Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 476 Yu Sicheng

A huge painting of the city of Shenjing.

Hanging on an empty wall, even at this length, many details are hidden. The Hundred Quarters are divided into huge grids, each with basic terrain and buildings outlined.

But it's enough.

Di Jiu held a cinnabar pen and stared at the city map. There were many red circles drawn on it. Li Zhao read behind him: "Please build a winter prison. The size is 15 meters from north to south and 19 meters from east to west. There are 80 cells and 300 prisoners."

Such a private prison cannot be built anywhere in the capital.

Yang Juhu had just arrived nine years ago, and none of the Jinwu Guards were his confidants. At this time, he proposed to set up the Winter Prison, but he was not worried that he would not be able to control it.

Because there is already someone in Shenjing whom he trusts.

Qiu Tianyu, who came to Beijing three years ago, has already formed a team of Cao Gang members, and they only need to wait for the power of the government to be in place before they can rise together. They are old comrades, from the same place, and even for the same purpose.

Although this private prison was under the name of Jinwu Guard, it was actually a convenient place given by Yang Juhu to the Taiping Cao Gang.

No matter how you look at it, this is the most reasonable model. The Jinwu Guard can ignore it, can cover it up, but cannot do these dirty things themselves. Similarly, the Taiping Cao Gang, who handles the entire process themselves, will not waste time sending batches of people to the Jinwu Guard's prison.

Therefore, this "Winter Prison" is certainly not under the control of the Jinwu Guards but is under the control of the Taiping Cao Gang.

How many territories of the Taiping Cao Gang could accommodate a private prison that was “fifteen zhang from north to south and nineteen zhang from east to west”?
Once they knew what they were looking for, the work became a matter of following the routine steps to the finish line for both of them.

Li Zhao stood behind him, and the two of them eliminated many seemingly plausible places bit by bit. Finally, Di Jiu took a deep breath, picked up the pen and heavily outlined an area on the left.

Li Zhao looked at it in amazement, and then his expression gradually became serious.

There is no industry there, or rather, it is the Cao Gang’s largest industry.

That is the back of the West Pond of Shenjing, where the 30-meter-long canal loops. The largest in-city wharf of Shenjing is built there. The Taiping Canal Gang has controlled this area for nine years.

"Goods come and go, people flow in a mixed stream, and no one recognizes each other among the unfamiliar faces." Di Jiu said, "No one knows that cargo ships are secretly loading and unloading things when they are getting on and off."

"This area is known as the important place for the transport of grain. It is blocked behind the Feijing Tower in the West Pond. It has always been close to the private land of the grain transport gang. Normally, people are not allowed to approach it, and even seeing it is very difficult."

"That's it." Di Jiu put down his pen and said, "It's neither a king nor a duke, what private land - grind ink, submit the search warrant."

Li Zhao went to the table and spread out the paper. Di Jiu picked up the pen and asked, "Have you contacted the gate guards?"

"It's settled. Zhonglang Jiang Hong Xingping is my fellow countryman. When the official document is delivered to the Southern Court tomorrow, he will immediately bring people to seal off Taiping Wharf."

"it is good."

Just as everyone has seen, the three officials investigating the case were isolated outside the Southern Court, and Lord Di, who is a fourth-rank official, had no soldiers under his command. When it came to recruiting personnel, he had to transfer guards from the Southern Court to the capital.

However, how could the Jinwu Guards investigate themselves?

Even though the three divisions have been established and the case has been filed, the Jinwu Guards should cooperate when the three divisions request seizure or arrest, but since the executioners are human, there are always ways to refuse and disobey.

Therefore, Di Jiu sent Li Zhao to contact people in advance and did not give the Southern Court time to react. The official document was handed over and the gate guards were immediately dispatched to cooperate with the search. Everything was in compliance with the regulations.

"The Dali Temple should also send some personnel here."

"I've told you. I'll go pick it up myself tomorrow."

"it is good."

Di Jiu lowered his head and finished writing this perfunctory document in a few strokes. He looked up and let out a light breath, then put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

The two of them sat and stood in silence in the quiet room. Di Jiu poured a cup of tea and said tiredly, "Then, we should guess who we are going to face."

Li Zhao said nothing. Their action of retrieving the archives of the Ministry of War last night could not be concealed from those who were interested. Although Yang Juhu had reached a high position now, he was definitely not the supporter behind the Taiping Cao Gang.

The reason is very simple. Yang Juhu was promoted to General Jinwu in the ninth year of his reign, so he must have had support from the court.

Shenjing is an area of ​​water occupied by whale sharks and dragons. Yang Ju, Huqiu and Tianyu are new here, and it is impossible for them to occupy such a large and rich area.

Now that their investigation progress has indeed been threatened, it is normal for this dominant water beast to be unable to sit still.

"What if it's that prince?" Li Zhao whispered.

"The one in Prince Yan's mansion?"

"These two were originally from the Northern Army."

Di Jiu was silent for a moment. “You mean the guy from the north came to Shenjing to fight for these rotten meats?”

"."

"Wouldn't the Thousand Miles North Territory give him more control over his affairs?"

".But aren't these two people under the orders of Prince Yan's Mansion?"

Di Jiu was silent for a while, then shook his head: "There is no reason to guess. Anyway, they sent two lieutenants from afar, probably not to seize the gold and silver in Shenjing."

".Then it's someone else?"

"There's always the local tyrant." Di Jiu sighed lightly.

At this moment, a series of hurried footsteps sounded in front of the door, and a clerk pushed the door open with sweat dripping down his face: "Master Di, Master Di, a large carriage drove into the government office and stopped at the main entrance. The person inside specifically wants to see you."

The two of them were silent for a while. Di Jiu lowered his head to finish the tea in the cup, stood up and put on his collar: "Look, here she comes."

"Who is it?" Li Zhao asked the clerk.

"No, I don't know. He didn't show up, but he brought a team of soldiers from the palace."

Li Zhao pursed his lips. Di Jiu had already strode to the front hall, and he hurriedly followed.

It was only a few steps away when Di Jiu crossed the garden gate. His eyes were filled with brocade clothes and canopies. Soldiers with shining silver scales stood solemnly at the entrances and exits. Servants and ladies lined up at the steps. Six magnificent carriages were parked neatly in the courtyard. The horses had golden manes and fine scales clustered around their sharp eyes.

In the dim and tall main hall, there was a person sitting vaguely.

Di Jiu lifted his collar and climbed the stairs. When he reached the first step, Li Zhao stopped him. Di Jiu nodded to him and walked up, leaving the dazzling sunlight behind. Di Jiu stepped into the main hall and raised his head. A nobleman in a purple robe was leaning on the Zhao Yin seat. He had a face like an old fox, with deep and narrow eyes. His cheeks were wrinkled, but his skin was still smooth and delicate, showing precious maintenance. His white hair was neatly tied behind his head.

A piece of exquisitely polished exotic purple gold is embedded in the left cheek, as if it is not enough for the owner to wear brocade, jade and gold bands, and he also wants this body to exude an unparalleled nobleness.

He indeed possessed unfathomable cultivation. When Di Jiu stepped into the hall, he felt that the sky seemed to have darkened, and a chill enveloped his body.

He looked lazily at the scarlet robe in the hall, as if he was bored by the color representing the fourth rank. He knocked on the table lightly and spoke in a sharp voice like a snake's hiss: "Lord Di, I heard that you are loyal to the emperor and love the people. I think I have to come and smooth things over in person."

Di Jiu took a deep breath, held his breath and looked straight at this famous and powerful official in Shenjing. His body inevitably felt cold at this moment.

Yu Sicheng.

If the saint is the sky of the Tang Dynasty, then the person in front of him is at least the dark cloud covering the capital.

He had been a eunuch since childhood, and had climbed up step by step in the palace where life was worthless. Many years ago, he inspected the military appearance and led troops to defeat the enemy in the war in the northern border, and was awarded the title of county duke. At that time, he was already the most familiar assistant of the saint, while Di Jiu was still wearing light blue ninth-grade clothes and drawing a meager salary to work in a minor position outside the capital.

Now the man called out "Lord Di", Di Jiu stroked his sleeves and bowed: "Yu'an Gongkang, I don't know why you came to visit me."

Yu Sicheng slowly heated the teacup and sighed hoarsely, "Lord Di, there are so many flatterers, jesters, and slanderers in the court now. They only care about flattery and flattery, but they don't know that doing their own work well is the true loyalty to the emperor and the country. Under a wise emperor, how can there be no talents?"

Di Jiu nodded: "Mr. Yu is right."

"So when I see a minister like Lord Di, I am happy for His Majesty." Yu Sicheng poured hot water into the tea leaves, which were swirling around. "I remember the first time I led the army, I was entrusted with a heavy responsibility. How could I dare to use people casually? I was worried day and night. His Majesty warned me: 'A jade sheath with pearls is not as good as a sharp blade.'"

The powerful eunuch sighed lightly and looked out of the courtyard, as if he had returned to that time. He lowered his head but said nothing, covered the pot of tea, and poured the tea into the white porcelain cup.

"The emperor only said this one sentence. After watching it for a long time in the court, I also realized the truth." Yu Sicheng put down the teapot and smiled at Di Jiu. "Lord Di, why don't you add a few more words?"

"How dare you."

"It doesn't matter."

".Then the official continued, 'Pearls and jade are passed down for a long time, but sharp swords are easily broken and discarded.'"

Yu Sicheng laughed so hard that he stood up from the big chair. After he stopped laughing, he straightened his sleeves quietly. Suddenly, he looked at Di Jiu expressionlessly: "If the sharp blade has no handle, the evil spirit will hurt itself first."

Di Jiu remained silent.

"Lord Di," Yu Sicheng said softly, "It is easy to expel an unruly minister, and it is easy to discard a sword that hurts oneself. Lord Di has a sincere heart of loyalty to the emperor, so you must show your sword to the outside world."

"."

"Grain transport is a major issue for our capital, and the grain transport gang is an indispensable part of it. If Lord Di continues to stir up trouble, once grain transport is disrupted and grain workers fail to do their job, no one will be able to bear the consequences." Yu Sicheng sighed, "Lord Di has put a lot of thought into this matter. Since there is evidence of human trafficking, I will make the decision for Lord Di today. Qiu Tianyu, who dared to hold a banquet to show off his power to the court officials, will be imprisoned today and dealt with according to the law. As for the grain transport gang, Lord Di does not need to do anything."

"."

Yu Sicheng looked at the red-robed man standing silently in front of him for a long time, then suddenly smiled, took the cup with both hands and handed it to Di Jiu: "I haven't poured tea for a long time, so I'm a little rusty. Today, I'll serve it to a loyal minister like Lord Di!"

The hall was in complete silence. The cup of tea was suspended in the air. Di Jiu was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and took it with both hands. However, his hands shook as if he hadn't held it firmly, and the cup of tea fell to the ground with a clang. The sound of broken porcelain filled the hall.

Di Jiu bowed his head and said, "I'm ashamed. I have no cultivation skills. This tea is too hot."

"."

Yu Sicheng looked at him quietly.

Di Jiu raised his head and looked back quietly.

Yu Sicheng smiled softly and changed his tone indifferently: "You don't know whether to live or die."

After saying this, the man no longer looked at Di Jiu, as if the scarlet robe had indeed turned into an insect that could be easily killed. He walked out of the yamen indifferently, and the entire team surrounded the man in the purple robe and left in a solemn and orderly manner.

Li Zhao then immediately came to Di Jiu, held his wrist and transferred his true energy into him. Facing the undisguised pressure from the cultivator, Di Jiu's face was indeed pale and his lips were colorless.

Li Zhao helped Di Jiu sit down, his face heavy with worry: "Why would this eunuch come here in person? I wonder what tricks he has up his sleeve. Should we ask that Tong Jun for help?"

Di Jiu poured himself a cup of tea, his thick eyebrows knitted together, but he shook his head: "We are in the officialdom, how can we expect Mount Tai to block the huge waves?"

"."

"If they had such power in the Southern Court, we wouldn't be needed for this case." Di Jiu sighed, "We have to take the responsibility ourselves."

He slowly drank three cups of tea before his body gradually warmed up. He looked at the sky under the eaves and murmured, "If the blade had a handle, wouldn't it mean that the knife in my hand would immediately rise to the throne?"

".What?"

"Immediately, send a message to the capital, and let the Jingzhao Prefecture judge the case. Anyone who has been bullied by the Taiping Cao Gang can sue for their grievances."

The next morning, at the residence of Taichang Qing.

Chang Sun Jue dressed very carefully today.

It's not about exquisite makeup or unique clothes. In fact, the girl is not good at those. She spent the whole morning thinking just to choose a "suitable" outfit.

Because I had agreed with Sister Cui a long time ago that I would take her with me when I went to the Sword Training Institute to watch swordplay this year.

To enter a holy place like that, scholar's attire would be too out of place, and ordinary silk shirts, long skirts and jackets seemed a little unserious. It would be best to choose an outfit that was decent enough but would not attract anyone's attention.

Finally, she remembered that she seemed to have seen the plain and elegant sword uniforms worn by swordsmen in a light black or gray color, so she chose a similar light-colored one for herself, tied her hair into a bun neatly, turned her head high in front of the mirror, and finally felt satisfied.

The carriage outside the mansion had come to urge him for the third time. Chang Sun Jue responded and hurried out of the mansion. A noble carriage stopped in front of the door. Chang Sun Jue was a little embarrassed to lift the curtain and get on the carriage. He said politely, "Sister Cui, I've been waiting for a long time."

"Why should I wait so long? I'm just Miss Changsun's sword-playing maid." The man in the car raised his head lazily, as if he had just woken up. His glass-like eyes looked up and down at the girl's clothes, "Which country's ceremony did you just come back from?"

Chang Sun Jue sat upright in the car, ignoring her teasing, and reached out to pick up the paper on the table and flipped through it: "What are these?"

"I got the list of this year's sword students a few days ago. Take a look at it and I'll show it to you later."

Chang Sun Jue's eyes lit up slightly, and he flipped through it as if it were a treasure. But after browsing it once, he frowned slightly: "Is your copy incomplete?"

".?"

(End of this chapter)