Tang Dynasty detective

Chapter 392
"A person's kindness should be repaid by springs. I am a rough man, but I also know this truth. If it wasn't for the help of General Qin back then, how would I be where I am today?" Xiong Asi carefully placed the fruits tidy, said.

Li Canghai was silent for a moment, then said, "Do you believe that General Qin colluded with the enemy and treasoned the country?"

Xiong Asi was stunned for a moment. After thinking for a while, he sighed: "So what if you believe it? What if you don't believe it? Can General Qin's family of more than [-] people be resurrected from the dead?"

"If General Qin was wronged, don't you want to see the day when General Qin is wronged?" Li Canghai asked with a frown.

Xiong Asi looked at the rainwater falling from the eaves, and said in grief and indignation: "Nowadays, the traitor is in power, and the loyal and good people can't protect themselves. Who will defend General Qin? , redress of injustice is nothing but a joke!"

"Traitors are in power, but there are also loyal people. The darkness can never cover the world, all it takes is time. If General Qin is wronged, God will give him justice." Li Canghai said calmly.

Li Canghai's words stunned Xiong Asi for a moment.

He looked at Li Canghai, laughed a few times, then stood up, shook his head without saying a word, picked up the paper umbrella and walked into the rain.

Li Canghai didn't stop him, watching Xiong Asi's back going away, he gradually had some guesses in his heart.

Coming here this time can be said to be very rewarding.

The benefactor mentioned by the apprentices in the iron shop was probably Qin Fu.

Qin Fu helped Xiong Asi, and Xiong Asi has always been fond of him, so after learning that Qin Fu was ransacked and beheaded by his family, Xiong Asi went to help them collect the corpses without hesitation.

From this point of view, Xiong Asi is indeed a righteous man.

"Blacksmith, bathroom attendant, corpse collector..."

Li Canghai narrowed his eyes, went through the occupations that Xiong Asi had done in his mind, looked back at the cold house, held up his umbrella, and left the deserted house.

After returning to Di Mansion, Cui Huan had already sent over relevant materials from 14 years ago.

Li Canghai asked people to send all the materials to his room, then closed the door, and started to browse in it alone.

Since stepping into the room in the evening, Li Canghai never stepped out of the room the whole night.

The information sent by Cui Huan records all the people related to Qin Fu's collusion with the enemy and treason.

It can be seen from the records that Qin Fu has made great contributions to guarding the frontier for more than ten years.

In the 17th year of Kaiyuan, Tubo invaded and occupied Shibao City, which was under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty, and immediately sent heavy troops to guard it, and used it as an outpost.

In March of the same year, Qin Fu, who was still Shuofang's Jiedu envoy, suggested that Li Yi, Wang Xin'an, adopt long-distance raid tactics and attack Shibao City day and night.

Qin Fu took the lead and led his troops to Shibao City overnight, killing the Tubo defenders by surprise, causing heavy casualties, and Shibao City fell into Tang's hands again.

Since then, Tanghexi and Longyou areas have been connected together.

In the hands of Qin Fu, Tubo lost consecutive battles, and there was an uproar in the country, so they sent envoys to ask for peace and marriage. Since then, there has been no war between Tang and Tubo for ten years, and the people on the border between the two countries live and work in peace. It can be said that the great credit belongs to Qin complex.

Since then, Qin Fu's voice has shaken the border, making Tubo very afraid.

In the 27th year of Kaiyuan, Qin Fu was called back to Chang'an by Xuanzong because of his meritorious service in guarding the border, and was named General Huaihua.

When returning to Chang'an, Qin Fu accused the treacherous Prime Minister Li Linfu of killing Zhongliang in public at the court.

In the same year, when Qin Fu returned to the border, rumors began to spread.

Until May of the following year, Qin Fu left the border without authorization and returned to Luoyang. Tubo took the opportunity to invade and occupy Guazhou and other places.

What surprised Li Canghai was that all the witnesses who identified Qin Fu were all Qin Fu's former subordinates.

The physical evidence is a few letters, which are letters of conspiracy between Qin Fu and the Tubo general.

It is said that those letters were in Qin Fu's handwriting, which he himself admitted.

But there was one record that made him feel strange, that is, although Qin Fu admitted that the handwriting was his own, he did not admit that the letter was written by him.

Besides, what puzzled Li Canghai the most was that when Qin Fu was leaving the border, Tubo suddenly invaded Guazhou.

What is strange is that the Tubo army invaded and occupied Guazhou easily without encountering any resistance along the way.

What surprised Li Canghai the most was that after this, the Guazhou defender was not punished, but was promoted all the way to become a loyal general.

In addition to the Guazhou guard, he also found that several other people were also promoted after Qin Fu was killed.

After careful consideration, Li Canghai found that these people had one thing in common, they were all guards on the road of Tubo's invasion of Guazhou.

These people were all stripped of their military power at first, and then they were promoted for various reasons. On average, each person was promoted to three official ranks.

"Interesting, it's really interesting. Losing the city, not only was it not investigated, but it was promoted step by step. It's interesting." Li Canghai put down a notebook, squinted his eyes, and said to himself.

Li Canghai picked up a pen, wrote down the things to be investigated on the paper, then opened the door and walked in.

At this time, the sky has brightened.

Li Canghai left Di Mansion in a hurry.

Baiguan Garden, located on the east side of the palace, is a place where officials temporarily live and handle official business.

Li Canghai came to Baiguanyuan, and after asking the guards a little, he walked in the direction of the six departments.

Six temporary offices, a courtyard with two front and back entrances. At this time, the officials of the six departments have begun to sort out the pond newspapers and memorials sent from various places.

Li Canghai strode in and came to the place where the six ministers were.

"Master Li? Why do you have time to come here so early?" Cui Huan asked in surprise.

Li Canghai bowed slightly to Cui Huan, and said, "Lord Cui, Canghai has something important to ask the lords of Shangshu."

"Oh? What's the matter with you?" Cui Huan asked.

Li Canghai took out the paper from his sleeve, handed it to Cui Huan and said, "Does your lord recognize these people?"

Cui Huan took the paper, carefully looked at the names on it, and said, "These people belong to the Ministry of War, please sit here for a while, and I will go to the Minister of the Ministry of War."

Li Canghai nodded, then found a chair and sat down.

A moment later, Cui Huan led an old man with the same gray beard, but a hale and hearty look, over.

"Lord Li." The old man walked over and bowed slightly to Li Canghai.

"Lord Lin." Li Canghai bowed his hand in return, and after a bit of politeness, the two sat down one after another.

"Master Li, what do you want to know about them?" After sitting down, Lin Shangshu asked.

Li Canghai said: "I want to know their promotion history."

Lin Shangshu nodded, and said: "These people all joined the army in the 17th year of Kaiyuan. After returning to his post, he was promoted three consecutive years in the next three years, and the highest one was promoted to General Zhongwu."

Li Canghai frowned: "Lord Lin, I'm a little puzzled. These people have been thrown into the city, why did they return to their original positions so quickly and get promoted again and again?"

Lin Shangshu sighed, and said: "Your Majesty Li didn't know something. These people handed over the city to Tubo without resistance. According to the rules of the Ministry of War, these people should be executed. But after being locked up for several months, Li Xiangguo said that not only did they have no faults, but they had meritorious service, so they were reinstated."

Li Canghai squinted his eyes, and suddenly realized that the Li Xiangguo that Lin Shangshu was talking about was Li Linfu, the treacherous prime minister.

Knowing this, many things make sense.

Li Canghai gradually had a bold guess in his mind, and after having a guess, he had a direction for investigation.

"Lord Lin, where are these people now?" Li Canghai asked suddenly after thinking for a moment.

"Three of them came to Luoyang with Shengjia this time, and the rest are far away at the border." Lin Shangshu said.

Li Canghai nodded, and after learning the names of the people in Luoyang from Lin Shangshu, he took his leave and left.

"Master Li, this old man will give you a ride." Cui Huan said and followed.

"Master Li, did you really find out something?" Cui Huan asked as he walked.

With his hands behind his back, Li Canghai murmured, "It's hard to say now, these are just my guesses, but one thing is for sure, there is definitely something hidden about Qin Fu's case."

After thinking for a while, Li Canghai turned around and asked, "Lord Cui, do you know where the three courts who tried this case 14 years ago are now?"

Cui Huan stroked his beard and said: "Back then, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials was robbed and killed by bandits. After the trial of the case, Zheng Qing of Dali Temple resigned from his office and went back to hiding. Right here in Luoyang City."

Cui Huan seemed to have seen Li Canghai's thoughts, and asked, "Could it be that Mr. Li wants to find them and ask about the trial of the case?"

Li Canghai nodded and said, "My lord's guess is correct. The most critical part of this case now is the details of the trial."

Cui Huan stroked his beard, nodded, and said, "That's true, but it's been 14 years, I'm afraid the Sanfa Division back then has already forgotten about this matter!"

Li Canghai frowned slightly. After thinking for a while, he said, "My lord, can you help me find their whereabouts? I need to talk to them."

Cui Huan thought for a moment, and said, "Lord Li, don't worry, I will do my best."

"That's it, my lord!" After speaking, Li Canghai gave Cui Huan a deep salute.

Cui Huan cupped his hands slightly, and said: "Master Li is too polite, I won't send you off, please!"

Li Canghai nodded, and then left Baiguanyuan.

It was still raining, and the amount of rain was heavier than yesterday.

Holding an umbrella, Li Canghai walked slowly on the deserted Shendu Avenue.

Three days have passed since the seven-day deadline, and he has not found any direct clues during these three days.

The way to solve a crime requires bold assumptions, but more importantly, careful verification.

And careful verification requires various clues to explain the hypothesis.

The problem now is that he has a hypothesis from various records, but there is no evidence to support it. After all, those are all written descriptions.

Just as Li Canghai was thinking, a carriage suddenly stopped in front of him, and a person jumped out of the carriage. The person bowed his hands to Li Canghai and said, "Master Li, my lord is here to invite you."

Hearing this, Li Canghai looked up and found that this person was the steward of King Su Li Yu, Qi Yunhe.

"I don't know why the prince is looking for me?" Li Canghai asked.

Qi Yunhe's face suddenly became serious, and he said eagerly: "My lord, the prince has encountered some troubles, please come with me immediately, my lord."

Li Canghai's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "What happened to your lord?"

"It's hard to explain in a single word, please go with me as soon as possible. When you get there, you will understand." Qi Yunhe said anxiously.

Li Canghai frowned slightly, without further ado, he got into the carriage directly.

Qi Yunhe pulled Li Canghai, and instead of going to the place where King Su lived, he came to a gambling house.

When Li Canghai jumped off the carriage, he was stunned.

"Steward Qi, is it possible that the prince is gambling here?" Li Canghai felt a little inconceivable.

Qi Yunhe smiled wryly, and said helplessly: "Once your lord goes in, you will naturally know."

Li Canghai rubbed his nose, he saw that there were government servants standing on both sides of the gambling house.

"This lord is a lord, and you have to bring officers and soldiers with you when you gamble, so there's no one else!" Li Canghai thought to himself.

However, when he stepped into the casino, he smelled blood in the air!

Li Canghai became serious in an instant. With such a strong smell of blood, there must be a murder!
Li Canghai hurriedly looked around, and sure enough, on a gaming table on the left side of the gambling house, a croupier was half lying on the gaming table with a short knife stuck in his chest, but he had been dead for a long time.

Li Yu and the Governor of Luoyang were discussing something around the corpse, their brows were tightly frowned, quite puzzled.

On the right side of the gambling house, there were seven or eight gamblers squatting. They were guarded by the yamen servants, and they squatted on the ground trembling non-stop.

"My lord, Mr. Fuyin, what's going on?" Li Canghai walked over and asked.

Seeing Li Canghai coming, the governor of Luoyang Mansion hurriedly saluted him: "I have seen Mr. Li."

Li Yu walked up to him and said eagerly: "Cang Hai, you came at the right time! A homicide has occurred in this casino!"

Li Canghai touched his nose and thought to himself, isn't this obvious.

"My lord, why are you here?" Li Canghai asked puzzled.

Li Yu grinned, and said awkwardly: "This... this king was opposite... playing, and suddenly heard that a homicide happened here, so he came here immediately, wanting to try to solve the case."

Li Canghai looked back at the opposite side, rolled his eyes secretly, isn't the opposite side a brothel?It seems that this prince is really a suave master!
Shaking his head, Li Canghai focused on the murder case in front of him.

I heard Li Yu babbled and said: "When the case happened, this king immediately ordered people to report to the officials, and restricted all relevant people in the gambling shop here, just to prevent the real murderer from escaping. But this king The king searched for a long time, but he didn't have any clue, the death of the croupier was too strange, the king was really powerless, so he ordered Yunhe to invite you to come."

(End of this chapter)