Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Xuzhou has become a place where various princes fight and fight. After years of war, in addition to the devastation of Xiapi City, the only people left behind are probably the timid and precarious people.
All the businesses on the street were stagnant, and occasionally lone pedestrians walked by vigilantly, just like the forest swept by the autumn wind, and it was so desolate that it was suffocating.
The closer you get to the north gate, the more intense the blood that has not dissipated. There are obviously still traces of the fierce fighting yesterday. The dried blood stains turned into faint traces on the street without enough time to clean up. There are more and more sergeants here. At first, it was just a trace.
A few people here and there, and eventually, it was just a group of people passing by.
Gao Jin took Yang Zhi to the north gate and asked about the identities of the workers who lowered the suspension bridge yesterday. The sergeants were very taboo about this matter and only replied: "The leader is the Army Sima from Song Xian's Camp."
Gao Jin asked about the native place of the military Sima, and finally found someone who knew him well. The person said: "Wang Sima followed the lord in the war in his early years. He is from Mayi, Yanmen County."
Gao Jin asked the man: "How is this man doing in the camp? Is he being ignored or ostracized by others? Does he usually have the opportunity to leave the city?"
The sergeant replied: "Normally you can't see anything. He is a military commander. He usually only leads a team of people to guard the turret section of the city. When leaving the city, he only has the opportunity to inspect the sentry."
Gao Jin nodded his head and mouthed towards Yang Zhinu. Yang Zhipo reluctantly took out a money bag, took out two five-baht coins and handed them to the sergeant. The sergeant quickly thanked him and left.
Gao Jin led Yang Zhi up to the tower. Looking down from the tower, there seemed to be countless camp tents stretching into the distance in the distant outline. The morning sun fell down, giving the ancient mottled tower and turrets a layer of light color.
"Bo Luan, what are you looking at?" Song Xian came from another turret with a few personal guards, and said with a smile: "I didn't know you were coming, and I couldn't greet you from far away. I'm really dead."
Gao Jin smiled at Song Xian and said, "Did General Song come to check the post early in the morning?"
"There is no way. So many things happened yesterday. If I continue to slack off, I'm afraid I won't be able to afford the punishment." Song Xian smiled and pulled Gao Jin's sleeves: "Come on, come on, follow me to the tower to sit down.
"
Gao Jin followed him into the inner room of the tower. It was an excellent place to rest. Outside the window was an unobstructed view of the market. The indoor bed and various cases were all ready. Song Xian took off his heavy mail and sighed: "Yesterday
After seeing Boluan’s boxing skills, I still remember it fresh today.”
Gao Jin smiled modestly.
Song Xian continued: "Why did Boluan come to the North Gate for no reason, but a sergeant in the camp violated military regulations? If so, Boluan will only take people, and I will not tolerate it."
Gao Jin got straight to the point: "I heard that a dozen sergeants died on the tower yesterday, and one of them was a military commander?"
Gao Jin deliberately tried to test. In fact, in Gao Jin's mind, the biggest possibility was Song Xian. Song Xian was the immediate superior of Army Sima. The city defense here was under Song Xian's control. Until there was a second suspect, Song Xian could not leave him alone.
relationship.
As soon as Gao Jin finished speaking, he inadvertently observed Song Xian's expression with his eyes, hoping to find any flaws.
Song Xian was stunned for a moment, then said angrily: "This man's name is Wang Heng. He is a fellow countryman of XX. He is from Yanmen County. He gave the order to open the city gate and put the suspension bridge. XX did not go to the north gate at that time.
I found out later that it was already too late. He was in the tower at the time, and I led a team of personal guards to chop off his head. This thief is really hateful, and it’s in vain that I took such good care of him."
Gao Jin couldn't see any flaws in Song Xian, and he became suspicious: "What? Did you kill this army commander?"
Song Xian was furious: "What are you doing keeping his dog head? Do you still have to imprison him?"
Gao Jin laughed: "General Song, there is no need to be so impatient. I just asked casually."
Song Xian whispered: "What? My lord ordered you to investigate this matter thoroughly?"
Gao Jin didn't hide it either: "Don't make this matter public. My lord suspects there is a traitor in the city."
Song Xian nodded his head and said with regret: "If I had known this, I should have spared his life."
Gao Jin said: "If it were me, I couldn't help but kill him. General Song, I wonder where the body of this army commander is? I'm going to have a look. Since the lord asked me to investigate thoroughly, no matter what, I will always
There needs to be an explanation."
Song Xian said: "I will lead you there."
Not far from the city gate is the mortuary. The so-called mortuary is actually just an empty house. When Gao Jin stepped here, he couldn't help but frown. There seemed to be a stench lingering on the tip of his nose. In fact,
At this time, the weather was cold and the smell was not strong. Perhaps it was a psychological effect. General Gao Jin felt a little uncomfortable. More than 700 sergeants were killed in the fierce battle yesterday. He couldn't free his hands to bury them, so they all stopped here.
, the general put away the coffin and the coffin. The rest of the soldiers did not have such treatment and could only be lined up in rows in each wing.
Song Xian led Gao Jin to a firewood shed and said to Gao Jin: "If Bo Luan had come a moment later, I would have taken the spy's body to feed the dogs. It would be an advantage for him to keep his whole body."
Gao Jin smiled slightly, covered his nose and went in. Sure enough, there was a corpse on display in the woodshed. Gao Jin resisted his nausea and moved closer, looking at the fatal stab wound on his chest. At this time, the blood had already dried up, and the pale flesh was turned over.
When he came out, he was indescribable horror. Gao Jin couldn't help but said: "General Song's knife was indeed cruel enough, and it actually pierced his chest."
Song Xian said: "I was also very angry at that time and didn't know the severity, haha..."
Gao Jin then checked the corpse's mouth, nose, and face, and concluded that the person did not suffer much pain before death, and there were no signs of struggle. However, the eyes were wide-eyed, and there was still an inexplicable surprise in the loosened pupils.
Gao Jin stood up and said, "General Song, let's go out and talk."
Song Xian nodded and said jokingly: "With such fists and feet as Boluan, are you still afraid of corpses? He was killed in the mountains of swords and seas of fire. Now he has become accustomed to it. Back then, he followed his lord from Bingzhou to Luoyang, and then to Chang'an.
Now that I have settled here, I have experienced many battles. In the future, Boluan will not be afraid if he experiences a real bloody battle."
Gao Jin pursed his lips and smiled. As Song Xian left the forbidding mansion, Gao Jin asked: "Who does this Army Sima usually come in contact with? Where did he go for entertainment after the defense change? Is there anyone he knows well?"
Song Xian thought for a moment: "I don't know about the rest, but I know that General Zang Ba appreciates him very much. There are still some twists and turns in this matter. Once General Zang Ba was in danger, he happened to bump into him and protected General Zang Ba when he came back. Later, General Zang Ba often
Someone would be sent to invite him to have a drink. His promotion to Army Commander was because General Zang asked someone to ask for his favor."
After Song Xian finished speaking, he saw that Gao Jin was thoughtful and said quickly: "Won't Boluan doubt General Zang? General Zang knows his character best. He will not do such a thing."
Gao Jin chuckled: "As a rule, you should always ask. No one can doubt it now, but everyone has doubts."
Song Xian nodded and said, "That's what Boluan said."
Gao Jin asked about the general situation and said: "General Song will continue his inspection. I will take my leave."
Song Xian persuaded him: "Why don't you sit down and leave? There is nothing to entertain Boluan here, which makes Boluan laugh."
Gao Jin said: "I will visit General Song again in the future."
Taking Yang Zhi with him, Gao Jin inquired about the location of Zang Ba's defense area and headed to the south gate. Along the way, Yang Zhi asked: "Sir, General Zang often calls Wang Sima, is it possible that he is telling him to do some shameful things?"
, Your Majesty, do you think General Zang is more suspicious or General Song?"
Gao Jin said: "I'm afraid no one can say it's suspicious until the truth comes out. You've been in the army for so long, what do you think of these two people?"
Yang Zhidao: "General Song is a good man. He is usually close to the sergeants and has a good relationship with the generals. He is always smiling and does not look down on soldiers like us. On the contrary, General Zang
He is very strict. Anyone who offends him will suffer a lot. I would rather believe that General Zang is a spy."
Gao Jin looked at Yang Zhi's serious analysis and laughed loudly: "According to what you said, the more spies are, the more cunning they are. Naturally, they are smiling faces. No one dares to offend them. Only when you have a good relationship with others can you
I heard the news. But those who are difficult to get close to are able to do this because they have an open heart. If I were to choose a spy to go to Cao Ying, I'm afraid I would have to choose someone like General Song."
Yang Zhidao: "This is not necessarily true. There are too many secrets in Xizuo. The more such a person is, the less he dares to get too close to others. What should I do if someone notices any clues?"
Gao Jin patted Yang Zhi on the shoulder: "You are very smart, so we can't make any judgments before the problem is clarified."