Zhao Zheng, who participated in the sacrifice of the Taimiao Temple and returned to the Imperial City Division, was respected like never before.

If the "Five Princes" were inexplicable before, now they are worthy of the name, the clan brother of the official family, a serious relative of the emperor, and his identity is naturally not trivial.

No wonder the official family trusted him so much, let him control the Imperial City Division, and follow the fifth prince in the future to ensure a good future.

Perhaps the change in the identity of the head of the house has boosted the morale of the people of the Imperial City Division, and this is much more efficient.

On the night of the first day of the first lunar month, there was good news that the customers who had bought green silk at the Wuzhang River Dyeing Workshop had their whereabouts.

Zhao Kuangyin was assassinated on the first day of his return to Bianliang, and after a detailed examination of the assassin's body, his body was similar to a leaf, and the green silk used to hide his whereabouts attracted attention.

After Zhao Zheng sent someone to inspect it in detail, he found that it was dyed with a special product of Qizhou, "sprig frozen green", and found the only seller by the Wuzhang River.

At that time, it was not sure whether this was the opponent's negligence or intentional, Zhao Zheng directly arrested the shopkeeper back to the Imperial City Division in the spirit of startling the snake.

At that time, the merchant who bought silk became the biggest suspect and disappeared from Bianliang City. According to the description of the shopkeeper, the shadow and graphics were drawn, and the Imperial City Division searched all over the city, but found nothing.

There are only two possibilities for the conclusion, either they are hiding in the city or they have already fled. Although Zhao Zheng hit the grass and startled the snake, the gray line of the grass snake was not found.

For a while, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, especially after almost two months, I didn't have much hope.

Unexpectedly, on the first day of Jianlong's second year, there was an unexpected harvest.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, whether it is to worship ancestors or to celebrate, lights are used more. Bianliang has a population of nearly one million, and if you are not careful, there will be fires.

Fortunately, Kaifeng Mansion is well prepared, and the streets of each lane are also well guarded. Therefore, as soon as a fire occurs, it is immediately extinguished. When the Kaifeng Mansion official was extinguishing a fire in an alley in the east of the city, he discovered an anomaly.

Because of the fire in the neighborhood, a sloppy bearded and somewhat obscene man came out of a burning house, and he deliberately dodged after seeing the errand officer.

This behavior attracted the attention of the officers, who thought that he was a fugitive with a criminal record, and the surrounding neighbors said that this person had not moved here for a long time and rarely went out.

So the catcher and the messenger detained the man, originally thinking that it might be a petty theft or a murder. Go back and interrogate. The man didn't say anything, as if he were dumb. Kaifeng Mansion was helpless, ready to be put in prison, waiting for him to speak.

At this time, there was an errand to remind him whether it would be a Jiangyang thief or something, so he washed his face and shaved his beard. I don't know if I don't see it, and I'm shocked when I see it.

When the magistrate of Kaifeng Mansion compared the pictures issued by the criminal department and other yamen, he accidentally found it. This is quite similar to one of the annoyances that the Imperial City Division secretly tracked.

The Imperial City Division is a secret spy agency, and the cases it is in charge of do not even have the power of the Criminal Department and Dali Temple, and enjoy high priority. Especially the fifth prince who is in charge of the Imperial City Division today has just been verified to be a royal family. Status is precious.

It was because the Kaifeng Mansion did not dare to slack off at all, and the magistrate knew the seriousness of it, and without alarming anyone, he directly reported to the acting government Yin Wu Tingzuo.

Mr. Diem did not know what the suspect had committed. However, out of respect for Zhao Zheng, he notified the Imperial City Division in time.

Zhao Zheng was very satisfied with Wu Tingzuo's caution, and he became the third person to discover the true identity of the suspect.

"Thank you. Wu Fu Yin! ”

Wu Tingzuo said politely: "Why should the fifth prince say thank you, this is a matter of duty." ”

Zhao Zheng advised: "Well, this person's son has been taken away, as for this matter, please ask Wu Mansion Yin Mo to publicize it, so he should not know about it." ”

"Okay, I understand."

Zhao Zheng smiled politely at Wu Tingzuo, turned to the official and said, "You have made a contribution, and my son will remember that your reward will be indispensable in the future." But you have to keep your mouth in mind, remember, the trouble comes from the mouth, if you reveal half a word, be ready to collect the corpse from you! ”

The magistrate couldn't help but shudder, and only promised: "Don't worry, the fifth prince, the villain must be tight-lipped...... Just in case, I also asked Lord Yin to arrange a tolerance for the villain, and stayed in the yamen in the near future and didn't go anywhere. ”

"You know each other very well, very good!" Zhao Zheng nodded, turned around and said: "Wu Fuyin, I'm afraid those servants can't control it, so let's say to the outside world that this person has committed a murder in Xijing, escaped and hid in the city, and was detained in prison!" ”

"Okay, don't worry, the fifth son, the official will handle it properly." Wu Tingzuo, the "Quanzhi Kaifeng Mansion", was frightened, and he also knew that this hot potato would not be held for a long time, and he didn't want to make any mistakes at this moment. I didn't want to offend Zhao Zheng, the spy leader, so I was very cooperative.

"That's it, thank you!"

On the night of the first month of the second year of Jianlong, Zhao Zheng quietly returned to the Imperial City Division with the suspect.

Li Yuandao: "Fifth son, let the shopkeeper identify it!" ”

"Identification is certain, but you can find seven or eight people of similar shape, change into the same clothes, and then let the shopkeeper identify them."

"This ......"

Otherwise, in order to get out, he replied casually, what should we do? If one of the crowds can recognize it, then it is certain. Zhao Zheng smiled, this is the basic principle of criminal investigation and identification in later generations.

The result was gratifying, although the shopkeeper was arrested by the Imperial City Division, he was not tortured. The place of detention was also an ordinary house, not a prison, and there was a normal supply of meals on weekdays, so the whole person's mental state and judgment were not affected.

When he was asked to participate in the identification, after careful identification, he recognized the customer who bought the fabric that day, and it was the suspect caught in Kaifeng Mansion today.

Li Yuan ran over happily and said with a smile: "Fifth son, this person can't be wrong." ”

"Then go and interrogate, save your life, no matter what you do, you must ensure that he can speak normally in the future, and he must not go crazy......" Zhao Zheng didn't seem to be very emotional, but just commanded lightly.

As a person who has received an education in modern civilization, he does not advocate extorting confessions by torture, but it is difficult to work in the Great Song Dynasty.

Torture is inevitable, all major yamen in the world have torture tools, and the Imperial City Division has many appalling torture tools and methods, which are comparable to the so-called ×× ten tortures.

Zhao Zheng didn't want to be so brutal and inhumane, but the general environment is like this, and the criminal investigation methods in this era are really limited. In a hurry, in the face of the most vicious criminals who may be dead, they can only be tortured.

Even so, it may not be possible to obtain a valuable confession, Zhao Zheng is ready to adopt some modern interrogation methods, such as fatigue interrogation or something.

But unexpectedly, Li Yuan came to report not long after, and before he could hit any Cheng Dù, the guy had already confessed.

"Fifth son, this thief has confessed."

Zhao Zheng was surprised: "Admit it so quickly?" Didn't struggle for a few days? ”

"Hmph, the fifth prince doesn't know, there are many big dishes in the Imperial City Division, as long as you listen to it, you will tremble, not to mention ......" Li Yuan seemed to be proud.

"Okay, tell me what he told me?" Zhao Zheng's face was as calm as ever, and there was no excitement at all.

Li Yuandao: "This thief's name is Li Feng, a native of Qizhou, who used to work in the Taixing firm in the city, and in October, the owner of the shop ordered him to buy cloth similar to the color of pine and cypress needles......

Later, when we seized the dyeing mill in Wuzhanghe, he received orders from the owner of the trading house to hide in the dwellings in the city, and if it weren't for today's fire, he would not have been able to find it. ”

Zhao Zheng heard it clearly, and said after a moment: "Go and check, what does Taixing do in business?" What is the background? ”

"This, the subordinates have already inquired clearly."

"So fast?" This time the speed was so fast that even Zhao Zheng was a little surprised.

Li Yuandao: "Because this Taixing business is a major grain merchant in Bianliang, the people take food as the sky, and the background of the grain merchant is recorded in both the political hall and the imperial city department. ”

"Whose family is Taixing?"

"Shi family, return to the German army to make Shi trustworthy......"

Zhao Zheng, who was originally calm, was suddenly shocked, who would have thought that this matter would involve Shi Shouxin.

Li Yuan was also stunned: "Fifth prince, could it be that the matter of the official family who carried out the assassination that day is related to General Shi?" ”

Hmph, Zhao Zheng smiled bitterly, this matter is getting more and more complicated.

Everyone knows that the reason why Zhao Kuangyin was able to lead the army into the city in the Chenqiao Mutiny depended on the response of Shi Shouxin and Wang Xianqi. So there is no doubt that Shi Shouxin is a minister of the dragon and has made great contributions.

He succeeded the official family's original envoy to the German army, and he was also the commander of the forbidden army's guards Ma Bujun. The Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty twice before and after the imperial expedition to quell the rebellion, he Shi Shouxin fought with him, and his merits were outstanding, which was extraordinary.

The most important thing is that he has an army in his hands that is strong enough to affect the stability of the country. He wants to assassinate the emperor? Does he have a reason to do so? Is Li Feng's confession credible?

In an instant, multiple thoughts popped up and churned in Zhao Zheng's mind. The exact answer he couldn't say at the moment, but one thing was for sure.

That is, Shi Shouxin has been actively or passively involved, this matter is getting more and more complicated, and this pool of water is becoming more and more mixed.

"Not necessarily!" Zhao Zheng pondered for a long time and shook his head gently.

Li Yuandao: "What do you mean by the fifth prince?" Although there is no substantial evidence, this is already a clue, and with a closer investigation, more may be found. ”

"That being said, don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?"

"This, the fifth prince is talking ......"

"I can't say it, I always feel like it's too coincidental, as if we can come whatever we want, like a good thing to rush to the door."

"Uh...... So what to do? Li Yuan whispered: "How to deal with Shi Shouxin?" Where do the officials want to report? ”

"Regarding the assassins, continue to investigate, Shi Shouxin just keep an eye on it, don't startle the snake."

Zhao Zheng pondered for a moment, glanced at Li Yuan meaningfully, and said leisurely: "The official family naturally wants to report there, it's too late today, tomorrow I will go to the palace to ask the Queen Mother for peace, and then go to see the official family." ”

"Yes!" Li Yuan responded, as if he had an understanding. (To be continued......)