At night in Chong'an County, you can hear insects chirping and frogs making an out-of-control noise since the hibernation. Several lights at the top of the city illuminate the sparse reed leaves, and several battalion officers and soldiers garrisoned drowsily at the top of the wall.
The mottled moss on the wall is just like the mission passed down on them from generation to generation, secretly spreading the little vitality under their feet. The ancestors of these people were soldiers in the Ming Dynasty, and now they have changed into the clothes of green soldiers. Generations are similar. They looked the same and had the same look from generation to generation. They were drowsy and unhappy from generation to generation, as if they were having a big, boring dream, and they didn't notice anyone walking past them at all.
Hong Wending was hiding in hiding, and his whereabouts were strange and unpredictable. Even if pedestrians occasionally noticed him in the dark alleys, they only regarded him as a restless wild cat in spring, rustling and disturbing people's dreams.
For Hong Wending, this was the third time he stepped into Chong'an County, but what he was thinking in his mind was very different from the previous two times.
The first time he came, Hong Wending was anxious and vigilant, scrutinizing everything he might encounter around him, and then he had a head-on confrontation with the Lin Cun monster; the second time, Hong Wending had the idea of a quick victory, but when he When he faced the sneaky Chong'an government office, he inevitably had to fight to the death with all his strength.
But this third time, Hong Wending suddenly felt a little more familiar in his heart.
But it was this familiarity of walking along the front street that made him vaguely understand the reason why many merchants in Chong'an County were afraid to stop.
In this not-so-prosperous ancient county, there seemed to be two tit-for-tat forces wrestling with each other, and all the living creatures that were connected to it inevitably turned into strands of rope and became entangled together, wailing as both sides exerted their strength.
At this time, naturally some people want to pull away, some are ignorant and muddle along, some try to wait and see and stand in line, and some calmly control the balance of strength, but no matter how these people deal with themselves, they will inevitably become the enemies of Chong'an County. Mountains, rivers, vegetation, breathing heavily, continue to survive hard and long.
In the north hall of Dongchayuan, the county magistrate Guan Shengjun still held a candle and never fell asleep. Volumes of books were spread out in front of him, as if he had been unable to relax his brows for days, making people feel that he seemed to be at this moment. Racing against time, chasing the fleeting time.
The smell of silverfish is still unpleasant, and it is mixed with the spring bugs running around, making a deafening gnawing sound. Guan Shengjun's plain appearance is covered by a sad face, and his posture when turning the book is too stiff, as if he is hiding in the library. The huge beetles among them kept gnawing at the books and papers in front of them.
At that moment, Guan Shengjun seemed to have truly transformed into the controller of the silverfish in the book, possessing some inexplicable power and authority——
Because while he didn't stop reading at all, he suddenly said to the closed door.
"Hong Wei...I knew you would come back..."
And Hong Wending opened the door casually, completely breaking through the vision hidden by the candlelight and the scroll.
What he saw in front of him at this time was just an ordinary low-level bureaucrat. In terms of force, Hong Wending was sure to take him down within three moves.
"My lord, are you waiting for me on purpose?"
Guan Shengjun coughed and spoke slowly without raising his head.
"Since you have been to the old county government office and stayed there for several days without reporting it, you must have seen the case file from the Jiajing period. I just want to hear from you whether there was a wrongful conviction in this matter?"
Hong Wen's face was as cold as frost. The scene he saw that night was something he would never forget, but what puzzled him the most was the dossier with the treacherous verdict.
He could only barely remember some words, but after that night, these words got into his mind for no reason and could not be dissipated...
"The male is righteous on the outside, the female is righteous on the inside, this is the eternal order of heaven and earth; every woman has her own wife, every husband has his own husband, this is the universal meaning of ancient and modern times. Sexual immorality, impurity and disorder are almost the same as humans being like dogs and sheep; if they are captured and destroyed,
Shao helped the world teach China."
"Today Yang Chong has been a pure and kind man with a strict nature. He is only responsible for the unscrupulous adulterer who does not repair the curtains. If he catches an adulterer in person, he will kill him immediately. He will catch a cold due to his vulgarity and will not be able to live for his own sins. True love is full of sins.
, there is no injustice in dying on the spot. Since that crime is appropriate, why is there any blame for this killing?"
"Lie on the couch to drive away the snoring of others and eliminate this obscene habit; ban the curtains to prevent the intrusion of foreign aggression, so as to clear up this evil and treason. It is appropriate to forgive the sin of the murderer and punish the traitor."
The reading voice seemed old and decayed, with the turbidity only found in graveyards. As Hong Wending finished reading word for word, the county magistrate Guan Shengjun let out a long sigh.
"This is during the Jiajing period of the previous Ming Dynasty. Yang Chongbo, a rich man in Chong'an, was fond of prostitution and was friendly with Zhan Sheng. Then a murder occurred in the two families. It was rumored that Zhan Sheng had an affair with Yang's wife, Li. After Yang Chong caught him, he committed adultery.
The women were all killed with knives. The government first sentenced Yang Chong to death for wounding others and sent him to prison, but the second sentence found Yang Chong, who was captured and annihilated, released without charge."
"After this incident happened, because both Zhan Sheng and Li were members of the Jingji sect, there was a lot of controversy in the county. The Jingji sect claimed that people with the surname of demons used evil methods to do evil, causing evil spirits to linger in the county government day and night.
From then on, the prestige of the county magistrate was ruined, and everyone followed the Jingji religion and ignored the government."
Hong Wending asked calmly.
"Your Excellency, County Magistrate, if Hong Wei could retrieve this case file at that time, what good plan would you have to deal with it?"
Guan Shengjun seemed to glance sideways, but did not raise his head.
"If this is the case, I will take out the case file and bring it to court for a retrial. This will bring justice to the matter and also bring justice to the Chong'an County Government."
Hong Wending suddenly asked.
"Then Hong Wei dares to ask again, sir, are you doing this for the people, for reason, or for power?"
Guan Shengjun lowered his head and laughed, seemingly a little surprised by Hong Wending's question.
"I never thought you would ask such a heart-breaking question! As a disciple of Confucius and Saint, Guan will naturally not be reduced to Shaozhengmao. I am motivated by the people, and I feel sorry for their stupidity. It is determined by reason.
Enlightenment; finally eliminate the power of the Jingji sect and regain the people's support for the right path. Is there anything wrong with doing so?"
However, Hong Wending still showed the stubbornness of people in the world and continued to speak.
"If the people's hearts change and they turn towards evil, it will be intolerable to the laws of heaven and they will be punished. Sir, will you also wield the butcher's knife and do what you want to do to kill Shao Zhengmao?"
While studying in the private school, what Hong Wending remembered most was "Confucius punished Shaozhengmao". After class, he even asked the old master Wen Yuqin whether it was because Shaozhengmao's clever words and tricks caused Confucius' disciples to have three excesses and three deficiencies.
He killed it under two views.
However, Wen Yuqin told Hong Wending that the execution of Shaozhengmao was not due to a struggle for fame and wealth, but because of "the root of chaos in government."
The so-called "root of disorderly government" is that those in lower positions usurp the power of those in higher positions, and ministers steal the monarch's ruling methods without fearing the prohibitions of the time and not abiding by the laws of the time. This is the root cause of chaos in the country.
.
These words left a deep mark on Hong Wending's heart, making him understand that there are not only political means to kill people, but also the reasons for killing are not only grudges and hatreds. There are always some people who hold knives in their hands and spit sutras in their mouths, and can do it without making a sound.
Put people into real death.
Guan Shengjun was silent for a long time, and finally raised his head from the book, staring blankly into the distance, as if he understood something.
"Well, let me think about it."
The magistrate with a sad face lowered his head and began to walk between the bookshelves, but Hong Wending's eyes never left the plaque hanging in the middle of the north hall. On it were four large characters written in faded paint: "Government with virtue."
"...Hong Wei, please stop going to Hengmin. Reading Buddhist scriptures will not save the world. I have traveled all the way from the north to the south. The horrors I have seen are far beyond your understanding. If no one can bear it,
It is not a scary story to use the right principles to exchange children and eat them."
"Since the army was defeated in the Wuyi Mountains last year, the flood troops in various states have been stretched thin and unable to defend against the power of the Jingji Sect. They think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Can they outwit those old officials?"
"Now Chong'an County is about to make a mistake, and a slight mistake will lead to disaster. How can the neighboring states and counties not know that the Jingji Sect is in full swing? They are just encouraging others to take the lead."
After saying that, Guan Shengjun pointed to the east, and suddenly slapped an official document on the Beitang desk. It clearly stated that the battalions originally guarding the passes of the important city were now forming 800 soldiers.
Many armed forces are marching towards Chong'an County, and they will arrive probably tomorrow. Such a large-scale defense change cannot be an unintentional move. Once there is trouble in Chong'an County, they will not hesitate to take some credit.
Hong Wending remained silent, everything was developing according to his worst expectations. The Jingji Sect had obviously entered into a carefully planned crisis. Once someone made an unruly move, they would be caught immediately——
Even if they don't do anything, these crimes may come to them naturally, because the criminal case file from the Jiajing period is the best example. In it, Yang Chong, who was capable of eating, drinking, prostitution, gambling, and all the five poisons, was described as "
A pure and kind person with a good life and strict nature will know how much filth is covered under these deep waters.
Hong Wending suddenly understood the sighs of his master when he walked around the world. The blood in his heart had not yet cooled down. He could not see the disaster tearing apart the peace and befalling all living beings. But one drink and one peck could not be predestined, whether it was the poisonous spread of the Jingji Sect or the government's
Losing trust and losing prestige is a foregone conclusion that is difficult to reverse. Under such a mighty tide, what method can he use to control the situation?
Looking at the plaque in the hall that read "Government with Virtue", Hong Wending's expression did not change at all, and he stared at the county magistrate Guan Shengjun with burning eyes.
"Sir, if it were you, how would you choose?"
Guan Shengjun sighed slightly and buried his head in the book. Only a few veins popped out from the back of his hand holding the book.
"If rebellion occurs, what do you think I should do? What else can I do?"
Hong Wending sneered, seeming to have made up his mind: "Master Qizhen, as long as I, Hong Wei, are here, nothing will happen tomorrow."
"Okay! So you have made up your mind to compete with the Jingji Sect? If this can be accomplished, I will activate the relationship with my old colleagues and recommend you to participate in the martial arts competition in this county!"
Guan Shengjun was suddenly overjoyed at this moment and was extremely satisfied with Hong Wending's firm attitude.
"The yamen officials heard that demons from the Jingji sect have been going to the Wuyi Mountains to steal immortal sloughs, mold them into clay statues, and use the method of hiding them to perform witchcraft. I'm afraid they have a hidden agenda."
"Tomorrow the Jingji sect will hold a wax festival, build flags, burn sandalwood, and light wax candles to parade through the streets. These are the monks from Ruiyan Temple who told me that even the origin of the drought demon is related to the origin of Chong'an County.
There is an inexplicable relationship. If I can collect more ancient books, I might be able to get a glimpse of the whole story..."
Hong Wending interrupted Guan Shengjun's incessant statement.
"Hong Wei didn't come here for fame, but if someone tries to trick him tomorrow, can the governor speak out and speak out for the people?"
Hong Wending responded with a high-spirited and unyielding voice. Even though he didn't see the other person's expression, he believed that the other person was speaking from true feelings and determination.
"Heaven above, that's natural!"
Guan Shengjun's reply was loud and resounded throughout the corridor. Only then did Hong Wending calm down, turned around, jumped up and down, and soon disappeared into the vast night.
Until this moment, the frail magistrate of Chong'an County was still crouching on the desk, as if a huge weight was weighing on his body. It wasn't until Hong Wending's voice completely disappeared that he seemed to be stimulated. He suddenly raised his head and raised his hands.
He sneered with bright eyes, gritting his teeth and speaking one sentence after another.
"Hong Wei! Do you know what they plan to do?! What is their trump card?!"
"When I serve as an official, I should do my duty to benefit the country. But if the Jingji Sect intends to fight to the death, how can I just sit back and wait for death? Do you think I didn't sign the document requesting troops?!"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! He suddenly pushed away all the documents on the desk, leaving only the letter about the upcoming troop movements, and solemnly placed it on the
He took the center of the desk and never moved his eyes away from it for a moment. This was already the source of his courage, bravery, determination, and perseverance, and it might be able to protect him out of this long night.
Guan Shengjun picked up a bamboo pen with strong joints from the ground and slowly placed it horizontally in front of a pile of old case files, like a mantis trying to overestimate its own capabilities. The pile of old case files exuded a strong smell of corpses.
Everyone jumped towards the bamboo pen with a ferocious attitude.
Guan Shengjun pinched it in his hand and exerted force, and suddenly there was a sound of smashing bamboo joints, like the splash of young blood, startling the silverfish hiding in the scroll, and they timidly poked their heads in, as if they were worried about being killed by the fish in the pond.
, then he slapped his palm on the troop dispatch letter, and the strong wind blew the bamboo pen away, and even the old scroll was in a state of disarray.
In this way, after staring at the thin figure under the candlelight for a long time, the Chong'an County Magistrate really raised his head, revealing an extremely unfamiliar face.
Under the weak candlelight, the Chong'an County Magistrate seemed to have changed. At this time, the plaque "Government with Virtue" became more and more funny, like the mark left by a string of copper coins on the face, which could not be dissipated no matter how hard it was rubbed.
It fell off, and gradually even the writing on it began to be blurred, and eventually it turned into a piece of clothing with sparse moire patterns, standing straight in front of the Chong'an County Magistrate.
It seems that because he has lived in the gloomy and cold Dongchayuan for a long time, he has been possessed by the ghosts that have been entrenched in this cold building for many years. Every trace of his frown and sneer has been deeply infiltrated by the ghosts of traitors and thieves.
So after a brief and difficult struggle, he had completely transformed into a wizened old ghost in a corrupt government office. They all wore official uniforms and stood aloof, speaking cold words without any knowledge.
"Heaven wants him to die, so he will go crazy. The traitors will cause chaos, and the county magistrates will fight against them. The righteous will warn them, and they will sacrifice their lives as rewards..."