Han En stood at the gate of Suixian and looked anxiously at the distance of the official road. According to the logic, the cavalry from Sanshilibao to Suixian would have arrived even if they walked an hour slower. But he had been standing in the cold wind for more than an hour and a half, the sun was tilted to the west, and he hadn't waited for the team of inspectors to appear.
Two groups of people have been sent out to investigate but have not returned, so Han En's heart is getting tighter and tighter. The death of so many people in Sui County last night is already enough to make people worry. If those assassins kill the inspector again, no matter how stupid Han En is, he knows that he will not be able to get rid of it. Either run or die, there is probably no other ending.
The death of Li Liao and others did not involve him, but maybe he would be promoted because of it. But if the inspector was intercepted and killed halfway, with Li Yuanshan's personality, it was hard to guarantee that he would not commit mass murder.
Han En lowered his voice and asked Li Er if he would send someone to look at it again. Li Er also felt that today's incident was a bit strange and he became nervous. Two batches of people were sent out successively to meet the inspectors, but none of them came back. It was indeed strange.
"It's better for the adults to bring a zhechong battalion to greet them in person. If there is any accident, we can't afford it."
Li Er thought for a while and said.
Han En nodded quickly: "Two, two, you go and say hello, and bring two zhechong camps, who knows where those assassins came from last night, if there are some ambushes on the way, it will be bad if they don't bring less."
Li Er turned around to gather troops, when he turned around, he suddenly saw smoke and dust rising from the official road. He was startled, then pointed and asked, "General, is the inspector here?"
Han En quickly picked up the clairvoyance to watch, and finally heaved a sigh of relief: "Yes, I remember the green brocade robes of their patrol guards, it should be correct."
"quick."
After putting down his clairvoyance, he ordered: "Let's all be more energetic, and line up to welcome Lord Inspector."
Not long after, the team on the official road arrived outside Sui County, and the dust and smoke were left behind by the horse team for a while before coming over. Han En hurried forward and saluted the leader. The face of the person sitting on the horseback was covered with a dark green silk scarf to cover the smoke and dust. It was impossible to see the face, but a pair of eyes were extraordinarily bright. Although only half of his face was exposed, it was still possible to tell that this should be an extremely beautiful young man.
Whether it is the forehead or eyebrows, it looks very pleasing to the eye.
The inspector sitting on horseback was wearing a dark green brocade robe with a unicorn pattern embroidered on his chest. According to the etiquette system of the Sui Dynasty, this pattern can only be embroidered on the chest of the duke's robe. From this we can see how powerful the inspector is, and it has to be awe-inspiring.
"Who are you?"
The inspector asked in a cool voice.
Han En hurriedly bowed his head and said: "The humble officer is Han En, the fifth-rank general who is stationed in Sui County. Because the general Li Liao was assassinated and died last night, the humble officer is here to welcome the Lord. I heard that the Lord has arrived at Sansilibao and immediately went out to wait. I haven't seen you for a long time, two groups of people have been sent to welcome you, I don't know if you have met him or not."
"died."
The inspector said two words indifferently, and was immediately helped off the horse by his own soldiers. He untied the veil on his face, threw away a soldier beside him, and walked towards the city gate: "Han En, you said that Li Liao was assassinated last night, did the murderer ever catch him?"
Han En followed behind the patrol envoy, with his upper body slightly bent forward: "My lord, the general was assassinated last night and was only discovered by the soldiers in the morning. The humble officer immediately mobilized people to search the city, but there was no sign of the assassin. The humble officer immediately sent someone Out of the city to inspect, and there is no report yet."
"that… "
He hesitated for a moment and asked: "The person sent by the humble post died?"
"Um."
The inspector said as he walked: "The corpses are thrown on the side of the official road. There are about thirty or forty people. Most of them were shot to death by feather arrows... Han En, my lord asked you to guard Sui County. Did you do your best? Go out of the city Soldiers who are more than a dozen miles away can be shot and killed, and even the general is stabbed to death. Could it be that Sui County is not under the rule of the lord? Are you not the lord's soldiers?!"
After asking this question, Han En's body trembled with fright. He subconsciously went to look at Li Er, and Li Er quickly motioned for him to endure.
Han En explained: "It just happened last night. Sui County has always been peaceful... I don't understand what's going on, and where did the strongman dare to commit such a blatant murder. But I guess, nine out of ten It was done by those vulgar people in the Jianghu."
"Take me to see the corpse."
The inspector nodded and said.
Han En hurriedly led the way, and when he arrived at Li Liao's residence, the handsome Inspector personally performed the autopsy, and his face was very ugly. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Er approached Han En and said in a low voice: "I heard that among the seven inspectors, there is one named Li Xiaolian, who was enshrined by King Dingxi, and he is a handsome man well-known in Xiangcheng. Nine times out of ten, my lord is the one who is known as the life-killer."
Because the inspectors exchanged back and forth, Li Yuanshan arranged this to prevent the inspectors from neglecting their duties. Therefore, the people below have no idea who the next inspector will be.
Li Xiaolian is very famous in Xiangcheng, but Han En doesn't know him. It is said that even King Dingxi admired this person very much, calling him a genius born in the Li family.
When Xiangcheng people talked about the rising star of the Li family, and Li Xiaoche, who was the champion of the three armies, they would naturally also mention Li Xiaolian, who was killed by Jinyi.
It is said that Li Xiaoche has the courage that is inappropriate for all men, and he is unstoppable in the army, so he is called the champion. And when Li Xiaolian was in Xiangcheng, he was in charge of arresting the rebels, and no one he was targeting could escape, so he was called the death guard.
While the two were whispering, Li Xiaolian stood up after inspecting the corpse, took the handkerchief handed by the soldier and wiped his hands: "The one who attacked should be someone from the Jianghu. Died with a shattered heart, this kind of cultivation is not found in the army."
Han En nodded quickly: "My lord is very aware of the details."
"Where's General Li's family?"
Li Xiaolian sighed: "Speaking of which, I still want to call Li Liao my brother. I didn't expect that it would be a long time before we met. Take me to meet General Li's family. You go and pick some capable people. Later Escort General Li's family back to Xiangcheng. This matter still needs to be reported to the lord, so choose a articulate and decent leader to lead the team."
"Here."
Han En quickly responded, and took Li Xiaolian to meet Li Liao's family.
…
…
Sitting behind the table, Li Xiaolian handed the thick roster handed over by Han En to the guard behind him: "Take the roster to check, and finish it within two days, otherwise the military law will be used. The number of people in each battalion must be checked. I know that there is something about empty pay, and I will not indulge."
The personal guard took the name and carried him away with him in his arms. Han En quickly asked Li Er to cooperate, not daring to be careless.
"Although I can't tell you about my lord's arrangements, you should know that there must be a reason for my lord to let you guard Sui County. As an inspector, I can't be negligent. I will send someone to check the roster one by one. Well, bring it up."
Han En bowed his head and immediately handed over another account, and said cautiously: "Don't worry, my lord, when General Li was here, he was very careful and there would be no mistakes. This account was checked by General Li himself, and it should be complete."
"Um."
Li Xiaolian hummed, knowing what Han En meant. He waved his hand and said, "Sit down and talk."
Han En hastily declined, and said with a smile, "How long will your lord stay in Sui County? I'd like to send someone to take care of me in a lowly position."
"Up to three days."
Li Xiaolian said: "After checking the roster, you assign five hundred elites to escort a batch of grain and grass and go with me to Le Town, because something happened at the granary, and the grain and grass in Le Town haven't been delivered for a while, I think you're down here It’s still abundant, let’s dispatch a batch first.”
"ah?"
Han En was surprised, and subconsciously glanced at Li Xiaolian.
Li Xiaolian seemed rather displeased with his voice, his face turned cold immediately: "What, is there a problem?"
"without."
Han En quickly lowered his head and said: "All the humble staff are dispatched by the adults, but is the 500 people a little less, or should the subordinates dispatch a Zhechong battalion escort?"
"No need."
Li Xiaolian said indifferently: "Han En, you are also clear about one thing. As an inspector, I have the right to act arbitrarily. If you have such a big change in Sui County, if you send someone to Xiangcheng to ask the Lord, it will take two months to go back and forth. , The army cannot be left without a leader for a day... As a general, you should have the responsibility of promoting talents. You can make a list of who in the army is worthy of a high position, and after I think about it, I will choose one of them to act as the leader of the general."
"ah?"
Han En groaned again, and suddenly remembered Li Er's previous reminder, he looked around and moved forward: "My lord, I still have a secret to report."
Li Xiaolian seemed to have guessed his intention, waved his hand and ordered the guards to go out: "Say."
Han En took out the bank note that he had prepared long ago from his cuff, and handed it over with both hands: "I am not talented in a humble position, but I also have the heart to serve my lord. A virtuous person does not shy away from relatives, and sincerity considers self-recommendation for the lord, and there is no need to shy away from it. If you have a lowly position, you can recommend yourself to lead the army... "
Li Xiaolian squinted his eyes to look at the bank note, but didn't reach out to take it. Han En quickly explained: "This is the bank note of Anxing, the largest bank in Xiangcheng, and it can be redeemed at any time..."
Li Xiaolian still didn't pick it up, but smiled meaningfully. Han En cursed in his heart, turned around and went out to give instructions. Not long after, two soldiers came in carrying a big box: "This is the jewelry donated by the local gentry to support the Lord's army in defeating the enemy. Please take it back to Xiangcheng. "
Where is the squire from the local area, this box of jewelry is Li Chat's stuff. It's just that this person is dead, Han En is in charge of the city, and Li Liao's family can't protect these property anymore.
"Um."
Only then did Li Xiaolian nodded in satisfaction: "Come here, tell the person checking the roster that they don't need to check it, take a break and leave for Le Town."
Han En breathed a sigh of relief, and cursed the word shameless in his heart.
…
…
During dinner, Li Xiaolian took a sip of his wine and said to Han En: "I thought about it before, Li Liao was killed. Although the injury seems to be the murder of someone in the Jianghu, it is hard to guarantee that it was not the assassin who sneaked in from the Sui army. It is extremely important for my lord to arrange you west of Xiangcheng, if the Sui army arranges the troops to inquire, it will not be good for the battle situation."
He paused and said: "Lai County has been deserted, there is no army stationed, and it is only more than two hundred miles away from here, so it does not conflict with the master's arrangement. To be on the safe side, you ask the soldiers to prepare tomorrow and set off with half of the food and grass. , go to Lai County to garrison the army. I will send someone to inform Shang Huoxi of Huile Town to pick up the remaining food and grass. If something happened in Sui County, if it was really caused by the assassins of the Sui Army, then Le Town will also send someone to pick it up. It may not be safe, I will transfer Shang Huoxi to lead troops to Qingshui to garrison."
Han En has been promoted to be a fourth-rank general, and he is so beautiful that he can't express it. At this time, he listens to whatever Li Xiaolian says, and there is no doubt about it.
"After arriving in Lai County, I will inform the granary that all the food will be sent to Lai County in the future. In addition, I see that your men and horses seem to be a little incomplete. I will personally send people to Jinyang and dispatch a batch of weapons and armors. Here it is. As for your promotion... I have already written the letter to the Ministry of War, and the reply will come soon."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Han En was overjoyed and thanked him quickly.
"Get ready tomorrow."
Li Xiaolian drank the wine in the glass, stood up and smiled: "I'm tired, go back and rest."
Han En and others hurriedly got up to see them off.
Li Xiaolian who went out took a deep breath, then opened his arms and stretched his body. He looked back at Han En and asked with a smile: "General Han, do you think this inspector has neglected his duty? If so, just say it."
Han En flattered: "There is no inspector who is more admirable than my lord, and my lord deserves it!"
"Ha ha."
Li Xiaolian laughed and left, Han En looked at his back and sighed: "When will I be able to have such power like him? Sigh... People with power in their hands are good-natured. I also have Ling Yunzhi in my heart, and today I just step on it." I got the stepping stone, good omen, good omen!"