Chapter 3176
Amidst the noisy gongs, drums and cheers, the carriage on which the executive committee was riding stopped in front of Qingchun Gate. After getting off the car, everyone waved to the onlookers, and then, led by Shi Diwen, they walked together through Qingchun Gate. Spring Gate.
As he walked, Shi Diwen introduced the origin of Qingchun Gate to everyone: "This city gate was built during the Southern Song Dynasty. It was first called Dongqing Gate. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Taiping Gate by Zhang Shicheng. The name Qingchun Gate came into being in the Ming Dynasty. Only in Korea.”
"In the past, these areas outside the city gate were all vegetable fields. Vegetable farmers outside the city used this gate to transport vegetables into the city and carry dung out of the city. However, the shipping industry on the Qiantang River has developed rapidly in recent years, and many goods are shipped in and out of Hangzhou. They all go through Qingchun Gate, so many new shops, warehouses and hotels have been built in and around the city gate, and they have gradually become lively.”
In the past, it was difficult to imagine that a Chinese descendant like Shi Diwen, who had lived overseas since childhood, would become a local official who knew the local situation well. This shows how huge the living environment has changed people.
On the other side of the city gate is Qingchun Road in the city. At this time, both sides of the road are already crowded with onlookers. Seeing the executive committee members slowly walking out of the city, the people suddenly started shouting.
Many of them were waving red and blue flags and shouting slogans such as "Long live the Executive Committee, long live the Executive Committee."
Some people knelt down tremblingly on the ground and kowtowed to the executive committee to show their allegiance to the new dynasty.
Most people looked at these senior officials of the Executive Committee with curiosity and awe. It turned out that the legendary and omnipotent Haihan Executive Committee, which controlled the power of the empire, was not a god with three heads and six arms.
However, seeing the prominent local officials, gentry and celebrities all following closely behind, with low eyebrows and submissive looks, it is not difficult to feel the overwhelming power represented by these high-ranking officials.
Under the guidance of Shi Diwen, everyone in the executive committee followed the ramp next to the city gate and arrived at the tower of Qingchun Gate.
The city wall here at Qingchun Gate is more than two feet high. Looking out of the city from here, you can see plains everywhere, and you can vaguely see the fleet docked at the mouth of the canal several miles away.
On both sides of the official road below the city tower, there were crowds of onlookers. Before, we couldn't see many people on the bus. But when we got to the top of the city tower and looked down, we saw tens of thousands of people gathering outside Qingchun Gate. The scene was quite shocking. .
Shi Diwen walked to the battlements and raised his arms to signal. The sound of gongs and drums outside the city soon stopped. When the onlookers saw this, they knew that the big shot was about to start speaking, and they gradually became quiet.
A subordinate next to him handed over the microphone. Shi Diwen took it and said, "Dear fellow villagers, I am Shi Diwen, the governor of the Donghai Region..."
It was the first time for many of the onlookers to experience the power of the electric horn. When they heard Shi Diwen's speech, the sound was as loud as thunder, and the sound could be heard for miles inside and outside the city wall. They were inevitably startled.
While Shi Diwen was delivering a speech, Gong Qiqi quietly stepped forward and pulled Ji Yuanqing aside.
Gong Shiqi said straight to the point: "Zhu Zhongyun's case is a bit weird!"
Ji Yuanqing asked: "What new discoveries has Brother Gong made?"
Gong Shiqi said: "It's strange that the weapons used by these assassins seem to have been tampered with!"
Ji Yuanqing said: "Brother Gong, do you have any evidence?"
Gong Shiqi nodded and said: "You come with me."
After that, Ji Yuanqing led Ji Yuanqing into the tower, pointed at several rifles placed on the ground and said, "We just captured another team. They used rifles to resist arrest, but strangely, not a single shot was fired. Later we I checked these guns and found that they were all jammed! "Then I checked the rifles seized yesterday. Sure enough, they all had the same problem. The barrels of the guns were tampered with and the bullets fired when the trigger was pulled. It’s stuck. I also took apart a few bullets and found that there was no primer in the shell.”
"This means that the weapons they got are simply useless and useless!"
"But the wonderful thing is that these assassins can only receive these rifles after entering the city, so they have no chance to test the rifles through live ammunition shooting. Only when they finally do it, they will know what they have in their hands." Rifles are actually just a few fire sticks!”
Ji Yuanqing said: "So, they must have been cheated by the seller!"
Gong Shiqi snorted and said: "Is it really as simple as being tricked?"
Ji Yuanqing said: "What does Brother Gong have to say?"
Gong Shiqi said: "The sellers have manipulated these guns, not only to defraud them of their money, but also obviously not to let them achieve their goals. But if Zhu Zhongyun and others fail in their actions and discover that there is something wrong with the guns, they will definitely seek revenge from the sellers afterwards. .”
Ji Yuanqing said: "If the seller really had a premeditated plan, I'm afraid he would have fled long ago and disappeared."
Gong Shiqi said: "As long as we catch Zhu Zhongyun, the identity of the seller will be exposed. Smuggling arms and assassinating high-ranking officials are all capital crimes! The important thing is that he not only offended us, but also harmed the Ming Dynasty factory guards. When the time comes, the two countries will Once a wanted man is placed on a bounty, where can he escape even though the world is big?”
"If you report the factory guard, you may atone for your crime and avoid severe punishment; if you help the factory guard, you can also get protection from the Ming Dynasty and avoid being wanted by our country. But this man has blocked both roads in advance. What do you think his purpose is? What is it? Do you want to seek death, or do you want Zhu Zhongyun to cause a big mess in Hangzhou and let Daming take the blame?"
Ji Yuanqing seemed to turn a deaf ear to the second half of what Gong Shiqi said, and responded expressionlessly: "Brother Gong is so sure, it seems that Zhu Zhongyun has no wings to fly!"
Gong Shiqi stared at Ji Yuanqing and said: "Based on the confessions of the prisoners we captured, Zhu Zhongyun may not know that we have captured two of his teams. Most likely he will still act according to the original plan. At this time, he must be hiding somewhere in the city and waiting. Entering the city with the executive committee.”
"But I have a strange premonition, I don't know whether to talk about it or not."
Ji Yuanqing said: "Brother Gong, you and I are our own people. If you have anything to say, it's okay to say it."
Gong Shiqi said slowly: "I think Zhu Zhongyun will not be able to escape today whether he takes action or not. However, the time to arrest people must be after the Executive Committee enters the city, and the person who finds them should not be My men.”
Ji Yuanqing said: "Brother Gong, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Gong Shiqi sneered and said: "Although this is probably a farce, the drama must be played out, otherwise the assassins will be caught before the Executive Committee even enters the city, and the final effect will be greatly reduced."
Ji Yuanqing said: "Why do I hear that Brother Gong's words imply that I am involved in this matter?"
Gong Shiqi said: "It's not that I want to doubt you. There are so many doubts and coincidences in this matter that I have to make associations!"
(End of chapter)