Chapter 29 Chapter Four

Tao Gan went out to the street to see that the lights were already on.All shops, restaurants, brothels and restaurants are shining brightly, making the night market seem like daytime.The crowds on the street are bustling, shoulder to shoulder. Seeing the yamen of the Governor's Mansion from afar, Tao Gan couldn't help being overjoyed.The yamen is overlooking Lanhu Lake, under the banana and coconut trees.The vegetation is luxuriant, decorated with flowers and fruits, very elegant.The four yamen guards with halberds have a mighty image. Tao Gan entered the yamen of the governor's mansion and went to the West Hall of Gongshu, where Duke Di lived.The third report, and finally led by a Chinese army to meet Di Gong in the West Hall.

Di Gongping looked through the old archives at the Wumu Gongan.He looked very old, with deep wrinkles on his eyebrows and forehead, and his temples and beard were all gray. Qiao Tai stands behind Di Gong, with his stomach and pockets upright.His face was in a daze, full of doubts. Tao Gan pays respects.Di Gong raised his head and said with a smile: "You sit next to Qiao Tai. Qiao Tai, you sit down too. These years, it's rare to be together to reminisce. How nostalgic were those days when we were sent to the states and counties. We sat almost every day. Let's discuss difficult cases together without restraint. By the way, there are also Hong Liang and Ma Rong. Hong Liang's tomb has been arched, and Ma Rong is also entangled by his wife and children, unable to escape."

He looked blankly at the two old relatives in front of him, and said with heavy emotion: "I dispatched the two of you to Guangzhou this time because I want to relive some old dreams. If we work together to finish this case, I am afraid that we will never meet again .” Tao Gan and Qiao Tai were also very sentimental, and were speechless for a moment. Di Gong took a sip of tea, and said again: "Tao Gan, I want to hear your impressions of revisiting Guangzhou first, and then let Qiaotai describe a murder case he experienced just now." "A murder case?" Tao Gan wondered.

Qiao Tai nodded: "It's what happened after we broke up, it's very strange." Tao Gan also felt serious, so he reported: "I leased the Huadu Hotel on the Xidi outside Xiaonanmen, which is a little far away from the city. But it is very convenient to monitor the river. Usually, ships going up and down the river, and waterways going in and out, can't be hidden from my eyes. It's clear at a glance." Duke Di nodded in appreciation. "Businessmen gather in the city of Guangzhou, and the market is prosperous. In addition, there are many shops, and there are many Hu people who are merchants and sellers. But in my opinion, most of them are law-abiding overseas Chinese households, and there are few illegal acts. For more than 20 years, Guangzhou has advocated They still eat, gamble, and prostitute. The flower boats in Baietan and the kilns in Lianhua Mountain are famous all over the world. If you are drunk with money, you can spend a lot of money every moment. Many wealthy businessmen and tycoons become beggars overnight. .——The place is Jing’an, and there are not many traces of it for a while. The Fanfang area is also considered peaceful, and most of the barbarians abide by our laws of the Tang Dynasty.”

Di Gong twirled his beard and smiled slightly in satisfaction. Tao Gan continued: "Brother Qiaotai and I also met a Mr. Ni dressed in a Hu suit today, who runs a large fleet. He is used to traveling the sea and the barbarians, and he is familiar with Dashi, Persian and other languages. He is bold and dignified. Taidi Qiao has been invited to visit his house tomorrow." Di Gongdao: "You two should pay more attention to the actions of the barbarians this time. That Mr. Ni sailed across the ocean and penetrated Huayi, so he needs to be extra careful." Tao Gan asked, "Master, do you mean that you need to take precautions against the barbarians?"

Di Gong whispered: "What do you think I am here in Guangzhou? Mingli is the governor of Lingnan, supervising the business and trade of Haiyi Road. In fact, I came to find someone." "Looking for someone?" Tao Gan and Qiaotai couldn't help but exclaim in unison. "It is to find an important person. — This person disappeared in Guangzhou a while ago. There are many signs that he is somewhat involved with the Hu people here. Therefore, we must not only guard against the Hu people's strange traces, but especially spy out them. It is hidden, and solves many difficult joints."

"I don't know who this character is?" Tao Gan also asked in a low voice. "It is Mr. Liu Daoyuan, Minister of Zhongshu. Because of the long absence of Zhongshu Ling, he is actually good at the power of Zhongshu Province, and he is called the right minister of Xitai. ——He is in charge of the emperor, participates in government affairs, makes books and orders, and is the general manager. Judgment saves trouble. The rest of the increase or decrease of officials, dismissing the ranks of officials, abolishing the order of hundreds of officials, abolishing the prefectures and counties, Linxuan's reply to chapters, and accepting the four barbarian coins, etc., are the main courts of the current imperial court."

"The sage is benevolent, and the dragon's body is dying. Of course, you and I dare not discuss the overall situation of the princes and empresses in the palace. But the courtiers all return to Mr. Liu, relying on him to balance the overall situation. However, the eunuchs and relatives are also ready to move. All kinds of crises , It’s hard to describe in one word. ——However, after Mr. Liu was appointed as an imperial envoy to inspect this Wuyang City last month, he returned to Beijing to deliver the emperor’s order in a hurry, and sneaked here again, bringing only a personal entourage of Chief Su.”

"Master Liu went to Guangzhou in private, and the imperial court was shocked. The imperial court of the three provinces jointly discussed, and I was entrusted to come to Guangzhou to secretly visit Master Liu's whereabouts at starry night. Dudu Wen also saw Master Su accompanied Master Liu to walk in Xiangfang in disguise two days ago, so we We must first start with the clues of Fanke Huren." Tao Gan and Qiao Tai were surprised when they heard this.Worry again, afraid that I won't be able to overcome this burden. Di Gong paused for a moment and said: "You two don't have to reveal the grievances here. Remember, remember. A slight negligence may cause a big mistake. I just hope that you will help me find out the truth and bring Lord Liu back to the capital."

The two relatives agreed casually, and there was a sudden turmoil in their hearts, and they felt restless. "Qiao Tai, tell Tao Gan the plot of the murder case." Qiao Tai recounted the details of Shijian's long-bearded man hanged to death under the bridge, and then strangled to death by a knight's silk scarf. Di Gong said solemnly: "The long-bearded man who was hanged to death is exactly Mr. Su. He obviously had something urgent to report to me. At that time, he followed you for two and a half days. Because he didn't know you, Tao Gan, he didn't dare to be rash. He waited until after you broke up. I just stepped forward to recognize Qiao Tai. —— Who knew that I was easily killed by an ambush opponent, and I lost many clues. But the murderer himself died strangely. Could it be that the knight who killed with a silk scarf was a sworn enemy with them, otherwise Why also followed each other, and saved Qiao Tai's life at a critical moment. He disappeared in an instant without revealing his identity and name. Only a silk scarf and a silver coin of the murder weapon were left behind."

Qiao Tai said: "It seems that Master Liu is really in trouble, maybe it has something to do with the barbarians here. Otherwise, why would you pretend to be a commoner and go to Xiangfang?" Tao Gan wanted to vomit but stopped, his face showing embarrassment. Di Gongdao: "Tao Gan, if you have something to say, you don't have to avoid it." "According to what the master said just now, maybe Master Liu is going to have sex with prostitutes, and he is afraid that it will be publicized and his reputation will be damaged, so he pretends to be." "Lord Liu is by no means a lecherous person, let alone a villain with flesh and blood. Although he is young and unmarried, with a handsome demeanor and a handsome appearance, he is likely to attract the ladies in the boudoir here and even the women in the world. But how could he rashly mess with flowers? Grass, attracting bees and butterflies. Mr. Liu's reputation in the capital is growing day by day; he is also a family of hairpin tassels, poets and ceremonies for many generations, and he has a good marriage match. His vision is second-best, and he is absolutely unwilling to do such a frivolous act." Qiao Tai said: "Now that Master Su is dead, Lord Liu has become a wireless paper kite. How can we find it? Why don't we chase after Master Su when he was attacked. And ask Governor Wen to lead the arresting patrol here to solve the case together." Di Gong waved his hand and said: "No, no. At present, even Dudu Wen himself doesn't know the true intention of my visit as the Governor of Lingnan, and this matter must not be ostentatious. I guess, Mr. Liu must have deep thoughts when he sneaked to Guangzhou, and it is inconvenient to say anything But the reason why he didn't report to meet Wen Dudu and other local government officials must be because he doesn't trust them. We must act cautiously and step by step. Only the three of us know the inside story. We still need to deal with official affairs on the surface, and we need to step up in secret. That's the investigation." Tao Gan said: "Mr. Su was killed in a hurry. Doesn't it mean that our purpose of coming has been discovered by the gangsters. Otherwise, why did you do it when Mr. Su and Qiao Tai were connected?" Di Gong said: "Actually, the gangsters are only looking at Mr. Liu and Mr. Su. Anyone who strikes up a conversation with him and hangs up will definitely become suspicious, so I start to kill." - Mr. Su was killed, Mr. Liu died I'm afraid it's also in dire straits. We mustn't be ignorant of delays."