Jinyiwei work report

Zhuo Mingquan became the chief suspect, and Song Yingbai winked at Li Zhen after hearing Du Tongzhi's words.

Apparently, Li Zhen also thought of it. Mermaids cannibalize people, and there is such a person next to him. No matter how you look at it, he is the most suspicious.

"Is there any other evidence besides this scorpion?"

Du Tong knew: "The murderer walked forward, and the house was found dead on the back foot. Bai Shangshu immediately sent his servants to lead the yellow dog to chase after him. He went to the river and saw that he was about to catch up with the murderer. As a result, the humanoid thing jumped into the water." Gone, at an extremely fast speed, and disappeared in an instant. By the way, that guy also attacked Master Zhuo on the way to escape."

Both Song Yingbai and Li Zhen were startled and attacked Zhuo Mingquan. Didn't Zhuo Mingquan attack each other?

Li Zhen said, "Master Zhuo? But..."

Du Tongzhi also knew that Zhuo Mingquan had been chasing Song Yingbai all day long, so he glanced at him and said, "It's Zhuo Mingquan, Master Zhuo. The servant found that he was injured, so he helped him back to the Shangshu Mansion to rest. I don’t know if this will leave or not.”

Li Zhen ordered to go down, "Go and see if Master Zhuo has left?"

A captain had to order to go down.

Song Yingbai thought worriedly, if people are really what he eats, and he has returned to Bai's house now, wouldn't it be very dangerous here.

However, looking at the scene, what is called eating alive, I always feel hatred, not simply cannibalism.

Did Zhuo Mingquan really do it?

Du Tongzhi led the two of them to the bed, "In addition to the wreckage, there are also torn clothes stained with blood. With this amount of bleeding, I am afraid that people will still be alive when they are eaten."

Li Zhen walked around the room, looked at the four complete corpses on the ground, and then at the mutilation on the bed, "If it was really done by a shark, then this shark must know the maid who was eaten, and broke into the white house. Shang Shufu came here for her, because the other four servant girls were obviously killed with one blow, and she was the only one who was eaten alive."

Li Zhen's analysis agrees with Song Yingbai's guess.

What kind of hatred and resentment really, as for the ferocity to this extent.

Du Tongzhi nodded silently, "It is said that the maidservant who was eaten was named Yuxiang. She was very ordinary and inconspicuous at all. If the other party was a mermaid, what kind of festival could they have?"

Li Zhen said: "We have to wait for the follow-up investigation."

At this time, the captain who was in charge of investigating Zhuo Mingquan's whereabouts came back, "Master Li, Master Zhuo is still in the mansion, but the magistrate's wife sent someone to pick him up, and he is about to leave."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen hurriedly took Song Yingbai out, and told Du Tongzhi, "You go to Bai Shangshu and wait for me now, and I will come as soon as I go."

Li Zhen and Song Yingbai came to the guest room where Zhuo Mingquan was placed, and when they entered the room, they were stunned by coincidence.

Zhuo Mingquan had a large bruise on his face, as if he had been severely beaten.

It would definitely not be a human being who could beat him like this.

Song Yingbai couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with you?"

Standing beside Zhuo Mingquan was a gray-haired old man and a few servants. Seeing Li Zhen and Song Yingbai introducing themselves, he said, "My lords, we are from the magistrate's yamen. We are here to take the young master home by Madam's order."

Song Yingbai thought, the so-called wife should be the wife of the magistrate.

At this time, a man in his thirties stood up in the room, cupped his hands to Li Zhen and said, "Lord Li, I am Bai Lizhang. After Master Zhuo was injured last night, he has been resting here and I will take care of him."

Bai Lizhang is the bastard son of Bai Shangshu, who takes care of Zhuo Mingquan as a representative of the Bai family.

Li Zhen nodded to them, and said directly: "Please stay away, we want to ask Master Zhuo a few words alone."

Bai Lizhang and a group of people from the magistrate's mansion avoided the door.

After Zhuo Mingquan was left alone, he looked at Li Zhen and Song Yingbai with sad eyes.

Li Zhen didn't talk nonsense, and asked straight to the point: "Man, did you eat it?"

Zhuo Mingquan froze for a moment, quickly touched the pen beside him, and scribbled on the paper: Cannibalism?

Song Yingbai saw some other words scattered on the paper. It seems that before they came, Zhuo Mingquan had already communicated with others briefly, but they were all perfunctory words, such as: I'm fine, it doesn't hurt and so on.

Song Yingbai said: "Yes, cannibalism, the maid of Baishangshu's mansion was eaten, and a shark scale was found on the spot, did you make it? Also, who beat you? The person who beat you, Did he come from the Bai family? Is he a mermaid?"

Li Zhen looked at Zhuo Mingquan, and saw his confused face, obviously frightened by Song Yingbai's series of questions.

Zhuo Mingquan wrote on the paper: The one who hit me was a shark!I don't know if he came from the Bai family.Those scales are not mine, I don't have scales.

As soon as he mentioned what happened last night, he couldn't help but feel like a knife. He must not let Song Yingbai know that he lost the Lingzhu. Although he rejected him, the Lingzhu is related to his face.

Losing the Lingzhu is a great disgrace, just like the emperor losing his seal, absolutely must not let outsiders know.

Song Yingbai asked in confusion: "What is the origin of that shark? Do you know him?"

Li Zhen said: "I must have known each other. Otherwise, why did he contact you just after killing someone? If he didn't contact you, how could you meet by chance? Especially yesterday there was a heavy rain. In this kind of weather, there is no agreement , How can a normal NPC go out to hang out at night."

Zhuo Mingquan shook his head desperately, how could he know that vicious mermaid, and wrote angrily: I sensed him!Who knew he would hit me.

Song Yingbai said in surprise: "Can you feel his existence?"

However, it seems not surprising that the special skills of aquatic creatures, after all, the sea is vast, and species can sense each other, which is more beneficial to survival.

Li Zhen said: "Why did he hit you? For no reason?"

Zhuo Mingquan wrote angrily: He is bad!

Song Yingbai felt that Zhuo Mingquan was a bit pitiful. He was looking for a companion bitterly, but finally found one on land, and ran over, but was beaten up.

Li Zhen continued to ask: "When you saw the merman beating you, did he have a tail? Do you know why he can go ashore?"

Zhuo Mingquan pouted at Li Zhen and wrote: I don't want to answer your question.

Li Zhen raised his eyebrows, Zhuo Mingquan was hating himself for "robbing" Song Yingbai, "Human life is at stake, you answer honestly."

Zhuo Mingquan slapped the brush on the table, but refused to answer.

Song Yingbai had no choice but to say: "Only you have seen that merman, five people have died now, if you know, please tell us."

Zhuo Mingquan glanced at Song Yingbai, and wrote reluctantly: A mermaid can have a human form for two hours on a stormy night, but this mermaid has returned to his own island, it is useless for you to search, you can't find it arrived.

Li Zhen said: "Then do you know why he killed the maid?"

Zhuo Mingquan looked at Song Yingbai, and in order to investigate the case, Song Yingbai had to say in a good voice, "Do you know why?"

Zhuo Mingquan shook his head.

After all the questions that should be asked, Li Zhen said: "You should go back quickly, look at your face, in such a short time between us asking, the bruises have obviously faded a lot, if you drag on, the Bai family Seeing you recover so quickly will make you suspicious."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Mingquan quickly took off his robe and covered his face.

Song Yingbai is only envious of the shark's recovery ability.

Taking advantage of Zhuo Mingquan covering his face, Li Zhen quickly tore up the paper on which Zhuo Mingquan had written, then dragged Song Yingbai out of the door, and did not leave for fear that he would entangle him again.

When Song Yingbai was going out, he looked back and saw Zhuo Mingquan looking at him with half of his face peeking out from the gap in his clothes, his eyes were sad, he looked like he was about to cry, his appearance was much sadder than before.

He murmured, he seemed weird, did he just hurt his self-esteem by being beaten by his own kind?

I always feel that Zhuo Mingquan is not as obsessed with him as before.

When Song Yingbai left the house, Zhuo Mingquan sniffled. He had lost his spirit bead, and he had already lost the qualification to pursue a partner. If he wanted to regain his glory, he had to find the spirit bead.

Diren Island...

-

Li Zhen made sure of one point with Zhuo Mingquan. It was not him who ate the man, but a shark that came ashore, and it had already swam back to the sea.

It seems that the case of the murder of the five servant girls in Baishangshu's mansion can only be suspended. After all, they can't go into the sea to catch a mermaid.

They came to the lobby of the main house of the Bai family. The room was already full of people, discussing something enthusiastically, when they saw Li Zhen and the others coming.

Bai Shangshu stood up to greet Li Zhen himself, and showed Li Zhen a seat, "Li Tongzhi came just in time, and I'm waiting for you, sit down quickly."

Song Yingbai did not have a seat in front of a group of Ministers and Tongzhi, so he stood behind Li Zhen and observed everything quietly.

Besides Bai Shangshu, there were several familiar officials at the banquet that day, and although Eunuch Yang was not there, Yang Qi, a capable adopted son beside him, was there.

Not to mention Jin Yiwei's side, Li Zhen and Du Tongzhi are both there.

Needless to say, it was another big boss meeting.

Gathering so many people must not be for the death of a few little maids, there must be other plans.

Sure enough, I heard Bai Shangshu smugly said: "Li Tongzhi, we are discussing how to capture the shark, do you have any good ideas?"

Li Zhen seemed to have anticipated their plan, and said calmly: "Bai Shangshu, how can you be sure that the murderer is a mermaid this time? We also asked Master Zhuo just now, but he didn't see anything."

"Although he didn't see it, my servant did. The man got into the river, splashed his tail, and then dived into the water." Bai Shangshu said excitedly: "There is no doubt that this is a mermaid , just a small scale can cure all kinds of diseases, if you can catch one and present it to His Majesty, hahaha, that would be a miracle."

Song Yingbai observed everyone present with excitement on his face.

Especially those officials who, like Bai Shangshu, "retired" in Nanjing.

If it is really possible to capture the merman and present it to the emperor, then Longyan Yiyue will surely be able to save himself from the Nanjing Nursing Home and rejuvenate his political career.

Li Zhen smiled lightly and said: "It seems that Bai Shangshu has a plan in mind, but, may I ask, even if it is a mermaid, but now he has returned to the sea, how can he catch it? , That’s really a needle in a haystack.”

Bai Shangshu said: "Li Tong knows something and doesn't know it. I heard that sharks like to mate with humans, so there is a way to catch sharks in ancient times. They put people on small boats and put them in the sea. The nearby sharks sniff them. If it detects the smell of human beings, it will surface and take people away. If the method is right, if you attack at this time, you will be able to capture them."

Song Yingbai thought to himself, what he said was so high-sounding, isn't it just putting bait for fishing, but the bait was replaced by human beings.

According to that, then that dead maid, could it be...

Bai Shangshu said to his concubine Bai Lizhang, "Zhang'er, tell me."

Bai Lizhang bowed to everyone present, "I questioned a few maids, and they said that Yuxiang had become delirious a few days ago, and sometimes he would say to himself: 'I'm sorry, I won't run away. , I'll go back with you" or "one day husband and wife, don't eat me" and so on, so there is reason to believe that the "husband" in Yuxiang's mouth is likely to be this mermaid, which is exactly what my father said just now. The method of the merman. Yuxiang is very likely to be the bride of the merman, and the merman came ashore to find her."

Song Yingbai thinks it makes sense, which can explain why she was the only one who was eaten.

Li Zhen said blankly: "...So, what are your plans?"

At this time, other people shouted: "Of course I want to catch the shark and make a great contribution. Therefore, I hope Master Li can help."

Li Zhen pretended to be stupid, "What can I help? If you want to go out to sea to catch sharks, shouldn't you ask the navy for help?"

Song Yingbai looked down at him, thinking that you are talking nonsense, the navy can only be used in foreign wars, how could it be used to capture sharks.

Sure enough, Bai Shangshu said with a dry smile: "Li Tongzhi is just joking, how can I mobilize the navy. We have discussed it before, and if we want to go to sea, we have to ask Mr. Li to match the bridge and use Jin Yiwei's manpower at sea to help us Contact some big ships."

Jin Yiwei is responsible for investigating all kinds of news. Overseas private trade is prosperous in the country and dynasty. Jin Yiwei has many spies on various ships to collect information, and some of them are not low.

These private cargo ships travel between the mainland, Nanyang, and the northern islands, selling local spices, agate, ivory, knives and other goods to Guochao, and then importing silk and porcelain from Guochao to sell outside. It is the most basic to double the profit, and it can be three times or even five times as many.

And Guochao set up a shipping department to be responsible for tax collection. The current tax rate is [-] out of [-], and [-] out of [-] after the goods land. Even so, these sea merchants are still making a lot of money.

To make money like this, there must be robbery, so this group of maritime merchants hired many people as thugs, and bought Franc machine guns to arm the merchant ships.

This kind of mixed force was naturally noticed by the court, so it was inevitable to install spies.

Some spies have a very high status, and even have several merchant ships under their command.

Li Zhen looked at Du Tongzhi, thinking that he had revealed the news, his eyes were unkind and full of blame.

Li Zhen glanced at Du Tongzhi, and looked away guilty. He also knew the sea merchants in Nanjing who had connections with Jinyiwei, and he could have directly cooperated with Bai Shangshu.

It's just that Li Zhen from the capital is here. Anyway, Li Zhen is here, and if he wants to act, he has to ask for his consent.

Li Zhen said coldly to Du Tongzhi: "I think this matter needs to be discussed in the long run, and it's better to investigate more. It's too reckless to go directly to the sea to catch it."

Du Tongzhi swallowed his saliva, and said with difficulty: "But... I have been investigating on the outside before, but there is nothing to gain. Now we have a great opportunity in front of us. We must seize it. The shark scales we found last night have to be sent back to the capital. , Dedicated to the emperor, what happened here will also be reported to the emperor, and when the time comes to ask the whereabouts of the mermaid, I am afraid that there is no way to explain it."

The merman's scales must be presented to the emperor, if it can be kept, his old mother will be saved...

But that is impossible, so I have to go to sea to catch a merman to get the scales.

When Li Zhen heard it, it was an excuse to lift the emperor out, just to increase their bargaining chips for them to go to sea.

Song Yingbai could see that everyone in the house wanted to profit from the Merman, or wanted to get rid of the current political predicament, such as Bai Shangshu and the others, or simply wanted to gain benefits, such as Eunuch Yang.

Bai Shangshu stood up with a smile, "Master Li, what do you think?" Seeing Li Zhen raised his eyes and stared at him full of resistance, he also saw Li Zhen's meaning, so he changed his words and said, "Well, Master Li himself will not be promoted. Getting rich, you can't stop others from getting promoted and getting rich, right?"

After finishing speaking, he looked at Du Tongzhi. Du Tongzhi also knew how to contact the merchant ship, but he was afraid that Li Zhen would sue the emperor and ask for his permission in advance.

Now, even if Li Zhen disagreed, they shouldn't be stopped.

Blocking someone's way of making money is like killing their parents, so blocking someone's official path is like killing their whole family.

Li Zhen smiled coldly, "Then let me be blunt and tell you that I don't agree to go out to sea to catch sharks. But if you insist on doing so, I won't stop you, but bear the consequences at your own risk, and that's all for now."

After finishing speaking, he got up and said to Song Yingbai, "Let's go." He walked out with a flick of his sleeves.

After not walking far, Du Tongzhi chased him out, and said with a pleading face: "Lord Li, my seventy-year-old mother is seriously ill. I have seen many doctors, but there is nothing I can do. To be honest, what happened to the sharks today I have sent hope, even if it is a sliver, I ask Lord Li to raise your hand high."

Li Zhen was overwhelmed by the words "raise your hands high", just like what Song Yingbai said, and immediately said: "'raise your hands high' is too serious, don't say that. If you want to go to sea privately, even if you use Jin Yiwei's power, you can't do it. It’s just matchmaking to find a boat, and I have no right to stop it. I’m just expressing my attitude. However, I still hope you think twice.”

He wanted to please the emperor and save his mother, Li Zhen didn't want to stop him, but he couldn't stop him.

Du Tongzhi said happily: "If your lord has such an attitude, then I can rest assured." After finishing speaking, he cupped his hands, walked into the house, and continued to discuss with Bai Shangshu and other people.

Li Zhen took Song Yingbai out, and said as he walked, "It's okay to fetch water from the bamboo basket, but I'm afraid I will lose my wife and lose my army."

Song Yingbai was noncommittal. A person like Li Zhen who came from a noble background and was still on the rise must not understand the desire of other officials to fight back, "...I also think it is dangerous, but this is probably a joint operation. It should be pretty safe."

At this time, in the living room of the Bai family, Du Tongzhi, who had returned, sat down again, "Li Tongzhi promised that he would not stop them. If he doesn't interfere, contact the ship and hug me. The rest is up to you."

Bai Shangshu said confidently: "Step by step, now I can be sure that nine out of ten sharks are aimed at Yuxiang, so when choosing bait, you can choose one that looks similar to her. Lizhang, this The matter is left to you."

"Yes."

"For the rest, let's recruit people from each family. Those who understand water skills are the best." Bai Shangshu said: "The funds used to hire boats will be shared equally among each family."

Those present looked at each other, "Good!"

This matter cannot be done by one family alone, only cooperation, the alliance is completed, and the rest will be prepared separately.

-

Although Zhuo Mingquan's suspicion was temporarily ruled out through dialogue, Song Yingbai was still worried and secretly sent someone to follow his whereabouts.

I'm afraid that Zhuo Mingquan will deceive them all, that he is a hidden murderer.

However, according to the reported situation, Zhuo Mingquan did not have any strange behaviors. He went to the academy on time every day, occasionally strolled in the street, and bought whatever novelty he saw. Recently, he seemed to be interested in all kinds of gemstones and beads. Quite a few, and the rest, there was nothing suspicious about their behavior.

During this period, Song Yingbai ran into Zhuo Mingquan once on the street.

He was startled, ready to turn around and run away, but unexpectedly, Zhuo Mingquan turned around and ran before him.

Song Yingbai was dazed for a while, and then he smiled relievedly. It seems that Zhuo Mingquan really gave up thinking about his brother-in-law's threat and his own refusal.

Zhuo Mingquan, who was hiding in the alley by the side of the street, watched Song Yingbai leave, bit his lips tightly, and wanted to cry without tears.

He lost his Lingzhu, and he is no longer qualified to woo anyone.

He recently bought a lot of beads, hoping to replace his original spirit beads, but unfortunately they all failed.

He had to go to Diren Island, but he was only half of the merman blood, so he didn't know if he could swim as far as the real merman, so he needed a ship to kill him for a certain distance.

However, renting a boat requires a lot of money, and he doesn't have that much money, and recently his brother-in-law has obviously been strict with him.

He became more and more worried, seeing that the trip to sea organized by Bai Shangshu and the others was imminent.

He wanted to secretly catch a merchant ship going out to sea, but the ship was under strict guard and he couldn't find a chance.

Besides, even if they really slipped up and found him on the boat, they would turn around and send him back.

Zhuo Mingquan thought aggrievedly, he is really an unlucky half-merman.

-

Although Li Zhen did not prevent Bai Shangshu and the others from going out to sea, he did not give up spying.

He knew that they contacted two merchant ships with a capacity of [-] people, rented them out as boats to catch sharks, and even bought a few boys and girls as bait.

Soon, everything was ready, and on a sunny day, sailed to the sea and sailed to the depths of the sea.

In addition to Bai Lizhang, the bastard son of Bai Shangshu, and Yang Qi, the adopted son of Eunuch Yang, there were several sons or nephews of officials on board.

Even Du Tong knew that he had taken personal leave under the pretense of taking care of his mother, but in fact he brought a team of Jinyi guards aboard.

Everyone is afraid of being left behind and not getting a share of the action.

Although this merman is still confused.

When Song Yingbai heard this, he could understand it very well. The people on board, except for the influence of Eunuch Yang, were all desperate people. If they didn't fight, they would die. No one wanted to be left behind in Nanjing.

Or to save his mother, there is nothing a filial son can't do.

Anyway, with Li Zhen, Du Tongzhi left, and Jinyiwei continued to operate as usual.

Song Yingbai continued to search the demon books under Li Zhen's leadership, and it took almost a month like this.

One night, when the wind and rain were blowing, Song Yingbai was sleeping soundly. Since Zhuo Mingquan was no longer entangled, his good sleep came back.

Suddenly, he heard a hasty knock on the courtyard door, sat up suddenly, and shouted while putting on his boots: "Hong'er, Xi'er, which one of you open the door."

He picked up the umbrella at the door and went out of the house. At this time, Li Zhen also came out of another room, covered his head with his hands, and quickly got under his umbrella.

Song Yingbai was afraid that he would get wet, so he tilted the umbrella towards him, watching Li Zhen feel warm in his heart.

At this moment, Honger opened the door, and saw a man in a coir raincoat rushing in, crying, "My lord, it's not good, the two boats that went out to sea came back, and one survived, and they are at the Yamen, come quickly Let's go."

Li Zhen and Song Yingbai came to their senses, and immediately went into the house, put on their outer robes, and rushed to the Jinyiwei yamen in the rain.

When they walked to the back hall, the man in coir raincoat who reported the message followed behind them and reminded: "The one who came back is Master Du's follower Hou Yi. When we see him later, don't be scared by him."

Li Zhen and Song Yingbai were well-informed and mentally prepared, but when they saw the real person, they were still taken aback.

This person was as thin as a stick, but what was even worse was that his skin was festered. In many places, there was no skin at all, and the bones were directly exposed. If it weren't for the eyes that were still slightly open and the eyeballs were rolling, no one would believe that he was still alive.

At this time, the captain next to him said to Li Zhen: "The two ships floated back to the nearby harbor not long ago, and there was no one on board except him,...but he is too weak..."

When Song Yingbai saw this person, he was hopeless. He might not even be able to speak.

When Hou Yi saw Li Zhen, he suddenly became excited and stretched out his hand. Li Zhen stepped forward and grabbed him, bowed his head and listened, "I'm here, what do you want to say?"

"Di...Diren Island...they are in Diren Island!" The voice squeezed out of his throat little by little, exhausting all his strength. After he finished speaking the last word, his eyes suddenly widened, his whole body twitched, and he waited for the twitch. Stopped, and he also lost signs of life, and his eyes never moved again.

Song Yingbai bit her lip, and couldn't bear to turn her head away.

Things are going in the worst direction...

They are on Diren Island...but where is this Diren Island?