Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai hoped that Wei Jiansu could give them support, so that they could go to Hexi as soon as possible and completely uncover the true face of the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce. But they waited for several days in the Criminal Department and Dali Temple, but no one came to inform them, and there was no news.

The two finally couldn't bear it anymore and decided to go to Wei Xianggong's mansion to ask, when they sent them to Hexi to investigate the case, why did they think about it for several days?

When they came to the door of Wei Jiansu's mansion, they knocked lightly on the side door, and a doorman dressed in soapy white clothes opened the door and asked politely, "What are the two distinguished guests doing in my mansion?" ”

"I'm Xiao Hua of Langzhong of the Criminal Department, and I'm Si Zhi of Dali Temple, and I'm here to see Wei Xiang."

"My Ah Lang is unwell and can't see guests, please go back to the two officials."

When I saw him the day before yesterday, he was fine, why did he get sick today? The two of them were quite strange, and couldn't help asking, "What disease is your family Ah Lang infected?" ”

"I was infected with a cold the night before, and the high fever did not go away. If you have any important business, you will leave a note and I will pass it on to my family. ”

Xiao Hua was really a person, and he really wanted to leave a note, but he was stopped by Yuan Zai and pulled out of the door of the Wei Mansion.

The two came to the wine shop in the market, and asked Dr. Jiu for two liters of roast spring, and they were silent on the cut cooked mutton.

Xiao Langzhong was puzzled, frowned and said to himself, "Why are you sick?" We saw him the day before yesterday that he didn't have any symptoms. ”

Yuan Zai snorted mockingly in his stomach, how can this kind of brain and level be mixed up in the criminal department?

He took a sip of the wine cup and said pretending to be profound: "I think Wei Xiang's illness should be related to our door-to-door report the day before yesterday. ”

Xiao Hua asked in surprise, "How do you say this?" ”

"We came to the door the day before yesterday and revealed to Wei Xiang the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce behind Michagan, and asked him to send us to Hexi to investigate. Wei Xiang did not agree on the spot, saying that he would think about it for a few days. So he has given us the answer today. ”

"What answer?" Xiao Hua had no difficulty in complimenting.

"Wei Xiang is unwilling to be involved in this case, so he would rather be sick than allow us to investigate, which shows that the power behind the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce is so great that even the prime minister has to avoid each other."

Xiao Hua's angry temperament was stimulated, and he patted the case with hatred and said: "Is this still the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty when all countries come to the court?" The dignified prime minister is actually afraid of local forces, if so, I, Xiao Huayi, am not afraid, and am willing to go to Hexi spontaneously to investigate the bottom of the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce! ”

"Brother Xiao, don't be impatient, listen to me tell you slowly." Yuan Zai took a sip of wine and said: "The Western Regions Chamber of Commerce is not a local force, which local force has the ability to monopolize the trade route from Tianzhu to Chang'an?" There are also others behind Wei Xianggong, otherwise he would not have used the method of holding his illness to avoid presiding over the case. What the foolish brother is worried about now is, should we avoid this case to avoid trouble? After all, neither money nor future matters as much as fate. ”

Xiao Hua snorted with contempt in his expression and said, "If you are afraid, you can leave, I, Xiao Hua, are naturally not afraid of anything." ”

"Alas, Brother Xiao, what did you say. You are upright and not afraid of the powerful, why is this not the case with me? It's just that the two of us went to Hexi without permission, which is not justified, and there is no backup, so how can we find out the mastermind behind the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce? ”

Xiao Hua sighed heavily: "You also said just now, even Zuo Xiang Wei Jiansu is not willing to offend them, who is willing to support us behind our backs?" ”

"Didn't I just say to you? There must be someone behind Wei Xiang, and this person is definitely not willing to cover up this case under the nose of the saint. Now that Wei Xiang is sick, the person behind the scenes will definitely not be silent, he will definitely find someone else to replace Wei Xiang, or appear in front of the stage in person. So we just have to wait at home, and then someone will come back to us. ”

Xiao Hua was convinced by Yuan Zai's inference, but this Yuan Zai was sleek and transparent, and he was a proper villain. If there is a problem with conduct, even if you are talented, you are only planning for yourself, what good will it do to the people?

The two men talked for a while, drank the wine in the jar, and then parted ways. Because they are not the same kind of people, their ambitions in life have always been different, if it weren't for the case that Wei Jiansu confessed to pinching them together, even as colleagues, they were destined to meet in Pingshui.

……

Yang Guozhong originally wanted to find someone to replace Wei Jiansu to preside over the investigation of the pepper trade case, but he really underestimated the brains and guts of the people in the DPRK and China, and no one was willing to take the initiative to accept the case that Yang Guozhong wanted to handle.

Attached to him, such as Xian Yu Zhongtong, Dou Hua, Zheng Ang and others, these people will only shake their lips and promote their prestige, and they don't have much real ability, if they let them face Li Siye, they are afraid that they will be used by the other party.

His desire to hide behind his back and be the shopkeeper was frustrated, and it was not easy to find a person who was in a high position and had more courage and courage, and even he himself once retreated. Li Siye had sent people to bribe him several times, and it was really not human's work to check him again, but he could vaguely feel that Li Siye held the pepper trade road in his hand as a tool to collect money, and then combined it with his existing identity as the envoy of the Three Towns Festival, it would inevitably be a great disaster for him in the future, and it would be a great disaster for the imperial court.

He sat under the verandah in the small building and complained to Dou Hua who was standing beside him for a while.

Dou Hua took the initiative to offer him advice: "Since the right minister already knows that this Li Siye has a monopoly on the pepper trade route, why bother so much and directly impeach him in front of the sage, wouldn't it be more concise and direct?" ”

"You know what! Li Siye's meritorious achievements are extraordinary, and the saint's trust in him is also increasing day by day, and even the noble concubine Niangniang attaches great importance to him. If there is no conclusive evidence, how can His Majesty and Niangniang believe it, but it will make Li Siye bite back. ”

Yang Guozhong glanced up at this cronie, suddenly his eyes lit up, and he spread his hand and said, "It's better to leave this case to you to preside, anyway, you also found these two people who handled the case." ”

A look of embarrassment appeared on Dou Hua's face, and Yang Guozhong immediately snorted coldly: "What? You don't have the guts to offend Li Siye? ”

Dou Hua hurriedly bowed and crossed his hands: "My subordinates don't mean this, it's just that my official is soft-spoken, how can I preside over such a big case?" And how can you command the officials of the Criminal Department and Dali Temple? ”

"What's so hard about that? I immediately announced to the sage that you are the Zhongshu Shilang, what do you call the two investigators, Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai arranged to go to Hexi to investigate, and sent two Zhonghou who were right guards to their side, telling them that as long as they find evidence and bring it back to Chang'an, I can ensure that they are promoted to Shilang and Sizheng. ”

"Huh," Dou Hua bowed and crossed his hands.

After Dou Hua retreated, he immediately sent someone to send a message to Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai, asking the two to meet at the orchid restaurant in the West Market.

This scholar was wearing a crimson robe, with a belt of silver ornaments, a tassel sachet hanging from his waist, and standing in front of the window of the wine shop with his hands behind his back, with a suave smell.

Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai climbed up from the staircase and saw Dou Hua standing in front of the window, and the two looked at each other and were stunned. They didn't expect it to be him, although this person has a higher official position than them, but he is still not qualified to preside over the review of such a big case.

"You two may be seated." Dou Hua turned around and extended his hand to them.

Xiao Hua's face stiffened and his body did not move, Yuan Zai smiled and crossed his hand towards Dou Hua, and whispered in his ear: "This is Yang Xianggong's cronies." ”

The two sat down in front of the desk, and Yuan Zai asked with a forked hand: "Dou Sheren, you invited us to this wine shop, but what are your instructions?" ”

Dou Hua also sat cross-legged in front of them, pressing his hands on the case, his expression showed a bit of arrogance, and said with a smile: "I am here on behalf of Yang Xianggong, the two of you can go to the four counties of Hexi to thoroughly investigate the case of the Western Regions Chamber of Commerce controlling the monopoly of pepper trade routes, if you can bring back solid evidence, or bring back witnesses, it will make Yang Xianggong happy, why worry about the official position not being obvious?" ”