Chapter 305: Under the order of the imperial envoy, arrest the criminal immediately
“What do you mean?”
Xu Junling was stunned for a moment, and his sweet and pleasant face showed a little bit of seriousness.
Well, it's hard for me to explain this to you. After all, it's an allusion from the earth... Zhao Duan's expression was leisurely, with a smile on his lips.
It seemed that he had turned a deaf ear to the clamor of people begging for help outside the tall gray walls of the posthouse.
He said calmly: "It's just a broken poem that I just got by chance."
Can you be more fake... Xu Junling felt angry for no reason.
She took three steps and two steps at a time, came to sit in front of him, with a serious expression:
"Master Zhao, what are you thinking about? Or do you think the noise outside is nothing? I kindly remind you that the current situation is very wrong."
"oh?"
Zhao Duan was wearing loose casual clothes and sitting in a woven bamboo chair, like a laid-back young man on vacation.
He put down the "Geography of Taicang", folded his hands, and asked with a smile:
"What advice does the princess have?"
Xu Junling said with a straight face:
“When you arrested someone that day, I told you that the suspension cannot last long.
Now it is indeed as I expected in the city, not to mention the rumors among the people, the public opinion about your rumors is not good.
How many people are secretly hostile to you, the imperial envoy, and just say that the people outside asking for help, do you think they came spontaneously? "
She asked and answered herself:
"Since ancient times, people have been afraid of officials. How could it be like this if someone hadn't secretly instigated it? Local officials have already fought back!"
I know... Zhao Duan said "Oh" and wrote lightly: "Then what? Do you think it was arranged by Gao, Liu and Sun? Instigated a group of common people to put pressure on this official, thinking that Will this work?"
Seeing his indifferent expression, Xu Junling sighed with a sigh on his face:
"Master Zhao, I know that you have made many meritorious achievements in the capital and are quite skillful, but please know that being an official in the capital and being an imperial envoy outside are two different things.
That's right, there are only a hundred ordinary people, you have an army in your hands, you have cultivation yourself, and you are safe.
But this is a dangerous signal. Once the requesting team expands and trouble occurs, when you return to Beijing, a snowstorm of impeachments will fill the desk of the emperor!
Do you understand or not? Do you think that local officials can't counter the imperial envoys?
Throughout the dynasties, those who went out on imperial missions were most afraid not of their lives, but of things going wrong.
If you allow public opinion in the city to spread unchecked, even if you can investigate the case and capture the corrupt officials and return them to Beijing, all the officials in the court will still be accused of causing trouble to the local area!
One person who breeds civil unrest is enough for you to drink a pot!
Or do you really think that relying on the imperial sister’s favor, you are no longer afraid of impeachment? "
She finished speaking like a machine gun in one breath, her eyes full of hatred.
Zhao Duan listened with a strange expression, raised his hand and handed her an apricot, and said with a smile:
"Princess, please calm down. Speaking of which, is the princess so concerned about the safety of me, the imperial envoy? I thought the King of Huai'an would be looking forward to a fight on my side."
This sudden sentence is a bit heartbreaking.
Xu Junling was instantly alert and subconsciously retorted: "This princess is devoted to the imperial sister. How can Mr. Zhao slander others indiscriminately?"
No, you are like grass on the wall of Huai'an Prince's Palace, with a swaying ass, do you still need me to slander you...
Zhao Duan cursed and said slowly:
"It turns out that the love between sisters is deep. I thought that the princess was deliberately irritating me and wanted me to send troops to suppress the chaos.
Haha, the people are just asking for orders in a reasonable manner, how can they use weapons randomly?
I still have a big heart. I don’t dare to say the word “suppression”. It will easily give excuses to those who rebel against the party. "
"..."
Xu Junling hit a soft nail, snorted, turned sideways, with a cold face:
"This is just a kind reminder from the Princess. In short, the local officials have already taken action. If you continue to delay, the consequences will be unpredictable.
Let me guess, the evidence Song Tiju left behind is still not enough, so you bought time and tried to dig deeper...
It's a pity that they are not prepared to give you enough time... Well, if you think about it, two key people are missing. How can the big tiger you want to catch leave any obvious clues?
Unless you can find Taicang County Magistrate Wang Chusheng...
Otherwise, since Gao Lian and the others have mobilized public opinion and are preparing to counterattack you, I am afraid that the next move against you is just around the corner. "
After saying these words, Xu Junling stood up angrily, turned around and left.
"It's all done in one battle."
Suddenly, Zhao Duan's voice came from behind:
"Princess, please remember to go to the crab feast this afternoon."
Yesterday, Zhao Duan said that the golden chrysanthemums in Taicang Prefecture are good. He heard that in the local autumn, there is a tradition of holding an autumn crab feast in the city.
As an imperial envoy, I also wanted to take the opportunity to meet the gentry and celebrities in the city.
Therefore, a crab feast was ordered and the celebrities and officials in the city were invited to gather together to ease the tense atmosphere in the city and dispel the rumors.
The banquet was held at a gentry residence in the city called "Chrysanthemum Terrace" where a large area of beautiful autumn chrysanthemums was planted.
"Know."
Xu Junling left without looking back.
She said in her heart that this princess wants to see what you are up to, other than just craving for a few crabs.
…
…
At noon.
Please order the people to evacuate. The sky above the city seemed to sense the coming wind and rain. For a moment, dark clouds gathered and the autumn wind was biting.
In the afternoon, Zhao Duan ordered 200 cavalry to stay. He took the princess and his party, together with Yushi Chen Hong and other imperial envoys, to the "Chrysanthemum Terrace".
In Taicang Mansion, all the distinguished celebrities and gentry have arrived.
The carriage was parked outside, blocking the entire street.
Gao, Liu and Sun, who were suspended from work and grounded, also arrived early.
Many tables were set up in the mansion, which was filled with gorgeous autumn chrysanthemums, rockeries and flowing water, and pavilions and pavilions.
On top are plates of tied crabs and jars of rice wine.
There are many people coming, all covered with robes.
However, the atmosphere of the banquet, which was supposed to be lively and festive for eating crabs and admiring chrysanthemums, was a little depressing and solemn. "The imperial envoy has arrived!"
Following the subordinate's shout, all the guests in the chrysanthemum stage stood up one after another.
Today, Song Juren, who calls himself "Mr. Zhengyang's disciple", also came. When he saw Zhao Duan and his entourage arriving, he hurriedly bowed respectfully.
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded, signaling him to calm down.
Pass through the guests on both sides and arrive at the main banquet hall.
At the door, a group of officials were waiting in line.
"Master Zhao, Princess, Chen Yushi...the banquet is ready and is waiting for you all."
Gao Lian was in the middle and said with a hearty smile.
This elegant envoy still wore official robes, but did not wear a black gauze hat. His black and white hair was neatly styled and fixed with a men's ebony hairpin.
Beside him.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Inspector Liu, who was obviously tired and aged, and Magistrate Sun, who was as thin as iron and black, stood on the left and right with their hands hanging down.
After Gao Lian spoke, all the officials followed him and saluted.
It's neat and uniform, and it's quite similar to the orders and prohibitions among civil servants.
"Haha, my lords, I've been waiting for a long time. Sit down quickly and sit down and talk."
Zhao Duan seemed to be in a good mood and entered the empty seat with a smile.
But as a group of people walked by, they could clearly sense the barely concealed hostility in the eyes of the officials on both sides.
This sight made Xu Junling, who was dressed in a rich dress, as gorgeous and elegant as a golden branch and jade leaf, feel uncomfortable all over.
It was as if this banquet hall was a dragon's pond and a tiger's den, and these officials wanted to eat them alive.
These people were going to cause trouble... The princess knew this intuitively.
She turned her head and looked at Zhao Duan, only to see a relaxed and natural expression on his handsome face.
Just strolling in the garden, nothing more than that.
…
Posthouse.
Accompanying the imperial envoy and his entourage to the banquet, only a group of elites who were seconded to the Linfeng Guard Station, headed by Yuan Xingjun, remained.
War horses were fed in special yards. Except for the soldiers on duty, the rest were ordered to rest in two yards where they were not allowed to take off their armor.
Ready to go at any time.
"General!"
The soldiers who were resting in the courtyard of the post house suddenly saw Yuan Xingjun walking in. They quickly stood up and lined up instinctively:
"General, do you have any orders?"
Wearing black fish scale armor and carrying a military straight sword on his waist, the Linfeng deputy general only executed and rarely asked questions, but his eyes were cold.
He glanced at the faces of his men and said:
"On the order of the imperial envoy...split up...set out immediately...to capture the criminal!"
Not long after.
The subordinate officials in the post house were shocked to see that nearly two hundred cavalrymen were broken into pieces. A team of five people poured out of the post house like a torrent and ran towards different directions in the city.
"Da da da..."
The cavalry was like thunder, shaking the dark clouds above the city, as if it was about to cause wind and rain.
"Xilulu..."
Yuan Xingjun rode on the most majestic war horse with extraordinary pedigree. He pulled the reins with his left hand and held the tall flagpole with one arm in his right hand. He headed towards the city gate to greet them with majestic momentum.
In the horrified eyes of countless people, only the "Lin Feng" flag was hunting in the autumn wind.
And in the dark where no one notices.
In the streets and alleys, there are Imperial City Shadow Guards who look no different from traffickers and foot soldiers, quietly rising up in every corner of the city.
They dispersed and joined the separate cavalry groups to lead the way.
"It's all done in one battle."
Yuan Xingjun carried the flag and rode on horseback, looking at the approaching city gate, chewing on the words Master Zhao said, his eyes shining slightly.
…
…
Chrysanthemum table.
The crab feast has officially begun.
The crabs are steamed to perfection, supplemented with unique local dipping sauces, and paired with locally brewed rice wine with a fruity aroma. The taste is indeed different from that in Beijing.
Zhao Duan was chatting and laughing with the officials, gentry and wealthy people in the city, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.
During these days, due to the demonization of public opinion, King Zhao Yan had become a very terrifying image in the eyes of many gentry, middle and low-level officials.
However, when we actually met, we realized that it was completely different from the rumors.
This "King of Hell Zhao" was unexpectedly "friendly to the people" and not at all as cold and domineering as rumored.
As the saying goes, it is better to hear once than to see once. Zhao Duan only used one appearance to greatly alleviate the instinctive fear of him among the gentry class.
Seeing this, several big figures in Linfeng's officialdom couldn't sit still.
"Master Zhao,"
The chief envoy Gao Lian picked up the silk cloth, wiped his hands, cast his bright and sharp eyes at someone sitting on the throne, and said seriously:
"I dare you to ask, sir, how is the progress of the investigation in the past few days?"
Zhao Duan raised his gaze.
The banquet hall also fell silent instantly.
"Gao Fantai, do you have any advice?"
(End of chapter)