Chapter 646: Burial (4K large chapter)
Most of the cases that come to the government office are not trivial matters. They are all very influential and involve a wide range of matters.
With Xu Chong's help, Xiao Luoan quickly saw two related and very important cases.
One is a bandit robbery that occurred six years ago.
According to the records in this file, the government was unstable at that time and bandits were everywhere. In order to expand, a group of bandits who had just become bandits attacked two villages on a spring night and robbed food, property and people.
Among them, young children and the elderly were all slaughtered, and all women and young people were abducted into bandits' dens. According to statistics, the number of people in the two villages was as many as one hundred.
The other one was the one who suppressed bandits five years ago.
This same bandit den that once robbed the village population had only twenty-three corpses and three alive when it was cleared.
As a result, there was a huge discrepancy between the number of people before and after.
But Xiao Luoan didn't say anything. He just took out the two files and put them aside, and then continued to check the others.
Immediately afterwards, there were several more case records that seemed inappropriate.
Also six years ago, in July, the embankment was built.
Due to continuous rain for several days, the Songhe River outside Ronghe Prefecture City surged. The government office rushed all the laborers to the river embankment to strengthen the river embankment in the rain, but there was still an incision on the river embankment. As a result of the accident, the river surged out and flooded farmland and villages.
Fortunately, the gap was repaired in time to avoid greater losses. However, many laborers fell into the river or were washed away by floods and disappeared. According to final statistics, the number of missing or dead laborers was more than 80. people.
In the autumn of six years ago, a flood occurred in the dungeon where prisoners were held in the government office. Unfortunately, twenty-seven prisoners were burned to death in the dungeon. Their bodies were so dark that they were difficult to identify. In the end, they could only be cremated into ashes and handed over to the police. By members of the prisoner's family.
In the spring of five years ago, an epidemic broke out while working on the city wall. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, all the prisoners serving labor were imprisoned in abandoned houses in the suburbs. The epidemic was fierce, and five or six people died one after another every day, and one hundred people died. Thirty-six people, only eight survived in the end...
These cases are all related to population.
And all of them happened five or six years ago, which was about the time when Ruan Zhiheng came to Ronghe Fucheng to serve as the prefect.
If we say that none of these people died at that time, but fished in troubled waters, all of them were secretly transferred elsewhere...
The first case involved ordinary villagers, but except for the person who was arrested, all other related people were killed and no one was found.
Most of the other cases involve criminals who were sentenced to hard labor. When such people were sentenced to hard labor, everyone in their family was mentally prepared that they might not be able to come back. Even if there was an accident along the way, everyone would take it for granted and would not return. Not getting emotional or chasing results.
Thoughts... really thoughtful!
Xiao Luoan calmly put all these files in one place, keeping them in mind, and then pulled out a few files that looked very conspicuous and had obvious disputes.
There was a fight over a brothel oiran, resulting in the death of one person, but the murderer was not punished.
Because of a real estate dispute, the other party's whole family was killed, but in the end only the housekeeper was pushed out to take the blame...
Xiao Luoan pretended to be confused and angry, threw such files on the case, and asked the clerk to explain the reasons. He even threatened to call Ruan Zhiheng over to ask about the reasons.
The clerk couldn't bear Xiao Luoan's rage and had to quickly tell someone to inform Ruan Zhiheng.
After hearing this, Ruan Zhiheng felt much more at ease.
Sure enough, this Xiao Luoan was just doing what he suspected, just to vent his anger and regain some face for himself.
He was destined to suffer this apparent loss.
So, for two consecutive days, Ruan Zhiheng stayed with Smiley every day, listening to Xiao Luoan's angry accusations and questions.
These two days were also good weather with bright sunshine.
The remaining mud on the road has become extremely dry under the scorching sun day after day, making it easier for carriages and horses to travel.
But even with such good weather, Lu Qiyan's wind and cold still didn't get much better.
The high fever subsided and then came back again, many times in succession, making Lu Qiyan's whole body listless and lifeless, and his face was pale and full of sallowness.
This made everyone very worried.
Worrying about Lu Qiyan's physical condition, he was also worried about his trip to Beijing.
Seeing that Lu Qiyan's illness was so severe that it was very difficult to get rid of it. After Xia Yunji and Li Juncheng discussed with Lu Qiyan, they decided that Xia Yunji would lead the troops to escort Li Juncheng and others eastward to Beijing.
Xia Mingyue and his party stayed here for a few more days, and after Lu Qiyan's condition improved, they set off to catch up.
After the matter was settled, Xia Yunji and others did not make any unnecessary stops. After placing the soldiers and guards left behind, they set off on their way with Li Juncheng and his party.
Dr. Liu came here twice more. Seeing Lu Qiyan's repeated high fever, he was extremely worried and adjusted the prescription. He even temporarily lived in a villa in the Cao family residence at Xia Mingyue's request so that he could give him medicine at any time. Lu Qiyan sees a doctor.
Also because Lu Qiyan's place was cold and cold for a long time, Xia Mingyue did not allow anyone to disturb her. The courtyard where she and Lu Qiyan lived was guarded by soldiers, and her permission was required for entry and exit.
These things reached Ruan Zhiheng's ears word by word.
He didn't care about it. Firstly, he thought it was ordinary and there was nothing he needed to pay extra attention to. Secondly, he was already very busy and a bit exhausted.
Xiao Luoan was like crazy, checking various files all day long, constantly questioning and scolding, not even leaving him a moment to spare.
Ruan Zhiheng felt really depressed, so he simply claimed to be ill and planned to avoid Xiao Luoan for the time being.
Xiao Luoan, on the other hand, probably felt that it was enough and there was no need to go too far, so he stopped for two days.
This made Ruan Zhiheng relax a little.
However, before this breath could be fully uttered, Yin Zhizhou hurried to the backyard of the government office and found Ruan Zhiheng.
Yin Zhizhou ran all the way, panting now. When he saw Ruan Zhiheng, he didn't even bother to wipe the sweat on his forehead, and he didn't even bother to catch his breath. He just said, "Sir, it's not good!"< br>
"What's wrong?" Ruan Zhiheng was very impatient.
"People from Jin Weiguo kidnapped the third prince!"
What?
Ruan Zhiheng, who was lying on the bed, almost jumped up, "How could such a thing happen?"
"I don't even know if I'm in a humble position." Yin Zhizhou swallowed his saliva to moisten his sore throat and said, "I only know that they seem to be the soldiers of the Jin Wei Kingdom who attacked the peace delegation earlier!"
"Probably because the attack on the peace negotiation mission failed and the master Tao Kanglai was dead, he became angry and wanted to cause trouble in the Zhou Dynasty!" Ruan Zhiheng suddenly became an ant on the hot pot when he heard this. He even didn't care about his shoes. He was not allowed to wear anything, so he walked around barefoot on the ground.
This is a big deal!
The soldiers of Jin Weiguo sneaked into Ronghe City, but he, the prefect, was not aware of this. This was a dereliction of duty!
And the soldiers of Jin Weiguo kidnapped the third prince. It would be good if the third prince could return safely. If not, if something like this happens to the dignified prince in his territory, the emperor must be furious!
By then, the second prince will definitely hold on to this matter. The Cui family will take the opportunity to take a bite, and even the Wen family behind him will not be able to protect him.
Maybe, in order to appease the emperor's anger and resist the Cui family's revenge, he might even be pushed out!
Ruan Zhiheng did not dare to think about his own fate. He only felt that his whole body was covered in cold sweat and his knees were a little weak.
"Where are these Jin Weiguo soldiers?" Ruan Zhiheng asked.
"I was about to talk to you about this matter." Yin Zhizhou wiped the sweat from his forehead again and again, "Those desperadoes seemed to be determined to die and wanted to drag the third prince to be buried with them. Now there is a group of people. He kidnapped the third prince and entered Meiling!”
"And those desperadoes from Jin Weiguo even made harsh words to the outside world, saying that they carried a lot of explosives. Anyone who dared to enter Meiling would immediately light them up and detonate them, so that the third prince would be buried with them."
Meiling, explosives, burial...
These words are all very common words. Why do they become so scary when put together?
Ruan Zhiheng's legs became weak again.
Please...you...collect 6...9...books...!
Yin Zhizhou said again, "In regard to Jin Weiguo's kidnapping of the third prince, Master Wei Ruiliangwei, the pacification director of Lingdong Road, has led his men to Meiling and surrounded the Meiling Mountain area where Jin Weiguo's desperadoes are..."
Lingdong Road Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department?
Surround Meiling?
Ruan Zhiheng's face was visibly pale.
The Fucheng belongs to the road, Ronghe Mansion is under the jurisdiction of Lingdong Road, and the Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department is the commander-in-chief, responsible for all the Fucheng and ready-made military security matters on Lingdong Road. Although the soldiers under Wei Ruiliang cannot compete with The troops fighting at the border are relatively fierce, but they are also very fierce.
And this Wei Ruiliang seems to be connected with the He family. Judging from the fact that the He family does not participate in any princes' battles, his purpose here must be to rescue the third prince, without considering anything else.
In this way, over at Meiling...
Ruan Zhiheng walked out in a panic, "Quick, call all the government officials and city guards. Except for those on duty, everyone else will follow me to Meiling..."
"Save the Third Prince!"
Ruan Zhiheng almost squeezed these four words out from between his teeth.
In terms of his true nature, he hoped that the troublemaker Xiao Luoan would be killed on the spot without any possibility of survival. However, judging from the current situation, if he could rescue Xiao Luoan, he might be able to save Meiling. The best way.
Seeing Ruan Zhiheng rushing out, Yin Zhizhou hurriedly caught up behind him.
"My lord, clothes, clothes..."
"My lord, you haven't put on your shoes yet!"
"My lord..."
It didn't take much time to summon the government officials and the city defense, but it took almost two hours to rush from Fusion City to Meiling, running all the way under the stars.
By the time Ruan Zhiheng and Yin Zhizhou arrived at the entrance to Meiling, Wei Ruiliang had already personally led the troops to guard all the possible paths in and out of Meiling.
Ruan Zhiheng's heart sank. He did not give orders to others, but drove his horse back and forth for a patrol. When he found that even the official road passing through the mountain was filled with soldiers brought by Wei Ruiliang, this heart could Said it was raised in the throat.
Seeing that Wei Ruiliang was about to send a scout into Meiling, Ruan Zhiheng hurriedly said, "Sir Wei, there are people in the government who are familiar with the terrain of Meiling. Why don't we let them lead the way?"
In this way, we can take the opportunity to send a message to those who are in Meiling at this time, so that they can be prepared to avoid being discovered.
Wei Ruiliang narrowed his eyes and said, "No, I have sent people to look for hunters who often go into the mountains to hunt and are very familiar with the terrain. Let them lead the way."
"As for the people from the government office, they will stay here to help guard, lest the soldiers brought by me cannot completely resist the attack of Jin Weiguo's gangsters."
After saying that, Wei Ruiliang raised his hand, and a group of scouts who were fully dressed, with daggers and swords hanging on their waists, and quivers on their backs, began to take action.
Following them were dozens of ferocious-looking hounds that were now wearing cages.
The scouts led the hunters and hounds into the mountains one after another.
Immediately afterwards, the chirping sounds of various birds came one after another from inside.
Seeing this, Ruan Zhiheng hurriedly said, "Sir Wei, the scouts entered the mountain and frightened so many birds. I'm afraid that the bad guys from Jin Wei will also get excited because of this. I heard that this bad guy from Jin Wei has brought a lot of explosives and wants to kill them." The Third Prince will be buried with him. If those bad guys are shocked, the Third Prince will be here..."
Since he couldn't send someone in to deliver the message, all he could do now was delay.
After delaying until this time, the people in Meiling can sense that something is wrong outside, wait for the opportunity to evacuate and destroy the traces.
"What Ruan Zhifu doesn't know is that the chirping sounds of these birds are not real birds, but just a way for scouts to communicate with each other and send signals..."
Before Wei Ruiliang finished his sentence, he suddenly raised his hand to signal Ruan Zhiheng to stop talking, and then rushed to the side and said, "Lead a hundred people to follow in batches, and be careful not to be discovered."
< br>
"Yes!" Someone from below responded, immediately took out the flag from his waist and stood on a high place to raise the flag.
A leader responded immediately and led a hundred people into the mountain quickly.
The chirping of birds continued, and the sound changed slightly.
Wei Ruiliang listened to the sounds of these birds, sometimes frowning, sometimes squinting, and occasionally gesturing to the flag bearer next to him.
And with this series of actions, groups of people continued to enter Meiling.
The sun gradually rises until it reaches its highest point, and then gradually sets to the west.
People continued to enter Meiling, and the number of people guarding outside was reduced by more than half visible to the naked eye.
But Ruan Zhiheng and Yin Zhizhou were sweating more and more on their faces, even dripping down their cheeks and soaking their robes.
"Zhifu Ruan, Zhizhou Yin, you two don't have to worry so much." Wei Ruiliang said loudly, "With me here, we will definitely be able to ensure the safety of the third prince..."
Before he finished speaking, a loud "bang" was heard, and the ground under his feet seemed to tremble for a long time, and then a thick plume of smoke rose in the sky above Meiling.
Wei Ruiliang, who was originally sitting, stood up and stared at Mei Ling with a solemn expression.