Chapter 309: Joint Investigation (Part 4)
Chapter 309 -175: Joint Investigation (Part 4)
After the brewery expansion, it has taken shape, and the former Jingzhou small-character team members are now the leaders of various teams, with two or three hundred local recruits working under them.
Now, the Drunken Immortal Brew produced by the brewery not only supplies Tongfu Building in Qingshui County and the Drunken Immortal Brew House in the Capital City.
Under the agency of Prince Jingzhou, merchants flocking from everywhere also sell the Drunken Immortal Brew to nearby counties and prefectures. As a result, the brewery’s business is exceptionally good.
According to Tao Qing, Prince Jingzhou has earned a substantial income from the agency rights for Drunken Immortal Brew and is happily maintaining excellent relations with Tao Qing and those at the brewery.
The glow of the setting sun casts on the bluestone road of Jingzhou City; although it is almost dark, the streets remain bustling.
Han Lei and her group left the brewery, intending to return to the inn for rest.
But as soon as they walked a short distance, they noticed the streets were crowded with patrol soldiers, several times more than usual.
These soldiers, armed with long spears and steel knives gleaming at their waists, scanned the pedestrians on the street with eyes like hawks.
Not only were there patrolling soldiers, but many government officials were also wandering the streets in their uniform, seemingly searching for something.
“It’s strange, why are there suddenly so many officers today?” Captain Dayi whispered, his hand unconsciously resting on the short knife at his waist.
They had been here for two days, and yesterday did not see this kind of extensive patrol.
Captain Daer frowned, surveying the surroundings: “Judging by this display, something significant must have happened.”
Han Lei squinted and noticed a crowd around the notice posted at the street corner.
She signaled Captain Dayi to go over and take a look.
Soon, Captain Dayi returned in a hurry, his expression serious.
“Princess Consort, news of Mr. Su’s assassination has reached the Jingzhou Prefecture, and now the prefecture has ordered a citywide lockdown to search for suspicious persons.”
Han Lei raised her eyebrow and nodded thoughtfully.
After all, with the general of Jingzhou’s stationed troops assassinated, Han Lei expected this news to reach Jingzhou; it was only a matter of time.
However, according to Han Lei’s judgment, the soldiers from the Jingzhou Prefecture and military camp were merely searching blindly, without specific evidence or a suspect’s portrait.
Han Lei’s assessment was correct.
The Jingzhou Prefecture received a report from the court overnight about the shocking affair involving the Marquis Champion Manor.
Almost simultaneously, they received a swift report from the Jingzhou Military Camp stating that Mr. Su, the Jingzhou stationed army general, had inexplicably been blown up in the camp’s conference hall.
The Zhizhou of the Jingzhou Prefecture, Song Peilin, was the uncle of Song Yuanqing, a general who went to support Yong’an City in Xuzhou.
The Song Family is one of the four great families, and apart from Song Yuanqing, who favored martial pursuits and became a military officer, the others are all civil officers.
Song Peilin was not entirely foolish; after analyzing the case in the prefecture office and pondering for a day, he linked the murders of Su Qi and the Marquis Champion, who both belonged to the Su Family.
Moreover, since both cases involved explosions, he finally realized that both incidents might have been perpetrated by the same individual.
In other words, the murderer committed the crime in the Capital City and then fled to Jingzhou to strike again.
Although the court and Jingzhou Military Camp had no specific leads, Song Peilin still decided swiftly.
Knowing it was like searching for a needle in a haystack, he nevertheless adhered to the court’s demands, organizing a joint investigation by the prefecture office and military camp personnel, sealing off all Jingzhou’s exits to search for suspicious individuals.
This is why there are many patrolling soldiers and government officials on the streets now.
Captain Dasi watched the passing soldiers with anxiety and asked, “Princess Consort, what should we do now?”
“Let’s head back to the inn first,” Han Lei whispered, “This is not the place to talk.”
Captain Dayi and the others nodded, following Han Lei quickly towards the inn where they were staying.
As soon as the group reached the street corner near their inn, they suddenly heard the clatter of horse hooves.
A few lavishly decorated carriages came from afar, stopping at the inn’s entrance.
By coincidence, Wei Dabao’s bulky figure stepped out of the carriage, assisted by his steward, awkwardly alighting.
“Hiss!”
Seeing Wei Dabao, Han Lei sharply inhaled a cold breath.