Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Chen Shao stood up and went out: "What new discovery?"

Kang Tian's face flushed, and a strange light flashed in his eyes: "In the rescue passage of the Xin-shaped cave that we just dug out, a large number of crossbows were found!"

Crossbow arrows!

Chen Shao was startled and was about to head for the Xinzi Cave, but Gu Feiyan shouted first, "I'll go with you!"

Chen Shao immediately withdrew his foot, asked Kang Tian to wait for a moment, then returned to the military tent, moved a chair in front of the bed, and spread a thin blanket on it. Then he carried her to sit on the chair, covered her with a thin blanket, and called in two elite soldiers to carry her.

On the way to Xinzi Cave, Chen Shao asked Kang Tian: "Tell me, how did you find those crossbows?"

Kang Tian looked at Gu Feiyan in horror for a few times, and then quickly said, "The people who went up the mountain in the afternoon deviated about two feet to the northwest while opening a rescue passage, and dug about a foot deeper. During the digging process, they hit a corner of the iron wall and dug out half of the iron wall. When they found something wrong and called me over, the door on the iron wall had already been opened, and many crossbow arrows had already slid out of the door. I didn't dare to make a decision on my own, so I asked people to guard the iron door and then came to report to the adults."

After Chen Shao praised him with a "well done", he hurried towards Xinzi Cave.

The Xinzi Cave has been almost cleared, but it is not completely unblocked. Once the iron wall is found, it is still necessary to use the rescue passage dug out from the Renzi Cave to pass through.

Each rescue channel is numbered.

The rescue passage where the iron wall was found was Lane 17 of Renzi.

As soon as Chen Shao entered Lane 17, he couldn't help but frown.

According to the rescue plan proposed by Kang Tian, ​​it was necessary to use wooden piles to support the dangerous rocks, and then dig a rescue channel from the side lane. Therefore, the digging direction and depth of each rescue channel were measured and planned in advance.

At the same time, during the digging process of the rescue channel, bamboo tubes are needed to lead the seeping water to the outside of the mine to prevent secondary collapse.

The rescue passage in front of us, both in terms of height and width, did not conform to Kangtian's plan. The wooden piles and bamboo tubes for diverting water were also crooked and extremely perfunctory.

Chen Shao took a look at the depth of the rescue passage, stepped out, and asked with a sullen face, "What's going on?"

Kang Tian glanced at the rescue passage, then at the people not far away, and pleaded guilty: "It is my fault that I failed to supervise them well. Please punish me, sir."

Chen Shao pinched his brows, knowing that he couldn't be blamed entirely for this, but he still warned: "A thousand-mile dam is breached by an ant hole. I know they are anxious to save their families, but no matter how anxious they are, they can't ignore their own safety!"

Kang Tian said yes.

Chen Shao ordered: "Immediately arrange for someone to repair the support and the bamboo water pipe!"

Kang Tian hurriedly called the people over and told them what she had said. The people were afraid of her expression and quickly put the racks and bamboo tubes back in place according to the regulations.

Chen Shao entered the rescue passage again, looked at the neatly arranged brackets and bamboo water pipes, and asked calmly, "How long did it take to set up these brackets and bamboo pipes?"

Kang Tian said ashamedly: "Less than three cups of tea."

"In other words, if we get it done in one go, it won't take them much time, right?" Chen Shao said.

Kang Tian nodded.

Judging from the two consecutive days of rescue, he is a very capable person, and Chen Shao did not want to say anything final and embarrass him. After reminding him of his bottom line, he turned his attention to the iron wall.

Only a corner of the iron wall has been dug out.

Judging from the size of this corner, the entire iron house is not small.

After holding the lamp and shining it around the iron gate, Chen Shao hung it on the protruding ore, bent down to pick up two crossbow arrows, and handed one to Gu Feiyan beside him.

"This is the crossbow arrow from the Crossbow Bureau." Chan Yi held up a lamp and shone it for her. Gu Feiyan recognized it at a glance.

After hearing this, Kang Tian also picked up the two crossbow arrows, looked at them against the lamp for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Looking at the craftsmanship, they are indeed crossbow arrows from the Nufang Bureau. However, the crossbow arrows from the Nufang Bureau all have inscriptions engraved on them, but these don't."

Chen Shao didn't know much about the Crossbow Office. After hearing what the two said, she picked up a few more crossbow arrows. After making sure that each one was the same, she looked at the iron wall and asked Kang Tian, ​​"Where is the Crossbow Office, and what is this iron house used for?"

Kang Tian said: "The Jiafang Office and Nufang Office are behind the iron mine in a place away from the sun. This iron house..."

Kang Tian shook his head, pinched his fingers, and said thoughtfully: "I have never heard of such an iron house deep in the iron mine, but judging from the location, this iron house should not be in the iron mine, but..."

Gu Feiyan replied, "Crossbow Office!"

Kang Tian nodded: "Yes!"

"Lead the way!" Chen Shao ordered.

After the collapse of the iron mine, the Metallurgical Supervision Office, Jiafang Office, and Nufang Office were not affected much and did not stop working. However, the heads of the various offices were arrested on the day Chen Shao arrived at the iron mine for speaking up for Sun Guishan. Therefore, although the various supervisors and offices did not stop working, the workers were not very active.

Seeing the flames coming along the road, the workers in various prisons and offices mistakenly thought that the supervisors had returned, and their hands and feet suddenly became nimble.

There were so many things going on that Chen Shao could not take care of their sufferings. He gave Kang Tian a look, and Kang Tian immediately went to the Nufang Office and shouted, "Where is the chief craftsman? Lord Chen is here to inspect, why don't you welcome him quickly!"

A dark-skinned man in his fifties came out of the courtyard gate, kneeling down and saying, "My humble self, Zhao Asan, greets you, sir!"

The houses of Jiafang Office, Nufang Office, Daojian Office, and Spear/Axe Office are lined up in a row, all built against the mountain, half in the mountain and half outside the mountain.

Steel making and forging are done in the mountain, and finishing and assembly are done outside the mountain.

Chen Shao followed Zhao Asan into the Nufang Office, looked at the busy workers, and asked casually, "How many people are there in the Nufang Office?"

Zhao Asan said respectfully, "There are ninety-seven people forging arrowheads and crossbow triggers, and ninety-three people for preparing crossbow arrows, a total of one hundred and ninety people."

Chen Shao stepped forward, picked up two crossbow arrows that had just had their feathers glued together, and after carefully examining them, he asked, "Why are there no inscriptions on these crossbow arrows?"

Zhao Asan quickly explained: "After the crossbow arrows have their feathers glued together, they still need to pass quality inspection before the inscription can be engraved."

Chen Shao asked, "Where is the quality inspection done, and where is the inscription engraved?"

Zhao Asan pointed to the yard next to him: "It's right next door."

Chen Shao ordered: "Take me over to have a look."

Zhao Asan replied respectfully, "Yes," and led a few people to the next door.

When leaving, Gu Feiyan asked Chan Yi to bring her two crossbow arrows with the feathers just glued on.

"The iron mine collapsed. Has this area been affected?" Chen Shao asked casually before entering the warehouse.

Zhao Asan shook his head: "Although half of the smelting supervisors and various offices are in the belly of the mountain, the deepest one is only thirty to fifty feet deep, and the iron mine is at least several dozen feet away, so it has not been affected."

Half of the storage yard is also located in the mountain.

Under the guidance of the quality inspector, Chen Shao checked the quality inspection and inscription engraving process, and took the opportunity to check the entire warehouse.

On the surface, there is no problem with warehousing.

Considering that the crossbow arrows found in Xinzi Cave did not have any inscriptions, Chen Shao did not search the warehouse for the time being, but returned to the Nufang Office.

"How many years have you been working in this Nufang Office?" Chen Shao asked casually when entering the gate of Nufang Office.

Zhao Asan was stunned for a moment, then looked around and around, and after confirming that Chen Shao was asking him, he hurriedly replied, "Seven years."

"How did you get into this Nufang Office?" Chen Shao asked casually.

Zhao Asan fell to his knees and kowtowed, begging for mercy: "I know I was wrong. I will leave tomorrow. No, I will leave now. Please spare my life!"

Chen Shao stopped and looked down at him: "Tell me, what's wrong?"

Zhao Asan continued to kowtow and beg for mercy: "I, my humble servant, was wrong to buy the position of Chief Craftsman from Lord Qin."

"Who is Lord Qin?" Chen Shao asked.

"Lord Qin is the military inspector-general who manages us." Zhao Asan replied quickly.

Chen Shao thought for a moment and asked, "How many craftsmen are there in the Crossbow Workshop?"

Zhao Asan answered without hesitation: "Three."

Chen Shao: "They all bought them with money like you?"

Zhao Asan nodded repeatedly: "Yes."

Chen Shao: "You have been here for seven years. Do you know how to cast arrowheads and calibrate crossbows?"

Zhao Asan kowtowed several times and said, "I deserve to die. Please spare my life, sir!"

The chief craftsman was mainly responsible for casting arrowheads and calibrating crossbows. He was a technical post, but he knew nothing. If he didn't know, the other two people would not be much better. Chen Shao looked at the mountain where arrowheads and crossbows were forged, thinking: Maybe the Qin Bingjian did it on purpose.

Whether it was intentional or not, we will know once we find out.

As Chen Shao walked towards the mountain belly, he said, "Let's get up first."

Zhao Asan stood up in shock and quickly followed him.

"Your Excellency has come to the Nufang Office. I have not come to greet you from afar. I hope you will forgive me!" Just as Chen Shao was about to enter the mountain, someone suddenly came hurriedly and blocked her way.