Volume 1: Swan Goose Chapter 230: Bloody and Surging
The anxious Lu Ning couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but scolded: "I mean you guys! If it hadn't been for Mr. Xia's rescue just now, you would have been taken away long ago! At this time, you are still unwilling to tell the truth.
, How will Mr. Xia help you next time? Those people will not let you go. Only Mr. Xia can protect you, do you understand?"
The crowd was silent for a moment, and a big man with a dark face and broad cheeks came over and bowed deeply: "Don't be upset, Mr. Xia, it's not that we don't want to cooperate with you. We just want to protect ourselves! Those officers and soldiers are local garrison, and they usually bully and bully
Common people. None of those captured by them came back alive..."
Xia Yunqing frowned and asked, "Since they are officers and soldiers, why do they come to the prison to select people?"
A big, round man continued: "We are all foreigners. When we first came, we were introduced to work in the caravan. But after working for a short time, they kicked us away, saying that they couldn't use so many people. We just
When we left, people from the government arrested us and found a reason to lock us up here. People locked up here cannot get out without interrogation, they are just waiting to be selected and taken away by them..."
Xia Yunqing and Lu Ning looked at each other and asked calmly: "Where are the military camps of those officers and soldiers? What is their relationship with Magistrate Cai?"
A man with a yellow face and buck teeth came out, raised his hands and said: "There is a secret garrison five miles outside Lingzhou City. The person in charge is an officer named Ma Sanbao! He has a deep relationship with Magistrate Cai, so he usually
He is so arrogant."
"Since this is a secret garrison, how did you know about it?" Lu Ning took the opportunity to continue asking.
The man explained: "We went there once when we were working in the caravan! In fact, we had no idea what the secrets were there! Later we found out that no one who had ever entered that garrison had ever walked out alive!
"
Lu Ning felt that things were a little strange: "So, only you foreigners have been to that secret garrison. And that's why you were imprisoned in it?"
Those people stared blankly and nodded in agreement with her statement.
Xia Yunqing suddenly thought of those people who were released a few days ago, and exclaimed: "According to this, will those people who were released a few days ago also be brutally murdered?"
Hearing this, those people lowered their heads and sighed deeply.
After a while, someone timidly said: "It would be better if those officers didn't know about it. If there were their spies around you, I'm afraid those people are no longer in the world..."
Xia Yunqing's head was buzzing, and a stream of cold air rushed up from the soles of his feet to his brain.
After calming down his emotions, he asked: "Those people just said they came under the order of Magistrate Cai. Does that mean Magistrate Cai was also involved in this matter?"
The yellow-faced and buck-toothed man immediately understood what he meant and hurriedly advised: "Sir, the common people advise you not to go looking for him. It will be in vain if you go! There are some things that you can't get involved in! We can only survive here for one day.
Day, you can't save all of us!"
Xia Yunqing raised his eyebrows and shouted angrily: "When I was the chief minister, I dared to challenge the emperor, and I dared to argue with the ministers. Now, I am still afraid that he is a mere prefect! I must go and meet with this prefect Cai.
Look what kind of figure he is with three heads and six arms!"
The prisoners in the prison and the government officials all spoke out to persuade them:
"Sir, please stop interfering in this matter, it will harm you!"
"That's right, the sky is high here and the emperor is far away. Even if the officials from the capital come, I'm afraid they won't be able to control it!"
"Don't worry about us. You are a good person. We can't harm you. Just pretend you haven't heard anything today!"
While everyone was talking about it, a loud shouting voice was suddenly heard from the corner: "Don't be afraid, sir. If you need help, I'm willing to help you! I'm here to make sure you are safe and sound!"
Hearing this sound, Xia Yunqing was startled and quickly looked for the sound.
I saw a ferocious-looking, tall and broad-shouldered man sitting cross-legged in the corner of the innermost cell.
"Brother!" Lu Ning was overjoyed and ran over immediately.
When Totuo heard Lu Ning's voice, he also ran over.
He came, grabbed the iron fence and exclaimed: "Little deer, why are you here? Have you been caught?"
Lu Ning stood across the iron fence, straightened Tuo Tuo's hair like steel needles, and said warmly: "No, I have already told Mr. Xia the cause and effect. I am here to help him investigate the case!"
With that said, she turned around and cupped her hands to Xia Yunqing: "Mr.
Worry!"
Xia Yunqing pondered for a moment and said: "We can only let him out temporarily, but Magistrate Cai is keeping a close eye on his case. He cannot be completely released until evidence is found!"
Lu Ning was overjoyed and immediately raised his hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xia!"
Xia Yunqing looked at Totuo up and down, and saw that he looked heroic and iron-clad, and said sternly: "I can let you out, but we have to make a three-part agreement: First, you can only stay with me. Without my consent, you can't
You can fight with others! Second, you must behave appropriately and know etiquette, and do not contradict others hastily! Third, your case has not yet been concluded, so you are still a suspect and cannot leave Lingzhou without permission! Can you do this?
?』
Toto waved his hand and said impatiently: "I am a rough man, and I may not be able to do what you say! But Xiaolu respects you, and I respect you too! I promise you, I will try my best to listen to you.
!」
Xia Yunqing nodded slightly, then motioned to the left and right officials to open the cell door.
Toto slowly stood up, with his head on the ceiling, hunched over, and walked out impatiently.
As soon as he stepped out of the cell, he stretched out quickly and laughed heartily: "It's so comfortable! There's so much space outside, I'm almost suffocated inside!"
"It's not too late! Let's get out of here quickly before Magistrate Cai takes the next step!" Lu Ning didn't have time to reminisce with Toto and made a suggestion to Xia Yunqing.
Immediately, the two of them protected Xia Yunqing and left the prison.
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The sky is vast, the autumn wind is blowing hard in the wilderness, and the cold and silent roads are filled with withered yellow leaves.
Four government officials carried Xia Yunqing's sedan from the government office all the way to Magistrate Cai's residence. Tuotuo and Lu Ning followed closely behind the sedan.
The group of people stopped steadily in front of Cai Mansion. The guard immediately came over and shouted arrogantly: "Who are you? Do you know where this is? How dare you stop at will and get out of here?"
The sedan curtain was opened, Xia Yunqing slowly stepped out of the sedan, and said in a cold voice: "I am the official of Lingzhou Prefecture, and I came here specially to visit Magistrate Cai. I wonder if Mr. Cai can be at the house?"
The gatekeeper curled his mouth and snorted coldly: "You dare to call yourself an official in front of Magistrate Cai, you are really overestimating your abilities! I don't care what official you are, you won't be allowed in without an invitation!"
Xia Yunqing smiled coldly and said sarcastically: "Since I took office, Magistrate Cai has never appeared in the government office. Today I have urgent matters to come to, so of course I didn't pay my respects! However, if you don't let me in, I will stay here.
This door! If he doesn’t come out for one year, I’ll wait for one year! If he doesn’t come out for ten years, I’ll wait for ten years!”
The gatekeeper was furious and was about to explode when he saw that Xia Yunqing and several government servants were sitting at the door leisurely. Tuotuo and others were sitting on the only road in front of the door, completely blocking the door.
This is Lu Ning's idea - to deal with a rogue, you must be more rogue than him in order to defeat him!
Sure enough, seeing the shameless attitude of Xia Yunqing and his gang, the gatekeepers quickly discussed it, fearing that Magistrate Cai would scold them, and then reluctantly let Xia Yunqing in.
However, Lu Ning, Totuo and other government officials could only wait outside the door. This was what they expected.
Xia Yunqing was led all the way to Magistrate Cai's study.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door. After a long time, a casual "Come in!" came from inside.
Xia Yunqing opened the door and strode into the house.
I saw a man in his fifties with eyes like red phoenixes, eyebrows like lying silkworms, a broad forehead and a flat top, lying on the Taishi chair with his arms raised.
Lang legs closed eyes and rested.
Kneeling next to him was a disheveled and beautiful girl, peeling walnuts for him with bare hands and putting the walnut kernels into his mouth one by one.
Xia Yunqing frowned and bowed to Magistrate Cai: "Master Cai, Xia wants to discuss something with you, can you please step aside?"
Magistrate Cai hummed a little tune without even opening his eyelids. He just said calmly: "There are no outsiders here. If you have anything to say, just tell me!"
Xia Yunqing glanced at the woman kneeling on the ground and muttered: "Today, several soldiers, claiming to be in the name of Mr. Cai, went to the prison to select prisoners to work. Because the subordinate officials did not know the reason, they sent them to prison.
Sent, I’m here to confirm this with Mr. Cai!”
Magistrate Cai made a contemptuous sound in his nose: "Have you seen Lingzhou's account books in recent years?"
Xia Yunqing didn't know why, so he answered cautiously: "Well, the income and expenditure are still relatively flat, with an occasional slight surplus."
Magistrate Cai said proudly: "The balance we have today is all thanks to my hard work! If those criminals are released, they will cause trouble. Keeping them in prison is a waste of court resources. Let them do something.
Isn’t it a good thing to kill two birds with one stone by giving them a chance to change their ways while also reducing the cost of hiring people for a job that no one wants to do?”
Xia Yunqing took advantage of the situation and asked, "I wonder what kind of work Mr. Cai wants to do by letting these prisoners go out?"
Magistrate Cai stretched his neck and said slowly: "Of course, if there are any dirty jobs, tiring jobs, or jobs that others don't want to do, let them do them!"
Xia Yunqing hesitated for a moment and then asked: "But I heard that these people who went to work never came back! I wonder where those people have gone?"
Magistrate Cai chuckled lightly and said: "You probably heard what the prisoners said about this! Those people are just jealous that others were released and they were not selected! Those who have done their work have already made up for their merits.
Of course I let them go!"
Xia Yunqing felt that what he said was not true, so he continued to ask: "But today, when I saw the selected people, not only was I unhappy, but I cried and begged me not to let them go! If I can really work hard
After being freed, why do these people do this gesture?"