Yu Hong's brother-in-law is an important clue, and the 10,000 yuan that was taken away is also an important clue, or even more important.
Another investigation team of the inner guard is headed by Commander Wang Zhi, who is responsible for finding the whereabouts of the ten thousand gu copper coins. Ten thousand gu coins is equivalent to 60,000 jins. It requires at least two thousand-stone ships to carry it, or twenty ox carts.
This time, twenty oxen carts were used to withdraw 10,000 guan.
The man in charge of moving money in the counter shop recalled that he was a middle-aged man who looked like a businessman. The twenty ox carts were all the same, and even the cart driver's uniform was the same color, black and red.
This immediately reminded Wang Zhi of the mule and horse company. Only the carts rented out by the mule and horse company were all the same, and the driver's clothes were also the same.
Wang Zhi led his men to the Liujun Mule and Horse Shop, which was not far from the store, only two miles away, and the mule and horse driver's uniforms happened to be black and red.
The manager of the mule and horse shop took out a book and flipped through two pages and said: "The day before yesterday, we rented out a batch of oxcarts, twenty of them. We rented them out before dawn."
Wang Zhi was overjoyed that he had found something out so quickly. He quickly asked: "Is there any coachman from that time in the shop?"
The steward waved to a driver, "Daniu, come here!"
A very strong young man came over, saluted and said, "Is the manager looking for me?"
The steward pointed at Wang Zhi, "This military master wants to ask you two questions."
Wang Zhi asked with a smile: "The morning before yesterday, did you go to Sichuan-Shaanxi Cabinet Shop with twenty oxcarts to collect money?"
"That's right!"
"Where did you send the money?"
"Send it to the Cao River outside Nancheng. There are two large ships moored on the shore. We help carry the money onto the ship. The money is all packed in boxes, which are very heavy!"
Wang Zhi's heart also became heavy. It would be difficult to trace the money after it was transported on the ship. No wonder the other party dared to rent twenty oxcarts to move the money. It turned out that there was a back-up, so the rented oxcart could not detect anything.
clue.
"Did they say where the ship was going?"
Daniel shook his head, "No one said a word from the beginning to the end, just like a group of mutes, including the businessman who took the money. They didn't say a word. The ship went south, and we don't know where we are going?"
Wang Zhi asked the steward again, "Who rented the carriage?"
The steward looked at the record and said: "A man named Wang Ping paid 20 yuan to rent a car for half a day. I don't care where he lives. As long as he pays and doesn't change the driver, we don't ask anything else."
"You should know what the accent is!"
"It's the accent of Jingzhaofu. He's not very old, in his twenties."
Wang Zhi was really disappointed. The other party was really leak-proof and couldn't find any clues in the transportation process.
........
Lantian Pass is an important pass from Guanzhong to Shangzhou, and also the only way from Guanzhong to Xiangyang. At dawn, the pass was filled with merchants and passers-by waiting to cross the pass. On top of the city, Qiu Qing paid attention to the passers-by below.
Next to him is a young clerk, the clerk of the proprietor Yu Hong. He rode all the way with the inner guard to intercept Yu Hong's brother-in-law. The inner guard didn't know him, but he was very familiar with this waiter.
"No?" Qiu Qing asked.
The waiter shook his head and said, "He is actually easy to recognize. He is very thin and tall, like a bamboo pole. He can be recognized at a glance from a distance. Moreover, he especially likes to wear brightly colored robes, which makes him even more conspicuous."
Qiu Qing estimated that he was still a step late. Since the opponent was riding a horse, he must have passed the test yesterday. He immediately ordered: "Go to Wuguan!"
He turned around and was about to leave when the waiter suddenly said: "Wait a minute!"
Qiu Qing turned around suddenly. The clerk pointed at a man on horseback running in the distance and said, "That seems to be it!"
Qiu Qing quickly took a closer look and saw a man on horseback gradually approaching in the distance. It turned out to be a very tall and thin man, who looked like a bamboo pole. He was wearing a yellow and red robe, which made him look very conspicuous.
Qiu Qing immediately ordered his opponent: "Arrest this person as soon as you enter the customs!"
The tall and thin man riding the horse is the brother-in-law of the businessman Yu Hong, named Cao Guo. He has been idle since he was a child. When he grew up and became more sensible, he followed his brother-in-law in business. Yu Hong treated him well. He earned thirty guan every month.
The income is higher than that of a senior manager.
Cao Guo has little ability, has high vision but low hand. His role is not as good as that of a clerk, but his income is ten times that of a clerk. This really makes everyone dissatisfied and no one likes him.
At this time, the city gate opened, and merchants and people on the road began to pass through the customs in an orderly manner. There were no inspections or tax inspections at the pass, and the flow was smooth, which was very convenient for merchants.
As soon as Cao Guo passed the border, a big net was suddenly thrown from above his head, covering him instantly. Before he could scream, the soldiers dragged him hard from his horse and knocked him to the ground.
The people around him didn't know what was going on, so they all ran away in fear, "Who are you? Help! There are bandits!" Cao Guo shouted in fright.
The soldier slapped him twice, then blocked his mouth with a rag, blindfolded his eyes, and took him to the military camp not far away, along with his salute and two boxes.
At this time, a soldier said to Qiu Qing: "General Qi, there are actually two hundred taels of silver in this Cao Guo box, ten taels per ingot, a total of twenty ingots."
Qiu Qing nodded, "I'll interrogate him!"
He asked Yu Hong before, and Yu Hong gave him ten taels of silver for questioning. Where did the two hundred taels of silver come from now? This Cao Guo's suspicion is even greater.
Not long after, Cao Guo was pushed up, his hands were tied behind his back, and he was sat on a small stool. The blindfold was removed, and the rag in his mouth was also torn off. Surrounding him were more than a dozen big, muscular men.
A big man, sitting in front of the table in the middle was a general in military uniform.
"We are internal guards and have been ordered to investigate. Are you Cao Guo?"
When Cao Guo heard that he was an internal guard, he was so frightened that he lowered his head and said with a guilty conscience: "That's exactly what I mean!"
"Your brother-in-law Yu Hong's bill was forged. Do you know about this?"
Cao Guo nodded, "I know, the villain was right next to me at that time."
Qiu Qing waved and the soldier handed the leather box over. Qiu Qing opened the leather box and found twenty ingots and ten taels of silver inside.
"Who gave you these two hundred taels of silver? Tell me!"
Cao Guo was so frightened that he trembled all over and stammered: "This... my brother-in-law gave it to me."
"Hmph! Your brother-in-law told me that he only gave you a total of ten taels of silver for interrogation. Your sister also said that he didn't give you a penny. So where did the money come from?"
"This is...this is the money I won from gambling in a gambling house."
Qiu Qing walked up to him and squeezed his shoulder gently, causing Cao Guo to scream in pain.
"I haven't exerted myself yet! It hurts like this. I'll give you one last chance. Who gave you the money?"
"I...my money is none of your business!"
Qiu Qing started to exert force with his fingers, and Cao Guo immediately felt pain in his bones and screamed loudly. Suddenly, there was a "kacha" sound, and his upper arm bone was violently crushed.
"ah!"
Cao Guo fell to the ground and huddled up in a ball, screaming in agony.
Qiu Qing stepped on Cao Guo's right ankle with his leather boot and slowly increased the pressure. Cao Guo convulsed with pain and couldn't bear it anymore, so he shouted: "Mr. Ma gave it to me."
Qiu Qing relaxed his feet and said coldly: "Speak!"
Cao Guo burst into tears, "I'm sorry for my brother-in-law. It was me who hurt him. I told Mr. Ma his ticket number and secret seal!"