There's a clever reason for choosing the end of the Chen hour (7-9 AM).
It's too early. I'm afraid the prefect will receive the news and come through the back gate, or simply not come at all.
It's getting late; I'm afraid I'll miss the Prefect.
And this is also the time when the people of the prefecture city get up to do business, buy groceries, cook, eat their fill, and stroll around.
Central Avenue is the most bustling street in Anshui County, with a constant stream of people coming and going.
Xu Mo was already handsome, and now he was wearing a fine cloth robe that only scholars were entitled to. When he knelt down, the word "wrong" was written all over his body.
As a result, people all over the central avenue couldn't help but peek out, and passersby subconsciously stopped to watch the spectacle.
More and more people are coming, and the roads are getting more and more congested.
Hiding in the corner, Jiang Sheng and his sister couldn't help but worry, "Won't the Prefect worry that there are too many people and he won't leave this way?"
"Don't worry." Fang Heng wore a bamboo hat, the veil of which covered his handsome face. "When the Prefect proceeds, there will be yamen runners clearing the way."
Jiang Sheng was relieved and tiptoed to peek inside.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a call came from behind the crowded heads, "Sir, please make way for me."
Several yamen runners with knives were driving the crowd to both sides.
Slowly, Xu Mo, kneeling in the middle of the road, came into view.
The constable rushed up to Xu Mo, frowning. "The Prefect is passing through here, please make way."
"This humble subject has something to report." Xu Mo prostrated himself on the ground, "I kneel here only to see the Prefect."
"If you have a grievance, beat the drum to appeal; kneeling here won't get you anywhere." The bailiff said, drawing his long sword. "Are you leaving or not?"
Xu Mo remained unmoved.
Jiang Sheng, who was in the corner, clung tightly to Fang Heng's arm.
Although she knew the constables wouldn't dare to injure someone in the street, she couldn't help but worry because the gleaming long knife was right next to Xu Mo's neck.
Fortunately, Xu Mo remained calm and composed, kneeling on the ground without swaying an inch.
The constables were at a loss and could only go back to report.
"Your Excellency, a student is kneeling on the ground, seemingly reporting a grievance."
The yamen runner spoke quite interestingly. He first pointed out Xu Mo's status as a student, and then mentioned the injustice, which made the prefect in the sedan chair ponder for a moment before stepping out.
He was about thirty or forty years old, with a short, light black mustache on his upper lip and slightly protruding lips, but his eyebrows and eyes were resolute and his gaze was piercing. He spotted Xu Mo kneeling in the crowd at a glance.
"What are you doing kneeling here instead of going to class, you good student?" he said softly, but still walked up to her.
This is the moment!
Xu Mo suddenly held up a petition he had written long ago and said loudly, "I, Xu Mo, have come to accuse the magistrate of Xiyang County of plotting to murder the former magistrate Xu, harming innocent people, and hiring someone to kill him in an attempt to silence him. I beg Your Honor to investigate this matter thoroughly."
To file a complaint with a higher authority without going through the proper channels.
The prefect's eyes deepened, but he said, "Do you know that filing a complaint with someone above your level will result in being flogged fifty times first?"
Regardless of whether the injustice is true or false, and whether it can be tried, it must first be severely punished.
These fifty strokes of the cane are the review, the entry point, and the prerequisite for pleading innocence.
Otherwise, everyone would complain to higher authorities, even about the smallest things, and report them all to the emperor.
Xu Mo said firmly, "I know, I am willing to accept fifty strokes of the cane."
Even if he's beaten to death or maimed, his lawsuit is finalized!
Infected by the teenager's resounding voice, everyone around him instinctively fell silent.
Only one student suddenly shouted, "Isn't this the top scholar of Xiyang County?"
Huo was not only an ordinary student, but also the top case in the county, and the person he sued was the local government official.
Things suddenly got interesting.
But regardless, the procedures must be followed.
Soon, someone carried over the cane.
Without any hesitation, Xu Mo got up and simply lay down on it.
Two bailiffs, each holding a bamboo stick, struck Xu Mo's buttocks repeatedly.
At first, there were only the sounds of flesh slapping, but after a dozen or so slaps, faint traces of blood appeared, and by the time it was twenty slaps, Xu Mo's pants were soaked in blood.
But this twelve-year-old child only turned pale and didn't utter a single word of pain.
Even the bailiffs who were about to administer the beating softened their hearts and chose the gentlest method. Although it looked forceful, it would only cause minor injuries and try to preserve the bones and tendons.
"He's quite stubborn." The prefect's expression also changed. "The magistrate of Xiyang County has only been in office for less than a year, how could so many charges be leveled against him?"
Who knows? And who dares to say anything?
The road was long and silent, with only the sound of bamboo sticks striking meat.
Jiang Sheng and her brothers hid in a corner, their eyes filled with tears.
Even though I knew it all along, I still couldn't help but feel heartbroken seeing my older brother suffer like this.
After being beaten thirty times, Xu Mo was no longer able to speak. His delicate face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat from the pain.
At this moment, every woman with children looked away, her eyes filled with pity.
Even the Prefect of Anshui County couldn't help but feel a slight ripple of emotion upon seeing this.
"Wait." He suddenly raised his hand when he had hit the ball about thirty times.
The two constables hurriedly threw down their bamboo cangues, knelt on one knee, and awaited orders.
"Stop beating him for now." The Prefect of Anshui said with a deep look in his eyes, "This student, you are too frail. Fifty strokes of the cane will kill you. If you withdraw your petition now, you may leave."
In the past, people who filed complaints against higher authorities would not stop until they had received fifty strokes of the cane, regardless of whether they regretted it or not.
For the Prefect of Anyang to say such a thing now is truly unprecedented – it's the first time someone has ever made such a groundbreaking discovery.
But Xu Mo felt uneasy when he heard this. He struggled to fall off the torture board, but couldn't get up. So he simply used his hands to climb up, letting the blood meander behind him.
"My lord, I must file a lawsuit against the magistrate and his wife of Xiyang County. I beg you to give justice to my parents, my uncles and aunts, my brothers and sisters, and the countless other people who have been harmed!"
He reached out and struggled to grasp the hem of the official robe in front of him.
His unwavering spirit moved even the Prefect of Anyang, who reached out and accepted the petition.
After a quick glance, the prefect's expression changed; he seemed unable to believe that this was something a county magistrate had done.
"My lord, I am not afraid of fifty strokes of the cane, nor am I afraid of life or death. I am only afraid that my grievances will have nowhere to be heard, and that my wronged soul will have nowhere to go!" Xu Mo cried out, each word dripping with blood.
The Prefect of Anshui finished reading the paper, folded it up, and his expression was uncertain.
He glanced at the dying Xu Mo, then at the Central Avenue, which was completely blocked.
Suddenly, he asked, "You said you were the top scholar in Xiyang County, are you planning to participate in the prefectural examination in half a month?"
How did we suddenly veer to this topic?
Xu Mo didn't understand, but still forced a nod.
The Prefect of Anyang nodded slightly, his tone resolute.
"Very well, today I will make a deal with you in front of the people of Anshui County. As long as you become the chief judge of the prefecture, I will spare you fifty strokes of the cane and personally handle all the injustices."
What do you think?
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