Huo Mianzhi opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
"I understand that Mr. Huo is just the county magistrate and cannot give any guarantee." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Then let me talk about the third thing that everyone has to solve here." His face sank and he said coldly: "Since we are connected with Liaoxi County
Both Shou and the county lieutenant were involved in the case, so besides him, how many other people participated in planning the case? The suicide note left by Gongsun Shang admitted that he planned the incident, but others had already planned it.
If you are dead, can you take on such a big case with just a suicide note?"
Jiang Xiaochun said coldly: "No one can guarantee whether Gongsun Shang really committed suicide and whether this suicide note was really left by him personally. The imperial court must send someone to investigate and find out the truth. Gongsun Shanghe
Qiao Mingshui's plan to kill people and rob money is already a serious crime of rebellion. Are there other rebels in the city? Did they kill Gongsun Shang just to kill people and silence them? This suicide note was just a forgery? The county governor was a fourth-grade official and died suddenly.
Whether he committed suicide or was murdered, it is natural that Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment will send people to investigate thoroughly."
Qin Xiao nodded and said: "General Jiang Lang's words make sense. Mr. Huo, the death of Governor Gongsun is directly related to the robbery of Long Rui's army's salary. If there is anything else fishy behind this, of course it must be investigated thoroughly by someone appointed by the imperial court.
.You just said that the body of Sheriff Gongsun has been placed, which means that the body is still in the Sheriff's Mansion?"
Huo Mianzhi vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he could only say: "Exactly."
"Very good." Qin Xiao nodded and said: "Although the court has not yet convicted Gongsun Shang, his crime of rebellion is already difficult to absolve. Since Gongsun Shang committed suicide in the governor's mansion, the scene of the crime is naturally there.
Here, we suspect that he was murdered. In order to ensure that the crime scene is not destroyed by people with ulterior motives, we can only send people to protect him." He said to Zhao Shengtai: "Zhao Lieutenant, from now on, until the court sends out
Until the officials investigating the case arrive, you will protect the county magistrate's mansion. No one is allowed to enter the crime scene without permission, let alone get close to Gongsun Shang's body."
Zhao Shengtai said respectfully: "I humble general will obey your order."
"General Qin, this is not possible." Huo Mianzhi frowned and said in a deep voice: "Where is the Governor's Mansion? How can you, Long Ruijun, be allowed to break in without permission? Even if a tragedy occurs, there should be a Governor's Mansion.
The border sent people to investigate thoroughly, and the imperial court sent people to investigate. Naturally, the Duhufu sent people to assist in the investigation. How could it be Long Ruijun's turn to intervene? You are the army, and investigating criminal cases is not within your scope of authority.
"
"If this case has nothing to do with Long Ruijun, even if we are asked to protect the scene, we still have to consider it." Jiang Xiaochun said coldly: "But this case is related to Long Ruijun's logistics supply. To put it more seriously, recently
The food, clothing, and pay of Wanlong Rui officers and soldiers are all related to this case. If it is not thoroughly clarified, everyone will feel uneasy. We are here this time, not as soldiers, but as plaintiffs." He said to the soldiers sitting on the ground.
They said solemnly: "Take them all out!"
There was a murmuring sound, and soon all the soldiers were seen holding up a complaint. Huo Mianzhi and the guards of the County Sheriff's Mansion behind him were stunned.
"Master Huo, you see clearly. When we entered the city, we handed in the petition together." Jiang Xiaochun said slowly: "Originally, we wanted to submit the petition to Gongsun County Sheriff, accusing his subordinates Qiao Mingshui and Gongsun Hong of murdering people and robbing money.
Since Gongsun Shang committed suicide and admitted that he planned this bank robbery, everyone will sue Gongsun Shang for robbing Long Rui's military salary. We all ask the court to send officials to thoroughly investigate the case, so we can only wait with the pleadings.
We will never leave until the officials from the imperial court arrive.”
All the soldiers said in unison: "If you don't accept this case, you will never leave!"
Huo Mianzhi's heart sank.
"By the way, we entered the city to hand in the writ, but we were worried that Gongsun Shang's gang would kill everyone and launch a rebellion in the city. For this reason, we sent people to guard the official warehouse and weapons depot in the city." Qin Xiao said lightly: "The ones in the warehouse.
Naturally, we will not touch the food and weapons, but just in case, we will never allow others to take away a grain of food from the warehouse, let alone a weapon." He took out a weapon from his arms.
After receiving the official letter, he winked at Zhao Shengtai. Zhao Shengtai understood it. As a result, the official letter was presented to Huo Mianzhi. Huo Mianzhi was a little confused and reached out to take it.
"Master Huo, although I do not doubt the loyalty of the Guangning City defenders to the imperial court, it is the county lieutenant Qiao Mingshui and his Guangning City defense forces who participated in this bank robbery." Qin Xiao sighed: "I'm here.
I still believe that most of the Guangning garrison are loyal soldiers of the imperial court, but facts have proved that there are inevitably rebels among them. If Guangning City continues to be guarded by them, I am only worried that if someone has evil intentions, it will soon
It may lead to a rebellion in Guangning City. Gongsun Shang is dead and Qiao Mingshui has been detained. Now the highest official of Guangning City is Mr. Huo, so Mr. Huo is asked to approve this official letter to remove the guards at the four gates of Guangning City.
, I, Long Ruijun, will change the defense."
Huo Mianzhi suddenly changed his expression, and said in a deep voice: "General Qin, please forgive me for speaking frankly, you... After you entered the city, you controlled the official warehouse and weapons depot, and now you are planning to control the county governor's mansion, and you have to sign a defense change with me.
Official letter, this...isn't this a rebellion?"
"There is a rebel party in the city. We are doing this to nip it in the bud." Qin Xiao calmly said: "We will evacuate as soon as the imperial decree comes down. We will never stay in Guangning City."
Huo Mianzhi said in a cold voice: "Master Huo, are you not going to sign the defense change order?"
Huo Mianzhi shook his head and said: "The official is the county magistrate. City defense is not within the scope of the official's responsibilities. The official has no authority to sign."
"Very good." Qin Xiao smiled and said: "In other words, all the soldiers and horses in Guangning City have nothing to do with Mr. Huo. Mr. Huo has no right to give orders to any soldiers and horses in Guangning City. Is this what you mean?"
Huo Mianzhi had a vague feeling that Qin Xiao's question seemed to be a trap, and he didn't dare to answer easily for a while.
"Master Huo, why don't you speak?"
Huo Mianzhi pondered for a moment and then said: "If General Qin wants to change defenses, he should send someone to the Governor's Mansion to ask for instructions from the Governor, but the official... The official has no right to control the mobilization of troops and horses in the city."
"It seems that Mr. Huo is really keeping his duty." Qin Xiao turned to look at Jiang Xiaochun and asked: "General Jiang Lang, Mr. Huo has no right to give orders to the city defense army. The county guard is dead and the county lieutenant was detained for treason. So what about the city defense?"
Is there no one in the army who can be mobilized?"
Jiang Xiaochun shook his head and said: "No, there is still one person who can take over the command of the county captain in an emergency."
"Oh?" Qin Xiao pretended to be surprised: "Who?"
"Supervisory troops!" Jiang Xiaochun said: "As far as I know, the four northeastern counties have supervisory troops in the city defense troops and the north courtyard."
When Huo Mianzhi heard this, his color changed slightly.
The reason why Beiyuan was extremely powerful in the court was that, in addition to having the right to mobilize supplies from the Ministry of Household Affairs, the other most fearsome thing was that Beiyuan had supervisory troops all over the world.
After the saint ascended the throne, he never really trusted the officials of the government and the public. Instead, he appointed a large number of eunuchs in the inner palace. Whether it was the Ziyi Prison, the Beiyuan, or even the Kyoto Shence Army, eunuchs were almost always in charge, although Princess Sheyue was the leader of the Beiyuan.
The envoy has control over the North Court, but almost all the officials in the North Court are eunuchs.
Both the frontier army and the local state army have supervisors, and the saints also stationed supervisors in the four northeastern counties.
The Northeast is the base camp of the Liaodong Army. Although the Beiyuan has stationed supervisors, the supervisors sent to the Northeast are completely different from the supervisors of the states in Guan Nei. Most of the supervisors in Guan have real power and have a very high status in the army.
, and the supervisory troops sent to the four northeastern counties were in name only, they were just the face of the imperial court.
When Beiyuan sends out military supervisors, countless people have to spend a lot of money in order to be sent to a good place. Only those who are unlucky or marginalized in Beiyuan can send generals abroad without spending a penny, but they are stationed in the Northeast.
Four counties are equivalent to being sent into exile.
Naturally, there are also supervisory troops in Guangning City, Liaoxi County.
However, since the supervisor took office a few years ago, he has almost never participated in military affairs. Naturally, no one in the Beiyuan would care about it. Even the officials in Liaoxi County have almost forgotten that there is a supervisor.
, and that Jianjun receives his salary every month, lives his own small life, is harmless to humans and animals, and will not find a sense of existence here.
At this moment, Qin Xiao suddenly mentioned the supervisory army in Guangning City. Huo Mianzhi remembered that there was indeed such a person in the city, but he also immediately thought that since Qin Xiao had brought this person out, he would definitely make a big fuss.
Jiang Xiaochun shouted towards the street. Huo Mianzhi and the guards of the county magistrate's mansion turned around and saw another group of people coming from the street. When they got closer, they saw two eunuchs dressed as supervisors riding away.
At the front are the guards from the North Courtyard.
One of the supervisors, Huo Mian recognized at a glance, was Gao Rang, the supervisor of Guangning City.
Gao Rang no longer had the humble and low-key look of the past. He was riding a horse with his head raised, his face radiant and full of energy.
"General Zhonglang!" The leading supervisor was naturally Xie Gaoyang, the minister of the North Academy, who is also the current supervisor of the Long Rui Army. When he came to Qin Xiao, he introduced with a smile: "This is Gao Ranggao, the supervisor of the Western Liaoning Army.
Supervise the army!"
Qin Xiao immediately raised his hands and said, "Master Gao!"
Gao Rang was extremely courteous to Qin Xiao. He got off his horse, bowed and said, "I'm a lowly official, Gao Rang. I've seen General Zhonglang!"
Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Excuse me, Master Gao, I'm here to ask for something." He winked at Zhao Shengtai again, and Zhao Shengtai was not polite. He went directly over, grabbed the official letter from Huo Mianzhi's hand, and presented it to him.
Gao Rang, however, took it with both hands, glanced at it, and said: "General Zhonglang, Qiao Mingshui led people to rob official silver. They committed a heinous crime. There must be comrades in the Guangning city defense army. I thought that at this time,
It is indeed the best arrangement for Long Rui's army to take over the defense of Guangning. In this way, rebellion can be prevented in the city." He took out the military supervision seal that he had prepared long ago from his arms and breathed out with his mouth.
Without saying a word, he stamped it directly, put away the seal, and then took the official letter in both hands and presented it to Qin Xiao.
The corners of Huo Mianzhi's eyes twitched, never expecting that Gao Rang, who had always been forgotten, would now become the sharpest knife in Qin Xiao's hand.
"General Zhonglang, with this official letter, you have the right to mobilize troops and horses in the city." Gao Rang said: "If anyone disobeys General Zhonglang's military order, it is equivalent to treason."
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "Thank you, Mr. Gao. Mr. Gao, we just learned that the county governor Gongsun Shang committed suicide in fear of crime. The scene of his suicide was in the county governor's mansion. We suspect that Gongsun Shang's death was not that simple, and we want to protect the scene until the court
Send someone to investigate thoroughly, I wonder...?”
"Since Qiao Mingshui's accomplices are hiding among the defenders in the city, the heavy responsibility of protecting the county governor's mansion cannot be entrusted to them." Gao Rang immediately said: "General Zhonglang, as a supervisor of Guangning, I have a question for you.
I’m sorry to ask you, but I wonder if General Zhonglang can send someone to protect the county governor’s mansion to prevent someone from destroying the scene? If I can get help from Long Ruijun, I would be very grateful!"
Qin Xiaodao: "I have this intention. Since Mr. Gao has such a request, Long Ruijun will naturally obey the order." He said to Zhao Shengtai: "Captain Zhao, can you hear Mr. Gao's order? Mr. Gao is Guangning.
Supervisor, since he asked us to help, you must obey Master Gao's order and protect the Sheriff's Mansion." He glanced at Huo Mian and said calmly: "Those who are not relevant, let them leave the Sheriff's Mansion, and those who are relevant, please
Find someone to take good care of you, don’t neglect it!”