A heavy snow fell one after another, and the entire Jingzhao City was covered in silver. Looking around, it was covered with white snow, and the entire land turned into a world of ice and snow.
Although preparations for war were still in progress, Chen Qing was extremely annoyed by another incident in the past few days.
The Privy Council ordered the transfer of 400,000 sheepskins from the Taiyuan warehouse to Yanshan Road to protect the soldiers from the cold. Unexpectedly, the Privy Council's account did not match the actual items in the warehouse. There were 500,000 sheepskins in the Privy Council's account, but there were only 300,000 sheepskins in the warehouse.
A total of two hundred thousand.
This news made Chen Qing extremely angry. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, Yushitai, and the Privy Council to form a four-way joint investigation team and rushed to Taiyuan to investigate the matter. Chen Qing suspected that not only the sheepskins were missing, but other supplies and food were also inconsistent with the accounts.
.
But what makes Chen Qing a little troublesome is that the Ministry of War should also be involved in this matter, but Cao De, the minister of the Ministry of War, is the former prefect of Taiyuan. The warehouse where the sheepskin is located is a warehouse jointly managed by the military and the government. Will Cao De be involved in the case?
Chen Qing was pacing back and forth in the official room with his hands behind his hands. At this moment, the voice of Pei Wenjin, who joined the army, came from the bottom of the stairs, "Your Highness, Minister Cao wants to see you!"
Just as he was thinking of Cao De, he came. Chen Qing ordered: "Let him come to see me!"
After a while, Chen Qing walked downstairs, and Cao De stood up and saluted: "I am here to see you, Your Highness!"
Chen Qing waved his hand and said, "Servant Cao, please take a seat!"
The two sat down, and Cao De said urgently: "It is the duty of the Ministry of War to go to Taiyuan to investigate military resources. Please make arrangements for it, Your Highness!"
The soldiers brought tea in. Chen Qing took the teacup, took a sip, and asked lightly: "Cao Shilang has been serving in Taiyuan for nearly two years. Didn't he notice it at all?"
A trace of shame flashed in Cao De's eyes and he said: "I really know nothing about this. This is also where I neglected my duty. In the past two years in Taiyuan, I didn't even take inventory of the warehouse."
Chen Qing nodded, "I can understand that the warehouse is jointly managed. Cao Shilang thought that the military would take stock, and the military thought that the government would take stock, so both parties ignored it."
"That's indeed the reason. I don't want to get involved in military matters."
"Then what do you think about the wrong number of sheepskins? Who do you think did it?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it may have been done by the military, but it may also have been done by people in the government. The senior official in charge of the warehouse is Dou Huang. He served as the Sima of Taiyuan Prefecture and served in Taiyuan for ten years. He has many paths and wide connections. If
It was found that it was done by the government, and he was the most suspect."
"Then what do you mean?"
"I hope the Ministry of War will also participate in the investigation!"
"Actually, a joint investigation by the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple, Yushitai and the Privy Council is enough. It would be of little significance to have more parties!"
Cao De sighed, "Actually, I wanted to lead the team to investigate in my humble position. Such a big case happened during my tenure. It's so uncomfortable. It's really hard for me to shirk the blame. I just want to catch the culprit myself. I
I will feel more comfortable."
Chen Qing nodded, "Actually, it may not have happened during your tenure, but you can still investigate if you really want to. I allow the Ministry of War to participate!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your support!"
Cao De said goodbye and left. Chen Qing looked at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall for a long time, then turned around and asked Pei Wenjin: "Wenjin, do you think Cao De will be involved in the case?"
Pei Wenjin bowed and said: "Your Highness, I think it is unlikely."
Chen Qingxiao asked: "Why are you so decisive?"
"Your Highness, firstly, the Cao family is not short of money, and secondly, the Cao family's reputation is more important than money."
Chen Qing nodded, "You are right, I should be worrying too much!"
At this time, one of his subordinates came to report, "Your Highness, the King of Internal Guards has gathered them all!"
"Let them in!"
Not long after, Wang Hao and Zhong Huan hurried into the official room, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See you, Your Highness!"
"Get up!"
The two stood aside. Chen Qing sat down and asked Zhong Huan, "How long have you been back?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it has been almost a month."
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and then asked: "Has Zou Shuan been dealt with?"
Zhong Huan bowed and said, "I reported it to Your Highness and dealt with it immediately. Afterwards, I gave his parents a thousand taels of silver."
Chen Qing nodded and said to Wang Hao: "There is a big case in Taiyuan, have you heard about it?"
Wang Hao quickly said: "I have heard something from my humble position, and the internal guards can intervene at any time!"
Chen Qing walked to the window with his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment and said: "We have arranged for five departments to form a joint investigation team, but it is not something ordinary people can do to steal 200,000 sheepskins. The internal security immediately sent 500 elites to rush there.
Taiyuan secretly investigates the case."
"I humbly obey my orders!" Wang Hao bowed and agreed.
At this time, Chen Qing saw that Zhong Huan was about to speak, so he asked: "What does General Xiao Zhong want to say?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, regarding this case, I have a small idea!"
"you say!"
"Bizhi heard about this incident yesterday afternoon. He has been thinking about whether it is possible to investigate the sale of stolen goods. It happened that Beizhi's uncle opened a leather goods shop in Jingzhao. Last night, Beizhi went to consult him. He told Beizhi that the army
Fang's sheepskins are all old sheepskins, which are hot commodities in the market. The price of old sheepskins has always been the highest in Jingzhao, which is 30% higher than elsewhere, followed by Bashu. The winter in Bashu is relatively cold, and many people have rheumatism in their legs.
Lao Yangpi is the most suitable, and I am just wondering if I can find more clues if I start the investigation from Jingzhao."
Wang Hao also said: "Your Highness, what General Xiaozhong said makes sense. This case is actually no longer a secret. How can the main criminal just sit there and be killed? He will definitely eliminate all kinds of evidence, and even some key figures, such as those in charge of the warehouse, will disappear or even disappear."
If you are silenced, go to Taiyuan to investigate. At most, you can check whether other things have been stolen, etc. But if you really want to find the main culprit, it is probably not easy. It is indeed a good way to investigate from the sale of stolen goods!"
Chen Qing nodded, "Then the inner guard will be divided into two groups. One will go to Taiyuan to investigate secretly, and the other will go to Jingzhao to investigate and dispose of the stolen goods. General Xiao Zhong will be in charge of Jingzhao."
Zhong Huan quickly bowed and said: "I humbly obey my orders!"
Coming out of Taiji Palace, Wang Hao asked: "General Zhong, how do you plan to investigate?"
Zhong Huan thought for a while and said: "My uncle also told me a piece of news that I think is worth paying attention to. He said that in March this year, the price of sheepskin in Jingzhao suddenly fell sharply. It fell by nearly half at once. After a few
Yue is slowly recovering."
"Could it be because after winter, businesses are selling off inventory?"
"If it's after-season destocking, it should be the same every year, but this hasn't happened in previous years, and it just happened this year."
Wang Hao nodded, "So you suspect that someone is shipping a large amount at a low price and driving down the price?"
"Exactly!"
"Then does your uncle know the reason?"
Zhong Huan shook his head, "He is not specialized in the sheepskin business. He is in the leather business and just sells some sheepskins. For this, you need to find a big businessman who specializes in selling sheepskins."
Wang Hao asked: "Do you have a goal?"
Zhong Huan nodded, "My uncle told me about a big fur merchant, and I'm going to start from him!"
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[Something happened today, so I only have two updates, sorry! 】
