Since the civil unrest broke out, there was no room for delay. Early the next morning, He Ran went to the palace to report to Su Pingjiang. He called on several colleagues from the Supervision Department and the Criminal Department. After some preparations, he left Bell Ringing City in the afternoon.
The end of the road in Chaotian County is less than three hundred miles away from the royal city. The group arrived at Xiangwu Village, the site of the incident, at noon three days later.
When they arrived at the military camp, the commander-in-chief Huan Zeng heard that the military advisor had arrived and hurriedly came out of his tent to pay homage. He said, "I didn't know that the military advisor was coming in person. I didn't come far enough to greet you. Please forgive me for my sins."
He Ran asked with a straight face: "What are the casualties on both sides?"
Because the military advisor refused to give way, Huan Zeng bowed his head and said: "Seventeen soldiers died in the battle and more than fifty mobs were killed." [
He Ran raised his eyes to look at the village halfway up the mountain and asked coldly: "Why not attack?"
Seeing the military advisor's expression, Huan Zeng panicked and said, "The mob refused to surrender. The governor was afraid that the trouble would get out of hand, so he stopped. The general neglected his duty and failed to break the stronghold with one attack.
I ordered five soldiers to be captured by the mob and asked the military advisor to punish the Immortal Daoji."
Zhuyin asked: "General Huan, please get up. Where is Lord Du, the governor?"
Huan Zeng finally did not dare to straighten his body too much and replied: "It's in the tent not far away."
Without waiting for instructions, someone hurried forward to summon him.
As He Ran walked toward the big tent, he ordered: "Let the soldiers and horses in front withdraw."
Huan Zeng hurriedly conveyed the order, and then waited outside the tent anxiously.
He Ran sat in the middle, Zhuyin and Kou Wei were at the left and right, and Wu Shilang from the Criminal Department accompanied him at the bottom.
"Huan Zeng, come in!" He shouted directly to the outside without being given an order.
Huan Zeng couldn't help but tremble, and hurriedly lowered his head and entered the tent.
"Let me ask you, who ordered you to send troops? And when did you leave the station?"
"At the end of the day, I received the order from the governor at noon on the second day, and ordered the troops to leave the camp at o'clock on the fourth day."
He Ran put a smile on his lips and said: "I received the order at noon on the second day and dispatched it at midnight on the fourth day. You are really good at managing the army."
Huan Zeng argued: "As a military advisor, we could have set out on the same day we received the order, but because of the obstruction by Lieutenant General Zhong Min in every possible way and inciting our troops to disobey the order, it was delayed for two days."
"Why did he obstruct it?"
"He believes that... it is not appropriate to use troops but to appease them. However, the mob has already beaten and injured the officials, and they are not punishing them in order to uphold the law of the country. Please let the military advisor know clearly."
“Where is Jong Min?”
"The general has sent him to stay at the station."
He Ran nodded and ordered Zhong Min to come quickly, and then said: "I received the order on the second day and mobilized the troops on the fourth day. Why did I only get the military report on the thirteenth day? Do you not know military discipline?" [
Huan Zeng bowed his head and said: "The governor said that he should report to the court."
He Ran snorted and said: "It seems that you really don't understand military discipline. What he reported was a local report. Don't you know that you have to report to the Ministry of War when you use soldiers and horses?"
/
Knowing that he was guilty, Huan Zeng lowered his head and said: "The general thought that he would be done with just one trip with his troops, but he didn't expect..."
He Ran said sternly: "You don't need to report if you take the troops for a trip!"
"The general has finally found out his crime and is willing to accept the punishment." Huan Zeng had a cold sweat on his forehead.
He Ran stood up and walked to him, told him to raise his head, then stared at him and said: "You will not break the law without a reason. Do you want to say it yourself, or do you want me to check?"
Huan Zeng's legs were already weak and he said with a trembling voice: "General, I really didn't expect it to be like this. The people sent by the county guard at that time said that as soon as the army arrived, the mob would disperse like birds and beasts. There was no need for the soldiers to take action at all. After they were dispersed,
Let the government officials take over the rest."
He Ran shook his head slowly and said, "That's not what I asked."
Huan Zeng knew that he couldn't deal with it, so he hesitated and said: "Master Du... Master Du will be ready for the end. This popular riot is... aimed at Master Du. He doesn't want the court to know and wants to calm it down as soon as possible.
So I found the final general..."
He Ran sat back on the table and said to Kou Wei: "It's as we expected."
Kou Wei sighed, but before he could speak, Zhong reported: "Du Ting, the governor of Chaotian County, is waiting outside."
He Ran said to Huan Zeng: "Hand over the military talisman seal letter, and wait for the sinful emperor's favorite concubine Tianxia." Then he stood up and gave up his seat, bowed his hand to Kou Wei, and said: "I have accepted Huan Zeng's troops.
Quan, it’s time to give up this throne to your lord, and let your lord decide the rest of the matter arbitrarily.”
Kou Wei stood up and said: "How dare the military advisor take the lead here? Besides, it is rare to catch up with the military advisor to ask questions. The inferior officer can just observe and learn, so it is better for the military advisor to decide."
"There is no ranking in the court based on official rank. The person who enforces the law should take the lead. Not to mention that you are the chief magistrate of the court. Even if the city guard is questioning a case, I have to give up my position."
After being asked again and again, Kou Wei listened and said: "This official has just taken charge of the post of chief prosecutor. The people below don't know it yet. It's better to present myself as the director of the Supervision Department at this moment. This case involves the military and chaos is not a trivial matter. It should be decided by the military advisor."
, just as an example for lower officials."
He Ran nodded, turned to Zhuyin, pondered for a moment, and said with his hands raised: "Master Kou did not accept this case. It should have been decided by Master Zhongshu, but because it involves the military, I stepped over and took over the matter to entrust the affairs of the ministers.
The identity is for the time being. If there is anything inappropriate, please correct me in time."
Zhuyin cupped his hands and replied: "As it should be, Lord Kou and I will listen and receive instruction."
"It's about supervision and supervision." He Ran smiled and sat back down in the main seat, and first gave the order: "Please ask Mr. Huang, the inspection envoy."
Not a moment later, Huang entered the tent. She didn't know what He Ran suddenly called her to do. After saluting, she lowered her hands and stood in wait.
He Ran ordered the staff in charge of military affairs: "The military power of Huan Zeng's command will be temporarily handed over to Mr. Huang." Then he said to Huang: "Order these troops to return to the camp and not leave the camp for a step. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed immediately. Zhong Jiu
As your lieutenant general, I will lead a thousand disciples of Zangxian Valley to carry out your orders."
Huang took the order and left.
He Ran again sent an order to Hongquan: "Find an open space in front of the village, put up the military flag, and tell the villagers to choose three leaders to come and discuss with me." [
After making these arrangements, He Ran ordered the guards to pour tea with everyone, while he leisurely chatted with Wu Shilang of the Ministry of Justice about the events of the last banquet, looking at Huan Zeng whose face was ashen as dust.
Zhuyin reminded: "Master Du is still waiting outside, why don't you ask him first?"
He Ran said: "It's better to let him face the people to testify. Then the people will feel it is fair."
Although Zhuyin disagrees, it is inconvenient to say more on this occasion.
Not long after, Hong came to report that the venue had been arranged.
"Let's go right now." He Ran said, standing up and walking out first. When he got to the tent, he turned around and said to Huan Zeng, who was standing still at a loss, "General Huan, please invite us too."
"Yes, yes, yes." Huan Zeng bowed his body and followed behind. Zhuyin glanced at Hong, who understood and stepped forward to hand over his sword.
Du Ting, the governor of Chaotian County who had been waiting outside the tent, was in a panic at this moment. He didn't know why the military advisor had not been summoned for a long time, because there were military advisors guarding him in front of the tent, and he did not dare to get too close to eavesdrop. At this moment, he saw the military advisor coming out and was busy.
He stepped forward and saluted and said: "What use is there for military advisors for such trivial matters? Zhongshu ordered us and all of you to come here in person. Du Ting missed me from afar, so I hope you will forgive me."
He Ran smiled and said: "Your Excellency, you are so calm. This matter is not a small matter. Public riots in newly acquired areas are nothing. However, in the areas that have been under the New Deal for more than half a year, there is no place where such a big disturbance has occurred."
"I have neglected my duty, I have neglected my duty, but everything is under control. My lords, please go into the city to rest first. I will go and apologize to your lords after I have dealt with the matter here."
"How to deal with it? Kill all these people? Or do you have any good plan to make them surrender? I think if you really have a good plan, you won't wait until this time, right?"
"This..." Du Ting heard the military advisor's unkind tone. Looking at Huan Zeng behind him, the smile on his face became a little stiff.
"Since the people want to see me by name, your Excellency, please come with us to meet them." He Ran said and stopped looking at him and walked towards the village with square steps.