Zheng Luya introduced: "At that time, there were several companies that signed up in Tianfu, and after several rounds of comparison, there were only two competitors left. In addition to us, the other is Han Xianqing's Changlong firm. And this Han Xianqing's cousin is Han Xianzhi, the envoy of the Loyal Army. ”

"Huh? It turned out to be him? Yao Nengqi said: "I heard that Chen Yaosuo, who knows the Privy Council, also happens to be Han Xianzhi's brother-in-law." ”

Zheng Luya nodded: "My lord is right, the big backers behind the Changlong firm are Han Xianzhi and Chen Yaosuo. At first, my father had the idea of retreating, thinking that we couldn't compare to Han Xianqing's background, and it was impossible to compete with them. But Ling'er didn't think so, firstly, because this tender was presided over by the Ministry of War and the Treasury Department, the Privy Council might not be able to intervene; Second, our reputation is much better than that of Changlong, and suppliers around the world are more supportive of us. In terms of conditions, I'm sure I'll be able to win. In the end, as expected, after full consideration, the Ministry of War finally awarded the official and commercial brand A to the old Mu family. ”

Apple said in a deep voice: "In this way, it is equivalent to completely offending Han Xianqing and the people behind him. ”

"I've also thought about this layer," Zheng Luya said: "If Han Xianqing loses, he will definitely be unconvinced, and most of them will sue his cousin, and our military rations are mainly for the loyal army stationed in Yingtianfu." Therefore, after that, I was extremely careful in every business, for fear that there would be a problem with the quantity and quality of military supplies, and the Han brothers would seize the handle and deliberately find fault. ”

Yao Nengqi said: "Since the girl mentioned the heart of prevention, there must be a sense of proportion in every detail, so how can there be a matter of military rations being dropped?" ”

Zheng Luya replied: "Due to the suddenness of the incident, I didn't immediately figure out the joints when I was arrested. In the past few days, I have calmed down and thought carefully, I am afraid that there is only one link that has gone wrong. ”

"Oh? What exactly is the link? Zhao Liang asked.

"It's mostly a problem with transportation." Zheng Luya thought about it and said: "All the military rations are stored in several warehouses of the old Mu family, and they are guarded day and night, and tens of thousands of stones of rice are definitely not exchanged. And in the transportation journey from the warehouse to the camp of the Loyal Army, there are also more than a dozen guys in the store watching with the car, and it is impossible to steal the beams and change the pillars in the middle. Therefore, if you want to say that you have a chance, you can only do it before the grain is put into storage, from Jiangnan to Yingtian. ”

Zhao Liang was a little puzzled: "Isn't the grain inspected when it is put into storage?" ”

Zheng Luya said: "The inspection is the inspection, but there is no way to pack it one by one, and all the cars and cars are inspected." As long as there are people on the scene who should cooperate with each other inside and outside, and they will always find a way to get through the confusion during the spot check. Because no one could have predicted that so much food could be dropped halfway. Not to mention ......"

Yao Neng was quite curious: "What's more?" ”

Zheng Luya hesitated for a moment, and then said: "What's more, the Sanhe Gang, who is responsible for grain transportation, is also very famous in the rivers and lakes, and we are his old customers, so we would never have thought that they would not be afraid to smash their signboards and secretly do such things." ”

Zhao Liang pondered for a moment and asked, "So, you suspect that the biggest possibility is that the Three Rivers Gang is behind the scenes?" ”

"Well, I do think so," Zheng Luya nodded, "but I don't have any evidence." ”

Li Erbai suddenly spoke: "The scale of the Three Rivers Gang is not small, and there are rudders in various places, which one have you always dealt with?" ”

Zheng Luya replied: "It's the talent of the Three Rivers Gang." Xue Jin, the helmsman of their split rudder, is an old friend of his father and has been in business for decades. ”

Zhao Liang and Yao Neng glanced at each other and said with a smile: "My lord, it seems that this time we have to go in person to meet this Xue Helm Master." ”

Everyone felt that what Zhao Liang said was very necessary, so they agreed. While having dinner, several people discussed the details of the future action, and did not go back to their rooms to rest until the second watch.

In the turn of the day, Zhao Liang, Zheng Luya, Yao Neng, Li Erbai, and Apple, together with seven or eight officials from the Gyeonggi Road Prison Division, set off from Bianliang, Tokyo, and went straight to Yingtianfu. And Yang Ru, the second lady of the Yang family, went to report to the little prince and assisted him in checking the situation of the Song army's military quartermasters.

Yingtianfu in the Northern Song Dynasty is Nanjing in the "Four Capitals" of the Great Song Dynasty, that is, the ancient city of Shangqiu in Henan today, which is only more than 150 kilometers away from Kaifeng, and can be reached within one day by horse.

However, Yao Tixing can't ride a horse and can only sit in a sedan chair, so this walk is much slower.

Zhao Liang and the others set off in the morning, stayed in the middle of the night for a night, and did not enter Yingtianfu until the evening of the next day, before the city gate was closed.

Because it was getting late at this time, everyone decided not to go to the Ying Tian Prefect's Mansion for the time being, but to find an inn to settle down first, and while resting and resting, they tried to find a way to inquire about the news of the Three Rivers Gang.

Yao Neng had a case hanging in his heart, and as soon as his temper came up, he was a little impatient.

As soon as he moved into the store, he ordered his subordinates to take the official document and go to the Ying Tian of the Sanhe Gang to call Xue Jin for questioning.

Zhao Liang originally didn't agree with such a hurry, but since the Criminal Division was acting resolutely, he didn't have much to say, thinking that he would see it early and rest early, so he didn't stop it.

But unexpectedly, the four officials left for a long time, and came back empty-handed. When I asked, I found out that Xue Jin went out to run errands yesterday and has not returned yet.

Yao Neng saw that he pounced on the first shot, and immediately felt a little annoyed, blaming himself for delaying everyone's trip, otherwise he would have stopped the helmsman of the Three Rivers Gang yesterday.

Zhao Liang and Zheng Luya comforted Yao Neng again and again, so that he didn't have to blame himself too much, as long as he waited patiently, he would be able to see Xue Jin sooner or later.

Li Erbai was silent for a moment beside him, saying that he went out for a walk, and then ran away without a trace.

Zhao Liang and the others were a little tired at this time, and they didn't care about this Dao Master, thinking that he was a person who couldn't sit still, so he probably wandered around. Everyone sees that it is getting late, and there is nothing to do today anyway, so it is better to rest early and recuperate enough to do business tomorrow.

So, they fetched water and washed their faces, ready to eat casually and go back to their rooms to sleep.

But just when everyone was busy, Li Erbai suddenly went and returned, and at the same time led a person to come together.

Zhao Liang and the others were quite curious, and they were about to ask, but they only heard Li Erbai lightly introduced: "This is the helmsman of the Three Rivers Gang Ying Tianfen Rudder, Xue Jin." ”

No way! Xue Jin? Didn't he go out on errands? Zhao Liang was suddenly quite surprised, I don't know which one they are singing?

Li Erbai introduced Xue Jin again: "This is my uncle, Lin'an Hou Zhao Liang Zhao Hou; This is Lord Yao Nengyao, the director of the Gyeonggi Road Prison, you are so good that you are not allowed to deceive. ”

Xue Jin nodded again and again when he heard this, first responded politely to Li Erbai, and then respectfully gave Zhao Liang and Yao Neng a big salute.

Yao Neng asked, "Huh? The official sent someone to look for you, didn't the guy at home say that you went out to run errands? ”

"Master Hou, Lord Yao, please forgive you two for your sins. I really have something unspeakable to hide the villain, and I have no way to hide. Xue Jin's face turned red and replied hesitantly.

Zhao Liang had already probed the other party with his mind-reading technique at this time, and said with a smile: "Oh? So why don't you hide now? ”

Xue Jin secretly glanced at Li Erbai and replied: "The villain didn't know before that there was actually the participation of Daoist Erbai in this matter, so he played a clever trick, thinking that he would be fine if he avoided the limelight." But just now the Taoist came to the door in person, and the villain understood the seriousness of the matter, so he didn't dare to hide anymore, and quickly ran over to meet the two adults honestly. ”

Yao Neng was stunned when he heard this: "You kid is not afraid of the government, but of the Taoist?" ”

Xue Jin hurriedly shook his head: "Is the Second White Daoist an ordinary Taoist priest?" His old man is equivalent to the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, how can our little Three Rivers Gang afford to provoke him? I won't tell you two that if you offend the government yamen, it's a big deal to go away and stay incognito, and you can still live a free life. But if it angers the Dao Chief, let alone the villain, I'm afraid even our gang leader won't be able to sleep peacefully. ”

Yao Neng was angry and funny when he heard it, and looked at Zhao Liang: "Master Hou, since Lord Xue Helm is willing to show up, there must be something to explain, why don't we listen here?" ”

"Okay, let's hear what he has to say." Zhao Liang smiled slightly: "If he is willing to tell the truth, let's treat the Sanhe Gang as our own." On the contrary, he offended both the court and the martial arts at the same time, and how he lived in the future depended on their own creation. What do you say, Erbai? ”

Li Erbai waved his hand, and his tone was quite respectful: "The disciples all listen to the uncle." ”

Zhao Liang's intimidation, coupled with Li Erbai's cooperation, suddenly frightened Xue Jin into a master, and stammered and asked, "Villain...... The villain must be telling the truth. I just don't know what the adults are asking? ”

"Still with garlic?" Zhao Liangjian raised his eyebrows and shouted in a deep voice: "Why are you hiding, don't you have any pressure in your heart?" ”

Xue Jin is also the master of the rudder, and there are hundreds of brothers under his hands, who are usually high-minded in Yingtianfu, and even the county order catches the head and calls him a friend.

However, at this moment, the people Xue Jin is facing are by no means comparable to those local officials in ordinary times. This Yao Neng Yao is the Prison Department of Zheng Sanpin, and he is on an equal footing with the Gyeonggi Road Transfer Envoy, and the prefect of Ying Tianfu only stands in front of him to listen to the training; And Zhao Liang is even more incredible, the Marquis of Lin'an and the uncle of Li Erbai, any one of these two identities can grind the entire Sanhe Gang into powder.

Now hearing Zhao Houye's angry reprimand, Xue Jin knelt down with a plop, and kowtowed again and again: "The villain is guilty, the villain is guilty!" ”

Yao Neng shook his head angrily: "This guy is so strange, you haven't asked yet, you confessed your guilt first." Well, tell me what sin you know? ”

Xue Jin said with a bitter face: "The adults must be asking about the military rations case, right?" ”

"Nonsense!" Zhao Liang deliberately showed some impatience: "You can say whatever you know, do you want us to squeeze it little by little?" ”

Xue Jin knew that today's scene was unbearable, and was about to speak, but Yao Neng suddenly stopped him and ordered his subordinates to take out a pen and paper to record carefully, and then signaled Xue Jin to continue to explain.

"Two adults, I'm ...... I'm also forced to be helpless. Xue Jin said: "On the way here, the Erbai Daoist had already enlightened the villain, saying that the eight thousand years old in the court decided that the Mu family had been wronged, and no matter what big people were involved in this case, they vowed to find out the facts of the case." The villain weighed again and again, and felt that since the prince had spoken, it was estimated that it would be difficult for anyone to come, so he simply put aside his worries and truthfully confessed his guilt, and maybe there would be a glimmer of life. ”

He swallowed bitterly, and then said: "The military rations in the old Mu family are indeed exchanged by villains. ”