Wei Changying heard the mystery and couldn't help but sit up straight and said, "But what's wrong?"
Duanmu Xinmiao took a deep breath and said in a slightly trembling voice: "I can also make moles on my skin!"
"Seriously?!" Wei Changying was startled, thought quickly, and then said, "If that's the case... then... it was Caojiabao who deliberately concealed Ji Gu!"
But she quickly objected to this view, "No! If Caojiabao wanted to hide Ji Gu, but Ji Gu didn't agree, why would he need to make a black mole on the corpse to prove his identity? This secret technique is so hidden, This is the first time I have heard that the people in Caojiabao were originally from farm laborers, and they built Caojiabao in order to survive. I guess it is impossible to see such a vast area, and with such a secret technique? We haven’t visited many places, and Ji Gu may not be able to leak it out easily.”
Duanmu Xinmiao was about to speak, but Wei Changying thought about it again, "That's right... Shen Youyi said before that when Ji Gu and his team were exiled, the Qian family still occupied the Feng position after the deposed emperor, and he once asked our Shen family to take care of them. They are a little bit. However, Concubine Deng also bribed some members of the Shen family to suppress and torture them - could it be because he had suffered losses among the Shen family members who were bribed by Concubine Deng? So Ji Gu learned about the Shen family When I was asked by my grandmother to find him, couldn't he believe it? He was afraid that Concubine Deng had bribed people to kill them all, so he simply made a corpse and pretended to be himself in order to escape? "
"Third sister-in-law!" Wei Changying's convoluted inferences made Duanmu Xinmiao's originally excited mood turn into a sigh. He looked at her speechlessly and said, "Then What do you think?"
Wei Changying coughed dryly and said: "According to what you said, maybe Ji Gu is really still alive, which would be great... Of course, you have to see the body to be sure."
Duanmu Xinmiao was silent for a moment and said: "I don't care about running to open a coffin. Anyway, I have seen a lot of sloppy patients these days. Besides, my master only has such a wish, and I have to do everything possible to fulfill it for him. Just done. Sister-in-law, have you ever thought about it? More than ten years ago, when the Shen family went to Caojiabao for an autopsy, the body could still be identified, but now more than ten years have passed, and the body... we are going to do the autopsy. Or an autopsy?"
"..." No matter how drier the climate in Xiliang is, there is a high chance that corpses that have been dead for decades will now only be empty skeletons. Wei Changying paused for a moment and said, "Then we can only ask Caojiabao for clarification. ! No matter what, since they were the ones who gave us the news about Ji Gu’s death, we will continue to look for them now.”
Having said that, the terrain of Caojiabao was such that even if all the "thorn fence" troops were deployed to attack, they would not be able to attack it without killing all the people on the cliff.
Therefore, it is no longer possible for two women to ask Caojiabao to explain clearly what happened decades ago. They must go through the government and use the power of the Shen family. Even if one of them fails, swords and guns will be used... After thinking about it, Wei Changying decided to ask the governor for advice first - after all, he is a local parent official, which is better than her going to Xiliang alone. Japanese prostitutes should understand the situation!
... The new Xiliang Governor Shen Donglai sent Huang off politely, turned around and said a few words to the Yamen, then lifted up the corners of his robe and walked quickly to the back door of the Yamen.
Rushing home in a hurry, Shen Dong didn't have time to sit down, so he wiped his sweat and told his father, Shen Xun, exactly what Huang had told him about Wei Changying's mission: "... The child is thinking about the Cao Family Fort. It's so easy to defend and difficult to attack, not to mention the complicated terrain up and down there. What's the difficulty in hiding someone? The nephew now said it lightly and said that he wanted to ask Caojiabao about Ji Gu's life and death. It’s clear, but how can it be so easy to actually cross-examine? It’s only been a few days since my nephew took office, and it’s really embarrassing for my nephew to make such a request out of the blue!”
After hearing this, Shen Xun cursed with hatred: "You're a disgrace! How can a mere fort hold you back?"
Shen Donglai said with a bitter face: "Father, don't scold the child first. How can the child not know that this is the first time that the nephew has been blamed since the child took office? It was Huang who was the most powerful person in front of her who came to say it. Logically, she can say anything. Let’s do it for her, but it’s Caojiabao…”
"Do you really think that the Cao Family Fort is a dragon's pool and a tiger's den that cannot be touched?" Shen Xun said in amusement, "I have told you not to always focus on flirting with women, and to focus on serious things when you have time, but you just don't Listen! It’s just a fortress. If it weren’t for the poor environment, it wouldn’t be of much use, and the previous fortress owners were very well-behaved. Do you think I, Shen, would keep it?”
He said proudly, "Here in Xiliang, the imperial edict is not as effective as the words of our Shen family leader! Caojiapu, what is that? Just a bunch of refugees living in the barren mountains and mountains! You, a descendant of the Shen family, You are actually afraid of them! In the past few days since you took office, have you paid attention to the affairs in the yamen and your responsibilities as a state official?"
When Shen Donglai heard the opportunity, he immediately cheered up. Regardless of how his father scolded him, he asked directly: "How come Caojiabao... is there any flaw?"
"Nonsense!" Shen Xun also knew that this second son was not a wealthy and ambitious person - but even if his other two sons were better than Shen Xun, they were limited. That's why Shen Xun was very affectionate towards the clan leader. In any case, his sons and grandsons are not that good at supporting a family. It is better to follow the lord in his prime and save some wealth for his children and grandsons.
So after scolding him, he could only sigh and explain the situation to Shen Dong: "Caojia Fort is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and there are mountains and springs above it. It can indeed be self-sufficient. But don't you know that there is something , it’s not something that can be found in the wilderness! But it’s something that no one can leave!”
Seeing this, Shen Donglai was still confused. Shen Xun shook his head, implicitly reminded him of this idea, and explained directly: "It's salt! There are about three thousand in total in Caojia Fort." With so many manpower, the amount of salt used every day is so huge. They don’t dare to accept anyone coming up, so they have always sent special people down the mountain to buy it... Since the scale of Caojiabao was first established a few decades ago, the amount of salt they buy every time is so huge. , has always been in the hands of our Shen family!"
Shen Donglai said in surprise: "Huh?"
"Ah what!" Seeing his son's dull look, Shen Xun was very angry. He raised his hand and gave him a slap, and said angrily, "You think all of us in the Shen family are as stupid as you? You think of me? Is it a fluke that the Shen family has been prosperous for hundreds of years? If it hadn't been for decades, the lifeblood of Caojiabao had not been seized. Do you think that the three thousand people of Caojiabao would be obedient and obedient if they occupied such an excellent location? Decades? It’s enough for a castle master to be knowledgeable. All the previous castle masters are very knowledgeable. Do you think this is because Caojiabao’s feng shui is so good that all the castle masters who come out are well-educated and humble?”
He snorted heavily, "There is a private rule in Xiliang. The salt sold to Caojiabao can only be used by 3,000 people. If it is 10% less, it can be sold to them, and it can only be sold for half a year at most. Even if they do something else in private, Xiliang is not a prosperous place for merchants, and there are not many private salt traders. These private salt dealers also know the rules of our Shen family and do not dare to sell them. Give it to them! Even if it takes decades, I guess they won’t be able to save much! This is what the clan did earlier, just to prepare for the day when Caojiabao doesn’t know how to promote it, so we don’t bother to take care of our subordinates. Go and attack with your own life and seal the mountain directly - wait until they are out of salt and exhausted, then give them a good look!"
Shen Xun sneered, "Caojiabao refused to accept any more people after receiving three thousand people. It was because there was not enough room... Do you really think there was not enough room? It was because there was not enough salt! Our family had made a statement decades ago, giving The maximum number of salts in Caojiabao is three thousand, no more, no more!"
Shen Donglai suddenly understood after hearing this and said: "My child is wondering why the clan sent that clan brother to Caojia Fort to look for Ji Gu more than ten years ago. Why did Caojia Fort, which had never allowed outsiders to enter the fort, agree so readily? You think it’s because they have a clear conscience and are not afraid of our Shen family!”
"How can a group of refugees who refuse to pay taxes have a clear conscience?! Our Shen family is so powerful in Xiliang, even the royal family..." Shen Xun snorted, "Of course, we don't dare to offend people like Caojiabao. Ours. But you also have to remember - if you only have reputation but no real threat, there will always be some people in this world who will lose their memory as time goes by. It’s because our Shen family not only has a great reputation, but also pays close attention to matters that concern their lives! This is the best of both worlds for them to be obedient and for us to be worry-free, do you understand?”
Shen Donglai kept nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice, and said with great admiration: "My child understands! It's like a child looking for powder in the hook fence. It doesn't matter where he comes from, he is gentle and considerate. ! This is all because if they don't serve well, not only will they not get the prostitute, but they will also be punished and beaten! If it weren't for the prostitute, they wouldn't be polite to the turtle slaves... So …”
"Pa, pa!" Before Shen Donglai could finish his words, he was slapped twice by Shen Xun. Shen Xun almost wanted to vomit blood and got furious: "It's really unreasonable! I'm giving you tips on how to be a good person and do things. You What can you compare to this unsatisfactory thing? Just take your visit to the brothel! Are you afraid that others will not know that you are a waste who only cares about women all day long? "
Shen Xun was really angry this time. Mrs. Huo came over to persuade her but it was useless. Shen Donglai would be beaten severely if he caught her! So much so that Shen Donglai promised to give a reply the next day, so he had to run over on his behalf and tell Wei Changying that there was nothing to worry about...
Wei Changying had long heard from Zhu Yi that the Huang family had left the Yamen, and someone in the family saw Shen Donglai returning home in a hurry - he must have gone to ask Shen Xun for advice. Wei Changying still believed in Shen Xun's skills. Now that he had received the promise, he no longer worried about it and only persuaded Duanmu Xinmiao to wait together.
Sure enough, the control imposed by the Shen family on Caojiabao decades ago was extremely effective. Shen Xun just asked Shen Donglai to personally copy a stern letter and send it to Caojiabao. The people from Caojiabao sat down. Can't stand it anymore.
Only seven or eight days later, people sent by Caojiabao rushed to Xiliang City and asked to see Wei Changying, trying to explain Ji Gu's matter in person.
According to Shen Xun's suggestion, it was Caojiabao who dared to deceive the Shen family back then. It was an unforgivable crime! Even if you want to ask about something, you should leave them alone for a few days to make them more worried.
However, Duanmu Xinmiao was eager to know the answer, and Wei Changying was also very concerned about Ji Gu's life or death, so after considering it, he declined Shen Xun's suggestion. As soon as the people from Caojiabao arrived, they were ushered into the back hall. After receiving the news, Wei Changying and Duanmu Xinmiao put down everything they were doing and rushed to inquire. (To be continued)