Da Song Private Investigator

Chapter 410 Inkstone competition.

In the blink of an eye, it was late autumn, the wind was blowing even colder, and the leaves in the courtyard had already fallen.

The case of Lin Shan's murder has been over for more than a month, the murderer has been brought to justice, Duanzhou seems to be calm, but Hua Lang and Bao Zheng both know that the undercurrent has always been there, but they don't know when it will erupt.

The days are so peaceful, cases come and go, although Hwarang's reputation has been established in Duanzhou, but the business is not as hot as imagined, after all, murders cannot happen every day, and no one wants to happen.

In the evening of this day, the setting sun has cast a layer of light rhyme, giving people the feeling that it is no longer bright, but dark and sad.

Hualang, Bao Zheng and others were chatting in the state government office, but at this moment, a government office servant came to report that Tang Wanli asked to see him.

Bao Zheng glanced at Hua Lang, and asked a little puzzled: "What is Tang Wanli doing here at this time?"

Hwarang was also puzzled, and said, "Please come in and see him, and you'll know."

A yamen servant invited Tang Wanli in. After Tang Wanli came in, he hurriedly saluted. Bao Zheng nodded slightly and asked, "Why is Mr. Tang coming to our state yamen?"

Tang Wanli laughed quickly and said, "Actually, it's not a big deal, but the Duanzhou Inkstone Competition is about to start. On behalf of the inkstone shops in Duanzhou, I'm here to ask, can Mr. Bao and Young Master Hua attend?"

Bao Zheng frowned slightly, and said, "Those competitions are organized by businesses like you. Is it appropriate for us court people to attend?"

Tang Wanli said hastily: "I also hope that Mr. Bao will not misunderstand. People who come to participate in the inkstone competition are from all over the country, and some inkstones are very expensive. If there is no one to press the field, I am afraid that those who have good inkstones will not dare to come, so ..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but what Tang Wanli wanted to express, Hualang and Bao Zheng, had already fully understood that they wanted their people from the state government to be bodyguards to prevent people from making trouble in the middle.

For such a lively event, Hwarang is very happy to go and have a look, and Wen Meng and the others also want to go and have a look. As for Bao Zheng, he is a little hesitant, because he feels that the imperial court will send someone to show these businessmen the place. It hurt the face of the imperial court to some extent, but if they didn't go, something really happened, and it was their state government and the state government's arrest that would bother them in the end.

It's not that Bao Zheng doesn't know about things like taking precautions before they happen, but he still feels embarrassed, so at this moment, Bao Zheng glanced at Hua Lang and said, "Brother Hua thinks what should we do about this matter?"

Hua Lang naturally wanted to go, but he didn't understand a few things, so he looked at Tang Wanli and asked, "As far as I know, the tribute inkstones in Duanzhou are all in charge of the soldiers in the vicinity of Duanzhou. You private inkstone shops have nothing to do with it, but why did I hear that you people also want to pay tribute to inkstones?"

Upon seeing the question, Tang Wanli quickly replied: "Young Master Hua is right. The tribute inkstones are indeed in charge of the Xiang soldiers. They are responsible for gathering people to pick inkstones from the mountains, but they are all soldiers, and they can carve inkstones there. Therefore, after they dug out the inkstone, they had to recruit some craftsmen to carve it. After the carving was completed, according to the number stipulated by the court, Duanzhou Zhizhou, that is, Mr. Bao, went to check and accept it, and then the Duanzhou Zhizhou sent people to escort it to Beijing. , this is a tribute inkstone; but sometimes good inkstones from the people will be collected, and after these inkstones are collected, the imperial court will give a lot of rewards, and if you want to know whether there are good inkstones among the people, it is naturally this inkstone competition .”

After listening to Tang Wanli's words, Bao Zheng nodded again and again: "Tang Wanli is right. A few days ago, You Dan, the commander of the Xiang soldiers, came to visit and said that the inkstone stipulated by the imperial court was almost ready. After some treatment, they can be escorted to Beijing."

After Bao Zheng said this, Hua Lang understood better. In the Song Dynasty, whether it was the imperial court or the local government, civil servants locked up military officials. Even if You Dan was the commander of the Xiangbing, he had to listen to Bao Zheng in Duanzhou. while You Dan's soldiers were in charge of digging inkstones, etc., while Bao Zheng was in charge of inspection and escort to Beijing.

As for the folk inkstone competition, it is to discover good folk inkstones.

After learning about these situations, Hwarang discovered how easy it was for the former governor of Duanzhou to privately appropriate the tribute inkstones. He could report more tribute inkstones requested by the court, or he could follow the command of the Xiangbing soldiers. Waiting for others to work together as traitors, anyway, as long as you want to make a fortune from it, it is absolutely possible.

Of course, it was easy for Duanzhou Zhizhou to do this, but it was even easier for the commander of the soldiers. After digging out the inkstone and hiding it and not reporting it, even Duanzhou Zhizhou had no choice.

Hua Lang turned his head and glanced at Bao Zheng, wondering if Bao Zheng knew about these things, what should he do if he knew?

Seeing that everyone was silent, Tang Wanli quickly broke the silence and asked, "I don't know what Master Bao and Mr. Hua think, are they willing to participate in the inkstone competition?"

As for the tribute of folk inkstones, it cannot be compared with the special Duanzhou tribute inkstones, so Bao Zheng didn't care much, he glanced at Hualang, and Hualang smiled lightly: "It's not bad to go and have a look, it can be regarded as the same Have fun with the people!"

Hearing Hua Lang's words, Bao Zheng smiled slyly, and then said to Tang Wanli: "Okay, Brother Hua has said so, we must go then!"

Tang Wanli's mission was completed, he was overjoyed immediately, and left the state office happily.

After Tang Wanli left, Bao Zheng looked at Hua Lang with a serious face and said, "If Brother Hua really wants to take care of the inkstone, please ask Brother Hua to do me a favor, how about it?"

Seeing Bao Zheng's appearance, Hwa Lang suddenly felt as if he had fallen into a trap, but now that Bao Zheng had said so, what could Hwa Lang do, so he quickly said: "Brother Bao, you are welcome, what can I do to help you?" Yes, to put it bluntly."

Bao Zheng seemed to be waiting for such an opportunity, so he quickly said: "Brother Hua must have understood what Tang Wanli said just now, and since Brother Hua has understood, he should be very clear that the tribute inkstone in Duanzhou is easy to lose!"

After hearing Bao Zheng's words, Hua Lang felt that this Bao Zheng was really thoughtful, far smarter than he imagined.

Hwarang nodded: "That's true, but I don't know why Brother Bao told me this?"

Bao Zheng sighed, and said: "I have already read the tribute inkstone account sent by You Dan, and there are many discrepancies in it, I think it is necessary to check it."

There must be discrepancies, but Hua Lang didn't understand. Bao Zheng only looked at the accounts, so how could he know that there were discrepancies in the inkstones? Could it be that he had secretly been to the valleys where the inkstones were dug, and knew exactly how many inkstones they dug out? ?

But this is obviously impossible, they are so close, if Bao Zheng did something important, Hua Lang would definitely know about it.