The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 204 Valuable Information
Feng Ziying saw Eunuch Ji being so angry that she jumped like a capon. It was both funny and a little awe-inspiring.Ji Jinxiao's insistence on intervening in this case is obviously abnormal, and there is a high probability that he is involved in it, but I don't know how deep the involvement is. If the fire finally burns to Prince Yi Zhong, will he handle it impartially, or will he stay out of it?

For a moment, Feng Ziying was extremely entangled, but at this time it was impossible for him to get away. He could only bite the bullet and clasped his fists and said: "Mr. Ji and all the adults, please come back." After saying that, he turned around and entered the gate of Kang Mansion.

Ji Jinxiao looked grim and finally left with a flick of his sleeves. Yangzhou Magistrate Hong Wenxuan and Yangzhou Guard Commander Dai Li looked at each other and left with their own thoughts.They thought they could easily take control of Jia Huan, but unexpectedly, although this young man was young, he was quite sophisticated and difficult to deal with. Instead of falling into the trap, he solved the dilemma in a few clicks. No wonder Lin Ruhai dared to entrust such an important task to him. My dear, I hope you don’t find any unfavorable things in Kang’s mansion, otherwise there will be many unlucky people.

Let's say that Jia Huan and Jiao Fang, the patrol censor, entered the gate of Kang Mansion. The latter suddenly stopped and looked at Jia Huan thoughtfully and said, "Young Master Jia has a feud with Manager Ji?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "No, why does Mr. Jiao ask this?"

Jiao Fang stroked her beard and laughed dryly: "It's just a random question, no other meaning. Well, the Kang family's house doesn't look like mountains or water on the outside, but it's a cave inside. I'm just going to walk around. Mr. Jia, please feel free to do it." ." After saying that, he walked away with his hands behind his back, looking around as if he was an outsider visiting.

Jia Huan glanced at Jiao Fang's slightly hunched back thoughtfully, and for a moment he couldn't figure out this person.This Jiao Yushi and Ji Jinxiao appeared together. They should be in the same group, but now they don't seem like it.

At this time, Feng Ziying caught up from behind. Seeing Jiao Fang going first alone, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and asked in a low voice: "Brother Huan, do you want to send someone to follow him?"

Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said, "No need, but Brother Feng has been able to find anything valuable in the past few days?"

Feng Ziying said ashamedly: "No, that old fox in Kanglingcheng probably burned all the evidence. It's all because I delayed for too long that day and gave him an opportunity."

Jia Huan said regretfully: "There's nothing we can do about it. Kang's mansion is too big and you don't have enough manpower. However, there are always gaps in the secret. I believe he can't escape."

Feng Ziying nodded and said hesitantly: "Ji Jinxiao is a member of Prince Yi Zhong. I have to give him some face, so Brother Huan..."

Jia Huan smiled and interrupted: "Brother Feng doesn't need to explain, I understand your difficulties."

Feng Ziying breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That's good, but brother Huan, don't worry. Brother Feng can still figure out what is public or private, and which is more important. He will definitely not do anything for personal gain or bend the law. When it comes to personal relationships , We two brothers have a life-long friendship, Ji Jinxiao is nothing, if it weren’t for the sake of Prince Yi Zhong’s face, I wouldn’t bother to say a word to him. "

Jia Huan said mockingly: "In terms of human nature and sophistication, I am not as good as Brother Feng. I just offended Ji Jinxiao to death."

Feng Ziying gave a bitter smile: "Brother Huan, are you praising me or burying me? But then again, brother Huan should be careful about Ji Jinxiao's revenge. This person is famous for his unyielding vengeance."

Jia Huan said calmly: "Thank you, Brother Feng, for reminding me. By the way, where is Kangling City locked up now?"

"I was detained alone in a room with two brothers in charge of guarding me. I couldn't escape." Feng Ziying replied.

Jia Huan nodded and asked, "Have all the family members in Kanglingcheng been captured?"

Feng Ziying said helplessly: "Due to lack of manpower at that time, all those who were in the mansion were controlled on the spot, but those who were not in the mansion have not been caught yet."

"Who else is missing?" Jia Huan asked hurriedly.

"Both of Kang Lingcheng's legitimate sons were not in the house at that time, but the eldest son Kang Dazhi had been captured by the Shitou brothers just now, and the third son Kang Dayi was missing. According to Kang Lingcheng's own confession, his son Kang Dayi went to Suzhou for a visit and never returned."

Jia Huan frowned and asked, "How many children do Kanglingcheng have?"

"Three legitimate sons, as well as two concubines and three concubines, except for those who have left the court, are now controlled in the back house. By the way, the second son of Kang Lingcheng is called Kang Dayong. It is said that he encountered wind and waves when he went to sea in his early years, and the ship It capsized and was buried in the sea."

"In other words, the only fish left that slipped through the net is Kang Dayi, the third son?"

Feng Ziying nodded: "It should be right."

Jia Huan muttered: "It doesn't matter. Yushi Lin should return to Yangzhou in two days. A sea arrest document will be issued to arrest this person. As long as Kang Dayi doesn't hide intentionally, he should be found soon. Now let's go ahead. Take Kang Lingcheng and his family members back to the prison of Yanxunshi Yamen, and wait for Mr. Lin to come back and interrogate them together."

"Okay!" Feng Ziying immediately sent someone to do it.

Next, Jia Huan gathered all the servants of Kang Mansion in one place to take care of them, and then conducted a thorough inspection and inventory of the entire Kang Mansion. All the property was recorded in the books. During this period, the guardsmen were inevitably exposed to thieves and thieves. Jia Huan turned a blind eye to taking advantage of some small advantages, as long as he didn't go too far.

As the saying goes, if the water is clear, there will be no fish. You have to let the people working below get some benefits. If you restrain them with the standards of a moral gentleman, I'm afraid no one will be willing to tighten their belts to work for you.

"Brother Huan, look at this. This is the accounting room of the Kang family. It is said that all the accounting books of the Kang family's business are here, and they can even be checked back 30 years." Feng Ziying said while leading Jia Huan into the accounting room of the Kang family. .

"That's true!" As soon as Feng Ziying finished speaking, someone heard someone say.

Jia Huan and Feng Ziying looked around and saw someone coming out from behind a bookshelf filled with ledgers. It turned out to be the elusive patrol censor Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang raised the account book she was looking through in her hand and said with a smile: "This account book is from the 15th year of Dazhi. It is quite old."

Dazhi is the reign name of Taizong, which is the second emperor of the Jin Dynasty. Emperor Dazhi reigned for 22 years. Emperor Kangping reigned for 18 years. Now is the seventh year of Qian Sheng, so the 15th year of Dazhi is 32 years ago. .

Jia Huan glanced at the piles of ledgers in the room and said, "It seems that the Kang family's business is indeed very large and rigorous, but these ledgers may not be of much use to this case."

Feng Ziying asked subconsciously: "Why? If the Kang family really collaborated with Gu Sanmazi to sell illegal salt, there should be traces of it even if the accounts were tampered with."

Jia Huan shook his head and said: "If it is a real account book, there will naturally be traces to follow. I am afraid that there are two sets of accounts, both light and dark. These are all open accounts that can be disclosed to the outside world. I am afraid that the internal private accounts will not be placed here."

Feng Ziying slapped her forehead and said: "I see. No wonder Kang Lingcheng is so confident that he even asked the housekeeper to bring me to the accounting room to check. It's really cunning. Where do brothers Huan think Kang Lingcheng will hide his private accounts?"

Jia Huan frowned and said: "Then there is no way to know, but even if there are no accounts, the physical objects cannot deceive people. Feng Qianhu, you immediately lead people to seal down all the shops and warehouses under the Kang family's name, and control the person in charge." , be sure to get first-hand records of incoming and outgoing goods.”

Feng Ziying's eyes lit up, she nodded and said, "What a great idea, I'll do it myself." After saying that, she turned around and left in a hurry.

Jiao Fang's eyes flashed with excitement, and she smiled and said: "Master Jia has a good trick, but it's a pity that it's too late. If we attack both ways from the beginning, we may have miraculous results."

Jia Huan said calmly: "It doesn't matter. The physical objects are not accounts and letters. They can simply be burned. There will always be traces that can be escaped."

Jiao Fang nodded and did not express any further opinions. She lowered her head and continued to look through the account book in her hand.At this time, Dai Shilin from Baihu ran in with a happy face, but when he saw Jiao Fang was there, he hesitated to speak.Jia Huan asked nonchalantly: "What's the matter?"

Dai Shilin said hurriedly: "Brothers found a tunnel in the back house of Kang's family."

Jia Huan's heart moved and he immediately said: "Let's go and have a look." After saying that, he followed Dai Shilin and left the accounting room.
Jiao Fang also quickly put down her account book and followed out, and everyone came to a room in the main courtyard of the back house.Dai Shilin pointed: "Master Huan, Mr. Jiao, look, the entrance to the tunnel is behind the closet. The brothers accidentally discovered it when they were searching."

The wardrobe in front of me was as tall as two people. At this time, the door of the cabinet had been opened, and the clothes were thrown on the floor. There was a secret door behind the cabinet, which was also opened at this time, and there was a tunnel entrance inside.

"Where does this lead to?" Jia Huan asked.

Dai Shilin replied: "There is a house leading to the nearby Sishui River. My subordinates have personally visited it. The house is vacant and empty. It must be a secret escape passage reserved by the Kang family. But it's strange. Since the Kang family has a secret passage, Why doesn’t Kanglingcheng escape?”

Jia Huan said calmly: "Either he didn't have time to run, or he didn't want to run. Most likely, he didn't want to run."

Dai Shilin scratched his head and said, "Then this guy is quite confident."

Jia Huan and Jiao Fang entered the tunnel and took a trip in person, but found nothing. The latter sighed, stroking his beard: "It's a pity that the trip was in vain. Even if there is a secret tunnel in Kang's family, it can't prove that there is any illegal activity." thing."

Jia Huan remained silent and just whispered a few instructions to Dai Shilin. The latter nodded, turned around and followed the instructions.

Jiao Fang glanced at Jia Huan thoughtfully and thought to herself: "This kid is really a freak. At such a young age, his thinking is so meticulous and his actions are sophisticated. Let alone 13 years old, even 30 years old may not be as good as him." .”

Soon, more than 200 maidservants from the Kang family were brought to the open space in the courtyard and stood in several rows.

Jia Huan glanced at him and said coldly: "I believe you all know what your master has committed. He has collaborated with pirates to sell private salt, and even ordered pirates to attack and kill Mr. Lin, the salt inspector of Yangzhou. Once it is confirmed, , beheading and confiscating your property is inevitable, all of you slaves will be deprived of their status and confiscated, and if anyone participates in evil deeds, they will all be punished - beheaded!"

All the slaves were immediately frightened into silence, and Jia Huan changed the subject and said, "But if you can actively report the illegal activities of the Kang family, you may be given a lighter sentence, or even be stripped of your slave status and returned home."

As soon as these words came out, the slaves present were obviously in a commotion, but they soon became quiet again, and most of them lowered their heads and remained silent.Jia Huan couldn't help but look surprised. He thought that even if some of these slaves didn't actively report them through threats and inducements, at least some of them would rebel. But the result was completely unexpected.

Seeing this, Jiao Fang looked at Jia Huan teasingly, as if it was a pleasure to see the latter deflated.

Jia Huan frowned secretly. Could it be that Kang Lingcheng treated his servants very well, so he was unwilling to report him. At this moment, Jia Huan suddenly saw a fat boy in the crowd taking a small step forward. But he immediately shrank back and glanced in a certain direction with some fear.

Jia Huan's heart moved, and he glanced in that direction. He quickly spotted a man dressed as a butler, and pointed at him: "That one, I'm talking about you, come forward!"

The man dressed as a butler flashed his eyes, walked up to Jia Huan and said calmly: "What are your orders, sir?"

Jia Huan said calmly: "Call me Young Master Jia."

"Yes, Mr. Jia, what are your orders?"

Jia Huan asked: "What is your name and what is your status in the mansion?"

"My name is Sun Shou, and he is the storekeeper in the mansion."

"Sun Shou? I remember that the chief steward of Kang Mansion was named Sun Lu, and Kang Dazhi's eldest attendant was also named Sun Fu. Could it be that you are brothers?"

Sun Shou said with a smile: "No, the names of the slaves were given by the master of the family, just for good luck."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "I see. Since you are the manager of the warehouse, you must know about the illegal activities of the Kang family. Why don't you seek leniency for confessing?"

Sun Shou chuckled and said, "Master Jia is joking. Our Kang family has always done business in a disciplined manner and never done anything illegal, so Master Jia should not waste his efforts."

"Really?" Jia Huan said calmly: "When you go to the execution ground, I hope you can still laugh. I will take you away and take you to the prison of Xunyan Censor's Yamen."

Jia Huan waved his hand, and the soldiers took Sun Shou down. However, this guy was calm. Not only did his expression remain unchanged, he also glanced at the slaves present with cold eyes. Those slaves lowered their heads in horror.

When Jia Huan saw this, he became concerned. After Sun Shou was taken away, he said loudly: "Think carefully after you go down. You only have one chance to get leniency. If you miss it, there will be no regrets."

After Jia Huan finished speaking, he asked people to take all the servants down, and then quietly ordered Shitou to take the fat boy to a room alone.

This slightly fat boy, about seventeen or eighteen years old, was obviously aware of Jia Huan's intention to find him alone. As soon as he came in, he fell to his knees on the ground, kowtowed and said fearfully: "I don't know anything, Mr. Jia." forgive me!"

Jia Huan smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, there is no one else here. What you said is only known by heaven and earth. You know it and I know it."

The boy chuckled and said, "Slave... I don't know anything."

Jia Huan asked with a warm smile, "What's your name? Are you a son of the Kang family?"

The boy nodded and said, "My name is Qian Si. I am a son of the Kang family. I am usually responsible for serving the third master."

"Oh, you got a wife?"

"No...not yet!" Qian Si lowered his head, a trace of anger flashed quickly in his eyes.

Jia Huan's heart moved and he asked: "I think you are of marriageable age. Don't you have a maid in the house?"

"Originally, I was paired with one, but then..." Qian Si stopped here.

"Later, was it distributed to others?"

Qian Si gritted his teeth, shook his head and said, "No, it was occupied by our third master later, and then disappeared."

Jia Huan frowned and said, "Missed? Was he sold?"

Qian Si shook his head: "It's just missing."

"How come it disappeared after everything was fine?" Jia Huanqi asked.

"I don't know, I don't know. Anyway, I suddenly disappeared, and my sister also disappeared suddenly." Qian Si gritted his teeth.

Jia Huan said in surprise: "This is strange. Do the servants in your house often disappear suddenly?"

Qian Si nodded and said: "Any slave who is disobedient or disobedient to his master will suddenly disappear. Some beautiful maids will also disappear suddenly."

Jia Huan immediately realized that there was something fishy and nodded: "Well, the clue you provided is very valuable. I have written it down so that I can win leniency for you."

Qian Si was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that he had been tricked, and said in a dignified manner: "No... I didn't say anything, please don't hurt me."

Jia Huan said calmly: "You said it. You said that all the disobedient maids in the house would disappear for no reason. You also said that your sweetheart and sister also disappeared. Well, I will call Sun Shou to confront you later. .”

Qian Si was so frightened on the spot that his face turned pale, his upper and lower teeth chattered, and he kowtowed: "Young Master Jia is showing your noble hand. If Butler Sun finds out, this servant will be dead."

Jia Huan frowned. It seemed that the servants in the mansion did not dare to speak out. It was not out of love for the master's family, but out of fear. This shows how violent Kangling City is in normal times. Disobedient slaves will disappear from the world. Then There is no reason not to be afraid of the rest.

"It's okay not to confront Sun Shou, but you have to tell me everything you know. I, Jia Huan, can guarantee your family's safety with my life." Jia Huan said solemnly.

Qian Si's expression changed, and he said worriedly: "If I tell you, will it really be possible to get rid of the slave status... No, our whole family will get rid of the slave status, and we will be given a sum of money to fly away."

Jia Huan nodded and said: "No problem, but it depends on whether the information you provide is worth it."

Qian Si was stunned and asked: "What kind of information is valuable?"

"For example, evidence of illegal salt sales in Kangling City, or evidence of collusion with pirates."

Qian Si was a little disappointed when he heard this: "I'm afraid the slave's intelligence is not up to standard."

Jia Huan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, you tell me first and I can fight for you."

Qian Si glanced at Jia Huan hesitantly, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, let me tell you, when Feng Qianhu broke in that day, our third master was actually in the house."

Jia Huan's heart moved and he blurted out: "Kang Dayi was at home that day?"

Qian Si nodded and said: "Yes, but later he disappeared as well as the two personal servants who served him."

Jia Huan immediately thought of the tunnel. Since Kang Dayi was at home that day, and Feng Ziying blocked all the doors of Kang's mansion, then there is a high probability that this person escaped from the tunnel and might still be in Yangzhou City at this moment, so He nodded and said: "Well, this information is also very valuable. I can plead with Mr. Lin and try to get your family out of slavery."

Qian Si was overjoyed when he heard this and said hurriedly: "I have heard something, but I don't know whether it is true or not."

"Say!"

"Once, Qing'er, the servant next to the third master, spilled the beans when he was drunk, saying that the second master did not capsize and drown, but just got into trouble on the island. The servant was also a little drunk at the time and did not hear clearly. "

Jia Huan couldn't help but feel moved in his heart and said with a smile: "These two pieces of information are very valuable. Don't worry, I believe Master Lin will fulfill your request."

Qian Si couldn't help but be overjoyed, and was taken out after thanking him profusely.

(End of this chapter)