Gui Yuan

After dinner, Bai Dingguang placed them in his mansion, and Ning Qing and Wei Yao shared the same room as they should.

The next day, a group of people went to the Armed Forces Office. The officials below saw that Bai Dingguang had brought someone here, guessed that it was probably from the imperial court, and they were all trembling, worried that they would be caught in the wrong place at such a juncture.

They went to the Lanxue Room, which was the place where the Wubeijian was on duty. After Zhong Hui disappeared for no reason, Bai Dingguang had his seat sealed up. Now his desk is still in its original state.There was a blueprint on the case, and besides that, although there were many other files, they were neatly arranged in stacks, and it could be seen that Zhong Hui was a clear-cut and meticulous person.

Ning Qing took a look at the blueprint. It was a topographical map. Someone drew a few places on it with a vermilion pen. He turned his head and asked, "What is this blueprint?"

Bai Dingguang stretched out his head to take a look, and replied: "This is the topographic map of Xiaowei Mountain in Changzhou. There is a saltpeter mine in Xiaowei Mountain, which is under the management of the Armed Forces."

Ning Qing seemed to be aware of some eyebrows. As far as his eyes could see, he saw the two people next to him carefully peeking at this place. Judging by the clothes, they should be Zhong Hui's colleagues. He simply turned his head to face them and asked, "Do you two adults have something to say?" Want to say?"

The younger of the two stood up, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I met Master Zhong that night."

Bai Dingguang was surprised for a moment, and introduced to Ning Qing: "This is Lord Luo."

Ning Qing nodded, signaling Lord Luo to continue.

"Recently there have been a lot of affairs in the institute. The few of us often stayed in Lan Xue's room until late at night, and Master Zhong often stayed up all night." Master Luo recalled, "It was midnight, and only Master Zhong and I were left in the room. We are going to watch the night together, but these days, the child has a fever, and I am worried, Master Zhong let me go back first."

Wei Yao asked: "What are you doing, Lord Clock?"

He thought for a while, and when he saw the drawings on the case, he suddenly said, "I'm just looking at this topographic map of Xiaowei Mountain."

Wei Yao looked at Ning Qing, Ning Qing nodded and said: "Since Zhan Wu was killed at this time, if the two of them are involved, it is reasonable to do it at the same time."

Ning Qing suddenly turned his head to look at Lord Luo, with a trace of temptation in his eyes, but the corner of his mouth was slightly raised: "I'm just curious about one thing, why didn't Lord Luo say it before, and have to wait until today?"

Master Luo's face became a little ugly, and he said after a while: "Everyone in the institute is afraid of this matter, I don't want to cause trouble for no reason, and at that time I didn't think it was anything special."

Ning Qing smiled and didn't ask any more questions.

Wei Yao said to Bai Dingguang, "I don't know if you can lend me this topographic map?"

Bai Dingguang responded: "Naturally, does your lord have any other needs?"

Wei Yao thought for a while, and said, "Together with the records about Xiaowei Mountain, we'll sort it out together, and we'll take it back right now."

Bai Dingguang nodded and said, "I'm going to ask someone to sort it out, sir."

Before leaving the room, Bai Dingguang glanced over Lin Rong who was scrolling through the terrain map, and landed on Master Luo, but he turned his head and stepped out of the room the next moment.

Lin Rong and Fei Tian returned to the White Mansion with two stacks of books. Wei Yao and Zhao Min said something, and he took Tian Cheng out and disappeared all day. Ning Qing and Wei Yao held the books one by one. Turning it over, I don't know what I want to turn it over.

After a day of reading, Fei Tian's eyes were dry and his hands were sore. He put aside the register he had just finished reading, stretched his arms and got up: "Oh, it's only been a day, I feel like people are old and dizzy."

Ning Qing didn't lift his eyes while looking at the register, but just smiled: "It's really hard work, you take Lin Rong back to have a rest first, and you will have dinner soon."

Fei Tian just complained a few words, but Ning Qing followed his words and asked them to go back. He was a little embarrassed: "It's not right, there are only a few books left."

Ning Qing raised his eyes, put down the heavy record book and said with a smile: "Why are you so dazed? You two have been here for so long, and my father-in-law and I can't even speak a few words."

Hearing this, Wei Yao gave Fei Tian a cold look very cooperatively, as if dissatisfied.

Fei Tian's eyes wandered between the two of them hesitantly, as if he had just woken up from a dream: "I see, let me tell you earlier, brother Lan Yu, don't worry, my father-in-law, we will leave now, what do you have, remember to make a long story short, do not Late meal time."

After Fei Tian pulled Lin Rong away, the room returned to silence. Ning Qing took a sip of tea, picked up the register and looked at it again.He felt Wei Yao get up and didn't pay much attention to it. The next moment, Wei Yao's face was in front of him.Ning Qing had to divide his mind and looked up at him: "What?"

Wei Yao slightly hooked the corners of his lips, and sat directly on the armrest of the chair without hesitation.He was wearing a purple robe today, and this color made him even more heroic, and it seemed that his actions at this time were a bit awkward.

Ning Qing stared at the armrest, deeply suspicious: "Zhao Zhuo, it's not good that our body is pressed on this fragile chair, don't say that the chair has collapsed, it's just missing an arm and a leg, you and I It’s hard to explain.”

Wei Yao glanced at him with a smile in his eyes: "Let them say."

Ning Qing didn't say anything anymore, she just thought to herself, when did this person become so...shameless.

Jokes are jokes, we still have to get back to business, Wei Yao looked at the register in his hand together and said, "What do you see?"

"The records are recorded by the government. It's strange to see any major problems. It's just a look." Ning Qing said as he turned a page.

"Is there any clue about Zhan Guiyou's death?"

Ning Qing nodded lightly: "At first I wondered why it was mercury poisoning. I went to the military equipment station today and I understood."

"Mercury, the material for making gunpowder." Wei Yao said for him.

Ning Qing closed the register and turned to look at him: "I'm afraid the saltpeter mine on Xiaowei Mountain is also used for this purpose. Zhong Hui happens to be an important person in charge of this matter. Zhan Guiyou is poisoned by mercury. It was done by myself, so it should have nothing to do with it.”

"Do you think Zhan Guiyou took the poison himself?"

"The people who want to kill him don't need to do anything extra, do they? It seems that something happened that made Zhan Guiyou feel that he was in a dangerous situation. Before he died, he deliberately swallowed mercury in order to guide us." Ning Qing said, "Did you see that today at the Armed Forces Institute, everyone is very shy about this matter, and Mr. Luo's explanation is full of loopholes, but this also shows one thing. His words are so suffocating that the court came. , dare to speak out, it can be seen that the armed forces are in danger, and even Changzhou Wusi is not spared."

Wei Yao immediately understood what he meant: "You suspect Bai Dingguang?"

Ning Qing didn't answer right away, but thought for a moment, patted him, and got up to move his hands and feet: "At present, he is the most suspicious one, but it's not easy to jump to conclusions on this matter, let's have a look."

Wei Yao walked to his side and squeezed his waist for him. The strength of his hand was just right, which made Ning Qing very comfortable.

"You spent a lot of time and effort to get back these records today, isn't it just for Bai Dingguang to read?"

"Yeah." Ning Qing smiled, "You know all about it, but you still ask me what I do."

Ning Qing turned and looked at him: "Go to Xiaowei Mountain tomorrow, maybe you can find out the general idea."

The next day, when I heard that they were going to Xiaowei Mountain, Bai Dingguang still led the way calmly despite his doubts, without asking any further questions.A group of people sat in two carriages, Bai Dingguang's carriage led the way, and they followed.In summer, the weather gets hotter, and the curtains of the carriages are usually raised to cool off the heat and blow the air.Ning Qing looked out from time to time, the closer he got to Xiaowei Mountain, the more familiar he felt, he turned his head and said, "Do you think this place is familiar?"

Wei Yao poked his head around and took a look, and replied, "We will stay here overnight when we return to the imperial capital."

"I remember, there was an earthquake at that time." After Ning Qing finished speaking, he turned his head and looked outside, his expression as calm as water, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

The carriage bumped up to Xiaowei Mountain, got out of the car and walked a few miles on the mountain road, and finally arrived at the place.Not far away, half of the mountain wall was cut open, revealing a ferocious face. Dozens of people came and went pushing carts, all of which were piled full of brown saltpeter. A three-room hut was built beside the mine The room is used by the inspectors of the armed forces.

Inspector Xu Yang recognized Bai Dingguang, quickly put down his work and came over to salute, and said, "I don't know why the Vice Marshal is free to visit today? I'm sorry to welcome you."

Bai Dingguang waved his hand: "You don't need to be too polite, I didn't tell you in advance that I came here in a hurry."

Xu Yang glanced over Ning Qing and Wei Yao, Bai Dingguang introduced for him: "These are adults from the imperial capital."

Xu Yang immediately understood the reason for their visit, and hurriedly bowed his hands to salute, Wei Yao replied, "If Mr. Xu is fine, why don't you come together and lead us the way."

Xu Yang naturally agreed, and when he went back to explain the errands, he led them to visit Xiaowei Mountain, and said: "I have been on duty for several years, and I have a good understanding of Xiaowei Mountain. What do you adults have? If you are curious, just ask, and the next official will know everything."

Wei Yao and Ning Qing dealt with him indifferently, and after walking for a while, Ning Qing asked: "Which adult is mainly in charge of the saltpeter mine in Xiaoweishan?"

Xu Yang calmly replied: "Small Weishan is under the name of the Armed Forces Institute, but the Armed Forces Institute has a lot of affairs, and each military officer has an important position, and usually one person manages one place. We are mainly in charge of Mr. Zhong, of course. Yes, the military envoy and the deputy envoy also have the power to manage it."

Sure enough, both Zhan Guiyou and Zhong Hui were related to Xiao Weishan.

When returning to the mine, Xu Yang asked someone to bring tea chairs and let them rest for a while.Ning Qing was drinking tea, but his eyes were fixed on the big opening on the mountain. After taking a sip, he put down the teacup and asked with a smile, "Master Xu, how big is this saltpeter mine?"

"This is really asking about the downfall of an official." Xu Yang scratched his head and smiled, "It's hard to say the specifics, and no one knows, but the official has been in office for nearly ten years, and hundreds of stones are dug out here every day. The saltpeter has never stopped. Therefore, His Majesty also values ​​this place very much, and it is an honor for me to be on duty here."

Ning Qing asked: "Master Xu said that hundreds of stones of saltpeter are dug out here every day, which doesn't seem to be a lot. Is it enough to make firearms?"

Xu Yang smiled: "Your Excellency, I don't know, hundreds of stones of saltpeter are not too much after purification, but only a little can be used to make firearms, even cannons also need to be mixed with other things. The amount of saltpeter powder is far away." Far less than outsiders imagine."

Ning Qing nodded and said nothing.

They stayed in Xiaowei Mountain for two hours, they didn't seem to do anything, they walked around and went back, but they took the mine register in Xu Yang's hand when they left, and Xu Yang gave it very readily, look No problem.

Back in the White Mansion, Fei Tian and Lin Rong were also in the Ningqing House. Wei Yao looked through the records of the mine and said, "It's the same as what Wu Bei recorded, three hundred stones a day."

Ning Qing asked him to read the brochure, while he drank tea and ate cakes leisurely, and said, "I think so, such a simple mistake is unlikely."

Wei Yao walked up to him and sat down, saying, "Three hundred stones is far from enough. Judging by the earthquake that day, it would take at least seven or eight hundred stones."

After being surprised, Fei Tian wondered, "It's more than double the difference. He, isn't he worried about being discovered?"

Ning Qing said: "If you just point to a place to dig, it's okay to do it sometimes. If you do this every day, how can you not be discovered by the people above. Right now we can start, one is the source, and the other is the way out."

Fei Tian was in a daze and didn't know what he was playing. Wei Yao explained to him: "There must be more than one place for mining. There are many such big openings on the mountain, and there is no place to hide, but we will go shopping today." I looked around and found nothing wrong."

Fei Tian understood: "You mean that Mr. Xu has a problem, and he didn't let us find out when he deliberately led the way?"

Wei Yao nodded: "However, it is also conceivable that the place is hidden. Otherwise, if he walks us like this, if he is found on the spot, he will ask for his own destruction."

Fei Tian hurriedly asked, "Then what is the way?"

"Whether the excess saltpeter is made into powder on the mountain or directly transported down the mountain, such a large amount cannot be transported at once. It must be piled up somewhere, and it is impossible to rush down the mountain so that people can see it. Ning Qing said, "Only if there is such a place, no matter how hidden it is, it's only a matter of time before we find it."

"Oh, I understand." Fei Tian suddenly realized, and looked at Ning Qing with more and more admiration in his eyes.

At this time, there was a knock on the door, Lin Rong went to open the door, and it was Zhao Min and Tian Cheng who came.

Zhao Min bowed his hands to Wei Yao: "Everything has been done according to the general's instructions, and this is a reply from Beijiang."

Zhao Min took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Wei Yao. When Ning Qing heard about Beijiang, he remembered that Wei Yao had said that he wanted to investigate the Nanman King. On the palace.

He asked Zhao Min: "Have you returned to the imperial capital?"

Zhao Min nodded.

Wei Yao asked the others to go out first, and then opened the letter. There was not much content in the letter, and it was only one page. After reading it, he handed it to Ning Qing: "You read it too."

Ning Qing took it and looked at it, his face became more and more indifferent. After reading it, he threw the letter paper on the table, and said coldly: "This Nanman king's character is so low, it is really eye-opening."

Wei Yao folded the letter, stuffed it back into the envelope, and said, "King Dongyi, I will send a letter to inform him. Presumably he will take action soon, so we don't need to worry about it."

"Yeah." Looking at the letter, Ning Qing suddenly thought of something, "Speaking of which, Northern Xinjiang is a long way away, how did this letter spread so quickly?"

Wei Yao said with a smile: "There is a novel method, I will show you when I get back."

Hearing what he said, Ning Qing had roughly guessed it in his heart, but he couldn't see any other emotions on his face. He changed the topic and brought the matter up.