Daqing Criminal Division

Ushio

Hall of Supreme Harmony

The wooden wheels under the carriage rolled in front of the Shenwumen Avenue, towering and unsophisticated, hidden in the palace in the clouds, two rows of servants in red were standing in the hall and waiting for the courtiers to walk down the steps Come.

After getting off the sedan chair in front of the palace gate, Duan Xiao, who was wearing a fox fur cloak and walking on the avenue in front of the palace, made an appointment with Dahasu to come from the gate of Zhengbei Palace.

Today's morning court, and the public discussion that will follow.

It is said that they were all set up for the same purpose.

I caught up with Mu Xiu in the past three days, so Tong Tiansou, who was suppressing the news from the outside world, was suspicious. Duan Xiao had to go to the meeting in person to fully understand the case this time. .

On the way, the two who stood and said a few words with their hands behind their backs met Tu Lichen who got off the sedan chair on the way and caught up with them at the gate of the side office.

"Yuheng, Lao Da, you two wait."

Getting rid of the shadow that once covered Wang Jie's head, Tu Lichen, who waved his hands, lifted a corner of his official uniform and quickly came up to chat with him enthusiastically, looked obviously refreshed, and his spirits improved a lot.

"Well, good morning, have you received the winter festival gift from me, Muxiu, in the past three days?"

Seeing other people coming over, he was already familiar with Tu Lichen himself. Duan Xiao, who had already brought the other party into his own range after the last change, also turned his head and greeted him.

The three are old acquaintances, and now they are in the same camp.

There were endless topics to talk about, but Tu Lichen was open-minded and magnanimous. He followed up and started talking while maintaining a forward posture.

"I have received it, but you are too polite."

"Originally, once you washed the past and returned to the Nanjun plane, it should be our colleagues who came to congratulate you. It took you to think carefully for me."

The three of them walked forward side by side, and Turichen, who stroked the short beard on his lower lip, said this with emotion.

As a result, upon hearing this, before Duan Xiao could speak, Dahasu, who was standing beside him, spoke first.

"Tu Lichen, and Duan Yuheng don't pay attention to this kind of thing. If you want me to say, we don't want to be polite to him. You can keep whatever he gives you. Normally, I can't get any benefit from him."

Dahasu's words are also interesting.

After thinking about what it meant, Turichen stopped pretending to be dull and old-fashioned when he heard it. Instead, he nodded and patted Dahasu on the shoulder of his own official uniform and replied.

"Okay, okay, then I'm not going to be polite, I'm all my own people, but today's morning meeting and discussion, Yuheng just came back, so I have to be more careful."

This is true. Among the officials of the past dynasties, there are also their own special small circles.

The southern military aircraft is the center of the emperor's power, and there is a reason for this.

As soon as Duan Xiao came back now, it was logical to replace Wang Jie and become the central figure in their circle.

And see three people walking here.

After one after another, some people came up to say hello, or looked at them from a distance, maintaining a conservative or repulsive wait-and-see attitude.

Standing in the middle, Duan Xiao, who has been regarded as a leader everywhere for many years, is also polite about this, and talks a few words about the business during the rest period with the adults of the same level as him.

All this was carried out in an orderly manner, and it was also a daily communication among officials outside the palace.

The circle of civil servants divided by the pattern of birds on the patch of the official uniform stood with Duan Xiao at the gate of the side office in front of the red wall hall.

But at this moment, another footstep appeared from behind.

At this moment, Duan Xiao, who was still wearing a gray and white fox fur cloak on his shoulders, felt that the officials in front of him were all arguing and looking behind him. Chaozhu, wearing a jade jade top, rolled up the horseshoe sleeves of the dark blue official uniform, and then followed the crowd and turned to look down at the Highness.

A group of people came up the stone steps below.

Outside the crowd, a group of people who are a little different from the civil servants are walking up.

Walking in the middle, they are the two most prominent elders of the dynasty.

Boss Tingyu and Elder E.

The two old men seemed to have met outside the palace gate. They were both veterans of the three dynasties, but they didn't seem to have a private conversation.

Seeing this, the rest of the civil and military officials guarding outside the hall immediately bowed to the two most respected people to show their respect. Duan Xiao was among them, and together with Dahasu and the others, they saluted respectfully to the two veterans of the three dynasties.

Looking at the faces of the two old officials from this distance, one must have been handsome with tiger eyes when he was young, and the other had the courage and strength of an eagle.

Birds and beasts.

Since ancient times, it also represents two different camps in the court.

And when Boss Tingyu walked to the front and back of the main hall first, he stopped alone, and with a gorgeous hair and a dignified crane, he was wearing a court dress and said something to Duan Xiao, who lowered his head and bowed his hands to the side.

"Yuheng, stand at the front of the officials outside the hall later."

"After the early morning court today, there will be another public meeting of the six departments in the partial office. Remember to go there for me then."

"Yes."

The exchange between the two went very quickly.

But anyone with a discerning eye could immediately see the way.

After Boss Tingyu finished speaking, he continued to go in to court. Regarding this, the old man who was wearing a unicorn official uniform, with a more vicissitudes and profound face, but darker hair, didn't say anything, but turned to the man behind him. Another figure also came to indicate that he was outside the hall.

Others didn't hear Mr. E's private conversation with the people behind him.

But after Ertai himself finished speaking, he followed into the hall, without looking to the side, Duan Xiao, who was standing with his back facing the hall door, could guess who it was.

At the same time, he also heard the words of others.

"It belongs to the Fucha family."

All of Fucha's family are heroes of the people.

But Duan Xiao knew someone named Fu Cha who could make him care so much, and that was the only one in the world.

tread.

tread.

Behind him was the sound of footsteps falling from black thick-soled official boots.

Beside Duan Xiao, he followed Fu Yu who was standing in front of him step by step and stopped. He also stared at the closed vermilion inner hall gate in front of the main hall. His eyes fell on the gray-white stone steps, and he did not look at anyone He looked very arrogant and self-sufficient.

The long black curly hair, which was always loosely and recklessly in the past, was completely tied back today, looking very neat and clean, revealing a handsome and masculine face with profound facial features.

As Duan Ou's rank coincided with Duan Ou's family origin, he was dressed in an official uniform made of lion mended stone blue cloth with stiff shoulders and fur collars on both sides.

This warm and luxurious sable collar is draped over the shoulders as a neck.

It was originally used for official court dress and etiquette, plus this hereditary aristocrat's stone blue court dress, which is obviously different from Duan Ou's attire, and it also sets off Fu Yu's outstanding appearance, with a tall and straight figure .

"Morning, Duan Junji."

Facing the gate of the main hall, Fu Yu didn't even look at him, but just looked forward in a very businesslike manner and opened his mouth to say something.

"Well, Bafang Erji, you are too early."

With an attitude that an opponent should have, Duan Xiao, who didn't want to speak now, stared at the front and replied with a normal face.

However, just as Fu Yu came over, he saw Duan Xiao talking with a group of people from the Nanjunji outside the hall.

To say that Duan Junji's appearance stands out among the bearded and bald elders, anyone with a discerning eye can tell at a glance that he will be the most expected successor of Boss Tingyu in the future, or the future of Haidongqing. biggest rival.

This time, we will be separated from you and me.

And last night until midnight, the two separated.

But before the two of them headed this morning, they chose to take two different paths to enter the palace, and they didn't go out at the same time, so they didn't meet at all at first.

However, even if a certain person knows this in his heart, he is still in the mood to play tricks with Duan Xiao under the premise that the people around him are staring at them.

"I'm going to discuss matters later, do you have time to go together?"

Knowing that there were people standing behind the two of them, Fu Yu deliberately said that.

"I still have a group of colleagues from the Southern Army Aircraft, so it's better not to."

Duan Xiao pretended to be serious, and answered with mixed feelings.

"That's such a pity, I still think today is just a chance to get to know Duan Junji."

"Ah."

"That's a pity, next time when you're free."

Duan Xiao tugged at the corners of his mouth without blinking his eyes.

Some two people who were "acquainted" 800 years ago and could no longer "acquaint" began to pretend to be crazy on purpose.

Fighting in the dark.

Tit for tat.

If these two people don't talk to each other, it's a strong taste of not buying each other.

It seems to be talking about the two of them who have to run for the country and the country all their lives, and even when they turn their heads, they are thinking about their ideas.

At the moment, Fu Yu, the eldest son of a Duke's family who has inherited the style of the family since childhood, is standing outside the hall. This face has faded from the youthful youthfulness and stubbornness of youth, but it is also full of demeanor at this moment. , is a well-known figure in the imperial city.

When the others stopped, the officials on both sides also stood in two rows. The time had come, and all the civil and military officials lined up from the main hall until they reached the steps of His Royal Highness.

Fu Yu, who is standing in the front, is on the left of Zhumen.

Side by side with him, Duan Xiao, who was waiting outside the hall, was on the right side of Zhumen.

The distance between the two is neither close nor far, but the lion and golden pheasant on their respective official uniforms.

The clear azurite on the official uniform and the pure dark blue are inexplicably confronting each other.

In the front is the first-rank official of the inner hall, and behind him there is a line of black officials.

The white clouds in the sky floated up and down from behind the crowd, and the palace walls were destined to carry two people of completely different forces standing side by side, but they were all burdened with the majesty and turbulence behind them.

Both of them had formal expressions on their faces.

Hearing the ringing of the bell in his ears, he then leaned his shoulders down, each of them dressed in winter court clothes stood on one side of the crowd on both sides, lowered their heads, cupped their hands, and leaned forward as a standard courtier's salute, waiting for the servants inside to come out and blow their whips to remind them.

Because the officials of this dynasty went to the early dynasty and continued the etiquette and customs of their predecessors, there were special rules and regulations.

It is stipulated that first-rank officials can stand in the main hall, which is the center of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, to meet the current emperor.

The second rank is outside the gate of the palace, followed by the third rank. Civil and military officials of other ranks have no qualifications to go to the court. In addition, the governors and admirals of all provinces have the qualifications of the early court. Qualifications for face-to-face saints.

In terms of age and qualifications, Duan Xiao, who is not a second-rank civil servant who can really look directly at the king in front of the Golden Luan Palace, can only stand outside the hall, but someone has attacked his Ama's title. Those who can stand in the hall.

But in the final analysis, both of them are the best among the civil and military officials of the dynasty.

After all, it is rare to be able to climb up to the position of courtier in the past [-] years, not to mention the fact that the Living Buddha was attacked before. A bright future.

But who made today's early court seem a bit special.

Because everyone saw it just now, Boss Tingyu and Elder E also attended uncharacteristically.

The two veterans of the three dynasties, Sejong's pro-government ministers who are close to the people, are usually not easy to meet.

But today, they stood in the main hall and bumped into each other. There have always been rumors in the court that Nan Junji and the boss behind Haidongqing have always been at odds, and today's morning court has proved all this as expected.

As soon as he came up, Boss Tingyu who was standing in the hall started to treat people first, expressing his purpose.

"Your Majesty, there was a strange case in the Forbidden City a few days ago, which needed the help of capable people from the court, but the old minister is too old to personally investigate the case, so this time, the old minister wants to recommend Nan Junji Duan Yuheng to be the investigator of this case. "

The incident that came from afar from the main hall was expected by Duan Ou, but on the other side of Haidongqing, that Elder E also maintained a momentum of fighting among all parties in the early court, and he also made clear his intention of coming .

"This matter is of great importance. According to the old minister, it should not be left in the hands of one party, but the cooperation of the two parties in the investigation is required."

"The old minister also wants to recommend someone."

This action can be regarded as completely opening up the intentions of the two sides to come today. The emperor above, who has just succeeded to the throne for only five years and is sitting far above the Golden Luan Palace, replied a few words under the handbook of his servant Wu Shulai.

Immediately afterwards, there was another tug-of-war.

As a symbol of imperial power, it is impossible for all the courtiers in front of the palace to see the attitude of today's emperor.

So it was about an hour or so after the affairs of the two elders were over.

The civil and military officials came out separately, and there were snowflakes in front of the main hall. It coincided with these three days, it was snowing in the capital, and the red walls inside and outside the palace were covered with snowflakes.

As expected, Fu Yu didn't wait for him.

Not only that, the bastard disappeared without a trace, and a large group of people followed him and disappeared.

The affairs of the morning court are not over yet, and there will be more difficult discussions next. When Duan Xiao was dressed in an official uniform and led a regular attendant behind him to the court outside the main hall of the palace gate, he happened to run into a man standing in front of the main hall who was about to leave A few acquaintances who went.

Among them, the first one was Fu Heng who was passing by the imperial court with a knife as Luan Yiwei.

At that moment, Fu Heng saw Duan Xiao getting off the sedan chair from the palace gate alone and was about to go to the side office. Fu Heng, who was rushing to work, saw him from a distance and stopped to say hello, and planned to call him Duan Junji.

When Duan Xiao saw this, he squinted his eyes and looked at him without making a sound. Brother Xiaocha, who was standing a little to the side with him, immediately realized his mistake.

"Owl, Brother Owl."

"Well, Mazzie, did you have dinner yesterday after we left?"

Duan Xiao asked him that.

"Eat it, and asked Turke to keep it for my brother, but he didn't come back later, brother owl, where is my brother?"

"I don't know. The two of us have something to go out, so we usually don't go together."

Seeing Fu Heng asking himself this question, Duan Xiao replied very straightforwardly.

Fu Heng was a little stunned, wondering what happened to these two people.

Why was he still in the Fucha mansion yesterday, and today it was as if he didn't know him at all, but then Duan Xiao, who knew what he had misunderstood, looked around, and said a word with a very profound expression in the adult world.

"During errand time, don't talk about personal affairs."

"Even if your brother and I slept together last night, if we can't handle the business later, we will point at each other's nose and scold each other."

"..."

These words sounded like Duan Xiao was joking, but Fu Heng blushed immediately after thinking about Duan Xiao's words carefully, and immediately understood what he meant.

It turned out to be the reason.

I don't know why, seeing Fu Yu and Duan Xiao who are so energetic for the sake of the country and acting independently, Fu Heng has a feeling in his heart that maybe this is what his elder brother and Duan Junji are like.

"Then I'll go to the palace as an errand first, brother owl."

"Well, let's go."

Duan Xiao also nodded when he heard the words,

After Fu Heng had left, Duan Xiao looked at the distance and asked his long entourage to follow up with him to go to the discussion that he had participated in for a while.

When he arrived, there were already dozens of people in the institute.

Different from what happened last time at the Guangping Library, this time the people who came here were all the big heads of the various ministries, and none of them could be easily offended.

Speaking of which, this is also the first public discussion that Duan Xiao participated in after the return of the Southern Army Aircraft.

This time, not only the people from the Southern Army Air Force participated in the discussion, but also all the officials from the six ministries were present. Duan Xiao represented the right to be the top leader of Boss Tingyu, so no mistakes were allowed this time.

In the past three days, although Duan Xiao seemed to be resting normally at home.

But in fact, as many people in the capital had waited and speculated in their hearts before, he, the most likely leader of the South Army Aircraft Corporation in the future, will need to do a lot of preparations when he returns, because this is not only his first public appearance , It also means whether he can sway and implement all the plans he has always imagined in his heart.

His personality represents the personality of Nan Junji.

His position also represents the position of the South Army Air Force.

And when his people walked in step by step, on the left and right sides, all parties familiar to Duan Xiao were already waiting for the discussion to start on the mahogany carved chairs arranged in the side office.

The first one is Nasutu, the minister of the Ministry of Punishment.

On the left and right sides, there are also the Minister of the Ministry of Households and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and six local officials in charge of household registration, economy, and people's livelihood in the capital.

The old man named Nasutu is a well-known half-life soldier, which is unreasonable. If someone else came from the Ministry of Punishment today, Duan Xiao would not have to pay special attention to him. The problem is that this Nasutu should not be very like his.

Because of the five-pig man case back then, it was the Ministry of Punishment that took him into custody.

Nasutu himself was the one who found him guilty at the time, and what's even more coincidental, someone told him in advance last night that Nasutu and Haidongqing were not going to deal with it, in other words, they cooperated with the investigation this time. The first thing to solve is the problem of Nasutu.

"Tomorrow will be a tough battle, because Lord Nasutu won't be the first to follow the usual route."

That sounds a bit interesting.

Duan Xiao had never seen anyone who came by the usual route in his life, so he sat down calmly facing the gazes of the crowd. The moment he sat down, even among the officials who were already undercurrent Be still.

Afterwards, Fu Yu, Duan Xiao, who sat upright with their arms raised on the chair, and a room full of deliberative officials saw a servant of the Ministry of Punishment stand up and began to state,

"Today's discussion is mainly to discuss four cases."

"According to Hangzhou, He Jiangning, and Songyang police who reported to the capital's criminal department three days ago, it is known that there are three cases in each country that are somehow related to the Tongtiansou incident in Shuntian Prefecture."

"The first line, in Hangzhou, is the large-scale leakage of civilian information."

"The second line, in Jiangning, is the case of one person's family registration file being leaked."

"The third case, in Songyang, is the reverse capture of the information trading network. It is said that there is a group of people who claim to be men from Tiandu, but they have been engaged in defrauding women, defrauding money and sex, and murdering people all year round. , their most famous point is that after deceiving a woman from a good family, they will deliberately force her to commit suicide, and they will also sell the portrait of the woman who is engaged to him to the dark net of Tongtiansou."

"And the most important thing is the fourth case that happened three days ago. In Shuntian, there was also a case closely related to Tong Tiansou."

"In this majestic Forbidden City, the guards are heavily guarded. A man named Duoluogege from the home of Beleselda in Mount Gushan with the Yellow Banner was kidnapped and disappeared."

"The victim, named Guerjiashi Heyuan Gege, was embroidered with a red flag and was seventeen years old. The last place she appeared was at the polo field of Dabaoen Temple. guards, but Heyuan Gege still disappeared in the polo field."

"Her personal portrait, which was publicly displayed as a commodity, was secretly investigated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but no information about her life or death has been received."

"Seven days later, according to the government's informant, we got a clue, and this clue just went back to Tongtiansou, who has been active on a large scale for a month and a half since the Living Buddha entered Beijing."

"Heyuan Gege, as a clan woman who is unlikely to get in touch with too many people, a dignified Duo Luogege, has 'publicly marked the price' on the Vanishing Tongtiansou, and this dark transaction on her body has been revealed. The price tag is—"

"44 taels of silver."

Probably because he realized the seriousness of the circumstances of the case at this point, the minister who was making a statement of the case at this meeting paused slightly in front of the full hall of central government officials sitting in front of him. up.

"This group of villains declared to the outside world that as long as anyone is willing to hand over this as the auction price of 44 taels of silver."

"Anyone in this world, whether it's a businessman, a pawn, an underworld, or an official, can buy this Duoluogege from Tongtiansou's secret dark net."

"We have no way of knowing where this Dorogge is, but behind this bloody and horrific human flesh transaction, it has become more confusing with the emergence of another clue."

"Because, just three days ago, the imperial court received a secret message from an informant."

"One of Heyuan Gege's flag shoes, which had been burned in a large area and thrown under the inner city canal, was found by the government, with a piece of paper stuck to the heel."

"And on this piece of paper that was not completely burned, there was a cry for help and half a severed finger written by the victim and Yuan Gege with blood."

——["I'm in, 'circle'."]