Chapter 186 Reasoning

The Canal Transport Office is divided into two systems, the Banking Office and the Transport Office. The highest-ranking official is the Transport Commissioner, who is a fourth-rank official. He manages nearly a thousand people in the Canal Transport Office.

"The Canal Transport Office is the most profitable of all the offices of the court. In the 20th year of Yuan Jing, the court once implemented the sale of official positions, and the positions sold were all related to the Canal Transport Office." Governor Zhang led the way and said in a deep voice:

"In the 22nd year of Yuan Jing, the policy of selling official positions and titles was jointly banned by Duke Wei and Prime Minister Wang. But in just two years, there were so many worms who filled the positions that it was outrageous. To this day, there are still a group of people who are just sitting there and eating for free and stealing in high positions."

Xu Qian'an didn't care much about Governor Zhang's indignation, but instead extracted some intriguing points from his words.

Who is the person who sells official positions and titles that needs Wei Yuan and Prime Minister Wang to suppress together?

Without a doubt, it is Emperor Yuan Jing.

There are many emperors who sold official positions and titles in history books, and Emperor Yuan Jing is not an exception. These emperors have one thing in common: they spend money like water.

Moreover, the evaluation of such emperors in history books is not very good, at least they hold a critical attitude towards such behavior.

Arriving at the Yuzhou Canal Transport Office, the yamen runners saw a group of people coming aggressively, led by a senior official in a red robe and a night watchman with a golden gong embroidered on his chest.

Without even asking, they rushed into the yamen to report.

After a few minutes, the transport envoy of the Yuzhou Canal Transport Office, a senior official of the fourth rank, hurried out to greet him in person.

This transport envoy was over fifty years old, with a gray beard, ordinary appearance, and a black mole between his eyebrows, which made his ordinary appearance a little more special.

"I am Zhang Xingying, and I am ordered to go to Yunzhou to investigate the case. This is the document of the cabinet." Governor Zhang took out a thin booklet and handed it over.

"It turns out to be the governor. I'm sorry. Please come in." After reading the document, the transport envoy handed it back respectfully, then turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation.

The group entered the government office. The transport envoy led Governor Zhang to the hall of the government office. After sitting down and drinking tea, the transport envoy smiled and said:

"Governor, you are tired from the journey, but you plan to rest in Yuzhou for a few days?"

He observed the governor from the capital calmly, and felt that the other party was a serious and boring person. He had never smiled since they met.

Are all the adults from the capital so arrogant?

.... This transport envoy doesn't know the seriousness of the matter. Governor Zhang waved his hand: "Whether I stay here or not depends on the progress of the case."

"What do you mean?" The transport envoy was stunned.

Governor Zhang looked outside the hall and said loudly: "Bring them up!"

Including the bearded man Fang He, 62 members of the Yellow Flag Gang were brought up. They were injured to varying degrees and looked depressed.

Seeing these people, the Transport Envoy stood up in surprise and confusion, pointed at them, and looked at Governor Zhang: "What's wrong with these people? Why are they wearing the uniforms of my Canal Transport Office?"

"This is why I am visiting the Transport Envoy."

At that moment, Governor Zhang told the Transport Envoy in detail what happened. The latter was pale after hearing it, fell back on his chair, and muttered: "What should I do, what should I do..."

Tsk tsk, his Qi-cultivation skills are too poor. Compared with the officials I have dealt with in the capital, this Transport Envoy is simply a bronze... Xu Qian'an complained in his heart while observing the Transport Envoy's expression and subtle movements.

Governor Zhang said in a deep voice: "Sir, the Transport Envoy, I want to ask you, do you know anything about this case?"

The Transport Envoy shook his head hurriedly and tried to explain: "I don't know anything about this, Governor..."

Governor Zhang ignored him and turned his head to look at the white-robed magicians in the crowd. Several white-robed magicians nodded slightly, indicating that they were not lying.

After a pause, Governor Zhang said: "Is the Transport Envoy in the yamen?"

The Transport Envoy then turned his attention to the culprit, angry that there was a traitor under his command, and said in a deep voice:

"Yan Kai, the Transport Envoy, is on leave today and is not in the yamen. I will take the Governor to catch this beast immediately."

.....

Outside the house of Yan Kai, the Transport Envoy, Governor Zhang waved his hand and asked the Tiger Guards to disperse and surround Yan's house.

Yang Muhua, the Transport Envoy of the Canal Yamen, who came with him, also brought 20 catchers.

After the Tiger Guards dispersed, Jiang Luzhong led his men to break into the house and pinned down all the servants and guards in the mansion.

The Tiger Guards, the catchers of the Canal Transport Office, and the night watchmen swept through the entire Yan Mansion, as fast as thunder, without giving the other party a chance to react.

"Sir, he is in the study."

The catcher of the Canal Transport Office was the first to find Yan Kai. When Xu Qi'an rushed to the study with his colleagues, he was a step late. He saw blood splattered all over the floor, as thick as a quick.

Yan Kai, the transport envoy, lay weakly on the big chair, his head tilted, with a deep wound on his neck, and a dagger on the ground to his right.

This result was obviously beyond the expectations of Yang Zhuanyunshi and Zhang Xunfu. In addition to being stunned, anger filled their chests.

However, the anger of the two was different. The anger of the transport envoy was closer to impotent rage. Once Gang Yunshi died, all eyes were focused on him. He must be the first suspect.

Governor Zhang was angry as if the cooked duck flew away.

There were too many people, which could easily destroy the scene... and there was no guarantee that there was no murderer present, which might destroy the key clues... Xu Qi'an was the calmest. As soon as his mind turned, he made a prompt decision:

"Everyone leave the study and wait outside."

Hearing this, Governor Zhang was refreshed, glanced at everyone, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone go outside and wait, leave the study."

Soon, only Jiang Luzhong, Xu Qi'an and the two adults were left in the study.

"Governor, this Yan Kai must have committed suicide out of fear of crime. This case has nothing to do with me." Yang Yunyan explained repeatedly, eager to distance himself from the matter.

Governor Zhang ignored him and said to Xu Qi'an, "Xu Ningyan, take a good look."

Yang Yunyunshi couldn't help but glance at Xu Qi'an, but soon stopped paying attention. He pulled Governor Zhang to continue explaining, complaining and proclaiming his innocence.

"The blood was coagulated into a clot, and he had just died, but before we entered the government office." Jiang Luzhong said.

"He died almost when we entered the Caoyun Yamen." Xu Qi'an nodded.

He simply checked Yan Kai's body. The wound was so obvious that there was no need to perform an autopsy. He must have died by cutting his carotid artery.

After looking at the body, Xu Qi'an checked every corner of the study as usual, looking for possible clues.

The whole process took only five minutes. Xu Qi'an sighed, "Governor, he was killed, not committing suicide out of fear of crime."

Governor Zhang nodded and said, "Why do you think so?"

The chattering Yunyunshi stopped his excuses and turned his head to look.

"If the carotid artery is cut, the person will struggle due to lack of oxygen... and the instinct of survival, and will not sit like this. Of course, it is not enough to judge that he was killed." Xu Qian'an said: "Yan Kai is a left-handed person." Yang Zhuanyun was stunned: "How do you know?" "There is a thick callus on one side of his left middle finger, which is left by holding a pen for many years. Normal people have calluses on the middle finger of the right hand, so I judged that he is a left-handed person. "Look at the wound on his neck again, the left is deep and the right is shallow, which is the knife mark left by holding the knife with the right hand. "

Amazing... The transfer agent looked at Xu Qiyan in shock, without any contempt in his eyes. In less than half an incense stick of time, he was able to find clues and deduce the real cause of death.

In the eyes of the transfer agent who was not good at solving cases, this was simply an amazing display of ability.

Awesome... It was the first time that Governor Zhang witnessed Xu Qiyan's ability to solve cases, although he had heard about it before. No matter how the story of this small copper gong was spread in the official circles of the capital, hearing and seeing are two different things.

However, it was useless and did not play a breakthrough role in the investigation of the case... Yan Kai's cause of death was slitting his throat, which was not as fancy as the witch's dream killing. But precisely because this simple and crude method of committing the crime can be done by anyone, it is increasingly difficult to identify the murderer... Without surveillance, it is too difficult to solve the case.

"There are no signs of prying or damage on the doors and windows. The murderer and the deceased are obviously acquainted. Interrogate the servants in the mansion to see if anyone has just visited or heard Yan Kai's cry for help. Also, when interrogating all the people in the Canal Transport Office, including the Transport Commissioner, remember to search their bodies to avoid any magical instruments that can conceal their auras and hinder the observation of the Qi-Watching Technique." Xu Qian'an gave a suggestion.

Governor Zhang said: "Transport Commissioner, please cooperate with us. "

For more than an hour afterwards, the three magicians of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau kept observing the officials and clerks of the Canal Transport Office.

But there was no gain. With the death of Yan Kai, the transport commissioner, the clue of this "embezzlement" case was cut off.

Accompanied by Jiang Luzhong, Governor Zhang went to the Judicial Inspection Office in Yuzhou, which was in charge of criminal justice and happened to be the office in charge of this matter. It was also the supervisory agency of the court and was affiliated with the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Governor Zhang was the deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the immediate superior of the Judicial Inspection Office.

In the afterglow of dusk, Xu Qi'an sat on the roof of the Canal Transport Office, bathing in the golden clouds, and re-examining the case in his mind.

With the death of a transport commissioner, the clue of the whole case was cut off. Ha, this is also a clue, indicating that the person behind the scenes did not manipulate the entire Canal Transport Office.

It can be seen that this is not a simple corruption case... The Minister of Works has fallen, but the transport office of Yuzhou still continues to repeat the operation and smuggles iron ore to Yunzhou... This means that someone is behind the scenes. This person has little power and can only control one person, Gangyunshi. No, it may not be that he has little power, but maybe he is doing it in secret.

If I hadn't been lucky enough to run into it, the smuggling of iron ore might have continued.

Since there is smuggling of iron ore, will there be smuggling of official salt and saltpeter? The court must investigate the transport offices of various states.

"This trip to Yunzhou may be more dangerous than I thought." Xu Qian'an thought worriedly, and suddenly heard someone calling him from below.

"Ning Yan, let's go to the Jiaofangsi for some music." Song Tingfeng stood in the courtyard and waved at him.

"No, I'm thinking about business. "Xu Qian'an said unhappily.

"Go ahead, I heard that the women in the Jiaofangsi in Yuzhou know how to serve people." Song Tingfeng persuaded.

"If you only know about the Jiaofangsi all day long, be careful that you will never get promoted in your life." Xu Qian'an responded with regret.

.....

Yuzhou, Jiaofangsi.

Amid the melodious sound of stringed instruments, Xu Qian'an picked up the wine glass and laughed, "Come on, drink some wine. After floating on the water for six days, my bird has grown spider webs. "

The night watchmen raised their glasses together, each with a beautiful lady, toasting and chatting.

Xu Ningyan followed him, and Song Tingfeng was not surprised. It should be said that it was all expected.

When he was in the capital, Xu Qian'an never took the initiative to go to the Jiaofangsi. It was always Song Tingfeng who suggested it, and then he and Zhu Guangxiao followed him.

Sometimes when Xu Ningyan was practicing, he would curse: Song Tingfeng, if you have any conscience, don't disturb me while I'm practicing.

After cursing, he patted his butt and followed him.

The Jiaofangsi in Yuzhou is different from that in the capital. It does not cover such a large area, but it is built by the river, with six courtyards and two high-rise buildings. The scenery is elegant.

The rippling water distorts the reflection of the red lanterns, and the sound of stringed instruments floats in the courtyard and on the sparkling river.

With the status and position of Xu Qian'an and others, they certainly would not go to the building to drink with those mixed prostitutes. Led by the officials of the Canal Transport Office, they came to the courtyard of a courtesan named Hongxiu to have tea.

The courtesan named Hongxiu seemed a little reluctant. The group drank in the courtyard for half an hour, but she did not come out.