"Good! Then I'll say it! Qin Mubai said: "Although the emperor is wise and martial, he is a wise man through the ages, but he also has the heart of an ordinary person. For example, he also wants to be a good father, so he especially wants his children to be healthy and happy, and live in harmony with each other. Your Highness agrees with me on this, right? ”

"Not bad." Li Ke nodded: "Since I was very young, I have always felt that although my father has a lot of opportunities, he will always find time to come out to accompany his family. We have a lot of brothers and sisters, but he likes them all. And more than once he taught us to respect and love each other and live in harmony. So when he saw that the crown prince and the king of Wei were fighting for the crown, he was very angry and helpless. That's why I don't dare to sue the matter so easily. That would make my father think that I was also deliberately attacking the crown prince and coveting the East Palace. That's a big taboo for him! ”

"Your Highness is indeed wise! It seems that I did not say this to you in vain. Qin Mubai said: "Forgive me for saying a word that defies the world's disapproval, until after the change of Xuanwumen, His Majesty the Emperor has always had a shadow in his heart. He feared that his sons would also fight each other and eventually lead to bloodshed. will also be afraid that one day he will be forced to abdicate the throne and be confined to the harem like Emperor Gaozu...... Your Highness's words were enough for me to be beheaded. But you're telling you the truth...... Right? ”

Li Ke took a long breath and nodded heavily: "I don't deny that what you said is very likely to be right." When we were young, if there were disputes and fights between our brothers, my father would always reprimand us very harshly. He was the one he hated and even hated the most! ”

"Therefore, you must not personally report the case of Jiangzhou to the emperor to know!" Qin Mubai said categorically: "On the surface, you are loyal to your duties and selfless, but in fact, you will leave an extremely bad impression in the emperor's mind. Now in the emperor's mind, there is no more serious crime than his sons attacking each other! In contrast, although the case of Jiangzhou can also be described as 'shocking', it is actually a trivial matter for you, King Wu. ”

"Well said. But do I really tolerate these corrupt officials and evil officials in Jiangzhou like this, let these unjust souls get bloodless, and let the wealth of those Tang Dynasty flow into their pockets endlessly? Li Ke was a little angry.

"Of course not. Your Highness, do you think that I, Qin, am such a pig and dog who has no sense of justice and is not as good as this? I hate to cut off the heads of these beasts with my own hands! After Qin Mubai finished speaking, he smiled slightly: "Your Highness, don't be in a hurry. This matter does not necessarily have to be played by you in person to let the emperor know. ”

"What?" Li Ke was stunned for a moment, and then the wisdom in his eyes flowed, and he suddenly smiled: "Mu Bai, you are a very smart person!" ”

"It seems that His Highness understands." Qin Mubai laughed.

"Of course you and I know it!" Li Ke laughed heartily: "In a few days, Quan Wanji will come back from Jiangzhou." When the time comes, if you investigate the case thoroughly with him, I will not interrogate him in person. Then I will not agree to the emperor's character of hiding and not repaying power. I don't need to ask him to report to the emperor! ”

"Your Highness is wise." Qin Mubai nodded and smiled: "In this way, you will be guilty of 'harboring and conniving' on the surface, the emperor may punish you, but he will definitely appreciate you in his heart." At that time, the emperor will think that you will not betray the prince out of brotherly affection, or that you are too sensitive to report it for fear of getting into trouble. Either way, that's a good thing. It's always better than the sharp you fighting for me. In fact, since he has long thought of the case in Jiangzhou, it may be related to the prince, and he wants to send you, which may be the intention to investigate you. Your Highness, you have to be careful to step through this level! ”

"Mu Bai, you are really my brainchild!" Li Ke grabbed Qin Mubai's hand a little excitedly, and smiled gratefully: "Those who know me, Mu Baiye!" Mu Bai, the one who helps me! I have Mu Bai and everything is worry-free! ”

"Your Highness is too ridiculous. Actually, I didn't do anything. I can't be too involved in the affairs of the royal family as an outsider, not to mention that I am still a close minister of His Majesty. Qin Mubai said: "I never want to let go of these many corrupt officials in Jiangzhou. At the same time, I don't want Your Highness to cause trouble because you have done something wrong, so I will say a few more words. Please don't take it to heart, Your Highness. ”

Li Ke let go of Qin Mubai's hand and smiled knowingly: "I understand your hardship. It is taboo for a minister to interfere in the affairs of the royal family. But you're not helping a friend out of trouble. A gentleman tends to be auspicious and avoids the common feelings of murderers. You didn't do anything wrong. ”

Qin Mubai smiled at him knowingly: "If it weren't for His Highness's wisdom and magnanimity, he wouldn't dare to tell you so much." As you said, I'm helping my friend. That's all. ”

A few days later, Quan Wanji returned from Jiangzhou with a batch of requisitioned grain, grass, bedding and other relief materials.

Li Ke is still in charge of the overall situation, leading state and county officials and military officers and soldiers to be busy with disaster relief and settling the victims. Qin Mubai secretly found Quan Wanji, took him to the former Jishan County County Ya, and took him to the morgue.

"Why did General Qin suddenly call his humble position to this place?" Quan Wanji said with thick eyebrows tightly locked and covering his nose. There were several corpses in the morgue, and although they had been processed by the corpses, there was still some corpse stench due to the hot weather.

"This person is Zhu Chengwen, the former county magistrate of Jishan County." Qin Mubai uncovered a corpse cloth and said, "I don't go around in circles, and I'll tell you bluntly. I suspect he was murdered! ”

"What?!"

Qin Mubai briefly examined the corpse and told Quan Wanji about his suspicions. Quan Wanji nodded suddenly: "It's really suspicious!" ”

Then Qin Mubai told Quan Wanji and some of his doubts, but he never mentioned the emperor's secret order.

"General Qin, do you mean that someone took advantage of this flood disaster to make a big disaster?" Quan Wanji said in shock.

"Not bad." Qin Mubai said: "Mr. Jiu Wenquan is proficient in the rule of officials, and he has always been in charge of all matters related to money in the Wu Wangfu, right? ”

"Yes. The income and expenditure of the Wu Wangfu have always been in charge of me. Although he is not proficient in the matter of money and account books, he still knows a little bit about it. Quan Wanji said.

"Yay. That's why I asked my sir to come. Qin Mubai took Quan Wanji to the morgue, came to a secret room, took out a pile of account books that had been soaked by the flood, and said: "These are some account books found from the county government of Jishan County, I suspect that there is something wrong with this. But I don't know how to do money books, so I'd like to ask my husband to help me check if there's a problem. ”

"Good! We're here to help! If someone really takes the opportunity to be corrupt and pervert the law, the big country will be difficult to make money, and I will have the right to Wanji to swear to him! Quan Wanji snorted a few times with an angry face, and immediately sat down to look through the account book.

"Then there's Mr. Law." Qin Mubai thanked him, but he was secretly smiling in his heart: There must be no problem with these account books. If those corrupt officials were not idiots, they would have destroyed all this kind of evidence at the same time as they killed Zhu Chengwen. The reason why I asked you Quan Wanji to come and help check the accounts...... It's just an excuse to get involved in this case!

I'm sorry, Mr. Kwon Wanji, I told you a white lie and laid a trap that is harmless to you, please forgive me! If you tell the emperor, you will definitely be fine, but the emperor will reward you for being unafraid of the powerful and upright. But Li Ke and I can't do it, so I have to trouble you, "those who can do it more"! ……

Quan Wanji is really meticulous and conscientious. He sat in the room without even taking a sip of tea, and studied the account book for more than an hour, blinking blankly and saying to Qin Mubai: "General Qin, this account book is no problem at all!" ”

"Really? That's weird! Qin Mubai rolled his eyes, "Could it be that I was too sensitive and misjudged?" ”

"Nope. Although there is no doubt in this account book, Zhu Chengwen's death was due to his death, which is very likely! The murder of a county order is not a small case, and it must continue to be investigated! Quan Wanji said with a straight look: "And since someone wants to kill Zhu Chengwen, then the murderer must have some kind of ulterior secret that he knows." Since you have killed someone and extinguished your mouth, it is very likely that you will be transferred in the first place, along with the account books and other things that may be leaked. Therefore, General Qin's suspicions were not wrong. It's just that the real evidence is probably long gone! ”

"Mr. Quan is really shrewd, but he is being ignorant." Qin Mubai nodded in a trance, and immediately asked in confusion: "Then now that the clue is broken, Mr. said that if you want to investigate, where should you start?" ”

"This ...... Although Zhu Chengwen was killed, there are always other insiders. Quan Wanji said: "Therefore, we can start from Zhu Chengwen's death and find out the murderer behind the scenes!" ”

"Other insiders...... That must be Zhu Chengwen's confidant or relative? Qin Mubai touched his chin and muttered: "But Zhu Chengwen is a southerner, he went north alone to become an official, and he didn't bring his family with him, and he didn't marry a concubine and have children after he came." He hasn't been here for a long time, and he usually doesn't have any other hobbies, so he stuffs himself at home, studies some poetry and music, and estimates that he has few friends. Who will be closest to him? ”

"He lives in the county government, and he must have people like servants, maids, and officials to take care of him." Quan Wanji followed Qin Mubai's train of thought and guessed.

Qin Mubai smiled secretly in his heart: Okay, just say it soon, continue to work hard, Quan Wanji!

"Zhu Chengwen is also a county order, and the people who are officials know how to prioritize. He probably wouldn't talk to any of the servants about some of the private and important things, right? Qin Mubai said: "Then he can only talk to his most trusted friends or closest colleagues." ”

"To my colleagues!" Quan Wanji suddenly slapped the table: "The first time I saw that Jishan County Lieutenant Liao Lirong, I felt suspicious!" As soon as the county commander died, he immediately got together with Thorn Shi, and it was obvious that they had a close relationship before. Moreover, the county lieutenant and the lord Bo have always been the closest adjutant of the county order. The main thin Guan Wen County Wei Li Wu is quite close to the left and the right. Jishan County is a small county, there is no main county, in addition to the county order, there is only one county lieutenant, Liao Lirong, and the county commander Zhu Chengwen is the most intimate! ”

"Mr. Quan is really smart, and he knows the rule of the Tang Dynasty like a chest, and admires it!" Qin Mubai bowed his hand and said, "Listening to Mr. Quan, I also remembered one thing, which further proves that this Liao Lirong is suspicious!" His hometown is dozens of miles away from here, so he usually lives in the county government like Zhu Chengwen! This back and forth, the two are both superiors and subordinates, and they eat and live together, and it is very likely that they will become friends who talk about everything! ”

"Then what are you waiting for, immediately investigate thoroughly, Liao Lirong will start from him, and we must clean up the filth on the ground in Jiangzhou!" Quan Wanji's thick eyebrows tightened, and he shouted indignantly.