Ye Xiaotian, Xue Shuiwu, Yang Leyao and Fu Wa'er enjoyed the treatment of an imperial court official once, and they lived in the post house in the county.
Compared with the post houses in other places, the Huxian post house is very simple. Since it was built, except for a few passing officials, no one has ever lived here, but for Ye Xiaotian and the others, the conditions here are already is excellent. Moreover, there is only their family in such a large yard, which feels a bit like a big house.
Soon, Ye Xiaotian discovered that the county government had sent people to watch them, and the leader was Li Yuncong, the clerk they had come into contact with. Under their restrictions, it is difficult for the postmen in the posthouse to have contact with Xiaotian and the others. Considering that Ai Dianshi's murder is of great importance, and it is normal for the government to monitor witnesses, Ye Xiaotian didn't think much about it.
Early the next morning, Li Yuncong came to lure Ye Xiaotian to the county government, asking him to lead a team to search for Ai Dianshi's body. When Ye Xiaotian arrived at the county government office, he saw the county magistrate Hua Qingfeng, the county magistrate Meng Qingwei, and the chief secretary Wang Ning all dressed in official uniforms with solemn expressions. The pacers are all equipped with single swords, and there is another group of soldiers with bamboo spears and rattan shields, led by inspector Luo Xiaoye.
A group of people left Huxian County, and arrived at the mountain pass where Ai County Cheng had an accident in the evening. Luo Xunjian led the soldiers into the mountain pass first, searched around for a while to confirm that there was no ambush, and then stationed the soldiers in the distance as police posts. The magistrate, Mengxian Cheng and Wang Zhubo brought Ye Xiaotian and a few confidantes into the mountain pass quickly.
At the place identified by Ye Xiaotian, they quickly dug up the corpses, and found the "report" from Ai Dianshi. Seeing the "report", Hua Zhixian and others were relieved. Fortunately, the "report" was not damaged or lost. With this letter of appointment, their plan can be implemented smoothly.
Huazhi County said with a sullen face: "Ai Dianshi was unfortunately killed. Since the incident happened in this county, the county is not to blame. We must investigate and find out the truth as soon as possible. Master Wang, you stay here and let people collect the body. Transport it back to the county seat and park it. Meng Xiancheng, let's discuss how to resolve this matter first."
Ye Xiaotian made a circle of soy sauce, followed by Huazhi County and Mengxian Cheng, walked back, not far from the mountain pass, Ye Xiaotian looked back inadvertently, and saw a puff of smoke rising into the sky from the mountain depression, and he couldn't help shaking his heart. Suddenly.
Ye Xiaotian followed Huazhi County and the others to stay in the nearby mountain depression, and only set off for the county seat early the next morning. When they arrived at the county government in the evening, the exhausted Ye Xiaotian said: "My lord, the responsibility of the little people is over, can I So farewell?"
Meng Xiancheng glanced at him and said: "You wait here, there are some unfinished matters, and I will talk about it after discussing with the county magistrate."
Ye Xiaotian had no choice but to stand still in the corridor. After about two sticks of incense, Li Yuncong suddenly appeared in front of him and said, "Ye Xiaotian, the old man wants to see you, follow me!" Ye Xiaotian was still waiting to ask, but Li Yuncong turned and walked , Ye Xiaotian had no choice but to follow behind him.
After a while, Ye Xiaotian was brought into the third hall, only Hua Zhixian and Meng Xiancheng were seated in the third hall, and there was no one around.
Ye Xiaotian sang "Fat Ye" to them, bowed and stood still.
The magistrate of Meng County said: "Ye Xiaotian, the dignified official of the imperial court was killed in this county. These thieves are really lawless and rampant. They must be brought to justice as an example. However, the thieves come and go without a trace, and it is really impossible to track them down. I have a discussion with the county lord, and I would like to ask you to assist us, would you like it?"
Ye Xiaotian looked suspiciously at the magistrate of Mengxian County and the magistrate of Huaxian County who sat at the head without saying a word, and asked: "You two masters, Xiaomin is neither a member of the government nor a knight in the rivers and lakes. case?"
Meng Xiancheng smiled slightly and said: "We have carefully checked Ai Dianshi and they have a lot of money. It can be seen that the thief killed Ai Dianshi not for money, but for revenge."
Ye Xiaotian thought: "Nonsense! Ai Dianshi and others were first robbed by bandits, and then I ransacked them again. Their pockets are cleaner than their faces. How can they get a lot of money. They are obviously bandits. Why do you say that the murder of money is a case of seeking revenge? Ah, if someone seeks revenge, Ai Dianshi must bear some responsibility, but there are bandits rampant, but it is entirely the responsibility of the county officials. They want to reduce their guilt, right? "
Hua Zhixian coughed and said: "Since the purpose of the villains is Ai Dianshi, then we can use Ai Dianshi to lure them out. As long as they show some clues, we can arrest them and bring them to justice. Therefore, we want you to pretend to be Ai Dianshi !"
Ye Xiaotian was taken aback, and said, "What? Let me impersonate Ai Dianshi?"
Meng Xiancheng said: "That's right! You and Ai Dianshi are not so old, and no one in this county knows your origin. As long as we let the wind out, it will be said that Ai Dianshi was robbed on the road and all his followers were slaughtered. Ai Dianshi himself escaped by chance. If you die, no one will doubt your identity.
You go in and out of this county as Ai Dianshi, once the thieves get the news, they will come to look for you as if the assassination failed. Don't worry, we will send someone to protect you secretly, and we will never let you get hurt. After the matter is completed, the county will thank you with five hundred taels of silver. What do you think? "
Ye Xiaotian grinned as if he had eaten Coptis chinensis: "Five hundred taels! Another five hundred taels! Don't deceive people. Could it be that you also have a four-year-old daughter-in-law and an eighteen-year-old mother-in-law waiting to give it to you?" I?"
Ye Xiaotian said with a dry smile: "My lord, since the purpose of the thieves is to assassinate Ai Dianshi, they must recognize Ai Dianshi's appearance. Although Xiaomin and Ai Dianshi are not much different in age, they look different. If you want to impersonate him, I'm afraid It will be revealed immediately."
Mengxian Cheng laughed loudly and said: "This statement is wrong. Ai Dianshi is an official, even if he offends someone, the other party should be an official or scholar, and this kind of person will not kill people. So the murderer ten times Eighty-nine of them are gangsters.
In this case, the murderer bought by him could only follow Ai Dianshi's convoy, not familiar with his appearance, or only saw a plausible portrait. Furthermore, what if the murderers knew Ai Dianshi? They are always coming to find out, and as long as they come, we have a chance. "
Ye Xiaotian suddenly thought of the thick smoke billowing from the mountain pass when he looked back at the mountain pass last night, he felt a little uneasy, he shook his head and said: "My lord, Xiaomin just passed through Hu County, happened to be on the same road as Ai Dianshi, and witnessed the murder scene. As for cooperating with the elders to solve this case, it is neither Xiaomin's obligation nor the ability. Xiaomin can't agree!"
Huazhi County took the case and shouted angrily: "Bold! The county is not negotiating with you, but ordering you to cooperate with the county!"
Ye Xiaotian stared at him, and said coldly: "My lord, Xiaomin is not an ignorant idiot who has never seen the world. Xiaomin has never heard of a good citizen who does not eat the imperial salary and does not receive the government's salary. He must cooperate with the government to solve the case." Case. What's more, Xiaomin is not the people under your rule, Master, Xiaomin is just passing through here."
"you… "
Huazhi County didn't expect that a mere commoner would dare to contradict him, pointing the halberd at Ye Xiaotian, furious.
Meng Xiancheng stopped him with a smile on his face: "The county magistrate, don't get angry, calm down, please calm down."
Mengxian Cheng stopped Huazhi County, turned to Ye Xiaotian and said, "You really don't want to?"
Ye Xiaotian bowed and said, "Forgive me!"
Mengxian Cheng chuckled, and said, "Well, I don't want to make things difficult for others. It's just that you are the only eyewitness in this case..."
Ye Xiaotian said: "My lord, Xiaomin just witnessed the murder scene."
Meng Xiancheng waved his hand and said: "What's the difference? The murderer may have been tracking and spying on the whereabouts of Ai Dianshi and his party as early as in Lujiao Town. You have also encountered some Shifu mountain people along the way? Maybe one of them is With the eyes and ears of the murderer, you may need to identify these in the future, so... "
The magistrate of Meng county paused for a moment, and said: "So, you don't have to impersonate Ai Dianshi, but...you are not allowed to leave the county until this case is solved."
Ye Xiaotian was taken aback for a moment, Meng Xiancheng stared at him sharply, and asked, "How?"
Ye Xiaotian touched his nose, and suddenly said with a smile: "Okay! Then Xiaomin will stay in Hu County first, waiting for the call of the Elder."
Ye Xiaotian's attitude made Meng County Cheng startled, and he didn't understand why Ye Xiaotian had such a weird reaction. But he still said calmly: "Okay! Then go down, the official will send someone to watch you, and you stay in this county until the case is over."
The magistrate of Meng County asked Ye Xiaotian to step down, and called Li Yuncong to give instructions, and Li Yuncong left with Ye Xiaotian. Ye Xiaotian walked along with Li Yuncong, thinking to himself: "Shuiwu, it's not because I delay on purpose, it's because the elders in Hu County don't let us go.
You and I will settle down here. It’s close to the water. Of course, the closer the better, the longer the better. Maybe if you get closer, you and I will cook raw rice and cook it. Take the baby to Tongren to see the old man. Haha, thanks to my foresight, I have more than 20 taels of silver in my possessions, and I won't have to worry about eating and using them for several years. "
After Ye Xiaotian left, Hua Zhixian frowned and said, "Why did you let him leave like this? If he doesn't agree, how will this matter be settled?"
Meng Xiancheng said: "My lord, the person we want him to impersonate is Dian Shi, an official who often needs to show his face. Except for those officials in the second hall that day, no one can know that he is a gourd of Xijia goods. County history, so that after he 'died of illness' in the future, there will be no loopholes. If he doesn't convince his heart to report, then we will find some trouble for him, and it will be difficult to remedy it."
Huazhi County was puzzled and said: "The county government sent so many people to the mountain pass today, the matter of Ai Dianshi can't be delayed for a few days, and if he agrees later, what's the use?"
Meng Xiancheng replied flatly: "Ai Dianshi's news, if we block it for another three to five days, there should be no problem. Three to five days of work is enough! After three to five days, this surname Ye will come back obediently and beg us, and he is willing to do it." This is historical!"