When Tai Hao stepped into the yamen, he noticed that there was already a man waiting quietly in the front hall. When he saw Taihao, he immediately got up, bowed respectfully to Taihao, and said, "Meet Vice General Taihao!" ”

Tai Hao's eyes were sharp: "Are you an official of Jiutu City?" How come I've never seen you? ”

The man replied: "In the next election, the new judiciary will join the army." ”

Taihao frowned slightly: "Then how do you know me?" ”

Kui Xuan said calmly: "I was transferred from the capital, I served as a recorder in the Guozijian, and I saw Deputy General Taihao in the capital. ”

"Recommended by Mr. Yanfang? How is Mr. Yan Fang doing? Taihao asked with concern.

Kui Xuan replied: "Mr. Yanfang is all right, and the deputy general does not need to worry." ”

Tai Hao was curious, and couldn't help asking, "There are so many cities in the country, why did they transfer you to this remote Nine Earth City?" ”

Kui Xuan replied respectfully: "Vice Admiral Taihao, Mr. Yan Fang's clever calculation must have its deep meaning. As he spoke, he took out a letter from his bosom and presented it to Tai Hao with both hands, "Mr. Yanfang asked me to forward this letter, and specially instructed me not to let other officials know." ”

Taihao took the letter, and before he could open it, he heard approaching footsteps. He quickly tucked the letter into his arms.

The Yuhong City Lord walked into the front hall leisurely, his eyes swept over Tai Hao and Kui Xuan, and he took the lead in saying to Tai Hao: "How could the deputy general arrive at the yamen so early today?" ”

Tai Hao replied solemnly: "The lower official has something to report to the city lord." ”

Yu Hong smiled slightly, and turned to look at Kui Xuan: "You are the newly transferred judicial military candidate, right?" Just arrived in Jiutu City today? ”

Kui Xuan responded humbly: "Exactly, I just arrived in the early hours of this morning." ”

Yu Hong smiled meaningfully: "The imperial court is unusual this time, and it is actually transferred from the central government to a local judicial officer to join the army. It can be seen that the imperial court attaches great importance to Jiutu City. ”

Tai Hao's heart moved, and he took the opportunity to ask: "Yuhong City Lord, dare to ask why the imperial court made such a decision?" ”

Yu Hong smiled mysteriously, and did not answer directly, but turned to Kuixuan: "Kuixuan, you are new to here, go and rest for a while." We'll talk about that later. ”

Kui Xuan replied respectfully and exited the antechamber. Yu Hong looked at his back and said slowly: "The decision-making of the imperial court often involves many factors, and we cannot speculate. However, the emergence of the election may be related to the recent movements of the imperial court. ”

Tai Hao frowned: "What is the movement of the imperial court?" ”

The corners of Yu Hong's mouth raised slightly: "The imperial court has recently set off a huge storm of punishment for corruption, and countless officials have been implicated because of this. I guess that this wind of incorruptibility will soon blow to the localities. ”

Hearing this, Taihao knew in his heart that Yu Hong had already begun to be afraid. He immediately probed: "Could it be that he was sent by the imperial court to Jiutu City to investigate officialdom matters?" ”

Yu Hong nodded slightly: "Very likely." After all, who would voluntarily be transferred from the bustling center to our remote town? ”

Tai Hao's heart was full of joy, and he asked eagerly: "Yuhong City Lord, how do you plan to deal with it?" ”

Yu Hong sneered and said proudly: "Vice Admiral Taihao, what do you mean by this?" Do you think this official is a corrupt official, or do you think I will be cowardly because of it? I act above board and honestly, even if the court comes to investigate, I can't make any waves. ”

The corners of Tai Hao's mouth curled slightly, and there was a hint of mystery in his words, "Since the matter has come to this point, this official specially came to the Yuhong City Lord today to reveal a shocking case in Jiutu City. ”

Yu Hong frowned slightly, and asked puzzledly, "What is the big case?" ”

Tai Hao took a deep breath, and his voice revealed seriousness, "This big case is the case of the imperial examination!" ”

After hearing this, Yu Hong's face did not show too much surprise. He stared into Tai Hao's eyes and asked as if he didn't know anything: "Imperial examination case?" How could such a thing happen in a place like Nine Earth City? ”

Tai Hao Zhengse said: "I saw it with my own eyes yesterday, so I came to report to the city lord today." The case of substitute examination for the imperial examination is of great importance and must be dealt with as soon as possible. The 'city test' in a month is imminent, and we must ensure that such incidents do not happen again, otherwise we will not be able to escape the punishment of the imperial court." ”

Yu Hong nodded slightly, and his tone was gentle, "You have a point, I will remember it." Vice General Taihao, I heard that the Jiutu City military camp has been busy recently, and you, as the deputy general defending the city, must fully assist General Houfeng and handle military affairs. ”

Tai Hao heard Yu Hong's voice, and he smiled indifferently, "Whether it's military affairs or government affairs, how can you not care." What's more, this imperial examination case is related to the safety of the officials in the city. Lord Yuhong City, I have some evidence in hand, and I will do my best to help you deal with this case. ”

Yu Hong took a deep breath, thinking about the importance of this matter. After a while, he said in a deep voice: "Since Vice Admiral Taihao already has evidence in hand, then please submit it, and this official will hear the case immediately." ”

Tai Hao nodded and replied, "I also ask the Lord of Yuhong City to send two capable servants to follow me to arrest the organizer of the substitute examination." ”

Yu Hong decisively ordered: "Ah San, Ah Si, you two will go with Vice General Taihao to handle this matter!" ”

Ah San and Ah Si replied in unison: "Obey!" Then he followed Vice Adjutant Taihao and quickly left to carry out the mission.

In a corner of the East Market, Tai Hao led Ah San and Ah Si to stop in front of the "Dong Diandian" bookstore. However, they found that the shops that were usually bustling with activity were closed today. Taihao knocked on the door, and the voice echoed in the silent market, but no one responded for a long time.

Suspicious, he turned and walked towards a nearby shop. The guy at the shop saw Taihao's anxious face, so he enthusiastically informed: "The Dongdian store packed up and left last night, and many books have been moved, probably to move." ”

After hearing the news, Taihao felt even more bad in his heart. He had a sense of foreboding, and this matter was anything but simple. So he made a decision and ordered Ah San and Ah Si: "Pry open the door of the bookstore!" ”

Ah San and Ah Si carried out the order without hesitation. They pried the deadbolt open, and the door slowly opened, revealing an empty store. The books are long gone, leaving only traces of dust and mess. Tai Hao stared at the mess, knowing that there must be a bigger secret waiting to be revealed.

Tai Hao took a deep breath and continued to explore the bookstore. In the dim corner, a terrifying sight made him gasp. A corpse lay on its stomach on the ground, blood pouring out of its wounds and staining the ground red.

Tai Hao approached the corpse and carefully identified the deceased's face by the faint light outside the door. His gaze fell on the familiar face, and a wave of grief swelled up in his heart. The deceased was Bao Xian, the shopkeeper of Dongdian, and his face still had the horror and despair of his life.

The tragic situation in front of him made Taihao feel dizzy. Holding back his grief, he crouched down and examined Bao Xian's wounds and surroundings. All indications are that this was a brutal murder.

Tai Hao immediately made a decision and ordered Ah San: "Ah San, you quickly return to the Yamen and report to the city lord that there is a life case here." Ah San received the order and left quickly.

Then, he turned to Ah Si and instructed, "Ah Si, you keep an eye to see if there are any suspicious traces. ”

Ah Si cautiously reminded: "Vice General Taihao, according to the opinion of his subordinates, it is better to wait for the city lord to come before making a decision." Such murders are not trivial, and only the lord of the city is qualified to investigate. We waited outside the door so as not to spoil the scene. ”

Taihao knew his authority and nodded slowly, "That makes sense, then let's wait outside the door." ”

Afterwards, Tai Hao and Ah Si waited outside the door together. Soon, the lord of Yuhong City hurried to the scene with a servant and several servants.

The city lord of Yuhong personally inspected the scene and found that Bao Xian's shopkeeper was brutally stabbed to death from behind, with seven knives. Who is the murderer of such a vicious method? Yu Hong turned to Tai Hao and asked, "Vice General Tai Hao, what is the purpose of you bringing the officials here?" ”

Tai Hao replied calmly: "Yesterday, this place openly sold the substitute examination places, and this Bao Xian shopkeeper is the organizer of the substitute examination. ”

Yu Hong's brows furrowed, "Why are you so sure?" What evidence is there that he is the organizer? ”

Tai Hao said firmly: "Xia Guan witnessed it with his own eyes yesterday. ”

At this time, a servant approached them and reported: "City Lord, after examination, the deceased had fought with the murderer before his death, and he was holding a paper ball with the word 'twelve' written on it. ”

The servant handed the paper ball with "twelve" written on it to Yu Hong, and Taihao looked carefully on the side and was surprised to find that it was exactly what he wrote yesterday. He asked in confusion, "Why is the shopkeeper Bao Xian holding on to the piece of paper I wrote?" ”

Hearing this, Yu Hong looked at Tai Hao and asked suspiciously, "Vice Admiral Tai Hao, can you explain the origin of this piece of paper?" You say it's yours? ”

Tai Hao nodded affirmatively: "That's right, yesterday the shopkeeper Bao Xian handed out a piece of paper to every reader present, asking us to write our names and put them in the bowl." That's the one I wrote. ”

Yu Hong pondered for a moment and asked, "What does this 'twelve' mean?" ”

Tai Hao explained: "'Twelve' is the name of Xiaguan. ”

Yu Hong glanced at Tai Hao and asked seriously: "Bao Xian's shopkeeper held your name in his hand before he died, what is your explanation for this?" ”

Taihao was speechless for a while, and he had already guessed a rough idea in his heart. This is clearly a gangster who wants to frame him and skillfully blame himself for Bao Xian's death. There is only one ugly person who knows that "twelve" is Taihao's name, and he knows very well that Ah ugly will never reveal his identity.

Seeing that Tai Hao was silent, Yu Hong continued to say solemnly: "Vice General Tai Hao, you have a major suspicion in this case. In his capacity as Lord of the City, the Governor orders you to return to your palace and not to go out until further summons from the Lord. ”

Tai Hao hurriedly defended: "Yuhong City Lord, this matter has nothing to do with me. It is a fact that the shopkeeper of Dongdian organized a substitute examination, but there must be a hidden reason for his death. The laws of the Eastern Empire are strict, how can he be allowed to trample on them like this? ”

Yu Hong said in a deep voice: "This official will find out the truth." The matter of the imperial examination has been put on hold for the time being, and the first task at present is to find out the murder case. Vice Adjutant Taihao, if you have a clear conscience, don't meddle in this case. The official vows to find out. ”

Taihao had no choice but to return to the deputy general's mansion and wait for the development of the situation.