Chapter 449 Tracking the Suspect

Chapter 449 Tracking the Suspect

Chapter 449 Tracking the Suspect
Pei Renji left. County Magistrate Qiao Zhennian said to the head of the police Xue Zhi, "The city gates have just been opened. These people may have just left. They must be going to seek credit. There is no time to lose. You should go to Qixing Town now and hide near the Yu family's house to monitor. I have a hunch that they are in Yu Chunxiao's mansion."

The head constable Xue Zhi bowed quickly and said, "I will go now!"

Captain Xue Zhi led 17 of his men to the South Gate, where many farmers were selling vegetables. He asked several farmers, "Did you see five young men leaving the city? They were dressed in black and looked like hooligans."

An old farmer said, "There were five young men, but not all of them were dressed in black. Some were dressed in green and some in white. One of them wanted to buy my melons, but the leader yelled at him and they ran away."

"What are you shouting about?"

"He said, you idiot, you won't die of hunger, why don't you leave now!"

Chief Constable Xue Zhi was overjoyed, feeling the clue was obvious, and he immediately led 17 constables to rush towards Qixing Town.

The Yu family was the most powerful family in Piliang County and maintained hundreds of warriors. Xue Zhi certainly did not dare to visit them. He could only bet that the Yu family would not keep the five arsonists in the mansion, but would send them away quietly.

Qixing Town is about ten miles south of Jinling County. It is a large town with more than 500 households. It has convenient transportation and prosperous business. It is the largest bulk cargo distribution center in Piling County, and rice, cloth and oil all come in and out here.

The town is also home to many hidden talents. Many wealthy families from Piliang Town live here. They all have high walls and deep courtyards, with a small door, and live an extremely low-key and simple life. But no one could have imagined that behind that small door there is a family that is as rich as a country. The country here of course refers to a small country. It is unknown how much wealth is hidden in the accumulation of several generations.

But there are also ostentatious and powerful people in the town. The Yu family is very famous. They have a mansion of 80 acres, with pavilions and towers inside. The main building is built like a small palace. The servants who come in and out are all dressed in silk. The Yu family also has 300 warriors with swords. They show off their power in the town and no one dares to mess with them.

Under the protection of former governor Dou Shan, the Yu family also owned a large number of businesses in Jinling City, including restaurants, brothels, shops and houses, as well as hundreds of hectares of fertile land nearby.

The main business of the Yu family is of course selling salt. Eight years ago, Yu Huan was still the leader of the local thugs in Piling County, but with the support of his cousin Yu Zhen, Yu Huan began to sell salt in Piling County and formed a competitive relationship with the Xiao family of Jinling.

Five years ago, when the new governor Dou Shan took office, Yu Huan quickly colluded with Dou Shan and soon used all kinds of despicable means to squeeze out the salt business of Jinling Xiao family and monopolize the salt market in Piling County.

Over the past five years, Yu Huan had been doing very well and his wealth had increased rapidly. He also changed his name to Yu Xiaochun and became the most powerful person in Piling County.

Xue Zhi led his men to Qixing Town and soon found Yu Xiaochun's mansion. At this time, one of his men suggested: "There is a small river behind the Yu family. They must have a private dock at the back door. We can disguise ourselves as a small boat and wait near the dock, and then follow them after they come out."

Xue Zhi nodded and immediately divided his troops into three groups. He left two men to monitor the front door and rented a large boat to wait by the river. He personally took two of his men to rent a black-sailed boat and waited by the small river fifty steps away from Yujia Wharf.

About an hour later, five young men came out from the back door of Yu's house and boarded a pleasure boat moored at the Yu's pier.

One of Xue Zhi's men knew Wang Gui. He pointed to the last man and said to Xue Zhi, "Captain, the shortest man at the back is Wang Gui."

Xue Zhi nodded slightly and locked the target.

The pleasure boat set off and sailed into the canal, with the black-sailed boat following far behind. One of the men went ashore to give notice.

Soon, all the detectives boarded the large boat that had been rented in advance and followed Xue Zhi's black-sailed boat.

After entering the canal, the pleasure boat actually headed south. Xue Zhi did not get impatient but followed from a distance. He could not catch the enemy on the boat, and if one of them jumped into the water and escaped, it would be a big trouble.

In the afternoon, the pleasure boat arrived at Wuxi County. Five people got off at the dock and walked towards the county town. The pleasure boat then turned around and went back.

None of the five men had weapons. They looked around with a frivolous temperament. Except for the leader who was a warrior, the other four were scoundrels.

Xue Zhi sent two of his most skilled men to follow the five of them.

When Xue Zhi led a dozen detectives into the city, one of their followers came up to them and said, "Captain, we already know where they are hiding!"

At the end of an alley, there was a private house covering an acre of land. The door was closed and five people were hiding in the house.

"Boss! Do you want to take action?" several men asked in a low voice.

Xue Zhi was worried that the night would be long and full of trouble, so he decisively ordered the arrest of people. The seventeen of them were divided into two teams, ten at the front door and seven at the back door.

The detectives kicked the wooden door open and rushed in. They heard a loud shouting in the room, which was then quieted down after a moment. Seventeen tall and highly skilled detectives easily captured the five people.

Soon, two rented carriages stopped at the entrance of the alley, and the detectives dragged out five people, each with their hands and feet tied behind their backs, their mouths blocked with rags, and their heads covered with cloth bags, and then they were dragged into the carriages. The two carriages then drove out of Wuxi County and headed for Jinling County.

Two days later, Xiao Xia received a quick report from Pei Renji, the governor of Piling County, that the salt shop in Jinling County was set on fire, burning down more than 100 houses and shops including the salt shop. Nine people were killed and eleven were slightly injured. Five arsonists had been arrested. After investigation, it was found that they were sent by salt merchant Yu Xiaochun to set the fire.

Xiao Xia was furious, and immediately ordered You Junda to send 500 cavalrymen to Piling County to assist the governor Pei Renji in thoroughly searching the Yu family's home. The losses suffered by the people were compensated by the Yu family, and all other property was confiscated. The Yu family and their children were escorted to Jiangdu for severe punishment.

At this time, Xiao Xia could no longer suppress the murderous intent in his heart, and his gaze turned to the Wan, Cao, and Yu families in Jiangdu County. A small Piliang Yu family dared to burn his salt shop, and he did not believe that these three families would honestly stop from the salt industry.

Li Luming walked into the official room and bowed, "Your Highness!"

Xiao Xia asked: "How many warriors do you have now?"

"There are currently 380 people. In two days, Jiangdu Xiao will hand over 50 people to us, so there will be 430 people."

Xiao Xia asked again, "Before, I asked you to send people to keep an eye on the Wan, Cao, and Yu families. Have they made any moves?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, there is no movement in the mansions of the three families, but their salt warehouses are still receiving supplies."

Xiao Xia narrowed his eyes, "When did it happen?"

"Just yesterday!"

"What kind of transport is used, a boat or a cart?"

"It was brought here by ship, not by cart. There were more than 30 ships in total, covered with oilcloth, and each of them had about 50 bags of salt, and it was refined salt."

Xiao Xia was startled, "Are you sure it's refined salt?"

Li Luming nodded, "It's definitely refined salt, we have people in their warehouse!"

"Do they have coarse salt in their warehouses?"

"The crude salt has long been gone, and the salt warehouse has always been empty. This is the first batch of salt they brought in."

Xiao Xia pondered for a long time and said, "Continue to closely monitor the three families, and even bribe the people in their mansions. Since they were still purchasing goods yesterday, I suspect that these three families are probably still purchasing official salt privately. I have sent people to investigate, and there should be results soon."

"Your Highness is going to take action against these three families?"

Xiao Xia nodded. "If the news is not right, they are likely to transfer their property, so we must keep a close watch. In addition, I want to know where they refine the refined salt!"

"I understand. I'll send someone to investigate right away!"

"Go!"

Li Luming bowed and walked away quickly.

Xiao Xia paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, lost in thought. Yesterday, Wuchuan Salt Company also opened two salt shops in Jiangdu County. The price of coarse salt was five cents per catty, which is sixty cents per dou. From this price, it can be seen that the Guanlong nobles have abandoned the Wan, Cao and Yu families.

However, Wuchuan Salt Shop did not launch refined salt at the same time and only sold coarse salt, which made Xiao Xia feel a little strange.

Li Luming's report made Xiao Xia understand something. The Wan, Cao and Yu families had always sold coarse salt, but now they had actually started to refine refined salt. This was definitely the first time in history.

Xiao Xia immediately realized that it was very likely that Wuchuan Salt Company deliberately transported refined salt to these three companies in order to let them test themselves!

This makes sense. The salt source of the three families has been cut off. Where can they get their 1,500 dan of refined salt? It can only be given to them by Wuchuanxing.

If I don't object to the three companies selling refined salt, then Wuchuan Salt Company will definitely launch refined salt soon.

(End of this chapter)