Daming King of Punishment

Page 655

Except for the one who went out of the four people, the other three are all in sight.If you want to prove whether these people have done anything, you have to look at the situation in their families.

"Okay, take us to your house, we're going to search." Seeing that they couldn't find anything, Song Wuya immediately wanted to search their house.

As soon as the three of them heard this, the man kneeling on the ground immediately got up.

"My lord, you should go to my house first. Ergou and the others were definitely not killed by me." He was eager to prove that he had nothing to do with this matter, so he took the initiative.

Song Wuya nodded. Since he raised this concern, the first family should go to his home to check.

Several people came directly to his home, and the guards who followed secretly also appeared, helping to search here together.

Chapter 774 Going up the mountain again

Chapter 774 Going up the mountain again

这三人的院子，全都已经搜查结束了。可最终没有任何的线索，显然他们三个的嫌疑并不大。最后一人此刻不再，宋无涯却还是不愿意放过。他当即让那三人带着前往此人家中，也进行了一番搜寻。可结果和他们三个一样，没有任何的发现。没有结果也是正常的，宋无涯对这几个人也只是怀疑，并非是真的觉得凶手就在他们四个人之中。看着时间也差不多了，宋无涯几人便不再这村落里停留，回到了应天府城内。回城之后，几人回到客栈吃了点东西便早早的睡了。毕竟明天他们准备再上那山头看看，今天休息好，明天才有精神头。第二天一早，宋无涯来到府衙集合了队伍，立刻就前往南边的山头。府衙原本就没有多少人了，宋无涯也只是借来了十个人。这十个人虽然不多，加上那几名禁卫，倒也算是一个小小的队伍了。再次来到南山，他们直奔那个发现的山头。沿着山谷直接前行，沿途还在搜寻着尸骨。山沟实在是太多，分开两人一队的行动，进行的非常缓慢。宋无涯很清楚，这些尸骨必定是来自同一个地方。而只要沿着山谷前行，在分叉的路口之后，能够在发现尸骨的话，就算是找到了他们的目标。眼看着中午时分，他们这才多少有了进展。而沿着尸骨寻找，果然找到了他们上一次看到的那个山头。站在半山腰上，抬头只能看到一小片的区域。那一片区域来看，显然很大。很快，他们便站在了山头。眼前的情形令所有人吃惊，整个山头已经白挖空了一半。“不对劲啊，难道这里只是用来开采石头的？”宋无涯很奇怪的看着这里，心中满是诧异。眼前的情形，只是部分山头被挖空了，而没有找到任何矿洞。但是显然这里曾经居住过人，周围有不少破败的木屋。“大人，那边已经找到了尸骨的来源。”一名衙役前来禀报，他们在山头靠近山谷的地方，找到了一片泥土被雨水冲刷过的地方。眼前是一个并不怎么大的坑，周围散落着零零碎碎的石头。宋无涯看到眼前的情形，已经基本推测到了本来的模样。显然这些人曾经在这里开采过石头，而他们最终的下场就是被扔在了这个坑洞内，其上被压了石头掩埋在了这里。原本他们显然是考虑到了可能会被山洪冲刷，但他们不敢直接掩埋在山头之上，毕竟太容易被人发现了。可人算不如天算，没想到下了这样的大雨，他们的罪行最终还是没有掩藏的了。“将这里的一切全都记录在案。”宋无涯只是简单的说了一句，随后便转身再次来到了那开采石头的地方。他在这里来回的走动，如此一片开阔的地方，显然是用来开采石头的。“这里并没有发现矿洞之类的，或许只是用来开采石头，咱们所要追查的那黑铁锭，应该是来自其他的地方。”宋无涯看了一圈之后，做出了这样的判断。而白卓听后，皱眉道：“无涯兄，他们既然能够掩埋石头，说不定是将矿洞填了呢？”白卓这话，倒也不是没有可能，只是掩藏一个矿洞，未必会那么容易。他所见的都是平整的石壁，没有坍塌或者被碎石堵住的地方。显然白卓所想的是不存在的。“这里没有矿洞被掩埋的痕迹，应该不会是这里。”宋无涯摇了摇头，否定了白卓的想法。“咱们之前来到这里，并没有看到有什么人活动。而这里的样子，显然废弃了好长时间，少说也有几年的时间了。那矿洞绝对不可能是在这里。”话虽然是这样说，可这些铁锭既然是来自应天府，那就应该在这附近啊。宋无涯皱着眉头想了想，还是觉得这事情应该多向其他人打听打听。那不见了的第四个人，宋无涯他们必然还是要去调查的，此人或许就是杀害二狗的凶手。倘若二狗是因为那块铁锭的关系而死，那杀他的人竟然也知晓毒蘑菇的事情，这就有些太巧了。而毒蘑菇就是最大的疑点，显然知晓这毒蘑菇能够致命的人很多，而那个村落的人想必都很清楚，要不然当时那发现尸体的人也不会直接说出了是吃了毒蘑菇而死的话了。而且毒蘑菇并非是直接被扔进锅里烹调过的，应该是在二狗两口子身死之后，才被扔进了汤盆里。如此一来的话，也能够侧面证明，二狗他们也很清楚这种蘑菇是不能吃的。正是因为这样，宋无涯才觉得，这极有可能是熟人作案。山头的调查，并没有什么结果。但是在这里开采石头，并非是一件小事情，可偏偏方志上并没有记录。要知道，开山采石这必须要经过官府的手续才行，常人是绝对不能私自开采的。而这100多具尸骨又是怎么回事，他们究竟是什么人，从哪里来到了这里。尸骨早已经腐烂，想要推测出他们死亡的时间，几乎是不可能的。但是这里开采石头，闹出一些动静来，也未必会被人听到。毕竟这里距离周围的村落实在是太远了，他们不仅看不到这山头的情形，连声音也听不到。毫无线索，宋无涯几人只能下山。穿过河流，宋无涯并没有带着人直接回去，而是再次来到了二狗的村子。找到了之前的那两人后，向他们询问，那昨日没有见到的另一个人，是否已经回来了。“不知道昨天离开的那人，现在可在村内？”宋无涯直接说明了自己的来意。令他没想到的是，那两人摇头：“他昨天夜里就没有回来，也不知道去了什么地方，他的家人也不知道。”这可真是奇怪了，宋无涯两次找这个家伙，竟然都没有找到。“那就算了，劳烦两位，将村民全都集合起来，本官有重要的事情向大家询问。”找不到那个人也就算了，宋无涯还有另外重要的事情。这一次竟然要召集全村的人前来，这两人显得更加诧异了。不过昨天他们就多问了一句，现在即便是疑惑，也不敢多问了。很快村里的人就被他们两人给聚集起来了，这些男女老少们一个个瞪大了眼睛，显然很奇怪怎么官府的人突然要询问他们全村事情。“乡亲们，本官乃是朝廷的钦差大臣。想必大家都已经知晓了前日，河道的堤坝洪水冲出溃口，从水中飘出了100多具骸骨的事情吧？”宋无涯面向众人，大声的说着。这事情他们不可能不知道，毕竟那溃口距离他们村子很近，当时有不少的村民就在其中。百姓们纷纷点头之后，宋无涯接着又道：“本官调查之后，发现这些尸骨全都是壮年男子。突然间冒出这么多的骸骨来，而且还没有棺材盛殓，这显然不同寻常。本官追查之后，发现南山山头之上，有一处山头被开采过。同样，本官也查询了方志，并没有找到任何关于开山采石的事情。所以本官今日想向诸位打听一下，这南山什么时候采过石头？”宋无涯问出了问题之后，百姓们顿时炸了锅，纷纷议论了起来。嘈杂之中，宋无涯也听不真切他们在说些什么。但是有一点他很清楚，这些百姓之中，必定会有人知晓的。等待了约莫半柱香的时间，终于有人开口了。“大人，那都是好几年前的事情了。”他这么一说，宋无涯和白卓顿时就兴奋起来了。“好几年前的事情？”宋无涯欣喜的向那人打听：“能否具体和本官说说？”“我也记得不太清楚了，好像那都是前任知府的事情了。”那人皱着眉头说道。他这话一出口，宋无涯还没等再问，人群中便有人也说了。“确实是前任知府的事情，不过我记得。那年正好修筑堤坝，应该是四年前的时候。”一听这话，宋无涯和白卓顿时皱起了眉头。四年前修筑堤坝的时候，这未免也太巧了。毕竟他们确实从方志上看到了，可四年前修筑堤坝所用的石料，都是从别处买来的。“那当时的情形如何，你们有谁去过那里吗？”白卓紧张的追问着。“没有去过，当时南山被官府封了。我们是偶然上山看到的，当时人不少。”这样一来，事情就对上了，看来这100多具骸骨，正是那四年前在山头上开采石料的人。“那你知道那些开采石料的人，都是哪里的人吗？有没有本村的？”宋无涯也跟着问了一句。村民们纷纷摇头：“没有本村的！当时我们还好奇呢，怎么这样的好事情不找我们啊。当时我还向邻村询问过，他们村里的人也没有出过人。”事情越来越蹊跷了，宋无涯听着村民们一人一句的说着，显然这件事情并不是没人知晓，只是当时他们根本没办法过去打听。

Chapter 748 Strange

Chapter 748 Strange

在村内询问了一番之后，天也渐渐的暗了。宋无涯等人也不能继续多问，只能回到城里。好在他们该问的也问了个差不多，也再没有什么人说出什么令人吃惊的事情来。“看来这里边又猫腻啊！”白卓一回到客栈，坐下后给两人倒了杯水，便皱眉向宋无涯说道。“你们说什么有猫腻啊？”司徒雯不知道他们两人再说什么，见两人今日回来竟然也不像第一次那样，累的要死，反而精神头十足的样子。“司徒小姐，你可真是不知道这些人多么可恶！”白卓气愤的将事情的原本说明。“按100多具尸骨算是找到了源头了，而且山头确实有一片区域被开采过。当时官府还封了山，附近的村庄不少人都知道这件事情。有人亲眼看到那山头有不少人在开采石头。而开采石头所发生的时间，正是修筑河堤的那个时候。你说，这事情是不是有些太巧了？”听着白卓说完之后，司徒雯也无比诧异：“那方志上记录，修筑堤坝的石头不是从外地买回来的吗？难不成，他们所用的石料，不是从外地买回来的，而就是从山头上开采下来的？”“很有这个可能。”宋无涯也开口了。他放下茶杯后又道：“这事情发生在同一时间，而官府封山那就说明这开采石头的事情，官府必定是知晓的。可偏偏这里的石头，不知道去了什么地方，修筑堤坝所用的石头是从别处运来的。这实在是太矛盾了，显然当时所用的石料，应该就是从这个山头上采下来的。官员为了中饱私囊，故意将这些石头说是从外地运回来的，如此一来石头的钱他们就算是贪污下来了。而那些知晓这件事情劳力，不仅没有拿到一分钱，反而还被害了性命。”原本，宋无涯也没有想到会有这个可能，可现在线索就已经到了这里。回来的路上，他还特意在河堤看了看，发现河堤所用的石料，和他们在山头所见的完全一致，足以说明这些石料就是从山头开采下来的。“咱们得瞧瞧，这应天府的前任知府究竟是何方神圣，居然敢做出这样大的手笔来。”一想到100多人被这样残忍的杀害，白卓这心里就忍不住的气愤。他说完这话，司徒雯在一旁看着两人道：“今天我们出去走了两圈，没想到这应天府内竟然也有观山酒楼。”一听到他说观山酒楼，宋无涯这头都快要大了。“雯儿，观山酒楼的事情就不要理会了。”宋无涯叹了口气说道。虽然他也很想调查，可是晋王阻挠他们调查这件事情，他们也只能放弃。自从他们查封了那家观山酒楼后，观山酒楼也没有在出现太大的举动，以至于他们抓不到对方任何的把柄。现如今，宋无涯算是彻底放下了，观山酒楼的事情他是不再理会了。可偏偏他们不追查观山酒楼了，那无量教也没有了踪迹。“真的要听了晋王的话，以后也不调查观山酒楼了？”司徒雯眉头微蹙，很是认真的向宋无涯问道。宋无涯点了点头：“也并非是部调查了，只是现在咱们不要明着调查。我想这个毒瘤终究会被咱们铲除的，但现在咱们力不从心啊！”说实话，宋无涯怎么可能放任观山酒楼不管呢。可是现在他们实在是没办法，只要他们调查观山酒楼，晋王那边必定不好说话。到时候和晋王交恶的话，对他们是没有一点好处的。除此之外，倘若真的动摇了观山酒楼，对他们动真格的话，或许他们官位不保只是小事一桩了。司徒雯听了宋无涯这话后，也不再多说什么了。即便是现在他们发现了观山酒楼，也不去主动招惹了。如今有更加重要的事情等着他们去调查呢，那个应天府的前任知府究竟是什么人，他们还需要搞清楚才是。现在前去询问那许惠源，显然有些来不及了。宋无涯直接唤来了禁卫，向他们打听此人。“据我所知，应天府的前任知府，应该是祝世免祝大人，他正是祝元龙大人的乘龙快婿。”没想到，禁卫还真的知道这么一号人物。可当宋无涯几人听到祝世免这个名字的时候，无不震惊。“祝世免！”白卓吃惊大叫：“那不就是那个邱文忠吗！”“没错，正是这个家伙。”宋无涯点头：“八年前的案子，咱们还没有落定呢，没想到这么快就遇到这家伙了。不过，这祝元龙的手段还真是不小。八年前做官，这仅仅用了三四年的时间，他这位女婿就坐上了四品的官职，这可真不是什么人都能够办到的。”“那这修筑堤坝的事情，八成也是他官途上的功绩了，应该也是那祝元龙安排的。”白卓气愤不已，听到了此人的名字之后，那是气愤到了极点。毕竟他们之前就拿这个家伙没有办法，可现在又撞到了他们的手中。“这一次看他还怎么逃得掉！无涯兄，咱们一定要将这小子绳之以法！”“这个是自然的。”宋无涯点头后又向禁卫询问：“那这祝世免如今官居何位，在哪里任职？”“祝大人如今已经官居正三品，乃是京城凤阳府的知府。”这话让宋无涯更加的吃惊，“先前我们曾去过京城，当时的知府可并非是这祝世免啊！”“没错，因为之前无量教的缘由，前任知府已经被罢免了。”禁卫再次回答。令他们没想到的是，仅仅是半年的时间，京城竟然已经换了知府。众人许久没有开口，他们实在是不知道该说些什么了。祝世免一路高升，不过是八年的时间，竟然已经官居三品，这是何等的迅速。除此之外，宋无涯和白卓两人也感觉到了这祝元龙的厉害之处。难怪此人如此的乖张，公然向圣上参奏他们之后，就连皇帝都犯难了。而这样的人，竟然是观山酒楼的爪牙，难怪晋王会让他们停止对观山酒楼的调查。倘若真的查下去，这背后牵扯出来的势力，还真不知道会有多大。几人的心情久久不能平息，禁卫离去之后，他们依旧坐在桌前沉思。许久许久，宋无涯这才重重的叹了口气道：“晋王说的没错啊！观山酒楼这棵大树咱们是无法撼动的啊！倘若真的被咱们撼动，江山基业怕是真要动摇了。”“是啊！无涯兄。”白卓点头：“这祝元龙究竟是什么样的人物，怎么会有这样的能耐？咱们要是没有圣上和晋王的支持，只怕早就被他们给除掉了。那这一次，咱们是否要调查这祝世免啊？”白卓的这个问题算是把宋无涯给难住了，他还真是一时间有些无法确定了。但是他想了想之后，掷地有声的说道：“查！必须要查！不能放任他们不管。咱们就从这个祝世免开始下手，一步步的蚕食他们！晋王说咱们不能调查那观山酒楼和祝元龙，可也没说不能查这个家伙啊！”听了宋无涯这话之后，白卓算是放心了，他猛一拍桌子：“无涯兄，你说的没错，咱们不能这样窝囊下去了，必须要给他们一点颜色瞧瞧才行。”他这一拍桌子，把其他三人吓了一跳。宋无涯无奈的摇摇头：“白兄，你也别这样激动。凡事要一步一步的来，咱们还得想想看，该怎么讲这件案子办的漂亮一些。这祝世免留下山头那么大的一片痕迹，可见自负到了什么地步。如今这堤坝虽然看似坚固，可是连年都出现溃口，可见他们也并不用心。更何况，那100多条人命，咱们即便是丢了这颗脑袋，也绝对不能放过他。”两人豪言壮语的说着，可他们的心里都很清楚，这事情并不好办。从一开始他们听到了祝世免这个名字的时候，就已经明白，这绝对是一块硬骨头。他们能不能啃得动，那真是值得怀疑的一件事情。祝元龙的底细他们至今还没有搞清楚，可现在听到这件事情后，他们算是彻底认清楚了，这祝元龙实在是不简单。可虽然困难到了他们的面前，他们还是不能够说放弃就放弃。这一路上走来，他们遇到了多少难题，可现在背在身上的竟然又那么多。畏惧强权，这不是他们的作风，可身在这官场之中，他们也不得不有低头的时候。但是，面对今天这件事情，他们觉的不应该手软。倘若手软的话，那他们就真的是碌碌无为了。100多具尸骨，那可是100多条人命啊！为了自己的一己私利，竟然让这么多无辜的人平白丧命，这样残忍的事情，他们做了居然一点都不觉得亏心。确定了这件事情，宋无涯四人来到了楼下，该吃饭还是要吃饭的。今天爬了一整天的山，说不累那是不可能的。不过自从有了之前的那一遭，今天他们反倒没有那么的痛苦了。可他们都清楚，正如他们所调查的事情一样，这都是表面上的，谁知道明天的结果又会是怎么样的呢。

Chapter 749 The Fourth Person

? Chapter 749 The Fourth Person

Early the next morning, when Song Wuya and Bai Zhuo woke up, they immediately felt the same tearing pain as yesterday.

Sure enough, they thought too much yesterday.Originally thought that after the previous experience, this time there would be no more pain, but the result was still the same as before.

"Brother Wuya, don't we need to go up the mountain?" Bai Zhuo asked Song Wuya, frowning as he felt the pain all over his body.

"I don't think it's necessary?" Song Wuya casually said something to comfort Bai Zhuo.

But it's hard to say if we can't go up the mountain yet.After all, they haven't investigated the origin of the black iron ingot yet. If these things really came from the mines in Yingtian Mansion, then they must still investigate these things.

"That's good, that's good." After Bai Zhuo had such a comforting sentence, his mood immediately improved a lot.

The two of them moved a little bit, and the soreness in their bodies gradually eased a lot.

It wasn't too early or too late for them to get up today, there were already a lot more pedestrians on the street.They have almost inquired about the matter on the mountain, but there is no evidence now.Of course, as the saying goes, if you want others to know you have to do nothing yourself.

Since Zhu Shifang dared to do such a thing, there must be many clues.What Song Wuya is looking for right now is the evidence about those stones.

The murder of Ergou and his wife is still unclear as to who did it.The fourth person disappeared, making it impossible to continue the investigation.

"Have something to eat, let's go to the government office again." Song Wuya said to Bai Zhuo: "Since Zhu Shifang built this dam outside the city when he was here as magistrate, since he said that these historical materials are from other places There must be a record of how much money was spent on transporting it back. Whether the origin of these things can be proved by then will be the most direct evidence."

"That's right! There are a lot of stones used to build the embankment, and I don't know how much this guy has embezzled." Bai Zhuo felt unhappy when he heard Song Wuya talk about this matter.

They knew very well in their hearts that this Zhu Shifang was originally burdened with a murder case, but at this time he suddenly transformed into a third-rank official of the imperial court.Such a person should have been punished for what he did back then.But not only was he not punished, but he was still enjoying himself in the capital.Such a thing is really detestable.

"It must not be a small sum." Song Wuya nodded: "It's just that what I don't know at the moment is. Let's investigate whether Zhu Shifang has something to do with Guanshan Restaurant. After all, his father-in-law Zhu Yuanlong is Guanshan People from the restaurant, if Guanshan Restaurant gets involved, King Jin may obstruct our investigation of this person."

"Could it be that we don't care if King Jin stops it?" When Bai Zhuo heard the worry in Song Wuya's heart, he immediately became very worried.

King Jin's obstruction was like a mountain to them.Although they can cross this mountain, they have to pay incomparable hardship and price.

"Don't think about it for now, and I can't say it well. Let's take it one step at a time." Song Wuya said with a sigh.

Hearing these words, Bai Zhuo's face turned pale, which showed that he was very unhappy.

From the very beginning, they were high-spirited, but now they have taken too much care, so that they can't let go.

What they have to do now is to go to the capital and ask the Holy One. If they can get an affirmative answer, they don't need to worry too much.Or, they can ask the emperor to give them more rights so that they can do things.

"It's not too late, let's go now." Bai Zhuo felt that this matter was very important, so he said to Song Wuya first.

Song Wuya shook his head: "What are we worried about now, let's eat something first. After all, Xu Huiyuan may not have woken up yet."

"It's getting late at this time, I think he should have woken up." Bai Zhuo felt that Xu Huiyuan would never dare to neglect these few days and would definitely get up early.When he talked about this matter, he was suddenly stunned: "By the way, Brother Wu Ya. We have forgotten the original matter, and we should also focus on these few cases. We have all forgotten , before we came here, we decided to investigate Xu Huiyuan and his son."

Suddenly being reminded by Bai Zhuo like this, Song Wuya really remembered.They have focused all their attention on the skeletons washed out by the mountain torrents these days, and they even forgot about it.

"Really, does Xu Huiyuan have such a son?" Song Wuya also became curious.

In the past few days of contact with Xu Huiyuan, there is no special color in Xu Huiyuan's eyes at all.After all, the two of them personally sent his son to prison, but Xu Huiyuan looked very calm when he saw the eyes of the two, without any look of hatred.

"Could it be that Xu Zijun is not Xu Huiyuan's son?" Bai Zhuo also became strange.

This Xu Zijun is Xu Huiyuan's son, it's not what they think, it's confirmed by King Jin and Tong Shuming, the magistrate of Yangzhou.What they have already determined, if there is a problem again, it will make them unimaginable.

"Shall we take the initiative to ask?" Song Wuya looked at Bai Zhuo, and began to discuss with him.

But Bai Zhuo immediately shook his head: "Brother Wu Ya, I think it's better not to ask him about this matter. If we want to inquire, we should ask the people in the city. Don't think that Xu Huiyuan really doesn't know about this matter, we That said, it caused us trouble."

"Brother Bai is right, this way of thinking is more thorough." Song Wuya nodded and said.

After the two confirmed this matter, they prepared to eat something casually on the street.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they sat down at the table, someone shouted again on the street.

"I heard that someone died again, let's go and have a look."

As soon as these words came out, Song Wuya and Bai Zhuo didn't have much interest in eating.

There was a murder case just now, and they still haven't figured out who the murderer is. They didn't expect that there would be a murder case.

"Brother Wu Ya, the two of us follow along to have a look." Bai Zhuo immediately got up and walked outside without even eating.

Seeing that Bai Zhuo had already gone there with the crowd, Song Wuya couldn't afford to eat, so he could only apologize to the vendor in embarrassment, and left in a hurry.

Many people headed towards the government's yamen, apparently the corpse had already been brought back.

What surprised the two of them was that they didn't expect the yamen to accept the case so early.

When they came to the magistrate's yamen, the two of them didn't listen outside the crowd, but went inside directly.Xu Huiyuan was still breathing, but at this moment he suddenly saw Song Wuya and Bai Zhuo coming, he hurriedly sat up straight, puffed out his chest, and swept away his fatigue.

"The two lords came, but the lower officials are far away to welcome you." Xu Huiyuan stood up to greet him.

Looking at him, the two clasped their fists as a gesture, and then asked: "Master Xu, I heard that there was a homicide case, so I'll come and see if it's related to the previous case."

"There is only one deceased, a middle-aged man with a thin body. After a preliminary examination, he should have been wounded to death by a poisonous snake." Song Wuya just asked, and Xu Huiyuan answered the situation.

A dead person who suddenly appeared was bitten to death by a poisonous snake.Song Wuya frowned, and then asked again: "Where was the body found? Have you found the family?"

"The body was found in the grass not far from the city. The deceased must have drunk alcohol last night and passed out on the side of the road. He happened to be bitten by a poisonous snake." Xu Huiyuan continued. "The family members have not been found yet, but Xiugan has arranged for people to go to nearby villages to look for it."