Detective in the Red Chamber

When asked later, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but praise, "Sir, I think it must be Mr. Xu's right-hand man, but I don't know Mr. Gao's name, what is his usual position?"

The clerk hurriedly bowed and said, "I don't dare to be an adult with the word 'Mr.'. I'm next Ye Xingmao, and I will be added to the post of accounting clerk."

"Mr. Ye is too modest."

As Sun Shaozong said, he pulled him aside alone, and said, "I have already figured out some clues about this case, but it involves the secrets of Mr. Xu's family, but it is not easy to announce it in public. Only Mr. Lao Ye will go to the other side and take Wang The Shang Shu and the Prime Minister Jia of the Bi Mansion are here to speak."

Hearing that this case involved the secrets of Xu Mingtang's family, Ye Xingmao suddenly realized, no wonder he asked many trivia about the 'Xu family'.

So he hurriedly said, "This is a villain's job, how can we talk about the word 'work'? The villain will invite the two adults to come here!"

This time Ye Xingmao hurried back to the back hall, and quietly reported Sun Shaozong's intentions, Wang Yan and Jia Yucun naturally did not dare to neglect, and rushed to Xu Mingtang's courtyard.

After entering the courtyard, I saw Sun Shaozong waiting at the door of the hall.

Because Wang Yan was anxious, before the person came close, he asked, "I heard that Sun Tongjuan has already solved this case? Do you know who is responsible for this Xu Mingtang?!"

Sun Shaozong waited for them to arrive in front of the door, and then he cupped his hands and said, "Master Xu, according to the official investigation, there is no trace of external force on Mr. Xu's body, and he died by suicide."

"Death from... suicide?"

Wang Yan was taken aback for a moment, glanced at Ye Xingmao suspiciously, and frowned, "But didn't those clerks just say that the stool that Xu Mingtang used to commit suicide was more than a foot away from his toes?"

"Well, two adults, please follow me."

Sun Shaozong pushed open the door of the main room, pointed to the square stool on the ground and said, "The first doubtful point in this case is this square stool—please look, my lord, the Taishi chairs on both sides are not far from the place where Master Xu was hanged. The stool was brought from far away, so it is unreasonable to look far away.”

As he spoke, he led the two of them to the square stool, pointed to a wet green brick next to the square stool and said, "Take a look again, my lords, there are obviously marks of being hit by heavy objects on this blue brick—— But the fallen square stool is clearly still some distance away from here."

He pointed to the food box in front of the window again, and said, "In addition, Mr. Xu specially brought a food box from home, but he didn't see any tableware."

"Therefore, the following officials deduced that Mr. Xu should have brought a piece of ice about a foot high from his home in a food box, and then put the ice piece on the square stool. After he committed suicide, the ice piece melted away, thus creating the The illusion of human assassination."

"And the reason why he didn't use the Taishi chair is probably because he was worried that others would think that he committed suicide by stepping on the back of the chair."

"So..." Wang Yan frowned and said, "He really committed suicide? But since he committed suicide, why did he go to such lengths to pretend that he was killed?"

"This is..."

Sun Shaozong suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Ye Xingmao, and said firmly, "I'm afraid we have to ask our Mr. Ye!"

Ye Xingmao was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly waved his hands and said, "My lord, don't be joking, how can a villain know why Master Xu behaved like this?"

"You do not know?"

Sun Shaozong shook his head and laughed and said, "I asked you just now about Mr. Xu's family affairs, and you answered the questions smoothly, but now why are you pushing back?"

When Ye Xingmao heard this, he called out to Zhuang Tianqu, "My lord, I know a thing or two about Mr. Xu's family, but how can I know why he wanted to die and why he pretended to be murdered by others?" ?”

After saying that, he knelt on the ground and begged Wang Yan again, "Master Butang, the villain is really wronged, please ask Master Butang to be the master of the villain!"

When Wang Yan and Jia Yucun heard this, Monk Zhang Er was puzzled and looked at each other. Jia Yucun urged, "Brother, what does this scribe have to do with this case? Just say it straight. Going around in circles again!"

"I didn't play around in circles."

Sun Shaozong waved his hands helplessly, and said, "May I ask the two adults, do you often invite the clerk in charge of accounts in the yamen to come home as a guest? Even when you are not at home, you will let him come and go frequently?"

"Of course not!"

Wang Yan and Jia Yucun answered in unison, and when they looked at Ye Xingmao again, they became more suspicious.

They didn't pay attention when Sun Shaozong didn't ask, but after this question, the two of them immediately remembered that it is a taboo in the officialdom to have close contacts with the clerk in charge of accounts!

Not to mention ordinary officials, even those bold and corrupt officials would never act like this!

Seeing that something was wrong, Ye Xingmao hurriedly shouted, "I'm wronged, villains rarely go to Mr. Xu's house..."

Before he finished speaking, Sun Shaozong smiled again and said, "Yes, you really haven't been to Mr. Xu's house very much, I have already found someone to confirm this point just now-but it is because of this that I am even more curious, you How did you know all these trivial things about Mr. Xu's house?"

"Yes... It's Mr. Xu and I..."

"You want to say that Master Xu told you, right?" Sun Shaozong said again, "But I have already asked, Master Xu has only returned home once last night in the past five or six days, and hastily closed the door after returning Thank you"

"But you just casually said that the disciples of Xu's mansion suffered from the cold in the past two days, and they have been replaced by others."

"Mr. Ye, you want to say that you can pinch and count." At this point, Sun Shaozong's eyes sharpened, and he sneered, "I still plan to explain honestly, why did you put eyeliner on Mr. Xu's house?! And what happened to force you to He can only drag you into the water by pretending to be killed?!"

Chapter 96

Hearing the words 'put eyeliner down', Ye Xingmao's face suddenly showed panic, but in the blink of an eye, he subsided the panic again, crying out for injustice.

"You are wronged, my lord. The little one is just a white man, how can he arrange eyeliner in Mr. Xu's mansion? This is really a great injustice!"

According to common sense, how could a mere official in soap robes with no rank and no rank cast eyeliner in a high-ranking official's mansion, and force Xu Mingtang to have no choice but to fight to the death?

However, his fleeting panic just now proved Sun Shaozong's conjecture!

In this way, there are only two possibilities.

Either, this Ye Xingmao is really an incomparable hero, so he can manipulate Xu Mingtang, a senior official of the fourth rank, as a commoner; or, behind this Ye Maoxing, there is a more powerful envoy hidden than Xu Mingtang.

Obviously, the latter possibility is far greater than the former!

And just now Ye Xingmao also mentioned that Xu Mingtang is the head of the world's 'river embankment ambassadors', and his official position in the Hedao Yamen is only under the governor and commander-in-chief.

This governor, of course, refers to Wang Yan, the governor of the river; this handsome, refers to the two river governors in the north and the south—the Jiangnan river governor is resident in Jinling, and has no right to intervene in the northern river affairs, so the biggest suspicion is Wang Yan and the Beihe governor!

Naturally, Wang Yan also thought of this episode, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and it took a long time to squeeze out a sentence from between his teeth, "Insane, really insane! If I don't investigate this case to the bottom, I will not let it go." !"

Then he ordered angrily, "Come here, first take down this thief with me!"

Immediately, a few people jumped up from the left and right, and hurriedly pressed Ye Xingmao to the ground.

Wang Yan was still puzzled, stepped forward and kicked his chest, and asked, "Damn slave, why don't you tell me the truth about why you spied on Mr. Xu's mansion!"

"My lord clearly learned, the villain is really wronged, wronged!"

But Ye Xingmao still complained endlessly, and refused to reveal half the truth.

"Okay, okay, what a thief who won't cry without seeing the coffin!"

Wang Yan laughed angrily a few times, but suddenly he turned around and said, "Sun Tongpan, since this case has been seen through by your insight, I will hand over this thief to you - and please Sun Tongpan to use thunderous tactics again. Find out what's hidden in this!"

Just now when he was flabbergasted, Sun Shaozong kept his eyes on his nose and nose and his heart, just like the old monk in meditation.

Listening to Wang Yan's order now, he just frowned slightly, cupped his hands indifferently and said, "My lord, if the duty of the lower official is, the lower official is naturally duty-bound, but this case——I'm afraid I have to ask for help first." Colleagues in the Hedao Yamen, check to see if there is any problem with Mr. Ye's accounts."

"As it should be."

Without waiting for Wang Yan to make a statement, Jia Yucun on the side nodded in agreement and said, "This case involves officials from the fourth grade. If corruption and fraud are found, according to the rules, it should be accepted by Dali Temple or the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Don’t dare to overstep the bounds.”

According to the rules of Dazhou, if it is an ordinary criminal homicide case, it will naturally be investigated by the local government or the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Auxiliary.

Sun Shaozong took Jia Yucun's words again, and said with a righteous face, "Of course, if the minister confirms that this case has nothing to do with official corruption, the subordinate officials will definitely investigate it to the end, and they will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Damn little fox!

Faced with Sun Shaozong's "upright and upright" face, Wang Yan did not know how many obscenities he cursed in his heart-Gain Sun Shaozong's words seemed to have room for it at first glance, but who is there in these days? Official, can there be no problems at all in the accounts? !

Originally, Wang Yan thought that Sun Shaozong called Jia Yucun together out of respect for his superiors, but now it seems that Sun Shaozong clearly wanted to back down, so he specially invited Jia Yucun to sing along!

Although Jia Yucun was a bit inferior to Wang Yan, he was still considered a high-ranking official, unlike Sun Shaozong, a sixth-rank official who could be rounded and flattened at will.

Therefore, although Wang Yan was displeased, he had no choice but to say in a muffled voice, "In this case, I will first mobilize some people from the Ministry of Industry to thoroughly investigate all the accounts of Xu Mingtang's tenure!"

After finishing speaking, he turned his eyes to Sun Shaozong and Jia Yucun, only to see that these two people put on an appearance of looking at their noses and noses, looking at their minds, wandering about things outside their minds and having nothing to do with themselves.

It really is a raccoon dog!

Wang Yan cursed angrily, flicked his sleeves and left the place.

It's just that he just took a step, but he heard Sun Shaozong reminded, "Lord Department, the most important thing right now is not to check the accounts, but to protect the embankment 'built by Master Xu'."

When Wang Yan heard this, his footsteps stopped, and his heart thumped even more.

Just now, because he was worried that this 'corruption case' would affect him, Wang Yan was inevitably a little concerned and confused. At this time, after Sun Shaozong's reminder, he thought of the huge crisis behind Xu Mingtang's suicide!

If there is no hurdle that cannot be overcome, how easy is it to force a fourth-rank official to death?

Xu Mingtang, as the embankment ambassador of the Yongding River, must have faced the embankment of the Yongding River for the hurdle he couldn't overcome!

And once something goes wrong with this embankment...

Just as he was panicking, he heard Sun Shaozong say, "Please make preparations for the people along the river..."

However, before Sun Shaozong finished speaking this time, Jia Yucun suddenly cut off his words, and said seriously, "Please rest assured, Lord Butang, my Shuntian Mansion will definitely organize the people to guard the North Embankment and work together with the Hedao Yamen to ensure that the capital is safe and sound." hinder!"

Hearing these words, both Sun Shaozong and Wang Yan were shocked.

Sun Shaozong's intention was to allow Wang Yan to organize the evacuation of the people along the river; but Jia Yucun's words were all about the four characters 'defend the North Embankment'!

Although Jia Yucun did not make it clear, how could Sun Shaozong and Wang Yan fail to understand what he meant? In fact, he was urging Wang Yan to abandon the South Dike if necessary, or even destroy the South Dike altogether, so as to divert the flood to the border of Hebei and protect the land. Kaifeng Mansion is safe and sound!

Wang Yan showed a bit of struggle, and said hesitantly, "The autumn floods of the Yongding River are always coming fast. I am afraid that the flood peak will enter the boundary of the capital in a few days. In this short period of time, how...how can it be too late..."

Jia Yucun still had a look of emotion on his face, and solemnly cupped his hands and said, "The duty of the lower official is that even if it is too late to gather the people, he must try his best, otherwise if the North Dike cannot be kept, in case the flood floods If you disturb Sheng Jia, even if you die as an official, you will have to bear the blame!"

Wang Yan was afraid that it would be too late to evacuate the people on the south bank, but Jia Yucun kept talking about "calling the people together", but in fact he was still persuading Wang Yan to give up the South Bank, and even the people on the south bank!

Seeing that the hesitation on Wang Yan's face gradually faded away, Sun Shaozong's heart became colder and colder—he originally just wanted to remind Wang Yan, who would have thought that such a frenzied countermeasure would be discussed in the end?

Gritting his teeth, he couldn't help cupping his hands and said, "My lord, the next official is willing to go to the south bank to organize the evacuation of the people..."

"Bullshit!"

Before he finished speaking, Jia Yucun scolded furiously, "You and I are both ministers of the land. How can we go to Hebei to act recklessly without the emperor's order? Besides, the ministers and officials of Hebei have their own affairs. Discretionary, why do you need to superfluous?!"

Wang Yan also sighed, and followed his instructions, "Sun Tongpan, you don't need to bother with this matter. The most important thing right now is to temporarily block this matter so as not to shake the morale of the army - when you return to the back hall later, you just say Then Xu Mingtang committed suicide because of disharmony in his family."

Chapter 97

After confirming that Wang Yan would secretly report the matter to the imperial court, Sun Shaozong followed his instructions and announced the truth that Xu Mingtang had committed suicide in the back hall.

At that time, the atmosphere in the back hall really eased. As for how many people were pretending, and how many people really believed that Xu Mingtang committed suicide because of trivial matters at home, it was beyond Sun Shaozong's guess.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Yan arranged the "defense" along both sides of the river in one go, and urged everyone to mobilize troops and horses to take office immediately.

Probably in reciprocation, Sun Shaozong's "package section" was arranged near the Lugou Bridge, next to the official road, not to mention that it is very convenient to transport supplies at ordinary times, and if something happens, it is much more convenient to escape than others.

Therefore, Zhou Da, Zhao Wuwei, and several officials from the Ministry of Industry and Hedao who were under his command were quite happy.

Only Sun Shaozong was on the north embankment, and his heart was on the south bank, thinking that tens of thousands of people might be affected by the flood in the near future, but he could only look at the ocean and sigh, helpless, and was depressed every day.

Although he never thought that he was a good person, he really couldn't treat human life like nothing like Jia Yucun did, and he even took the initiative to sacrifice thousands of lives to keep his official position.

--split line--

July seventeenth.

The rainy weather that lasted for more than half a month finally came to an end this morning.

The rising sun broke through the clouds, and within a few hours, it showed the power of the autumn tiger. Everyone on the embankment "throwing their helmets and unarmors", and countless "flags" floated on the head of the Lugou Bridge.

Standing at the head of the bridge and looking up, all eyes are clothes, hats, shoes and socks to dry, not to mention the stone lion, even the stone railings can't be seen.

With the bright sun shining brightly, each other coming and going naked without concern, there were laughter and laughter all over the embankment, and even the supervisor who was carrying a whip all day seemed a lot more cordial.

Driven by the joyful atmosphere, Sun Shaozong couldn't help feeling lucky, secretly thinking that the river has only risen slowly in the past few days, and there is still a long distance from the warning line on the stone carving. Could it be that Xu Mingtang miscalculated and miscalculated this year? disaster?

If this is the case, his suicide will really become a big laughing stock in the officialdom.

"grown ups!"

Sun Shaozong was standing on the embankment thinking about it, suddenly he heard someone calling behind him, looking back, it was Zhao Wuwei rushing over with a Yanling knife in his hand.

Sun Shaozong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Is there any danger?!"

"The adults are joking."

But Zhao Wuwei grinned and said, "Where did this danger come from for no reason? It's because the government has sent a lot of rewards. Look - it's downhill now!"

Sun Shaozong followed his instructions and found eight carriages parked under the embankment, which were full of wine, vegetables, dried fruits, bacon, etc., and there were many heads of pigs, sheep, and dogs among them. It is not for rewarding people, but for offering sacrifices to the river god.

Since they were stationed on the embankment, Ruan Rong and Brother Cheap delivered things here almost every day. Therefore, Sun Shaozong had no interest in these so-called rewards. After setting it up, you and Zhou Da can discuss how to divide the rest, so you don't need to ask me again."

Although Sun Shaozong didn't care about this, but to Zhao Wuwei, these things are all good things that can win people's hearts, so he hurriedly agreed, and he was ready to call someone to unload the goods.

At this moment, someone shouted in the distance, "Look, there is a man in the river!"

"It seems to be floating here on something!"

Someone in the river floated over on something?

Sun Shaozong hurriedly looked towards the river, and saw a white thing in the distance, Zheng Zheng was floating downstream at an extremely fast speed, but in the blink of an eye, the outline became much clearer, it was a naked man tied to a sheepskin bag !