Chapter 448: The Tribulation of the Mortal World [Please subscribe with a monthly ticket]
Chu Chen did not delay and quickly rushed to the North Courtyard of the Capital.
The Jiuqiu Mountain native might have been waiting for a long time, but as soon as he saw Chu Chen, he put down the official document in his hand and led him to sit down in the living room.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, come, please sit down."
Chu Chen sat down generously.
Jiuqiu Shanren's practice focuses on "cultivating and refining the body." He is good at martial arts and has a bold and unconventional personality. He doesn't like to go around in circles when talking and doing things, and he goes straight to the point where he has something to say.
Chu Chen knew the temperament of his old boss very well and got straight to the point:
"Deputy Governor of Jiuqiu, you came to me to give me some instructions?"
"Yes, I do need you to go there if I have something to do."
The Jiuqiu Mountain man nodded slightly and said: "The thing is like this. There is a supervisory censor who impeached the director of the Ghosts and Gods Department of Zhongming County for corruption and bribery, and swallowed up the treasure house of Zhongming County. The Immortal Court attaches great importance to it and ordered our county's Ghosts and Gods Department to thoroughly investigate the matter as soon as possible.
"
Chu Chen was slightly startled.
He had served as the governor of a county's ghosts and gods department, and he understood how powerful the top leader was.
The mountains, rivers, land, and other ghosts and gods in the county govern large and small spiritual fields and precious lands. The profits and losses of the spiritual veins between heaven and earth change. Every year, the income of heavenly materials, earthly treasures, spiritual materials and precious medicines increases or decreases, and the situation is different.
This gives Tanmo room for maneuver.
If you deliberately set up a name and use your hands to harm the public and enrich your private life, it is not difficult to covet the local treasure house. What is difficult is to control your inner desires.
What surprised Chu Chen was that the governor of the Ghost and God Department of Zhongming County actually wanted to take advantage of the Mo treasure house?
This Du Guan knew him. He was none other than Taoist Brother Xuan Lingzi who he had worked with in the Du Guan compound.
How could he take bribes and embezzle money?
Seeing Chu Chen's surprise, the people from Mount Jiuqiu couldn't help but sigh:
"Well, I am also surprised that he would wantonly embezzle money from the Mo treasure house. But this is a fact. The treasure house of Zhongming County did lose most of the money in his hands. The inspector of the Imperial Procuratorate caught him right away."
Chu Chen frowned.
"Deputy Governor Jiuqiu, is there something fishy about this?"
A monk who comes from a small sect has been poor all his life and suddenly assumes power. It may be easier for him to lose himself and forget about his past.
But Xuan Lingzi is different.
He is a genius disciple carefully cultivated by Taixuan Sect, a hidden sect, and is highly regarded. He has no shortage of various training resources on weekdays, so there is absolutely no need to take such a big risk.
To say the least, even if he had a wrong intention, he would not be able to act so recklessly.
In less than a year of taking charge of Zhongming County, most of the treasure house has been embezzled. This account cannot be wiped out, and it cannot withstand investigation.
Jiuqiu Mountain Man agreed with Chu Chen's statement and did not believe that Xuan Lingzi was so courageous and acted so absurdly, so he ordered:
"Things are indeed strange. Han Duguan is out on business. Duguan wants you to go to Zhongming County, Daoist friend Chu, and investigate clearly. If someone frames you, you must clear Xuan Lingzi's name as soon as possible."
"If the evidence is really conclusive, there will be no partiality and official business will be done."
"I understand."
Chu Chen nodded slightly. Xuan Lingzi's elders had a relationship with Du Guan Han Chen. Now Du Guan Han asked him to take charge of the case. Obviously, he still wanted to protect Xuan Lingzi to prevent him from being framed.
Chu Chen was quite disappointed when he was asked to investigate the corruption and bribery of immortal officials, ghosts and gods. In comparison, he was more willing to slay demons and save Li Shu, and his merits were even greater.
However, this case involves an old acquaintance and is an errand ordered by Han Chen.
He did not delay and immediately set off for Zhongming County.
...
Zhongming County is located in the northeast of Guangping County.
The three-color auspicious clouds escape at an astonishing speed.
Soon, Chu Chen arrived at Zhongming County.
As soon as he arrived in Zhongming County, Chu Chen directly took over the County Ghosts and Gods Department.
"Fellow Taoist Xuan Lingzi, long time no see."
In the county capital's courtyard, Chu Chen met Xuan Lingzi who was under house arrest in the courtyard.
Compared to the high-spirited and arrogant Xuan Lingzi at the moment, he looked a little decadent, his eyes were dull and he was gloomy, as if he had experienced some huge blow and his whole body was gone.
It wasn't until he saw Chu Chen that Xuan Lingzi's dull eyes gained some sparkle.
"Fellow Daoist Chu... No, Dean Chu, are you going to be sent to investigate me?"
Meeting his former colleagues again, Xuan Lingzi showed a bitter smile on his face.
At the beginning, his Taoist practice, qualifications and various qualifications were the best among the several county counselors. He also came from a hidden sect, so he looked down on the other county counselors.
In just one year, times have changed, and their various county counselors have experienced different situations.
In particular, Chu Chen soared to the sky, attained the sixth level of Taoist cultivation, and took charge of Huanghaoyuan.
But he is now in deep trouble, with his future in ruins.
"You and I should still refer to each other as Taoist friends."
Chu Chen waved his hands, sat down on the stone bench next to Xuan Lingzi, and said:
"We have known each other for such a long time, so I won't make any nonsense. Fellow Taoist Xuan Lingzi, why did the Supervising Censor impeach you for being greedy?"
"Is this really happening?"
When Xuan Lingzi saw Chu Chen asking about this matter, his face was full of bitterness:
"The shortage of the treasure house is indeed related to me."
Chu Chen frowned.
He originally thought that Xuan Lingzi might have been framed and slandered.
For example, when he was in charge of the affairs of ghosts and gods in Yunlin County, the flying seal of impeachment floated to the fairy court like snowflakes.
This is something that is unavoidable as a leader. As long as you really do something, it will touch the interests of some people and attract criticism.
But I never expected that the impeachment of the supervisory censor was not groundless, and Xuan Lingzi was really entangled with the shortage of the treasure house.
"Fellow Taoist Xuan Lingzi, what is going on?"
Xuan Lingzi remained silent.
Chu Chen felt a little unhappy when he saw Xuan Lingzi stuffing his gourd and making no sound for a long time:
"Fellow Daoist Xuan Lingzi, Han Chen asked me to come here because he wanted to protect you. If you don't say anything, your charge of embezzling the Mo treasure house will be confirmed. You will be directly handed over to the higher-level Immortal Court for disposal. No one can save you."
.”
"Hey, I feel ashamed of Han Duguan's support."
When Xuan Lingzi heard that Han Chen was in charge, he slowly spoke:
"It all started half a year ago. I was depressed for a while. In addition to my official duties and practice, I often went to the mountains to play."
"In the mountains, I met a female monk by chance, and we discussed Taoism and had a great time. As we went back and forth, we became good friends. We talked about everything and had a close relationship."
"Although her Taoist talent is not high, she understands me very well and is considerate. When I get along with her, I feel relaxed all over, and even my practice becomes easier."
"I feel like I have met what Master calls a 'good Taoist companion'."
"A few days ago, she came to me and said that she had an emergency at home and needed a large amount of money to turn around, so she asked me for help..."
Chu Chen frowned,
I was feeling depressed half a year ago. That was not the time when they were competing for a spot in the Duguan Shenghui.
However, this is not the point.
The point is that Xuan Lingzi met a female cultivator.
We talked happily and became good friends... Something happened at home and we borrowed money to help with the emergency...
The more Chu Chen listened to this set of procedures, the more familiar he became.
Chu Chen vaguely guessed something:
"Did you borrow it? Did she borrow money from you for the first time, and then she borrowed money from you one after another?"
"Fellow Daoist Chu, how do you know?"
Hearing this, Xuan Lingzi nodded:
"Yes, I gave her all my savings the first time. Later, I asked the elders of my sect for help twice, but it was still not enough. Finally, I...I misappropriated the money from the treasure house of the Ghosts and Gods Department in Zhongming County.
Lend her spiritual materials and precious medicines for turnover..."