Detective Di Renjie: The Mysterious Dynasty

Chapter 393 Pressing forward step by step

After leaving Prince Ying's Mansion, Cui Liang, Wu Wendeng and Yang Jiuchen exchanged glances with each other and felt completely relieved.

Although the new Prince of Yan made three big moves upon taking office, fortunately his actions were more rash than effective and he did not discover any flaws.

But before the three of them could react, Zhao Ji suddenly stopped and asked in a deep voice, "Governor Cui?"

"Um... I'm here! I wonder what your Highness wants me to do for you?" Cui Liang hurriedly took two steps forward and answered respectfully.

Zhao Ji's face was solemn, and he said bluntly: "The trivial matters are over, and now we should discuss the serious matters! As you all know, I came to Yangzhou on behalf of the Holy Yu Governor to investigate the Han Canal boat capsize case."

"In recent years, there have been many cases of boats capsizing on the Hang Canal, millions of tons of official salt have disappeared, the canal has been blocked, and the state is running out of money. Your Majesty is furious. Don't you have anything to say?"

When these words were spoken, Cui Liang and others felt a chill in their hearts, knowing that this was the real test.

As the canal transport commissioner, Yang Jiucheng had no choice but to take responsibility. He stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to report that regarding the boat capsizing in the Han Canal, I have already described the specific circumstances in the document submitted to the cabinet. It was all caused by the canal transporters along the coast causing chaos, which led to the blockage of the canal..."

Zhao Ji was of course not satisfied with this answer. He immediately interrupted Yang Jiucheng and said, "There is no need to mention these clichés! I am asking about the situation after the boat capsized!"

Yang Jiucheng was dumbfounded when he heard this. He hesitated for a moment before he said, "After the boat capsized, most of the official salt was dissolved in the water, and the rest was stolen by criminals. It's really hard to track it down!"

"Humph," Zhao Ji sneered and looked at Yang Jiucheng coldly, "The coastal canal households have either been killed by you or rebelled, so there is no cure for them, right?"

Yang Jiucheng lowered his head, but still spoke firmly: "I don't understand what your Highness means. These grain transport households are all bandits and should be eradicated!"

Zhao Ji sneered and said disdainfully: "I just asked you what happened after the ship capsized, not the reason for the ship capsizing. I also don't want your official salt. Where did all the ships you capsized go?"

"There must be some survivors among the boatmen and soldiers guarding the canal on the capsized boat, right? How many people in Yangzhou City have experienced the Yangzhou boat capsizing incident? Find as many as you can! I will interrogate them thoroughly!"

Yang Jiucheng was stunned when he heard this. Although he looked embarrassed, he was already prepared: "Yes, I will prepare it right away!"

Having said that, Yang Jiuchen prepared to leave.

Zhao Ji grabbed him and said, "You don't have to go. Just send a subordinate to pass the message! I still have something to ask you!"

Yang Jiucheng's expression suddenly changed, and his heart skipped a beat for no reason: "Uh... Yes, I will obey your highness' order..."

Cui Liang and Wu Wendeng exchanged glances, both of which were filled with fear.

In fact, Zhao Ji's actions were within the expectations of Yuan Qi and the governor's office, as they had already prepared voluminous volumes of false accounts and witnesses and material evidence.

If Zhao Ji really started from here, even if he was dizzy, he would definitely not be able to find any clues to the truth.

However, what really worried the two was not Zhao Ji's methods, but his obviously malicious attitude.

If you keep investigating like this, even the honest officials will be found fault with you, not to mention that they already have something to hide!

As expected, Zhao Ji once again showed his malicious smile: "The imperial envoy's headquarters will not be set up in the Yangzhou Governor's Mansion. I think the Yangzhou Canal Transport Office is quite suitable!"

"It just so happens that I need to check the accounts of the Canal Transport Office to make things easier. Governor Cui and Chief Clerk Wu are the local leaders, so I have to ask for their advice at any time. Let's go and take a look together?"

Upon hearing this, Governor Cui Liang and Chief Clerk Wu Wendeng were extremely unwilling and felt very embarrassed.

However, since it was the imperial envoy's order and Zhao Ji's request was not excessive, the two had no choice but to agree.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji nodded with satisfaction.
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Soon, Shen Tao and Xiao Bao led the imperial guard to the Yangzhou Canal Transport Office.

Cui Liang and three other people were riding on horses. They saw from afar that the Grain Transport Commissioner's Office had already been surrounded by the Qianniu Guards. They didn't know who from the Imperial Commissioner's Office had arrived there first.

Zhao Ji quickly dismounted from his horse and, ignoring the reactions of Cui Liang and others, walked straight into the Yangzhou government office.

Cui Liang, Wu Wendeng and Yang Jiucheng all dismounted and looked at each other in dismay. "What's going on?" Wu Wendeng asked in a low voice, beads of sweat already oozing from his forehead.

Cui Liang and Yang Jiuchen were also stunned, thinking to themselves that something was wrong. It seemed that they had a premonition that Zhao had come prepared, and they might have stepped into some carefully laid trap.

But Cui Liang took a deep breath and tried to calm his panic: "Now that things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time. We have already made sufficient preparations. As long as he doesn't find solid evidence, there is nothing he can do to us!"

Yang Jiucheng also agreed, "That's right. As long as we keep our mouths shut and don't reveal any flaws, he won't be able to do anything to us. Besides, don't we still have Prince Ying? Nothing will happen."

At this time, Shen Tao approached and urged: "Three adults, please move forward quickly, don't keep His Highness waiting for too long!"

The three of them then stopped whispering and followed Zhao Ji reluctantly.

When he stepped into the lobby of the Caoyun Yamen, Yang Jiuchen was even more shocked: the yamen runners and officials he was familiar with were nowhere to be seen, and were replaced by unfamiliar faces.

Zhao Ji sat in the hall with a smile on his face and began to give orders: "Okay, now we can get down to business! The boat capsized in the Han Canal, this is a serious matter, your majesty has issued a strict order to urge me to do it, I am not talented enough and I am afraid I am not up to the task, so I ask the governor and the chief secretary for help!"

"As for Lord Yang, please bear with it for now, avoid suspicion, and be ready to answer questions at any time!"

Cui Liang, Wu Wendeng and Yang Jiuchen were all suspicious when they heard this, and they couldn't figure out what Zhao Ji was up to.

Zhao Ji glanced at the three people and continued, "The account books of the Canal Transport Office will be examined by Governor Cui and the Qianniu Guards. Every word must be checked, and there cannot be any mistakes or omissions!"

Cui Liang was stunned when he heard this.

Zhao Ji ignored his reaction and immediately gave the order: "As for the witnesses and evidence that survived the capsize, Wu Changshi and the Qianniu Guards will all be asked to interrogate them one by one! Interrogate them thoroughly and don't let go of any suspicious points!"

Cui Liang, Wu Wendeng and Yang Jiuchen were all stunned when they heard this.

Is there such a good thing? Will the King of Yan hand over the case to them for investigation?
Suddenly, Zhao Ji raised a strange smile and said, "Of course, this is a matter of national interest. The Han Canal boat capsize case is very urgent. This king and everyone else will work hard day and night to complete the task as soon as possible."

"During this period, no one is allowed to step out of the Canal Transport Office!"

Zhao's true intentions were revealed and he bared his fangs once again.

At this point, Cui Liang and the others clearly understood Zhao Ji's true intention, and their faces became uglier than each other.

This is clearly a disguised form of house arrest for the three of them!
"Your Highness, this... this is probably inappropriate, right?" Wu Wendeng hurried out to stop him. "The governor and I still have Yangzhou government affairs to deal with!"

When Zhao Ji heard this, his face darkened instantly, and he asked sternly, "Don't you know that I am in Yangzhou this time and will concurrently serve as the Grand Commander of Yangzhou, in charge of all military and political affairs in Yangzhou?"

"The government affairs of Yangzhou will be handled by the Chief Secretary of the Governor's Office in collaboration with the officials of Yangzhou. You two don't need to worry about it. The first priority right now is to deal with the Han Canal boat capsize case!"

"Besides that, you must give in to everything else! My two lords, please be patient for the time being and tolerate each other for the sake of the country! When the matter is settled, I will ask for credit for you!"

Cui Liang and Wu Wendeng were stunned. They didn't expect Zhao to be so tough right from the start.

Yang Jiucheng was quite indignant. He was not as shrewd as Cui and Wu, so he stood up and questioned, "Mr. Cui and Mr. Wu both have their missions, but what about Your Highness? Your Highness is an imperial envoy, but he pushed the official duties to the local officials! How can this be considered decent?"

When Zhao Ji heard this, his expression changed, and he slammed the gavel, saying sternly, "How dare you!"

Yang Jiucheng was startled by the sudden noise, and thought to himself, is Zhao Ji trying to use his power to oppress others and not abide by martial ethics?

However, Zhao Ji just sneered and looked at Yang Jiucheng with a sharp gaze: "Who told you that I have no official duties? My official duties are to interrogate the criminals of the Canal Transport Office one by one!"

"The first one is you, Yang Jiucheng!"

(End of this chapter)