Chapter 198: Father and son, Confucian generals, killing with a borrowed knife.

A few days later, the city of Dingyuan took shape before them.

The red-bricked city's capital is bathed within a springtime sandstorm, taking on a grayish texture.

Seeing from afar the Flying Cloud flag at the edge of the city, Shi Tingyun stationed his horse for a moment, gave a fierce cry of "Hyah!", harnessed his horse through the wind, and the white horse galloped forward over the whistling south wind, and reined in at the edge of the moat drawbridge.

The horse's head was hoofed up, and with a long neigh, it spewed out a cloud of warm, hot air that smelled of sand and earth.

Yan Yuanheng frowned and looked back at Li Yeshu.

"That's the General's flag." Li Yeshu explained for Shi Tingyun, "The General has come to Tingyun for an inspection."

Shi Tingyun narrowed his eyes and looked inside the city gates, vaguely seeing a familiar figure, darted off his horse, and quickly ran across the lowered drawbridge, his newly changed red brocade cloak being beaten by the sand with a thin snapping sound.

On the other side of the drawbridge stood Shi Jinghong, who had been waiting for a long time.

Shi Jinghong laughed and said, "I counted on you arriving today, so ......"

Before he could finish his sentence, his son, who was already vaguely taller than him, jumped straight into his arms, interrupting his words.

"...... Su Chang?"

The man in his arms buried his whole face in his embrace, his arms embracing him in an iron grip, shivering with exertion.

Shi Jinghong froze for a moment, then spoke up and ordered, "All turn around."

Several of the adjutants and gatekeepers at his side turned in unison at his command, sword and shield in hand.

Shi Jinghong looks down and inquires, "What's wrong?"

The person in his arms didn't say anything, just hugged him a little tighter.

Shi Jinghong took off the helmet of the boy in his arms, and straightened his long, sand-blown hair.

He thought the boy was upset that his best friend had betrayed him.

Shi Jinghong did not give him a single word of reproach.

The years of his life have brought a strange gentleness to his body: "Silly boy. Called people look at the joke. Go with father to welcome thirteen prince, what you want to say, night into the tent, father listen to you properly say, can also allow you to cry an incense burner, okay."

Shi Tingyun straightened up with all his strength, a reddish hue around his eyes that had been beaten by the sand surfacing, "Yes, father."

This was the third time Chi Xiaochi had felt the emotions of the original owner, Shi Tingyun.

But either time, it was out of control.

Beneath the layers of depressing gray waves lie disturbing sharp reefs and dark eddies.

Strangely enough, such emotions, when he confronted Chu Ziling, were well contained, as if he had forgotten the unpleasant memories or hidden them under a deeper, darker wave.

The thirteenth prince of this trip, has the name of the king's visit, could have been full of royal faction, good Yan Yuanheng himself low-profile nature, in addition to the necessary etiquette, seldom talk about excess of false gifts, private address Shi Jinghong as uncle, after entering the city, and said that they would like to go to visit the injured general Wen Feiru, to send some condolences, to express their intentions.

Both father and son spoke with one voice on this matter, saying that Wen Feiru was seriously injured and needed to recuperate, and was not fit to see guests.

The words are consistent, so Yan Yuanheng neither suspected, nor insisted, only asked people to send the gift and then stop, several people in the city camp, many chores, not to mention.

Gong Zi brought a lot of things with him on this trip, and as if he was planning to stay here for a long time, Chu Ziling put some large objects that were not easy to carry in the house, while the smaller ones were put away in a few rattan crates, which were organized in a neat and tidy way and easy to take away.

When he closed one of the wicker crates, he lost some control of his force, and after a muffled thud, he came back to his senses and pressed one hand on the wicker crate, listening sideways to the movement in the outer room, hoping that the man hadn't heard.

Yet he still couldn't dodge it.

Yu Fengmian's tone was like commanding a most normal boy: "Things need to be carried and put away gently."

He gritted his teeth once and responded, "Yes."

At those words, Chu Ziling sat down on his knees on the foot carpet and slowly exhaled the turbid air in his chest.

In the past, Chu Ziling would not have been so annoyed when faced with a mere command.

However, not long ago, he was full of confidence in a blow fell through, who knows Shi Jinghong has no suspicion, has not discovered that he in the fire lacquer seal tampering?

Is he himself considered to have thrown himself into the net by coming here?

As a precautionary measure, he thought of quietly strangling the pigeon that was specially designed to deliver letters to the Southern Border for him, so as to annihilate the evidence, but every pigeon is carefully cultivated by the General's residence, and if one dies in an inexplicable manner, Gong Zi will surely track it down, and may not be able to cure himself of the sin of laxity in management, and moreover, the first time that he released a pigeon for the Lord Ai Sha, he failed to hide his whereabouts well, and was bumped into by the night patrols.

Dead pigeons, in turn, attract attention.

For this reason, he tossed and turned for several nights and could not sleep, coupled with the daily march, the wind and dust gradually heavy, within a few days, he was thin and emaciated a lot.

Shi Tingyun saw it in his eyes and thought that he was tired and weak and not suitable to serve beside him, so he asked him to come and accompany Master Gong Zi, and in the meantime to collect and arrange things.

How could a young master know how much hard work is behind the words "gathering and organizing"?

Chu Ziling held his knees and sank his breath, and in the middle of the day Fang Cai calmed down.

Don't worry, don't panic, it's not time yet.

He has already sent a letter, words earnestly explained to Ai Sha, take Shi Jinghong, by no means a day and night, and said, later they stationed in Dingyuan City, sending letters is no longer convenient, Dingyuan City has an empty sentry, the watchtower is located in the eight gates on the corner of the tower, day and night change of the guard, specifically to guard against the city of the minutiae to the outside of the delivery of news.

Luckily, he had some status in the army, so as long as he told Gong Zi to join the inspection team, he would be able to contact the Southern Border agents who were stationed in the city, and find ways to pass the information out of the city.

Gong Zi favors him so much that he will surely agree.

One day, when he turns over to the Lord, he will treat Gong Zi well.

With this in mind, Chu Ziling felt much better and bent down to organize the messy boxes and suitcases.

But the more he organized his thumping heart, the colder it got.

The boxes of books are all Yu Fengmian's.

On the way, he took out one book and read it, but he read fast, and now the order was all messed up, and Yu Fengmian, being a fussy person, gave him a catalog and asked him to organize it according to the order.

Chu Ziling spent a lot of energy packing up this batch of books alone, and only after sweating all over did he manage to organize them.

He wiped a handful of sweat and raised his eyes to the twilight window.

These chores shouldn't have gone to him.

Where did Li Yeshu go?

After Shi Jinghong and Shi Tingyun settled Yan Yuanheng down, Fang Cai had a chance to catch up with his father and son.

Looking at his looks, Shi Jinghong was a complete scholar, and different from Shi Tingyun's vigor, his face was naturally white and clean, like a scholar with a brilliant literary style, and the wind and sand of the border only left a little trace in the corners of his eyes. When he was wearing a long shirt, the only thing that could tell his identity as a martial artist was a pair of amazingly long and strong hands, as well as the coarse calluses between his fingers.

Shi Tingyun looked like he had returned to normal, and picked up the snacks on the small table to bite into.

Shi Jinghong looked at him, and in his tone was an unconcealable favor: "The appointment in front of the city, doesn't it count anymore."

Shi Tingyun, holding the treat, said vaguely, "Why cry when you have mareen candy."

Seeing his son pulling out his handkerchief like when he was a child, eating and tucking it in at the same time, Shi Jinghong smiled helplessly, "Father has already sent the thirteenth prince's share, these are yours."

He knew that his son and the thirteenth prince friendship, and the thirteenth prince loves this kind of sweet fruit, he brought some desserts back to Wangcheng, he always ate a small half of this child, put a big half, every time is sent to Yan Yuanheng.

This was still twelve or thirteen years ago.

Until that Chu Ziling into the house, Shi Tingyun is like a nightmare, everything is lifted up to him, even with the thirteen emperors of the intercourse are less.

Shi Jinghong wanted to ask something, but after a moment's thought, he did not.

Let your child eat happily first.

At this moment, Li Yeshu came in, carrying freshly brewed rooibos tea, and poured it to the two men one by one.

The clear tea flowed slowly down the walls of the cup.

He assumed that father and son were talking business, so he didn't make any unnecessary noise, whether he was marching or pouring tea.

Shi Jinghong looked him over with interest and suddenly spoke, "Li Yeshu?"

Li Yeshu, who had not heard his name from the General for a long time, looked up in bewilderment and said, "General?"

"Drawing, reading, you know some of both, as I recall."

Without waiting for his reply, Shi Jinghong threw an old map of grain stations to him: "In the last three months, the distribution of grain stations has changed so much that the old map will be scrapped. You take this map and go to the East Hall to find Mr. Sun Grain Officer, he will inform you of the new locations of the grain stations he has found, and make a new tracing of the map of the grain stations according to this map, and you will be the main writer."

His demeanor was as if he didn't consider this a big deal: "Several of my lieutenants are busy with important matters, and I can't find a more suitable candidate for a while, so you'll be it."

Infected by the general's relaxed expression, Li Yeshu's fear that had just surfaced in his heart dispersed quite a bit, holding the map and answering yes, he respectfully retreated.

Shi Tingyun chewed on a snack and said cheerfully, "Pops, you have to lift up A Shu ah."

Shi Jinghong asked rhetorically, "Wasn't it Su Chang who wanted to elevate someone by asking him to serve here? I'm just going with the flow."

Shi Tingyun archly said, "General Shi is wise."

"To receive a compliment from Su Chang, it is evident that my father's move is truly in line with Su Chang's wishes." Shi Jinghong pressed the sword on his waist, "A Shu's matter is finished, it's time for the other one."

Shi Tingyun looked at him slightly puzzled.

Shi Jinghong smiled and pressed his head to stand up.

"I know my son's heart is pure and good, can't bear to kill years of friends. Father is not being harsh on you, this pure goodness, my father cherished very much, I just wish you can carry this heart of a child all your life, never change. Since I brought him here, I will execute him on your behalf. The Northern Palace Army can tolerate poor sons, foreigners, and common slaves, but it can't tolerate rebels."

Shi Jinghong got up, still in the form of a man of letters, even his refined demeanor did not diminish by a few points: "Sit down for a moment, my father will go and kill him."

His hand was held down by Shi Tingyun.

Shi Jinghong looked at him, and within a few glances, each of them understood what they were thinking.

Shi Tingyun retracted his hand, still dripping with syrup.

Shi Jinghong sat back down and handed him a handkerchief, moistened with tea, signaling him to wipe his hands.

Shi Tingyun said, "I have reasons not to kill Chu Ziling for the time being, and I want to inform my father."

Shi Jinghong said gently, "You speak, and Father is listening."

For the first time, father and son sent letters to each other, and between one and the other, it was established that there was a rebellion in the general's house.

But Shi Tingyun's first letter was so vague that Shi Jinghong did not yet know who was behind it.

In his second letter, Shi Tingyun wrote about the defense techniques and strategies to deal with the siege of Dingyuan, and specially outlined in vermilion which part of the strategy was contributed by Chu Ziling.

Shi Tingyun did not mention Li Yeshu in the letter, but take the Zhu Ziling pen heavily marked the word Chu Ziling, a letter received, Shi Jinghong will know who the traitor is, the heart has a number, in the letter is not mentioned, only said the Dingyuan great victory.

When he opened the letter again, the letter to Ai Sha in the south of the border was the best evidence of Chu Ziling's foreign affairs that was delivered to him.

He doesn't even have to do it himself, he only needs to throw this letter out, then Chu Ziling will be chopped to death by the axe without leaving a whole body.

Therefore, Shi Jinghong took the first move because he wanted to leave his body intact for the sake of his beloved son.

He knew his own child's temperament, and now Shi Tingyun was preventing him from doing so, not because he wanted to follow his personal feelings.

So he waited quietly for an answer.

And Shi Tingyun did not disappoint.

He paused and said, "Chu Ziling Stay useful. Great use."

Father and son had a deep conversation behind closed doors for a long time, until night fell, when the door of the hall was pushed open again.

Open the door again, Shi Jinghong full of warm face, no longer mention Fang Cai mention sword murder thing: "for my father ordered the kitchen to do the red-billed geese, you love to eat, and pheasant meat dumplings. If you have enough to eat, you should rest early, and get up early tomorrow to accompany the thirteenth prince to review the troops of Dingyuan."

Shi Tingyun seemed to have let go of a piece of his mind, and finally regained some of his usual liveliness, "I will go and inform Yuanheng!"

Shi Jinghong's face changed, "How did my father teach you to call the Thirteenth Prince."

"Yes, yes, Thirteenth Prince, Thirteenth Prince."

Shi Jinghong watched Shi Tingyun go and sighed helplessly.

Everything is fine, it's just this lack of attitude that's really annoying.

Fortunately, after this incident, this child still has the ability to believe in people, which is the most gratifying thing.

Shi Jinghong went to the kitchen, fetched a food box, raised his steps toward the inner courtyard, pushed open a west side hall door, and dashed in.

Inside the room is Wen Feiru, who is rumored to be "recuperating".

Seeing the face of the visitor, Wen Feiru, who was about to hide behind the screen, immediately appeared and complained, "General, I'm suffocating."

"Be at ease." Shi Jinghong smiled, "Wine and meat are prepared for you."

Wen Feiru 一乐："My lord see what it is. ...... ooh, pheasant meat dumplings. Little Gong Zi came to it."

At the mention of Shi Tingyun, Shi Jinghong's face softened, "Yes, arrived today."

Wen Feiru grabbed two dumplings with his chopsticks and threw them into his mouth, "This is it, in the past, these pheasant dumplings were very expensive, so it was not the right time for the generals to have a bite. We have been blessed by the young general, when we invite the young general to meet us, I will have to thank him properly."

Shi Jinghong warmly said, "Don't say that. Today is for the thirteenth prince to receive the dust ......"

Wen Feiru chewed the dumplings, "General, there are no outsiders now, why are you telling me this. Who in the army doesn't know that you favor the young general?"

After Shi Jinghong lost his smile, he gazed slightly and brought up the matter at hand, "What is the message from the southern border?"

"Kinda."

Wen Feiru since the fraudulent injury, listening to the sound of fighting and killing outside the clanging and clanging, very lively, but can not personally participate in, idle scratching the liver, Shi Jinghong will want him to hide, the supervisor of the details of the information gathered from all over the place.

"There is a dead official in the southern border, I heard that it was a violent death." Wen Feiru said, "In addition, Pa Sha department seems to have some movement, Pa Sha that old boy ran back to the main city of the southern border. ...... According to reason, the dead official was his brother-in-law, not a close relative, he even ran back to mourn, I heard that Tie Muer is very dissatisfied."

Shi Jinghong was slightly shocked at the news.

So the trick of stealing a beam and replacing it with a pillar has really been done by this kid?

Su Chang has always been straightforward, when did he ever think of such a scheme?

However, this is a really beautifully done stab to kill.

Shi Jinghong was both delighted and a little despondent when he thought of his son growing up so much in a place he didn't know.

He thought for a moment and asked, "...... Do I really favor Su Chang so much?"

Wen Feiru gulps down a mouthful of wine and nods his head.

Shi Jinghong lost his smile, looking out the window at the moon, thinking of his late wife.

It wouldn't hurt to spoil Su Chang a little at home for her, would it?