Daming King of Punishment

Page 652

听着这话，白卓顿时就不乐意了。“许大人，你这是什么话？什么叫我们给你添乱？这应天府发生了这么大的事情，虽然我们不是百姓的父母官，可这种时候，也应该为百姓着想首当其冲啊！”见他们两人各自争辩，宋无涯急忙大汉：“两位，这个时候就不要拌嘴了。眼下怎么堵住这个缺口，才是最要紧的事情。许大人，这麻袋里装了泥沙，根本不行。挡不住洪水的冲刷啊！赶紧命人，将这附近的树木砍了，找些石头来装填麻袋。”“宋大人当真是一语惊醒梦中人，本官糊涂了！”许惠源一听这话，急忙向后边人吩咐道：“大家能帮忙的就帮忙全都按照宋大人的话去做！”这些人也顾不上疑惑宋无涯和白卓两人的身份。危难之际，还是重要的事情要紧，纷纷转身各自回头，在周围寻找石头。不多时，附近的村民，推着推车，弄来了不少的石头了木料。这些东西一来，不用宋无涯他们再多说什么，石头立刻被装填在了麻袋之中，一袋一袋的扔进了溃口的地方。不多会的功夫，这溃口就算是堵上了。可许惠源还是不放心，立刻只会衙役，沿着河岸寻找，提前寻找那些可能出现溃口的地方。溃口之上，还在不断的冒出一股股的水流，可这些水流已经不足为惧了。只要溃口被堵上，这洪水不至于冲毁了庄家房屋，那就不算什么事情了。“宋大人，白大人。”许惠源总算是能松一口气了，向两人连连拱手：“这次对亏了两位大人出手，要不然下官可就真的无颜再见应天府的乡亲父老了。”天空中的雷声也渐渐小了许多，原本瓢泼的大雨，也在这溃口被堵截之后，小了许多。听着许惠源这话，宋无涯谦虚道：“许大人话可不能这么说。我们两人方才在城内，见许大人身先士卒，实乃百官楷模。能够做到许大人这一点，想必应天府的乡亲父老们心中，也对许大人有个衡量，如何说得上是无颜面对乡亲父老呢！”三人正在一番客套之时，几名衙役匆匆来报。看到这几名衙役脸上的神情，众人便知道，一定是另有溃口发现。可偏偏他们在这里，也看不到这上下游哪个地方涌出大量洪水来。“大人，不好了！”为首的一名衙役，一开口就知道不是个好消息。见那衙役面色凝重，许惠源也跟着紧张起来。“是又发现了溃口吗？”“不是！是……”衙役张口结舌。眼见这衙役这个模样，许惠源当即气急：“你倒是说啊！舌头打结了还是怎么的啊？”瞧他折服着急的模样，那衙役还是一副紧张，可嘴巴张开半大天，依旧没有在吐出半个字来。可他脸上的神情已经说明了一切，许惠源当即怒骂：“到底是什么事情，你就直说！难不成还有什么事情，要让本官瞒着两位钦差大人吗？”话都已经被许惠源说道这个份上了，那衙役要是再不说，那可真就是有些不识抬举了。许惠源倒也会做人，当着宋无涯和白卓的面，直接拆穿了这一套虚的，让宋无涯和白卓觉得此人还是比较正派的。“大人，那边发现了很多的骷髅！”衙役将事情说了出来，回身指向了下游的地方。听到这话，许惠源顿时泄了口气：“你差点没把本官给吓死，我以为什么事情呢！没有其他溃口就行。那些骷髅必定是从百姓家中坟地冲出来的，到时候官府那些银子补贴一些，让百姓将亲人重葬就是。”说完这话，他面向两人：“让两位大人见笑了，这小子刚刚当差不久，有些愣头愣脑的。”宋无涯微微点头，见那衙役要退下，心下疑惑，遂说了一句：“既是百姓的先人，那也不能任其这般在洪水中泡着，还是命人先打捞出来吧。也不知道有多少口棺材。”“回禀大人，没有棺材，全都是骷髅，有很多。”听到了宋无涯的话，那准备退下的衙役，立刻又补充了一句。听着这话，宋无涯眉头顿时一紧，很是诧异的看向一旁的许惠源：“看来应天府的百姓也并不富裕啊，先人入殓也用不起棺木啊！”宋无涯这话，让许惠源都不知道该怎么回答了。他眉头紧皱，犹豫了半天，也没有个解释。“就按照宋大人的话，将这些尸骨全都打捞出来，等待百姓前来认领。”虽然话是这么说，可真要是有人前来认领，怕是也认不出哪个是自己家的人。但是这件事情宋无涯心里却还是存在疑惑，这衙役紧张的样子，足以说明这些骷髅不少。而先前他们在这里堵住这溃口的时候，并未发现有什么骷髅。这显然说明，这些骷髅一定是在溃口刚刚出现之时，被冲了出去。等到有人前往城内报信，再等到人来到城外之时，骷髅已经被冲到远处了。心里琢磨着这件事情，宋无涯突然间怀疑：“这些骷髅该不是从堤坝之下冲刷出来的吧？”这样的怀疑，并非是空穴来风。这样的事情实在是太多了，堤坝没有竣工之前，倘若有人死在了这里，多半都会直接被埋在下边。这已经是古来已有的惯例了，那长城便是证明。白卓显然看出了宋无涯脸上的神情有些不对劲，立刻向他问道：“无涯兄，这溃口都已经堵上了，你怎么还这幅忧心忡忡的样子啊？”“白兄，我们过去看看那些骷髅。”宋无涯没有回答白卓这问话，而是直接向远处一指。他这么一说，旁边正吩咐着其他人做事情的许惠源听到了，顿时着急起来，也顾不上和那些人说话了！“宋大人，那些骷髅有什么好看的啊？这东西阴气重，可不要冲犯了您啊！”许惠源几步跑到了宋无涯的跟前来，冲着他说着：“今天这洪水冲了百姓的坟地，这种晦气的事情，宋大人何必理会啊！”“许大人这你可就有所不知了！”白卓听着这话，不等宋无涯说什么，他当先笑着打断了许惠源：“我们可是圣上钦赐的钦差大臣，这身上可是有龙气加身，那些污秽之物根本用不着惧怕。”眼见宋无涯和白卓这是铁了心的要去看那些骷髅，许惠源想阻拦也没用了。当即回头冲着一名衙役交代了一句，随后也快步跟了上来。很快他们就来到了发现骷髅的地方，那些骷髅零零散散的飘落着。原本洪水过后，这地面的植被和泥土已经被冲刷了不少，溃口堵住之后，虽然有小股的水流经过，可也冲不走这些骷髅了，这才使得这些骷髅留在了这里。原本他们心里早已经做好了准备，可是当看到眼前这情形时，还是忍不住大吃了一惊。“怎么会有这么多！”白卓惊得张大了嘴巴。宋无涯看着这些骷髅，一个个身上还有一些破烂的衣衫，可其上已经见不到半点血肉了。足以说明，这些骷髅已经死了不少年头了。来到一具骷髅之前，宋无涯看了看那些衣服残片，以及骷髅上残留的牙齿，很快就有了判断。“这么多人，竟然全都是中年男子。”宋无涯说出了自己的判断，他扭头看向一旁的许惠源，眉头一紧：“许大人，这些骷髅怎么看也不像是从村民的坟地里冲出来的。莫不是从那堤坝之下被洪水冲出来的吧？”一听这话，许惠源有如五雷轰顶，急急忙忙的辩解，连话都说不利索了。“宋大人，这怎么可能啊！这堤坝下怎么会有这么多骷髅。更何况，那溃口才那么一点，哪能容得下这么多的骷髅啊！”这事情可要说明白了，要不然的许惠源这心里就不踏实。若是堤坝之下发现了这么多的尸体，莫要说是宋无涯和白卓了，只怕这城里城外的百姓，都要让他给一个交代的。虽然许惠源这话像是搪塞之话，可也并非没有道理。宋无涯点头：“许大人说得没错，这堤坝的溃口确实容不下这么多的枯骨。不过本官见这些枯骨全都是中年男子，这本就是蹊跷之处，理当调查一番。”“宋大人说得是，下官这就让衙役将尸骨全都收殓，派人前往上游寻找来处。”许惠源见宋无涯这么说，知道宋无涯这是认真了，他自然不敢推辞，一口答应下来。大雨已经渐渐的停了，这样的暴雨来也快去也快，虽然左右也就不足一个时辰，可是却让堤坝险些溃决。“既然许大人这般说了，那本官就等着许大人的好消息了。还望许大人能够尽早查明此事。这也并非本官执念，只是此时必定被周围百姓所知，倘若没有一个合理的交代，只怕他们会对官府存在误解的。这可并非只是许大人你自己的事情，这也关系着圣上的文治武功。所以说，许大人切莫不可在这件事情上掉以轻心。”

Chapter 741 Source

? Chapter 741 source

"Sir Song is very right, the lower officials must use a hundred seriousness to handle this matter." Seeing that Song Wuya even moved out with the emperor, Xu Huiyuan nodded and agreed repeatedly, seeing that Song Wuya even moved out with the emperor.

There were so many skeletons that suddenly appeared that Song Wuya couldn't count the number clearly.This reminded him of what he had seen in Songjiang, the killers of the Wuliang Sect used ordinary people as experimental subjects to hone their killing skills.Song Wuya still vividly remembers the discovery of common people's corpses under those piles of rubble.

And these dead bones in front of them, although they have been dead for many years, it is enough to show that these people are all young and middle-aged.Obviously these people did not die naturally, there must be other reasons.

Watching the yamen servants, under Xu Huiyuan's order, begin to step into the quagmire to clean up the bones.

Song Wuya looked at the corpse on the ground, his body was covered in mud, and he couldn't tell whether there were any scars on it.

So at this time, he was not in a hurry, and waited for these yamen servants to do their work.

"Brother Wuya, this is really evil. You said they are all middle-aged and died for several years, where did they come from?" Seeing that Song Wuya was suspicious of this matter, Bai Zhuo knew that there must be something wrong with it. , immediately asked Song Wuya a question.

"I'm afraid this is another shady thing! So many middle-aged men suddenly appeared, and they must have been brought out by this flood. I don't think they may have come from the upper reaches of the river. Silt, water and grass, these skeletons are easy to get entangled in the middle, and they are just buried in the bottom of the water. But they all popped up, and I think they most likely came from that place." Song Wuya raised his hand to the south as he said one finger.

Bai Zhuo followed his gesture and glanced to the south, and he understood it in his heart.But I understand it, but I still feel a little strange in my heart unconsciously.

"Brother Wu Ya, where did you say it came from?"

"That's right, I think the rain caused mountain torrents and washed these corpses down. After the sky clears up, we have to go and see for ourselves." Song Wuya nodded and said.

Things on the river bank were over. Although the current was still turbulent, it was not in the way.Someone was guarding the blocked breach, so they didn't worry about it reopening.Seeing that the breach was blocked, no one around him dared to relax, for fear of another accident.

Walking up the embankment, the two of them looked at the rolling river, their hearts couldn't stop being shocked.Amidst the majestic momentum, the muddy river water mixed with silt and sundries has unparalleled power, and it is intimidating to those who see it.

Back in the city, the two returned to the inn without delay, and first reported to Situ Wen and Xiaohuan that they were safe.

"A major event happened outside the city, and the dam burst. Fortunately, I forced Brother Wu Ya to go, and they used Brother Wu Ya's good method to block the breach. Otherwise, they are still busy outside now. "Bai Zhuo listened to Situ Wen asking about things outside the city, and said this as if asking for credit.

Obviously, Situ Wen already knew about Bai Zhuo's details, and hearing him speak like that didn't give him a good look at all.

"I said Miss Situ, we have done such a big thing here, why are you still staring at me!" Bai Zhuo looked at Situ Wen in surprise, apparently he didn't understand what Situ Wen was thinking.

Xiaohuan couldn't bear to look at it any longer. He glanced at him and said angrily: "Master Bai, you are still claiming credit in front of Miss! You don't even look at where it is, and forcefully drag you over, if something goes wrong Is there any accident, my lady is no longer a widow?"

"Bah!" While listening to Xiaohuan admonishing Bai Zhuo, but what she said later became outrageous, Situ Wen and Song Wuya yelled at the same time.

"Xiaohuan, what nonsense are you talking about! What kind of widow is not a widow? I haven't passed the family yet, and I will find another man to marry in the future." Situ Wen said angrily, which shows that she is not only angry with Bai Zhuo , more angry with Song Wuya.

How clever Song Wuya was, once he heard that something was wrong, he didn't know what Situ Wen was thinking.

He leaned forward and sat beside Situ Wen like this: "Wen'er, look at what you said. Why am I willing to let you marry someone else? I won't let you be a widow. We still have It's been a long time to go."

"Hmph!" Situ Wen snorted coldly, but ignored Song Wuya's glib tongue.

"Miss Situ, you really can't blame us. Fortunately, we went, not only blocked the gap, but also discovered a big case." Seeing that Situ Wen was still angry with Song Wuya, Bai Zhuo felt very sorry, Seeing Song Wuya sitting on the bench, he hurriedly interjected.

As soon as he said this, Situ Wen showed curiosity as expected.

It was Xiaohuan who was next to him who was the first to ask: "Master Bai, what big case happened? Why do I feel that no matter where we go, we can find big cases?"

"Xiaohuan, what you said is wrong again!" Bai Zhuo immediately drooped his face when he heard this. "How can we say where we go, then we can find a big case? Don't you mean that we are mourners? You can't talk like that in the future."

After criticizing Xiaohuan for a few words, Bai Zhuo finally spoke the truth: "The flood outside the city washed out hundreds of dead bones, and I don't know where they came from. Brother Wuya inspected it, and there are all bones in here. A strong man. How do you think this strong man died together? And according to Brother Wu Ya's judgment, it is very likely that all these bones came from that mountain over there."

"Wu Ya, why are there so many dead bones?" After hearing about this, Situ Wen finally spoke to Song Wuya.

Song Wuya shook his head: "It's not very clear. After investigating, maybe we will know what's going on." Whether this is a case or not is not clear yet. Not necessarily a case.

Although the rain had stopped, the day was still dark and oppressive.The dead bones all over the ground flashed before his eyes from time to time, making Song Wuya feel very uncomfortable.

Although Situ Wen and Xiaohuan were curious about these things, they didn't ask the bottom line, because they also knew very well that they hadn't figured out what was going on with these things yet.

Seeing the appearance of the sky, there is nowhere to go.A few people were idle in the room, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

Song Wuya returned to the room, lay on the bed and prepared to sleep, but he couldn't fall asleep.He was not only thinking about the recent events, but also thinking about the scene full of skeletons just now.What made him even more unhappy was what Xiaohuan said just now.

Although Xiaohuan could not be blamed for this, Song Wuya was not annoyed by it.He just felt that if he thought about it in another direction, what Xiaohuan said was really right.Just like what Bai Zhuo said, they are like mourners, wherever they go, they can encounter cases.

So at this moment, Song Wuya was thinking, if they hadn't gone to the places they went to before, wouldn't those cases that they were holding on to, wouldn't have caused so much trouble?

The more I thought about this, the more unpleasant it became, but Bai Zhuo didn't care about it. He lay on the bed, looking at the scroll in his hand by the lamp by the table.

I don't know how long it took, but when Song Wuya woke up again, it was time for dinner.Although his stomach was empty, he didn't have any appetite. After telling others to ignore him, he fell asleep on his own.

In the early morning of the next day, the entire Yingtian Mansion was blown up. Sure enough, after the embankment burst, the many dead bones that rushed out could not be hidden.

Let alone the street, even in this small inn, there is everything.

Song Wuya noticed that today's sky is still not clear, although it is not as scary as yesterday, but it still looks like it can rain at any time.

"Brother Wu Ya, listen to what these people say! Isn't it nonsense to insist that this dry bone washed up from under the river bank?"

Bai Zhuo paid attention to the conversations of the people around him, and heard most of them say that all these bones were washed up from under the embankment.

Song Wuya smiled slightly: "What's the matter? Didn't I ask Xu Huiyuan the same way yesterday?"

"Brother Wu Ya, this is different. You were deceiving Xu Huiyuan at the time. But these common people heard that the wind is like rain. It is not certain what people will think about such rumors. Maybe Xu Huiyuan will be in trouble again by then, his mother Don't worry, we happen to be here, he will come to us for help." Bai Zhuo said angrily.

After all, he felt that this matter might get them both into trouble.

Song Wuya still smiled: "Brother Bai, why bother? You know it's not a blessing, I don't think it's a good thing. Let these people talk nonsense, maybe after a while, someone will come Going to ask for someone."

"Someone will come to the government to ask for someone?" Bai Zhuo was startled, a little confused.

"So many middle-aged men died together, it must not be a small matter. And these people are by no means homeless, there must be someone who lost his family and came to the government to ask for someone. At that time, really If we find these family members with withered bones, maybe the matter will be clear." Song Wuya didn't think this was a bad thing, but felt that it would make it easier for them to track down the matter.

Bai Zhuo looked at Song Wuya with a hopeless face, and shook his head violently: "Brother Wuya, I think you are barefoot and not afraid to wear shoes. You deliberately want to see this matter not come to an end. We I still don't know what's going on. If we really can't find out the results, what do you say we should explain? Where should we put this face? Go back to the court and face the saint. The saint asked about this What is the result of the matter, what should we say? Could it be that we can still say that we are incompetent, and we really can't find out what is going on with this matter?"

Chapter 742

Chapter 742

宋无涯瞧着白卓这气急败坏的一顿数落，呵呵一笑：“白兄，你这话可就说错了。我这不是什么光脚不怕穿鞋的。有道是，看热闹不嫌事大，洗萝卜不怕泥多。这话才说的是我这一号人。咱们身上背了多少没结清的案子，不也照样恬着脸往京城凑吗？还能在乎这一桩？”“无涯兄，你别嬉皮笑脸的行吗？我这是在和你说正事呢！”白卓见宋无涯竟然还有心思和他打趣，没好气的嚷嚷着：“现在咱们已经是骑虎难下了，这朝廷里还不知道又多少人想要将咱们拉下去呢！现如今，咱们这麻烦的事情能不招惹就最好不招惹！虽然你说的没错，这麻烦的事情，毕竟也是人命关天。可倘若咱们真的倒了，这日后还有什么机会替这天底下受冤屈的孤魂野鬼去伸冤啊！”白卓并非是不想管这件事情，只是他觉得，这事情还未必什么时候才能找到结果呢。他们就这样插手的话，很可能给自己惹出麻烦来。他的用心也是好的，即便是和宋无涯想法不同，但宋无涯完全能够理解他。“白兄，你的意思我明白。可我实在是放任不下。”宋无涯也说出了自己的内心所想。听着这话，白卓重重的换了几口气后：“无涯兄，这件事情你就听我的吧？成吗？咱们去那源头找一找，倘若能找到什么线索，就顺着追查。倘若真的什么都查不到的话，咱们就不要跟这个案子扯上关系。你看这样行吗？”白卓苦苦的劝说，也让宋无涯有些不好意思。犹豫再三，他还是点了点头：“好吧，咱们就看情况再定夺吧。”确定了这件事情之后，听到宋无涯顺了他的意思，白卓这才松了口气。可他心里还是放心不下，毕竟宋无涯是什么样的人他还是很清楚的，可这又能有什么办法呢？他也只能看明天的结果了。今天还没有放晴，即便能外出，这个时候也不能上山，要上山也只能到天晴了之后。即便现在宋无涯有有些迫不及待，可是这点耐心他还是有的，毕竟他不能那自己的性命当儿戏。这周围的人们还在议论着，事情越说越来的离谱，就连宋无涯听了都不住的摇头。就这么一会的功夫，他都已经从这些人的嘴里，听到了至少三个不同的版本来。出了堤坝之下外，还有另外一个说是，曾经有人用这些人来祭祀河神。而河神收了他们之后，他们就永远的留在了水下服侍河神。这一次洪水，冲了水晶宫，河神一不小心没看住他们，便让他们给逃出来了。等河神回过神来之后，必定还需要找人来替代他们。虽然这些话越听越离谱，可是宋无涯知晓，这里便绝非只是空穴来风。毕竟自古以来，鬼神怪力的事情实在是太多了，这虽然都是封建迷信，可确确实实是真的存在的。眼下这些人所说的这些话，未必在以往的时间里，没有发生过。“白兄，你说这些人会不会真的是用来祭祀河神的？”听到了这个谈论之后，宋无涯笑着向白卓问了一句。白卓听到这话后，神情立刻严肃起来了。“无涯兄，这种话你可千万不能够乱说啊！这鬼怪之说，虽然都是空谈。可却也未必没有那么回事，这自古以来多少匪夷所思的事情都发生过，保不齐这事情还是真的。不过这万万不该是咱们讨论的。”原本宋无涯以为白卓认为这件事情是真的，所以才会这样紧张，可没想到他是不想让宋无涯乱说这样的话。看来白卓还是明白事理的，毕竟跟随了宋无涯这么久，他们也查获了不少关于鬼怪的事情，可到头来全都是人为的。以至于白卓对于鬼神那一套也不怎么相信了。“白兄，瞧你紧张的样子，难道咱们连话都不能说了吗？”宋无涯没好气的说着，扭头又看向一旁的司徒雯和小环：“雯儿、小环，你们两人说说看，有没有这种可能？”“这种可能自然是有的，不过我看未必如此。”司徒雯当先开了口，但是她觉得这种可能性并不大。“这并非是数千年前那个时代，古人自茹毛饮血之中生存下来，这样残忍的事情在他们看来未必是什么。可渐渐不是连殉葬都没有了吗？哪里还有有祭祀河神这种说法。倘若真有的话，方志中必定存在击在。我看八成如无涯你之前所说，这些人定是做了什么工程，意外死亡，或者是为了避免泄露才遭到了杀身之祸。”司徒雯的看法和宋无涯基本上是一致的，毕竟这种事情实在是太多了。听了司徒雯说完这话之后，宋无涯点点头也没有在多问什么。让他没想到的是，这老天好像也在和他开玩笑。这刚刚吃过了早饭后，这阴沉沉的天空，说晴就晴了。“白兄，你瞧见了吗？”宋无涯看着外边放晴，来到外边，抬手指着晴朗的天空，向一旁的白卓打趣说道：“这老天必定是知晓这些人心中有怨，得知我们要追查此案，给咱们行便宜之事呢。”“行了吧！无涯兄，你也别忘自己脸上贴金子了。这老天连圣上的面子都不给，怎么会给你。我看这就是逗你玩呢，等你上了山，这雨就下来了。”白卓显然还是不放心。毕竟这阴沉沉的天空，说晴就晴，谁也难以预料一会是个什么情况。俗话说得好，六月的天孩子的脸说变就变。虽然现在只是五月，可也差不了多少。宋无涯却不理会这个，执意道：“我看事不宜迟，白兄你若是害怕的话，就在这应天府内待着。我带上几名禁卫，前往那山中查看一番。”说完这话，宋无涯便向城外的方向走去。他虽然没有去招呼禁卫，但也知晓禁卫必定会在暗中跟着。白卓见宋无涯这般果断，急忙道：“无涯兄，你这叫什么话？什么叫我白卓害怕？我是怕你遇了危险。你要真要去，白某自然跟着一同去了。”追上来后，两人直奔城外，一会的功夫就来到了事发的地方。这城外的百具枯骨，全都已经被收敛起来了。犹豫数量实在是太多，就这样带进城去，或许会生出疫病来。许惠源便命令下去，就在这河堤下搭建了棚子，将这些尸骨陈放在这里，等待着他们的亲人前来认领。来到决堤之处，宋无涯看着地面上流水的痕迹。地面上已经只剩下了一些坑坑洼洼，却非常的泥泞。他们倘若想要上山，就必须要度过这道河。虽然河面不是很宽敞，可是这河面上因为要行船，所以城门正对着的方向修建了一架不小的拱桥。站在拱桥之上，远远的看着那南边的山头。这山头并不矮，但却看起来光秃秃的，没有什么东西遮挡。不过一个山头叠着一个山头，里边的情形，也看不完全。过了拱桥之后，那些跟随着两人的禁卫，也不避讳别人了。毕竟他们的身份已经明了，这个时候还是贴身保护的好。“这里也没有看到水流过的痕迹，咱们沿着河道往上游走一走。找到了那条山洪冲下来的水道，咱们顺着水道一路追过去，必定会有所收获的。”宋无涯指着河流的上游对众人说着。很快，他们就在溃口的不远处，找到了山洪留下的痕迹。地面上满是泥泞，其中还夹杂着不少的碎小石块。沿着这条山洪的痕迹，他们一路上来到了山上，虽然没办法直接顺着水道往里边走，但是沿着山头的轨迹，他们也能够看清楚这山里的情况。爬山可不是一件轻松的事情，还没到半山腰，白卓便已经气喘吁吁的叫嚷着：“不行了，不行了。无涯兄，我实在是爬不动了，咱们就在这里休息一会。等我顺过了这口气，咱们再继续往上边走。”宋无涯点了点头，他也没有强求白卓，而是站在山头，往下边去看。他这一看，却注意到了情况，就在山沟之下，他瞧见了一具骷髅。这骷髅并未被泥沙掩埋，而是被两块不小的石头给夹在了中间，没有顺着水流被冲下去。看到这句骷髅，宋无涯当即眉头一紧：“禁卫大哥，还需劳烦你们下去一趟，将那骷髅弄上来。”远远的指了指那地方，禁卫们点头便往山沟里走去。“切记要小心啊！切莫着急。”宋无涯生怕他们出了什么事情，便叮嘱了一句。多半个时辰都已经过去了，瞧着山头还有那么远，宋无涯心知，今天倘若要上这山头，他们中午就别想着回去吃饭了，显然时间是来不及了。过了小半个时辰，禁卫们这才从山沟里再次爬上来，将那具骷髅摆放在了宋无涯的面前。骷髅已经只剩下半截了，其余的也不知道被山洪冲到了什么地方，好在颅骨就在附近，被禁卫们找来了。

Chapter 743 It's a waste of time

Chapter 743 It's a waste of time

“牙齿没有自然脱落，而且健全，可见和那些人一样，也是一个青壮年。”宋无涯当先看了那颅骨，确认了尸骨的大约年纪。白卓在一旁看按着：“话虽然这么说，可是这脑袋都和身子分了家，保不齐这骨架还不是他的呢！无涯兄，你就别琢磨这些年纪什么的了，你还是看看这人究竟是怎么死的吧。”宋无涯的话直接被白卓给呛了回去，让宋无涯脸上有些挂不住。不过白卓这话说得还真是没错，现在该关心的不是这尸骨究竟什么年纪，而应该搞清楚他们是怎么死的。宋无涯耐下性子，拿起尸骨仔细的看了起来。“这颅骨上有很多明显的裂痕和刮痕，不过看样子是最近裂开了的。应该是这场山洪所导致，至于其他的地方，并没有发现明显的伤痕。”宋无涯放下了手中的颅骨，将目光又看向了那半截身体的骨头。他的目光仔仔细细的查看了一遍之后，突然眉头一紧：“这里缺了几块肋骨！”“那也是因为山洪导致的？”白卓听着这话，他没有注意到宋无涯脸上那凝重的神情，随口问了一句。“不是！这伤口明显是旧伤。显然，这是在他生前留下的，或许这就是他的死因。”宋无涯摇头说道。那缺失的肋骨处，有很明显陈旧的痕迹，绝对不是昨日出现的。他这么一说，白卓立刻来了兴致：“这么说，他生前曾经被人打断了肋骨？”“没错，很有可能是这样的。”宋无涯点头说道。听着这话，白卓立刻又问：“那无涯兄，你能否看出这肋骨是被什么样的东西打断的？”这还真是把宋无涯给难住了，他真的是看不出这一点来。白卓问完这话，还没有结束，继续说道：“肋骨断裂，很有可能刺破内脏，导致死亡。看来他真正的死亡原因，正是这个了。”白卓觉得，宋无涯的这个发现，正是这死者真正的死亡原因了。从这一点，宋无涯实在是很难说明。毕竟这骨头断裂的地方，确实有明显陈旧的痕迹。可这也很难说明这是他生前被人打断了肋骨，也有可能是在死后，埋在地下犹豫棺材腐烂导致坍塌，将已经干枯的肋骨给压断。可这又说不过去了，因为这骸骨既然能够被山洪直接冲刷下来，那很有可能这死者死后并未有棺椁入殓。宋无涯缓缓起身，向白卓淡然说道：“白兄，我看休息的也差不多了，咱们继续往山上走。走到山头之后，或许就会有更大的发现了。”这一句枯骨实在是判断不出来什么，但是这些枯骨的来源必定是这山里。想要找到他们原本存在的地方，就必须要等上山头。可这也不是一件容易的事情，毕竟这里大大小小的山头不少，说也没办法确定这山洪究竟是从哪条沟壑之中流淌下来，冲出了骸骨。不过有一点宋无涯非常的确定，那就是这些骸骨必定是在山的北面，而非是在南面。“无涯兄，我突然间想起一件事情来。”白卓往山头走着的同时，突然间想起了什么。“你说这些人会不会是开山采矿的人啊？”“开山采矿？”宋无涯听后顿时一怔：“这很难说，或许还真是这么回事。开山采矿可不是一件轻松的事情，也只有青壮年才能吃得了这个苦。这么一说，还真觉得是这么回事。”宋无涯一听到他这么说，立刻就认同了。不是因为这些壮年男子，而是因为开山采矿本来就是一件危险的事情。虽然在古代，开山采矿并非是用炸药之类的危险物品，但也很有可能会造成山体滑坡，或者是矿洞坍塌之类的。加之方才，那尸骨的肋骨被砸断，倘若是山石之类的东西，那还是很轻而易举的事情。“那咱们就赶紧上山头看看，看到哪片山头不长草，这不就清楚了吗？”刚才还要死要活说要休息的白卓，这个时候听到有了苗头，立刻就着急起来了。不用宋无涯说什么，自己就加快了步伐。足足又往上走了一个多时辰，这才来到了山头。眼看着下边的应天府，在他们的面前，也只是一片小小的方格子。而这个时候，他们几人站在山头，四处眺望着其他的地方。可看来看去，他们也没有发现这四周哪里有什么开山采矿的地方。“居然没有发现？”白卓都感觉到诧异了。他刚刚还以为自己说中了，可是来到这上边，竟然没有发现丝毫的端倪。这眼前所见到的山头，虽然都是光秃秃的，可是四处都张着翠绿的杂草，绝非是被人挖掘过的样子。“可能是在我们看不到的地方，也有可能是被人掩盖了。”宋无涯可没有这么灰心。“那也不可能啊！要是被人掩盖了，昨天这一场大雨还不得都给冲出来？”白卓有些气馁的说着。宋无涯摇头：“咱们不要灰心，我看现在看不到，或许是因为被眼前这些山头给挡住了。我看那边地势比较平缓，咱们从那边下到沟底，然后爬上对面这座山头，看看那边的情况再说。”这里山头众多，谁也说不准眼前这山头挡住了多少的山头。白卓一听，眼下也只有这个办法了，不过他们这一路不停的走上来，早已经是浑身大汗了。白卓往地上一坐：“无涯兄，我看咱们还是休息一会在下去吧。刚刚还没觉得如何，现在这停下来，整个人都快要散架了。”别说是白卓了，就是宋无涯也觉得浑身的酸痛。尤其是这两条腿，完全像是灌了铅一样，都快要迈不开了。好在今天这太阳虽然出来了，可也不是那么的毒辣，要不然他们现在待在山头，怕是能被烤熟了。休息了片刻后，几人小心翼翼的下到沟底。几人在这沟底走了一截，并没有什么发现后，这才翻上了眼前的山头。刚刚上了山头，几人立刻仔细的寻找，果然在另外一座山头上。看到了一片裸露出来的山体。“那个地方，很有可能就是那个地方。”白卓兴奋的叫喊着自己的发现。宋无涯抬头向那边看去。可看了一遍，却发现他们现在的视野并不好，这看也看不全面。不过，他们还是找到了目标，毕竟那个地方实在是太明显了。“那边实在是太远了，咱们今天就过去吗？”白卓高兴之余，却又想到了另外一件事情。他们整整爬了半天的山，这两条腿都已经哆嗦成筛子了，怕是爬过那边去，就得废了这两条腿，所以才问了这么一句。宋无涯听后，抬头看了看天，这世间虽然还早。可也已经是晌午之后了，倘若在走下去，回城的时间怕是就很晚了。这爬上来他们就耗费了将近两个时辰，现在走下去，回到城里的时候，也该是吃晚饭的时候了。“算了，今天咱们就不过去了。不过好在咱们也有所发现，等休息一晚，倘若明天这两条腿还能走得了路，咱们再上去看看。”宋无涯想了想，还是决定放弃，毕竟再怎么样也不能和自己过不去啊。几人打道回府，沿途向着山下走去。不过宋无涯还是多了个心眼，他们顺着山脊往下走，而是下到了沟底，顺着那山洪经过的地方取走，就是想要搞清楚，这山谷之下是否有尸骨残留。倘若能够找到，那就说明这山沟的上边才是源头。一直走到了山下，也没有在这里发现尸骨残留。他们在中途却见到了一处汇聚之地，好几处山沟的洪水都从那里流淌了下去。当快要傍晚的时候，他们回到了山脚之下，却见这脚下的路最终走到了那山洪留下的痕迹之上。“咱们走来走去又走到了原来的地方，这山沟之内有不少岔道，这尸骨也不知道是顺着哪个地方被冲下来的。等再来的时候，咱们得多带一些人手，分别查看这些山沟上头。”宋无涯向一旁的白卓说着。白卓听了他这话，抬手一摆：“无涯兄，这事情等哪天再说。现在我这两条腿都快要不听使唤了，这忍不住的哆嗦，怕是一会得跪在这地上。我看咱们要紧的还是回客栈歇着吧。你也别说，我累成这个模样，中午也没吃什么，可这个时候却一点都不饿。你说这是怎么回事啊？”“这是病，我也如此。现在头昏眼花的，也不知道是不是中了暑。咱们回去之后，好好睡上一觉，估计醒来之后，就没有这些麻烦事情了。”宋无涯笑着说道，他也没有解释这事情。这事情说起来好说，可真要说起来，那还真不是一件简单的事情。现在口干舌燥，宋无涯是不想多说这些没用的话。白卓也不多问，想必他也没有那个心情，毕竟现在他一心想着的还是赶紧回去往床上那么一躺。今天虽然有了发现，却让宋无涯心里更加沉重了，毕竟这已经不是一件简单的事情了。

Chapter 744 Inquiry