Pawn Crossing the River

Logically speaking, Beichen Hall should be responsible for cases that do not involve secret associations. However, Zhang Yuelu is not yet completely sure. She just put forward a conjecture and needs relevant evidence to confirm her point of view. Furthermore, Tiangang Hall's responsibility is to deal with the outside world. This concept is very broad. Strictly speaking, Tiangang Hall can intervene in anything as long as it is not directed at Taoists themselves. Therefore, even if Zhang Yuelu confirmed that the murderer was not a member of the secret society, as long as she wanted to continue the investigation, others would not be able to object. Zhang Yuelu could also give a very reasonable reason. Even though he was here, it was hard to go to waste in setting up such a big battle.

As for Zhang Yuelu's own thoughts, of course she wanted to continue the investigation. Whether she was pretending to be Qi Xuansu or Qi Xuansu was not dead, it gave her the motivation to continue the investigation.

Because of the "Communication Array", the clearance records from the "Ghost Pass" were quickly sent to Zhang Yuelu. And because of the special location of the "Ghost Pass", not many people passed the pass. From Wan Xiuwu's death, Counting from the day before to today, there were only about a hundred people in total.

It is not difficult to check these one hundred people. They can be eliminated one by one according to the conditions.

Soon, there were less than ten people left.

In the end, Zhang Yuelu's eyes stopped on a name.

Wei Wugui.

This person meets all the above conditions very well. He carries a "dragon gun", double swords, and is a martial artist.

He is a soldier under the command of General Loulan Qin Wubing. He holds Qin Wubing's waist badge and a customs clearance token issued by Pei Xiaolou, the second-rank Taiyi Taoist priest of Wanshou Chongyang Palace.

Zhang Yuelu fell into deep thought.

Various clues floated in her mind.

Qin Wubing, Deputy Protector of Xizhou Protectorate, and the future King of Jiangling County, had a close relationship with Shangguan Jing, the deceased deputy head of Tiangang Hall. The two of them had jointly suppressed the secret society in Cuowenbusi Desert in Yongzhou, and in Shangguan When Jing was attacked by Wu Luo, Qin Wubing chose to stand still. However, through subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Qin Wubing had been in contact with Shangguan Jing before his death. It should have been related to the internal fighting in the Taoist sect. Someone asked Qin Wu Qin Wubing did not do anything when he was ill. Out of friendship, Qin Wubing leaked some information to Shangguan Jing, but Shangguan Jing still could not escape the disaster. Qin Wubing has nothing to do with Wuluo.

Pei Xiaolou, the assistant manager of Wanshou Chongyang Palace, is just mediocre, but his brother is Donghua Master, who is in charge of Ziweitang. He is the real No. 2 person in Quanzhen Dao, and his status is equivalent to that of her master Cihang Master. She had met Pei Xiaolou once in Shangqing Palace because of Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu knew Pei Xiaolou, and Wei Wugui also knew Pei Xiaolou.

Is there any connection between this?

But Pei Xiaolou is notoriously cynical and likes to make friends with young people. Therefore, we cannot conclude that there is any inevitable connection between the two, and other evidence is needed. But with her current status, she is not qualified to question a second-grade Taiyi Taoist priest. This requires the authorization of Jinque or the personal appearance of Master Cihang.

But even Master Cihang must be cautious. It’s okay if he is completely sure. If it is just a guess without any real evidence, it will be fine if nothing is found. If nothing is found, Pei Xiaolou and Donghua behind him The real person will not give up. When the time comes, he will fall into a very passive situation. Not only will the case not be investigated, he will even be held accountable by Jin Que.

Taking a step back, even if Zhang Yuelu has real evidence, he still needs to be cautious as long as it does not involve a secret association. It is best to hand it over to Feng Xiantang. After all, he is a second-grade Taiyi Taoist priest. He is not an ordinary person. The so-called mediocre is only compared to other real people.

Pei Xiaolou's path is blocked, and it is not easy to start directly with Wei Wugui, because he is from the imperial court.

The Taoist sect and the court had a covenant. This covenant was not just a few sentences, but a large article. After repeated negotiations between the Taoist sect and the court, it was finally confirmed by Emperor Xuan Sheng and Emperor Daxuan Gaozu. But for some reason unknown to outsiders, Xuansheng and Emperor Daxuan Gaozu did not form a black and white agreement, but a verbal agreement, so it was regarded as an unwritten rule. But no matter what, for so many years, both the Taoist sect and the imperial court have recognized this verbal covenant and strictly abided by it.

Zhang Yuelu had mentioned this covenant before when he was arresting the cult demons. As long as it involves secret associations, the Taoist sect can handle it with full authority. There is another article, the imperial court has no right to deal with the people of the Taoist sect, and the Taoist sect has no right to deal with the people of the imperial court. If a person of the imperial court commits a crime and falls into the hands of the Taoist sect, the Taoist sect will hand it over to the court for disposal, and vice versa.

Zhang Yuelu could not arrest Wei Wugui directly, as this would put the Taoist sect into a passive position, especially at this critical moment when the imperial court was trying to intervene in the internal affairs of the Taoist sect. Zhang Yuelu could not provide evidence to the court at this time.

Although Wei Wugui is just a small soldier, it doesn't matter, but Zhang Yuelu is the descendant of Master Cihang. If Zhang Yuelu really did this and Qin Wubing reported the matter to the court, then the court would definitely make a big fuss. When a low-grade Taoist priest or an ordinary high-grade Taoist priest who does not hold a clear position acts in private, the Taoist sect can still evade it by saying that this person cannot represent the Taoist sect and is just acting personally. However, a deputy hall leader who uses the Taoist sect's official tools can already act to a certain extent. It's time to go to the representative gate. No matter how the Taoist sect is convicted and punished afterwards, even if it kills the person directly, it cannot be avoided on the surface.

This meant that she could not interrogate Wei Wugui directly, but had to go around in a circle and communicate and negotiate with Qin Wubing first, asking for Qin Wubing's assistance.

Furthermore, Wei Wugui is a personal soldier of Qin Wubing, which means that he has been to the West Gobi in Cuowenbu. From the West Gobi to Xijing Mansion, there must be some traces along the way. You can check these. Partial trace.

Another thing that is very strange is that there is a gap of two days between Wei Wugui's entry record and exit record, which shows that he was not just passing by, but stayed in the "Ghost Pass" for a period of time. I don't know what happened. .

Cuowenbu, West Gobi, "Yinglong" was attacked, Wuluo, Qin Wubing, Pei Xiaolou, Yunjin Mountain, the flying boat crashed.

There seems to be some connection between them, but Zhang Yuelu has been unable to grasp this connection, as if something is missing.

Pan Cuiqing also saw Wei Wugui's name and said in surprise: "This person..."

"Assistant Pan knows this person?" Zhang Yuelu asked.

"This person somehow provoked the 'Tianting', and actually provoked the 'Tianting's' Feng Bo to chase him all the way to Xijing Mansion. This person was somewhat quick-witted and detonated a 'Fengyan Yisan', which alarmed the people. The manpower of 'Little Tiangang' saved his life."

"But the people in 'Little Tiangang' are used to being domineering. It's probably because this person didn't know how to speak, so he provoked them and insisted on defining it as a private fight. As a result, he was caught by Mr. Pei who came down from Wanshou Chongyang Palace to inspect, and he was really embarrassed. . After this incident, Pei Zhenren and this young man became somewhat attached, but this is also in line with Pei Zhenren's character. "

Pan Cuiqing belongs to Wuxu Palace, not to Qinzhou Taoist Palace. The two families have been together for a long time, and it is inevitable that they will bump into each other. Naturally, he will not cover up for Qinzhou Taoist Palace at this time. Not only did he deliberately say "Little Tiangang" in front of the orthodox Tiangang Hall, ", and also revealed the bad things about "Little Tiangang" bullying others.

Although "Little Tiangang" has a good reputation, it is affiliated to the local Taoist government and is under the jurisdiction of the second deputy head of the Qinzhou Taoist government. To the imperial court, its members have not yet reached the point of representing the Taoist sect, and they are all small figures. If there was friction between people in the court, it would not be a big fuss made by the court, and it would be about the same if it were the deputy palace master.

Just as the various ministries of the imperial court are busy transporting taxes and tributes to the capital at the end of the year, boats of all sizes block the rivers. Officials are afraid of losing time and compete for the canal. It is also common to start fighting with weapons, as long as they are not among the ministries. It wouldn't be a big deal if the hall officials ended up in person.

Zhang Yuelu said thoughtfully: "So that's it."

After a while, Zhang Yuelu ordered: "Deacon Tian, ​​in my name, send a letter to ask Qin Wubing, the Deputy Protector of the Xizhou Protectorate, to confirm the identity of Wei Wugui. If he is indeed the person, then ask General Qin to help us investigate. To clear up the case, if necessary, ask the court to send someone for questioning. If the identity is indeed fabricated..."

"He is not a member of the imperial court." Zhang Yuelu emphasized his tone, "Immediately notify the Zhongzhou Daofu and the spiritual officers stationed at 'Gui Pass' and ask them to assist in apprehending Wei Wugui."

Tian Baobao took the order and left.

Pan Cuiqing clapped her hands and praised: "Deputy Hall Master Zhang is indeed a young talent who has cracked major Jiangnan cases. He has made progress so quickly. I admire him. I admire him."

"Assistant Pan is overly praised." Zhang Yuelu was not satisfied.

Pan Cuiqing changed the topic: "But as far as I know, this person has some friendship with Master Pei. Do you want to inform Master Pei?"

Zhang Yuelu said without comment: "Let's see how General Qin responds first."