running away. Lose!"
