There is a board beside Luoshui River with the words "Yingxianmen Wharf" engraved on it.
When Li Jilan saw it, he whispered in Li Tengkong's ear: "They say it's the Yingxian Sect, but he doesn't even come to welcome you, Li Xiaoxian.
You also said that if we are wandering around, what does it have to do with him? "
Li Tengkong's tone was calm, but there was a hint of worry.
As soon as Xue Bai arrived in Yanshi, he reported major cases one after another. This time the imperial court sent Yang Qixuan to inspect, and they may not have suspected that he meant to frame his colleagues.
She didn't want to come at first, but it was because she was worried that Yang Qixuan would get hold of Xue Bai that she allowed Li Jilan to write a letter to Xue Bai as a reminder.
But now he was reminded that he didn't come to the dock to see Yang Qixuan. It can't be because he didn't get the news, it's because he can't escape.
Local affairs are complicated. As soon as Li Tengkong arrived in Yanshi, he noticed that Xue Bai was in trouble.
Looking around, the people on the bank were still waiting for Henan Shaoyin. Occasionally they mentioned Xue County Lieutenant, with a slight gloating in their eyes.
"Xue Lang is in Yanshi, and his popularity seems not very good." Even Li Jilan noticed this and whispered angrily.
"Let's go to the county office to find him." Li Tengkong suddenly made up his mind.
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"Didn't you say we didn't come to see him?
"It's business."
The two of them then walked towards where Du Shan was. Compared to Du Erniang, they actually preferred getting close to the eldest sister of the Du family.
Du Shi is now running Yang's Trading Company with the power of her grandfather's deputy transport envoy. She is very impressive in the local area. There are probably dozens of accounting clerks under her. The portmen on the dock also follow Yang's Trading Company. It means... Although Du Youlin has little aura and cannot be popular among officials, he has gained some popularity among the people.
This was obviously Xue Bai's greatest strength, and Yanshi Shishen was also very wary of it. He brought many servants and guards over to watch. The dock was extremely lively, but distinct.
It was obvious that there were two groups of people. The daughter of the prime minister suddenly walked into the crowd of the Du family, which immediately aroused alarm.
"Xue Bai's back is here."
Many people were muttering like this and staring closely at this place.
Even Gao Shang was very concerned about this and gave Tian Qianzhen a look behind him to let him stare.
After this small gesture, Gao Shang continued to chat and laugh with Yang Qixuan, carefully pondering Xue Bai's next plan in his mind. Such multitasking did not affect his witty remarks at all.
Facing Yang Qixuan did not cost him half of his attention.
Li Tengkong walked towards Du Heng and glanced slightly sideways, feeling that he was being watched by everyone.
"Are you really in trouble?" she asked.
From time to time, people around Du Shan came over to report a few words, as if they were collecting information, and they were much busier than when they were in Chang'an. Seeing Li Tengkong coming over, she raised her hand to stop her subordinates, turned her head and smiled softly.
This smile was completely different from the one he had just commanded Ruoding.
"It doesn't matter, I just have to be busy these two days." Du Niang said, "When you are done with this matter, let Lieutenant Xue County entertain you for a stroll."
Thinking about where to go in Yanshi County, she said, "The scenery in Shouyang Mountain is pretty good."
"We want to take a look at the county office."
"Don't worry, we'll go there together later." Du Shan looked at the gentry, "It will pass eventually."
While he was talking, another large ship came slowly, Henan Shaoyin Linghu Tao arrived.
“I’ve met Shao Yin, and Shao Yin’s style remains the same.
Amidst the shouts of greetings, Linghu Tao's face was calm, without a smile.
When a high-ranking official from Henan Prefecture arrives and the county magistrate or county lieutenant does not come to greet him, if he smiles back, he would be too weak and can be bullied.
He didn't smile, and no matter how much everyone flattered him, the atmosphere couldn't be lively. Finally, someone exposed the embarrassment.
"Shao Yin, there is a case still under trial in the county."
Zheng Bian lost no time in shouting: "What kind of case is this? Can't we wait until we meet Shao Yin to try again?!"
Naturally, the topic turned to the insinuations about Lu Linghao and Xue Bai. So before going to the reception banquet, they had to go to the county office to have a look.
Senior officials and guards from Chang'an and Henan Prefecture, as well as local gentry and servants from the tribe, came together with absolute authority and force. What case could not be settled?
What the local gentry wants can be very simple, just settle the case and let the dust settle from now on.
Xue Bai dares to kill Gao Chong and Linghu Tao to see.
"Let's go. Official business is important. It's time for me to see what other major cases happened in Yanshi."
"Shao Yin please."
Among the crowd, only Song Mian felt a little strange.
As soon as he learned about Linghu Tao's arrival at noon, he had already sent people to Luhun Villa to inform Song Zhiti that if there were important officials coming to Yanshi, they would definitely come to Luhun Villa for a banquet. There had been no exception in the past thirty years.
But why didn’t Uncle Weng send someone?
Luhun Villa.
Song Zhiti paid attention to the news in Xintian last night. He didn't sleep well at night and was unavoidably lack of energy today.
When he heard that the copper dealers from Erlang Mountain had arrived, he originally planned to let his family take care of them. But because of his fear of Xue Bai, he finally decided to come and see him in person.
"Ah Weng, they had already detained Xue Bai, but unfortunately he was rescued by Aunt Gongsun, but they brought the murderer of Su Tiangui, who was one of Xue Bai's bodyguards."
After listening to the report, Song Zhiti opened his eyes and looked at the young man reporting to him in front of him, and asked slowly: "Who are you?"
His memory has deteriorated, and there are too many children in his family. Except for a few outstanding ones, he really can't recognize the others.
"Aweng, I am Thirteenth Lang."
Although Song Zhiti asked, he didn't remember it. He probably wouldn't recognize him next time he saw him, so he asked, "Is Fan Lao here?"
"No, he went to explain to Gao Shang."
"You've underestimated the Song family. I'll go take a look."
Helped by others to sit down in the hall, Song Zhiti looked at the Diao brothers and Jiang Hai who were escorted by them. He narrowed his old eyes and said, "I have seen you before. The last time you came here, you were with the county captain. It's me." Guest of honor."
It can be seen that he has a deeper impression of Jiang Hai than his grandnephew.
Jiang Hai was tied up by Wuhua Da and said: "Since you know that I am a county captain, why don't you let me go?!"
"What is Lieutenant Xue doing in Erlang Mountain?"
"It's okay to tell you." Although Jiang Hai was reduced to a prisoner, he was still very nervous and said proudly: "The county captain plans to subdue these dog dealers. In the future, he can make copper materials by himself and do dirty things."
"That's it? You're quite magnanimous."
"Because we are not afraid of you country bumpkins at all, and there is no need to hide it from you.
Song Zhiti was scolded a few times, but he became energetic instead. He was once an important minister of the imperial court, and went in and out of the palace. Unexpectedly, he was treated as a countryman by a pariah when he was old, which was ridiculous.
"Does this mean that Lieutenant Xue Xian is unwilling to cooperate with me? Today's young people do not keep their word."
"Old dog, why don't you take a pee and look after yourself." Jiang Hai straightened up and said proudly: "I would like to give you the last word. The county captain is rectifying Yanshi today and summoning the people to inquire about the case. If you know the truth, go and cooperate. It’s okay to forget about the past.”
"Let bygones be bygones?" Song Zhiti felt that he was getting older and had not encountered such an interesting thing for a long time. He smiled and said: "If I refuse to cooperate, how will the county captain treat me?"
Jiang Hai usually kills people directly, but today he gave a rare warning and said: "This old dog deserves to die."
Song Zhiti was full of emotions and said: "I gave Gao Chong the coffin I prepared for myself a while ago. Do you know why? Alas, because Gao Chong was young and walked in front of me, and my body is quite strong. , it’s not a problem to live for ten to eight years, and in the end, maybe I can survive Lieutenant Xue Xian.”
After saying this long paragraph, Song Zhiti was also a little tired. He took a short rest and let his beautiful maid feed him.
He picked up a piece of fruit, but since longevity was mentioned, he was still very excited.
If Jiang Hai hadn't been tied up, he would have struck at him with his knife and cursed, "The county lieutenant has all the evidence of the Song family's crimes and will uproot your whole family."
"Do you really think I'm afraid of him?" Song Zhiti showed no fear at all and shouted: "When I was appointed as an official and guarded one side, Shuzi was not yet born. Is he qualified to judge me?!"
When he mentioned the power he had in those days, he lost all his old demeanor and became majestic. The children of the Song family in the hall were in awe and at the same time felt proud when they saw their master like this.
The saint did not come to Luoyang for ten years, leaving some ignorant young people unaware of the reputation of Luhun Villa. However, it still enjoys a high reputation among families all over the world.
This little county lieutenant is really not worthy of being an enemy of Luhun Villa, and he still wants to interrogate him?
"Please ask the county captain to make the decision for the villain!"
In the lobby of the county office, someone kowtowed heavily, crying and feeling heartbroken, saying: "The little man started plowing and planting seeds before the ground even thawed. He had to carry dozens of kilograms of manure and water every day. It was hard to see it." Once there are seedlings, why is it no longer the land of a villain? Manager Song said, the Song family provided me with food rations, so I thought I was using the food to buy my field, but who knew that our family was being treated as the Song family? Slave? The villain is illiterate, so he sold the baby with just a press of his hand..."
A lot of grievances like this have been said, and the pleadings are getting thicker and thicker. Gradually, people are tired of hearing this and are eager to see the results.
But only the mistress and the defendant did not come, and even the stewards and slaves involved refused to show up, so Xue Bai had no way to ask questions.
"What's the use of saying all this if a big business owner doesn't come to explain?"
"The county magistrate seems to have fallen asleep..."
In the midst of whispers, if Xue Bai could judge but could not judge, it would be a big blow to his prestige.
At this time, someone rushed to the hall again.
"The county magistrate, the county captain, Linghu Shaoyin have arrived!"
"What?"
Lu Linghao was snoring softly just a moment ago. When he heard this, he woke up instantly and said: "Quick, go to the pier to greet us, the honor guard... Hey, Xue County Lieutenant, why don't you leave the hall quickly."
"If the defendant doesn't come, and the major case has not yet been tried, how can the court be dismissed?"
Xue Baijing contradicted him in public.
Such a strong attitude made the people watching feel confident, and some people in the crowd even exclaimed.
Lu Linghao just wanted to go and greet Linghu Tao, but he stood up in a hurry and said anxiously: "Return to trial? There are priorities..."
Xue Bai suddenly slapped the hall and shouted: "The case is not over yet, sit back!"
Perhaps because the onlookers were too quiet, this scream was particularly loud. Lu Linghao was so shocked that he even forgot that he was the county magistrate.
"Can you judge it?"
Suddenly, an angry shout came.
Someone used water and fire sticks to clear away the onlookers. A red-robed official, surrounded by Jin Wu guards, strode forward with a formidable face. It was Henan Shaoyin Linghu Tao.
For a moment, Lu Linghao's expression changed with shock, and then everyone also made a judgment in their hearts, knowing that this case could not be tried.
Li Tengkong came to the county office with the Du family's team. When he arrived, he discovered that the Du family was squeezed out.
Du Youlin and Yang Qixuan said it was a private visit incognito, but when they arrived in Yanshi County, Du Youlin, who was dressed in regular robes, was not even bothered by the officials and gentry, but was ostracized.
Li Tengkong looked calm. Seeing this situation, she had no choice but to rush to the front as the daughter of the prime minister's house.
"Sister Eleven."
Li Shiniang heard the call, turned around, and hurriedly ordered: "Get out of the way, quickly protect her... Shiqi, tell me, what did you discuss with the two daughters of the Du family just now?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Yang Lang is asking about it. I think it's people like Yanshi who want to know. It can be seen that Xue Zhuangyuan is not going well in the local area. I have told you before that I have to persuade him to take the path of the Taifu. The road of becoming a local official is very difficult. Let’s go…”
While they were talking, they also followed the team into the county office.
Li Jilan was not sensitive to politics and was already excited to see Xue Bai, so he walked a few steps quickly; Li Tengkong slowed down and turned his attention to the farmers around him.
She is the only one in the entire team who is like this.
She saw thin faces and numb eyes that she had never seen in Chang'an or Luoyang. What's strange is that on the way from Chang'an to here, including when she went on an outing with her sister in the suburbs in Luoyang, she saw many ordinary people, but she never saw anyone so thin.
It was as if Xue Bai had found all the people hiding in the nooks and crannies.
If these people standing outside are numb, then if they go inside, those crying in the court will look bitter. There was no expression of anger, just a faint, long-lasting pain, but with a sense of despair that there would be no way out.
Only in the eyes of a few people who looked up at the courtroom, could one see shining expectation.
Li Tengkong turned his head and followed their gazes.
Xue Bai clapped the gavel.
A senior official in red robes and a man in rich robes and brocade clothes came forward and shouted angrily.
Li Tengkong looked at Xue Bai. Although he said nothing, he knew what he wanted to accomplish.
She believed he could do it, not because of their friendship. But on the way from the long street to the county office, she had noticed the power supporting the county captain.
The next moment, Linghu Tao's command sounded.
"Can you judge it?!"
To Li Tengkong's ears, this was a question.
At this time, there was no doubt about the situation in the eyes of many people - Xue Bai could not judge and they did not even think about asking Xue Bai to answer.
But Xue Bai answered after a moment of hesitation. In fact, this moment of hesitation was because he looked at Li Tengkong.
"I have to judge."
"I have successively served as the military governor of Jiannan, and then as the right-wing general Lin Wei. Who does Xue Bai count?"
While Song Zhiti was talking, Diao Bing remained silent. Instead, he looked at the furnishings of Luhun Villa and guessed the prices of those items.
When he resisted taxes and killed a police officer in Huaizhou, he was so hungry that his chest pressed against his back, and even his cheeks were weak. This shows how poor he was. Over the years of selling copper and iron, he asked himself that he had seen some good things. At first Looking at the Song family, I still have some thoughts of comparison.
After all, everyone lives in the mountains.
Unfortunately, there was no comparison at all. Diao Bing was still wearing a pair of broken straw sandals.
As the conversation progressed, the Song family's momentum grew higher and higher, completely overpowering them, making people feel like they were just ants again.
Diao Bing turned his head and looked outside, his eyes a little anxious.
Of the two brothers, Diao Geng seemed to be the more rude, but in fact it was Diao Bing who first raised the knife to kill. This time, Fan Lao originally said that he had taken refuge with a very important person and wanted to work with Lieutenant Xue County.
But at this time, Diao Bing acted with more anger.
"You are responsible for the consequences?" Song Zhiti asked back.
He slowly raised his hand, pointed at Jiang Hai, and pointed at the vast expanse of farmland behind Jiang Hai, expressing his satisfaction with his life's achievements in a feeble but powerful voice.
"The consequence is that no one can shake the Song family in the slightest..."
"Die!"
With a sudden roar, Diao Bing rushed forward.
His stinky feet wearing straw sandals stepped heavily on the table, causing the cups and plates to shake. He punched out, "with a bang, he knocked down Song Tianshou who was standing in front of him.
Song Zhiti was worthy of being a military envoy. Seeing the hammer-like fist smashing the steward in front and drawing blood, he remained calm and shouted: "Come here!"
Jiang Hai turned around and saw the men from Erlang Mountain running towards this side with knives in hand. At the same time, more guards from the Song family were coming.
"Hey! Untie me, you idiots!
Diao Geng took out a dagger from his boot and went to cut Jiang Hai's rope.
The Song family guards in the hall knew that the two smugglers had been let in, and they were already wearing short swords for defense. At this time, they all drew their swords and slashed at them.
"尻!尻!"
"尻!"
Jiang Hai was really mad.
He was getting more and more skilled at killing people. He didn't expect that the smuggler he brought this time was careless, and he roared angrily when he saw a knife coming down while he was still tied up.
"puff."
Diao Geng was still good at killing people. With one stab of his dagger, he knocked down a guard first, and then continued to cut Jiang Hai's rope.
With this strike, Jiang Hai was like a tiger coming out of the cage. Seeing everyone in the Song family desperately trying to protect Song Zhiti from escaping, he also rushed forward and raised the table as a shield to block the swords coming from the guards.
"Old dog! Aren't you on the defensive side? Escape? Take your life!"
This was a psychological intimidation without a knife in hand, but everyone had already turned around the screen wall with Song Zhiti in their arms.
Jiang Hai looked back and finally saw Hu Laishui rushing into the hall.
"then!"
Hu Laishui slashed with two swords and threw a knife over. It fell to the ground with a thud. Just as Jiang Hai was about to pick it up, someone picked it up first and sprinted with the knife. This person was Diao Bing.
Diao Bing had just failed to kill Song Zhiti with his bare hands. Now that he had a knife in his hand, his aura suddenly changed.
If Jiang Hai kills people with bravery on the battlefield, Diao Bing's style is desperate. A kind of desperate situation where he has no choice but to die with the opponent at any cost, which is in great contrast with his usual stinginess in cherishing things.
He had just killed two people, and the guards of the Song family became timid and protected their master from escaping. Unfortunately, this situation was like a wolf among the sheep.
"puff."
What Diao Bing heard was not the shedding of blood, but the clanging of copper coins, and each stab was worth tens of thousands of dollars.
They could get copper materials, but they couldn't mint their own coins, not because the smelting process was difficult, but because they were just transport workers. It was the Song family that bribed and even controlled the officials of the copper field, and it was also the Song family that was able to distribute the minted copper coins to all parts of the world.
Therefore, in this lucrative business, the risks are borne by them. What they get every year are some copper coins that are difficult to spend. Their lives are cheap and can be replaced at any time.
Now, everyone's life is equally cheap.
The members of the Song family behaved no more noblely at this moment, wailing out of great fear, like pigs and sheep about to be slaughtered.
"Stop!"
"Stop killing!"
Song Zhiti was worthy of being an important official of the country, and he was the calmest among all the people, but he was really too old. Although he felt that he still had ten years to live, he finally fell to the ground.
"Help me..."
Everyone was running for their lives in a hurry, and no one had time to help the head of the family. Song Zhiti then grabbed the person next to him.
"Shizuro, help me up."
Diao Bing struck with his sword, and the young Song family member was thrown to the ground.
He twitched a few times, struggled to get up and tried to escape, but was pulled by Song Zhiti, and soon he was exhausted.
"Aweng...Thirteenth...I am Thirteenth Lang..."
Before Thirteenth Song finished speaking, he was stabbed and fell to the ground.
Jiang Hai, Diao Geng, and Hu Laishui led their men to kill them and ignored Song Zhiti, indicating that they had no intention of surviving.
Diao Bing leaned over and put his face full of blood in front of Song Zhiti's eyes, blood dripping down his dirty nose.
"Can I judge you?"
Song Zhiti's old eyes widened as he watched the drop of blood fall.
He thought of his past deeds. It was in the 20th year of Kaiyuan that he was exiled to Jiaozhi. When passing through Jiangxia, he met Li Bai. Li Bai admired him very much and wrote poems one after another.
When he arrived at Jiaozhi, he encountered barbarian bandits and captured Bizhou. He only recruited eight strong men, wearing heavy armor and holding Mo swords, and defeated 700 barbarian bandits... His life's deeds are so magnificent.
He has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty!
Blood dripped into his cloudy old eyes, and just one drop covered his entire field of vision.
Diao Bing reached out and strangled his neck fiercely.
Because I cherish his bright clothes, I don't want to use a knife.
Song Zhiti had already accepted death calmly, but suddenly he was agitated and struggled hard.
"Woo! Woo!"
Because he thought of a very important issue - there was no coffin.
His coffin was given to Gao Chong, who wanted a better coffin worthy of his illustrious achievements and world-renowned status.
I thought it was too late.
One person is struggling hard, the other is pinching hard, they all seem to be trying hard to resist the judgment of fate...
In the courtroom, Xue Bai's hand was still holding the gavel.
He didn't even stand up to salute Linghu Tao. This reckless and arrogant attitude put him in an extremely disadvantageous situation and gave him more things to blame.
"Xue County Lieutenant, you can't just use the excuse of being 'young and ignorant' to act recklessly and lawlessly. If everyone ignores dignity and inferiority like you do, will the court still have any decency?!
The person most desperate to convict Xue Bai was Lu Linghao, who hoped to clear up his own mistakes.
Just as he was shouting vigorously, someone suddenly shouted outside the hall.
"Gao Langjun!"
Gao Shang's eyes were still looking between Xue Bai and Li Tengkong, thinking whether Xue Bai had any backup plan, and suddenly felt an uneasy premonition after hearing this.
He turned around and saw a dirty man in ordinary clothes waving his hand, but was blocked by guards.
Thinking that there might be information sent over, he let this man in.
Unexpectedly, when this man entered the county office, he immediately shouted something that surprised him.
"Gao Langjun, Fan Shuaitou needs to see you urgently!"
In an instant, Gao Shang's expression changed, and he understood that this was Xue Bai's trick. Xue Bai also had another purpose in going to Erlang Mountain, which was to get Fan Lao to see him, with the intention of framing him.
What's the use? Xue Bai's real enemy this time is the official and gentry forces in Yanshi County and even Henan Prefecture. It cannot be solved by getting rid of Gao Shang alone.
What Linghu Tao said about Xue Bai's inability to interrogate the major case of Yin Tian's household escape, meant that it was impossible to solve the fundamental problem... so he focused on such a trivial matter?
These thoughts pass by in a flash, and it is more important to consider coping at this time. Gao Shang almost called for someone to take down this dirty man, but fortunately he quickly realized that he couldn't do this, as it would alarm more people.
"What Fan Shuaitou? I don't know him at all.
"How can Mr. Gao Lang deny it?!" The dirty man raised his voice, "The words that something happened to the Song family attracted more people's curiosity."
Song Mian immediately turned around and asked: "What happened to the Song family?!"
The dirty man was startled by his scolding, turned around and ran away.
"Stop him!"
It was too late, the county office was full of people, and the linen clothes squeezed into the crowd, like water drops falling into the river. For a while, Gao Shang stood there with a solemn face, thinking intently; Song Mian was anxious, and hurriedly sent someone to the Song family. Inquire.
Lu Linghao guessed the reason, raised his hand and shouted: "Xue Bai, what have you done again?!"
Xue Bai ignored it at all and only looked at Linghu Tao. At this time, it was this Henan Shaoyin who represented the attitude of the world gentry and influenced the direction of the matter.
As for Lu Linghao, once a high-ranking official appeared on the scene, the aura of the head of a county immediately dropped and he became a bitch who could only shout.
"It's dark and everything has dispersed." Linghu Tao said calmly: "Now that we have arrived in Yanshi, no matter what the evil spirits are, we will definitely wipe them out and restore peace to the people."
It is the safest way not to discuss the matter openly, but to wait until the news is clear, the officials and gentry can discuss and distribute the benefits, and then make it public in a high-sounding manner. With his authority, he only ordered this one thing, and there should be no objection.
"The case has not been completed yet." Xue Bai said, "Linghu Shaoyin can go to pick up Feng Yan first. After I finish handling the affairs of Yanshi County, I will go and apologize."
"Let me say it for the last time, this government will review it, but you can't do it."
It is already dark, and many people are already hungry, sleepy, tired, or impatient. The dishes for the reception are getting cold, and it’s time to add clothes for the night... There are pressures, big and small, that fall into a stalemate. On both sides, one party will have to make a small compromise first.
Seeing that Xue Bai could no longer hold it any longer, Du Youlin stepped forward to support him with his official title, and quarreled with the scholars, saying: "Linghu Shaoyin, why don't you go to the banquet first? If he wants to be interrogated, let him interrogate him. With a mere What's there to compete with the county captain? Everyone is hungry."
"Yes, let's go to the banquet first..."
I don't know which stupid gentleman subconsciously agreed, but stopped mid-sentence.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Finally, news came through the night, breaking the stalemate.
"It's bad! Something bad is going to happen!"
Two servants of the Song family crawled into the county office. In panic, they knelt down to Xue Bai and shouted: "Your Majesty, please save Luhun Villa..."
"What happened?"
"The bandits...the bandits have entered the villa..."
"Where is Mr. Song?"
"The old master was killed! When we escaped, most of the husbands were killed!"
These words were like a thunder that exploded over the heads of all the officials and gentry. What everyone thought of was Xue Bai's words "You bear the consequences".
Do it at your own risk, take the consequences at your own risk... They were so inexplicably shocked that they couldn't think or distinguish.
It was the fear brought about by resistance and killing that began to occupy their minds. No, it was the fear of change that made them tremble uncontrollably.
Xue Bai opened his mouth, surprised, but more regretful, muttering to himself: "I can't interrogate the Song family anymore?"
No one answered.
The fields and houses throughout Yanshi County were still so silent, echoing that question silently.
——Can you pass the trial?
