Chapter 26 Between Worlds

Actually, it’s a bit far-fetched to say that they are cousins.

There is a very counterintuitive fact that the ancestral homes of the Xiao family of Zhengyi Dao and the Pei family of Quanzhen Dao are both in Qizhou, and they have been old neighbors with the Li family and the Saint’s Mansion for many years. ..

The ancestral home of the Li family is in Beihai Prefecture, the ancestral home of the Xiao family is in Langya Prefecture, and the ancestral home of the Pei family is in Lanling Prefecture.

The Xiao family of Langya Prefecture has been passed down for a long time, far exceeding the Pei family of Lanling Prefecture. There are six major branches, namely Beizufang, Nanzufang, Xijingfang, Dijingfang, Beihaifang, and Langyafang. These six branches of the Xiao family originated from the same ancestor, but after more than a thousand years of inheritance, they have become more distant from each other, and each has an ancestor of their own family. They are also one lineage, and they are not one lineage.

Xiao Yuehua was born in Beihaifang, and Xiao Yueru was born in Beizufang. In terms of blood relationship, they are not very close. However, the relationship between the two lines is relatively close, so Xiao Yuehua and Xiao Yueru are cousins.

Qi Xuansu came here mainly to investigate the case, not to visit Putuo Island, so after a brief greeting with Xiao Yuehua, he led Liu Hu to the place where Gu Ying was imprisoned.

Putuo Island has 12 major landscapes: Lianyang Noon Ferry, Duangu Holy Traces, Meiwan Spring Dawn, Pantuo Sunset, Lotus Pond Night Moon, Fahua Spirit Cave, Ancient Cave Tide Sound, Chaoyang Rising Sun, Qianbu Jinsha, Guangxi Snow Clear, Tea Mountain Early Mist, Tianmen Qingfan. Nantianmen, Puji Temple, Houshan, Xitian, Fayu Temple, Foding Mountain, Fanyin Cave, Zizhulin, and Luojia Mountain are also famous.

However, since the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism began, Puji Temple and Fayu Temple were converted into Taoist temples, becoming Puji Temple and Fayu Temple, Foding Mountain became Daoding Mountain, Fanyin Cave became Miaoyin Cave, various Buddha statues were destroyed one after another, and even the huge statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva was changed to Cihang Pudu Tianzun. Anyway, it was originally one person. Only Xitian and Luojia Mountain were preserved, and the remaining traces of the "Sea and Sky Buddhist Kingdom" can still be seen.

This was not forced by Xuansheng or Donghuang, but the initiative of Cihang lineage to reconstruct, which shows that these women are sensitive to the change of wind direction.

Gu Ying and others were imprisoned in Fayu Temple.

Qi Xuansu walked into the gate of Fayu Temple, and Zhang Qingyue had already greeted him: "Chief Qi."

"Still not confessing?" Qi Xuansu got straight to the point.

Zhang Qingyue shook his head.

Qi Xuansu did not want to interrogate Gu Ying. He wanted to interrogate another person who had just been arrested and was also the party involved in the first major case in Jiangnan.

This man's name is Ma Jinguo. He is not a Taoist, but a deputy general commander of the South China Sea Navy. He escaped because of this identity. This is also expected. It would be strange if there were no people from the court involved in such a thing.

As we all know, the Taiping Dao has a great influence on the East China Sea Navy, and the Zhengyi Dao has a great influence on the South China Sea Navy. Zhang Jucheng said hello, and the South China Sea Navy was willing to cooperate, so he took this man down. This is certainly not in accordance with the rules. Officials at this level must consult the emperor, and the situation is very complicated.

However, Zhang Jucheng can no longer care about it. He wants to kill first and then report.

This is not without precedent. Although in principle, people from the court can only be dealt with by the court, and people from the Taoist sect can only be dealt with by the Taoist sect, but in actual implementation, only "people from the Taoist sect can only be dealt with by the Taoist sect" has been better implemented, and the first half is a bit in name only. After the attack on Donghuang and during the Five Dynasties, there were two peaks. As long as the reason is justified, it is not uncommon for people from the Taoist sect to directly interfere in the affairs of the court.

That is to say, now that the position of the Grand Master of the Dao Sect is vacant, and Emperor Jiushi is a strong emperor, this has reversed the disadvantage and started to keep out of each other's way.

However, the court has an inherent disadvantage in this regard. Although the Northern Dao Sect is the foundation and core of the court, it has absorbed a large number of Confucianists. Every time the Dao Sect interferes with the court, it mostly holds high the banner of the dispute between Confucianism and Taoism, and the court has to give in. Because the belief of the Daxuan court must be Taoism, and it cannot be shaken in the slightest. This is the rule set by Emperor Xuansheng and Emperor Gaozu.

There are also some court officials and generals who are originally Taoist priests of the Dao Sect, with the dual identities of officials and Taoist priests. The Dao Sect directly uses the laws of the Dao Sect to deal with these officials with the identity of Taoist priests, and the court has nothing to say. Who makes them Taoist priests? Taoist priests must obey the laws of the Dao Sect. The Daxuan court cannot let officials and generals give up their Taoist status, because the emperor has the identity of a super-grade Taoist priest. If the officials give up their Taoist status, will the emperor give it up? This shakes the foundation.

Because of this, Emperor Jiushi wanted to seize power from the Taoist sect, and even served as the chief of the Taoist sect. Such a lame emperor was really aggrieved.

In short, Zhang Jucheng took a great risk to capture the deputy general commander of the defense. In name, he was assisting in the investigation, but in fact, he used some strong means.

If the trial is successful, then everything will be fine, and everything can be explained. The court will be in the wrong, and it will be over. But if the trial fails, Zhang Jucheng and Qi Xuansu will be in big trouble. The court can really make them eat and eat. After all, the Daxuan court is not those small countries, but a real behemoth.

This is actually very similar to Wang Jiaohe's arrest of Chen Jiangou, both of which are not based on procedures. Qi Xuansu was able to counterattack successfully because Zhang Yuelu and Yuheng Star Lord blocked Sun Heyu, and Xiao Yin was also stabbed for this. Wang Jiaohe did not get enough evidence, and the procedure was problematic, so he naturally fell into a passive position.

But if Sun Heyu arrested Chen Jianqiu and confirmed Chen Jiangou's crime, then Qi Xuansu's counterattack in the Daofu meeting would be pale and powerless, and facts would speak louder than words. At that time, not following the procedures would be a small problem, and your secretary, Qi Xuansu, secretly connected with the secret society would be a big problem. No matter what Qi Xuansu said, Wang Jiaohe could counter it with one sentence - don't avoid the important and focus on the trivial.

Now, Zhang Jucheng stands in the position of Wang Jiaohe, and the Daxuan court stands in the position of Qi Xuansu. Qi Xuansu plays the role of Sun Heyu. If he can get enough evidence, there will be no big problem. If he can't get it, he will fall into the passive situation of Wang Jiaohe.

The people in the court can question Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng, what are you going to do?

Because of this, Qi Xuansu is under a lot of pressure, so he interrogated in person.

Under the guidance of Zhang Qingyue, Qi Xuansu came to the temporarily rebuilt interrogation room.

On the way here, Qi Xuansu had read Ma Jinguo's files and had a rough idea in his mind.

This person's experience is quite complicated. He has the identity of a Taoist priest, but he is a wild Taoist priest, so he has many Jianghu habits. This is somewhat similar to Qi Xuansu. However, after Qi Xuansu put his focus on Taoism, he quickly changed those Jianghu habits. He spoke official language more and more smoothly, and never spoke Jianghu jargon again. Those who didn't know thought he was from a noble family and had been influenced by it since childhood.

Qi Xuansu was not unfamiliar with dealing with such people from the underworld.

Under the escort of two spiritual officials, Ma Jinguo walked in, wearing special shackles that were enough to lock up ordinary people, and his eyes immediately fell on Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu asked: "Master Ma, do you know who I am?"

"You can probably guess that it's Chief Qi." Ma Jinguo said slowly.

Qi Xuansu ordered the two spiritual officials: "Bring a chair to Master Ma."

The two spiritual officials brought a chair and placed it opposite Qi Xuansu. Qi Xuansu stretched out his hand: "Sit down."

Ma Jinguo was a little surprised and doubtful. He looked at Qi Xuansu and sat down.

He was a seventh-generation disciple. He was not satisfied with the Taoist sect, so he went to the underworld. Later, by chance, he became a man in black. He first went on land and then went to the sea. After decades of ups and downs, he finally became a deputy general commander of the defense. He was also a man with a lot of experience. He thought that Chief Qi, who rose to power by fighting tigers, would show his power first, but he didn't expect him to be so calm. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what Qi Xuansu was thinking.

So Ma Jinguo lowered his eyebrows and closed his eyes: "I don't dare to be called 'sir.'"

Qi Xuansu was not polite: "Then I will call you by your name."

Ma Jinguo replied: "Okay."

Qi Xuansu went straight to the point: "Ma Jinguo, do you still remember the first major case in Jiangnan?"

Just this sentence made Ma Jinguo's face pale, but he was also a person who had experienced storms. He immediately stabilized his mentality and replied: "To Chief Qi, of course I remember. The main culprit in this case, Fang Linhou, has been sentenced to death by the Taoist sect."

Qi Xuansu asked again: "How much money Fang Linhou embezzled, do you know?"

"I don't know." Ma Jinguo answered straightforwardly, "I haven't paid attention to this case."

Qi Xuansu was still calm: "How is your relationship with Fang Linhou?"

"We are both in Jiangnan, so it's inevitable that we have some intersections. We are just nodding acquaintances." Ma Jinguo said.

Qi Xuansu said slowly: "Since we are just acquaintances, why did Fang Linhou transfer 20,000 Taiping money, 30,000 Taiping money, and 35,000 Taiping money to your account in the 36th year of Jiushi, the 37th year of Jiushi, and the 38th year of Jiushi? Even in the year before the incident, he was still giving you "dividends?".

Ma Jinguo was silent.

He didn't know why he was arrested before, but now he knows.

Qi Xuansu raised his voice: "Answer me."

Ma Jinguo had to answer: "I don't understand what Chief Qi meant by this. Fang Linhou has never transferred money to me."

Qi Xuansu pointed to Liu Hu beside him: "Do you know who she is?"

Ma Jinguo raised his head and glanced at Liu Hu, then lowered his head: "I don't know."

Qi Xuansu said: "She is the daughter of Liu Shiying."

Hearing the name "Liu Shiying", Ma Jinguo trembled all over.

Qi Xuansu said: "Liu Shiying is an old accountant, smart and capable. Otherwise, Fang Linhou would not have handed over the accounts to him. Do you think Liu Shiying would leave a copy of the account just in case? Although Liu Shiying is dead and has been silenced, his daughter is not dead, and the evidence has not been found. Haven't you been looking for it all these years?"

Ma Jinguo's hands trembled, and beads of sweat kept oozing from his forehead.

Qi Xuansu took out the account book and the voucher: "Unfortunately, I have found the people and things you didn't find. Ma Jinguo, will you take the initiative to confess? Or will you not cry until you see the coffin?"