The navy dispatched thousands of men and dozens of warships to surround the entire Xu family manor. Hundreds of Suzhou County soldiers were captured and taken to the navy cells for centralized detention. They were then interrogated one by one. Shen Wei's face turned gray. Frustrated by the defeat, in order to prevent anyone from taking risks and trying to rescue him, he was separated from the soldiers and detained alone on the warship. More than a hundred navy soldiers were fully armed and closely guarded.
The rain has not stopped, the mist is swaying, and the whole city of Suzhou is boiling like a pot of boiling water.
Such a big movement from the navy had already frightened all concerned people. Then the Xu family's manor outside Suzhou city was tightly surrounded like a steel ring. All Suzhou county soldiers disarmed and escorted them to the military port for imprisonment, which even made some people sit on pins and needles. driven to distraction.
People who were not involved were also panicked. Could it be that someone was plotting a rebellion?
When the Navy's Chen soldiers arrived outside Suzhou City and blocked all roads from Suzhou to Xu's manor, these people finally couldn't sit still.
Fang Jun's character and temperament have long been known to everyone. He has never been one to suffer losses. How can he swallow his anger when such a big thing happens this time?
Revenge is certain.
If it were anyone else, he might be able to hold back his anger and take care of the overall situation, but Fang Jun is just a stick. Anyone who offends him will definitely return it. It is not his style to pinch his nose and give in!
Therefore, when Mu Yuanzuo was horrified when he heard about the incident at Xu's manor and was eager to leave, several Jiangnan noble families had already come to visit...
How could Mu Yuanzuo, who had served as the governor of Suzhou in Jiangnan for a long time and knew the methods of the Jiangnan nobles, not see the true face behind this matter?
Of course I don't want to care about the life and death of these people.
Since you have the courage to do some things, you must be prepared to bear the consequences. If you act recklessly when your head is hot, you still want to rely on others to solve the problem after it fails. How can there be so many people in the world? Good thing?
Mu Yuanzuo sternly refused all those who asked for an audience.
But when he changed his clothes and rode a carriage out of the Governor's Mansion, he found that there were already cars and horses at the gate, and countless people's carriages were waiting here...
So thick-skinned?
Mu Yuanzuo sat in the car with a gloomy face, raised the curtains, and saw more than ten people standing outside the car with smiling faces and careful faces, nodding and bowing.
"Mingfu, you have to help us this time!"
"Prince Mu, my entire family must get rid of you!"
…
Mu Yuanzuo felt sulky and snorted coldly, saying: "Now you are all begging me? I don't know who you are pointing at! Under my rule, the dignified Duke of Yue was assassinated. Your Highness, the princess, is in deep danger. When you did such a thing, did you consider whether your head would be saved afterward?"
Mother!
When they were committing crimes in private, each one was more ruthless than the other. Now that the matter has been exposed, are they all crying and begging me?
I've never seen you so respectful before!
"The governor Mingjian, we are safe and sound, how dare we do such a treasonous and unethical thing?"
"Yes, yes, we have no knowledge at all, let alone participated in it!"
"Mingfu, you have to help us..."
…
Mu Yuanzuo said angrily: "Since all of you are innocent, why should we worry unreasonably? The Tang Dynasty has its own laws and regulations, how can anyone frame you and others for nothing!"
Several people outside the car were crying and crying: "Does the Ming government not know who the Duke of Yue is? He is someone who will never rub sand in his eyes. How can he let go after suffering such a big crime?"
"Extorting confessions by torture is almost inevitable. How can we not get confessions under three trees? A bloody storm is about to break out in Jiangnan!"
"The Tang Dynasty certainly has laws and regulations, but do you think the Yue Guild cares about these?"
Mu Yuanzuo: "..."
He finally understood that these families might really have nothing to do with the assassination of Fang Jun, but they were all afraid that Fang Jun would take the opportunity to make things bigger. Speaking of which, the Jiangnan gentry had been inhabiting this beautiful and fertile land for hundreds of thousands of years.
They are deeply intertwined with each other, so who can really tell them apart from each other?
If Fang Jun had malicious intentions and simply took the opportunity to attack the Jiangnan gentry, he would simply arrest the Suzhou County soldiers and those involved in the case and torture them to extract confessions, and implicate whomever he wanted.
Then, with the confession in hand, it can be said that it is justified. Whoever is caught and investigated thoroughly inside and outside his home, will he dare to say that he is really as innocent as the bright moon and as clear as the river water? There are always some shameful things in these things.
Once it is found out, the evidence is conclusive.
Fang Jun can torment you however he wants...
Mu Yuanzuo was silent. It was not that these people were unfounded. Based on his understanding of Fang Jun, he had just suffered a lot of cowardice from these people a few days ago. Although he finally solved it with strong methods, he still felt sullen in his heart.
But it may not be that easy to disperse. Now that he has caught the handle, how can he let these people go so easily?
It’s not incomprehensible that one of them is really being dragged to death.
At worst, we have to peel off a layer of these people's skin...
But now he is still the governor of Suzhou. If he can contribute his efforts to keep these families, his position in Jiangnan will be more solid in the future. Whatever he does will go smoothly, which will add some weight to his transfer to the center.
You might as well go to Fang Jun's place first and find out what this person is thinking. If you can be accommodating and spend as much money as possible to eliminate disasters, I think these people will be happy before it's too late and they won't be stingy.
Of course, if Fang Jun is still angry and plans to knock them all down with a stick, there is nothing he can do...
Having made up his mind, Mu Yuanzuo sighed and said: "This kind of matter involves a lot. Even if I can say a few words and express some kindness in front of the Duke of Yue, in the final analysis, who among you is involved and who is not?
Who can say for sure? As the governor of Suzhou, I and you can be regarded as fellow villagers. It is natural to support each other, but the ugly words are ahead. The Duke of Yue can say more, but the princesses
What does Bian mean? I really can’t do anything about it."
Representatives from each family immediately burst into tears of gratitude: "The Ming Dynasty, you are our reborn parents!"
"Thank you very much, Governor Mu, for your generous help. If we can escape from this difficulty, we will only follow your lead from now on, and we are willing to do your best!"
Mu Yuanzuo stroked his beard and felt a little more relaxed, but then he remembered that he was about to meet Fang Jun, and his heart felt a little heavy.
After all, this area of Suzhou is under his rule. Fang Jun was assassinated here and the princess was in danger. He, the governor of Suzhou, was unaware of the incident and the incident. It was a serious dereliction of duty, let alone his.
He has always been an official on Fang Jun's line.
If Fang Junyu is still angry, I really don’t know how to explain...
"Alas, I am also a clay Bodhisattva. I cannot save myself when crossing the river, but I still have to run around and plead for you... Let's go, let's go with me to meet the Duke of Yue. Do you want to ask for the Duke of Yue's noble hand?
Let’s make a conclusion.”
"Mingfu Gaoyi!"
"We will obey orders."
The carriage of the Governor's Mansion was swaying in front, followed closely by a group of more than ten carriages and horses. They left Suzhou City in the mist and rain, but the people in the carriage were all frowning and helpless.
No one knows how far Fang Jun's stick will go. Thinking of Fang Jun's thunderous methods in the past, both of them feel guilty...
*****
When Mu Yuanzuo arrived at Xu's Manor, the nearby land and waterways had already been guarded by navy soldiers at all levels. No strangers were allowed to enter or exit. Even if they were passing through this place, they had to take a detour. If there was an exit,
Those who are found to be disobedient will be captured on the spot and sent to the Navy Prison.
Therefore, the spacious official road was extremely quiet, but there were more than a dozen carriages parked quietly near the guard post. They must also be Jiangnan nobles who wanted to see them, but they were blocked here and could not enter at all.
Rain fell from the sky, and the ground was filled with water and became muddy.
When Mu Yuanzu approached, soldiers had already come forward to inspect him. Mu Yuanzu opened the curtain of his car and revealed his face, saying: "I, the governor of Suzhou, would like to see the Duke of Yue. Please come in and report."
The soldiers stood still and saluted, saying: "The commander-in-chief has given orders. When Governor Mu arrives, he can enter directly without any notification."
Mu Yuanzuo nodded and said, "Thank you."
Just now the car curtains were opened, urging the charioteer to drive into the manor.
The rest of the carriages were all stopped by the soldiers and had to stop together with the carriages that were waiting here, anxiously waiting for the outcome of the negotiation between Mu Yuanzuo and Fang Jun.
…
In the main hall of Xu's Manor, Fang Jun re-treated the wound, changed into a new set of clothes and sat in the middle. Su Dingfang and Pei Xingjian, who had just arrived, were on either side, discussing the next steps.