The people in the militia finally lowered their heads. The leader was the first offender. Although he was deceived by Lin Xi, there was no reason to tolerate him.
The rest of the people, those who were innocent in the past and who had not officially joined the White Lotus Sect, were sentenced to thirty years of cane punishment and then sent to prison for hard labor.
It's not that Xiao Feng refuses to forgive them, but that he can't tell in a short time which of them are leaning towards the White Lotus Sect, and he can't let them go out and let the news leak out.
The regiment leader, Lin Xi, and the charming woman in Huang Zhifu's back hall were pushed side by side to the long street in front of the government office. Magistrate Huang looked at Xiao Feng tremblingly, fearing that he would push him directly onto the long street.
Although this is definitely against the rules, Huang Zhifu feels that Xiao Feng is not a rule-abiding person at all!
"My Lord Governor, I have no intention of being rebellious. Over the years, Lin Xi has been effective in doing things, but I have gradually become lazy. He has also gradually tempted me to take medicine, and he also gave me this concubine, so that I have no intention of doing business.
In the end, I was completely controlled by him, but everything he did was said to be for my own good, and it was indeed smooth sailing for me and I was promoted step by step.
I thought I was doing a good job by studying Long Live and doing nothing but doing nothing, but I really didn’t know that he and this woman were both members of the White Lotus Sect!
I don’t know about them killing good people and taking credit for it! Everything I said is true, sir! "
Xiao Feng looked at this lazy, stupid, and lustful pig head, and knew that this was just the epitome of most of the current officials of the Ming Dynasty.
For a moment, he suddenly felt that the thing pressing on him was too heavy, making him breathless.
Is this heavy, dirty, cold Ming Dynasty really worth carrying my flesh and blood on my back, only to be crushed to pieces if I'm not careful?
I already have enough wealth to protect the identities of my family and friends. I coaxed Jiajing to have a good relationship with the two princes, as well as Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng, so that he could live a wealthy life.
When everyone I care about is dead, what does this world have to do with me? Wouldn't it be better to just let history continue? Isn’t it good for me to live a good life with my family and friends?
Seeing Xiao Feng's confused look, Magistrate Huang thought he had persuaded Xiao Feng, so he quickly stepped up his efforts and whispered in a very low voice.
"Sir, I have a lot of money, and I would like to dedicate it all to you. Also, in the past two years, Lin Xi has always used medicine to stop me, but I know that he must have a lot of medicine.
My lord, whatever we find out will be your disposal. This medicine is now very expensive on the black market. If adults are willing to use it themselves, the effect is also very good..."
Xiao Feng did not kill Magistrate Huang, but only withheld his seal and gave it to the Qingzhou Prefecture's fellow magistrate, asking him to work on behalf of the magistrate. Then he put Magistrate Huang into a prison car and was escorted to Beijing.
Later, Xiao Feng learned that Magistrate Huang suffered from drug addiction just two days after leaving the prison, and screamed like a slaughtered pig in the prison car.
By the time I walked to the capital for ten bumpy days, I had been tortured almost to death, but my drug addiction had been forcibly given up!
This phenomenon aroused great interest in Tao Zhongwen, who was studying the treatment plan for Bliss Pill addiction under the orders of Jiajing and Xiao Feng.
After hearing that Magistrate Huang must be guilty of a capital crime, he immediately asked for an order to imprison Magistrate Huang in Jinyiwei's prison.
Because there was irrefutable evidence that Magistrate Huang had colluded with the White Lotus Sect, even Yan Shifan did not dare to come forward to protect him. However, Jiajing never issued an order to kill him, but kept him in jail pending trial.
Tao Zhongwen took the Paradise Pill confiscated by the court into the imperial prison every day and fed it to Magistrate Huang. After he became addicted again, he tried to treat it with various drugs.
After discovering that his elixir was difficult to treat, he asked Dr. Jing to study together and pricked Magistrate Huang like a hedgehog, but the effect was still limited.
In the end, the simplest method was adopted, and Magistrate Huang was tied up and allowed to record his drug addiction and howl like a killing pig. This time it took longer than last time, and it took about fifteen days to quit.
Then give medicine again, quit again, give medicine again, quit again...
Finally, during the fifth time of drug withdrawal, Huang Zhifu could not resist and died, making a huge contribution to the treatment of Bliss Pill.
Tao Zhongwen later told Xiao Feng that Magistrate Huang deserved death for his crime, and leaving a whole body was much better than being dismembered on the execution ground.
But Dr. Jing told Xiao Feng that this was just Tao Zhongwen's personal opinion. During the period of drug withdrawal, Magistrate Huang greeted Tao Zhongwen's entire family many times, and repeatedly requested that they be allowed to go to the execution ground and be stabbed.
This is something to say later. After watching Magistrate Huang's prison car on its way, Xiao Feng walked up to the three people kneeling on the long street.
The leader closed his eyes and waited for death, while the charming woman twisted her seductive figure desperately, hoping to arouse Xiao Feng's interest. Only Lin Xi still looked at Xiao Feng calmly.
"Now that I am mortal, can you tell me where I lost?
How do you know I have a problem? Why did you inform Yu Dayou and others in advance not to eat the food and wine I sent? "
Xiao Feng smiled faintly: "I promised you, if you tell your story, I will naturally make you understand.
Before arriving in Qingzhou, I asked the princess to take a test to see if she was in danger. The princess wrote the word 'medicine'.
The word "medicine" has grass on top and wood on the bottom, and the two characters "尺" in the middle are connected with the beginning of the character grass, making it look like two characters "Xuan".
'Xuan' is black, with 'white' in the middle, black with white. I originally thought it was a place with lush vegetation and a place name with the meaning of black and white in its name.
So I asked people to explore around Qingzhou, looking for places with such characteristics. At the same time, we also collected public opinions to see how Qingzhou, which has been praised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War, is governed.
As a result, I found that many people outside Qingzhou Prefecture felt that it was safer to join the White Lotus Sect, which made me suspicious.
When I saw Magistrate Huang outside the city gate, I immediately knew that the danger to the princess came from him, because the word "黄" also started with the prefix "草" and had the character "Yin" at the bottom.
'Yin' hour is early in the morning, which is when night and day meet, so I am careful every step and observe carefully. But when I looked around, I found that this man was not a wise man, but a pure fool. How did he endanger the princess?
Just when I was puzzled, he told me that all his promotions over the years relied on your help. I suddenly understood that that word refers to both him and you. The danger to the princess comes from both of you at the same time. ! "
Lin Xi looked at Xiao Feng: "What do you mean by this?"
Xiao Feng smiled: "Where there are grass and trees, it can also be a forest; between day and night, it can also be a sunset; even if Huang Guang is so cowardly, he can't do any of those things. You should be the one making the decision in Qingzhou Mansion.
Magistrate Huang's stupidity and desire, and Lin Xi's cunning and ferocity, together constitute the danger to the princess today. This is the correct answer to the 'medicine'. "
Lin Xi looked at Xiao Feng in disbelief: "But how did you know that I would drug Yu Dayou and the others? Even if you were prepared to be attacked in the city, you wouldn't have thought of such a specific thing.
You must know that when I delivered wine and food to Yu Dayou's troops, you were already in the city and had no chance to inform Yu Dayou! "
Xiao Feng smiled faintly: "After resurrecting, I discovered that the previous character test was somewhat awkward. In fact, the character itself has a certain meaning.
The princess wrote the word "medicine" and asked about her danger. Naturally, I had to remind Yu Dayou to be careful about someone drugging him. "
Lin Xi gritted her teeth: "You didn't bring the princess into the city at all, right? Otherwise, no matter how careful your calculation is, I still have a chance to catch the princess!"
Xiao Feng nodded: "How can a princess with a body of thousands of gold venture into dangerous places? There is just a maid sitting in the carriage, and An Qingyue is accompanying the carriage. Do you think there must be a princess inside?"
The princess stayed with Yu Dayou, but she just changed to a small carriage. On this trip, I brought several carriages with me. Guess what was in them? "
Lin Xi stared at Xiao Feng blankly, not wanting to say a word, but suddenly he thought of something and shouted suddenly.
"When did you know that our target belonged to the princess? Now that you knew it, why did you take the princess to the south for adventure?"
Xiao Feng said calmly: "Because Yan Song is right and Long Live is also right. There is no one more suitable to help Yu Dayou than me right now, so I have to come even though I know it is a trap.
Since I dare to come, I am not afraid of you. It is difficult to say who is the hunter and who is the prey. "
Lin Xi closed her eyes and waited for death, but she was still curious in her heart and asked reluctantly: "Are all the books in your car?"
Xiao Feng nodded slightly and sighed: "You are very smart, it's a pity. What I brought in the car were storybooks and plays written by someone I hired, and they were provided free of charge to theater troupes and storytellers in teahouses and restaurants everywhere.
Along the way, I would distribute a batch of them everywhere I went, and there was still a steady stream of printing in the capital and sending them to various places for free.
Wu Dalang will never be as popular as Wu Dalang, who was the county magistrate, and will never be as famous as Wu Dalang who was poisoned by Pan Jinlian.
Because people prefer stories and legends to history. The White Lotus Sect has always used stories and legends to brainwash the people.
Officials of all dynasties could not understand this truth, but I understand. Not only did I give them free notebooks, but I also asked the court to reward those who spoke well and became famous.
I hold in my hand the huge propaganda machine of the imperial court. I have open channels and endless financial resources. When it comes to making up stories, can you compare to me? "
Lin Xi closed his eyes in pain, and the moment the big knife fell, he roared heartbreakingly.
"Holy Envoy, you must kill this person, otherwise the White Lotus Sect will be over!"
Xiao Feng was stationed in Qingzhou for several days, watching his fellow officers issue notices to calm the people, and pay compensation to the families who had been mistakenly arrested and killed by the defenders and policemen before, telling them that it was all the work of the White Lotus Sect.
At the same time, a large number of congregants who had joined the White Lotus Sect were searched and arrested. After intensive training, records were kept and they were released back home.
This is considered a case record. When there are White Lotus Sect activities in the future, these people will be investigated first.
Then they distributed storybooks and playbooks, and watched with their own eyes as the storytellers in various teahouses and restaurants began to tell stories about the White Lotus Sect, which brought disaster to the country and the people, was perverted and vicious, was suppressed by the Taoist sect, and was arrested by the imperial court.
He also held several meetings in the mansion and personally reviewed the rehearsals of several well-known local opera troupes.
The singing skills of the opera troupe were just mediocre, not as good as the famous actors in the capital. However, there were several actresses who frequently made secret glances at Xiao Feng. They were so full of spring that they greatly dissatisfied Princess Chang'an who was watching the opera behind the curtain.
"No wonder people put actors and brothel girls together. It's really disrespectful. Mr. Xiao, you wouldn't like such a woman, would you?"
Xiao Feng glanced at Princess Chang An in surprise: "Why do you think they are women? Who would accept women to sing in opera troupes in a place like this? They are all men."
Princess Chang An was greatly surprised: "No way, why do you look more feminine than a woman! Why don't local opera troupes accept women to sing?"
Xiao Feng patiently explained to Princess Chang An: "Those who dare to accept women to sing in operas must be famous actors in the big troupe, and they are usually in the capital, with backstage and security.
Otherwise, once a woman goes on stage and becomes famous, she may be spotted by a local powerful man, who may force her to buy her or even take her as a concubine. People often say that it takes three years to become the number one scholar and ten years to become a famous actor.
Who would want the apprentice who worked so hard to teach him to end up like this? The troupe suddenly loses its pillars, and its survival is in danger. "
Princess Chang An stared blankly at the "female girls" who were still ogling Xiao Feng, and suddenly felt a little sad.
"It seems that I am indeed ignorant of worldly affairs, but such things cannot be written in books.
My father always said that the sun and moon will shine brightly tomorrow, but I never expected that the people would be so miserable, and they would have to rely on men to dress up as women to avoid disasters. "
Xiao Feng smiled faintly, but there was no smile in his eyes: "Have you avoided the disaster? Not necessarily. Even so, someone will still rob it.
Do you think they really like me? They hope to win my favor and sacrifice one person to find a backer for the team, so that they can be safe.
When will girls be free to learn to sing, and men and women who sing on stage will no longer need to be afraid? This will be the dawn of the Ming Dynasty. "
A few days later, an imperial edict was sent from the capital, commending Xiao Feng for his investigation of the White Lotus Sect in Qingzhou and his revelation of the Qingzhou prefect's false claims of military merit.
At the same time, the capital sent a new Qingzhou prefect, who was said to be highly recommended by Yan Song. Qingzhou was so important, and he just took this opportunity to install his confidants.
Since Xiao Feng was not in the court, the officials naturally did not dare to object, not to mention that they really had no reason to object.
Although this new prefect is also a member of the strict party, he is an honest official and has a good reputation. He is an absolute alternative among the strict party.
At this time, this strict member of the party was seeing Xiao Feng off. The two talked a lot in whispers outside the city. Many people were stunned, especially officials at all levels in Qingzhou, who were secretly wondering.
Isn't it said that this new prefect is a confidant that Yan Shouxu values ? Didn't it mean that Yan Shoufu and Mr. Xiao were incompatible with each other?
Why do the prefect and Master Xiao not seem to be the same thing?
Maybe they were fighting each other. It is said that Yan Shifan, the elder of the small pavilion, often had this kind of discussion with Mr. Xiao with a smile on his face.
Thinking about it, since the new prefect is Yan Chief Fu's confidant, the level of fighting will naturally not be low.
Xiao Feng's motorcade has gone far away, and the new prefect is still looking far into the distance, watching the smoke and dust drifting in the wind, and thinking about Xiao Feng's instructions.
"The land of Qingzhou is connected to Zhili at the top and Jiangnan at the bottom. After I leave, you must continue to guard it tightly, not only to prevent the White Lotus Sect from coming back, but also to train troops and horses diligently to prevent Japanese pirates from crossing the border.
On the strict side, don't be impulsive and troublesome, just continue to pretend to be an honest person as before. When I need you to stand up, I will tell you naturally. "
"Xiaoguan Yang Jisheng, I would like to obey your words. Please rest assured. As long as I am here, Qingzhou will not be lost, the white lotus will not flourish, and the Japanese pirates will never come back!"
