As soon as Xiangzi entered the door, Secretary Wang shouted anxiously: "Oh, you are finally back, I am about to send someone to the elm nest." ”

Xiangzi looked at Secretary Wang with a confused face and asked, "What's wrong?" Look at you in a hurry. ”

The muscles on Secretary Wang's face relaxed a little and said, "Director Wang of the province called in the morning, saying that there is an important case and you should call him back immediately." ”

Saying that, the switchboard has already been passed. Xiangzi took the phone with a solemn face, and Director Wang said in an eager voice: "The situation is like this, there is a group of bandits of unknown origin who attacked the Soviets base in Qitai last night for geological exploration. Snatched the entire set of exploration equipment and injured two people. The whereabouts of the bandits are unknown. ”

After a pause, Director Wang coughed twice and continued: "I now order you to unite the police forces of Fuyuan, Qitai, and Mulei counties. Immediately control the scene, collect clues to solve the case as soon as possible, and must not let this batch of equipment flow abroad. This is related to the interests and relations between the two countries, and I have sent 10 police officers under Da Yong to rush to reinforce them. It is estimated that Fuyuan can be reached before dark. ”

Xiangzi put down the phone, pondered for a moment, and immediately connected the phone from Qitai Zhang Changfa. Zhang Chang found out that he was the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation at the Qitai County Public Security Bureau.

Answering the phone, Xiangzi didn't have time to greet the old love, and said in a solemn voice: "Send someone to block the scene immediately, except for the Soviets, no idle people are allowed to enter and exit." Collecting as many clues as I can, and doing a good job of pacifying the Soviets, I rushed over overnight. ”

Then, he dialed Mu Lei's phone again: "Director Huang?" I am Guo Guixiang, there was a robbery in Qitai last night, and the Soviets lost a set of geological exploration equipment. You immediately block the trade route from the Mulei River to Turpan. Passing caravans are strictly inspected, and equipment must not be allowed to leave the country. Report the situation to the provincial bureau once a day. ”

Putting down the phone, Xiangzi Chong, Secretary Wang, who had been standing silently behind him, said: "Your main purpose is to block the ice slab on Quanzi Street, and go to the business road and the Santai ancient road in Turpan. Report the situation to the provincial bureau once a day. ”

Shoko returned to the house, briefly explained the situation, and prepared to go out in a hurry. Juanzi Moth frowned, and muttered with displeasure: "There are so many broken things, even a vacation makes people unstable." ”

Then, his face changed, and Chong Xiangzi, who was smiling, said: "This time, what is the task of this woman?" ”

Xiangzi pursed his lips and smiled, "You can stay at home with your son." ”

Seeing that Juanzi was wilting, Shuzhen hurriedly came over and said, "Sister Juanzi can't leave, then I'll go with you, otherwise we won't be at ease." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Juanzi warmly. Juanzi was stunned for a moment, and then, as if waking up from a dream, nodded as if waking up from a dream, and said, "Yes, you go out alone, we don't worry, just let Sister Shuzhen accompany you." Save me from worrying at home. As he spoke, he glanced at Shuzhen slightly sourly.

Shoko knew the habits of the two women, sighed lightly, and didn't say anything. It was only before leaving the door that he turned around and said, "Take a car from the county to Qitai to change horses." ”

Since the Tang Dynasty, Xinjiang has been the main commercial hub connecting Central Asia and West Asia along the Silk Road. Qitai, Erdaoqiaozi in Dihua, and Gaochang in Turpan, southern Xinjiang, are all goods trading centers of the ancient Silk Road.

Xiangzi and his entourage changed horses at Qitai and arrived at the scene overnight. With the help of an interpreter, Shoko and the Soviets had a short conversation.

"Excuse me, how many bandits are there?"

"I don't know, we're sleeping."

"How did the bandits wound you?"

"I went to pee at night and bumped into us, and they knocked us down without saying a word."

"Aren't you armed?"

"Yes, to beat rabbits."

"Don't you have a sentry at night?"

"There was one in the middle of the night."

"Didn't the bandits tell you anything? What accent do they have? ”

"I didn't speak, I just cared about moving things."

In the Soviet population, almost no valuable clues were found. There were no useful traces left at the scene. The only thing that interested Shoko was a string of leather boot footprints not far from the scene.

case, in a state of confusion.

As soon as the morning dawned, Xiangzi gathered the heads of people from all walks of life, summarized the situation, and telegraphed the provincial bureau in time. Early in the morning, the news came from the provincial bureau. According to reliable intelligence, this incident was committed by enemy elements hiding in the country, including Uyghurs, which coincided with Shoko's judgment.

Shoko's basis is a string of boot footprints found last night. Because there are not many Han people who wear leather boots, only Uyghurs and Kazakhs love to wear leather boots all year round. The case has some vague eyebrows, and Xiangzi carefully analyzes it along this line of thought, and there is only one conclusion. That is, the bandits are going to secretly transport the equipment abroad.

With this clue, Shoko's train of thought gradually became clearer. With a slightly relaxed expression, he said to several leaders: "Since the bandits want to transport things out, they can't leave the caravan. The eastern line is in charge of Mulei and Qitai, Fuyuan guards the south road, and the provincial bureau is responsible for the west road.

When setting up card inspections, we must pay attention to policies and attitudes, so that we must not let go of suspicious caravans and not cause panic among foreign businessmen. The old rule is to telegraph the situation to the provincial bureau once a day. ”

Shoko said, glancing at everyone with blazing eyes, and said with a slight smile, "Have any of you ever seen a lost device?" ”

Seeing that everyone was stunned, they looked at each other. Xiangzi smiled slightly and said, "I haven't seen it yet, why do you check the law?" Therefore, our immediate task is to hurry up and eat, and then rush to Qitai to see the equipment. It was only then that everyone left with a relaxed face.

Xiangzi saw Shuzhen standing on the side and muttered, so he smiled at her and said, "What is the chief of staff pondering?" ”

Seeing this, Shuzhen sighed lightly, as if she had just dragged back from a distant memory, and said: "I think that group of people is not in the pear blossom tip in Qitai, but in the camel shop in Fuyuan." ”

Seeing Xiangzi looking at herself suspiciously, Shuzhen continued contemplatively: "If you want to transport goods, you must have a decent caravan, and the best place to hide the caravan is these two places. ”

Shoko nodded contemplatively, and then said with joy on her face, "Seeing that you are becoming more and more like a chief of staff, you and I have come to the same place." ”

Seeing Shuzhen pursing her lips and smiling at him, Xiangzi continued as if she was confident: "Moreover, this matter has to be visited secretly, and it cannot be investigated openly." ”

As he was talking, someone from the provincial bureau asked when he would leave. Xiangzi said calmly: "Leave Xiao Chen and Wuzi behind, and the rest of the people will hurry up and look at the equipment, bring the radio, and go directly to the western line to set up a card defense."

Recognizing the appearance of the equipment, Xiangzi sent Xiao Chen and Wuzi to investigate the camel shop in Fuyuan. But he and Shuzhen pretended to be husband and wife, and asked the caravan going to Yili, saying that they were going to Huocheng County to visit relatives.

There was a caravan leaving Yili, but Shuzhen refused to accompany him because the asking price was too high. For this, I also quarreled with Xiangzi in front of people.

Seeing that it was getting dark, most of the people of the caravan ordered food, and ate and drank there, and in the empty courtyard there were only a few piles of standing or lying camels, munching on something that could never be eaten.

The duty of the hospital, looking at Xiangzi and the others, just wanted to say something, Xiangzi smiled at him with interest, and dragged Shuzhen out of the hospital.

The sun, which has been completely hidden in the mountains in the distance, only shoots a few colorful afterglows into the sky. actually provoked a thin cloud, and also laughed out of color. When he came to a secluded place, Xiangzi said with a slight loss: "It seems that there is no drama here, I don't know what Xiao Chen is like there." ”

After a pause, Xiangzi looked at Shuzhen distressedly, and said in a soft voice: "Otherwise, let's work hard again and rush to Fuyuan overnight to have a look." ”

Shuzhen immediately responded happily: "What's the hard work, isn't it just a few dozen miles away." So saying, he walked towards the stables not far away.

Although the camel shops in Fuyuan are not as big as Qitai, they often live in some overseas caravans. Maybe it's because there are fewer people here and the water and grass are cheaper. Moreover, there is no need to queue up for inspection when you go out of the county.

Shoko found Xiao Chen and Wuzi at an inn near the camel shop. According to the two of them, there was a caravan in the courtyard, and one was full of large wooden boxes, and the species was unknown. The other was mainly carpets, and some large and small wooden boxes, both of which were exported from Ili.

Xiangzi muttered thoughtfully while dipping milk tea on dried naan: "The carpet is a little strange when it leaves the country, and ordinary merchants ship carpets from Pakistan and the Soviet Union and sell them to merchants in the mainland. It is rare to hear that the carpet came out of the Ili port. ”

As he spoke, he lifted his spirits, threw down the naan in his hand, drank the milk tea in the dry bowl in one go, and said, "Go!" Let's take a look. ”

Unexpectedly, this look almost killed Shuzhen.