"Quick, go and collect the lanterns, don't be stunned!"
"Go and give the order, give the order!"
"Come here to help. The county magistrate said, collect the lanterns and leave no one behind!"
…
The incident happened so suddenly that housekeeper Zhang Bao and others had no time to figure out why County Magistrate Zhang was in such a hurry. He just agreed in a haphazard manner out of habit and walked outside the county government office.
They did not understand Magistrate Zhang's anxiety, nor did the Zhou family who were waiting to meet Magistrate Zhang outside the county government gate.
Seeing Zhang Bao running past him in a hurry with his servants and helpers, but not leading him into the county government office to see the county magistrate, the Zhou family immediately became furious.
"Steward, what is the county magistrate busy with? Why haven't you summoned me yet?"
"Boss Wang, the county magistrate is not this kind of person. Could it be that you are causing trouble?!"
"Haha, my uncle was just kidnapped by gangsters, so he may not be able to come back! Some people are too eager to change their families!"
…
When people are anxious, they will inevitably lose their rationality in the things they do and the words they say.
This was the case for the son of the chief clerk Zhou Chong and his clan members. They all gathered around and blocked the way of the housekeeper Zhang Bao, the police officers, and the government officials. All kinds of questions or ridiculing words were blurted out.
"No, no, the county magistrate, the magistrate said, these lanterns in the night sky have evil intentions. They need to be cleared away first."
"The county magistrate said, please help everyone in the Zhou family and pack up the lanterns first. Only then can we have a chance to save Master Zhou from danger!"
"The lantern must be related to the disappearance of the master. Please help me make it easier!"
…
Zhang Bao and others had no choice but to stop and appease Zhou Chong's son and clan members first.
As a result, their movements became slower and more unorganized. Before they could tell the Zhou family clearly, a lantern had already burned out its candles in the sky and began to slowly fall.
"Don't pick it up, don't pick it up. The county has an order, no one is allowed to pick up the lantern!" Wang Qi, the leader of the class, was so anxious that he pushed away the nephew of the Zhou family who was standing in front of him, and roared straight to the place where the lantern fell.
He was not well received by Zhou Chong, the chief registrar, so he quietly took refuge with the county magistrate Zhang Wei.
Now that Zhou Chong is in big trouble, it is time for him to stand up and express his "feelings." As for what will happen after Zhou Chong comes back, we might as well wait until this person has a chance to come back.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Come back as soon as you go down, and come back as soon as you go!" Wang Qi was not the only one who was smart. The other officers also bypassed the Zhou family members who were blocking the road, and each went after the lantern that was slowly falling to the ground.
However, after all, it was half a beat too late.
The people in Ding'an County rarely encounter anything new. When they first saw a long river of lanterns flying overhead, everyone was extremely curious.
When you see a lantern falling near your home again, how can you resist picking it up?
Even if you don't covet the exquisiteness of the lantern, you can pick up the silk cloth dragged under the lantern and wash it, and you can make it into shorts.
Therefore, both adults and children rushed to the streets, grabbed lanterns and ran to their homes. When Zhang Bao, Wang Qi and the guards arrived, where could they see the shadow of half a lantern?!
And there are more than one common people who have a rebellious mentality.
The louder Zhang Bao and others shouted for the people to hand over the Kongming Lantern, the more people became curious about the Kongming Lantern.
"Master, look quickly, what is written on this white silk?"
"Throw it away quickly, throw it away, or you will get into trouble!"
"Oh, there are words on the white silk, and there are also people's fingerprints!"
"Zhao Xiucai, you know how to read, quickly read what is written above!"
"It seems to be a confession, here is a fingerprint seal!"
"It's Zhou——sh——"
Soon, some people found writing on the white silk under the lantern.
Some people were bold enough to secretly study what the text on the white silk was.
As a result, before Zhang Bao could lead the government officials, they confiscated several Kongming lanterns. The contents on the white silk had already spread like wildfire.
Master Zhou confessed and stamped his fingerprints on each piece of white silk.
Together with County Magistrate Zhang, Liu Sicang and others, he stole and sold the official grain in the Niutoushan grain and grass warehouse.
Two months ago, there was a conflict between him and Liu Sicang due to uneven distribution of the spoils. Therefore, he sent his confidant Bai Liancheng to kill Liu Sicang. He also set a fire and burned the grain depot.
White land!
In addition, he and the county magistrate Zhang Wei are both followers of the Red Lotus Sect.
He served as the leader of the church. The position of the county magistrate Zhang Wei is unknown, but he is not lower than him.
…
"No wonder the villain Bai Liancheng has been causing trouble for many years, but the government has never been able to catch him!"
"No wonder Bai Liancheng suddenly appeared at Ziwu Mountain a few days ago. It turned out that he was ordered by Director Zhou to intercept Han's inspection!"
"No wonder the Dou family suffered such a big loss and swallowed their anger. It turns out that the county magistrate and the chief registrar are all in the same group with the thieves!"
"I remembered. Mengli Zheng of Mengjiazhai in Xitou also had a conflict with Chief Zhou, and then the bandits came down from the mountain and wiped out the whole family!"
"Oh my God! The county magistrate and the chief registrar are both members of the Red Lotus Sect. How about our Ding'an County?"
…
The suppressed discussion soon spread throughout the county like sparks in the autumn wilderness.
Many things that puzzled everyone had answers immediately.
For many unsolved cases that had been backlogged for many years, the real culprits were immediately found.
Although most people are too timid to "spread rumors" publicly, they can't help but corroborate the "confessions" on the silk with what they remember.
The chief secretary, Zhou Chong, had done more than one or two "good things" in the twenty years he had controlled Ding'an County.
And in recent years, he and his minions have become more and more arrogant, leaving more and more traces.
These "good things" and various traces were retrieved from people's memories and corresponded to the confessions. It was immediately clear whether what was written in the confessions were rumors or facts!
"The evil talk confuses the people! The evil talk surnamed Han confuses the people! This thing must have been done by the Han surname. He closed the city gates and prohibited anyone from entering or leaving. Then he went from house to house to collect Kongming lanterns. Anyone who harbors them will be treated as a bandit!
"Contrary to the reaction of the people, the secretary Zou Qingzhi, the arrester Huang Qian and others, after hearing the contents on the silk cloth, immediately jumped out and took the initiative to share the worries of the county magistrate Zhang Wei.
Ding'an County is not a big city, and the Lantern River appears at night. If the city gate is not opened, no one can leave the city with the confession from Lord Zhou.
First, search out and destroy all the confessions, and then declare that the contents above are all fabrications or coercion. Magistrate Zhang Wei will still have a chance to make a comeback.
However, no matter how hard they, the government officials, and helpers worked, they could not collect more than thirty Kongming lanterns from midnight to dawn.
Most of the remaining sky lanterns disappeared after they landed on the ground. No matter how much the government officials and helpers tried to coerce or induce them, they could not be found.
In desperation, Zou Qingzhi and others had no choice but to go to the county government together to discuss countermeasures with the county magistrate Zhang Wei. However, they all received a rejection.
The housekeeper Zhang Bao told them with a helpless face that the county magistrate Zhang Wei vomited blood and fell into a coma in the middle of the night, and he has not yet woken up.
"This, this, what should we do!" Zou Qingzhi, Huang Qian and others all lost their backbone, grimacing and rubbing their hands together.
Over the years, these people, under the leadership of Chief Secretary Zhou Chong, formed the "Heaven" of Anding County.
Whether it's a strong dragon or a local snake, as long as you come to Ding'an County and play according to the rules of the government, you have to let them handle it honestly.
But last night, someone poked a big hole in the sky.
They want to make up for it, but they can't, and they want to hold it up, but they can't hold it back!
…
"Brother, where should we go next?" On a hill not far from Anding County, Dou Rong raised her head and asked with admiration on her face.
"Take Master Zhou to the Li family, and then go to Chang'an!" Han Qing smiled and responded softly.
The assassin was not sent by Lord Zhou, but what Lord Zhou confessed far exceeded his expectations.
No wonder this person is so confident.
Behind it are not only many officials from the Yongxing Military Road, but also the powerful Red Lotus Sect.
If I fight him according to the rules of the government, even if I get his confession, I may not have the last laugh.
Among the literary and artistic works that Han Qing saw in his previous life, those who single-handedly challenged the entire local officialdom or the evil forces, no matter which dynasty they were in, basically became "loyal souls".
Han Qing doesn't want to be a loyal soul.
After finally traveling to the Song Dynasty, he finally got a girlfriend, but he didn't want to sacrifice her for nothing again.
Then, there is only one way, which is to first put yourself outside the rules of officialdom.
Do not follow the rules that the other party is familiar with.
"Why are you going to Chang'an? Do you want to put up the lanterns too?" Dou Rong's heart has found a home and she is enjoying the sweetness of her first love. She looks full of energy.
"Well, keep putting on the lights until the guys behind the scenes jump out on their own!" Han Qing smiled again and gently turned his mount.
The two of them walked side by side, facing the rising sun. Soon, they merged with the morning light, and behind them, the light streamed far and wide.
