Sword comes

An official from the Ministry of Justice of Dali once made a very vivid metaphor that every autobiographical file in the archives of the Kanmosi is a short, concise but extremely exciting biography of an assassin.

In an ordinary inn in the capital of Qiu State, Su Lang has changed his clothes and returned here. There is also a disciple named Gao You in the room, sitting upright. After all, he is worried that something might happen to his master during this trip. It is impossible for him to be burdened with a blood feud and embark on the road of revenge for his master before he has learned any real skills from his master for just a few days.

Su Lang took out a wooden box from the package, took out the four treasures of the study from it, sat down and began to grind ink, closed his eyes for a moment, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, and began to write on the paper a record of Qiu Guo's trip to the capital and the assassination in the brothel.

Patiently not asking any questions, Gao You sat on a bench, looking at Su Lang's back, and finally couldn't help but whispered, "Master, what are you writing?"

Su Lang said: "A detailed record for the Dali Criminal Department to review."

Gao You said "oh" and didn't dare to ask more questions.

Su Lang hesitated for a moment, beckoned, asked Gao You to sit at the table, and handed him the two pages he had just written. Just before Huang Jie was attacked by the courtesan, Su Lang said, "Remember to forget what you have read."

Gao You carefully read the two pages of paper. In addition to learning swordsmanship to strengthen his muscles, he naturally learned some words during this period of time. The young man said casually: "Master, if it were me, I would be extra careful with this courtesan."

Su Lang's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Why?"

Gao You said, "Huang Jie is clearly an expert in assassination. But in this room with the least number of people, the courtesan who costs three hundred taels of silver to sleep in for one night woke up accidentally? I don't believe that she was just a frightened courtesan. Besides, it's better to be safe than sorry. You can gamble on your luck in a casino, but you can't just gamble your life with your head tied to your belt. Since it's not easy to kill people casually, you have to knock her out immediately. If the courtesan is really a bad person, Huang Jie will either... I was careless, or maybe they knew each other for a long time, but they were worried that there were ears on the other side. For example, Master, aren't you watching him outside? It doesn't seem right either. If they recognized each other, the courtesan would just pretend to be asleep. We warriors can gather our voices and talk secretly. No, it's not right again. What if Huang Jie and she are old lovers? Storytellers always say that they can't help themselves. For example, Huang Jie actually had the worst guess. Her identity as a spy has been exposed. They must choose one of the two, and only one can survive... Master, I just made a random guess."

In the alleys of the boy's hometown, there are many cheap brothels and prostitutes who sell their smiles. So when he saw the cost of three hundred taels of silver for one night, his eyelids trembled. Was that courtesan a woman made of gold? In the past, he and Wan Yan would call several women "Auntie" or "Sister" when they passed by their doors. The boy had an ambition to save twenty or thirty taels of silver and send them to them. The master heard about this and just said that he had a good intention. He didn't give any silver.

Su Lang smiled and nodded, saying, "Master was right about you. You are indeed a good material for being a spy."

There is no need to show this kid what I wrote later. As for the truth, the Ministry of Justice will take care of it.

High oil scratching head.

Su Lang deliberately frowned and asked with an unhappy look: "Why do you have so many strange ideas?"

Gao You looked embarrassed and said truthfully, "Master, being a pickpocket is not easy. Wan Yan and I have been doing this since we were six years old, but we didn't have a master to teach us. We learned it on our own. If we didn't judge people well or act quickly, we would get beaten. It was common for Wan Yan to spin in circles after being slapped. Once, Wan Yan was kicked hard by someone and developed a chronic disease. So every time we suffered a loss and got beaten black and blue, we would discuss it and think about it carefully afterwards."

Su Lang smiled and said, "Every profession has its top talents."

Gao You felt relieved. As long as the master didn't expel him from the house, it wouldn't matter if he looked down on him.

Su Lang then told his disciple some more inside information. "Huang Jie was watching those powerful people in the court of Qiu State, and I was responsible for watching Huang Jie. This was to prevent any accidents from happening, such as a fish that slipped through the net, or those officials who were good-for-nothings, who might be hiding masters. Of course, I also wanted to supervise Huang Jie to prevent him from having any improper intentions or any prohibited actions. The records he submitted to the Ministry of Justice must match the content I gave him, and every detail must be perfect. If the officials of the Ministry of Justice's Inspection and Grinding Division find a loophole, they will have to review it according to the rules. For minor cases, we need to go to the Ministry of Justice in the capital, and for serious cases, they will directly send someone to find us and ask us in person. The Langzhong of the Ministry of Justice's Military Selection Division is the person who is responsible for watching me, so he can be considered one of them. And the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhao Yao, is the official who watches these officials. As for who is responsible for watching Zhao Yao, whether there is such a person in the court now, God knows."

Gao You was amazed, "So, Minister Zhao is really a very high-ranking official."

Su Lang smiled and said, "That's right."

Gao You asked curiously, "Did we send many experts from Dali to attack Qiu State this time?"

Su Lang nodded and said, "Master is just a person who does the specific work and does not participate in the planning. But it is simple. A rough estimate shows that there are about 500 people on the two lists. Master and Huang Jie are members of several confidential yamen including the Dali Military and Criminal Departments. In addition, there are monks who were temporarily transferred from the garrisons in the three states including Handan. Whether they have taken real action or not, there should be about 300 people."

Gao You was shocked: "So many?!"

Su Lang smiled and said, "A lot?"

Gao You said cautiously, "If we give you a 50% discount, it will be more than enough to kill all the officials and soldiers in Qiu State within one day, right?"

Su Lang smiled and shook his head.

Gao You asked, "Master, did I say something wrong?"

Su Lang put down his pen and said seriously, "Who is responsible for killing whom does not depend entirely on the realm level. This is the first point. Just like your master thinks you are suitable for this job, it has little to do with Gao You's current realm level. Every assassination must be done steadily to ensure the outcome, and it can also allow Huang Jie and others to gain experience. This is the consistent purpose of the Dali Criminal Department to train spies. For example, Huang Jie has been doing the most despicable job in a brothel for several years, which is a kind of experience to be familiar with all kinds of human relationships. In the future, he will change his place and identity, such as playing the role of a rich and noble son who spends money lavishly, or a prince who rolls in the pile of cosmetics. Then no matter what his conversation, knowledge, and demeanor are, he will definitely be competent, and he will only act more realistically than the real thing. This is the second point."

"The most important thing is the third point. In the future, the 'yellow ranks', or you, can all become officials, and their status will change from hidden to open. Although you are not from the upright path of the imperial examination, the Dali Dynasty has two promotion routes specially set up for you. You may even have the opportunity to govern a region one day. As far as I know, the highest official has become the governor of the Dali Dynasty, the county governor, and there seems to be a deputy general of Qizhou."

Su Lang smiled and said, "It is rumored that our Minister Ma of the Ministry of Justice said that there are two types of officials: those who are good at studying and those who are pragmatic in doing things."

However, the Shangshu added, I am the kind of official who is good at studying and more pragmatic in doing things.

Gao You was delighted when he heard this. "That Ma Yuan, I know him. He is a well-known official. He is the head of the Ma family of Poyang, the Shangzhuguo. People in the capital say that he is the illegitimate son of Master Guan."

Su Lang did not reprimand this disciple for his outspokenness and disrespect.

Gao You suddenly became depressed, his expression became complicated, and he said softly: "Master, in the past, whenever I mentioned the matter of Minister Ma to Wan Yan and the others, I always thought it was just a joke to amuse myself. Now that I have recognized you as my master, I know how powerful Minister Zhao is. I suddenly feel that Ma Yuan, since his official hat is bigger than Minister Zhao, must be an extremely scary person. Maybe one day in the future when I meet Minister Ma, I won't be able to speak straight."

Su Lang also found this statement interesting. "It's okay. The chances are slim anyway. It's hard to embarrass yourself. I haven't met Shangshu Ma yet, and I haven't had a chance to talk to him in person."

Su Lang instantly reached out and grabbed the scabbard on the table, and made a gesture to his disciples to keep quiet.

There was a soft knock on the door. Su Lang changed his voice and asked lazily, "Who?"

A charming voice that could make a man's bones go numb sounded outside the door, "Sir, do you need me to come in and warm your bed? The price is negotiable..."

The woman laughed to herself as she spoke.

Su Lang looked helpless, but still breathed a sigh of relief.

Gao You lowered his voice and asked in surprise: "Aunt Zhou?!"

Su Lang quickly put away the pages of paper and hid them in his sleeve. He glanced at the wooden box on the table, hesitated for a moment, and then gave up putting it away. He went to open the door, and it was indeed Zhou Haijing.

Next to her was a handsome, smiling man with a purple wine gourd hanging from his waist.

Su Lang was greatly surprised and immediately bowed and said, "I am Su Lang, the second-class official of the Ministry of Justice. I am honored to meet Minister Cao."

Just now in the corridor outside the house, was it Zhou Haijing who helped Minister Cao hide his breathing and footsteps? Or was it?

Cao Gengxin bowed in return, "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. I have heard of the Green Bamboo Sword Immortal's name for a long time. Miss Zhou and I just happened to pass by, sorry to bother you."

It's hard to say who is more famous than whom. Su Lang turned sideways, let them go into the house, and gently closed the door. Knowing that talking too much would lead to mistakes, Su Lang stopped talking.

Cao Gengxin looked at Gao You, bowed again, and said with a smile: "Hello, little brother. You can tell at first glance that you are a young and talented person with an official air."

Gao You had already stood up and without his master's reminder, he had already moved away from the table and stood beside the bed.

Hearing the "Minister Cao"'s approach, he didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he could only look at his master. However, Su Lang didn't hint at anything.

The young man was confused. Minister? Which minister? From this Qiu State? He couldn't be a high-ranking official like Minister Zhao, right? Are all officials so careless? Then, aren't Wan Yan and I born to be high-ranking officials? Forget it, Wan Yan, this disloyal bastard, has already gone to the mountains to become a god.

Cao Gengxin asked with a smile: "Brother Xiao Gao, when you see Mr. Chen, can you straighten your tongue when you speak?"

Gao You asked in confusion: "Which Mr. Chen?"

Cao Gengxin smiled and said, "He has been to your alley and visited your Aunt Zhou."

Gao You was immediately amused. "You are talking about him, Lord Minister. As for Sect Leader Chen, I know him. Of course I know him. He is an expert in martial arts. We talked a lot... We didn't talk too much either. Anyway, he is a very friendly person."

The guy wearing cloth shoes heard Aunt Zhou say that the thief is very rich. Wow, he never shows off his wealth. He is an old hand.

Cao Gengxin laughed and said, "Then why are you afraid of Minister Ma? When you meet him next time, just ask him directly if he is Grandpa Guan's illegitimate son. I have been curious about this for many years. If you get the answer, remember to tell me."

Su Lang understood instantly and almost couldn't help cursing. Is it really him? Is he really that?

The Green Bamboo Sword Immortal then changed his mind and thought, could it be said that he had won the sword duel that year even though he was defeated with honor?

Even though he knew that the other party was an official, Gao You was not afraid at all. He whispered, "I'm not a fool."

Su Lang was afraid that Gao You might say something wrong, so he had to bite the bullet and introduce him with a smile, "Gao You, this Minister Cao is the Minister of Personnel of our Dali capital, not from the Qiu State."

Gao You glanced at Cao Gengxin's wine gourd, chuckled, and said shyly, "Master, I guessed it, but I don't dare to take it seriously at all."

Everyone in the capital knows about Cao Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel. He has a first-class family background, second-class talent, third-class official position, and a low-class character. He likes wine and women, and is notorious for not doing his job properly. To put it bluntly, he has a reputation that is notorious. However, young scoundrels like Gao You who make a living on the ground often talk about Cao Shilang, who seems to have only one advantage, being approachable, and they envy him very much.