After tying the two people onto the donkey cart, a new problem arose.
In Xu Mo and Chang Yan's plan, Zheng Ruqian would drive a donkey cart to lure the snake out of its hole, while Fang Heng would rent a donkey cart to follow behind.
The remaining carriage was left unmanned.
Jiang Sheng was eager to try, but her brothers held her down tightly.
Nobody wanted to see their younger sister drive the carriage into a puddle, especially in the dead of winter.
"Let's tie the old donkey here," Xu Mo suggested.
The rented donkey cart must be returned; the horse-drawn carriage is more valuable.
Zheng Ruqian patted the old donkey's head, feeling somewhat reluctant, but this was indeed the best solution.
The group left the old donkey behind, providing it with enough food and water, and to prevent it from feeling uncomfortable, they didn't even tie it with a bit.
They then headed to Yunshui County.
This time, they traveled at breakneck speed and arrived in the county town in just two days.
Pang Dashan woke up halfway through the journey. Without Jiang Sheng having to say anything, he said with shame, "I'm sorry for what I did to you all."
Jiang Sheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Brother Dashan, are you willing to be our witness?"
Fifth Brother is right.
Those who can be used by the enemy can also be used by oneself.
We finally arrived at the Yunshui County government office.
As soon as Zheng Ruqian got off the car, he knelt down at the entrance of the county government office and began to beat the grievance drum.
Not long after, the magistrate of Yunshui County held court to question the officials.
Zheng Ruqian kowtowed and knelt down, tearfully recounting how he had been robbed and even beaten on the road.
He neither exaggerated nor concealed Gao's identity as a constable.
Instead, in front of his fellow villagers and a group of officials from Yunshui County, he declared in a resounding voice, "This man is an official from Xieyang County. He has been bullying us commoners for a long time by taking advantage of his position, and he has even robbed us between the two counties. We have no choice but to file a complaint with the Yunshui County government. We hope that Your Honor will restore peace to us."
Since the incident occurred between two counties, the magistrate of Yunshui County had the authority to intervene.
The reason for specifically pointing out the identity of the constable Gao is that the magistrate of Yunshui County is extremely righteous and hates those officials who bully others by abusing their power.
As expected, after Zheng Ruqian kowtowed three times, the magistrate of Yunshui County spoke.
"Now that you've entered Yunshui County, I, the magistrate, will see this matter through to the end. Guards, if no one is willing to tell the truth, then give them two hundred lashes. We'll stop when they confess."
In fact, the magistrate of Yunshui County meant that everyone would be beaten, including Zheng Ruqian, who filed the complaint.
But he deliberately obscured the subject, making the two constables think that they were the ones who were going to be beaten.
Based on experience in handling cases, fifty strokes of the cane are usually enough to leave a person half-dead.
Two hundred strokes of the cane—that's enough to kill someone!
While the high-ranking constable remained arrogant, the other constable was terrified and kowtowed, begging for mercy, "Your Honor, spare my life! I know I was wrong, I'm willing to correct my mistakes..."
The magistrate of Yunshui County smiled faintly and slammed his gavel down. "Since you have confessed, tell the truth!"
The constables dared not resist. They told the constable Gao that the children had offended him by not handing over the tiger skin and tiger whip. Gao was furious but dared not anger the Jiang family or touch Youran Residence. So he could only tell the truth about the children.
But Officer Gao never intended to kill the children. He just wanted to threaten them, to instill fear in them so that they would willingly share any good things they hunted in the future.
Finally, the constable burst into tears, pleading, "Sir, we didn't try to steal your money or kill you. We just wanted to scare a few children. Please spare our lives, please spare our lives!"
What a clever tongue! He turned a potentially serious matter of financial and even life-threatening consequences into a minor one involving threats and intimidation, thus limiting the punishment he could even impose.
Xu Mo snorted coldly and pushed Pang Dashan out.
Compared to Zheng Ruqian's complete escape from injury, Pang Dashan suffered a terrible fate.
One arm was wrapped in a white cloth and hung limply in front of his chest.
After two or three days of healing, the wounds on his face and body turned into a terrifying bluish-purple color, covering his entire body in dense, indistinct bruises.
Even without him saying a word, the sight of him kneeling there was already shocking.
After Pang Dashan finished his tearful account, even the people in Yunshui County who were listening couldn't help but sigh, feeling sorry for this half-grown child.
The magistrate of Yunshui County slammed his gavel in anger, "If you beat someone like this just to scare them, what if you were after money and murder? Wouldn't that mean you'd have to kill, set fires, and dismember them?"
The bailiff was speechless.
The magistrate of Yunshui County looked at his advisor, "According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, what is the punishment for attempted murder for money?"
The advisor replied calmly, "At least five years, at most ten years."
"Very well." The magistrate of Yunshui County slammed the gavel again. "The witnesses and physical evidence are conclusive, and the murderers have confessed. Men, sign the document and take the two murderers to prison for a period of seven years before they can be released!"
Seven years is considered a relatively severe punishment.
Another constable never expected that he would end up like this just because he was a sycophant and did some bad things. He rolled his eyes and fainted.
The constable Gao never expected that anyone would actually dare to punish him.
He struggled frantically, kicking away the constables from Yunshui County who were grabbing him, and roared hysterically, "Get out of my way! I'm from Xiyang County! You have no right to arrest me! My brother-in-law is the magistrate of Xiyang County! If you dare touch me, my brother-in-law will make you pay..."
I see.
No wonder the magistrate of Xiyang County protected the constable Gao so much, and no wonder so many constables fawned over him. It turns out he had someone backing him up.
Unfortunately, this is Yunshui County.
Upon hearing what the constable Gao said, the magistrate of Yunshui County was not afraid at all. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Let him come. If I'm afraid of him, I'll give him my head!"
"Guards, adjourn the court!"
With a thud of the gavel, the Yunshui County government office slowly closed.
Jiang Sheng stood on the street in front of the Yunshui County government office, still somewhat dazed.
"Gao, the constable, was dealt with just like that?" She couldn't believe that a group of children had used their wisdom and strength to defeat such a powerful figure.
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