He didn't know what Zhao Shuhai was going to do next, but he knew that it must be a big event.
The boy put away the keys and tokens, then sneaked back to the banquet and handed the things he just got to Zhao Shuhai.
Zhao Shuhai naturally also studied the key and token.
After confirming that it was what he wanted, Zhao Shuhai couldn't help but patted the boy on the shoulder: "You did a good job."
The boy smiled and asked in a low voice: "Sir, what should I do next?"
A cunning light flashed in Zhao Shuhai's eyes, and he smiled mysteriously: "Next, take the key and token and find a few officers to take the prisoner out. When people in the prison ask, you will say that he was a slave to Lu. It’s your will. They don’t dare to stop it.”
The boy was shocked after hearing this. He did not expect that Zhao Shuhai would let the prisoner go.
The boy persuaded in a low voice, "Sir, wouldn't it be bad if we did this? If this matter is found on you, wouldn't it cause some trouble?"
Zhao Shuhai kicked the boy impatiently, "If you are asked to do something, do it quickly. Why are you talking so much nonsense!"
The boy was kicked and staggered, but he was not angry, he just shook his head helplessly.
He knew that Zhao Shuhai was his master and he could not resist his orders.
From the official road to the blacksmith shop in Guyue Town, it took Lu Zhizhang and the others almost an hour to reach the blacksmith shop they were looking for.
I saw that this blacksmith shop was located on the edge of Guyue Town, surrounded by an ancient camphor forest. The door of the blacksmith shop was open, and wisps of hot air overflowed from the house, intertwining with the surrounding cold air to form a light mist.
Lu Zhizhang stepped into the blacksmith shop, and the first thing he saw was a lively scene. The anvil is piled with iron blocks waiting to be struck, and the flames in the furnace dance, reflecting the hard work of the blacksmiths.
The blacksmiths in the shop are dressed in coarse cloth, holding hammers, and shuttle back and forth between the furnace and anvil. The sweat on their faces glistened under the firelight, demonstrating their love and dedication to the blacksmith's craft.
Lu Zhizhang looked around and finally fixed his eyes on a middle-aged blacksmith in the corner. He was concentrating on hammering a sword blade that was about to be formed, and each hammer blow was precise and powerful.
"Excuse me, master." Lu Zhizhang stepped forward and politely interrupted the blacksmith's work, "Are you the master of the blacksmith shop in Gu Yue Town?"
The middle-aged blacksmith raised his head when he heard this. He put down the hammer in his hand and showed a kind smile.
"I am the master of the blacksmith shop here. My name is Li Qian. Is there anything you need my help with?"
Lu Zhizhang smiled and nodded. He took out the broadsword found in Fang Dali's house that day from the officer behind him and handed it to Li Qian.
"Master, have you ever seen this broadsword?"
Li Qian took the broken sword, looked at it carefully, and then nodded.
"Of course I have seen it before. I forged this sword myself a month ago."
When Lu Zhizhang heard this, he felt happy. He finally found the clue to prove Fang Dali's innocence.
"Master, do you remember who the owner of this sword is?" Lu Zhizhang asked eagerly.
Li Qian pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I don't know who the owner of the big sword is, but I can provide you with a direction, that is the water bandit gang living on Guyue Island. This group of people is entrenched in Guyue River." On a nearby water island, the purchaser from Guyue Island came down to purchase a batch of weapons with me a month ago. This broadsword is one of them."
After hearing about the water bandits on Gu Yue Island, Lu Zhizhang obviously became serious.
He had heard about this group of water bandits, and the nearby government had organized the extermination of this group of water bandits.
It's a pity and disappointing to say that although there are government organizations to suppress bandits, these bandits are very cunning.
They took advantage of the terrain of Guyue Island to carry out various resistance against the government. The government suffered defeats in many attempts to suppress bandits.
Do you think that if you want to investigate a case, you still have to deal with these water bandits?
Of course
Zhizhang was not afraid of fighting, he simply felt that there was not enough time. After all, the case for Fang Dali's murder was delayed time and time again, and although he and Zhao Yanzhen worked together on the Yunzhou Prefecture case, even though Zhu Ibis Zhihui They were handed over, but the credit was not theirs after all. They would only doubt their abilities.
Therefore, it is impossible for him to suppress the bandits first at this juncture.
"Master Lu, in my opinion, let's let these water bandits go first." At this time, the officer who came with Lu Zhizhang couldn't help but say something.
Although Lu Zhizhang had the same idea, he still pondered for a moment and asked, "Why?"
The officer immediately said: "We are pressed for time now. These water bandits are very cunning, and they are very familiar with the terrain. The local government has failed to wipe out the bandits many times. If we go there now, maybe we will succeed again." caught their ambush."
"When the time comes, we won't be able to get evidence, but we will involve ourselves in it. That's not worth it."
What the officer said was what Lu Zhizhang was worried about.
He turned to look at the police officer and said, "What should we do about this case? Now the clues are fixed on Guyue Island. If we don't go, when will Fang Dali be cleared of his grievances? There is not much time left for him now." too much."
The officer was silent for a while after hearing Lu Zhizhang's words.
At this time, it was Li Qian who suddenly said to Lu Zhizhang, "Are you Mr. Lu?"
Lu Zhizhang didn't understand what Li Qian meant, but he still nodded "Yes."
"Is it Mr. Lu from Dali Temple?" Li Qian didn't seem to be convinced yet, so he only confirmed it again.
Lu Zhizhang still responded in a good-tempered manner, "Yes, master, do you have anything to say?"
After receiving the confirmation, Li Qian's eyes lit up, and then he seemed to have made some kind of determination.
"Master Lu, the military advisor who came to Gu Yue Island to purchase may have to buy a batch of iron tools with me today. If you don't mind, I can help you. However, I have helped you, and I also hope that you can help me. Just a favor, little man."
Lu Zhizhang didn't expect that Li Qian would give him such a big surprise. He immediately said happily, "Say it. As long as I can help you, you can mention it."
Li Qian said in a low voice, "Sir, if the water bandits that I helped you find out, they will definitely kill me and silence me. I have no other request, I just ask you to protect my family." Life, move us to a safe place."
Hearing Li Qian's request, Lu Zhizhang nodded, "That's natural. Don't worry, we will kill these water bandits on Gu Yue Island sooner or later. Your safety will be protected sooner or later."
Hearing Lu Zhizhang's promise, Li Qian was very relieved. He had already heard about Master Lu's reputation in the capital. Even a strange case in his clan had to be tried by Lu Zhizhang before he was acquitted, so he trusted Lu Zhizhang very much.
He just continued, "Every time I go ashore for this purchase, I will bring seven or eight brothers who pretend to be ordinary merchants and come to my shop to sell ironware. They will load the goods in baskets. I don't want to do this business with them." , but living nearby, the villain has no choice. They say they are here to purchase, but it is more accurate to say that they are here to rob. At least trade with them. The villain has never received any money."
Lu Zhizhang naturally knew what Li Qian meant by what he said, and he also knew the situation of Li Qian and the others.
So he nodded to reassure Li Qian and said, "Don't worry, the government knows that you are just victims and will not punish you."
Hearing Lu Zhizhang's words, Li Qian was naturally grateful.
But looking at the four or five tolerance officers behind Lu Zhizhang, Li Qian was a little worried and said, "But sir, you only have so many people, how are you going to deal with seven or eight of them."
Before Lu Zhizhang could speak, the officer said, "You have seven or eight juniors in this store, plus our tolerance, can't you still handle a group of petty thieves?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qian immediately waved his hands, "No! No! No! Sir, if we get involved, their lives will be at risk.".Ь.
When the officer heard this, he was very angry, "Do you still have some blood? Why are you so greedy for life and afraid of death! No wonder they have been preying on you for so many years!"
official
He wanted to say more, but Lu Zhizhang said, "Wu Chaiguan, don't say any more, we are enough."
"But there are seven or eight enemies, and we only have four or five. How can we catch them all? If they escape, the residents here will definitely suffer!"
Lu Zhizhang didn't answer Wu Chaoguan's words. He just turned to look at Li Qian and said, "When will the general buyers come here?"
Li Qian whispered, "I'll probably come here in the evening."
In the evening, usually around four or five o'clock, there is still an hour left to set up.
Lu Zhizhang then asked Li Qian in a low voice, "In addition to coming to you to buy ironware, do they also buy other things?"
Li Qian nodded, "They will also go to the rice shop to pick rice. Usually, they will ask the boss to kill chickens and sheep to entertain them."
Hearing this, Lu Zhizhang was delighted, "Where is the rice shop?"
Li Qian whispered, "On the third street on the east side of the town, the house with the largest building is their house."
Lu Zhizhang heard this and said, "Okay, you can go down, there is nothing for you to do here."
After receiving Lu Zhizhang's instructions, Li Qian naturally went down quickly.
Only Wu Chaguan was still waiting for Lu Zhizhang to give him an answer with a puzzled expression.
Naturally, Lu Zhizhang also saw Wu Chaguan's confused look. He smiled and patted Wu Chaguan on the shoulder and said, "It's a great success today."
Then he whispered his plan into Wu Chaguan's ear.
Official Wu immediately looked at Lu Zhizhang and said, "Your Excellency is still wise."
Lu Zhizhang smiled and said goodbye to Li Qian's iron shop. They changed into casual clothes and went to the largest rice merchant's shop in Guyue Town.
I saw people coming and going in this rice shop in an endless stream.
Lu Zhizhang and Wu Chaguan came to Mipu. When the shopkeeper saw the guests coming, he immediately stood up and greeted them with a smile.
The shopkeeper is a short, fat man with a swollen face, and you can tell at a glance that he is a female businessman.
"Shopkeeper, we want to inquire about something." Lu Zhizhang said.
"What do you guys want to know?" the shopkeeper asked.
