Regarding Liu Changqing's trip, considering some safety issues, Xiao Yuan transferred Liang Yuan over again and asked him to accompany him to ensure safety.
The Prime Minister's visit to the local area is equivalent to a high-ranking official's visit. If the local government knows about it, no matter where he goes, he will probably be received by a large number of officials.
However, Liu Changqing did not make a big fanfare, but dressed in casual clothes, he and Liang Yuan started to set off with several masters from the Duwei camp as their entourage.
A few days later, Ningyang County, Longan County.
After arriving here, I thought that Liu Changqing would go directly to the county government, but he had no intention of doing so. Instead, he first went to the village where Hu Qingqing was located, and after some inquiring about the villagers, he returned to the county seat. , strolling here and there in the market, and chatting with stall vendors from time to time.
"Come and try the steaming steamed buns..."
"Oranges, fresh oranges..."
The county town is very lively, with pedestrians coming and going on the streets. It seems like there is some kind of market today, and the sound of hawking is endless.
Along the way, Liang Yuan couldn't help but said: "Sir, you are so picky and picky, you didn't buy anything, and I didn't even see the vendors looking at you with blank eyes."
"I don't have any money. I'm poor. How about you lend me two taels of silver? I'll pay you back after I get my salary?" Liu Changqing said.
"..." Liang Yuan was speechless. This is the prime minister with a long history, a dignified minister.
After a pause, Liu Changqing continued: "The Gou family is the most wealthy family in Long'an County. When you ask about the young master of the Gou family, everyone in the local area knows about it."
"Is this why your Excellency visited the people first?" Liang Yuan asked.
"That's right." Liu Changqing said: "In fact, it is easy to investigate the matter of Li Erzhu's wife Hu Qingqing. Don't they all hold different opinions now? Who do you want to believe?"
"Of course it's Hu Qingqing. Haven't we been to that village before? The farmers in the village said that Hu Qingqing is kind-hearted, helpful, and law-abiding. She is a rare good girl." Liang Yuan said without hesitation.
"But this cannot be finalized yet. We must have sufficient evidence, otherwise, someone will muddy the waters." Liu Changqing said.
"Then... how are you going to convict Gou Ju?" Liang Yuan couldn't help but ask.
Liu Changqing said: "If you want to solve a case, you must first find its source. How could Hu Qingqing, an ordinary civilian girl, get involved with Gou Ju? This can only mean that she has been to the city recently and encountered Been to the latter.”
"Some villagers said before that she went to burn incense and pray for her husband's safety." Liang Yuan took over.
Liu Changqing smiled, then pointed not far ahead: "It's right here."
In front, there is a temple with steps at the gate. There are naturally many vendors in the market under the steps.
After Liu Changqing finished speaking, he walked over in a leisurely manner and began to select and talk to the vendors as before.
Not long after, he mentioned Gou Ju casually.
As a result, the vendor looked around and then said: "Sir, you are not a local, are you? The prodigal you mentioned is notorious. Who doesn't know about it? No, not long ago, the prodigal was still teasing him in broad daylight. People’s daughter, the result almost caused public outrage.”
Hearing this, Liu Changqing couldn't help but look at each other and Liang Yuan, and then said: "Is it right here?"
"No, I set up a stall here every day, and I can clearly see that this is the entrance to the temple. I'm going to kill him. He deserves to be struck by lightning!" the vendor said angrily.
"Haha, these evil people really deserve retribution..."
After making a few inquiries, Liang Yuan tentatively asked, "Master Liu, is this evidence?"
"Of course it is evidence, and these are all witnesses." Liu Changqing said: "This is how it should be. Hu Qingqing knew that her husband was fighting on the front line. She was worried and asked for God's blessing. As a result, Gou Ju wandered here and saw Hu's beautiful appearance. , he had evil thoughts in his heart, but failed to succeed when there were many people, so he tracked her to the village. Then, he wanted to do something like an animal, but he didn't think that the woman was too strong, so he resisted vigorously, and then stabbed her in the shoulder, and then, Unwilling to give in, Gou used his power of gold and silver to bite back and falsely accuse him of not observing women's ways."
"Hateful!" After hearing this, Liang Yuan also looked filled with indignation. He clenched his fists and said, "We, the soldiers of the Qin Army, shed our blood on the front line! Fighting for our country! But my wife at home is being humiliated like this! Who can bear it? Tolerate!"
"Don't be anxious." Liu Changqing said again: "This case is not as simple as it seems now. Do you think the local county magistrate is a fool? He must have sorted out the facts of the case, but what went wrong in the middle? That’s all.”
"My lord, what you mean is..."
"You can go to the county government now."
At this time, the county magistrate Wang Shao was still anxiously waiting for news about Li Erzhu.
Not long after, the county guard came to report that someone wanted to see him and presented him with a token.
"What's this?"
It was a small black metal sign with a special pattern embedded in it. Wang Shao took it. At first, he was a little confused, but after looking through it, his eyes suddenly widened.
"Du...duwei camp..."
He swallowed hard, and in shock, he immediately realized that Li Erzhu's complaint must have been successful!
Thinking of this, he couldn't care less about anything else than rushing out to greet him.
When he saw Liu Changqing and Liang Yuan, he immediately bowed his hands and bowed deeply, saying, "I don't know that these two adults are here. I am sorry that I didn't meet them from afar. I hope you will forgive me."
"Your Excellency, the county magistrate, there is no need to be polite. Please speak within the palace."
"Ah? Yes, yes, sir, please come this way."
Wang Shao bent down and stretched out his hand. Although he didn't know Liu Changqing's identity yet, he was a member of the Duwei camp, which was enough for him to respect.
After entering the house and retreating to the left and right, he also held the token in both hands and said tentatively: "I dare to ask what this token is..."
"His." Liu Changqing pointed at Liang Yuan.
"Master Liang." Wang Shao handed it back respectfully.
Liang Yuan's name was engraved on the token. The latter took it and began to introduce it: "This is Prime Minister Chang Shi, Liu Changqing, Lord Liu."
"Ah?" Wang Shao was a little dumbfounded.
Liu Changqing said straight to the point: "Master Wang, what do you think of the Hu Qingqing case?"
Now that all the senior officials have come down, Wang Shao will still hesitate. After hearing this, he immediately said:
"Sir, Gou Ju is notorious and has bad moral character, while Hu Qingqing is kind and virtuous. The facts of the case are clear at a glance. Just because the superiors are pressing it, the lower officials...the lower officials are powerless."
Liu Changqing glanced at him and said: "If you do this, arrest Gou Ju immediately, but don't touch him yet, let alone tell anyone, I have arrived in Long'an."
"My lord, what you mean is..."
"Let's see who comes to get him."
"I understand." Wang Shao was shocked.
That afternoon, Gou Ju was brought over by the county guards. Wang Shao gave the order without saying a word.
When the latter saw this, he stood in the hall and was stunned for a moment, then said gloomily:
"Master Wang! Do you know what you are doing!"
"Of course I know what I am doing. You humiliated the wife of my Qin army soldier and attempted to commit adultery. This is a heinous crime! Come here! Put me on death row!"
"No!" The guards on both sides responded immediately.
"Wang Shao! How dare you, a little county magistrate, treat this young master like this! You will regret it!"
Gou Ju was still yelling angrily when he was being taken away.
This matter soon spread to the Gou family.
Afterwards, the Gou family began to spend a lot of money on activities again...
The next day, Ningyang County Mansion.
Just as the governor Yu Fang was about to go out, a senior general of the Qin Army strode over.
After he came over, he said directly with a cold face without any nonsense:
"Don't interfere. The matter is getting serious. Liu Changqing has already arrived in Ningyang."
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