Chapter 680 Magistrate Xu's Little Assistant 35
A gentle breeze swept through Xu Qingyuan's heart, bringing him a sense of complete comfort.
He squinted his eyes with amusement and tossed a file to Song Jinhuan.
Song Jinhuan hurriedly caught it and asked curiously, "What is this?"
Xu Qingyuan leaned back, his posture relaxed, and said, "Open it and take a look."
Song Jinhuan then lowered his head and carefully examined the document. The more he read, the deeper his brows furrowed. When he finally finished reading, he exclaimed in shock and anger, "This is outrageous!"
Niujia Village is located in the northernmost part of Dong'an County. Two years ago, news suddenly broke that bandits were causing trouble and committing all kinds of atrocities against the surrounding people, including rape and plunder.
The people reported it to the authorities.
The government sent men to besiege the area multiple times, but all attempts failed.
Upon hearing of this, the imperial court allocated funds and dispatched soldiers.
However, after more than a year, the banditry still could not be quelled, and he repeatedly requested funds from the imperial court.
The Emperor was furious and appointed Lin, the Vice Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, as Governor to investigate the matter.
Six months ago, Governor Lin came to Dong'an County and found that there were no bandits at all, and that the allocated funds had long been embezzled by corrupt officials at all levels.
Unable to bribe Prefect Lu and Prefect Li, they sent men to assassinate him.
Upon receiving this news, the Emperor was furious and appointed another official surnamed Zhang as the Governor.
Less than three months later, news came that the bandits had been wiped out and a large amount of stolen goods had been recovered.
However, due to the many suspicious points surrounding Governor Lin's death, the Emperor astutely discovered that something was amiss.
The emperor held Xu Qingyuan in high regard, so he deliberately, under the influence of his personal eunuch, feigned ignorance and demoted him to Anping County.
He secretly went to Xu Qingyuan's residence and told him the true purpose of his trip.
Xu Qingyuan gladly accepted the order.
In the imperial court, anyone with a modicum of insight knew that the emperor was giving Xu Qingyuan a chance to be promoted.
It's just a petty tactic of ostensibly demoting someone while actually promoting them.
This file not only contains the true cause of Governor Lin's death, but also the illicit affair between Governor Zhang, Prefect Lu, and Prefect Li.
The bandits that Governor Zhang wiped out were actually innocent civilians from Niujia Village. Moreover, the so-called stolen goods were all looted from the homes of Niujia Village residents.
As the village head, Niu Deli faced a choice between money and his life.
In order to survive, they naturally choose hush money.
Not only that, he also erected a merit plaque for Governor Zhang in the ancestral hall and temple in Niujia Village.
This move was met with strong disapproval from the villagers, who were forced to move away from Niujia Village.
Several villagers from Niujia Village who knew the truth jointly appealed, but were suppressed by the power of Prefect Lu, and many more people died in the process.
Prefect Lu, taking advantage of the fact that the emperor was far away, did whatever he wanted, which was simply outrageous.
Are there any living villagers in Niujia Village?
Xu Qingyuan nodded slightly, "Only three people remain, hidden in the shadows by Zheng Wangchun."
Song Jinhuan's eyes instantly reddened, and in a daze, she understood everything.
That makes sense.
Everything makes sense now.
Zheng Wangchun was the money and grain clerk of Dongping County, and was deeply trusted by the county magistrate, so he would naturally come into contact with such matters.
Hiding people is tantamount to taking the lives of others.
Jiang Jinghuai had once worked as his assistant in Dong'an County. Although he was recommended to Andong County, the people of Prefect Lu's faction would rather kill the innocent than let him go, which is why they repeatedly sent people to hunt him down.
Xu Qingyuan slowly sat up straight and silently patted her shoulder.
Overwhelmed with grief, Song Jinhuan choked out, "Where are they now?"
Xu Qingyuan: "We have already sent people to secretly escort him to the capital."
Song Jinhuan nodded haphazardly, "Will His Majesty severely punish them?"
Xu Qingyuan's eyes darkened slightly. How should he tell them that this matter was of great importance and had far-reaching implications?
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