"Everything else is the same as the villain's plan. The only exceptions are the speed at which the news of Lianxiang's disappearance spread and the fact that Li Afu was poisoned and survived. This was beyond the villain's plan!"
Li Zhong answered Di Zhiyuan's questions honestly.
After listening to this, Di Zhiyuan felt thoughtful.
These two events seemed to be uncontrollable variables in Li Zhong's plan, but judging from the results, Lian Xiang's death caused Yang Qingyuan and himself to speculate that the murderer was still hiding in the house; and Li Afu's death directly led to Li Bai's death.
The truth about the two murders was revealed.
In other words, as long as Li Afu is not dead, even if Cuizhu does not confess, as long as Li Afu confesses, Li Zhong's plan will still be exposed.
Thinking of this, Di Zhiyuan already understood that the key point still lies in Li Afu. As long as Li Afu is still alive, Li Zhong will inevitably be exposed.
After listening to Li Zhong's account, Di Zhiyuan waved his hand to have Li Zhong taken away.
The next step is to interrogate Li Afu!
------
Shendu Water Transport Terminal.
The water transportation in the capital of God has one light and one dark, and two controllers.
On the surface, the person in charge of water transport is the Water Transport Department, an agency dispatched by the Ministry of Household Affairs, which is responsible for all shipping in Bashui, Shendu.
But in fact, water transportation has been controlled by Pan Qianweng's Cao Gang. If the Cao Gang does not cooperate, the Water Transportation Department will not be able to control the operation of water transportation at all.
But even so, the Water Transport Department is still a promising place, and a lot of officials want to be transferred to the Water Transport Department.
But today, a group of uninvited guests came to the door of the Water Transport Department.
According to Yang Qingyuan's lightness skills, even if he went to Jingzhao Yin Mansion, he still arrived before Tie Chengxuan and others.
After Tie Chengxuan and the police officers arrived, Yang Qingyuan, dressed in civilian clothes, led a group of police officers into the Water Transportation Department.
A dispatched agency of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development was not yet noticed by Yang Qingyuan.
Not to mention that the person in charge here is just the chief clerk of the Water Transport Department, and even the doctor in charge of the Water Transport Department is here, and Yang Qingyuan doesn't give him any face.
I, Dali Temple, am financially independent!
In the huge water transportation department, there are not many people on duty.
"Dali Temple, investigate the case in accordance with the law!" Yang Qingyuan threw a token to a clerk on duty, "I want to obtain the records of the coming and going of merchant ships of all sizes in the capital within six months."
The situation was urgent, and Yang Qingyuan had no time to argue with a scribe.
"But this is not within the scope of the junior official's authority! This must be approved by Master Bo! The junior official cannot make the decision!"
"Where is the Lord?!"
The clerk saw Yang Qingyuan's face and said cautiously, "Master Bo is out on business! I don't know when I will return!?"
"Then let me check the file first!"
The clerk subconsciously stood in front of Yang Qingyuan, "Sir, this is against the rules!! Why don't you wait until Master Bo comes back and ask him to help you get it?"
"The case is urgent now. There is no time to wait for your master Bo to come back. If anyone is held accountable for this, I will take full responsibility."
"Sir!?" The clerk wanted to stop him again, and Yang Qingyuan was slightly annoyed.
"Cheol Sung Hyun!"
Tie Chengxuan took a step forward upon hearing this.
"If anyone insists on obstructing the official's law enforcement, he will be treated as obstructing official duties."
Although Tie Chengxuan is not good at criminal investigation reasoning, he is very good at arresting people. He became excited when he heard Yang Qingyuan's words, and finally he no longer had to be a backdrop.
"Keng!"
Tie Chengxuan held the sword half out of his waist and stared at the scribe with a half-smile.
The detectives behind Tie Chengxuan also drew their swords.
"Zheng! Keng! Ding!"
In the originally peaceful Water Transport Department, there was a sound of swords being unsheathed.
The scribe was just a clerk in the Water Transport Department. He had never seen such a scene. Looking at the dazzling swords and the fierce people in Dali Temple, although he was extremely reluctant in his heart, his body still honestly understood and got out of the way.
With trembling fingers, he pointed to a location for Yang Qingyuan.
Yang Qingyuan walked to a pile of case files and began to look through them.
Every entry and exit of the Shendu Water Transport vessel must go through a checkpoint inspection by the Water Transport Department and the Joint Patrol Water Division. If there is really an abnormality in the water transport, there must be an abnormality in the inspection record file.
"Do you have copies of these case files?!"
The scribe was stunned for a moment before reacting, "Master Qi, every volume of records will inevitably be lost, and there are copies!"
"Where is the copy?!"
The clerk pointed to a bookcase at the back, "That's where the clerk keeps the copies. Every time there are inspection records and files, the clerk will make a copy of the volume."
After the clerk finished speaking, he realized that he didn't know why he said it again, so he couldn't help but slap his mouth with his hand for talking too much again!!
Yang Qingyuan looked at the officer's movements and knew that this was a typical symptom of retrophobia, a comprehensive complication that occurs when some people face reflections, especially reflections from swords.
"Bring all the copies back to the office!"
When the clerk heard Yang Qingyuan's words, he became anxious. If these copies of the case files were taken away by Yang Qingyuan, the chief clerk would be able to skin him alive when he came back. The clerk who could no longer bear it mustered up unprecedented courage and stood in the way of Yang Qingyuan.
forward.
"My lord, this is not very good!?"
Yang Qingyuan did not answer, but slightly raised his chin towards the person behind him, and then continued to turn the pages of the book.
The clerk glanced back. The reflected light made his eyes uncomfortable, but his expression remained unchanged and he remained calm.
“This is so bad!!”
"If you rely on these adults to carry so many books, when will they arrive?! I will prepare a car for you right now so that you can transport them back to the office!"
As he spoke, the clerk ran all the way to the back office.
Yang Qingyuan thought for a moment but did not interrupt him.
Most of the police officers present were martial arts practitioners. Although they knew a few big characters, it was difficult for them to sort through the case files to find clues. These case files would eventually have to be brought back to Dali Temple for the scribes of Dali Temple to check.
.
Tie Chengxuan also needs to stay at the water transport terminal with others to prevent accidents.
In this case, it would be nice to have a carriage.
A moment later, a carriage was waiting in front of the main entrance of the Water Transportation Department. Tie Chengxuan directed the police to load all the details of the case files within the past six months into the carriage.
Shendu is the world's trade center, the most prosperous place in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Thousands of vassals bow their heads and all nations come to court. Moreover, Shendu is surrounded by eight rivers, and 80% of the goods in and out are transported by water merchant ships. The daily inspection records are thick
booklet.
Half a year's inspection records were piled up, and half a carriage was piled up.
After Yang Qingyuan said goodbye to the friendly scribes of the Water Transport Department, he ordered Tie Chengxuan to lead people to guard near the dock and monitor the movements of the Water Transport Department and the Cao Gang.
Then he chose a policeman with driving experience to drive the carriage back to Dali Temple.
Tie Chengxuan, who was left behind, divided the group of detectives into two. He led ten people to monitor the movements near the Cao Gang's rudder, and the other ten people were responsible for monitoring the movements near the Cao Transportation Department. The remaining ten people changed into civilian clothes and entered.
Dock inspection.
Half an hour after Yang Qingyuan left, an official wearing official robes and smelling of alcohol walked into the Water Transport Department.
This person is Liu Jibai, the chief clerk of the Water Transport Department.
Liu Jibai can be said to be a model of uneducated and incompetent. Although he can write, he is not familiar with the meaning of the classics, is not good at poetry, has no understanding of policy theory, and does not know the rules and regulations.
Although he had practiced martial arts, he was not good at swords, guns, fists and feet, could not master riding skills, and could not keep fit.
Very standard and achieves nothing.
Of course, he is not without any merits. He has a big advantage, big enough for him to be the well-oiled chief clerk of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Revenue.
His father was Liu Bin, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was in the third rank.
Liu Bin was over 40 years old and had such a precious son. Naturally, he was doted on by many people. His own child did not want to study. In order to have a better future for him, Liu Bin asked him to be a prison student and let him study in the Imperial College.
, hope to achieve something.
However, Liu Jibai was indeed a prodigy. He could read a thousand words at the age of seven, but he gained nothing from reading.
He is especially good at drinking and sleeping with prostitutes, and he knows the top features of every flower house in the capital.
Liu Bin had no choice but to use his contacts to find him a job in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
However, people are lucky, and all good things come to them. The previous chief secretary of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Revenue passed away due to illness. The two factions of the Prince and the King of Chu couldn't compete for this position, so this position fell to a member of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Revenue who had no political stance at that time.
Liu Ji has white hair on his head.
Nothing but because people are stupid and easy to control!
When Liu Jibai took office, he wanted to let go of his hands and do something big. He found that he was an empty frame, and various forces clashed here.
Liu Jibai is just a fool, not really stupid. Once he gets caught up in this kind of struggle, he doesn't know how his little body died, so he just doesn't care, drinking and visiting flower houses every day.
He has a share of the money paid each month and knows nothing else.
Of course, even if he took care of it, no one would listen to Liu Jibai's orders after they left the Water Transport Department.
By such a coincidence, this position lasted for three years.
But today, Liu Jibai, who has always been indifferent, can't bear it anymore. The prince is the future prince, and he has to endure being bullied by his people. The King of Chu is also a strong contender for the throne, and he has to endure it too. But who do you Yang Qingyuan mean?
?
A mere five-ranked Dali Temple Prime Minister, although he is two ranks higher than me, but so what, my father Liu Bin, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites!!
Encouraged by his drunkenness, Liu Jibai found two followers, took his sword and went straight to Dali Temple.
It was already dusk at this time, the lamps and candles had been lit in Dali Temple, and the sound of books being turned over could be heard in the main hall.
Yang Qingyuan recruited eleven scribes, plus he and Di Zhiyuan, looking through the records and files of the Water Transport Department in the main hall.
Although Ye Jianhan was also literate, he really couldn't do this kind of civil service work, so he just watched while holding a meat bun.
Yang Qingyuan glanced at Ye Jianhan and felt helpless. Although as a thug, Ye Jianhan had no obvious shortcomings except gossip and revealing the secrets of his boss, but his function was too single.
Look at Di Zhiyuan, he can deduce the facts of the case, interrogate, organize documents, handle chores, and even hold a sword to capture thieves when necessary. He is really versatile.
On the other hand, Ye Jianhan is useless except for being able to fight!!
Just look at it and just complain when you eat!
It made Yang Qingyuan a little hungry!
"Jianhan, Tie Chengxuan is alone at the water transport terminal, unable to support a tree alone. Why don't you go and help him?"
Ye Jianhan swallowed the bun in his mouth, "Is this surveillance again?!"
Obviously this kind of boring job is not to Ye Jianhan's liking.
Yang Qingyuan spread his hands, pointed to a pile of files on the ground and said, "Of course I or Zhiyuan can go, then you stay to check the files?!"
As soon as Yang Qingyuan finished speaking, Ye Jianhan jumped up and landed on the roof of Dali Temple. Then he jumped up and galloped towards the water transport terminal.
Although surveillance is boring, it is already a quite interesting job compared to looking through files for clues!
Yang Qingyuan and Di Zhiyuan smiled at each other and continued.
It took the thirteen people of Dali Temple more than an hour to review and sort out all the files.
"Judging from the water transportation records in the past six months, there doesn't seem to be much anomaly."
Di Zhiyuan looked at the pile of papers in his hand and scratched his somewhat messy hair.
Yang Qingyuan frowned. The results of the review seemed to be normal, and there was not much fluctuation in the entry and exit of goods. However, there was a set of data that made Yang Qingyuan feel unusual.
Anjia's main business is banking and grain. In the past two months, the number of cargo ships shipped by Anjia out of the capital has increased by 30%.
Yang Qingyuan handed the paper in his hand to Di Zhiyuan.
Di Zhiyuan took the paper, but he was a little confused about what Yang Qingyuan meant.
"My lord, what is this?!"
"Let me ask you, what is the An family's main business?!" Yang Qingyuan asked.
"Bank, food!"
"Before this, what kind of goods did Anjia transport into and out of the capital?!"
"Grain! The grain transported to Huguang is sold north! But judging from the case files, the quantity of goods shipped in and out has not changed much?!"
Di Zhiyuan still didn't understand.
"Although the quantity has not changed, you have found that the number of ships that are not responsible for transporting to the north has increased by 30% in two months. The quantity of goods may be false, because the checkpoints of the patrol camp will not take out the goods inside and call them one by one.
Heavy! So there will be no abnormality in the quantity of cargo, but the 30% increase in ships cannot escape the records of the Water Transport Department."
At this point, Di Zhiyuan completely understood what Yang Qingyuan meant.
"The An family is engaged in the grain business. If the ships are carrying grain, it would be even more strange. Why did they suddenly transport a large amount of grain to the north? I am walking in the Wenhua Palace and know the reports from various places well. In the past three months,
There are no major disasters in the North, the people have a good harvest, and there is no room for profit from food!"
The An family's unknown behavior made Yang Qingyuan slightly uneasy.
"Sir, this is just a merchant ship under the Anjia flag. If the Anjia really has any problems with water transportation, it is impossible to just use its own merchant ships. And on the Weishui River, the person who controls the most cargo ships is Li Bailiang!! Sir
Connected!!”
Di Zhiyuan also connected Li Bailiang's death from the abnormality in the freight.
"Yes! There should be a connection between the two! But this alone is not enough to explain anything!"
"Loading at the wharf is inseparable from Caobang. It seems that I have to go to Caobang again!" Yang Qingyuan put down the note in his hand, "Zhiyuan will be left to you here! Continue to interrogate Li Afu! Find a way
Pry his mouth open!"
"Don't worry, sir, leave all matters within the office to me!"
Just when Yang Qingyuan was about to leave the house, there was a burst of noise outside the door.