The eight people who climbed over the wall were divided into two groups. One group began to climb over the wall to leave after killing a few manservants. However, just as two people climbed over the wall, the guards arrived. Of the remaining two people, one was killed, and the other was seriously injured and captured. They died soon.
The other group was still quietly searching the mansion. However, since one group had been exposed, the other group could no longer hide. After all, such a big thing had happened. The entire mansion would definitely be searched. All the guards and servants who were sleeping on shifts were also woken up.
Even the masters and guests were awakened. Yang Guozhong hid in the study room and let ten guards stay to protect him. The rest of the people formed teams to join the search. Some of the manservants and guards went out of the mansion to search the situation outside the wall. After Chen Xiaoer was awakened, he quietly hid under the bed.
The search mainly started from the front courtyard. After discovering that there was still a group of assassins, they immediately rushed up. These assassins saw that the other side had a lot of people, so they had to run around in the mansion. Moreover, they were scattered. When they encountered a servant who blocked the way, they directly attacked with a dagger. Some of them were even forced to break into the maid's house and use a dagger to kidnap the maid. They wanted to use this as a hostage.
However, the maid was worthless. If they could kidnap a noble in the mansion, they might have a chance to escape. However, it was just a maid. No one would let the assassins go because of this maid.
Of course, before they were killed, they also killed a lot of people, which was several times more than their own number. They even killed two guards who were holding swords. It could be seen that their fighting strength was not weak, and the reason why they were so desperate was because they knew that they had committed a capital crime. As long as they were captured, they would not be able to escape death. Moreover, they would have to suffer a lot of physical pain. As such, it was better to fight to the death. Killing one was enough, killing two was worth one.
The two who escaped did not dare to stay for long. After meeting up with Wang Hu, they took advantage of the chaos and ran away. The five of them went to the station at the fastest speed, leaving behind the remaining hundred people. Only by escaping back as soon as possible could they have enough time to arrange their escape.
Almost a hundred people had been arranged to cause trouble in the vicinity. This had indeed greatly attracted the attention of the patrolling soldiers and bailiffs, causing these soldiers to be unable to rush to the location of the incident in time. However, the guards in Yang Guozhong's mansion were enough to resolve the battle. Therefore, it did not matter whether they arrived a little earlier or a little later.
When the Jin Wu Guards and the bailiffs of Chang 'an County arrived at Yang Guozhong's mansion, all the fighting had already ended. All they could do was to ask about the casualties.
Yang Guozhong was naturally dissatisfied with the late arrival of the Chamberlain of Golden Guards. They were patrolling the streets day and night, but when something happened to his residence, these people took so long to arrive. If it wasn't for the valiant guards in his residence and the small number of enemies, he might have already been killed.
"Is this how you Jin Wu guards patrol the streets? Why didn't you discover these suspicious people? Did you hide at night for so long? If it wasn't for my mansion's guards bravely protecting their master, this official's head wouldn't still be here."
It was normal to lose one's temper when one was angry. It would be a waste not to lose one's temper.
"Imperial Censor, please forgive us. On the way here, we encountered some people causing trouble. Now, it seems that the people who caused trouble just now are in cahoots with these assassins. This official was stupid and fell into their trap."
"That's right. We came from the northeast and also encountered some troublemakers. They blocked the road and it took us half a day to deal with them. If we knew that they were in cahoots with the assassins, we would have arrested them. They are probably gone by now."
The officer and the yamen runner spoke in unison.
Yang Guozhong had a feeling and asked, "Can you identify them?"
The yamen runner examined the corpses for a long time and then recalled the disguised commoners he had just dealt with. He said, "Imperial Censor, please forgive us. This official is still unable to determine the identities of these people. However, most of them should be from the Luoyang region. Based on their accents, there should be no mistake."
"Yes, this official can also testify. I also heard a few accents from the Luoyang region."
The officer also spoke.
A servant walked over and reported, "Alang, all the rooms in the mansion have been searched and no bandits were found. The casualty count is also out. Of the eight assassins who entered the mansion, six were killed and two escaped over the wall. Our side suffered several dozen casualties. Among them, two of the guards were killed and six were injured. Six of the male servants were killed and six were injured. Eight of the maids were killed and a total of fifteen to sixteen people were lightly injured."
"How can one search be enough? Continue the search, search again. Search all the places that can hide people and those that can't. In addition, carefully screen everyone in the mansion to prevent the assassins from disguising themselves as servants."
Yang Guozhong was truly angry. Although he had a rough idea of who had done it, he could not casually say it out loud. If his guess was correct, Xianyu Zhongtong would soon receive the news and rush over.
"Alang, do you also search the women's rooms?"
The servant asked, afraid of offending him.
Yang Guozhong thought for a moment, then unhappily said, "Search all the rooms. Leave the women's rooms to your wife. Don't miss a single corner."
"Yes, this lowly one understands."
"I'll leave the matter of capturing the assassins' accomplices to you."
Yang Guozhong looked at the Golden Guards and yamen runners and demanded.
"This official understands."
Although the mansion was very large, the sound of killing and fighting was very terrifying. Therefore, the passers-by and the nearby residents were all shocked. This matter was a big matter. It was likely that it would not escape the headlines of the Tang dynasty tomorrow.
In fact, the Tang dynasty newspapers could be considered as belated. Many things had already spread throughout the capital before the Tang dynasty newspapers were published, and the Tang dynasty newspapers were just to further confirm it.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for the capital governor, Xianyu Zhongtong, to arrive. When he saw the room full of yamen runners and Golden Guards, as well as a large number of corpses and a strong smell of blood, he immediately became very nervous. He still didn't know what had happened, but he felt that the situation was very serious.
"This … what exactly happened here?"
Xianyu Zhongtong muttered to himself in astonishment as soon as he entered the door.
"Xianyu, you've finally come. My residence was attacked by assassins. Six of them died and two escaped. There are at least a few dozen accomplices outside. If all of them barge in, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Yang Guozhong saw Xianyu Zhongtong and said.
"Don't worry, Imperial Censor. I will definitely urge the Chang 'an county magistrate to personally supervise this case. I will definitely give Imperial Censor a satisfactory answer."
Xianyu Zhongtong declared.
"This matter is very strange! I keep feeling that it has something to do with Chen Xiao 'er. According to the yamen runners, the accomplices of the assassins have a Luoyang accent. In that case, they might have discovered Chen Xiao' er in my mansion, but that shouldn't be the case! Chen Xiao 'er escaped overnight, and no one in the capital knows him. How could his whereabouts be exposed so quickly? "
"Imperial Censor is right! If these assassins really came for Chen Xiao 'er, then their noses are too sharp! They are even more daring. "
Xianyu Zhongtong also felt that it was somewhat inconceivable.
"Alang, we've searched again. This time, we've even searched the madams' rooms. There really aren't any assassins. Oh, right, when we were screening the servants in the mansion, we found that a maid was missing. She's from Ali's room. It's said that she went out to do something and would come back immediately, but she never came back."
A servant suddenly came in to report.
"She's from my room?"
Yang Guozhong was in his room at this moment. The few maids serving him were also not far from the door. He looked carefully, then suddenly slapped his head and said, "Xianyu, follow me."
They quickly arrived at the abandoned courtyard where Chen Xiao 'er lived. There were only five or six people following behind them. At this moment, the entire mansion had been searched, so they were not worried about encountering assassins.
"Where is he? Chen Xiao 'er. "
Yang Guozhong personally shouted.
"I'm here, I'm here."
Chen Xiao 'er hurriedly crawled out from under the bed, not forgetting to brush off the dust on his hat.
"I already told you that the assassins were all caught by the mansion's guards. Why did he crawl back in?"
Yang Guozhong's trusted servant could not stand it any longer and said.
Yang Guozhong was not in the mood to make fun of Chen Xiao 'er. He looked around the room and asked with a serious gaze, "Why are you alone? Where's my maid?"
"Ah …"
Chen Xiao 'er was stunned for a long time before saying, "She went out. I think she went out."
Yang Guozhong kept feeling that the smell in the room was not right. He smelled it carefully and was instantly enraged. He could not be more familiar with this smell.
"Move aside."
Yang Guozhong pushed Chen Xiao 'er away and walked to the side of the bed. He suddenly lifted the blanket and saw the bloodstains on the bed, as well as some indescribable filth. He immediately confirmed his judgment.
"How dare you! What did you do?"
Yang Guozhong grabbed Chen Xiao 'er's collar and questioned him angrily.
"It was the censor who asked her to serve me. I only did what I should."
Chen Xiao 'er acted shamelessly.
"Not bad, you have the guts to admit it. I have really underestimated you. Think carefully about what you said to my maid. Take your time to think."
Yang Guozhong asked.
Apart from concealing the fact that he had forced himself on the little handmaiden, Chen Xiaoer had basically told the truth. Of course, he had also modified it slightly to tone down his bragging. He had changed the fact that he was bragging to compliment Yang Guozhong.
"How dare you casually talk about such a big thing? You have killed more than a dozen people in my mansion. Reflect on yourself here."
Yang Guozhong finally understood the situation. He turned and left to discuss countermeasures with Xianyu Zhongtong.
He originally thought that he could use Chen Xiao 'er to give himself a chance to make a contribution. It was hard to say whether he would make a contribution now. However, he had already drawn fire to himself. More than a dozen people in his mansion had died at once. This was not a small matter. There was no need to report it to the Tang dynasty. The gossip would soon spread to most of the people in the capital.
"It turns out that it was all a woman's fault. No wonder the assassin's nose is so sharp. She is really a femme fatale!"
After listening to Yang Guozhong's analysis, Xianyu Zhongtong felt that it was very reasonable. After a pause, he asked doubtfully, "Censor, how did a little maid find the assassin? Could it be?"
"These assassins are in Yu Chaoen's mansion. Immediately inform the Jinwu Guards to follow me to Yu Chaoen's mansion to catch the assassins. We will go immediately."
Yang Guozhong sneered and prepared to catch the assassins himself.
With so many people dead in his mansion, he had to personally show off. In addition, if he could really find the assassins in Yu Chaoen's mansion, he could directly take Yu Chaoen to the palace and personally hand him over to the Emperor. In this way, the credit for solving this shocking case would belong to Yang Guozhong. Moreover, with so many people dead in his mansion, he could also gain sympathy and help him ascend to the position of Right Prime Minister.
When they learned that assassins had appeared in Yang Guozhong's residence and that many people had died, the upper echelons of the Golden Guards were naturally shocked. For such a big matter, a mere captain naturally wouldn't be able to suppress it. Soon, more generals and even more soldiers rushed over.
And these newly arrived troops just happened to be conscripted by Yang Guozhong. They rushed to Yu Chaoen's mansion together. As long as the assassins were caught, these Jinwu Guards would definitely be able to obtain a good merit, so they were naturally willing to accept the assignment.
The Jinwu Guards moved very quickly, but no matter how fast they were, they were not as fast as Yu Chaoen's reaction. After learning that Wang Hu and the others had taken the risk to kill their way into Yang Guozhong's mansion, Yu Chaoen was scared silly. And the news that followed made him so scared that he sat paralyzed on the ground.
"So many people died. How did it end up like this? Where is Wang Hu?"
Yu Chaoen nervously asked.
"I heard that some people died, and the rest all ran away. I don't know where they ran to, and I also didn't hear that anyone was captured. Our people simply couldn't keep up. We can be sure that they went in the direction of the train station and are probably escaping back to Luoyang."
His confidant said.
"It's over, it's over. This time, it's completely over. If someone is seriously injured and captured, it's possible that they will reveal that Wang Hu was here. We won't be able to escape even if we want to. Maybe the soldiers who came to arrest us are already on the way."
Yu Chaoen's entire body was devoid of strength.
"Give it up. Anyway, Wang Hu's people have all run away. If we bite to death and deny it, there's no need to be afraid even if the soldiers come."
His confidant suggested.
"Everything will be fine if we don't admit it? This way of thinking is too naive. So many people died in Yang Guozhong's mansion. If we are fine, this matter will not be over. "
Yu Chaoen steeled his heart, picked up a dagger, and made a cut on his body. Blood immediately flowed out.
"Give it up, what are you doing?"
His confidant nervously asked.
"This is the only way to prove our innocence. You guys also suffer a little. Dirty your clothes and face a little. Smear more chicken blood on the ground. If it's not enough, use your own blood. Right, that little maid can't be left alive. Kill her!"
Yu Chaoen made up his mind and said.
"This matter is framing Wang Hu. In this way, we are naturally not in cahoots with Wang Hu. But the little maid is innocent. This is too ruthless!"
His confidant clearly couldn't bear it.
"A great man is ruthless. You can't even save your own life, and you still have the mind to care about this. Go and do it quickly!"
Yu Chao 'en ordered forcefully.
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