Based on Zhu Qi's experience, he could naturally tell that there was something going on between these two people, but his current focus was on investigating the case, and he could not take care of these trivial matters. After the subordinate in charge of the autopsy came out of the mourning hall, he left first.
"How is it?" Zhu Qi lowered his voice and asked his subordinates after coming out of the official's house.
"It's white arsenic. This poison is colorless and odorless. White lines appeared on the nails of the deceased, accompanied by obvious signs of hair loss!" The subordinate shook his head and responded.
"It's really interesting. Who wanted to poison a small official? Use Jinyiwei's intelligence network to find out where he went before he died? Who he talked to!" Zhu Qi held his chin and thought for a moment. Finally, the order was issued.
"Yes." After the subordinate accepted the order, he quickly left.
…
There is no airtight wall in the world, and soon the leak of the imperial examination questions spread throughout the court.
In a luxuriously decorated private room, several officials were gathering to drink and discuss the matter.
"Hmph, let's see, this Li Chunfang is really a first-class fool! For that little money, he ruined his entire promising future. Not only that, he also hurt his subordinates." An official from the Ministry of War said angrily Put down the wine glass and spoke.
"I really don't know how he got the top prize. Could it be that he secretly stuffed money into the examiner?" An official from the Ministry of Personnel couldn't help complaining.
"It's okay for you. There aren't so many things to deal with. It's hard for us in the Criminal Department! We've been very busy investigating this case during this period."
"Come on, don't talk about this, let's drink."
"Come on, cheers!"
"Dry!"
…
In the cabinet, several cabinet elders also looked embarrassed after reviewing the memorial.
Yan Song sighed and said first: "Well, the recent leak of exam questions has spread a lot in the court! I wonder what His Majesty will think. Will he think that our cabinet is unfavorable in doing things?"
"In my opinion, there are indeed a lot of people gossiping recently! It's time to shut them up, so as not to interfere with the normal case handling process." Xu Jie on the side also took over the conversation and put forward his own suggestions.
"Well, I also think it's time to shut up these people." Gao Gong also nodded in agreement.
"What do you think?" After Xu Jie said this, he turned to Yan Shifan and Zhang Juzheng and asked.
"Well, I agree!"
"I don't have any objection either."
"Well, since everyone agrees, I will give you instructions later. They are not allowed to discuss this case anymore. If it affects the progress of the case, I will not be lenient!" After Xu Jie finished speaking, he poured himself a cup of tea. .
"I heard that His Majesty also attaches great importance to this matter. For this reason, he sent Jinyi Guards Zhu Qi and others." Yan Song suddenly said this sentence without hesitation.
"Well, we have to work harder. By the way, have you found anything over there?" Xu Jie sighed and turned to Yan Song.
"I found some clues. Before that, I sent people to Li Chunfang's house to look for the so-called stolen money, but found nothing!"
"Later, I went to the house of the junior official who was responsible for his daily life to check, and found out that the junior official died inexplicably. There must be something fishy in this. We are currently ordering people to continue investigating in this direction." Yan Song did not hide it, and told his The progress of the investigation will be truthfully informed.
"Well, I've also checked here, but I still can't confirm the identity of the person who drank with the clerk at that time!" After listening to Yan Song's words, Xu Jie nodded and added.
…
Late at night, Quanzhou Port.
"Hey, look, those people are making some noise!"
In recent days, the spies responsible for tracking this group of businessmen saw this and quickly woke up their companions who were napping next to them.
"Well, what happened?" The companion who was woken up suddenly started to wake up and subconsciously wanted to get up.
Unexpectedly, he was held down by his companions and said in a deep voice: "You idiot, there is something happening among those businessmen. Do you want to alert the enemy?"
After being reminded by his companion, the man quickly reacted and said, "Should you report it, or should I?"
"You go ahead, I will continue to guard here! Just pay more attention to the marks I left later."
"Well, okay, pay attention to safety, I will report to the general right now!"
After that, the man disappeared.
"Brother, it's curfew time now, do you think anything will happen if we do this?" asked a younger person among the group of people dressed as businessmen.
"You idiot, shut up! This trip is enough to cover the family's expenses for a year. Do you still want to get a wife?" Seeing that there was no one around, the leader yelled in a low voice.
"Brother, I still feel..."
"shut up!"
In this way, a group of people took the goods on the carriage and hurried towards the port.
The wheels of the carriage and the hooves of the horse have been specially treated and wrapped with a layer of silk, which can minimize the noise and thus reduce the probability of being discovered.
But what they didn't expect was that someone had been following them secretly, leaving marks along the way.
…
"Report to the general, there is something going on over there! The group of people sneaked out of the inn where they lived in the middle of the night, and also transported the goods they brought this time to the port." The spies who came back from earlier , reported to Qi Jiguang.
"Well, okay! You will set out with me later to bring this group of smugglers who dare to trade with Japanese pirates to justice!" Qi Jiguang ordered in a good mood after listening to the spies' report.
"Thank you, General! Thank you, General!" Seeing this, the spy quickly knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to express gratitude.
"Okay, get up." Qi Jiguang looked away from the spy and said calmly.
Immediately afterwards, Qi Jiguang called his soldiers and said in a deep voice: "Pass my order, the whole army must assemble!"
"yes!"
The rally horn sounded, and within a moment, the soldiers had already assembled.
Qi Jiguang didn't say too many words. He glanced at the soldiers one by one and said, "Let's go!"
On the shore, the group of businessmen looked anxious at this time, constantly looking into the distance, expecting to see the ship.
This place is still some distance from Quanzhou Port. It is a depression surrounded by thick reeds and various weeds. The location is very hidden and cannot be discovered at all if you don't pay more attention.
"Brother, look over there, there's a ship coming!"
Among this group of people, the younger person from before couldn't help but said excitedly when he saw the silhouette of a ship in the distance.
"Shut up, keep your voice down, and tell the code." The leader glanced at his younger brother and then ordered the people next to him.
I saw a person on the side taking out a candle from his body, lighting it three times, and extinguishing it three times. After repeating this twice, the ship that had been wandering on the sea saw this and docked.
The people on the boat came down, looked at the leading man, and said, "Have you brought everything?"
"I've brought them all, do you want to take a look first?" The leading man looked at the people who came up and asked.
"No, it's not the first time we do business. Remember to send more medicinal materials and raw silk next time. These things are in short supply at the moment, especially in Japan."
"Yes, I understand. When I return, I will vigorously purchase raw silk and medicinal materials! How much do you want?"
"As much as you want."
After the transaction, just as the two parties were about to leave, suddenly, countless torches were lit from nearby! Qi Jiguang came with a large number of Ming troops and surrounded them.
Qi Jiguang looked at the two groups with a look of disdain, and asked with a playful expression: "Do you still want to fight stubbornly?"
"Sir, we are willing to surrender." The person in charge of this transaction among the Japanese pirates smiled bitterly when he saw the muskets aimed at him all around, and then asked his subordinates to put down their weapons and stop resisting.
"Take them all away!"
"yes!"
Qi Jiguang waved his hand violently, and upon hearing the order, the soldiers behind him rushed forward and arrested everyone present.
(End of chapter)
