However, this time, due to the large number of people invested and the large-scale search, it didn't take long for someone to quickly discover some clues.
For example, the fire in this flower shop was caused by being ignited internally in multiple places at the same time; it was not set on fire during robbery by outsiders. Another example is the sporadic discovery of several corpses with traces of being tied up and executed.
But this only proves that there is something suspicious about this flower shop; it does not directly point to the direction that Guo Chongtao wants to pursue at the moment. However, when Jiang Tian finally converged inside the flower house according to the distribution of open ditches and culverts, things changed.
Later, Jiang Tian stood in front of a covered shaft in the backyard, but he felt a sense of déjà vu. It looked like a wide well that had dried up, with rubbish thrown away for many years; and it was filled with the stench of all kinds of corruption and decay.
However, after Jiang Tian asked someone to use a rope to hang down a glazed wind lantern as a detection device. Immediately, the scratches on the moss on the rather spacious inner wall that were made by some huge force were revealed; as well as the flames that suddenly became unstable when they were about to fall to the bottom.
"What a good Jiang Sheng, this is indeed a suspicious relationship."
Guo Chongtao, who came after hearing the news, was also overjoyed: at this time, without any explanation from Jiang Tian, someone had already tied a rope around his waist and slipped in after a few rubs; but it was the former jailer Murong Wu who was always accompanying him. Then, his voice resounded:
"There are several dropped bodies here, as well as covered secret passages and ditch exits."
"The body was broken into pieces, and there were bite marks on the head, neck and shoulders."
"Come down quickly and help. The exit of the secret passage is blocked by a heavy object."
After another half an hour, Murong Wu and others, who were covered in stench, once again emerged from under a stage used for open-air singing and dancing performances among the rocks and rocks in the inner garden of the flower house, and used their swords to split open the nailed partition; Immediately there was a burst of cheers.
And Guo Chongtao, who seemed to be suffering from the wait, but always remained calm and calm on the outside, also breathed his last breath invisibly. But he didn't care about the stench that Murong Wu and others were covered in, and greeted him with his arms:
"Thank you for your hard work. How is the situation inside?"
"Don't worry Xantai, there is a wonderful cave inside."
Murong Wu could only look around for a moment, and then said vaguely:
"That's good, go down quickly and change this outfit!"
Guo Chongtao seems to be in good physical and mental health, because he knows that this matter has been basically settled; so if there is no accident, no one can compete with him on the priority of investigation of this case.
Then, as the entire piece was dismantled, pushed to the side, and cleared to one side, the fragments of the wooden platform; an exit located under the root of the rockery, obscured by several strange-shaped flowers and stones; was suddenly exposed to the broad daylight. in the air below.
After some cleaning and expansion, Jiang Tian was also invited to the place hidden inside. However, this time it is a larger space than the dark cellar of the abandoned warehouse; and it goes deep underground diagonally and is divided into several large and small sections with different functions.
Except for a special secret passage that led to the abandoned well and was covered with some kind of claw marks; later, during the rounds of exploration by knocking on the wall and digging into the ground, two large and small passages were found again, extending diagonally upwards; They are directly connected to the back room of the kitchen and the material warehouse.
The furnishings and objects inside were also moved in a hurry, so more obvious clues were missed. For example, the prison cells were as rusty as iron cages and still had chewed bone fragments; the thick pottery pipes were obviously used for feeding.
Another example is a large number of thick chains and oversized shackles made of fine iron; restraint devices such as wooden frames covered with claw marks. In addition, there are many small rooms dug out within the four walls, which serve as rest rooms, dining halls, and storage rooms. They are full of traces of long-term life and residence.
Just above the lighting fixtures and stove, there were thick layers of black oily smoke. At first glance, it looks like three feet of ice has not been frozen in a day; I don’t know how many years it has been secretly operating in the disciple’s workshop; I don’t know how many people disappeared quietly and were killed.
Therefore, compared to Jiang Tian, whose mood changed from a detached onlooker to one that felt as if he was experiencing it. Guo Chongtao, who had become confident and hesitant again, appeared in front of many of his subordinates gathered outside; but he announced loudly and energetically:
"Take my zhazi and go to Wutai's Chayuan, Dianyuan and left and right Jinwu Guards to mobilize manpower;"
"The few teams we had at the beginning are no longer enough. We need to mobilize at least two or three groups of people."
"Following the established rules, please invite colleagues from the Procuratorate, Palace Court and Taiwan Academy in Xiantai to come over as witnesses on the spot."
"At the same time, a search document is issued; I want everyone in the right disciple's office, as well as the relevant agencies, not to miss anyone who is related."
"I still want to see who else dares to speak out loudly and claim that this matter does not exist at all and is just nonsense spread by ignorant people."
After he assigned the tasks one by one and finished explaining these official matters, Jiang Tian reappeared beside him, but he couldn't help but remind him again:
"Xantai, it's best to investigate some more. There may be more clues about the retreat route of the people here."
"Yes, yes, I did make an oversight."
When Guo Chongtao heard this, he couldn't help being a little surprised and said apologetically: Then he shouted to the left and right:
"Guo Feng, Ah Wu, each of you bring some people here and continue to obey Jiang Sheng's follow-up instructions; all matters will be as explained by me personally."
So not long after, the laborers who were summoned from the outside shouted slogans and used iron drills and wooden poles to tie ropes and lay them on the main street around the flower house. Those heavy covers covering the horizontal ditches on both sides After lifting up the stones one by one and moving them aside.
It was immediately exposed, and the filth hidden under the ground had not seen the light of day for a long time. And where the dirty, foul-smelling turbid water converges, there are many footprints sunk deep in the mud. At this point, it’s the turn of the professionals who are good at following the trail.
Then, in this culvert that could be passed by just lowering your head slightly, someone naturally followed these vague footsteps and found them five blocks away; but there were at least three branching trends again. .
One of the paths went straight to the east, and finally disappeared on a sentry tower built by Marquis Wu near the square wall in the East District. The other road went straight south; it ended up in a burned-out carriage house and a backyard shed used to raise livestock.
The trend of the last trace, however, was somewhat unexpected, pointing directly to a place not far in front of the square gate; that is, the first group to enter Youtu Square, a temporary gathering point used to collect and accommodate outsiders. .
After hearing this feedback, Guo Chongtao's expression immediately changed. Because he suddenly remembered that when he sent people to establish a stronghold in Youtufang, he thought that the suggestion to explore the specific situation was the initiative of the missing garrison captain Chen Guanshui.
This also means that the contacts he has been pursuing were actually escorted out by arranged traitors under his own eyes? It seems that the prison guard Gu Zuolang (General) who was sitting back and watching what happened at the beginning also looks a little suspicious.
However, he couldn't help but hesitate. Because this also means that once the investigation is conducted in depth, the situation has gradually left the scope of one's duties and can therefore be controlled.
