Tang Fan asked Qian San'er, "What exactly does the monster look like, did your master and the others see clearly?"
Qian San'er shook his head: "Master said that the monster was black all over, it looked like a big boa constrictor, it was much bigger than a snake, and it had legs, standing taller than us, with red eyes. It's scary, the villain's master just glanced at them and ran away, if they looked a few more times, they would have to stay..."
Tang Fan: "Could it be a crocodile?"
Qian San'er was at a loss: "What is a crocodile?"
Tang Fan: "... I didn't ask when I was the official."
But even if they could escape, what if they could run once, but not a second time. After they escaped for the first time, not only did they not stop there, but they re-entered the treasures because they were reluctant to let them go, and they lost their lives in vain.
However, these thieves originally had malicious intentions and went to the emperor's mausoleum. They died well, and there was nothing wrong.
Sui Zhou, who had never spoken, stood beside him and suddenly asked, "Is the secret passage your master went to, is it in Yonghou Mausoleum?"
Qian San'er said timidly: "It was said that he went down to the second floor of the underground palace and then went down, but it was not from Yonghou Mausoleum. They didn't say it, and the villain didn't know."
The death of the old village chief is the biggest doubt, but Tang Fan and Sui Zhou have both personally checked it out, and it is true that he committed suicide without any external force.
Qian San'er was also cross-examined, but he kept saying that his group robbed the tomb from the villagers' eyes and ears, and didn't know the dead old man in the back room. Regardless of whether he lied or not, Tang Fan asked him to take him with him. Go back to the city, pass Pang Qi's hand, and then carefully cross-examine.
Tang Fan said to the village chief Liu: "First bury your father in a good life, we are going to go back to the county seat, and come back in two days, don't fill up the robbery hole first, we may still be useful, and let the villagers be okay. Don't go near the river, especially at night, and you are not allowed to bring some living people to sacrifice, the official will keep people here to guard, if you violate the order, you will be the first to ask."
Village Chief Liu nodded again and again: "Little one wrote it down!"
He paused and asked again, "Sir, are you planning to take someone down that hole?"
Tang Fan was noncommittal: "So what is it, so what is it not?"
Chief Liu said, "If it is, please bring the villain with you, and the villain can help point the way!"
"Brother, you are crazy!" The second son of the Liu family next to him shouted.
Pang Qi scolded: "Sir, how can you interrupt when you speak!"
Tang Fan looked at Village Chief Liu in surprise: "You know it's dangerous inside, but you still want to go in?"
Village Chief Liu with tears in his eyes: "I want to teach adults to know that although the villain is stupid, he also knows that my father's death must have something to do with it. Since he came out from the inside, it's like a different person. I want to avenge my father. !"
The magistrate He added next to him: "Sir, when Xiaguan first sent a bounty to people to go down and explore the way, he was among the people who went down."
Tang Fan raised his eyebrows: "Have you ever gone down?"
Village Chief Liu nodded: "At that time, I walked with another person for almost half an hour, and we had reached the palace on the second floor by that time, and we saw that there was still a way to go down, so we walked for a while. I felt so terrified that I really didn't dare to leave, so I came up again."
Tang Fan calculated in his heart, Qian San'er said that he stayed outside for more than two hours before his master and the others came out. According to this statement, the time spent by Village Chief Liu was almost right on the third floor.
In this way, the timing of the two is just right, and there is no flaw.
Tang Fan then said: "Your filial piety is commendable and worthy of praise, but the matter is not finalized, this officer still has to consider one or two things, village husbands and village women are ignorant and ignorant, as the village chief, you should tell them not to panic, and don't panic. Do not spread rumours indiscriminately.”
Village Chief Liu: "Yes, the villain remembers it."
Tang Fan explained two more sentences, and was about to take people away, but he heard a loud voice: "Hold on!"
Yin Yuanhua came over and said, "Dare to ask your lord, how can you allow him to be buried because of this old man's death?"
Tang Fan: "Brother Yin, what's your opinion?"
Yin Yuanhua said: "The case is now very clear, it is clear that this old man colluded with that group of tomb robbers, and tacitly allowed them to rob the tomb here. Because they were discovered, they pretended to be ghosts and fabricated river gods to fool fools and fools. Now that the matter is exposed, this old man is dead, so as to protect his family!"
He pointed to the frightened village chief Liu and said, "Maybe all the members of the Liu family are suspected of being accomplices. They should all be taken back to the prison for strict interrogation. How can they be easily let go!"
Yin Yuanhua followed Tang Fan and the others all the way here. He was motion sickness and vomited half to death again, and he stayed overnight in Xiaopo Village, and his heart was full of fire.
Seeing that Tang Fan was in charge of the overall situation, Jin Yiwei, who had always been domineering, was willing to let him lead him.
Tang Fan didn't get angry when he heard the words, and only asked, "I wonder if Brother Yin heard that strange noise last night?"
Yin Yuanhua blushed: "I slept a little, I never heard it."
Tang Fan said: "Last night, Sui Zhenfu and others heard the sound and tracked them to the vicinity of the Emperor's Mausoleum. We saw with our own eyes that the two people died unexpectedly. You have also seen the two corpses. Who do you think killed and silenced? Did the other party bite off the lower body?"
Yin Yuanhua was speechless for a moment, and Tang Fan said again: "If you don't believe it, it's easy to do, just stay in the village tonight, and when you hear the sound in the middle of the night, go to the river to have a look, maybe Brother Yin, you are lucky, I can also meet the river god coming, and catch it back together, and I can wait for it."
With a malicious smile on his face, Yin Yuanhua's teeth tickled with anger: "Master Tang handled the case so sloppily, the lower official will report to the upper peak!"
Tang Fan groaned slightly, "please."
On the same day, the group returned to the county seat first.
Now that the old village chief is dead, and the monster has disappeared, they came back in such a hurry, it seems like an anticlimactic, but in fact Tang Fan and Suizhou are making preparations.
When Suizhou arrived at the county seat, he didn't stop there, he took people directly to Henan Prefecture, and went to Jinyiwei Henan Prefecture to borrow a fire gun.
Tang Fan then returned to the official post to write a note, reported the situation they had discovered after they came here, and asked for instructions from above.
In fact, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had already discussed it privately. If they wanted to find out the truth of this matter, they would have to go underground in the end, but they couldn't go on like this, so they had to be fully prepared.
At the same time, Yin Yuanhua was also writing a report, but of course he did not write it to Zhang Shangshu, but to his teacher Liang Shilang.
If the fight between Yin Yuanhua and Tang Fan was originally due to Tang Fan, an airborne man who grabbed Yin Yuanhua's original position, and caused his backlash, it has now become the person behind the two of them - Zhang Shangshu Fighting with Liang Shilang.
Zhang Shangshu has no hope of entering the cabinet, and Liang Shilang is eyeing the position of Shangshu, how can Zhang Shangshu allow him to covet
In this case, Zhang Shangshu fully supported Tang Fan. Not only that, but the position of Tang Fan's imperial envoy was also won by Zhang Shangshu. Otherwise, Tang Fan would not be the master of this trip. of.
The reason why Liang Shilang agreed to the students to follow Tang Fan was not only to let Yin Yuanhua take Tang Fan's hand, but also to use this to prove that Zhang Shangshu had no knowledge of people. This old man is not obedient enough, so he intends to replace Liang Shilang who is more obedient. Tang Fan is incompetent in handling the case, and Zhang Shangshu will also be implicated.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, so even if such a case seems to have nothing to do with the capital, what actually affects the interests of all parties is behind it.
Since Zhang Ying supports Tang Fan, Tang Fan can't let him down. No matter what, this old man finally has some principles and bottom lines for being a man. It is definitely better for him to be the minister than Liang Shilang. At least he doesn't have to worry about it all day. Wearing small shoes.
Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua's Tiao Chen rushed back to the capital respectively.
It was definitely impossible for the capital to reply within two days, but Suizhou moved very quickly, and came back the next day with four fire cannons.
As soon as the fire gun arrived, it was even more powerful, Tang Fan didn't waste time, he called Cheng Wen and the others directly, and said, "I have reported the situation to the capital, but this time, no matter how fast, it will take five or six days. There is news, but things in Luohe Village can’t be delayed. Since Jinyiwei has already borrowed the fire gun, I plan to go down to the bottom of the robbery cave with the envoy Sui Zhen, so as to capture the man-eating monster. Stay here and solve a major disaster. The dangers are unpredictable and you are both civil servants, so you don’t have to follow me on adventures. It’s better to stay in the official post and act as a contact person. If there is a reply from the capital, you can help me in time. I will reply."
Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan looked at each other. They also heard what Qian San'er and Village Chief Liu said that day. Of course, they were very happy that they didn't have to go into danger, but Tang Fan, the imperial envoy, was already on the way, and they were the ones who attacked. Watching the fun from the side, if something happens at that time, they will also be punished.
Cheng Wen persuaded: "Sir, as you are on the mission, you can command from the center. Why do you need to take risks in person?"
Tang Fan asked back: "The envoy Sui Zhen is also an imperial envoy, so he won't go down? Everyone cherishes themselves, so everyone doesn't have to go down?"
Seeing that Cheng Wen was at a loss for words, Tian Xuan hurriedly said, "Why don't we wait for a reply from the court?"
Tang Fan shook his head, he actually had other concerns in his heart, but there were some things he couldn't say to them right now, he just said: "I have made up my mind, don't need to say more, if there is an accident between me and Sui Zhenfu, you will be responsible. Bring the remaining people back to the capital, report the truth truthfully, and then send people down to completely solve the hidden dangers in this place."
The two of them were a little at a loss when they heard him speak solemnly, so they had to do what they should.
Yin Yuanhua said: "The lower official is willing to accompany him, and please ask the adults for permission!"
Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan didn't dare to go down, naturally because they cherished their lives, but Yin Yuanhua had other ideas.
No matter what monsters are underground, he has incomparable confidence in the four fire guns in Jin Yiwei's hands. Besides, Jin Yiwei's skills are not comparable to those of the rabble tomb robbers.
Although it is dangerous to go deep into the enemy's acupoint, if you can find the ear room that Qian San'er said is full of treasures, it is also a great credit. Yin Yuanhua has worked so hard to come here, how can he be willing to let Tang Fan? Pick all the fruit
Tang Fan frowned: "I don't know where the monster came from. It is bloodthirsty and murderous. This trip is extremely dangerous. You'd better stay here."
Yin Yuanhua clenched his neck: "Could it be that your lord is worried that the next official won't be able to take credit with you?"
This kind of indifferent person, if he really doesn't let him go, he will file a lawsuit and charge Tang Fan with domineering, domineering and other charges, which is enough for Tang Fan to drink a pot.
Thinking of this, Tang Fan was too lazy to deal with him, and said lightly: "You can go wherever you want, it's just one thing, you have to obey the orders and don't act arbitrarily."
Under the pressure of his eyes, Yin Yuanhua had to hand over his hands and said, "Xiaguan obeys the orders of your lord."
Borrowing the fire gun, Tang Fan and Suizhou together, the two did not delay much, and took Pang Qi and others directly to Luohe Village the next day.
Although the magistrate He intended to please Shangguan, he was not as willing as Zhao Xiancheng and cherished his life. He could only express his loyalty by saying a lot of flattering words to Tang Fan, but Zhao Xiancheng took the initiative to ask Tang Fan for his life. , said that he was willing to be the forerunner, and brought two arresters recruited from the yamen, all of whom were very skilled and willing to go.
People in Luohe Village were surprised when they saw them go and return. Tang Fan first asked others to go to the robbery cave of the Emperor's Mausoleum, and then he took Zhao Xiancheng to Liu's house to find the village chief Liu.
Unfortunately, the village chief Liu was not here, and the second child of the Liu family came out to receive them.
The second son of the Liu family said: "My eldest brother went out and said that he went to the county town to buy a useful axe, so that when we go down with you, we have a handy self-defense weapon!"
Tang Fan asked, "When did your eldest brother go out?"
The second son of the Liu family said: "I went out last night because it was too late, so I stayed in the county town for one night, and I might be back this morning. Sir, can you not let the big brother go, the villain is willing to go down with you!"
Zhao Xiancheng was not angry: "Do you think this is shopping for vegetables? You are still picking and choosing. The day before yesterday, it was your elder brother who asked us to go down with us. He has gone down there, and he is familiar with it. What's the use of you going!"
The second child of the Liu family was compliant and did not dare to answer.
Tang Fan stopped Zhao Xiancheng from continuing to intimidate him, and asked, "Why do you want to follow, don't you know the danger below?"
The second son of the Liu family stammered, "I, I don't want him to die!"
Zhao Xiancheng rolled his eyes, if it wasn't for Tang Fan, he really wanted to give this idiot a slap in the face, what is it to die, are they all ready to die!
Tang Fan said with a warm smile, "You are very brotherly, and would rather go to a dangerous place by yourself for your elder brother."
The second son of the Liu family nodded: "Yes, my eldest brother has had a hard time. His wife died early. In order to marry me, he didn't remarry himself. So far, he has no children. After my father's accident, he wanted to become a village. Boss, I have to take care of this family, I, I can't do nothing..."
Tang Fan suddenly asked another irrelevant question: "Could the old village chief find something down below and be forced to commit suicide?"
The second child of the Liu family looked blank: "Huh?"
He obviously couldn't understand what Tang Fan was saying.
Previously, Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua had similar thoughts. They both believed that there must be some connection between the death of the old village chief and the group of tomb robbers, but later Qian Saner's testimony overturned his guess: Qian Saner's group, It has nothing to do with the old village chief or even the villagers of Luohe Village. They really came to ambush and set up a spot after they heard that the emperor's mausoleum here is good to do.
That being the case, why did the old village chief commit suicide again? His suicide was obviously to cover up some truth.
But what is he trying to cover up? If it has nothing to do with Qian San'er and the others, what will it have to do with them
This is the scene where he just set up a set to ask the second child of the Liu family.
But judging from the reaction of the second son of the Liu family, he obviously didn't know the inside story of his father's death.
Because no matter how well a person hides, because there is a ghost in his heart, there will always be some clues subconsciously, but the second child of the Liu family does not show any signs of guilt, such as blinking eyes or a pause in his tone.
Tang Fan smiled slightly and changed the subject: "Is your brother sad about your father's death?"
The second son of the Liu family nodded: "My brother is very sad, I advised him not to go down with you, but he didn't listen, saying that even if there is a monster below, he will kill that monster and avenge our father, brother, really Can't you let me go down instead of my brother?"
Tang Fan thought to himself, could it be that his inference was wrong from the beginning to the end, and the old village chief was really just too frightened to commit suicide
He was about to speak when he heard the second son of the Liu family's eyes light up: "Big brother is back!"
Village Chief Liu walked over and carried a brand new and sharp axe in his hand. He looked at Tang Fan and Zhao Xiancheng in confusion and surprise: "Sir, why did you come back so soon? down?"
Tang Fan nodded: "Everyone is here, just waiting for you."
Village Chief Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with a naive smile, "Fortunately, I came back early, so let's go!"
The second child of the Liu family hurriedly grabbed him: "Brother, let me go with you!"
Village Chief Liu smirked: "Nonsense! You still have to take care of our mother, hurry back, if I can't come back, you can tell the villagers and re-elect a village chief, do you know?"
It's okay if he doesn't say this, but when he mentions the second son of the Liu family, he's even more sad: "Big brother..."
Village Chief Liu patted him on the shoulder: "It's alright, don't talk nonsense, wait for me to come back, get a pot of stewed meat and wait for me to come back, and order some snow-white Chinese cabbage!"
The second child of the Liu family sniffed and nodded vigorously.
The two brothers said goodbye, and Village Chief Liu followed Tang Fan to the Emperor's Mausoleum.
Suizhou brought Pang Qi and the others there long ago, and Qian San'er was naturally there. Although he never went down, as someone who heard the description of his master and Fatty Lu with his own ears, he knew nothing about the environment inside. He was more familiar than Tang Fan and the others, of course Tang Fan couldn't keep him there.
Kindness is to be given to those who should be given, not to be abused on those who don't need it. People who are not familiar with Tang Fan will think that he is gentle and easy to talk. In fact, he has a standard in his heart. When it is time to be tough, there will never be without hesitation.
They came out early, and it's just after the hour. According to the time when Qian San'er and his master went down and came up again, a full day is enough. If it goes well, they can come out in the evening, if it doesn't go well...
Master Tang suddenly felt that before he left the capital, he didn't seem to have time to explain his last words to A-Dong. If neither he nor Sui Zhou could go back, then little A-Dong would be an orphan again.
Alas, for the sake of A-Dong, try hard not to lose your life!
Among these people, Sui Zhou, Pang Qi and others are the coolest. For a profession like Jin Yiwei who often needs to travel abroad, they are used to facing danger and unexpected situations at any time. The only difference is that this time Maybe it's not just people.
But with the fire gun in hand, Pang Qi, who had some doubts about the scene that night, had long since calmed down. In the Yuan Dynasty, the fire gun had been fully used on the battlefield. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, it played a pivotal role in Emperor Taizu's struggle for hegemony in the world. Among the three major battalions in the capital, there was a separate Shenji battalion. A specialized firearms unit.
With a gun in hand, there is nothing else to ask for, so Pang Qi and others are very calm.
Although Qian San'er had never been down before, but with the lessons learned from Master and Fatty Lu, although he is also envious of the treasure below, he values his own life more, but he can't escape, so he has a face like a dismayed examination approval. I was afraid that I would accidentally go to be with my master.
His mood obviously also affected Yin Yuanhua. Although the latter offered to go down voluntarily, he was a civil servant after all, and he did not have the psychological qualities of Pang Qi. As long as he thought about the condition of the two corpses, his calf began to start. Spinning involuntarily.
Tang Fan asked Zhao Xiancheng to stay on top with the two arresters, then glanced at Yin Yuanhua again, and said, "It's too late if you regret it now."
"I don't regret it." Yin Yuanhua gritted his teeth and insisted.
Tang Fan was too lazy to persuade him again, and said to others: "Although this official is an official envoy on this trip, due to the unpredictable circumstances below, everyone, including this official, must obey the command of the envoy of Sui Zhen, and no one has Order, do not act without authorization."
This unifies command.
Naturally, Pang Qi and the others had no objections. On the contrary, they were very happy. They were more willing to obey Suizhou than to obey a civilian commander who had never cooperated before. Tang Fan also didn't want to cause confusion in the command, which ended up ruining everyone's life. In this case, he simply handed over all the power to Suizhou.
Sui Zhou still had a paralyzed face. In front of outsiders, his words were very few, but every time he was able to get to the point.
Seeing Pang Qi and the others all looking at him expectantly, Sui Zhou coldly spit out two words: "Let's go."
Everyone: "… "
Sui Zhou walked to the front of the robbery hole first, ready to go down, but when he looked back, he saw that everyone else was still there, and he couldn't help but look suspiciously inquiring.
Everyone just regained their senses, and quickly followed, they thought that the boss would at least give a lecture to encourage morale and the like...
The robbery hole is very narrow and can only accommodate one person at a time. According to Village Chief Liu, when they went down to the second floor of the underground palace last time, they went all the way smoothly without encountering any danger. The personal death was tragic, but everyone slowed down and moved forward cautiously.
Village Chief Liu came down and was responsible for leading the way. Naturally, he had to walk at the front, followed by Sui Zhou and other Jin Yiwei, then Qian San'er, Yin Yuanhua, Tang Fan and the others, and Pang Qi in the back.
The robbery hole was dug tortuously and tortuously. When going down, the only way to go down was to face down, and the person stepped up step by step, supporting the soil walls around the robbery hole on both sides.
It was broad daylight outside. When I first went down, my vision was still clear, but the further down I went, the dimmer the light became. I was used to the bright and dazzling feeling outside. When I first entered the dark and cramped environment, it was more difficult for my eyes to adapt, so everyone left. very slow.
The robbery cave was a little narrow at first, but the further down it went, the more spacious it became. Later, it was enough for two people to go down. Everyone had to stick their bodies tightly against the rock wall to avoid the slope being too steep and the whole person slipping down.
When Tang Fan was holding on to the clod and stone wall, he felt that some parts were sticky and greasy, and there was a faint fishy smell, as if the body had been torn apart and splashed with blood and fragments... Stop! Can't think any more!
Master Tang asked himself that although he didn't have too much cleanliness, when he thought about it, it was disgusting.
"It's here!" Village Chief Liu's voice came from the front.
Soon, when the people in front jumped down one by one, Tang Fan jumped along with him, and immediately got his feet on the ground.
But he forgot that there was another Yin Yuanhua behind him...
When Yin Yuanhua jumped down, he seemed to have slapped his foot.
"Unlucky Ghost" Master Tang only felt a sharp pain on his back, he couldn't even see what was in front of him, and he was crushed to the ground.
In front of him, the general banner of Jinyiwei named Yan Li was following Sui Zhou to investigate the environment in front of him, and the latter's figure flashed unexpectedly.
When he took a closer look, his boss had already pushed Yin Yuanhua aside and let him roll around involuntarily to the side of the car for several times, then carefully lifted up Master Tang and asked in a low voice.
Although Yin Yuanhua didn't dare to offend Jin Yiwei, he couldn't let go of his body to take the initiative to make friends, and he always acted like a civil servant. Of course, Yan Li's group also disliked him.
Faced with this situation, Yan Li just wanted to say: Boss, great job!