The young man stood there nervously, looking timidly in front of him.

In front of the many officials in Yan'an Prefecture's Yamen, he was as weak as a piece of grass.

Under the dancing firelight, all the gloomy and cold faces looked at the young man in unison.

Each of them looked at him numbly.

I don't know if it was an illusion, but when the boy saw the expressions on those people's faces, it was as cold as the cold wind in early October.

With a gentle smile on Wang Xie's face, he walked towards the young man, who timidly took two steps back.

"Don't be afraid. I am the prefect. If you have any grievances, tell me. I will deal with it impartially and I will definitely clear your name."

The young man hesitated for a moment and nodded, with a happy smile on his face.

"Go back to the magistrate's office with me. Speak slowly, come here. Do you know how to ride a horse? No, it doesn't matter. I'll let them drive you."

Wang Xie has the face of a parent-official who loves the people like his own son.

The villagers did not come out.

A little girl gathered her parents in the room and said, "Mom, where is Liu Sanlang going?"

"The prefect has come to avenge him." The woman was also a little happy, "I really hope that the money deducted from us can be repaid."

"Deduct our money?" The little girl's eyes were full of doubts.

"Nothing, it's just your father's life money."

After Chou, the sky became darker and darker, and I couldn't see my fingers.

Fushi City, the seat of Yan'an Prefecture, was deserted, with no one on the streets. Only the prefect's Yamen still had lights.

"Come, tell me, what happened?"

The young man knelt in front of Wang Xie and said: "The eldest master has made the decision for us. My eldest brother responded to the court's call the year before last and joined the army. He died in Yan'an. Only one of his thirty pension gold medals was given to us. My father is gone.

He asked and was beaten to death."

"Thirty thousand pensions, who told you this?"

"When we were recruiting soldiers that day, the recruiter said that those who died in the war would receive thirty guan pension."

"You heard it wrong. Those who died in war are entitled to ten pensions."

"Ten strings?"

"Yes, ten strings."

"That……"

"It is true that someone has committed corruption in this matter. I will handle it impartially. Please tell me, where are your family members?"

"My mother went to the capital, and my second brother and grandfather went to Jingzhao Mansion."

"Who told you that you can go to the capital to file a complaint, and who told you that you can go to Jingzhao Mansion? Don't misunderstand me. I am saying that you should go directly to Yan'an Mansion Yamen to see me about this matter.

I will avenge you."

"It was Wang Xiucai who had always provided us with a pension at that time. When he learned that my father had been beaten to death, he came and told us that we should go to the capital and Jingzhao Mansion as soon as possible."

"Wang Xiucai, what's your name?"

"I don't know, I just know that dad calls him Wang Xiucai."

This makes sense. On that day, the people below beat someone to death and went to deal with the aftermath, only to find that the family members were gone.

The villagers said that their families had packed their belongings and left.

Then he began to have doubts and went to complain.

"When did your mother leave for the capital?"

"A month ago."

"Did you go alone?"

"With Wang Xiucai."

"Okay, I know this. I will handle this matter for you. During this period, you will stay in the Yamen."

Wang Xie then walked to the main hall and said, "Where is Zhang Shuai?"

"Zhang Shuai went to rest."

When it was almost dawn, Zhang Shen got up early and Wang Xie was waiting.

"Zhang Shuai, I asked." Wang Xie told what happened.

"It seems that the previous guess is correct. I have already written to the capital to ask them to arrest people. As long as they are from Fushi County, Yan'an Prefecture, they will be arrested first!"

Zhang Shen breathed a long sigh of relief.

As long as they cannot enter the capital, everything will have room for relaxation.

It was indeed not easy to catch wanted criminals in ancient times, but it was not difficult to search for people at specific locations because there was a strict household registration system.

The Song Dynasty was an open dynasty. Because it wanted to promote commercial prosperity, it did not prohibit the movement of people.

Different from the good people and untouchables in the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty abolished the untouchables and divided them into "fangguo households" and "rural households".

With the development of handicrafts and commerce, and the unchecked land annexation, many rural households have lost their fields. In addition to becoming tenant farmers, a large number of people have gone to cities.

They are the so-called "floating guests" in the Song Dynasty. For example, the number of "floating guests" in Tokyo City is much higher than that of the local indigenous people. This is exactly the same as the floating guests in Beijing in the 21st century.

When these people enter Tokyo, they need to report and obtain something like a "temporary residence permit" for management purposes.

There are many refugees who also go to Tokyo City. For example, the Li family went to Tokyo City as a refugee.

The Song Dynasty also had a strict management system for refugees entering the city.

Generally, refugees will be advised to return to their place of origin, and the local government will provide them with travel expenses.

If the refugees are unwilling to leave, they will live in a designated place according to the arrangements of the government and must obtain a voucher.

For these people, the local government will regularly organize them to work and give them a meal.

In short, it is not difficult to find someone from Yan'an Prefecture in the capital as long as they go there and use their connections.

"Now the only one left is Jingzhao Mansion." Wang Xie also breathed a sigh of relief, "I will send someone to Jingzhao Mansion immediately!"

"Go and find someone quickly!"

"How to deal with that boy?"

"Keep it for now. If anything happens later, we can handle it flexibly."

"yes."

"Let me ask you, was Liujiacun the only one who lost his life this time?"

Wang Xie was stunned for a moment and said: "There is only Liujia Village."

"Are you sure?"

"This... I am sure! There is only Liujiacun, and there is only one case!"

"You should make it clear to the people below! Tell them to restrain themselves! Just take the money and don't kill people casually." Zhang Shen took a sip of tea and said, "It's so much money, just give them a little bit!"

"Those people at the bottom, as long as you give them a little charity, they will stop talking nonsense, do you understand?"

"But you people were beaten to death! The rabbit is anxious and bites people. If our affairs are exposed because of such a trivial matter, everyone will be ruined!"

Wang Xie's forehead was covered with cold sweat: "If the official knows, he will discipline the people below him well."

"The person who committed the murder should be dealt with in a way as a warning!"

"yes!"

"There is also Wang Xiucai. Since he is an official, he must know a lot about the situation. Quickly investigate and find out his identity. I will immediately ask people from the capital to get him!"

"yes!"

Wang Xie just took two steps, seemed to remember something, turned around and said: "Zhang Shuai!"

"how?"

"You can't abandon me!"

"Don't worry, you are my handsome man, how could I give up on you so casually?"

"Thank you Zhang Shuai!"

Wang Xie went out.

As the sky gradually dawned, Zhang Shen walked all the way back to his manager's residence. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

Once the Wang Xiucai and Li family reveal the matter in the capital, they will be in trouble.

Zhang Shen quickly began to write a memorial, listing the person most responsible for the embezzlement of pensions in Yan'an Prefecture, Wang Xie. He also said in the memorial that Wang Xie escaped during the Battle of Yan'an, which led to the morale collapse of the army.

It would be okay if this matter was not exposed. If it was exposed, Wang Xie would be pushed out and he would be the scapegoat. He would not know anything.

Tens of thousands of people died in the war in Yan'an Prefecture. What a huge pension!
Chapter completed!