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It was finally dawn, but Moling County was inexplicably fearful. The city gate was not opened and the surname was prohibited from going out. The streets were full of soldiers wearing armor and holding sharp weapons, full of murderous intent. Teams of soldiers were checking door to door.

Bounty notices were posted at various important street intersections, and a female assassin in black was wanted. She was tall and had a clear contour on her face. She was accented in Jiangxia, and she provided a bounty for two. Soon, news spread in the city that Wu Hou was almost assassined by the female assassin last night.

The army had found the area east of the city, and the Wu Tavern was investigated again. However, this time, the shopkeeper Liang stopped bribing him. He had already prepared himself and allowed the soldiers to check the tavern. However, the shopkeeper Liang was still a little worried about the situation in Bianjing Lane.

Bianjing Lane is a small alley next to the Temple of the Shrine. The alley is not deep and there are five or six families living in it. The innermost house covering an area of ​​two acres is home to a family of five. The male owner is Zhang Shun, nicknamed Wu Ye. He has a high status and is a traitor in Moling County, which is the head of the captain. The other half-public identity is the Temple of the Shrine Temple. To put it bluntly, the Temple of the Shrine is his property, and he makes a fortune from the Society Festival every year.

Another secret identity is the intelligence spy of the Han army in Jiangdong. Zhang Shun was pulled into the Han Army Intelligence Department by Guan Xi at that time before the New Year. He also considered his future and leaned on the big tree of the Han army in advance.

At this time, Da Qiao and Zhong Xue were hiding in his house. Because of his special identity, the army would not carefully check even when they came to his house. Moreover, Da Qiao and Zhong Xue had both put on makeup, one pretended to be a kitchen wife and the other pretended to be his nephew. Even if they faced the army, they would not recognize them.

In the courtyard, Zhang Shunzheng negotiated with several soldiers who had investigated. Why did the boss open the reward notice and said: "Last night, a female assassin smuggled into Jianye Palace and almost stabbed Wu Hou. Wu Hou ordered the arrest of the assassin. Those who provided the line will receive rewards. We are ordered to investigate the house and ask the fifth master to cooperate."

Zhang Shun sneered, "You can, but I have to say ugly things in front of me. There is a lot of gold in my room. I don't count how many of them are. However, I saw that several brothers are from the hometown. Afterwards, I found that there were too many or less things. I will go out to your house tomorrow. I will say ugly things first, you can do it."

Several soldiers looked at each other. Some of them were from the local village. How could they not know that Zhang Shun was a local snake and could not be provoked? Shi Chang smiled and said, "How dare we dare to be the fifth master's home? We just acted on orders, just to find someone. The fifth master just called out his family, let's take a look, and then we left."

Zhang Shun sneered and turned around and said, "You guys come out and let the soldiers see."

After a moment, Zhang Shun's wife came out with her children and servants, and there were seven or eight people in total. Zhang Shun pointed at Zhong Xue and said, "This is my nephew Zhang Jin. I just came down from the countryside. Are you?"

The soldiers looked at Zhong Xue and saw that he was tall, wearing a long sword on his waist, wearing a samurai robe, and wearing a black cloak. The cloak knot just covered his Adam's apple. Although his appearance was slightly pretty, he was obviously a martial arts practitioner. Zhong Xue bowed to show her salute and said in a muffled voice: "Please give me some advice."

Her voice became rough and hoarse, and the soldiers did not doubt it. They looked at the few more people. Da Qiao pretended to be a cook and stood at the edge. She looked old and crude, wearing a maid dress. The soldiers only glanced at her and then looked away one after another. No one would be interested in her.

Why did I see that there was nothing unusual and I didn’t want to go to the local snake’s house, so I bowed and smiled and said, “I’m just doing my orders and disturbing the fifth master. Let’s say goodbye.”

He waved his hand and said, "Let's go."

He led the soldiers out of the house and soon smashed the door next door again, shouting with a angrily voice: "Open the door and investigate the assassins."

Zhang Shun closed the yard gate and smiled at Da Qiao and Zhong Xue, meaning that there would be nothing here for him.

.........

At noon, the army had been searching from house to house for a long time, but still found nothing. Wang Ning stood on the banks of Qinshui River in the north city with his hands behind his back. Qinshui flowed out of the city through the water gate. There was only one iron bar in the water gate, locking the river channel. Through the iron bar, you could see that the river outside the city was full of ships preparing to enter the city. The boatmen were anxiously asking each other, pointing to the city from time to time.

Although Sun Quan gave him the order to open the city gate on time and only enter but not exit, Wang Ning believed that once people were released into the city, martial law would be invalid, and there would be a mixture of people on the streets, and criminals would take the opportunity to hide in the houses that had passed, and the investigation would be useless.

Therefore, Wang Ning violated Sun Quan's order and was not allowed to open the city gate. Only officials living in the county were allowed to leave and go to Jianye City. Moreover, Sun Quan did not accuse him of violating the order, which was to abide by his approach of investigating the door.

At this time, the city guard general on duty hurried over with an eunuch. The city guard general was a tooth general named Ling Zhi, the clan brother of the general Ling Tong. He and Wang Ning both belonged to the internal army. Wang Ning was his boss, and Wang Ning also had a gold medal in Wu Hou, so he dared not not obey Wang Ning's orders.

But at this time he was also a little embarrassed. "General" Ling Zhi ran to Wang Ning and said, "Wu Hou has sent someone."

Wang Ning knew this eunuch and was responsible for serving in the study. His name was Jiang An. Wang Ning forced a smile and said, "Is there anything wrong with Eunuch Jiang?"

Jiang An knew Wang Ning's true identity and stepped forward to lower his voice and said, "Mr. Wu asked me to tell the general that because the army disturbed the people too much, the people of Moling complained, and Marquis Wu ordered the general to lift the martial law."

Wang Ning was stunned. How did Wu Hou learn that he asked quickly: "What happened?"

Jiang An sighed and said, "Zhang Changshi impeached the general in the palace of the King of Wu to scramble troops to disturb the people. The internal army used the excuse of investigation to blackmail the people's wealth and humiliate the people's daughters. The people in Moling City were full of resentment, and Wu Hou was under great pressure."

At this time, Ling Zhi also stepped forward and advised: "General, if those soldiers who have received bribes, they will not be detailed. They will probably not have any results. They should use the method of offering a reward. Under the heavy reward, see if there are any brave men willing to come forward and expose it."

Wang Ning knew that Ling Zhi was right. In the past two years, the army had many factions and nepotism was prevalent. In addition, the military salary was meager, and the lower-level officers and soldiers thought about making money, which led to the disarray of military discipline and extortion. He allowed the army to be fully encompassed and could only create opportunities for the army to make money. Zhang Hong impeached him by this, and if he continued to investigate, the person hiding the fugitive would be confused as long as he added a bribe, he would be confused and would not have any result.

Wang Ning had no choice but to order: "Transfer my order, stop checking, and cancel martial law."

Ling Zhi hurriedly asked: "Can you open the city gate?"

Wang Ning nodded, "The city gate can be opened, but it is within the sky. Only entry and not exit."

Wang Ning ordered that martial law was lifted, and the soldiers no longer checked the houses. The doors were opened, and countless merchants and porters flocked in, and ships also rowed in from the water gate. Shops in the city opened one after another, and the streets and alleys began to become lively again.

However, the city storm did not pass, and the city gate was only allowed to enter but not exit, indicating that the assassin was still in the city, and the reward notices were filled with people who were busy looking at the drawings on it carefully. It was no wonder that the reward of the two golds was really touching.

At this time, a carriage slowly drove into the northern city under the escort of dozens of knives. At this time, the carriage of the chief Zhang Hong and Zhang Hong's mansion were in Moling County. Today, he saw soldiers and residents placing money with their own eyes, and touching some young women on the grounds of wearing makeup. This made Zhang Hong indignantly rushed to Jianye Palace to impeach Wang Ning and disturb the people.

Although his complaints were effective, the soldiers stopped investigating and gave up martial law, and the city gradually returned to normal order, a question in Zhang Hong's mind was lingering. The excuse for investigating Moling was that a female assassin appeared in Jianye Palace last night, and Wu Hou was almost stabbed. At first glance, it seemed reasonable, but if you think about it carefully, you will find a loophole.

Even if the female assassin escapes from Jianye Palace, she should hide in Jianye City. How could she get out of the tall, solid and heavily guarded city wall of Jianye City? How could she get into Moling City? Let's take a step back. Even if the female assassin breaks out of Jianye City, she should still escape from the wilderness or escape into the Yangtze River by boat. This is the way to escape. Why did she fall into the net and hide in Moling County?

This loophole made Zhang Hongsi puzzled. Just now, he secretly asked his clan nephew who was a guard in the palace. The clan nephew told him that there was no assassination in the palace last night, and he had never heard of an assassin. Zhang Hong suddenly realized that what was hidden in the assassin excuse of Wu Hou's assassin must not be that simple.

Zhang Hong's mansion is located in the city. It is a large mansion covering an area of ​​70 acres. There are more than two servants and servants, living with Zhang Hong, his wives, concubines, and children and grandchildren. The carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate. The housekeeper hurried from the mansion. Zhang Qing hurried out and whispered a few words in his father's ear. Zhang Hong couldn't help but be stunned. He asked in a low voice: "Who else knows?"

"No one knows except the kids."

Zhang Hong nodded, "This matter must be kept strictly confidential, even your mother cannot say it."

"The boy understands that they are waiting in his father's study room."

Zhang Hong pondered for a moment, then quickly followed her to the outside of her study. Zhang Qing pushed open the door of the study and saw two people sitting in the study, one tall young man and the other an elderly woman. When they saw Zhang Hong coming in, they quickly stood up to salute.

Zhang Hong waved his hand and asked the other ones to look at the door. He looked at them and then asked the young man: "You are the ones sent by the King of Han."

The young man smiled, but showed a woman's voice and bowed: "It's Xiao Xue, it's the guard leader next to the princess, and the assassin being caught outside is me."

Zhang Hong was shocked and couldn't help but take a step back. He looked nervously at the female assassin who was dressed up as a man, and asked in a deep voice: "You are the female assassin who assassinated Wu Hou."
Chapter completed!