Zhao Huan led his men inside.
Several constables pinned the two men to the ground. The two men tried to struggle, but they were unable to.
"Benefactor, why go to such lengths!"
The host said loudly.
"You stinking monk, it's none of your business to interfere with government officials' work!"
“Benefactor, these two are already pitiful enough. They only want to spend the rest of their lives here in peace. Why do you have to make things difficult for them?”
The head constable roared, "Let me tell you, you bald monk, these two are wanted criminals that the government wants to arrest. You are suspected of harboring wanted criminals. I'm already being lenient by not arresting you! If you say another word, I'll burn this dilapidated temple down!"
The two people being pressed to the ground were a man and a woman. The man was only about fourteen or fifteen years old, and the woman was about eighteen or nineteen.
"Let us go! You corrupt officials, you'll all die a horrible death! All officials are bastards! They'll all get their comeuppance!"
"You dare to talk nonsense!"
One of the officers kicked the boy in the face and stomped on him.
"You...you bastards! You don't treat people like human beings! So many people died on the railway from Chang'an to Xingqing Prefecture, and not only did you ignore it, you even tried to kill us to silence us! We will haunt you even as ghosts!"
"You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? You're asking for it!"
The constable drew his sword, ready to strike.
"stop!"
A voice came from behind, and the constable paused, turning his gaze in that direction.
He saw a group of people walking towards him.
"Who are you? Are you trying to obstruct the government from carrying out its duties?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan was extremely angry.
He walked over and said, "I don't remember the government handling official business like this!"
"Hey! Where did you come from? Do you think the government needs to teach us how to do things?"
Han Shizhong was about to speak when Zhao Huan stopped him.
"Arresting people is one thing, but you have to make them say what they have to say, right?"
Zhao Huan pointed to the two people who were pinned to the ground and unable to move.
"They are wanted criminals on the run from the government, extremely dangerous! What are you saying! Anyone who dares to obstruct the officials today, don't blame us for being impolite. Get lost!"
Holy crap! This is the first time since I transmigrated that I've encountered someone who dares to be unreasonable in front of me!
"Which government department are you from?"
"Chang'an County Government Office!"
"Did County Magistrate Li Qiushan send you to arrest people?"
"That's right, it was the county magistrate who sent me to arrest him!"
Zhao Huan asked, "What if I tell you today that you can't arrest anyone?"
"You're asking for death!" the head constable shouted, and the other constables drew their swords.
As soon as this action was made, the Imperial Guards instinctively drew their swords, and instantly the scene became a flurry of flashing blades, ready for battle.
"What are you doing!" the head constable shouted. "What are you doing! How dare you lay a hand on the officers!"
Zhao Huan said in a deep voice, "Make your move!"
At his command, the Imperial Guards charged forward.
One of the officers swung his sword to strike, but Han Shizhong severed the sword in half, along with the officer's neck.
Blood gushed out like a fountain. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his wound tightly with his hand, convulsing uncontrollably.
This frightened the officials.
Although they were government officials with the backing of the government, Han Shizhong's ruthless style of killing without hesitation instilled fear in everyone.
Zhao Huan said, "Release them!"
“You…do you know what you are doing? By obstructing the government from detaining people, you are obstructing the imperial court from carrying out its duties.”
Zhao Huan waved his hand, and Han Shizhong struck again, sending another man crashing to the ground.
"I said release them."
Now, none of the constables dared to disobey anymore.
The boy and girl got up from the ground; they were dirty and looked rather disheveled.
Looking at Zhao Huan, he felt somewhat afraid, after all, Han Shizhong had just said he would kill someone without hesitation.
The Imperial Guards were all exuding a murderous aura.
The constable was sweating profusely.
Zhao Huan ignored him completely and asked directly, "I'm asking you, what do you mean by what you just said about many people dying on the railway from Chang'an to Xingqing Prefecture?"
The girl was clearly bolder and interrupted, saying, "Our parents died while building the railway. They forced us to work day and night, didn't let us rest, and fed us only coarse food!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" the constable roared.
Zhao Huan's sharp gaze swept over him, and he was so frightened that he quickly shut his mouth.
"Go on, say whatever you want to say, I'll back you up today."
The girl stared wide-eyed at Zhao Huan and asked, "Can you really back us up? The authorities are trying to arrest us, and they're afraid we'll tell others that you're more powerful than the county magistrate?"
"No matter what kind of county magistrate he is, if so many people really died on this railway, even if the prime minister came, he would still have to give an explanation!"
For some reason, the girl felt a sense of security from the person in front of her, so she told him everything that had happened in the past few days.
The constable's face grew increasingly grim as he listened, but he dared not make a move.
"Nonsense! It's all nonsense!"
"Everything I said is true!"
Zhao Huan said, "Let's go to the county government office and ask if it's true or not."
The constable immediately stood up. Here, Zhao Huan had many men, so he was still wary of him, but once they reached the county government office, that would be their territory.
Even a dragon has to coil up.
"Alright! Let's go! To the county government office!"
The abbot said, "Amitabha, benefactors, this old monk suggests that you go directly to the emperor to file a complaint. I heard that the emperor has arrived in Chang'an."
"You bald-headed dog, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you think these commoners can even see the emperor?!" the constable roared menacingly. "Let's go! To the county government office!"
The girl and boy were terrified; the mere mention of the government office filled them with fear.
"Don't be afraid, I'll go with you."
Seeing Zhao Huan's confidence and the fact that his men were all physically imposing and highly skilled, the two men felt reassured.
The constable hadn't expected Zhao Huan to actually come with him to the county government office. He thought to himself, "If you dare to come with me, I have a hundred ways to kill you!"
Without further ado, the group went to the county government office together.
The county magistrate raised the court, and the yamen runners stood on both sides below.
"Who is in the hall?"
The head constable quickly stepped forward and said a few words, but the county magistrate's face darkened: "You scoundrel, how dare you kill an official! Guards, arrest all these people and send them to jail!"
"Wait a minute!"
"Is there anything else you want to say?"
"Are you aware that many people died on the railway from Chang'an to Xingqing?"
Upon hearing this, the county magistrate immediately flew into a rage: "Nonsense! Guards, take them away! Lock them all in the dungeon!"
Damn it, what's wrong with these people? Do they think they're some big shot? They come here acting like they're the most important person in the world!
Pah!
This is the county government office; the county magistrate is the highest-ranking official!
Zhao Huan ignored him and continued to ask, "I'm asking you, do you know about this?"
"Who is the county magistrate, you or me?"
Zhao Huan laughed twice and said, "Why don't you call Sun Bangyuan over? I'll ask him how many people died building this railway!"
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