"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 take Li Zhong away.
The next step is to interrogate Li Afu!
------
Shendu Water Transport Terminal.
The water transportation in the city 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 were welcomed at the door of the Water Transport Department.
According to Yang Qingyuan's Qinggong, 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 casual clothes, led a group of police officers into the Water Transport 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!
There are not many people on duty in the huge Water Transport Department.
"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 files first!"
The clerk subconsciously stood in front of Yang Qingyuan, "Sir, this is against the rules!! Why don't you wait for Master Bo to come 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.
"Tie Chengxuan!"
Tie Chengxuan took a step forward upon hearing this.
"If anyone insists on obstructing my officers from enforcing the law, they will be treated as obstruction of official duties."
Although Tie Chengxuan is not good at criminal investigation and 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 halfway 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 Transportation Department. He had never seen such a scene. Seeing the dazzling swords and the menacing people in Dali Temple, although they were extremely reluctant in their hearts, their bodies still honestly understood and got out of the way, and their fingers pointed at Yang Qingyuan's position with trembling fingers.
Yang Qingyuan walked to a pile of case files and began to look through them.
Every entry and exit of Shendu Water Transport must be inspected by the Water Transport Department and the Joint Patrol Water Division. If there are any abnormalities in the water transport, there must be abnormalities in the inspection records.
"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. He couldn't help but slap his mouth with his hand for talking too much! !
Yang Qingyuan looked at the officer's movements and knew that this was a typical symptom of reflection phobia, 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 could skin him alive when he came back. Unable to bear it any longer, the clerk mustered up unprecedented courage and stood in the way of Yang Qingyuan. forward.
"Isn't this not good, sir!?"
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 scribe glanced back. The reflected light made his eyes uncomfortable, but his expression remained unchanged and he was 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 take people to stay at the water transport terminal 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 half a year into the carriage.
The capital of the gods is the world's trade center and the most prosperous place in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Thousands of vassals bow their heads and all nations come to court. Moreover, the divine capital is surrounded by eight rivers, and 80% of the goods entering and exiting are transported by water merchant ships. The daily inspection records are a thick book.
Half a year's worth of inspection records were piled up on half a carriage.
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 casual 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 has practiced martial arts, he is not good at swords and guns, not good at fists and feet, has difficulty in riding, and cannot keep fit.
Pretty standard and accomplishing nothing.
Of course, it's not that he doesn't have any advantages. He has a big advantage, which is big enough for him to be the chief clerk of the Water Transport Department of the Ministry of Household, which is full of oil and wealth.
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 all. 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. , hoping to achieve something.
However, Liu Jibai was indeed a prodigy. He could read a thousand words at the age of seven and 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 connections 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's head is white.
Nothing but because people are stupid and easy to control!
When he took office, Liu Jibai, who wanted to let go and do something big, found that he was an empty frame, and various forces clashed here.
Liu Jibai is just a fool, not really stupid. Once he got caught up in this kind of struggle, he didn't even know how his small body could die, so he just ignored it and drank and went to flower houses every day.
He has a share of the money provided each month and knows nothing else.
Of course, no one would listen to Liu Jibai's orders even if they came out of the Water Transport Department.
By such a coincidence, this position lasted for three years.
But today, Liu Jibai, who had always been indifferent, couldn't bear it anymore. The prince was the future prince, and he had to endure being bullied by his people. The King of Chu was also a strong contender for the throne, so he had to endure it too. But who do you think Yang Qingyuan is?
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 dusk at this time, the lamps and candles were already lit in Dali Temple, and the sound of turning books was 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 exposing his boss's secrets, 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 work is not to Ye Jianhan's liking.
Yang Qingyuan spread his hands, pointed at 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 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, this?!"
"Let me ask you, what is the main business of the An family?!" 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, there is not much change in the quantity of goods shipped in and out?!"
Di Zhiyuan still didn't understand.
"Although the quantity has not changed, you find 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! Therefore, 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's 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? As a member of the Wenhua Palace, I am well aware of reports from various places. 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 only 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 freight transportation.
"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.
