The move by the Prefect of Anyang was truly unexpected by everyone.
Xu Mo was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses. It was the advisor who slapped him and said, "Hurry up and follow us."
He suddenly realized what was happening and, with his younger siblings, followed the prefect's entourage.
Passing by the inn, Zheng Ruqian took Pang Dashan down to hail a donkey cart and also packed up the cured meat and all of Jiang Sheng's small belongings.
Inside the carriage.
Xu Mo was still a little dazed. He lifted the curtain and looked at the carriage speeding ahead, and couldn't help but mutter, "It's unheard of for the Prefect to come down to the county town to handle a case."
Chang Yan pursed his lips. "It's not that there aren't any, it's just that they can't be recorded."
The prefectural governor is the superior of the county magistrate, and in theory, he can summon the county magistrate to the prefectural city for questioning.
However, the journey from Anshui County to Xieyang County takes at least five days, and a round trip takes at least ten days.
If another witness is summoned or physical evidence is obtained during this period, the trial of a case will be over before the Lunar New Year.
But Xu Mo couldn't wait.
The people of Xieyang County couldn't wait any longer.
According to Zheng Ruqian, in April, the magistrate of Xiyang County decided to close the rule that "no tax is levied on goods delivered into the city," and all merchants traveling to and from the city had to pay a tax of five percent of the value of their goods.
Originally, there weren't many big businessmen in Xieyang County; most of them earned their living through hard work. With this 5% tax, their net profit dropped significantly.
Add to that the 200-wen stall fee and the severe punishment for selling goods privately, and the people of Xiyang were already full of complaints.
The reason why the Prefect of Anshui Prefecture personally visited Xieyang County was because he loved the people like his own children and did not want them to suffer undeservedly.
Xu Mo finally felt relieved.
He slightly raised his head, looked up at the sky, and murmured in his heart, "Father, Mother, can you see? Your son is about to clear your name."
Early May.
After being away from the county town for two whole months, the six siblings finally set foot on this land again.
Feeling the warm breeze and breathing in the fresh, sweet air, Xu Mo smiled.
However, the governor of Anshui was not so comfortable. After all, he was in his forties, and after several days of long-distance travel, he almost broke his body. His feet felt like they were walking on cotton when they touched the ground.
Xu Mo noticed the change in expression and immediately stepped forward to take his hand, saying, "Sir, I have a small courtyard where you can rest."
The prefect of Anshui pondered for a moment.
Although they concealed their identities when they entered the city, the magistrate of Xieyang County was no fool. He would surely notice when such a large group of elite troops entered the city.
Rather than waiting for the magistrate of Xiyang County to realize something was wrong and prepare accordingly, it's better to act swiftly and decisively to control the situation first.
"Let's go to the county government office."
The Prefect of Anshui walked forward with his hands behind his back, his steps uneven.
Xu Mo saw this and felt a slight sting in his nose.
People are always curious: can someone really work so hard and worry about other people's affairs that they die from exhaustion?
The governor of Anshui answered by demonstrating his own actions: Yes, it is true.
He could have rested, but for Xu Mo's sake and for the truth, he dealt with the case immediately.
At the county government office in Xieyang County, before the drum of grievance.
The prefect of Anshui stopped in his tracks, glanced at his entourage of yamen runners ten feet away, and called out, "Old Yuan."
The constable Yuan, who had shown concern for Xu Mo before, immediately stepped forward and knocked on the door.
The door opened quickly, but only a head peeked out. Seeing that Yuan, the constable, was a stranger, he coldly scolded, "What are you doing? What are you doing, banging on the door in broad daylight?"
Yuan, the yamen runner, was almost laughing in anger. "This is the county government office, a place where ordinary people can file complaints. You're not allowed to knock on the door. What do you want the door for?"
The man, not expecting this person to dare to talk back, angrily emerged, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Isn't there a grievance drum? You can beat the grievance drum."
Having no other choice, Yuan, the bailiff, picked up two large hammers and struck the grievance drum three times.
"Is this alright now?"
But to everyone's surprise, the person who opened the door turned around and went into the county government office, then immediately bolted the door shut.
He called out through the door, "The magistrate is unwell and unable to attend court for the time being. The case will be postponed."
The governor of Anshui County was so angry he laughed.
Fortunately, he didn't bring the yamen runners with him, but only brought Yuan, the yamen runner, to stand at the entrance of the county government office.
Otherwise, we wouldn't see such a cruel reality and such a power-hungry face.
"What a fine magistrate of Xieyang County! What a fine county of Xieyang!" The Prefect of Anshui paused for a moment, then clapped his hands lightly.
Dozens of yamen runners stepped forward in unison, led by Yuan, and kicked the county yamen gate several times.
In the blink of an eye, the door that had just been mercilessly shut collapsed.
The lazy yamen runners inside were startled and were about to jump up and scold them.
Upon seeing the dozens of upright and imposing yamen runners behind the Prefect of Anshui, they were so frightened that they shut their mouths and scattered and fled.
The Prefect of Anshui sat down in the main seat with a cold face, a bright mirror hanging above his head and his feet on the court table.
Yuan, the bailiff, led his men into the backyard and captured the resting Magistrate of Xieyang County and his wife.
"How dare you, Magistrate of Xiyang County!"
With a slam of the gavel, the trial began.
At first, the people just peeked around out of curiosity, but when they discovered that the person being investigated was actually the local official of Xieyang County, they were all surprised and spread the news to each other.
Before long, the area in front of the grievance drum was crowded with people.
Jiang Sheng, being a tiny child, was squeezed so tightly that her head almost flew off, but for her older brother's sake, she still resolutely stood guard at the front line of the county government office.
At first, the magistrate of Xiyang County was a little confused and tried to communicate with the prefect of Anshui County about their camaraderie.
When Xu Mo stood in the center of the hall, his expression finally changed.
"Today, Scholar Xu has accused the Magistrate of Xieyang County of murdering Magistrate Xu and his wife. I have personally come to Xieyang County to seek the truth." The Prefect of Anshui slammed his gavel again, causing everyone in the hall to tremble. "Magistrate of Xieyang County, do you have anything to say?"
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