Chapter 196: Changes, Black Tower, Chopping Off Arms.

When the messenger left, Shi Tingyun opened the letter with a happy face.

Chu Ziling bowed his head slightly.

A few days of worry now sat true.

One's own machinations, declared to be in vain.

Even though his face didn't show it, his mouth inevitably felt a bit bitter, and he said against his will, "Congratulations Gong Zi."

He consoled himself with the thought that it was not a sure thing, and that he should not bother to regret it.

If Shi Jinghong had cleaned his hands after reading the letter before eating, or if he had not licked his fingers to turn the pages as he was accustomed to do, the poison would not have entered his mouth.

He could accept it if it was just a failure.

Fear only Shi Jinghong He sensed something ......

The more he thought about it, the more stiff his fingers became as he grasped the horse's reins.

The letter is not that long, why did Shi Tingyun read it so many times ......

In his disbelief, Shi Tingyun suddenly spoke, "A Ling."

Chu Ziling was suddenly startled: "...... Gong Zi?"

Shi Tingyun folded the letter and put it into his arms, "Inform the people, Pei Cheng is a great victory, celebrate tonight!"

A cold wind blew by, and Chu Ziling winced, realizing that his clothes were drenched in cold sweat under his soft armor.

He squeezed the slippery reins of his horse, trying to sound pleased enough, "Yes."

Yan Yuanheng knew that he could not dishonor Shi Tingyun in front of others, so when Chu Ziling left, Fang Cai asked, "Don't complain in defeat, don't be proud in victory, be happy in victory, but shouldn't you be more restrained?"

It was not his intention to question Shi Tingyun's military orders, but he was merely speaking from his personal disposition.

Shi Tingyun was about to gallop forward, but he stopped and turned back.

The white horse sputtered beneath him, its hooves making half-moon gray marks on the ground.

Shi Tingyun smiled and said, "This is not a war zone, and this is not a time of war. The warriors are tired after marching for a long time, so if there is good news, celebrating will do wonders for their morale."

He added, "Yuanheng, I am different from you. You are a humble gentleman, I am a rough man and reckless. You can practice the Way of the Sage, but I cannot. I, Shi Tingyun, laugh when I win and get annoyed when I lose, all according to my heart. All things in the world are not as good as the words 'I am happy'."

Yan Yuanheng's heart was beating more and more out of order as he looked at him in such a wanton manner, "I am sorry, it is because I do not know the affairs of the military, I have been abrupt."

"Yuanheng, don't talk about the word Tangcheng between you and me." That white horse boy gripped the reins tightly and said frankly, "I ride heaven and earth and only wish to ensure that you sit high in the temple and be a saint for the rest of your life."

With that, he shook the reins, "Hyah!"

The white horse was ordered to hoof it and galloped, stirring up a cloud of hazy dust and smoke,

Yan Yuanheng has never heard a man say the word "drive" with such panache.

He watched Shi Tingyun gallop his horse all the way to the front guard and say something in a loud voice that he couldn't quite make out from afar, but Yan Yuanheng thought that he must have been there to announce a happy event.

As if on cue, a cheer rang out from the front army.

The horses also felt it, and several neighs and cheers rose up.

And in the midst of the clamor of joy, Yan Yuanheng's eyes always followed Shi Tingyun's white horse and silver helmet, with the dazzling white tassel on the silver helmet.

In the midst of all the jubilation, Chu Ziling could not hide his irritation.

After settling down for the night, on the pretext of making medicine for A Shu to nourish the stomach and calm the mind for Master Gong Zi, he squatted in front of the small stove and stared at the stove in deep thought.

He knew in his heart how important Pei Cheng's location was.

It was because of this clarity that he was annoyed to this point, and he couldn't even help but think about the past.

When Chu Ziling was twelve years old, he walked all the way to Wangcheng with the money he got from pawning his family's miscellaneous goods.

On the road, he wondered every day and every night what he should do and what he could do.

Go to the southern border to find relatives, a jade pendant and how to make a number, who knows the king of the southern border still remember this jade pendant, who knows whether he is from the dead body to touch the gold, trying to impostor the emperor's dignity of the small grubs.

If he wanted to embark on the path of green clouds that belonged to him, he had to establish merits in favor of the Southern Border, and they had to be great merits.

At that time, although Chu Ziling was much more precocious than the average child, he was no match for anyone when it came to naivety and viciousness.

He quickly came up with a great idea.

In the counties along the road, there were recruiting stations set up by the northern government army. Chu Ziling inquired about the situation, picked a station in a small remote county and told the recruiter that his family had been attacked by bandits, but his parents had escaped with their lives. His family had been attacked by bandits, and he had escaped with his life, but both his parents had died tragically. He had nowhere else to go and wanted to join the army to avenge his father's death.

The recruiter sized him up, a little embarrassed and a little sympathetic.

He said, "There is an order from above that it is not a time of war, and it is strictly forbidden to recruit child soldiers."

Chu Ziling refused to die and begged, "Master, take me. I can do anything, beat the hands, serve tea, wash the feet, and only wish to avenge my family ......"

A ten year old boy picks at the recruiter's small table and won't let go, saying childish things about wanting revenge, the recruiter can't resist, his heart softens a bit, and he turns around and goes to the battalion, looking like he's going to go to the local chief officer to discuss the matter.

Chu Ziling waited outside the camp, thinking he had succeeded.

Who would have thought that within a short time, a reprimanding voice would come from far and near.

That recruiter came back with a gray head, followed by a five big and thick man, and looking at the dress, it was also indeed the chief officer in charge of recruiting.

The man, black and strong as a wall of towers, looked down at Chu Ziling and said in a gruff voice, "Is that you? Going to enlist in the army?"

Chu Ziling held back the fear in his heart and nodded his head.

He asked, "Which bandits killed your parents?"

Chu Ziling had made all the preparations before he came, and had inquired from the second in charge of the hotel about which nearby mountain had bandits on it.

He shakily gave the name of the mountain in Dalian and looked up at the black tower with tears in his eyes, trying to generate a little sympathy for him.

Who would have thought that in the next instant, he would be pushed away viciously by a large bushy hand.

As he fell to the ground, a small, simple cloth bag was thrown over him.

The black tower-like officer looked at him coldly: "Kid, you can't even stand still for a push, and you're going to kill people? Get lost, don't be ungrateful, children are less involved in adult matters, you go east, find a good mansion and go work, that's what you should do."

Good-natured laughter came from the surrounding crowd.

Chu Ziling, his face red, endured the humiliation and got up, clutching the cloth bag.

He could feel that it was a full three days' worth of dry food, with a hard bottom, and a few pieces of broken silver.

Food and silver mixed together, think about how dirty it is.

And he has to say thank you.

He rose in humiliation, dusty, carrying his sack, and headed east.

It was only when Chu Ziling went to an empty place that his suppressed emotions were able to break out.

He swung the sack and slammed it hard against the willow tree to one side, until the dried food was in pieces, and only then did he throw down the dirty little sack and walk away in annoyance.

Half a month later, he heard from a traveler at a small noodle store at a side table that the bandits in the Dalian Mountains had been eliminated by the Northern Household Army.

He only thought that the name of the place was familiar, but he had heard it before and did not take it to heart.

It was about two years ago.

He was in the North House army when he happened to meet the black tower-like mangy man.

He finally transferred from the poor countryside to the main camp, but is a small adjutant in Dingyuan City, the daily customary tent deliberations are not his turn, and sometimes have to do the work of the halberd Langzhong.

He was able to live and work with Gong Zi, and was valued by Gong Zi and the generals, and was even qualified to sit in on the battles.

He had not recognized himself for a long time, and had even had to salute himself as he passed him.

This made Chu Ziling feel a genuine pleasure from the bottom of his heart.

Chu Ziling is glad that he didn't join the army in the first place.

To join the army, you need to climb up from the bottom to the top. Along the way do not know how many hard battles to fight, if there is no accumulation in the general's house, the knife and gun, he may also be possible to die in which the small battle against bandits, a lifetime of volunteers is difficult to level.

Thinking back on his journey, Chu Ziling lets out a breath.

He stroked the pelt at his waist, knowing that he was in a somewhat different frame of mind now.

Chu Ziling's life has not been a smooth one, but he has been quite lucky.

This attack did not work, but let the northern government army take Pei city, I think that the civil official will be angry when he heard about it.

Thinking about it, Chu Ziling has a slight headache.

His own hibernation so far, still no real achievements, so easy to intelligence to win the trust of the southern border people, sworn, full of confidence in the fist strike, but a punch in the cotton.

Chu Ziling could only imagine what kind of harsh and critical face that civil official named Ai Sha would have.

After he himself had made an alliance with him a few years back, he had agreed with him that he would only write to him and not reply, so as not to arouse Gong Zi's suspicion.

Just in case, when Gong Zi went to bed today, it would be best for him to contact Ai Sha by letter and explain the situation.

He didn't notice in the slightest that the tent behind him was lifted a crack.

Half of Chi Xiaochi's face flashes through the cracks.

Inside the tent.

Chi Xiaochi released the curtain, walked gingerly to the soft couch, and sat at the footrest.

Lou Ying is reclining on his couch, still holding a book in his hand.

The two had always kept a somewhat subtle distance over the past few days.

He turned a page in his book, "Worried?"

As soon as Lou Ying opened his mouth, Chi Xiaochi quietly lowered the legs he had just crossed, "...... worried."

When it comes to the mission, Chi Xiaochi's demeanor is much more natural and relaxed: "A poisonous snake has been coiled in the ground for seven or eight years, enduring hunger, in order to wait for an opportunity to bite someone to death. In the end, it waited for the chance to spit out its poison, but when it didn't see anyone fall, it looked around and saw a human being. A probe, damn, where are the people."

Lou Ying couldn't help but let out a laugh, "You still have the intention to scare him. It's obviously a wordless letter, and you've been reading it for so long."

Shi Jinghong's message to Shi Tingyun has been relayed by messenger.

Inside that letter, it was practically empty.

Lou Ying lowered his voice, as if he was afraid that Chu Ziling, who was boiling medicine outside, would hear him, "Is General Shi worried that Chu Ziling will open your letter?"

Chi Xiaochi sat a little closer to make it easier to talk, "He's overthinking it. Chu Ziling is too cautious to have the guts."

Lou Ying : "In General Timothy's opinion, there must be."

Chi Xiaochi smiled, "Almost. After all, when the old man opened the letter, he clearly saw that the seal, the wooden cylinder, and the handwriting were all exactly the same, but at the top it was blatantly said that it was addressed to that Lord Ai Sha, so I'm afraid that he was also quite frightened."

Thanks to Shi Tingyun's memory, Chi Xiaochi remembers that the person who was secretly in contact with Chu Ziling was a second-rank civil official named Ai Sha, and even remembers the location of his residence.

When Shi Tingyun was imprisoned, he clearly heard people talking about how Lord Ai Sha had bought a house in a certain neighborhood on the west street of the main city of the Southern Border, doubled the size of his original mansion, and how flourishing and splendid it was, and so on and so forth.

By interfering with the geomagnetism, the pigeons that were going to fly to the southern border went to Shi Jinghong's tent.

The other pigeon, following the location in Shi Tingyun's memory, flew to the home of the still-depressed second-ranked civil official in the middle of the west street of the main city of the southern border.

Chi Xiaochi was ready for anything when he was in the wagon.

He wrote on the letter paper, Ai Sha Sir, the matter involved in this letter is enormous, Zi Ling used special ink, it is difficult to distinguish with the eyes, and it needs to be matched with the fire paint on the small wooden tube sent with it to make it visible.

He also said, just soak the fire paint into the hot tea, wait until the fire paint melted some, containing water sprayed on the paper, wait a few minutes, the handwriting immediately apparent.

...... is literally a suicide full guidebook.

And Chi Xiaochi had no qualms at all about using Shi Tingyun's handwriting.

Lou Ying asked him, "Aren't you worried that Ai Sha will get suspicious after reading the handwriting?"

"A man like Chu Ziling trusts no one, is careful in everything, and digs three graves in preparation for his death." Chi Xiaochi said, "He has been Shi Tingyun's servant for many years, so it is not unusual for him to imitate Shi Tingyun's handwriting. Even if this letter is discovered, he can still lie that he is sending the letter for Shi Tingyun, and that Shi Tingyun fornicates in the Southland and intends to seize power. --The Shi family's military is indeed powerful, and he left this hand in place because he wanted to centrifuge the Shi family from the royal family."

Lou Ying lowered his voice a bit more, "If Ai Sha doesn't spray the water himself, but leaves it to his men or entourage ......"

"Who cares who he is, poisoning one is enough." Chi Xiaochi moved a little closer again, "The hemlock poison will be diluted by water, medicated death is considered a bad life, medicated injury is considered a great life. Mister thinks that if the Southern Border people find out that he poisoned the fire paint, then, Chu Ziling, this chess piece, no matter if he intends to betray the Southern Border, or if he is detected by his master and his whereabouts are revealed, will the Southern Border people still dare to use him?"

"Does he know now?"

Chi Xiaochi shook his head, ''I guess, his letters are all sent one way. Besides, the people he chose to contact in order to avoid people's eyes and ears were not people of any importance, the matter of a mere second-ranked civil official dying of poisoning in his own study would not even reach the battlefield, regardless of whether he was Ai Sha, Buy Buy Ti, Hamaiti, or Hamaiti."

Lou Ying reminded him, "That last one isn't a last name, it's a curse."

Chi Xiaochi : "...... Oh."

Chi Xiaochi said again, "I know."

Lou Ying couldn't help himself.

"In short, the poison was given by him, and the poke was knocked on by his own hand." Chi Xiaochi spread his hands and said, "I only wrote a letter of guidance, I didn't ask him to harm anyone. It was he, Chu Ziling, who took advantage of the situation and cut off his own arm, what has Shi Tingyun got to do with it."

Lou Ying laughed.

He had understood Chi Xiaochi's whole plan and had managed to hook Chi Xiaochi close to him unknowingly with his bass.

Lou Ying reached out and gently rested her hand on his index finger, which he had unceremoniously placed at the edge of the couch.

The gesture wasn't exactly charming, but it made Chi Xiaochi blush.

...... Lou Ying hooked, exactly where he wore the ring.

Ghostly, Chi Xiaochi did not withdraw his hand, "Mr. ......"

Lou Ying smiled shallowly, "Finally, I tricked you into coming over."

Since the last successful date, Chi Xiaochi's mindset towards Lou Ying has changed a bit.

...... seems, not so afraid of him.

He took a small breath and said, "Mister Trickster."

Lou Ying liked his childish tone, "Caught you red-handed."

Chi Xiaochi, sitting on the footrest, tilted his chin, "Caught me doing what?"

Lou Ying said, "It's nothing, I want to watch you."

The two did not hear the soft knocking outside between their words.

On previous occasions, in order not to be too conspicuous, Yan Yuanheng always visited Shi Tingyun late at night to have a cup of tea and chat with him, but he was always informed that Gong Zi had already gone to bed with Mr. Gong Zi.

He thought privately that he could always come earlier today.

Chu Ziling at the gate said that Gong Zi was inside talking to Mr. Gong Zi, and that he had not yet rested.

Yan Yuanheng grabbed his army book, which he had already taken notes on, made sure his prepared chatting props were in order, and after a slightly nervous grooming, Fang Cai raised his hand and knocked on the door.

However, after several low calls, no one answered.

Is ...... not available?

But he did hear a low human voice within.

Yan Yuanheng lifted the tent curtains and went in, and with only one turn of his eyes, he froze in place.

Shi Tingyun was sitting on a soft couch, staring at a sickly scholar in a green shirt in an odd atmosphere.

What made him burst into flames was Shi Tingyun's hand that was linked with the man's, and the side of his face that was flushed with red.