The prince is more stable

Chapter 247: Investigating the Case
There is not so much justice in the world, just like the Yin-Yang fish in Tai Chi, where there is good there must be evil, where there is good there must be evil.

Things hidden in the dark and not daring to show up often mean conspiracy, and the result of conspiracy is often related to subversion.

Zhao Xu couldn't help but pay attention. He keenly sensed that there was an unknown force surging undercurrent.

Maybe more than one share.

As an emperor, he absolutely would not allow this force to exist, as it had touched upon the emperor's greatest taboo.

"The Imperial City Bureau must conduct a thorough investigation. No matter who is involved or what is involved, they must be brought to light. Zi'an, I leave this matter to you to investigate. You must give me an explanation." Zhao Xu's eyes were cold at this moment, like a dragon with its reverse scales torn off.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "I will do my best..."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian continued, "Sir, the bandits who ambushed our soldiers in the canyon used arrows that were one size larger than the standard standard. Zhong Jianzhong said that these were probably arrows specially designed for the army's Shenbi bows."

Zhao Xi was shocked again and his face became even uglier.

"The Divine Arm Bow has always been strictly controlled by the Military Equipment Supervisor. It cannot be transferred outside unless it is used in combat. How could that group of thieves have even gotten their hands on the Divine Arm Bow?"

"Therefore, I believe that this force must be connected to certain figures in the military, otherwise it would be impossible to obtain the Divine Arm Bow."

Zhao Xu was shocked and angry. The emperor's confidence came from the fact that he controlled the military power. If someone in the army was disloyal, then the matter would be serious.

"Investigate!" Zhao Xu's face turned pale as he uttered a single word between his teeth. "Interrogate the five captured thieves. Order an inventory of the Divine Arm Bows in the Arms Supervisory Office and investigate the individuals who handled them."

"I have issued a special decree to you. Zi'an, you will be responsible for handling this case. The Imperial City Bureau has the right to arrest and interrogate anyone they find, even if it involves the prime minister or a member of the imperial family."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyelids twitched.

This job is not easy to take on, it is too difficult to handle. It seems that there are clues, but in fact there is no clue.

Zhao Xiaoqian actually didn't have much hope for the five people Bing Jingwu was interrogating. Even if they could confess, they would not provide many valuable clues.

These people who work at the lowest level often know the least. If the enemies hiding in the dark are a little smarter, they will know how to cut off all clues to their knowledge before these people take action.

As for counting the number of divine arm bows, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Over the years, how many Shenbi bows did the Song Dynasty produce, how many were used, how many were damaged, how many disappeared inexplicably, etc. After carefully analyzing these data, it is difficult to find the truth.

But at this moment, Zhao Xu had already issued an order, and Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to do it. After all, after he resigned from the post of Deputy Envoy of the Imperial Strategy and Pacification, he was still the head of the Imperial City Bureau. If he didn't do it, who would?

"Your Majesty, if I feel it is too troublesome and do not want to handle this case...how should Your Majesty respond?" Zhao Xiaoqian tried to struggle.

Zhao Xu glanced at him and said, "Zi'an has just made a great contribution, and my joy has not yet dissipated. Don't force me to kick you at the moment of my greatest happiness."

"I... obey your order." Zhao Xiaoqian said helplessly.

"Pull him out and kill him!" Zhao Xu roared.

…………

After leaving Yanfu Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian walked with his shoulders drooped.

A meritorious official who had just made great contributions to the country was inexplicably given such an aimless task when he returned to Bianliang.

He has no problem fighting with real guns and swords on the battlefield, but investigating crimes... is not his specialty.

How about going to Lord Bao Zheng's grave now, putting up a soul-calling banner on the grave, and asking Lord Bao to take the trouble to come down to earth and help me?

Standing outside the palace gate, Zhao Xiaoqian looked up at the sky.

The sky was blue and it was a beautiful spring day, but his mood was like the howling cold wind, and he was so frozen that he had no strength left.

The imperial guards on duty outside the palace gate bowed to him in a flattering manner. After entering and leaving the palace so many times, Zhao Xiaoqian had become a frequent visitor to Yanfu Palace, and all the eunuchs in the palace knew him.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, found a suitable place outside the palace gate, sat down, and waved to the general on duty.

The general immediately trotted over, and when he got closer he realized that his face was full of admiration, with stars in his eyes as he looked at him, just like a fan seeing his idol, his expression was both excited and fanatical.

"Do you want an autograph?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked suddenly. The general was stunned: "What autograph?"

"Your idol, my autograph, want it?"

"What's the point of me asking for the Duke's signature?" Wu Cheng was stunned.

Zhao Xiaoqian scratched his head. "I don't know what it's used for. Maybe it'll be useful when I need a large loan..."

Pulling out a small ingot of silver from his pocket and handing it to him, Zhao Xiaoqian said, "Do me a favor and go to the Imperial City Office and ask Wei Jie, who is in charge of official business, to come see me."

"The Imperial City is only a few hundred steps away. Why is the Duke..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "Because I'm lazy, I'm almost dying of laziness. I don't want to move at all. Lifting a finger will kill me. Are you satisfied? Take the money and go get the job done!"

This military commander is both long-winded and unsophisticated. I'm afraid there's no hope for him to get promoted in this lifetime.

Just as he was thinking this, the general suddenly turned around and became worldly-wise.

"It is my honor to serve the Duke. The Duke has brought honor to our Song Dynasty. How can I accept your money? Just wait, I will go and ask Wei to do the job."

Wei Jie arrived quickly, reaching the palace gate within an incense stick of time. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian sitting on the ground without any manners, Wei Jie was stunned and stepped forward to salute.

"Old Wei, why are your dark circles so dark? Did you not escape the clutches of your wife last night?" Zhao Xiaoqian said with a wicked smile.

Wei Jie smiled bitterly and said, "I've been away on the expedition for half a year. When I returned to Bianjing yesterday, I didn't even go home. I was busy interrogating those five thieves."

"Anything gained?"

Wei Jie shook his head, a trace of admiration flashing across his face, and said: "Although they are a few killers, I have to praise them. They are all real men."

"Liu Dan used all of Bingjingwu's torture instruments, but the five men refused to confess a single word, gritting their teeth and enduring it all. By the end of the interrogation, none of them were intact, and they were nearly dead, yet they still refused to confess."

"Liu Dan smashed the signboard and is now lying on the ice well, staring at the beams, like an idiot, muttering to himself, 'Why?' 'Why?'"

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help showing admiration at this time.

The great devil Liu Dan, who is feared by the whole world, actually made him doubt his life. These five people are indeed not simple.

"He must be a death warrior raised by a powerful family. If this kind of person fails in his mission, he will only seek a quick death and will never be greedy for life, let alone betray his master." Zhao Xiaoqian sighed.

Wei Jie also nodded: "That's right, this subordinate and Liu Dan both guessed so."

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a moment and said, "Let Liu Dan continue the interrogation. Slow down the pace a bit and try to find their psychological weaknesses. For example, living relatives, childhood sweethearts, or the pretty widow you peeked at bathing during puberty, all of these can be weaknesses."

Wei Jie couldn't help but stand in awe: "The Duke of the County understands weaknesses."

Zhao Xiaoqian looked back at the past, "That year, I was seventeen, and she was also seventeen..."

"Lord, wake up! Please continue with your instructions." Wei Jie seemed to have no interest in the Duke's seventeen years old.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him indifferently.

After this guy got to know me better, he became more and more disrespectful. I'll find a chance to make things difficult for him...

"Tell Liu Dan not to be so foolish as to just torture him. If you can find his weakness, there's no need to torture him at all. Just pry his little mouth open."

"Also, tell him not to kill anyone. Prepare a doctor at the Bingjing to treat the injured. Give them medical treatment after the torture. These five people are very important to us. We want them alive, not dead."

Wei Jie bowed and said, "Yes, I'll take note of it."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed again and said, "The government has given me full authority to handle this case. Now it's time for the Imperial City Bureau to get to work."

Wei Jie's face suddenly turned bitter when he heard this. He also knew that this case was not easy to handle. It was said to be a job, but in fact it was trouble.

"Starting today, the Imperial City Department will send personnel to the Military Equipment Bureau to review the military equipment archives for the past ten years, especially the number of Divine Arm Bows. Every entry and exit must be verified. Any officials and clerks in the Military Equipment Bureau who fail to cooperate will be arrested and imprisoned."

(End of this chapter)