Chapter 858: Three Questions (Additional chapters for the reward to the book friend "Qian'an already exists")
"Then tell me, when was the last time County Magistrate Bai left the city? Aside from the time you escaped."
Erji was stunned for a moment, and after thinking carefully for a long time, he said, "It seems to be about half a month before that, maybe April?"
"You don't need to remember the exact time. Just tell me, who left the city with County Magistrate Bai that day?"
"There's me, County Magistrate He, and Brother Du from the county government." Erji tried hard to recall, because the old lady would occasionally ask about their time in Yizhou City, so Erji would always reminisce from time to time. Although twelve years had passed, many things were engraved in his mind.
"Which direction did you go after leaving the city?"
Erji couldn't help scratching his head, and after a while he said, "We went to a courtyard in the suburbs. We left in the evening, heading west towards the sun. I don't know whose courtyard it was. After entering the gate, Brother Du and I stayed in the courtyard. The master and the others went into a study, and when we came out it was morning, so we went back to the city in the morning."
County Magistrate Tang asked, "After that, did County Magistrate Bai say anything that left a lasting impression on you? Or what was his expression like?"
Erji said without hesitation, "The master's face was very ugly. He couldn't sleep for several nights. Not long after that, his study was rummaged through. He was almost hit by a speeding carriage when he went out in the daytime. Then, County Magistrate He and Young Master He disappeared. The master went to investigate, and it seemed that they were in danger. Not long after returning to the county government office, he took us out, saying that he was going to inspect the farm, but he turned around and went to the capital. As a result, we were caught up by assassins not long after we got on the official road..."
This series of events was coherent. Erji had been thinking about it for an unknown amount of time, so he spoke very smoothly. "We were being hunted all the way, and then Brother Du led us to a detour towards Luojiang County. The master also said he wanted to go to Luojiang County because he heard that Lord Tang's next inspection would be in Mianzhou. Who knew..."
Erji didn't say anything else, and everyone knows what happened next.
County Magistrate Tang, however, remained calm and asked, "You really don't know whose villa we went to that night?"
"have no idea."
"Who was in the villa that night?"
"We saw no one except a mute servant."
County Magistrate Tang paused and asked, "You set out in the evening. How long did it take you to reach that villa?"
Erji opened his mouth, not quite remembering this.
County Magistrate Tang asked, "Has the sun set when we arrived at the villa?"
"It has set, but the sunset glow is still on the horizon, especially red, and it's no longer glaring."
County Magistrate Tang then ignored the question and asked, "What is the most profound event in your memory before your escape?"
Erji's face turned pale and he didn't say anything for a long time.
County Magistrate Tang just stared at him.
Erji couldn't help but look at Daji. Daji nodded slightly to him. Erji then said in a trembling voice, "One night, County Magistrate He came to my house and said he wanted to take me somewhere, but he didn't want me to take anyone else with me."
"I was worried and insisted on following him. Then, I went to the west city gate with County Magistrate He. We hid in an alley and saw a thousand armored soldiers from the palace ready to leave the city gate overnight."
County Magistrate Tang sat up slightly and asked, "Did the city gate open overnight?"
"yes."
"Hasn't County Magistrate Bai received the request before?"
Erji said, "I know very little about the master's official business, but the master was also surprised that day, so it is obvious that he didn't know before."
"Then what?"
Erji swallowed and continued, "Then County Magistrate He led us through a hole to get out of the city."
Everyone: ...
"After leaving the city, we didn't pursue them. County Magistrate He took us on a shortcut to a mountain. From there, we could vaguely see flames in the valley. We saw a large number of guards stationed there." Erji clutched the quilt tightly and said, "I don't know how many people there are, but our master counted their tents, then his face turned grim. He said, one sentence after another..."
County Magistrate Tang pressed on: "What was that?"
"They say the King of Yizhou is plotting something evil."
County Magistrate Tang stared at him, and Erji couldn't help but raise his hand and swear, "Sir, I'm telling the truth. The King of Yizhou is planning a rebellion. He's embezzled the money from the river workers to forge weapons. Our master says that if the King of Yizhou rebels, the people of Yizhou will be buried with him."
There will be casualties in war. The King of Yizhou needs people for rebellion, and he will definitely conscript able-bodied men. Moreover, the area that the imperial court will attack will most likely be in Yizhou. By then, not only Yizhou, but the entire Jiannan Road will be turned into hell.
Erji may not have thought of this, but if Bai Qi could think of it, County Magistrate Tang could naturally think of it as well.
He understood what Bai Qi wanted to do almost instantly.
County Magistrate Tang stood up, walked around twice, then looked back at him and asked, "Can you guarantee what you said? There's nothing added to it."
"Yes, I can swear. If I lie, I will be crippled in my next life and lie in bed unable to move for the rest of my life."
County Magistrate Tang glanced at his legs under the quilt, sighed, and turned to leave.
Bai Shan quickly put away the map and pulled Manbao out.
County Magistrate Tang was waiting for them in the courtyard. As soon as they emerged, he turned back to the two men and said, "Without evidence, we can't do anything. Old Madam Liu mentioned that after the Yizhou flood four years ago, someone went to your village looking for someone. It's clear that County Magistrate Bai has crucial evidence. Even after so many years, that evidence can still cause great harm to the people and events of that time."
Bai Shan nodded.
County Magistrate Tang looked at the map in their hands and said, "Let me see it."
Da Fu quickly brought out a table for them. The three of them stood around and looked for a while. County Magistrate Tang clicked on the place where the bodies of Zhou Yin and his wife were found and found that it was very far away from the trail. It was obvious that they had been fleeing for quite some time.
Thinking Zhou Yin must be trying to escape to Qili Village, County Magistrate Tang drew three paths along that road. "People panic when they're running for their lives, but Zhou Yin was able to escape here in the dense forest. It's obvious that he was heading towards Qili Village. No matter how he ran in the forest, he was always heading in this direction."
He simply drew a large circle, encompassing the three routes, and said, "He will definitely not escape this circle. Bai Shan, have your people search this area first."
County Magistrate Tang paused and asked, "Do you have enough men? Do you want me to support you?"
Dahu Mountain is very big. Bai Shan thought for a moment and then bowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Tang."
County Magistrate Tang nodded, waved his hand, and said with a smile, "You're welcome. I'll write a letter later, and you can find someone trustworthy to send it back to Luojiang County. Go directly to Yang Heshu, and he will arrange for someone to help you."
Bai Shan and Man Bao were surprised, "Is County Magistrate Yang back?"
"I'm back. It's just a wedding ceremony. How long will it take?"
See you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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