Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Although Fang Zheng had learned that Chu Tiankuo had been beheaded, he did not know the details.

This time, I can take the opportunity to learn more about it through the case file.

There are many files, but few details.

The dignified Supervisory Officer, a rank-eight official, was the third most important person in Yongqing County, after the county magistrate and the county assistant, yet he was murdered in his own residence.

This is a major case.

The case file clearly states that the incident occurred at midnight that night.

The next morning, the old servant of the Chu family found that his master had not left his room. He pushed the door open and found the room in a mess. Chu Tiankuo was lying in a pool of blood, his head cut off.

The old servant immediately reported to the authorities, and the county government sent people to seal off the scene. The sorcery to summon the soul failed, and the coroner examined the body and recorded the statements. All procedures were carried out meticulously.

In addition, the files also show that Chu Tiankuo had no family, colleagues, friends, or enemies.

It's fair to say that this file was created by a seasoned professional; it has everything one would expect.

Fang Zheng finished reading through the several files in just a short time.

This speed was impossible before, but the [Photographic Memory] talent he drew in the "Painting Journey" gacha pool helped him a lot.

Once you've read something once, it will be as clear as if it were engraved in your mind, and you can recall it at any time.

After reviewing the case file, Fang Zheng gained a deeper understanding of the case of Chu Tiankuo's murder.

However, what Fang Zheng felt was that the Yongqing County officials were trying to cover up the truth, because shortly after the incident, Chu Tiankuo's body was cremated on the grounds of fear of contracting an epidemic.

This prevented Fang Zheng from even conducting an autopsy.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Zheng said, "Brother Guan, I've finished reading it, and there's one more thing I'd like to trouble you with."

Could you please get me a copy of the resume files of officials from Yongqing County?

Guan Tieyi nodded knowingly, asked no further questions, and turned to leave.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea was up, he came in carrying a half-sized wooden box. The box was heavy, and inside were stacks of yellowed files and booklets.

He placed the box on the table: "It's all here."

Fang Zheng opened the wooden box, took out the first resume file, and opened it.

The records of all officials with ranks in Yongqing County are here, including their names, places of origin, resumes, years of service, performance evaluations, promotions, demotions, and transfers.

Fang Zheng didn't read it carefully. His eyes swept across a page, turned the page, swept across another page, and turned the page again.

Knowing yourself and knowing your enemy can help you win a hundred battles.

Understanding the full picture of the officialdom in Yongqing County was of great benefit to Fang Zheng, who was newly appointed as a supervisor and inspector.

Guan Tieyi stood to the side, secretly surprised.

He had worked in this field for so many years and met many capable people, but he had never seen anyone like Fang Zheng who could read ten lines at a glance and do so with such ease.

This speed was even faster than that of a seasoned veteran like him who had trained for many years.

Guan Tieyi wanted to speak up and remind him to watch slowly, but then he thought that Fang Zheng was always steady and never did anything without certainty. Perhaps he really had the ability.

After finishing the last file, Fang Zheng closed it and put it back in the wooden box.

"Thank you, Brother Guan, I've finished reading it."

Guan Tieyi was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.

He nodded, asked no further questions, put away the files, picked up the wooden box, and turned to leave.

Little did he know that the files he had just brought had been recorded verbatim in Fang Zheng's mind.

Fang Zheng could clearly see which county officials were born in the same year as whom, who had old grudges against whom, who had been hindered in their promotions, and who were related to whom by marriage.

Fang Zheng closed his eyes, his ancestral aperture between his eyebrows swelled slightly, and he had already activated the extraordinary technique [Seeing Through Fire].

With the help of his analytical skills and photographic memory, he closed his eyes and pondered, piecing together the many details of Chu Tiankuo's murder case.

Based on the information he obtained from Liu Qingyu, Chu Tiankuo was attacked at night while investigating a key case and was beheaded with a single blow, with no signs of a struggle at the scene.

This is the most puzzling point.

After all, Chu Tiankuo was a dignified eighth-rank official, and his martial arts skills had reached the eighth-rank [Meridian Opening] stage.

Even if a seventh-rank expert came to assassinate him, he wouldn't be able to resist and be killed in one blow.

After pondering for a long time, before I knew it, it was already noon.

A minor official knocked on the door and entered. Lü Zhengfeng invited Fang Zheng to dine with him.

Lunch was simple, consisting of four dishes and a soup.

After the two finished their meal, Lü Zhengfeng led Fang Zheng inside and asked, "Have you looked at the files?"

Fang Zheng nodded: "I've seen it."

"Alright." Lü Zhengfeng's eyes narrowed. "Tell me."

When the superior's evaluation arrived, Fang Zheng remained calm and spoke with ease.

"Lord Lü, there are two key points of doubt in this case."

The first question is: before Lord Chu was killed, who did he investigate, and what clues did he uncover?

Unfortunately, this matter was kept secret and no one knew about it. I only learned some information from Qingyu.

Secondly, there were no signs of struggle at the scene of Lord Chu's murder, which is quite suspicious.

Upon hearing this, Lü Zhengfeng nodded repeatedly.

Clearly, Fang Zheng's answer satisfied him greatly.

After all, it was truly remarkable that Fang Zheng could make such a succinct judgment after only reading the case file for half a day.

Fang Zheng continued, "Therefore, what is recorded in the dossier may not be the truth."

In my humble opinion, to get to the bottom of this, we need to conduct an on-site investigation, and we can start by examining the case file itself.

The official who compiled this case file should have considerable experience in criminal cases, but there are rather vague and unclear records of key points in this case. This must be investigated!

Lu Zhengfeng was silent for a moment, then said, "Fang Zheng, I have something to tell you."

The case of Chu Tiankuo's murder is of utmost importance.

Since it was a high-ranking official, the eighth-rank supervisor, who was murdered, the prefectural governor's office, in addition to the supervisory office in my prefecture, also took the initiative to intervene.

As far as I know, the prefectural governor's office has sent a seventh-rank judicial officer to Yongqing County to oversee the case of Chu Tiankuo.

Our State Supervisory Office and the State Military Governor's Office are in competition with each other; they are rivals.

The state government has given them a month to solve the case, and whoever can solve it first will be credited with the greatest achievement.

Naturally, the losers will inevitably have to watch the drama unfold.

The last sentence carried a hint of helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng understood.

A seventh-rank judicial officer is an official who is most skilled at investigating difficult cases.

With such a competitor, Lü Zhengfeng must have been under tremendous pressure from the state supervisor.

At this time, as a subordinate, Fang Zheng naturally had to reassure Lü Zhengfeng.

He stood up and said, "Sir, please do not worry. Although the judicial officer is good at investigating cases, this matter involves officials, so our supervisory officer has a better chance of winning."

Lü Zhengfeng smiled upon hearing this and asked, "What are your brilliant ideas?"

Fang Zheng then revealed his well-thought-out plan.

Lü Zhengfeng listened carefully, occasionally asking questions when he had doubts, and Fang Zheng explained them in detail.

Afterwards, Lü Zhengfeng stared at Fang Zheng for a long time before nodding.

"The younger generation is truly formidable; go ahead and do it."

I've asked Guan Tieyi to go with you. Be careful.

Oh, by the way, these two things are for you.

He turned around and took a copper ring and a book from the bookshelf, handing them to Fang Zheng.

"I'm worried someone might resort to desperate measures, so I'm giving you this copper ring for self-defense."

This book contains my insights and reflections on the art of officialdom and the art of Taoism.

Although it's not the Spirit Painting Path you cultivate, you can still benefit from it by drawing parallels.