Ch. 98 - In Xuanzhen Temple, Officials and Laws are like a Furnace, The Emperor is More Valuable than the People
The Famous Detective of the Red MansionThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Wang Yan temporarily set up a "flood control center," which was located in the Xuanzhen Temple, more than a dozen miles Northwest of Lugou bridge. The office was located in the main hall of the three highest manifestations of the Dao. This was probably also in the hope of being protected by the three highest manifestations of the Dao.
As for whether he wanted to protect the people on both sides of the river or his official position, Sun Shaozong did not know.
He rode his horse all the way. Seeing the Xuanzhen Temple outside, Sun Shaozong threw off his horse and didn't bother to wait for any notice. Holding the "lacquer bamboo stick,” he rushed in and shouted, "The upstream sheep news has sent a message. It's urgent!"
Logically speaking, the guards in the Taoist temple were all transferred from the Riverway Yamen. They should know the rule that "the sheep’s information" should not be blocked. But after a little hesitation, several patrolmen at the gate stopped Sun Shaozong.
Sun Shaozong frowned and scolded, "Are you crazy? How dare you stop the sheep's information?"
"Calm down, Lord!"
The Chief Inspector hurriedly explained, "How will I dare to intercept the ”sheep’s information?” It’s just that there is an emissary from the Emperor inside, who is now reading the Emperor's edict. If you are allowed to enter in this way, it is really..."
Imperial edict?
Sun Shaozong looked through the doorway and saw several Dragon Guards standing outside the main hall dressed in "ink dragon-swallowing cloud robes."
Therefore, he had to stop his steps and bowed his hands to the guards, "Then please help to report inside. Since His Majesty sent an emissary here, he must also want to know the latest water situation!"
The guards thought that this was indeed reasonable and that it was a deadly crime to intercept the "sheep’s information" without authorization. After a few quiet discussions, one of the guards went in to report.
Soon, three Dragon Guards came out with the patrolman. Two of them were acquaintances. They were Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan who chased the He family's daughter-in-law. But now it was not them who were in charge, but a tall and burly middle-aged man.
The man with Shen and Jin came near, bowed to him, and said, "I'm Lu Jianxing, the General of the Investigation Department. Greetings to the Cavalry Lieutenant!"
With this, he gave way to the inside again and said, "Please come in and talk, Commander."
Commander?
Sun Shaozong knew who he was when he heard what he said. He hurriedly went inside with Lu Jianxing to the Xuanzhen Temple. When he saw the gate of the main hall, his eyes swept, and he suddenly saw another acquaintance, Ye Xingmao, the petty official who forced Xu Mingtang to death!
At this time, Ye Xingmao had long lost his stance in the Riverway Yamen. He knelt on the ground with unkempt hair and two palms dangling from his chest. When he looked closely, he found that his skin and nails had been peeled off, leaving only two groups of purple and black muscles with blue veins exposed.
Tch!
It looked like he was scalded in boiling water after peeling!
In modern times, Sun Shaozong also responded to the call of his superiors to put an end to the bad practice of lynching. But when he saw Ye Xingmao's tragic situation, his mood could only be described as "happy."
As their pace slowed down, Sun Shaozong subconsciously asked, "Has this guy confessed?"
"What do you say?"
Jin Yichuan said proudly, "After tasting the skills of our Investigation Department, who won’t comply..."
"Third Brother!"
Lu Jianxing talked in a low voice and said with a smile, "You will know when you enter and ask, My Lord. Such things should not come from low-ranking officials like us."
He’s a cautious person.
"The skills are indeed not bad."
Sun Shaozong gave a casual praise and then walked into the main hall. He saw two people sitting in the hall. The main seat was naturally Wang Yan, and the guest seat was Dai Quan, the Eunuch beside Emperor Guangde.
He was the only Eunuch who liked to call himself the Commander of the Dragon Guards.
"Greetings to the Minister and the Commander."
Sun Shaozong hurried to meet Wang Yan and saluted Dai Quan.
"Get up, get up quickly!"
Wang Yan was silent, but Dai Quan smiled and gave him a hand. When Sun Shaozong got up, he said, "The victim of yesterday's ”white elephant sinking case” has been found. Sure enough, just as he inferred, he is an acrobat who goes around places to perform!"
Sun Shaozong reluctantly smiled and, seemingly unintentionally, changed the lacquer bamboo stick into one hand.
Dai Quan looked into his eyes, immediately patted his forehead, and said to himself, "Oh! Look at me. I've made such a fuss that I almost forgot my business! Hurry up! Tell me what's the emergency water situation, so that I can listen to it and report it to the Emperor."
Sun Shaozong arched his hand and said in a loud voice, "It was Patrol Ding who found a landslide lake upstream. According to the brave soldier who delivered the ”sheep information,” the lake may collapse again at any time. Please make preparations for it!"
"Ah!"
Before he finished speaking, he heard a heartrending howl from the corner. Looking sideways, he saw the "Second-in-Command" of the Riverway Yamen, Commander Beihe, who was crying with his heart pounding, "Twenty-seven years, twenty-seven years! Why let me, Zhao Rongheng encounter such a situation? God is unfair, God is unfair!"
"God is unfair?!"
Hearing this cry, Wang Yan immediately ”exploded” and violently grabbed the inkstone and smashed it at him. He scolded, "How can you cry out for injustice in front of me?! In front of tens of thousands of people on the South bank, how can you cry out for injustice?!"
The inkstone "bumped" on Zhao Rongheng's shoulder, causing him to stumble. But it seemed as if he had never heard of it. He was still crying and howling, repeatedly shouting "27 years" and "heaven is not fair."
At this time, how could Sun Shaozong not know that Zhao Rongheng was the person behind Xu Mingtang's death?
As for the "twenty-seven years" and so on, they refer to the fact that the Yongding River has not had a real flood for 27 years. If it had not been for this, they would not have dared to embezzle so much money at the foot of the Capital.
"How dare you blame heaven for being unjust with the evil you caused yourself?"
Confused, Dai Quan sneered, "Zhao Rongheng, it seems that you can't escape from the cruel torture!"
With this, he got up and arched his hand to Wang Yan and said, "Minister Wang, after I return to report, I will send someone to deliver the prisoner."
After that, without waiting for Wang Yan's response, he walked away.
Looking at this, he’s afraid that Wang Yan won't be able to wear his black official hat for a few days. No wonder he's so angry just now.
Sun Shaozong sent Dai Quan out of the mountain gate and watched him ride away. Only then did he return to the main hall again.
But before he crossed the threshold, he heard Wang Yan instructing someone, "Go inform the Hebei Provincial Commander, ask him to allocate manpower, and escort Zhao Rongheng and other prisoners to the South Bank for punishment. Once something happens to the river embankment, they will be brought to justice immediately!"
Sun Shaozong waited outside the door for a moment and then waited for the small official who sent the order to hurry away. He then stepped into the main hall. When he saw that there was no one left, even Zhao Rongheng was taken down, he could not help but bow his hand, "His Excellency really wants to destroy the South Embankment..."
"He… He…."
Before Sun Shaozong finished, Wang Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Do you think that only the Prefectural Magistrate Jia knows that the North Embankment is heavier than the South Embankment? To tell you the truth, even if I don't do anything here, the South Embankment won't last long!"
Hearing this, Sun Shaozong was silent for a while. At last, he threw his hand back and said, "I beg for your order to go to the South bank to supervise!"