The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

The tradition in the old bureaucratic system has always been to handle official affairs and private affairs on a special basis. Moreover, this time, not only did he promise a great reward, but his life was also at stake.

Therefore, several subordinate officials and a group of domestic servants were all working hard to drill around the camp.

In the morning, people were scattered, and before noon, news began to spread.

First of all, after a visit, it was discovered that someone had indeed privately stockpiled a large number of materials to be used for sailing, even pickled vegetables and grain were bought in considerable amounts.

The whereabouts of these supplies were unknown at the moment.

In addition, Sun Shaozong previously said that those maritime merchants were in danger of their own lives, and he casually found a reason. He told them that in recent days, nearly half of them were engaged in maritime trade among the families of bandits and gentry.

Although the Jinmen Mansion was indeed located by the sea, its main economic lifeline was still dependent on inland river transportation. It could be said that among the ten people who made their fortune by shipping, it was not possible to find one or two who went by sea.

Therefore, this ratio seemed extremely abnormal.

Sun Shaozong quickly ordered people to follow this clue and conducted a deep investigation. The result was that not only the gentry but also the stewards and sailors who had been sailing all year long were found to have been captured from their homes, and many of them were also thrown into the standard prison.

However, due to the matter of a group of uneducated people, it was far less attractive than the capture of the gentry and the old men, so there has not been much publicity before.

While following this clue, he found out that the Magistrate's Office was responsible for the execution of the sentence, but he received another message. It was just after midday when the Commander's soldiers and horses sent the sailors in the prison, along with the families and maidservants of the powerful gentry, to the Governor's Office.

Upon hearing this news, Sun Shaozong's face showed some dignity, and he asked in a deep voice, "Are there any elderly among those women?"

The Xiang family servant who came to report back was also a standard gossip party, and he was quite clear about these details.

So he hurriedly said, "I've heard that most of the hundred and ten are beautiful young women. Occasionally, there are a few middle-aged women who are still charming. As for those who are old and pale, I haven't seen any of them."

Indeed, that was right!

This Zhou Ruqing's work was really a chain of links, and he would never waste any ”resources!”

When the servant was sent away, Xiang Yi couldn't help but wonder, “Those sailors are all right. At this moment, what's the use of them getting a group of women?"

Sun Shaozong was silent for a while and then sneered, "Of course, it's used as a petition!"

Many of these sailors were involuntary. At present, Zhou Ruqing, relying on his official authority, could still suppress it, but once at sea, he might not be better than a salted fish in the eyes of the sailors as a rebellious Governor who has fled!

Therefore, some means must be used in advance to force these sailors to have a home and not return, and they could only be tied together with him. As for the women who were escorted to the Governor's Office, they were clearly the ”means” prepared by Zhou Ruqing.

Regardless of whether or not they were willing to take part in the bodies of these gentry's family members or even cause a few more deaths, the sailors would have to obediently flee overseas with Zhou Ruqing.

"A petition?"

After all, Xiang Yi was not a pure bookworm. After a moment of meditation, he suddenly realized, "So, he actually wanted to take those women..."

"No way!"

He jumped up fiercely and said with righteous indignation, “That Zhou Ruqing was still a scholar of poetry and books. I didn't expect him to be so depraved! Brother Sun, as the appointed officials of the Imperial Court, you and I should never watch those women being abused and trampled!"

Even if Xiang Yi didn't say this, Sun Shaozong wouldn't sit idly by.

Originally, he planned to find out the tangible evidence of Zhou Ruqing's "fleeing with stolen money," and then ambush him on the dock to personally seize the stolen money. This would also save him from being killed. After all, this "Zhou" was a Provincial Governor, so how could he be moved without evidence?

But with the current situation…

Sigh

Sure enough, he still needed to speak with his fists!

Sun Shaozong stood up helplessly and was about to say something when he heard someone outside shouting, "My Lord, My Lord! Something big is happening, something big is happening!"

The voice didn’t fall.

He saw several Dragon Guards wearing Mojiao Swallowing Cloud robes stumbling in, and as soon as they crossed the threshold, a hundred households headed by them prostrated themselves on the ground, crying in mourning, saying, “Your Excellency, Governor Zhou... He has transported all the firearms and crossbows stored in the arsenal to the Governor's Mansion!'"

"What?!"

Sun Shaozong said in amazement, "Why are there still firearms in this Jinmen Mansion?"

He didn’t take ordinary swords, spears, two-edged swords, or halberds, but firearms and crossbows were different.

But weren’t firearms only available in the military?

The personal soldiers of the Zhili Governor's Office might still have a training intensity higher than that of ordinary soldiers in the Capital battalion, but they were still not considered to be a military of the twenty-eight classics.

"Report back to Your Excellency."

Jia Shanyao hurriedly said, “There used to be a group of water bandits around here. When we first established the Jinmen Mansion, we fought a few battles with the officers and soldiers. These things were left behind when we suppressed the bandits!"

"There are about forty fireline guns, over a hundred bows and crossbows, and... four tiger crouching cannons!"

"There is no banditry at present, and the Governor has acted in this way, which is really... Really..."

Shit!

After hearing this, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but curse. Compared to the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers in the Capital, these things were nothing, but they were enough to be looked down upon in the Jinmen Mansion!

"Your Excellency."

Speaking of the big news of the day, Jia Shanyao felt much more secure. Seeing Sun Shaozong's silence for a while, he couldn't help but remind him, "Should we send someone out of the city to deliver the news to the Capital?"

Sun Shaozong glanced at him with a sneer and said, "Is there any use in passing on the news to the Capital now, other than passing on the responsibility afterward?"

Jia Shanyao's mind was pierced by him, and he was convinced.

Sun Shaozong paced back and forth in the living room for a few steps and then asked, “How many troops are there in the private army of the Governor's Mansion?"

"Originally there were only about thirty people, but after Lord Zhou was promoted to the Governor, he more than doubled his recruitment. Currently, there are about eight or ninety people, almost all of them are from Lord Zhou's party, and they are most loyal to him!"

As Jia Shanyao spoke, something suddenly occurred to him, and he quickly added, "I heard that during noon earlier, the Chief Provincial Judge also brought dozens of trusted people over. Together, there should be a hundred and thirty or forty people!"

"If you include the courtyard guards, it is estimated that there will be no problem rounding up to 200 people!"

Tch!

Two hundred well-trained soldiers, armed with guns, bows, and crossbows, and four tiger crouching cannons…

"How many of you guys are good in battle?"

"Hmm..."

If Sun Shaozong had asked this question before, Jia Shanyao would surely have insisted that over forty brothers in the hundred households could and dared to fight!

But now was not the time to brag and cover up, so he could only say, “Although there are more than 40 people in the hundred households under the bid, there are only a dozen who can really fight, and those who dare to fight... maybe even less.'"

Great~

This ratio was close to twenty to one!

Even Xiang Yi, who knew nothing about military affairs, lost the previous impassioned expression on his face, shaking his sleeve and stamping his feet, saying, "What can I do about this?"

"Don't worry."

Sun Shaozong was calm and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, saying, “We don't have to attack head-on, as long as we can catch the thief by surprise..."

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency!"

Before he could finish saying, “Catch the leader of the thief first,” someone outside made another wailing and howling, “The soldiers of the Governor's Mansion are gathering in the street like they are running towards us!"