The Water Transport Office was divided into two systems, the Shipping Department and the Transport Department. The highest-ranking official was the Transport Commissioner, a fourth-rank official. He was in charge of close to a thousand people in the Water Transport Office.
"The Water Transport Office is the most profitable of all the offices in the imperial court. In the 20th year of Yuanjing, the imperial court once promoted the sale of official positions, which were all related to the Water Transport Office. "Inspector Zhang said in a deep voice as he led the way.
"In the 22nd year of Yuanjing, the policy of selling official positions was jointly banned by Duke Wei and Wang Shoufu. But in just two years, there were so many parasites who came to make up the numbers that it made people's hair stand on end. Even today, there are still a bunch of people who hold high positions without doing any work. "
Xu Qi 'an did not care much about Inspector Zhang's anger. Instead, he extracted some thought-provoking points from his words.
To need Wei Yuan and Grand Secretary Wang, these two mortal enemies, to work together to suppress him, who was that person who sold his official position?
Without a doubt, it was the Yuanjing Emperor.
There were many emperors who sold official positions in the history books, and the Yuanjing Emperor was not an exception. These emperors all had one thing in common: they spent money like water.
Moreover, the history books did not have a good evaluation of these emperors. At least, they would criticize this kind of behavior.
They arrived at the Water Transport Office of Yuzhou. The runner saw a group of people coming aggressively, led by a high-ranking official in a crimson robe and a night watchman with the word Jinluo embroidered on his chest.
Without even asking questions, he rushed into the office to report.
After a few minutes, the Transport Commissioner of Yuzhou's Water Transport Office, a fourth-rank official, came out to greet them in a hurry.
The Transport Commissioner was over fifty years old. He had a white beard and an ordinary appearance. There was a black mole between his eyebrows, which made his ordinary appearance look a little special.
"I am Zhang Xingying. I have been ordered to investigate a case in Yunzhou. This is the document from the Cabinet." Inspector Zhang took out a thin booklet and handed it over.
"Oh, it's the Inspector. My apologies. Please come in." After reading the document, the Transport Commissioner returned it respectfully, then turned to the side and made an inviting gesture.
The group entered the office. The Transport Commissioner led Inspector Zhang to the hall of the office. After taking a seat and drinking tea, the Transport Commissioner smiled.
"Inspector, you must be tired from the long journey. Do you plan to rest in Yu Province for a few days?"
He observed this inspector from the capital without batting an eyelid. He only felt that the inspector was a serious and boring person. Ever since they met, the inspector had never smiled.
Were all the officials from the capital so arrogant?
… This Transport Envoy still doesn't understand the severity of the situation. Imperial Inspector Zhang waved his hand: "Whether or not I will stay here for the night depends on the progress of the case."
"What do you mean?" The Transport Envoy was surprised.
Inspector Zhang looked towards the outside of the main hall and said in a clear voice, "Bring him in!"
Including the bearded man Fang He, sixty-two members of the Yellow Flag Gang were brought in. Their bodies were either lightly or heavily injured, and they looked dispirited.
When he saw these people, the Transport Envoy stood up in shock and confusion. He pointed at them and looked at Inspector Zhang. "What's going on with these people? Why are they wearing the uniform of our Water Transport Office?"
"This is the reason why I've come to visit you, Lord Transport Envoy."
Immediately, Inspector Zhang told the Transport Envoy everything that had happened in detail. The latter's face was drained of blood after listening to it. He fell back on his seat and muttered, "What should I do, what should I do …"
'Tsk tsk, his ability to maintain his composure is too bad. Compared to the officials I've dealt with in the capital, this Transport Envoy is practically a bronze …' Xu Qi'an ridiculed in his heart while he observed the Transport Envoy's expression and subtle movements.
Inspector Zhang said in a deep voice, "Lord Transport Envoy, let me ask you, do you know anything about this case?"
The Transport Envoy hastily shook his head and tried his best to explain, "I don't know anything, Inspector Zhang …"
Inspector Zhang ignored him and turned his head to look at the white-clothed warlocks in the crowd. The white-clothed warlocks nodded slightly, indicating that they were not lying.
After pondering for a moment, Inspector Zhang said, "Is the Transport Envoy in the yamen?"
Only then did the Transport Envoy shift his attention to the culprit. He was furious that a traitor had appeared under his command. He said in a deep voice:
"Transport Envoy Yan Kai is on leave today, so he's not in the yamen. I'll immediately bring Inspector Zhang to capture this person."
…
Outside the Transport Envoy Yan Kai's residence, Inspector Zhang waved his hand and ordered the Stalwart Tiger Guards to spread out and surround the Yan Residence.
Transport Envoy Yang Muhua from the Grain Transport Office also came with twenty bailiffs.
After the Stalwart Tiger Guards spread out, Jiang Lüzhong directly broke down the door with his men and pinned down all the servants and guards in the residence.
The Stalwart Tiger Guards, the bailiffs from the Grain Transport Office, and the night watchman swept through the entire Yan Residence. They moved as fast as lightning, not giving the other party a chance to react.
"Sir, he's in the study."
The bailiffs from the Grain Transport Office were the first to discover Yan Kai. When Xu Qi'an and his colleagues arrived at the study, they were too late. He saw thick blood splattered all over the ground.
The Transport Envoy Yan Kai was lying on the large chair powerlessly. His head was tilted to one side, and there was a deep wound on his neck. A dagger was on the ground to his right.
This outcome was clearly out of the expectations of Transport Envoy Yang and Inspector Zhang. While they were shocked, their chests were filled with rage.
However, their rage was different. The Transport Envoy's rage was closer to the rage of incompetence. The moment the Transport Envoy died, everyone's attention was focused on him. He would definitely be the first suspect.
Inspector Zhang, on the other hand, was furious like a cooked duck flying away.
There were too many people, and it would be easy to destroy the crime scene … Furthermore, there was no guarantee that there was no murderer present. It was very likely that key clues would be destroyed … Xu Qi'an was the calmest of them all.
As his thoughts turned, he made a prompt decision, "Everyone, get out of the study and wait outside."
When he heard this, Inspector Zhang became spirited. He swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, get out of the study and wait outside."
Very soon, only Jiang Lüzhong, Xu Qi'an, and the two lords were left in the study.
"Inspector Zhang, Yan Kai must have committed suicide to escape punishment. This case has nothing to do with me." Transport Envoy Yang explained repeatedly, in a hurry to disassociate himself from the case.
Inspector Zhang ignored him. He looked at Xu Qi'an and said, "Xu Ningyan, take a good look."
Transport Envoy Yang could not help but cast a glance at Xu Qi'an. He soon stopped paying attention to him and pulled Inspector Zhang to continue his explanation. He nagged about his grievances and expressed his innocence.
"The bloodstains have coagulated. He died not long ago, but before we entered the residence," Jiang Lüzhong said.
"More or less when we entered the Water Transport Office." Xu Qi'an nodded.
He simply checked Yan Kai's corpse. The wounds were so obvious that there was no need to conduct an autopsy. He died from having his carotid artery cut.
After looking at the corpse, Xu Qi 'an checked every corner of the study room as usual, looking for any clues that might be there.
The entire process only took five minutes. Xu Qi'an sighed. "Inspector Zhang, he was killed. He did not commit suicide to escape punishment."
Inspector Zhang nodded and said, "Why do you say so?"
The chattering Transport Envoy stopped explaining and turned his head to look at him.
"If the carotid artery was cut, a person would struggle because of the lack of oxygen … or because of his survival instinct. He would not sit like this. Of course, it's not enough to conclude that he was killed. "Xu Qi'an said.
Transport Envoy Yang was stunned. "How did you know?"
"Yan Kai is left-handed, right?"
"There's a thick callus on the side of his left middle finger. This is the result of holding a pen all year round. "Look at the wound on his left hand's middle finger. It's left by holding a brush all year round."
"Look at the wound on his neck. It's deep on the left and shallow on the right. This is a scar left by a right-handed person."
'Amazing …' The Transport Envoy looked at Xu Qi'an in shock. There was no longer any contempt in his eyes. In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, he could find clues and deduce the real cause of death.
In the eyes of the Transport Envoy, who was not good at solving cases, this was an amazing display of his ability.
'Amazing …' This was the first time Inspector Zhang witnessed Xu Qi'an's ability to solve cases, even though he had heard about it before. No matter how rumors spread about this little gong in the bureaucracy of the capital, hearing about it and seeing it were two different things.
However, it was useless. It could not provide a breakthrough in the investigation of the case … The cause of Yan Kai's death was a slit throat. It was not as flashy as a wizard's dream murder, but it was precisely because such a simple and crude method of murder could be done by anyone, which made it harder to lock onto the murderer … It was too difficult to solve the case without any surveillance.
"The doors and windows did not show any signs of being pried open or damaged. The murderer and the victim clearly knew each other. Interrogate the servants in the mansion and see if anyone came to visit, or if they heard Yan Kai's cries for help. Also, interrogate everyone in the Grain Transport Office, including the Transport Envoy. Remember to search their bodies to avoid any artifacts that can conceal their auras, which will hinder the observation of the Qi-watching spell, "Xu Qi'an suggested.
Inspector Zhang said, "Transport Envoy, please cooperate with us."
In the next two hours, the three warlocks from the Celestial Commissioner's Office observed the officials and officials in the Grain Transport Office.
However, they did not find anything. With the death of the Transport Envoy Yan Kai, the clue of the "embezzlement" case was broken.
Inspector Zhang, accompanied by Jiang Lüzhong, went to the QING: Bureau of Inspecting and Prosecuting in Yuzhou. This office was in charge of prisons and happened to be the one in charge of this case. At the same time, it was also the supervisory body of the imperial court and belonged to the Imperial Censorate.
Inspector Zhang was the Imperial Censorate's Deputy Imperial Censorate and the immediate superior of the QING: Bureau of Inspecting and Prosecuting.
In the afterglow of dusk, Xu Qi'an sat on the roof of the Grain Transport Office, bathing in the golden glow as he replayed the case in his mind.
With the death of the Transport Envoy, the clue of the whole case was broken. Heh, this was also a clue that the mastermind did not control the entire Grain Transport Office.
This was not a simple case of corruption … The Minister of Works had already fallen from power, but the Grain Transport Office in Yuzhou was still doing the same thing, smuggling iron ore to Yunzhou … This meant that there was still someone behind the scenes. This person did not have much power and could only control the Transport Envoy. No, it was not necessarily that he did not have much power. Maybe he did it for covert purposes.
If I had not been lucky enough to run into him, the smuggling of iron ore might have continued.
Since there was smuggling iron ore, would there be smuggling of official salt and saltpeter? It was time for the imperial court to investigate the Grain Transport Office in each province.
"This trip to Yunzhou may be more dangerous than I thought." Xu Qi'an thought worriedly. Suddenly, he heard someone calling him from below.
"Ning Yan, let's go to the Musical House to have some fun." Song Tingfeng stood in the courtyard and waved at him.
"No, I'm thinking about serious business," Xu Qi'an said grumpily.
"Go. I heard that the girls of the Musical House in Yuzhou are very good at serving people." Song Tingfeng guided him patiently.
"You only know about the Musical House all day long. Be careful that you won't be promoted for the rest of your life." Xu Qi'an replied resentfully.
…
In the Musical House in Yuzhou.
In the melodious music, Xu Qi'an picked up his cup and laughed. "Come on, let's drink. After floating on the water for six days, my bird has grown a spider web."
The night watchmen raised their cups together. Every one of them was a beautiful girl. They toasted each other and talked happily.
As expected, Xu Ningyan followed them. Song Tingfeng was not surprised. It should be said that it was all expected.
In the capital, Xu Qi'an never took the initiative to go to the Musical House. It was Song Tingfeng who proposed it, and then he and Zhu Guangxiao followed.
Sometimes when Xu Ningyan was cultivating, he would yell, "Song Tingfeng, if you have a little conscience, don't disturb my cultivation."
After scolding, he would follow them.
The Musical House in Yuzhou was different from that in the capital. It did not cover a large area, but it was built along the river, with six courtyards and two high-rise buildings. Its advantage was the elegant scenery.
The rippling water distorted the reflection of the red lanterns. The music of the Musical House floated in the courtyard and on the sparkling river.
With the identity and status of Xu Qi'an and others, of course, they would not go to the building to drink with the mixed whoremongers. Led by the officials of the Canal Transport Office, they came to the courtyard of a Top Courtesan named Hong Xiu to have a tea party.
The Top Courtesan named Hong Xiu seemed to be a little reluctant. They drank in the courtyard for almost an hour, but she did not come out.
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