Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 187 - 174: Deserted Under the Knee_1

Chapter 187: Chapter 174: Deserted Under the Knee_1

After leaving the palace, Li Xuan has one hand tucked into his sleeve, often lapsing into a lost state.

Not until his return to Zhuque Hall does Li Xuan return to normal. By this time it’s getting late, nearly time to knock off, but Li Xuan has made up his mind to sleep here tonight.

Li Dalu had already tipped him off, the situation at home is tumultuous, with the possibility of reignited conflict.

As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall; Li Xuan decides it’s better to avoid home tonight.

Moreover, they have lots to do next. Yue Qianqian has moved a large number of files from Zhuque House. Some of them are related to lacquer material, which can be used to make Menghuo Oil, so not only are there records of transactions of lacquer at various production sites, but there are also records kept by the businesses that resold it, which can be investigated.

Some of them are related to the whereabouts of the three ships. Yue Qianqian has brought all the clearance documents and unloading records of all water gates and docks in the Yangtze River system and the canal, and all the case files occurred on the Yangtze River, to their official residence.

There are over 50,000 sheets of paper stacked higher than a person on the table. Of course, Yue Qianqian alone could not review so many files, so working on it will require the efforts of Li Xuan and others.

"These clearance documents and transaction records aren’t entirely accurate. The officials at the water gates around the country are already hopelessly corrupt. In order to evade taxes from the government, the accounts submitted to the Liudao Division by the merchants everywhere have been tampered with. Especially boat city’s black market and the salt merchants, they have always been outside of the supervision of the Liudao Division."

While Yue Qianqian was reading, she explained, "But as long as we are careful enough and infer from logic, we can still find some clues. For example, this boat company, Nan Shuiguan in Yangzhou recorded this family’s boat, carrying 13,000 catties of flour, but we all know what place Yangzhou is, it is the largest distribution center for private salt. This so-called flour can only be private salt."

About twenty minutes later, Zhang Yue collapsed forehead-first onto the table, snoring like thunder.

Another twenty minutes, and Peng Fulai too fell out of the fight. The guy hid directly under the table and started to snore loudly in his sleep.

Li Xuan’s face turned green and black, wishing he could kick these two out the door with one foot.

He endured for three minutes, but finally unable to stand it anymore, he got a few people to carry them out of the room.

The main reason was that Peng Fulai and Zhang Yue’s snoring was too loud, and they echoed each other, presenting the momentum of a symphony.

By midnight, Luo Yan was the first to reap: "Look at these records, everyone from Shangshanhang Luzhou branch, local people in Chengdong, Li Yun, bought sixty catties of stone varnish, starting from three months ago, there have been regular purchases, a total of 129 locals. The quantities vary, all fluctuating around sixty catties, almost without interruption; and then it’s Shangshanhang again, this time it’s the Chizhou branch, also around fifty-sixty catties of stone varnish, eighty-three locals, trading within ten days. This quantity, is unusual."

"I also have some, but they’re in Yingtian Government and Ning’s mansion."

Li Xuan was frowning already. In this era, the main use of petroleum is ’greasing a car’ and ’lubricating a water pounder’.

The so-called ’greasing a car’ is to apply oil to the axle for lubrication. And ’lubricating a water pounder’, is to lubricate the bearing of a water pounder. The so-called ’pounder’, according to the explanation in the dictionary, is "iron in wheel hub", meaning the bearing.

So, very few people would purchase Voacanga seed in such large amounts, they usually come in amounts of ten to twenty catties. So the quantity of sixty catties is not a lot, but not a little either. Such frequent purchases cannot but raise suspicion.

"Besides, I also saw the name Han Shen among them."

That is, the shopkeeper Han who has already been executed--

"But the theft in the palace doesn’t require so much."

Luo Yan said with a cold smirk on his lips: "According to my estimation, at most six hundred catties would suffice. Unless, someone wants to produce Menghuo Oil on a large scale."

Li Xuan and Yue Qianqian looked at each other, their eyes becoming extremely serious.

Yue Qianqian was quick-moving, she quickly integrated all the transaction records of Shanshanghang regarding Voacanga seed, and then her eyes changed slightly.

"What’s wrong?" Li Xuan asked Yue Qianqian, his voice full of expectation: "Have you discovered any clues?"

"These three people who bought the Voacanga seed, were the ones who bought the old boats from Wang’s boat company."

Yue Qianqian pointed at three places on the list: "They are all from Yangzhou and Yingtian. They are all connected."

"There must be something wrong with Shangshanhang!" Luo Yan said thoughtfully: "Qianqian, do you know what’s the background of their house? I think it’s best to arrest and interrogate the shopkeeper who handled it. With so many Voacanga transactions, they couldn’t possibly be completely unaware."

Yue Qianqian frowned: "Shangshanhang, as I recall, is a property of a relative of the Duke Xu . Because of this, they are able to obtain such sensitive military supplies as lacquer. The business is indeed suspicious, but--"

She shook her head slightly: "We have no direct evidence. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to take people so rashly."

"There’s nothing inappropriate about it." Li Xuan stood up directly: "Involving treason, these evidences are enough. I will ask for permission from above to simultaneously seal Shangshanhang in all places and arrest the suspects!"

He said it and he did it, walking out the door in big strides.

Yue Qianqian and Luo Yan were both a little surprised to see Li Xuan’s figure, feeling that their superior was extraordinarily decisive.

Not until Li Xuan’s figure disappeared from sight did Luo Yan withdraw his gaze: "I remember the formula for Menghuo Oil. Qianqian, follow the list of materials I gave you and bring some more files over. Maybe we can find out where they are refining Menghuo Oil."

"The formula for Menghuo Oil?" Yue Qianqian looked surprised at Luo Yan: "This is a military secret weapon, strictly prohibited from leakage. Luo Yan, how can you know this formula?"

Luo Yan laughed and said, "Otherwise, how dare I claim to be an expert at playing with fire?"

※※※※

Since Jiang Hanyun was not available, Li Xuan went directly to Zhuque House to talk to Fumo Zongguan.

Just his luck, Zongguan was not in Zhuque Hall today, so the one who finally received him was vice-lord of Zhuque Hall, Immortal Master Fumo Qiu Qianqiu.

"In that case, the actions of Shang Shan is indeed suspect. The tomb of the Han soldiers at Dasheng Pass, the theft case in the imperial city, Menghuo Oil, the case of the stolen military supplies; these series of incidents-"

After going through the evidence submitted by Li Xuan, Qiu Qianqiu chuckled emotionlessly, "South Zhili area is indeed interesting. There are genuinely people with rebellious intentions. I wonder, who is this giant whale lurking beneath these waves, causing the undercurrents to surge?"

Li Xuan was sitting opposite Qiu Qianqiu with a frown, "This is what I want to know too. Uncle Qiu, there is something I don’t quite understand. South Zhili has been peaceful for a long time, and everything is stable everywhere. Moreover, after the cleansing of the Weisuo Institute by Shaobao Yu in the second year of Jingtai, military discipline has been strict in all parts of South Zhili, theoretically, there should be no possibility of any upheaval. Where do these rebels derive confidence from and where do they source their soldiers?"

"They have it!" Qiu Qianqiu stared at Li Xuan, "Do you know where Zongguan has gone today?"

Before Li Xuan could answer, Qiu Qianqiu presented the answer, "Today, Zongguan personally led the forces of Zhuque Hall to Gaoyou to exterminate the altar of Maitreya Teaching."

Li Xuan stiffened, but was also puzzled.

He wondered how could the Maitreya Teaching’s altar in Gaoyou be related to his earlier question.

"Do you know that many people along the Grand Canal are finding it hard to survive?"

The look on Qiu Qianqiu’s face turned frigid, "Blocked due to obstructions, water transport has almost come to a standstill, and more than four hundred thousand water transport workers along the canal have had difficulty making ends meet for several months. This allowed Maitreya Teaching to recruit nearly ten thousand followers in Gaoyou, causing a significant disturbance. The Zongguan personally went to completely exterminate these embezzlers from Maitreya Teaching.

Not just in the north, Changzhou suffered from drought this year, and the water level of Tai Lake has dropped three meters, affecting the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Not only did the water transport workers suffered, but many local people were also suffering. But the local officials in Changzhou colluded with local gentry, to embezzle nearly half of the disaster relief funds issued by the court, resulting in rampant anomalies north of Tai Lake."

Li Xuan turned slightly pale.

He thought this was the difference of perspective and vision. He was only looking at Nanjing, while Qiu Qianqiu was looking at South Zhili, or even the whole world.

"Naturally, just these water transport workers and disaster victims are not enough. There must be someone else behind the scenes, possessing great power, and possibly even military power from the army."

During the conversation, Qiu Qianqiu had already written a document and stamped it, "I will notify all areas and seize the Shang Shan and suspects. But this is a significant matter; I will personally take over this case. You can continue your investigations. Inform me immediately if you have any leads."

After the official business was over, Li Xuan was about to leave, but Qiu Qianqiu started to talk about family matters, "Xuan, is your mother’s health alright recently?"

"She is in good health, and even had an argument with someone for half an hour today, her energy is quite high."

Li Xuan thought to himself, old man, Mrs. Qiu is concerned about your daughter-in-law here.

Qiu Qianqiu couldn’t help but laugh, "That must be Su’s girl? Although she couldn’t stop nagging, she is respectful and cares about your mother. Shiyu is too kind, which draws all sorts of people towards her, like the Xi Ying couple, who have grown into ungrateful brats under her care."

"Indeed, my sister-in-law is very righteous and can’t tolerate any mishap."

Li Xuan was slightly startled and thought, this man’s attention to their family was indeed not average!

Su Zhaojun had an argument with Mrs. Liu today because a housekeeper in their house embezzled some silver. But this incident was informed to him by Li Dalu.

But Qiu Qianqiu shifted the topic again, "I heard that you went to Guozi Bureau yesterday, Xuan, and ascended the top of Wenxin House?"

Li Xuan honestly replied, "That’s true, I am now a Protector of Neo-Confucianism."

Qiu Qianqiu admired him without reservation, "Indubitably like Shiyu’s child. Such talent and disposition are indeed unparalleled."

"Uncle, you’re overpraising me, I just got lucky." Li Xuan was growing slightly impatient, wondering what Uncle Qiu was trying to say. He seemed to be beating around the bush, making him feel lost.

Right now, he just wanted to figure out the whereabouts of those three old ships as soon as possible, who has the time to chat leisurely with Qiu Qianqiu?

But then he heard Qiu Qianqiu sigh, "Sometimes I envy your father, and regret the past. Now, although I’ve avenged my huge grudge, achieved great mastery in martial arts, and am about to reach the top heavenly level, I often pity myself because I don’t have any offspring. Even with this martial art acupuncture technique, excellent magical instruments, and huge wealth but no one to inherit it."

Initially, Li Xuan did not understand the underlying meaning of Qiu Qianqiu’s words, deemed that these were the complaints of an old man; until a gust of wind hit him after he stepped out of Zhuque Hall, only then did he realize.

He thought; fuck! Uncle Qiu is clearly wanting me to be his son!

When Li Xuan returned to their signing room in a somewhat complex mood, he saw the excited faces of Luo Yan and Yue Qianqian.

"We found a suspicious place in Yangzhou, which is likely to be the place where they make Menghuo Oil."

Yue Qianqian’s face was flushed; "In addition, we may have found the whereabouts of three old ships from Wang’s company."