"This is an assassination that has been carefully planned for a long time." Zhao Xingwen, who was in the back room of Yin Guangbo's house, slapped the table and stood.
After Yin Guangbo heard Zhao Xingwen's words, the veins on his forehead jumped.
Although he was sitting on the chair, he couldn't help but hold the handle with both hands and said in disbelief: "Isn't it possible?"
Assassinating the prince must be too courageous. This would require killing everyone in the family.
The morning before yesterday, Zhao Xingwen opened his door and asked him for the mobilization manual for the ancient Anhui city army and officers and soldiers.
Although he didn't know what Zhao Xingwen meant, seeing his solemn expression, Yin Guangbo quickly changed his clothes and took him to the government office to browse.
"There is definitely no change in the officers and soldiers in the government office." Yin Guangbo reported to Zhao Xingwen, who was reading the manual.
In the past few days, all government personnel have been sent out to find Zheng Zhongguang.
"Where is the military register?" Zhao Xingwen asked while flipping through the official register.
"I've already gone to notify. The city army commander Mai Zhenjin will come over and submit it in person soon." Yin Guangbo reported back to Zhao Xingwen.
He wondered in his heart, shouldn't the top priority be to find Xiao Zimu's whereabouts? What's the use of waiting here to read about the city's army deployment
Including today, Xiao Zimu has been gone for four days.
The person just disappeared, and there is still no news. Yin Guangbo was worried. Seeing Zhao Xingwen still looking at the official list carefully, he couldn't help but asked tentatively: "General Zhao, do you want to send the city defenders to search for His Highness?"
Zhao Xingwen frowned and said, "There is no need to search. His Highness is now trapped on the top of the mountain outside the south gate."
"The top of the mountain? Could it be that he was kidnapped by bandits? I know who that man's brother is. I will go find him and ask him carefully." Yin Guangbo suddenly thought of the elder brother who dug wild vegetables.
Isn't his brother a bandit
When Xiao Zimu was dealing with the incident involving Qiu Baocai's younger brother, he was resetting grain prices in the lobby of the government office.
Therefore, he still doesn't know how to deal with Qiu Baocai's younger brother, Xiao Zimu.
He only vaguely remembered that Qiu Baocai knelt at the door of the government office and begged Xiao Zimu to say that his brother had no choice but to become a bandit.
"Stop." Zhao Xingwen scolded Yin Guangbo, who had lifted up his robe and was about to run out, and continued to him: "Three days ago, an assassination occurred on the official road at the foot of the South Gate Mountain. According to reports from people around His Highness, , the other party is a member of the military, so I want to check the military register."
Since Xiao Zimu originally sent Bian Zhao down to look for Yin Guangbo, he must be someone whom His Highness trusts.
Therefore, Zhao Xingwen did not intend to hide it from him anymore, and told him in detail everything Zhao told him yesterday.
Yin Guangbo was dumbfounded after hearing this. He had no idea that something like this happened in ancient Anhui.
Moreover, the government officials sent out to search for Zheng Zhongguang in the past few days did not get any information.
Until Mai Zhenjin came to submit the military register, Yin Guangbo had not come back to his senses.
He heard Zhao Xingwen asking about the situation of the city army in the county magistrate near Mai Zhenjin, and then he listened to Zhao Xingwen's ear and asked in a low voice: "Is it possible that someone is being arrested recently and His Highness was accidentally injured?"
Zhao Xingwen nodded when he heard this and said: "It's not impossible. So I plan to ask Commander Mai to take me to the magistrate to check on the city's army. You can stay in the government office and take care of the surrounding area."
"General Zhao, go with peace of mind. I am here to wait for news from you, and I will also take care of the surrounding area." Yin Guangbo understood in his heart and knew what Zhao Xingwen was referring to. First, there were people at the foot of the mountain to keep an eye on him, and second, there was Su Qian'an in the house. and Bian Zhao.
Zhao Xingwen went there for two days and checked all the military registers nearby without stopping. He just came back today. In Bian Zhao's room, he said to the three of them: "This is an assassination that has been carefully planned for a long time."
"This is a private army, and its target is His Highness the Seventh Prince." Zhao Xingwen said with certainty to Yin Guangbo, who had just shouted, "It's impossible."
He has not found any signs of deployment in the past two days. The only possibility is that this is an army trained privately and unknown to anyone.
"Raising private soldiers is a crime of treason." Yin Guangbo muttered to himself.
"You dare to do such a thing as assassinating the prince, why not add the crime of treason." Zhao Xingwen looked solemn.
"But who would have such deep hatred for His Highness?" Yin Guangbo was puzzled.
He might have thought it was Zheng Zhongguang who was absconding before, but Zhao Xingwen had already told him that Zheng Zhongguang had been picked up by His Highness.
Apart from Zheng Zhongguang, he really couldn't think of anyone else in ancient Anhui who Xiao Zimu had such a big grudge with.
"Now we should save His Highness first. As for who did it, His Highness must know clearly." Su Qian'an suggested to Zhao Xingwen in a deep voice.
"I have not mobilized the ancient Anhui city army for fear of alerting the enemy. I have mobilized some people from various places. Together, there are about 20,000 people. When it gets dark, they will gather outside the South Gate city to encircle and suppress the private soldiers in one fell swoop. ." Zhao Xingwen had already made plans since he determined that it was a private army.
"I can go up the mountain to inform Qiu Baohua, and use General Zhao's signal as an appointment to attack from above and below." Bian Zhao got up from the bed and asked Zhao Xingwen for orders.
"That's good, but your injuries haven't healed yet. I'm worried that you may get sick in the future." Zhao Xingwen looked at Bian Zhao who volunteered with concern, with a look of embarrassment on his face.
"My duty is to protect His Highness's safety. Now His Highness is besieged on the top of the mountain. How can I rest here to recuperate? Besides, there are traps and formations set up by Qiu Baohua on this mountain. If someone else goes there, one of them may not get there. Secondly, they may not trust the people who go up the mountain. This messenger must be my subordinates to deliver the message." Bian Zhao knelt down, his determination clear.
"In that case, I will pledge your loyalty." Zhao Xingwen nodded in agreement.
Bian Zhao thanked him and stood up.
Seeing this scene, Yin Guangbo felt that he was powerless and could not help them much, so he could only retreat and help them prepare meals.
When Yin Guangbo came back, Bian Zhao had already left and sneaked to the top of the mountain first.
When Su Qian'an saw Yin Guangbo coming in with the meal, he stepped forward and took it with a smile: "Master Yin is so thoughtful, letting me and General Zhao eat well so that we can fight."
Zhao Xingwen showed a wry smile and laughed at himself: "I have been fighting at the border. I never thought that one day I would have to encircle and suppress my own people."
Yin Guangbo even sighed and said: "Seeing that I can't help much, I am really anxious, so I can only wait here for you two to bring His Highness back safe and sound."
While Su Qian'an was picking up the rice, she used a free hand to pat his shoulder to express comfort.
(End of chapter)