Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu twitched the corners of his mouth in anger.
Surrendering is equivalent to closing the case, and Li Xiuyuan can no longer be implicated in this matter. If Han Meng had not surrendered, he would have found many ways to make the Li family suffer.
"Since Han Meng has surrendered, why haven't you arrested him and put him in prison?" Magistrate Liu shouted again in the lobby.
The people below were as silent as a cicada, not daring to say a word.
Han Meng is a member of the Escort Bureau. Who among ordinary government servants would dare to arrest someone from the Escort Bureau?
The Shunfeng Escort Bureau of the Li family has recruited countless desperadoes. In the past few years, even the thieves near Guobei County were wiped out by the men of the Shunfeng Escort Agency. All of them are masters who have seen blood.
It's just that Shunfeng Escort Agency is too low-key in Guobei County, and ordinary people may not know about it.
"Sir, if Han Meng comes to surrender, his crime will be reduced by one level according to the law. Moreover, he injured someone in a fight and did not cause death. If he were punished with a reduced crime of one level, he will not be sent to the county jail." This.
At this time, Xu Captou stood up and cupped his hands.
It can be said to be a kind word for Han Meng.
At this juncture, anyone who steps forward will be in trouble. Magistrate Liu immediately shouted angrily: "I asked you to arrest Han Meng. Do I need to say this a second time? Xu Captou, don't you want to
If you eat this bowl of rice, you will even dare to disobey my own orders."
"Young man, I don't dare. Since my lord has the order, I will go and arrest Han Meng right now." Xu Captou said hurriedly, not daring to continue to plead for mercy.
But I begged for mercy, thinking that even if something happened, I wouldn't be in trouble.
Immediately, he turned around and left, holding the knife in his hand.
"Retreat. Tomorrow the Japanese officials will put Li Dafu on trial in front of the people of Guobei County." Magistrate Liu said again, "Master, later you go outside and put up a notice to let the people of Guobei County know.
Lest others say that I am using my power for personal gain and not following the law."
"Yes, sir." The master next to him responded respectfully.
The other government officials had the same idea as Ming Jing. Magistrate Liu was afraid that he would destroy the Li family before he would give up.
What is the use of a public trial?
I'm afraid that all kinds of evidence and stolen goods have been prepared for a long time. When he goes to court tomorrow, Li Dafu will probably be unable to defend himself.
Once the charges are confirmed, how will the Li family decide whether they should just let Magistrate Liu go?
"Retreat." Magistrate Liu said angrily: "Besides, don't forget to repair this plaque before tomorrow."
As he said this, he pointed to the broken and shattered mirror hanging high on the ground.
This plaque has been hanging in the yamen for more than ten years and has never been touched. But today, it is very strange that it fell from the beam.
"Sir, it is not difficult to see from what happened today that the Li family's status in Guobei County is not small. Your Excellency is so anxious to take care of the Li family. Isn't it a little too hasty?"
After leaving the lobby, Master felt a little worried on the way and reminded him cautiously.
Magistrate Liu squinted his eyes and said, "Master, what do you think is wrong? The Li family is just a merchant's home with some money. It is not easy for me to deal with him. I have dealt with this kind of people in the past."
"
"My lord, it was in the past. The wealthy businessmen that my lord dealt with in the past were all shabby rich businessmen. Moreover, those wealthy businessmen were also timid. They would just find an excuse to knock people off and then obediently give them money. But, Mr. Li family, you are also too timid.
When I saw it, I had no intention of bowing my head at all."
The master said in a low voice: "The little one is afraid that if we press too hard, it will be counterproductive."
"The official of the Li family has checked and found that he has no backing. Li Xiuyuan only studied with Kong Sheng from Beilin Academy, and that Kong Sheng was just a frustrated scholar. Although his literary talent was good, he had no power or influence." County Magistrate Liu
He said calmly.
"In order to deal with the Li family, I am not only interested in the Li family's money, but more importantly, the Li family's property is too big. If I don't take over the Li family, I am afraid that the county magistrate will not be stable, and the most important thing is
Yes, the Li family knows about Goddess Wang."
Having said this, Magistrate Liu became a little solemn.
"If the Li family finds Goddess Wang and confronts her face to face, and it is revealed that I ordered Goddess Wang to use sorcery to obtain the Li family's money, I'm afraid that all the scandalous things that Goddess Wang did in the past will be blamed on me.
If the people are angry, my official will be in danger."
The master bent down slightly and said, "So, sir, you want to cut through the mess quickly and strike first?"
"Of course."
County Magistrate Liu nodded, and then sighed again: "In fact, I have never thought of using such a strong method. The best strategy is to try it slowly. It is really the pressure from above. This filial piety is every day."
The moon cannot be broken, so I have nothing to do. It is too slow to rely on the daily taxes, and the Li family there deliberately opposed me and cut off the land tax for the first half of this year. I have no other choice but to kill
I’ve lost this fat sheep of the Li family.”
"That's all, let's not talk anymore. It's not too early now. You can go and do your own things."
"Yes, sir, I have to take my leave." The master bowed and left respectfully.
After County Magistrate Liu saw his master leaving, he thought of what had happened before and felt extremely depressed. He called a servant, prepared a pot of good wine and several plates of side dishes, and drank alone in the pavilion in the back hall.
After half a bottle of wine, he was a little tipsy, and it was late at this time, it was already night.
I burped with wine and wandered off to get ready to go back to sleep.
But before he walked out of the yard, he suddenly saw a few maids. The young man was moving seats and chairs, packing large and small bags, and seemed to be moving.
"Where did you recruit the servants, and why did you move my county government's things?" County Magistrate Liu said with a hint of drunkenness.
The servants ignored him and went about carrying things on their own.
"Why don't you reply to my words? Stop, everyone, stop." County Magistrate Liu shouted.
At this time, an old man who seemed to be in charge came over with a hunched back, and said with a helpless expression: "Why is this county magistrate stopping Xiao and others from moving?"
"I don't care if you want to move, but this is the county government. Everything is decided by me. Where did you people come out of here? How dare you move things in the county government? Do you want to live?"
Magistrate Liu scolded, "Believe it or not, I will call the government officials immediately and put you all in jail."
"This, this move is the master's wish. I'm just following orders." The hunchbacked steward said helplessly.
"Where is your master? Let him come and tell me. I want to see who is so bold and dares to move things in the county government office." Magistrate Liu said.
"Please wait a moment, Lord Magistrate. I'll call you now." The hunchbacked steward responded and quickly disappeared.
After a while, a middle-aged man with a white face and no beard, wearing an official robe from an unknown dynasty, came over, raised his hands to Magistrate Liu and said, "Brother Liu, I haven't seen you for more than ten years, do you still recognize me?"
"You, who are you?" Magistrate Liu felt that this man looked familiar, but for a moment he couldn't remember where he had seen him.
"Brother Liu is indeed a noble man who forgets things. I'm Zhao Jing. We met when we were taking the scholar examination together." The middle-aged man named Zhao Jing said.
Magistrate Liu seemed to have remembered something and suddenly said: "Zhao Jing? I remembered a little bit and had some impression that you were ranked higher than me in the scholar examination. I was envious of you for a while, right?"
, why are you in my county government office?"
"It's a long story. I've always lived here. It's a pity that Brother Liu offended someone he shouldn't have offended, so I lost this place of shelter and had to find another place." Zhao Jing
He shook his head, looking helpless.
"But for the sake of my friendship with Brother Liu as classmates, I have to say something to you, Brother Liu. This matter is related to Brother Liu's official career."
"I would like to inform you about my official destiny," County Magistrate Liu said seriously.
Zhao Jing immediately said: "Originally, Brother Liu still had ten years left to serve as the county magistrate in Guobei County. However, today, Brother Liu did something he shouldn't have done. Once his ten years of official career were over, this county magistrate
I'm just afraid that tomorrow will be the end, and there may be a disaster coming."
"It's ridiculous. How could I be in trouble? I don't believe that there is no official luck in ten years." County Magistrate Liu said.
Zhao Jing shook his head, smiled, said no more, and left, then continued to direct his subordinates to move.
Magistrate Liu didn't stop him, rolled up his sleeves and went back to his room to sleep.