Chapter 307 Return to Beijing (two in one)
But is it enough?
The atmosphere at the crab feast froze for a moment, and stunned eyes focused on Wang Chusheng, who had been missing for many days.
After a brief silence, the officials present could no longer maintain their composure and an uproar broke out.
"Wang Chusheng! It's the magistrate of Taicang County!"
"The imperial envoy actually captured someone? Why is there no news?"
"What's going on? Didn't you say that after searching extensively, he was nowhere to be seen? Is it possible that he escaped from Linfeng?"
In the seat, the chief envoy Gao Lian, who was originally calm and led the charge, was stunned on the spot. At this moment, his pupils shrank to a small dot, as if he had turned into a stone sculpture.
The mentally and physically exhausted police officer made Liu Ji stand up, his face flushed with excitement:
"It's you...it really is you..."
Magistrate Sun was stunned and suddenly turned his head, but he was staring at Zhao Duan's side face, his eyes filled with shock, surprise, doubt, fear, emotion, fear... and many other emotions:
"Master Zhao, this is..."
Is this your handiwork? What is the true meaning of completing one battle in one battle?
...Xu Junling was in a trance.
Although she didn't understand the truth, she already understood that Zhao Duan did not care about the so-called counterattack of the officialdom.
Because he has already prepared everything.
"Quiet."
Zhao Duan waited for a few breaths to give everyone time to digest, then raised his hand and pressed it in the air.
In an instant, the noisy banquet became quiet.
He walked around the hall with a smile on his face, and his voice reached the ears of the magistrate:
"I know that you must be confused and curious at this moment, and want to know what is going on. But in fact, the process is not complicated. I believe many people here know that I appeared at the Taicang County Government a few days ago.
Well, outsiders may not know it, but you definitely know it.
It's nothing more than that when I entered the city, I divided my troops into two groups and ordered people to pretend to be imperial envoys to attract public attention. I went to Songjiazhuang first and retrieved the many incriminating evidence that Song Tiju had stored there and that he had painstakingly investigated. "
“Why go to all this trouble?
It is because the mining and silver corruption case is beyond the control of a mere county magistrate. It is because the order from Beijing has not yet been issued and two key figures disappeared mysteriously. It is because of your... strict defense and resistance to this officer! "
When Zhao Duan said this, his fingers swept across the table.
Wherever they passed, officials averted their eyes and did not dare to look at each other, no matter how high or low they were.
"Ha!" Zhao Duan sneered, with mockery in his eyes:
"Facts have proved that this is the right thing to do. If not, maybe even the last thing left by Song Tiju would not be in my hands. Go! However, these alone are not enough.
The incriminating evidence that could be obtained through a mere mention was still unable to touch the core. Fortunately, I still have a third group of people. From the moment I stepped into Taicang City, the troops were not divided into two groups, but into three. road.
It was also thanks to my official appearance that I attracted the attention of some people, and I was able to arrest Wang Chusheng and bring him to justice. "
The troops are divided into three groups!
Hearing this simple, uncomplicated, but surprisingly effective answer, the officials present were stunned.
Magistrate Sun and Liu Yingcha suddenly realized that they did not know that Zhao Duan had used a similar technique against the minister of Dali Temple that day.
However, that time it was just a matter of dividing the troops into two groups.
The three teams and the fake imperial envoy in the post were to cover up the real imperial envoy. On that day, Zhao Duan took the initiative to expose his identity.
Another cover for the shadow guard team.
When Zhao Duan took the initiative to reveal the "real and fake imperial envoys", local officials would subconsciously think that this was all.
I never thought there was another layer.
The so-called strategy never needs to be complicated. The more complicated it is, the more likely it is that there will be problems with the entire program, resulting in failure.
Just like a fake coup: it is carefully planned, laid out step by step, and finally won with skill.
The real coup: inviting people over for dinner, ambushing a few cronies, and killing them unprepared.
As for Zhao Duan, he was deliberately vague about the specific method of finding Wang Chusheng.
Magistrate Sun and others had some speculation, perhaps, just like the disguise, they also used some extraordinary means.
It doesn't matter anymore.
What really matters is...
Everyone came back to their senses, their eyes crossed with each other, their heartbeats were beating like drums, and the sound of some people swallowing and spitting suddenly sounded in the quiet hall.
An atmosphere of tension and anticipation gradually spread.
Now that the key figure in the case, Wang Chusheng, has been arrested.
So……
Does this mean that the backer behind him will also surface?
Furthermore, combined with Zhao Duan's previous words, today's "crab feast" seems to have been premeditated.
All the prominent officials and gentry in the city gathered in the Chrysanthemum Terrace, and the army in the city pressed down on the border, which was like closing the door and beating the dog.
"Imperial... imperial envoy... you are the capital of Zhao..."
At this time, the Taicang County Magistrate emerged from the sack and collapsed on the ground. After being tortured by the shadow guards, the Taicang County Magistrate finally spoke tremblingly.
Those dark green eyes were fixed on Zhao Duan, and his thinking seemed slow.
Next to him, the hand of the frail scholar-looking shadow guard quietly pressed on the shoulder of Magistrate Wang, who immediately shuddered:
"Calling the imperial envoy by his first name, it seems you haven't understood the current situation yet."
"No...it's not..." Wang Chusheng's face turned pale, fear struck his heart, and he suddenly kowtowed as if pounding garlic: "Master Zhao, I'm a low-ranking officer... No, I'm going to kowtow to the imperial envoy..."
"Don't scare people."
Zhao Duan made an understatement and "warned" the shadow guard first, then smiled warmly, looked down at him, and said quietly:
"I have called you here just for one thing. Please identify the backer behind you. Which one is present?
Leniency for confession, is it the mastermind or an accomplice, is it to kill the chief culprit, or to implicate three others? The clan is all in your hands, Lord Wang.”
"I said!" Wang Chusheng was tied up like an insect and could hardly sit up without any hesitation.
In the past few days of interrogation, he had already revealed the truth and signed his signature. Today's appearance is nothing more than telling the truth again.
Immediately, Wang Chusheng raised his head and glanced at all the acquaintances in the hall. Anyone who looked at him looked away for fear of being stared at.
Finally, his eyes stopped on someone, his eyes full of resentment and madness as he said: "Mr. Gao, I'm sorry."
Many people present changed their colors slightly.
But Wang Chusheng had already spit out the name: "I reported to the imperial envoy that he was the one who assigned villains to make big mistakes! He is the envoy to be entrusted with high integrity!"
Boom!
In an instant, the eardrums of the guests on the chrysanthemum stage seemed to be shaken by the sound of a drum.
Countless eyes, in shock, focused on the crimson official robe that was smooth and without any creases!
Focus on Gao Lian's neatly trimmed, elegant and steady face!
"Is it you?!" At this moment, Inspector Liu and Magistrate Sun turned their heads at the same time, looking at their colleague with unusually complicated eyes.
Before people could react, Wang Chusheng's face was almost distorted, and he accused him like a broken jar:
"Everyone in Linfeng knows that although I work in Taicang County, I used to work in Linfeng Mansion. I have done dirty things for Gao Lian for many years, and the silver mining case is just one of them!
Yes! He wanted me to be greedy for money in the name of Huo Hua, and to send donations to the Taoist temple he assigned to launder my money, and then join the bank. After this incident, he also wanted me to hide and avoid the limelight, saying that I would only need people sent from Beijing. If he can't catch me, he can make this matter trivial!
Not only this, the Jianghu people who protect me are also sent by him. They are actually monitoring me, colluding with Jianghu killers, and helping him eradicate the enemy. , they are all this tall man!
What I know alone is that he has no less than ten lives on his hands!
He was also the director of the corruption case at the Linfeng Weaving Bureau three years ago. He was also responsible for the Linfeng merchant silk merchant Li Jia, who was also killed on charges of corruption. Just because the merchant did not want to work for him anymore, he Afraid that things will be revealed...
Furthermore, the female members of the Luo family who ransacked their homes did not commit suicide, but were raped by this old thief with a human face and a beast heart...and..."
At this moment, as a subordinate who had worked for Gao Lian for many years, Wang Chusheng breathed out the many crimes he had mastered.
It immediately caused an uproar in the whole house.
Even Zhao Duan was stunned. He did not expect that among the nine envoys of Dayu, under the honorable and honorable official robes, there were so many evil deeds that it is difficult to describe them.
"What evidence do you...have? Just your mouth?"
Finally, an official in the hall questioned, "Wang Chusheng! You said you were appointed by the Chief Envoy Gao, so why did you stay? Let you live?"
The news was so explosive that many officials present found it difficult to accept it.
"Evidence? Of course I have it!"
Wang Chusheng's scarred face was indifferent.
He stared quietly at the hall, sitting upright like a clay or wooden sculpture, silent and noble, and mocked:
"Master Gao, you never thought that I would reveal these things about you. Didn't you ask for it?
That day, I noticed that the person named Song was investigating, so I had to ask for your instructions. The results will wait and see. Go, wait until you come to see me in private. That day, you brought someone here. You actually wanted to silence me, right? But I am used to your dirty deeds, so how can I not have any backup plan?"
He shifted his gaze and looked at Zhao Duan, with an almost crazy smile on his lips:
"Master Zhao, do you think I can work for someone like him without fear of being treated as an outcast?
Therefore, I have been secretly collecting evidence of his crimes over the years. Like Song, I am also afraid that one day I will be killed suddenly, so I have prepared several copies of the evidence of Gao Lian's crimes and put them in a In the hands of extremely reliable relatives.
Therefore, when Gao Lian came to see me that day, I told him that as long as I die or disappear for a long time, after a while, my relatives will directly submit the evidence of his crimes to the Capital Procuratorate. …
We are just grasshoppers on the same rope. Unless he wants to die together, he must protect me.
He had no expression at the time and just comforted me, saying that I was too worried and that he would not harm me, but do you think I believed it? "
Zhao Duan glanced at him, then raised his eyes to look at the two shadow guards. The armored woman nodded: "Sir, I have obtained the things he mentioned."
Wang Chusheng seemed to have understood that he could not escape death, which would make him look a little nervous.
He sneered and stared at the expressionless Gao Lian in the hall, with provocation and hatred in his eyes: "Master Gao, don't look at me like this. If you treat me better, I won't I sold you, but you are unkind. I am going to die anyway, and you and the people behind you will die together! Haha, we will all die together!”
Zhao Duan frowned and was not interested in the grudges between the two people. He said coldly:
"Wang Chusheng, what happened to Song Tiju's disappearance? Do you know where he is?"
After Wang Chusheng vented his anger, he no longer had any fear. Instead, he showed a trace of compassion that was close to that of a monk after enlightenment: "I don't know. I only know that before Gao Lian came to find me, he disappeared. Gao Lian even asked me where he went. , how do I know?
Maybe Song Tiju also realized that his informant had been discovered, so in order to protect himself, he ran away and hid in advance, or maybe he was killed by someone named Gao, who knows? "
Disappeared early?
Hiding or escaping?
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows. He was always a little curious about the "Song Tiju" whom he had never met before.
But now is not the time to look for this person.
Zhao Duan ended the interrogation, turned around, and said coldly: "Gao Lian, what else do you have to say?"
Gao Lian, who was wearing an official robe and had neat black and white hair, was expressionless. He seemed to have just come back to his senses. He shook his head and said:
"It's just a little slander."
After saying this, he actually closed his eyes, as if he knew that any argument at this moment was useless.
"A little slander...a little slander..."
Zhao Duan seemed to be angry and laughed, but in an instant, his expression turned as cold as winter: "Whether it is slander or not, I will wait for you to be escorted back to Beijing to face trial. The saint will make his own decision."
The crime of a second-rank chief envoy cannot be determined by the imperial envoy.
He must and can only be escorted back to Beijing.
"Come here! Strip Gao Lian of his official robes! Take him into custody immediately! Strictly prevent anyone from contacting him! Return to Beijing with me tomorrow!"
Zhao Duan said in a deep voice.
"Yes!" With the pestle behind him as a backdrop, Lihuatang Jinyi, who was gearing up, swarmed up like a wolf and tiger, pressing Gao Lian, a mortal man, on the table.
"I almost forgot to mention it," Zhao Duan seemed to have just remembered something, turned around, scanned the faces, and said with a smile:
"The soldiers in the city outside are arresting the lower-level officials involved in the evidence left by Song Tiju, and even some gentry and merchants... I believe that they have all been captured by this time. ”
Zhao Duan took out a list of names from his arms, looked at Magistrate Sun who was sitting in the seat with a complicated expression, and said with a smile: "The city cannot be without an owner for a day. From now on, Magistrate Sun Xiaozhun will be restored to his official position. This list Some of the people above are also guests at Chrysanthemum Taichung today, and some of them will be detained and interrogated by Sun Futai."
Sun Xiaozhun stood up, took the list with both hands, and said calmly: "I will live up to my trust."
Zhao Duan patted him on the shoulder, their eyes met, and everything was unspoken.
At this moment, Sun Xiaozhun understood that the favored minister of the empress in front of him had understood the implication of his words that day.
Zhao Duan smiled at the nervous local officials again:
"In addition, I came here on the order of the emperor to only punish the first culprits. Now Gao Lian and Wang Chusheng have been arrested, and a dozen suspects related to them are temporarily detained. I will return to Beijing tomorrow to resume my orders. I hope that in the future, you will take this as a lesson. Work together with Sun Futai to protect the country and the people, and don’t let down the saint’s mandate.”
After hearing these meaningful words, all the local officials breathed a sigh of relief.
Understand the meaning of the imperial envoy's words, which is to arrest only this group of people and not implicate anyone who has nothing to do with the case.
At the same time, the four words "protect the environment and the people" are asking the people below to stop making trouble.
With just these words, the iron plate that Gao Lian had worked so hard to condense suddenly fell into pieces.
Since the imperial envoy stated that he would no longer pursue the case and would only punish the first culprit, why should officials like them have trouble with Zhao Du?
A crisis was resolved.
"Hey, Mr. Zhao, I... and I..." Looking at it, Zhao Duan made a decision and was about to leave.
Inspector Liu finally couldn't hold it in any longer and stood up to call, with a flattering smile on his face:
"Prefect Sun has recovered, then I..."
Zhao Duan didn't look back. He was too lazy to pay attention to this veteran who just wanted to put things to rest and wait until he retired: "You can reflect on it at home for a month."
Inspector Liu opened his mouth, but did not dare to bargain. He wiped his sweat, sighed, and said to Magistrate Sun: "You said Mr. Gao, seriously..."
Sun Xiaozhun glanced at him and drew a clear line: "I will not talk to people who have been suspended."
Liu Ji:......
…
…
The crab feast is over.
However, the aftertaste of this event that swept through the entire Taicang Mansion and would shake up Linfeng was yet to show its power.
The cavalry that roamed the city returned one after another, arresting all those involved who had no time to react.
The government prison was overcrowded for a while.
Zhao Duan believed that Sun Xiaozhun could handle the next thing well.
He returned to the post house, sat in his small courtyard, and prepared the next meal.
"Sir, this is your magic weapon."
The armor-clad woman took out the Fengyue Treasure Book full of patterns and held it up with both hands. Under the mask, a pair of eyes looked at him curiously.
Zhao Duan sat on the stone bench, took it happily, and said with a smile: "Is there something on my face?"
The armored woman didn't understand humor and honestly shook her head: "No. I just heard that you defeated Monk Tianhai."
Gee, is it possible that I already have a fan girl among the shadow guards? The competition champion has really gained popularity. Speaking of which, I don’t know what the situation was like at the Paris Olympics before time travel... It’s a pity that I just watched the opening ceremony and wore it...
Zhao Duan complained in his heart and smiled like an idol: "It's just a fluke."
"Yes. I know." The female shadow guard wearing a bronze mask nodded sincerely.
"..."
Zhao Duan breathed in lightly, thinking that this fan girl was a bit too sincere, and the Shadow Guard's overall emotional intelligence needed to be improved.
"Ahem..."
Next to him, a scholar with a sickly body and unusually white hands interrupted the awkward atmosphere and held out a thick file:
"Sir, this is Wang Chusheng's hidden evidence to accuse Gao Lian."
Zhao Duan's face became serious, and he took it and flipped through it. His face was visibly ugly to the naked eye.
Although Wang Chusheng had spoken once orally in the hall, he just listened and didn't feel much at that time.
At this moment, Zhao Duan felt that the thin paper had become extremely heavy as he flipped through the events recorded on the pages with his own hands.
Framing, unjust killing, silence, adultery, corruption, supporting bandits...
"Gao Lian..."
In Zhao Duan's mind, the upright face of the Chief Envoy appeared. Who would have thought that behind his back he was a beast in disguise?
"Ha... everyone says that I am a treacherous minister, cruel and ruthless, and everyone will punish him, but in comparison... I am as clean as Hai Rui..."
Zhao Duan laughed at himself and closed the file.
Suddenly losing interest in chatting with the two gold medal guards, he waved his hand: "Thank you for your hard work. I will ask you for credit when I return to Beijing."
The armored woman's eyes lit up, she was satisfied, and she had a smile on her face.
He glanced at the Fengyue Baojian on the table reluctantly, thinking that this thing is very useful, it would be great if he could give it to himself.
"Thank you, sir. I won't disturb you any more." The scholar who saw his colleague's thoughts hurriedly said goodbye and dragged his female colleague away.
I feel extremely helpless: Will the famous "King of Hell Zhao" be easy to get along with?
You still dare to take credit... How can such a stubborn character gain a foothold in the Shadow Guards if he doesn't kill people with ease?
Zhao Duan just put away the treasure mirror and the files.
Then I saw a skirt floating in, and the lady Xu Junling walked towards me.
Behind him were the maid Lv Shui, the old man in plain robes Lu Qingfeng, as well as a big man with a sword, a female knight holding a sword and other guards.
"Princess?" Zhao Duan recovered from his inexplicable emotions and smiled.
Xu Junling stared at him with bright black eyes and said:
"This princess is ready to take the first step."
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "That's right, I should go back to Beijing tomorrow. It's indeed time to say goodbye. Oh, I thought the princess would leave again tomorrow, or spend a few days enjoying the city."
Xu Junling said bitterly:
"I have no intention of playing around anymore. I may have been away from the palace for a long time and it's time to go back. I didn't expect that this small silver mine would be involved in such a big thing."
She suddenly said seriously: "Gao Lian is from a noble family in the south of the Yangtze River, and his wife's family is from a wealthy family in the south."
Zhao Duan laughed: "I know, so?"
Xu Junling said angrily:
"Therefore, Gao Lian is also a member of the Li Party. What's more, as a second-rank chief envoy and a powerful local figure, to a certain extent, he is much more important to the Li Party than many officials in the capital.
If you kidnap him back this time, Li Yanfu will not sit idly by. Even if he doesn't want to take care of it, he must do something. Otherwise, not to mention that the people under Li Yanfu will not agree, the Jiangnan family will not agree.
Just like what Wang Chusheng said, they are all grasshoppers on the same rope. Wang Chusheng can be regarded as an abandoned son, but Gao Lian is different. "
Zhao Duan didn't care much and said:
"The princess is reminding me, but I have brought down more than one high-ranking official from the Li Party."
Xu Junling sighed:
"But one can do two, but not three. Retreat to one city today, five cities tomorrow... Forget it, I won't tell you anymore. In short, you have to think clearly whether you want to wade into the muddy water."
After saying that, she turned around and left.
"Wait a minute," Zhao Duan suddenly stopped her and handed her the "Geography of Taicang" on the table: "There's no gift, just take this book to relieve your boredom on the way. Just treat it as parting." Gift."
Xu Junling almost laughed angrily, thinking to himself, are you so stingy?
Take your torn old book as a gift.
After much hesitation, she took it and turned around and left:
"Take care of yourself. When you come to Huai River in the future, I will treat you to crabs."
(End of chapter)