When Zhong Huan landed, Qin Kuangming stepped forward, bowed, and handed him a pigeon letter, "Commander, please take a look at this. It is an urgent message from Wang Tongzhi from Jingzhao!"
The mailbox has not been opened yet. It is a red mailbox, indicating that the situation is urgent. There is a line of small words on it, 'Please call Pingjiang Prefecture Zhonghuan'.
It was this small line of writing that informed him to come to Dangtu County.
Zhong Huan opened the mailbox, took out a small volume of pigeon mail, slowly unfolded it, and looked at it carefully in the sun. It was a letter written to him by the commander Wang Hao. There was only a short sentence in it, "I found that shopkeeper Liu Da was hiding in Xianyang, not leaving."
Jingzhao'.
Zhong Huan was stunned. Shopkeeper Liu Da of Taibai Restaurant was actually in Jingzhao. He did not come to Pingjiang Mansion. Apparently someone leaked the news during his investigation the day before. Shopkeeper Liu Da hid, and Manager Wu deceived him!
But the question is, why did Manager Liu hide? Why did Manager Wu deceive himself?
Zhong Huan was confused and asked Qin Kuang Mingming: "What did you find out when you went to Bianliang?"
"I found something. This is not the place to talk. Why don't we talk about it after we return to the camp! Hey, it's really weird."
........
"What?"
Zhong Huan jumped up in shock, "Liu Zhen, the big grain merchant, is dead and his whole family was wiped out. Are you talking nonsense?"
"The humble position is not nonsense at all. Liu Zhen died on a large passenger ship in the Bianhe River in the early years of Jingkang. All eleven of his family were killed. More than a dozen ships preparing to transfer the wealth southward were all missing. It was a few friends who took the place of
The whole family collected the bodies, and even visited the cemetery, the cemetery of Liu Zhen’s family.”
Zhong Huan felt as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight and felt extremely weird. Liu Zhen's entire family was killed. So who is Liu Zhen in Pingjiang Mansion now? Could he be Liu Zhen's murderer?
Zhong Huan thought about Wang Hao's express letter again. Manager Liu Da from Taibai Tower was hiding, which meant that these domestic servants knew the inside story. There must be something wrong with it. Thinking of this, Zhong Huan suddenly shuddered. No! He wanted to return immediately.
Pingjiang Mansion.
This time Zhong Huan took Qin Kuangming and twelve of his men back to Pingjiang Prefecture by boat.
It was too conspicuous for more than a dozen people to enter the city together, so Zhong Huan set up an inn outside the city and everyone stayed there first. Zhong Huan then entered the city and found Lu Fan again.
Lu Fan didn't expect that the situation would become serious. He was a little nervous and asked, "What does General Zhong need me to do?"
Zhong Huan told him: "I want a domestic servant of the Liu family who is far away from the county seat, such as a steward in a manor. You can help me find out about such a person. Don't ask too many people to avoid leaking the news."
Lu Fan thought for a while and said, "I know a man from Zhuangzhaiya who is very well-informed. As long as he is willing to spend money, he can find out everything about Pingjiang Mansion and he is very tight-lipped."
"Go and find out! Come find me at the Fang Family Inn outside Changmen tomorrow. Do you know that inn?"
Lu Fan nodded, "I know that inn!"
Zhong Huan then left and returned to the inn.
........
At noon the next day, Lu Fan arrived at the Fang Family Inn outside Changmen as promised. Money can make all the difference, not to mention just asking for information. The high price of 30 guan was enough to buy all the information available.
Lu Fan smiled and said to Zhong Huan: "It's true. Near Yushan in Changshu County, the Liu family has a Shenjun Manor. The steward of the manor is called Liu Lu, who is the Liu family's domestic servant. He is at home these two days, and tomorrow he will
Will go to the manor."
Zhong Huan asked again: "Where is his home?"
Lu Fan took out a piece of paper and handed it to Zhong Huan, "This is the detailed address of his home!"
"What are the characteristics of this Liu Lu?"
"He has a large black mole on the left side of his nose. He is in his thirties and has a medium build. He can be recognized at a glance."
Zhong Huan nodded slowly, he knew what to do?
........
Before dawn, a man in his thirties came out of Zuojia Lane. He was of medium build and had a large black mole next to his nose. He was riding a mule and headed north quickly. This man's name was Liu Lu and he was from Changshu County.
The chief steward of Shenjun Manor.
Needless to say, Liu Lu is also a domestic servant of the Liu family, and he is a domestic servant of two generations. His father is a domestic servant. He has grown up in the Liu family since he was a child. He has won the trust of his master and was appointed as the steward of the manor five years ago.
Liu Lu would go home every ten days or so to visit his wife, children and mother. His son wanted to study, and his wife did not want to move to a remote manor. She preferred a lively city, so Liu Lu had to work hard to travel back and forth.
After leaving Pingmen, Liu Lu walked north along an official road. A mule cart followed him slowly. He set off before dawn and did not arrive at the manor until dark.
After walking for about an hour, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road. At this time, the mule cart behind suddenly accelerated and chased Liu Lu. A man on horseback appeared head-on. The horses and mules passed by each other. The man on the horse jumped
He stood up and knocked Liu Lu to the ground.
Liu Lu was shocked. Just as he was about to turn over and get up, a sharp dagger was pressed against his neck. The man said viciously: "Move and I'll cut your throat!"
At this time, the mule cart stopped beside him, two big men jumped out, tied Liu Lu up, gagged his mouth, covered his head with a black cloth bag, and threw him into the mule cart.
Liu Lu was so horrified that he thought he had encountered bandits and was going to be killed for his money. He didn't know how long it took, but suddenly his hood was torn off. Liu Lu's eyes lit up. He slowly turned around and found himself in a
In an empty room, there were several burly men standing in front of them, and among them was a dark-skinned scholar.
"You...what do you want to do?" Liu Lu asked in horror.
"Is this your sign?" The scholar held an iron sign in his hand.
Liu Lu nodded. It was his family identity card. The man looked at it and asked, "What does the zero seven engraved on it mean?"
"That's my identity number. I'm ranked seventh among domestic servants."
"Where does Mr. Liu Gui rank as the accountant?" Zhong Huan asked again.
"He's fifth!"
"Where is Da Liugui from Jingzhao?"
Liu Lu became more and more confused, but he did not dare to hide it, so he had to confess honestly: "He ranked third!"
"Okay! Who is your master Liu Zhen?" Zhong Huan returned to the topic.
"You...what the hell are you?"
Next to him, Mei Wu pulled out a dagger, put it against his ear and said coldly: "Just answer honestly, if you ask more questions, I'll cut off one of your ears!"
He exerted a little force, and a stream of blood flowed from Liu Lu's ear. He was so frightened that he shouted: "Don't cut! Don't cut! I said that."
"Say it!"
"My master's name is Liu Zhen. He used to be the largest grain merchant in Bianliang. He sold grain for decades and accumulated a lot of wealth."
"Hmph! I knew you would say that!"
Zhong Huan knelt down and sneered: "Liu Zhen's family of eleven were all killed in the first year of Jingkang. They died on the boat. His family's dozens of boat properties were also robbed. Your master should have killed Liu Zhen."
The robber, you are his formal accomplices, I am right!"
Liu Lu's face turned pale. The secret that had been hidden for more than ten years was suddenly revealed. He lowered his head and couldn't help but tremble all over.
"Go ahead! Tell me honestly and I will spare your life."
"Are you... sent by the imperial court?"
Zhong Huan took out the token and waved it in front of him, "We are the internal guards of the Western Army. We are pursuing a transaction. You tell me! Don't let me do it."
"Western Army?"
Liu Lu's eyes showed disbelief, and he gritted his teeth and said: "What does my master have to do with the Western Army? You are meddling in other people's business!"
Mei Wu waved his hand, and half of Liu Lu's ears suddenly disappeared, blood burst out, and his face was covered with blood.
Liu Lu screamed in pain, "I said! I said! Stop cutting."