Volume 1: Swan Goose Chapter 231: The Sword Points to the End of the World
Magistrate Cai snorted softly and shouted coldly: "Most of these people were imprisoned because they couldn't survive and made some mistakes. They are not guilty of death! Who wants to be a prisoner if they can be fed and fed well in prison? Where are the coolies? Even if they are released, they are still in danger, so it is better to stay in prison! I heard that you were a former official in the capital, so naturally I don’t understand the thoughts of these unscrupulous people!"
Xia Yunqing looked at the man in front of him and felt that he was extremely cunning and even more difficult to deal with than Wang Su. Any further arguments with him would be fruitless.
He then asked: "I heard that there is a secret garrison five miles outside Lingzhou City. What is the secret there? Who is Ma Sanbao?"
Magistrate Cai did not answer immediately. He finally opened his eyes slightly and held up a crack: "I advise you not to interfere with his affairs! The sky is high here and the emperor is far away. There are some things that should not be taken care of. If you interfere at will, you will probably die soon. !」
Hearing this, Xia Yunqing could no longer hold back, and finally looked up to the sky and laughed: "What a joke! Mr. Cai doesn't know that I, Xia Yunqing, have always been known for my stubbornness! I am now in charge of the prison, and Ma Sanbao may be involved in many murder cases. This matter I’ve got it under control!”
Magistrate Cai raised his eyes and stared at Xia Yunqing sternly. After a long time, he slowly closed his eyes again and said quietly: "In that case, I wish you good luck!"
When Xia Yunqing was kicked out of Cai's house, it was already dark outside.
A bird flew from nowhere and fluttered into the shade of the tree.
Totuo and Lu Ning saw Xia Yunqing walking out of the door and hurriedly greeted him: "Master Xia, how are you?"
Xia Yunqing's face was as dark as water, and he said angrily: "This Magistrate Cai is cunning and rampant, and is more difficult to deal with than the corrupt officials in the capital! It seems that we are going to fight a tough battle!"
Lu Ning was not surprised by this: "The sky is high here and the emperor is far away. Sometimes local officials are indeed more arrogant than the officials in the capital. However, do you have any questions?"
Xia Yunqing suddenly raised his eyebrows, full of anger: "There is no truth in the mouth of this Governor Cai! It seems that we have to visit the secret garrison now. However, I have a task for you two , I wonder if you can complete it?"
Lu Ning and Totuo looked at each other, raised their hands and said, "As per Master Xia's orders!"
Xia Yunqing lowered his voice and said: "Even people like Magistrate Cao don't want to mess with Ma Sanbao. He must be a more powerful person. I guess I won't be able to ask anything if I go here this time. You wait until I leave and then go back quietly , secretly inquire into their secrets."
Lu Ning smiled when he heard this and said: "This is not difficult, Sir Xia, just feel free to leave it to us!"
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The group of people soon arrived at the secret garrison. It was said to be a secret, but in fact it was not half hidden.
It was getting late, the north wind was blowing away the clouds and rain.
At this time, the sky was clear and blue, and several thin, tall, and dust-free mountain peaks came out from behind the clouds.
From a distance, you can see layers of rising clouds and smoke covering a vast range of mountains covering an extremely wide area.
Dozens of large and small tents were surrounded in the mountains, and the tents were arranged in a strategic manner.
Dozens of men with sallow faces and thin muscles, dressed as prisoners, their hands and feet were shackled, and everyone was working with an indifferent expression.
A group of people walked over, but were blocked by guards at the door. Several soldiers with fierce looks quickly ran over.
The leading scar-faced man shouted loudly: "Who are you, who dare to break in here?"
Toto was filled with anger, stood up in front of several people, and shouted loudly: "Why are you so fierce? You guys are no match for me! Get out of here, this is Mr. Xia from Lingzhou Prefecture, he is here to see you
Head!"
After that, he pulled out the shining golden mace and waved it majestically in front of them, looking like he was not to be trifled with.
Several soldiers who bullied others looked up at the tall Toto, and suddenly felt that they were as small as ants. Then they looked at the murderous mace. They knew they couldn't beat him, so they couldn't help but take a few steps back, not daring to be presumptuous again.
.
"Sir, it's okay." Lu Ning walked to the sedan and said softly.
The sedan curtain was opened, Xia Yunqing stepped out slowly, and stood majestically in front of several soldiers.
"Xia Yunqing, the official of Lingzhou Prefecture, came here specifically to find Ma Sanbao. Who else is in there?" His words were full of energy and high-spirited, making people dare not underestimate him.
The scar-faced man shouted angrily: "How outrageous! Did you call our General Ma's name casually?"
Toto stared, waved his mace wildly, and said sternly: "Speak up!"
The scar-faced man was afraid of the opponent's bravery, so he had to restrain his arrogance and shouted reluctantly: "Come in!"
A group of people followed him through the camp, walked straight to the center, and stood in front of the largest tent.
Scarface turned around and shouted to them: "You guys wait here, I'll go in and lead the way. However, if the general doesn't want to see you, your trip will be in vain!"
Before anyone could say anything, he turned around and walked in the door.
After a while, the camp door was opened again.
Scarface leaned out half of his body and shouted to Xia Yunqing and others: "Master Xia, General Ma asked you to come in and talk!"
Although the wording is still disrespectful, the attitude is obviously better.
Xia Yunqing, Tuotuo and Lu Ning walked to the door.
But Scarface stopped Lu Ning and Totuo: "General Ma will only let him in alone, you have to stay outside!"
Toto was about to have a fit, but Xia Yunqing held him back and said in a low voice: "Don't forget what you promised me! Just wait here for now, he doesn't dare to do anything to me!"
Toto stared and snorted: "Okay, I don't have to go in, but Scarface can't go in either. He has to wait outside the door with us!"
After saying that, without letting Scarface tell him apart, Toto picked him up and walked aside, holding his arms and staring at him.
Xia Yunqing stepped into the tent and saw a man with a rough expression and thick eyebrows and big eyes. His upper body was naked, revealing a reddish brown body and strong muscles. He was carefully wiping a row of weapons in front of him.
When Xia Yunqing entered, he just turned his head slightly and glanced at him. Then he turned back and continued to do the work at hand.
From beginning to end, he didn't say a word.
Xia Yunqing was not angry and asked first: "Are you Ma Sanbao?"
The man wiped the sword and said "hmm" softly in his nose as an answer, but still did not look at him.
Xia Yunqing did not feel dissatisfied and continued to ask: "I heard that Magistrate Cai often selects some prisoners in the prison and sends them here. What do they do here?"
The man said indifferently: "Work."
When he spoke, there was no expression on his face, and even the tone of his voice was devoid of any ups and downs or emotions.
From the first moment he saw this person, Xia Yunqing felt vaguely: This Ma Sanbao is not simple!
There must be many secrets hidden in him!
Moreover, he must be related to the recent cases!
After a pause, he continued to ask: "Where did those people who were captured go after they left?"
Ma Sanbao replied without hesitation: "I don't know."
Xia Yunqing felt depressed, his face darkened, and he said coldly: "It seems that General Ma doesn't intend to have a good talk with me, right?"
Ma Sanbao didn't look at him, but simply said: "You ask, I will answer."
Xia Yunqing felt that this person was very cunning, and he found nothing if he continued to ask, so he changed his strategy:
"Today, General Ma sent some people to pick people from the prison. They may not know me, and they were a little disrespectful in their words and deeds. So I was angry and drove them away. But I was afraid of delaying the general's business, so I came here specially.
I hope General Ma won’t be offended by this visit!”
Ma Sanbao put down the sword in his hand, turned around, and shouted outside: "Here comes someone!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the scar-faced man immediately ran in, raised his hands and closed his eyes, listening respectfully to the instructions.
Ma Sanbao's deep voice sounded: "Bring here all the people who went to the prison today!"
Scarface was startled, glanced at Xia Yunqing, and immediately bowed and exited.
After a while, a group of people walked into the big tent with their heads hanging down and tremblingly, and automatically lined up in a row.
Ma Sanbao walked over without saying a word, walking majestically from the first person to the last person. Every time he came to him, the person would shrink his neck subconsciously, and he was so scared that he didn't even dare to breathe.
Ma Sanbao turned his head and looked at Xia Yunqing, his eyes sharp and fierce: "Is it them?"
He always spoke simply, but with an irresistible dignity.
Xia Yunqing scanned every face carefully and nodded: "It's just a few of them, General..."
Before he finished speaking, Ma Sanbao immediately turned around and took out a nine-foot-long moon-covering knife.
In the blink of an eye, several of his hands raised the knife and dropped it. Xia Yunqing's mind went blank, and she felt blood bursting in front of her eyes.
Immediately, the camp was filled with miserable wailing sounds.
Xia Yunqing looked again and saw that the row of soldiers had fallen to the ground, rolling in pain. There were several chopped off arms scattered around them, all of which were right hands.
Seeing such a tragic situation, Xia Yunqing was shocked. He glared at Ma Sanbao angrily and shouted, "Ma Sanbao, what are you doing?"
Ma Sanbao didn't answer immediately. He turned around with the knife in hand, picked up a piece of crystallized white cloth, carefully wiped off the blood on the blade, and then said calmly: "They disrespected you and failed to complete their mission. They deserve to be punished!"
Xia Yunqing listened to his calm tone and looked at the blood and stumps on the ground, and suddenly became furious.
"Even if they are at fault, how can you punish them at will without regard for human life?"
Ma Sanbao didn't look at him. The knife in his hand had been polished to a shine, as if it had never been stained with blood.
He picked up a clean white cloth and carefully wiped off the dirt on his hands before saying calmly: "I have the final say here!"
It's still that irresistible tone.
Xia Yunqing was full of grief and anger, pointing at him and angrily yelling: "Is this the land of the king? Although this place has left Lingzhou, it is still under the control of Lingzhou government! I haven't spoken yet, how can I allow you to be so presumptuous!"
Ma Sanbao ignored him and only winked at the scarred face.
Scarface understood and immediately bowed out.
After a while, some people came in from the door and dragged out those who had lost too much blood. It was unknown where they were taken.
Xia Yunqing asked hurriedly: "These people are so seriously injured and need to be treated quickly. Where are you taking them?"
Ma Sanbao said calmly: "There are no doctors in the military camp. Everyone is affected by life and death, including me!"