7

A month ago.

Capital.

The back hall of the criminal department.

"Subordinates, see Lord Zhou!"

"Xiaguan meets Prince Gong!"

Shen Tianpeng, who was called to Beijing, saluted Zhou Zupei and Yixun respectively.

He was summoned to Beijing because of the British and French alliance invasion of Beijing, Emperor Xianfeng and the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces "Northern Hunting" (escaped) Chengde Rehe, who was ordered to stay in the capital in danger and was appointed as a special minister to stay in Beijing, the minister with full powers to send the minister (supervise the peace bureau, act cheaply), the minister of the foreman military aircraft and the minister of the foreman Yamen Yixun (Prince Heshuo Gong) and the president of the Hui Trial, the minister of affairs in Beijing, the scholar of Tirenge University (Zheng Yipin, the power of the prime minister), and Zhou Zupei, who also managed the household department and the criminal department.

"I summoned you to Beijing this time only for the murder of Shaanxi Governor Deng Erheng, I don't know what you think about this case?" After some officialdom greetings, Zhou Zupei asked.

"The subordinates are stupid, although they know a little about this case, but it is extremely difficult to guess the truth of it, and they really dare not say it casually. ”

With you solving countless cases and performing miraculous feats, you won't be able to see the slightest clue? The prince is not an outsider, but it doesn't hurt to say it. ”

"Without evidence and no evidence, the subordinates will never dare to discuss the program of the dynasty, let alone criticize the important ministers of the feudal court, and hope that the lord and the prince will forgive their sins!"

"Forget it! don't be embarrassed for Shen Langzhong. Yixun stood up and said, "Zhou Zupei, a scholar of Tiren Pavilion, and Shen Tianpeng, a Zhejiang Qing official of the Criminal Department, received the order!" After the two of them left their seats and knelt down, Yixun read the holy decree----

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor's edict said: Shen Tianpeng, the Zhejiang Qing official of the Ministry of Punishment, is the minister of the Qin Mission, and he gives the general a waist knife, and acts arbitrarily on the spot. The edict immediately went to Yunnan to thoroughly investigate the murder of Deng Erheng, the governor of Shaanxi, and there must be no mistakes. It is necessary to conduct a secret and quick investigation of the circumstances of Deng Erheng's murder, and to make a clear picture of the situation according to the facts, and it is not allowed to hide and eliminate the slightest opinion. Chin this ......"

"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"

In addition, you might as well tell the two of you that although this edict is issued by the emperor, it is actually the meaning of the queen mother of the east and west palaces. If you don't do it well...... The two of them must be cautious and not sloppy at all. Yi Xun instructed.

"Lord Xie Zhou's support! Shen Tianpeng took the holy decree and the general's waist knife, and then said to Zhou Zupei: "My lord, because the case is very important, and the interests of people are intertwined, so all the officials of the military department, Dali Temple and other officials are not at ease to use it; I only ask that the three people under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Department will be sent with their subordinates, and I hope that the Lord will grant permission!"

"Not to mention the three people under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Department, you are just letting the old man do it himself at this moment, serving you before and after the saddle, and the old man doesn't dare to disobey, right, Lord Wang?" Zhou Zupei jokingly said, "Which three are you talking about?"

"Yue Haikun, director of the Nanjing Qing Officials Division of the Criminal Department, Yan Wanli, a member of the Yunnan Qing Officials Division of the Criminal Department, and Zhang Huaizhong, director of the Zhejiang Qing Officials Division of the Criminal Department. ”

"One is a 'Eagle Claw' master, one is a mountain tracing expert, and the other is a criminal investigator, all of whom have an excellent reputation. Zhou Zupei, who knew the subordinate officials of the various ministries under his jurisdiction well, nodded in agreement.

"In addition, please issue me an official document from the Criminal Department to investigate the case and pursue the culprit and arrest the culprit, in case my subordinates need to visit the yamen of various departments. In case, his subordinates don't want to easily expose his identity. ”

"As it should be. Zhou Zupei and Yi Xun Qi claimed.

After sending away Prince Gong, Zhou Zupei specially advised Shen Tianpeng: "You have gone deep into the Yunnan-Guizhou realm to handle the case this time, and the difficulties and dangers are obvious. I won't hide it from you: The governor is a big official, Deng Erheng was killed, and the government and the opposition were shaken, so the emperor would naturally send someone to investigate the matter and strictly punish the murderer. Previously, the emperor originally issued an order to order Liu Yuanhao, the new governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, to investigate the matter thoroughly. However, this person is old and cunning, and he knows that the real culprit of the case is tough and ruthless, and his power is deep-rooted, and whoever provokes him will be more and less lucky, so he did not dare to set foot in Yunnan, so he simply pretended to be sick, and resigned and returned to his hometown with the intention of 'old age and begging' (that is, under the pretext of illness...... Then he sent the Manchurian Fuji to take over as the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, but Fuji also refused to take office under the pretext of refusing. As a last resort, the emperor allowed me to recommend you to thoroughly investigate the case for Weifu. So, you know the stakes and weight of this case, right? If you regret taking over this case, it's still too late to refuse, and I won't blame or force you. ”

"Adults don't have to be tempted, the officials eat the king's fortune, bear the king's worries, even if they go to the soup and the fire, they will not hesitate. Moreover, his subordinates have been repeatedly favored and trusted by adults, although they can't repay them when they die, how can they regret and refuse to say it?" Shen Tianpeng said righteously.

"Very good! Zhou Zupei said with satisfaction, "Yungui is located in a wilderness, there are many gangs, the tribe is large, and there is no education. The common people are ignorant, the ignorant are still superstitious, the most advocating the force of ghosts and gods, and has been operated by the local magistrate (governor) Xu Zhiming for many years, the mountain is high and the emperor is far away, the local officials and villagers, only know that there is a governor, do not know that there is a court emperor, you wait here to check his local officials, you should be cautious everywhere, you must be careful at every step, so as not to die before the teacher is born, harm yourself, and miss the big thing. But you are my most valued and trusted subordinate, and how can I put you in danger for no reason? I will help you now: years ago, I took precautions and planted one of my shadows in that side, which was a matter of professional habit, and not directed at anyone. Now, it's time to use him. ”

"Who is he, and how do I contact him?" Shen Tianpeng asked curiously.

"You don't have to know who he is, and you don't need to contact him, I have sent a message to inform him, so that he can secretly help you solve the case, if you go to a desperate situation, when you need him, he will definitely appear, but you have to remember: his code name is 'Bee Needle', once he appears, you must trust him absolutely. His affairs are the top secret of the Criminal Department, and the stakes are very important, and no one (including your relatives, friends, colleagues, wives, children, parents, and brothers) shall be allowed to divulge anything to anyone except you, me, and him. Remember!" Zhou Zupei solemnly emphasized.

"The subordinates understand the key points, and they will never dare to be negligent!"

"There is another point, which is also very important. Zhou Zupei thought for a while, and then said: "From today on, during the entire investigation period, you are a Qincha, and you are only responsible to the emperor and the queen mother of the two palaces; You are also a subordinate official of the Criminal Department under my jurisdiction, and you are not subject to control by anyone except me. In the middle, if someone intervenes in this case, even if he is a relative of the emperor, a prince and a minister, or even a person close to the emperor, you have to be cautious and cautious, and don't follow the way of others. Especially when you return to Beijing, if you really find out some big secrets or secrets, I don't want to see it, but I especially want to know who will be interested in you and your errands, do you know what I mean?"

"The subordinates are stupid and can't say they understand everything, they can only try to understand it. Shen Tianpeng said humbly. "My lord wants to use this case to find out who in the capital has colluded with the feudal official in the southwest, and then uproot them to prevent future troubles. ”

"This official really didn't misunderstand you. Zhou Zupei said happily.