Taikang County, Notice Office.
An officer and soldier walked over quickly, first cleaned up the expired papers, then brushed the notice board and posted the latest notice.
It is not allowed to post random things on county notice boards. Violators will be severely fined. The things on them are usually local government orders or wanted orders, all of which have official seals.
The officers and soldiers left here after finishing their work. After they left, first the nearby shops and vendors took their time to come over, and then the passers-by, including some business travelers who had just entered the city.
People pay great attention to government orders because they are closely related to people's lives, so they gather more and more.
Someone crowded in front and shouted: "Is there anyone who can read? Please read it quickly. Looking at the paper and the red seal, I'm afraid it's not a big deal."
"That's right, maybe it has something to do with the land."
"Don't say goodbye. Our life has just become a little better, but don't let it be a heavy tax and corvee."
"Where are the scholars?"
"Don't make any noise, I know how to read."
Someone squeezed in and read aloud while reading each word: "The imperial court has appointed imperial envoys to inspect Taikang, investigate corrupt officials, and eliminate officials. However, Taikang County Magistrate Tan Shimin is corrupt and perverting the law, preying on the common people, and profiteers. Wei and Hang colluded and poisoned people's lives, so tomorrow at six o'clock, the county government will hold a public trial."
After he finished reading, the people around him were shocked and showed incredulous expressions.
"You didn't pronounce it wrong, did you?" Someone couldn't help but ask, because to ordinary people, the county magistrate is a superior existence. Who can touch him?
"Are you kidding? I'm a student at the county school. How could I misunderstand the word? Didn't I hear that there was an imperial envoy inspecting Taikang?"
"This is so great! God is wise! We can finally punish these two bullies!" Someone else shouted excitedly, as if they had suffered from corrupt officials before.
The crowd was talking a lot. This incident was too exciting for the people of Taikang. In just one afternoon, the news spread almost throughout the entire county.
County jail.
Tan Shimin and Wei Hang were not thrown into the pile of prisoners, but were held in two separate cells.
When Tan Shimin was taken away, his legs were weak and his whole body was shaking. He could not walk at all. He was almost dragged here by the officers and soldiers. At this time, after experiencing intense fear, his mentality had changed to despair and regret. , was sitting on the hay recalling the past, hating that he had thrown away his great future for the sake of money.
In the cell next door, Wei Hang was panicking now. He put his hands on the cell door, squeezed his head and shouted to the side: "County Lord, County Lord, are you there?"
His voice was so trembling that Tan Shimin regretted and hated Wei Hang for dragging him onto the pirate ship. Hearing this, he roared angrily: "What the hell is your name! Just wait to die!"
"No, Lord County." Wei Hang made his final struggle, his tone full of expectations: "Do you still have a relationship in the officialdom?"
"Hmph!" Tan Shimin sneered and said sarcastically: "Stop wishing for anything. The things you did are enough to kill you eight hundred times. No one can save us. Just wait for the house to be confiscated and beheaded!"
Hearing that his head was about to fall off, Wei Hang panicked even more: "County Lord, if there is someone above you, we can still move around. As long as we can survive, we can pay any amount!"
"What are you thinking about?" Tan Shimin said coldly: "Song Qi led his troops directly into the county government. Without any questioning, he directly arrested me, the county magistrate. Do you know what this means?"
"I am a seventh-grade imperial official. Even if I am a county governor, I have no authority to do this."
"But the county magistrate, as the magistrate of Taikang County, you must have someone behind you, right?" Wei Hang didn't give up yet.
Tan Shimin was extremely angry: "After saying so much, don't you understand?"
"Even if the county is guilty, the county guard can only investigate according to the regulations, or write to the court. The current situation shows that the order Song Qi received has gone far beyond the normal procedure. In the face of this order, the county guard has to What kind of!"
"Ah!?" When Wei Hang heard this, he sat down on the ground, his face turned pale, and he stammered: "What should I do?"
"Wait to die!" Tan Shimin replied the last sentence angrily, then he began to close his eyes to rest and stopped talking.
He already knew that he was going to die, and his mentality changed one after another. It was normal for him to have such an attitude now.
at the same time.
Tan Shimin's wife was crying: "Mr. Wu, please think of a way to save my master. I wanted to visit the prison just now, but the jailers didn't let me in at all. What happened?"
Wu Xian Cheng said: "Mrs. Wang, this matter is far more complicated than you think. There is really nothing I can do. You should please come back."
"But Mr. Wu, my husband is also the county magistrate after all. How could he be arrested when he said he was going to be arrested? Who is it?" The woman sobbed: "If it doesn't work, we can use money and ask Mr. Wu for a way."
"No, no." Wu Xian Cheng was startled, his heart beat a little faster, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "I still have some matters to deal with, I'm really sorry."
He said and left quickly.
"Master Wu, Master Wu," the woman stretched out her hand and shouted, but the other person's steps were getting faster and faster, which made her a little confused.
The Prime Minister of Wu County could not avoid it, but Tan Shimin's wife found it.
How dare he stay longer for fear of being implicated.
Although everyone is not sure about Xiao Yuan's identity, the deterrent effect is real. Since Tan Shimin was arrested, almost all officials in Taikang County have been conducting self-examination and introspection, fearing that they have made any mistakes.
The next morning.
Before the trial even started, countless people had already gathered outside the county government office. The crowds could be described as a sea of people, and they even blocked the traffic on the streets, fully demonstrating the Central Plains people's habit of watching the excitement.
In the back hall, Peng Shuang was wearing the official hat of the county magistrate. He straightened himself with both hands: "Your Majesty, can we look like an imperial envoy?"
Xu Hu chuckled.
Xiao Yuan said: "Very good, let's go to the hall."
Then he looked at the county captain who was waiting aside: "Song Qi, bring a group of people here to await trial."
"No!" The latter took the order and left.
After a while, the three of them arrived at the lobby of the county government office. After Peng Shuang glanced at Xiao Yuan, he got the signal, walked to the main seat directly above, and sat down carelessly.
Another officer and soldier moved a big chair, Xiao Yuan sat next to it, and Xu Hu stood slightly behind him, guarding him loyally as always.
When everything was ready, Peng Shuang picked up the hall wood and took a look at it. Then he patted the table and coughed and said: "I have been ordered to inspect Taikang and eliminate corrupt officials. After investigation, Taikang County Magistrate Tan Shimin has repeatedly He accepted bribes and ignored the law, causing many unjust, false and wrong cases, and the businessman Wei Hang, who killed people, stole fields, kidnapped women, and forced girls into prostitution, which is a heinous crime!"
"Bring it up!"
