Yingchuan County.
In the dark night, laughter and laughter continued to be heard from the restaurants in the city.
Late at night, several well-dressed figures left the restaurant, said goodbye with a smile, and then got into their own carriages.
In the dim night.
One of the carriages was driving on the street, and suddenly arrows shot out from nowhere. The coachman driving the carriage, and two attendants holding candle lanterns, were hit by arrows in an instant, and they slowly fell down behind the carriage.
Such movement naturally alarmed the people riding in the carriage.
Just as the middle-aged man in the carriage opened the curtain, he saw seven or eight men in black looking at him with sharp knives in their hands.
"Who are you? I am the head of Jiuli Pavilion!"
The middle-aged man said something instinctively.
I thought that after saying this, these men in black would show fear. After all, he was an official of the Qin State, and killing a Qin official was a serious crime.
However, when he saw that these men in black had no expressions, the man had a vague premonition.
really.
The next moment, a man suddenly raised a crossbow at the side and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
In the frightened eyes of the middle-aged man.
Phew~!
Accompanied by a groan.
Under the gaze of several men in black, the middle-aged man was hit by an arrow between the eyebrows and fell directly onto the carriage.
As the car curtain was lowered, it was blocked by the bleeding corpse.
Several men in the dark turned and left.
the other side.
At the pass of Xianyuan Pass, beside the bonfire, a man holding a sword and wearing armor was patrolling. He looked at the more than 20 Qin officials around him and looked forward.
And just then.
The man suddenly felt some discomfort in his chest, and as a general, he didn't pay much attention at first.
However, not long after, the original discomfort suddenly turned into severe pain, which was so painful that his cheeks were filled with pain.
The general turned around and was about to call the other soldiers over, but before he could speak, he slowly knelt on the ground and foamed at the mouth.
Until then.
He suddenly remembered that an hour ago, his colleagues came to him with money and food.
Thinking of the gold he hid in his room.
"grown ups!"
"grown ups!!"
After falling down, the general kept twitching, and the sounds in his ears gradually became confused.
It won't take a while.
The Qin Army general lay motionless on the ground, lifeless and turned into a corpse.
Yingchuan County.
When the morning rose, several battle reports were sent to Gongcheng. When Gongcheng City Guard Zinsi and City Lieutenant Du Ying saw that several officials were dead, they quickly led their soldiers to investigate.
The people who were finally caught were either part of a vendetta or they were all from Zhao.
Two days later.
Cheng Gao.
In the mansion of the city guard Goze, Bai Yan was sitting on his knees in the pavilion.
"Sir, this is a secret message from Gongcheng!"
A man quietly came to Gouze and handed a bamboo slip to Gouze.
After Gou Ze took it, he asked the man to get down and handed the bamboo slip to Bai Yan.
compared to a year ago.
Now, Gou Ze has been secretly giving Bai Yan news, so now he and Bai Yan are no longer strangers to each other.
However, after becoming an official of the Qin State, Gou Ze not only did not lose weight, but also gained a lot of weight. Obviously, many people were trying their best to curry favor with Gou Ze during this year.
"Sir! There is a merchant surnamed Feng outside the mansion. He wants to see you, sir!"
A servant guarding the door hurriedly came to Gou Ze and knelt on the ground to report.
"Let him in!"
Gou Ze ordered.
By this time, Bai Yan had finished reading the bamboo slips and felt much more at ease.
He had already sent the letter to Xianyang and handed it over to Tai Jing. As for the officials who dealt with it, they were all handled by people arranged by Lu Qi. Among them, he specifically framed the people who were poisoned to Zhao Guo.
Even if in the future, Tai Jing accidentally went to Zhao State and was bribed, he would only know that one of Xu Zixiao's people was assassinated and poisoned in Handan, Zhao State.
At the moment, both Zhao State and Yingchuan County are in chaos.
When the time comes, neither Gongzi Jia nor Tai Jing will be suspicious.
After a while.
Feng Wen, the guardian of Wanfeng City, came to the pavilion under the leadership of his servant.
Bai Yan and Gou Ze stood up.
After the servants left, the three of them bowed their hands to each other.
"General Bai, Master Gou!"
Feng Wen saluted.
After Bai Yan and Gou Ze returned the gift, the three of them sat in the pavilion.
"Master Feng wants to leave Yingchuan?"
Bai Yan looked at Feng Wen. After learning that he was coming to Yingchuan County, Feng Wen wrote a letter saying that he wanted to leave Yingchuan.
Gou Ze also looked at Feng Wen. He didn't understand why Feng Wen left Yingchuan.
Although the Feng family behind Feng Wen is not as good as the extremely noble Feng family in Qin, the connections and foundation behind Feng Wen, who have been operating in Wanfeng City for several generations, should not be underestimated.
If you leave now, if you want to come back in the future, you may not have many connections and foundation left.
This is totally worth the loss!
"Yes! There is chaos in Yingchuan County's secrets now. Feng Wen has no intention of getting involved. He just wants to be wise and protect himself."
When Feng Wen saw Bai Yan asking, his eyes were full of helplessness, but also a little free and easy.
When Bai Yan came, he was still awake, able to get Bai Yan's help, and took the initiative to surrender to the city. However, less than a year later, his past achievements were now like a knife, making it difficult for him to sleep and eat well.
"General, although Feng Wen is in Wanfeng and has little contact with the nobles, he knows that some nobles have regarded Feng Wen as a thief and want to get rid of him."
Feng Wen explained, then turned to look at Gou Ze: "Although it is hidden, Master Gou must have heard about it!"
Inside the pavilion.
Gou Ze nodded as he faced Feng Wen's gaze.
"Someone did mention this matter. At first Gou Ze thought it was just some villain."
After Gou Ze finished speaking, he looked at Bai Yan.
In terms of connections, Gou Ze was not as well-informed as Feng Wen, so he always thought that it was just the words of some knights and retainers.
At this time, Gou Ze also roughly understood why Feng Wenhui wanted to leave Yingchuan. This was because he decisively chose to cut off his arm to survive when there were just signs of disaster.
"General Bai, Feng Wen just wants to live a peaceful life with his wife and children, and he hopes General Bai can help him!"
In front of the wooden table, Feng Wen raised his hands and saluted Bai Yan.
In the past, Feng Wen surrendered to Bai Yan because he had evidence and because South Korea had survived Qin's attack. But now that he has become Bai Yan's man, he hopes Bai Yan can help him.
Although Feng Wen also knows it.
Yingchuan County is in chaos now, and the transfer is by no means simple, but at the moment, Bai Yan is the only person who can help him.
"Don't worry, Mr. Feng, Bai Yan will definitely try his best to make arrangements for Mr. Feng!"
Bai Yan looked at Feng Wenjili, raised his hand and said.
In Yingchuan County, among all his secret moves, Feng Wen was the only one who was half-clear, and was in a very dangerous situation.
Now that Feng Wen is staying in Yingchuan County, there is no big use. It is better to find a way to see if Feng Wen can be transferred to Ba or Shu through the operation of the Bai family.
Wait for Feng Wen to secretly develop in Bashu.
In line with his original offer of huge sums of money to allow those seriously injured and disabled soldiers to go home.
Even though he was thousands of miles away from Bashu, he could still know the news about Bashu clearly.
"Thank you, General Bai!"
When Feng Wen saw Bai Yan agreeing to help, he felt relieved and looked at Bai Yan gratefully.
"Why thank you?"
Bai Yan smiled.
Feng Wen looked at Bai Yan and understood what Bai Yan meant, so he stopped talking and raised his hands in gratitude.
Bai Yan also raised his hand in return.
An hour later.
Feng Wen, who came in disguise, did not dare to stay for a long time and left in a hurry after saying goodbye.
Bai Yan and Gou were in the pavilion, watching Feng Wen's leaving figure.
"Master Gou should also be more careful in the future. Yingchuan County will become more and more uneasy."
Bai Yan turned to look at Gou Ze.
Gou Ze smiled when he heard Bai Yan's words.
"General An Xin, in the eyes of others, I am different from Feng Wen. It was the general who led the Qin army into the city, and Gou Ze had to surrender. It was not Gou Ze who surrendered on his own initiative. Therefore, as long as the general protects Gou Ze, Gou Ze can It’s okay.”
Gou Ze looked at Bai Yan, explained with a smile, and took the opportunity to express his position.
In Gou Ze's eyes, what he was most worried about was not Yingchuan. On the contrary, what worried him was actually Xianyang in the distant Qin State.
If it hadn't been for Bai Yan's letter before, he would never have thought that King Qin Yingzheng would be so decisive in Xianyang.
So as far as Gou Ze is concerned, as long as nothing happens to Bai Yan.
He's safe here.
"I hope Master Gou is fine! Bai Yan promises Master Gou that as long as Master Gou is in need, Bai Yan will not shirk. In the future, Bai Yan will also help Master Gou and enjoy glory and wealth!"
Bai Yan nodded when he heard Gou Ze's words, smiled and bowed his hands to Gou Ze in salute.
Bai Yan knew clearly about Gou Ze's closeness a year ago, so Bai Yan also promised Gou Ze that he would help Gou Ze achieve prosperity and wealth throughout his life.
Bai Yan knew what Gou Ze was like.
Nothing is more seductive than speaking out.
"Thank you, General Bai! With General Bai's words, if General Bai needs it in the future, he will never hesitate to kill him!"
Gou Ze also excitedly bowed his hands to Bai Yan as a gift.
Don't underestimate Bai Yan's words. Gou has been waiting for these words for a full year. A year ago, when Bai Yan failed to succeed as a husband, he was determined to put his future on Bai Yan, who was born in the Bai family.
Gou Ze knew that his background was not as good as Feng Wen's, because he had spent a lot of money to acquire this city guard, and he did not have the connections of his clan like Feng Wen.
After meeting Bai Yan, Gou Ze understood that Bai Yan was his opportunity, and he has been waiting for this sentence since then.
Now that he finally got this promise, how could he not be excited!
At this time, Feng Nian also came over and said that the carriage was ready.
"Master Gou, then Bai Yan will also leave Cheng Gao and come to visit again in the future!"
Bai Yan turned around, raised his hands to Gou Ze and said.
The matter has been dealt with, and now he wants to return to Huanyu as soon as possible.
"Gou will send it to General Bai, please!"
Gou Ze quickly returned the gift, knowing that Bai Yan could not stay for a long time, so he did not say anything to persuade him to stay, but sent Bai Yan away in person.
Because he was worried about being seen, Gou Ze did not go outside the mansion, but waited inside the mansion. It was not until the servant reported that the carriage left that Gou Ze nodded.
Return to the gazebo again.
Gou Ze felt happy.
The promise Bai Yan gave him just now was like a piece of honey, making him intoxicated.
"Fortunately I didn't collude with those nobles!"
Gou Ze sighed.
I saw the chaos in Yingchuan County a few months ago, and it would be false to say that I had no hesitation, but fortunately I thought that Bai Yan was a descendant of the Bai family, and the person standing behind him was the Bai family, and Bai Yan was now a general.
Gou Ze thought for a moment and finally did not betray Bai Yan.
If he had not calmed down and betrayed Bai Yan, maybe the situation would be different now.
"Sir! Is the general gone?"
At this time, I heard the voice of my concubine.
Gou turned around and smiled.
When the concubine came forward, Gou hugged his beautiful concubine.
"I asked you to go to General Bai's room these past two days. General Bai didn't touch you before he asked you to go back to your room?"
Gou looked at his concubine with a smile.
Ever since Bai Yan came, Gouze was unprepared. After thinking about it, he felt that in Chenggao now, no matter whether it was a restaurant or other women, they could not compare to his beloved concubine.
In the end, Gou Ze thought about it for a while and let his concubine go to Bai Yan's room.
After all, if Bai Yan likes her, it can be regarded as accommodating him. As long as he has status and wealth in the future, he will not be afraid of not having a woman.
"Fortunately, General Bai is an upright man. He saw that I was only thinking about you, so he didn't touch me!"
The concubine explained to Gou Ze, leaning in Gou Ze's arms and looking at Gou Ze flatteringly.
"Yeah?"
When Gou Ze heard what his concubine said, his eyes were full of smiles, and he didn't believe his concubine at all.
Although Bai Yan's appearance is not as good as those handsome men and can only be considered handsome, Bai Yan is not only young, but more importantly, his birth and ability are far above ordinary people.
He simply didn't believe that his concubine was unmoved.
"Sir, who sent that bamboo slip?"
The concubine suddenly changed the topic and looked at the bamboo slips placed on another wooden table in the distance.
Gou Ze felt that the concubine was guilty, but her words also made him notice that Bai Yan seemed to have forgotten to take away the bamboo slips just now.
"Go get it!"
Gou asked his concubine to get it.
"Yes, sir!"
Hearing Gou Ze's words, the concubine quickly said coquettishly, then stood up happily, picked up the bamboo slips from the wooden table where Bai Yan was sitting just now, and brought them back to Gou Ze.
Gou took the bamboo slip and opened it slowly.
Regarding the murder, Gou Ze also knew that Gongcheng's city guard Xinsi and city captain Du Ying were both Bai Yan's people.
However, when Dang Gou saw the content, his eyes widened suddenly and his breathing became rapid.
"What?"
Gou Ze suddenly closed the bamboo slips and shook his head in a daze: "No, it's not me, and it's not Feng Wen!"
Gou slowly lowered his head and looked at the bamboo slips in his hands.
Before that, he had always thought that the killers were all from Gongcheng Xinsi and Duying.
But now, the words written by Xinsi and Du Ying in their letters showed that Xinsi and Du Ying, like him, thought those killers were the ones he had hooked up with.
Think of this.
Gou Ze still doesn't understand that Bai Yan has an secret chess game in Yingchuan County!
"Fortunately I didn't collude with those nobles!"
The same sentence, but in Gou Ze's mouth at this moment, it has completely different meanings.
What he said just now was out of self-interest, but now, he is grateful to have saved his life.
The tick is clear.
If he had really betrayed Bai Yan back then, perhaps he would have become a corpse now.
"Sir, what's wrong?"
The concubine's words brought Gou Ze, who looked dull, back to his senses.
Looking at his beautiful concubine, Gou Ze had made up his mind at this moment. He would never hesitate in the future. Moreover, he had done so many things for Bai Yan, and there was no way out.
His only way out now is to remain secretly protected by Bai Yan.
"pity!"
Gou sighed.
Unfortunately, in the past two days, Bai Yan seemed to despise his beautiful concubine.
Whatever.
Maybe Bai Yan disliked himself for enjoying it.
The next time I meet a beautiful woman, I will grab it and keep it in the house. In the future, I will also leave a lot of money and jewelry to Bai Yan.
Mid July.
Under the scorching sun, Yao Jia's carriage was driving slowly on the official road. He saw a man who had been waiting for a long time and stepped forward to salute.
Under Yao Jia's gaze, after the man finished the ceremony, he came forward holding a roll of bamboo slips.
Yao Jia took the bamboo slip.
There is a saying that before the army moves, food and fodder will go first, but the same principle applies when sneaking into other countries to cause discord.
After all, he is different from others. He has been trying to drive a wedge between Qin and other countries all year round, and many people want to get rid of him quickly.
information.
Sometimes it's his life.
Ying Zheng gave him so much money, and the followers he had already spread all over the world.
When he decided to go to Handan, he sent out travelers to monitor the news in Handan in advance.
"Huh? Xu Zixiao?"
Yao Jia looked at the unfamiliar name on the bamboo slips and frowned.
Among the nobles he knew, he had never known a person named Xu Zixiao among the Xu family.
Moreover, the Xu family can produce 50,000 grains and millets, and it is under the control of Xu Zixiao, a descendant of the Xu family.
"Bai Yan?"
Looking back, I learned that Gongzijia's 50,000 grains and grains were all made by Xu Zixiao, who contacted Bai Yan to send him a divorce plan.
This was such a coincidence that Yao Jia couldn't help but suspect that Xu Zixiao was impersonated by Bai Yan.
After all, after knowing that the death of Han Ling in Xinzheng was caused by Bai Yan, he no longer dared to look down upon Bai Yan in the slightest.
But after reading it.
Yao Jia's brows furrowed even more.
"Xu Zixiao was assassinated in Beishi. He was poisoned by a secret poison? Even the Handan imperial doctor couldn't cure it?"
After reading it, Yao Jia looked thoughtful, shook his head, and then turned to look at the man.
"Is this information accurate?"
Yao Jia asked.
If Xu Zixiao is Bai Yan, then this matter is very serious. He is poisoned so much that even the Handan imperial doctor cannot cure it, so it is very likely that Bai Yan has died in Handan.
"Sir, this news is absolutely true!"
The man said to Yao Jia.
Hear the words.
Yao Jia looked away, thought for a while, and finally decided.
"You will set off immediately to take my secret letter to Yanyu, and then hand it over to General Bai personally!"
Yao Jia looked at the man and said.
The reason why he asked the retainer to deliver the secret letter was not because of important matters, but because Yao Jia wanted to know whether Bai Yan was here or not.
Once Yao Jia was an official in the State of Zhao, and later after the State of Qin, Yao Jia often secretly took revenge, and there were many reasons for it. Yao Jia naturally knew the ability of the Handan imperial physician.
The poison in Xu Zixiao's body was so poisonous that even Handan's doctors and imperial doctors couldn't do anything about it.
in this way.
If Bai Yan is not in Yanyu and he cannot contact Bai Yan after arriving in Handan, then Bai Yan is probably Xu Zixiao and has died of poisoning.
On the contrary, if the retainer goes to Yanyu and personally delivers the secret letter to Bai Yan, he will see that Bai Yan is safe and sound.
That proves that Xu Zixiao is someone else!
(End of chapter)
