The squad leader from Linzhi County ran all the way back to the county town, and the officers and soldiers patrolling at the city gate were very surprised to see this.
"Team Leader Lin, why are you so anxious?"
The yamen runner named Lin Bantou didn't have time to chat with them. He just waved his hand hastily, hurried into the city, and went straight to the county magistrate's mansion.
As soon as he arrived at the gate of the county magistrate's mansion, the doorman's servant walked out of the doorway, rubbed his sleepy eyes, looked at the visitor unhappily, and after seeing clearly that the visitor was Lin Bantou from the government office, he put on a smile.
"Oh, it's Team Leader Lin. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
"I have something to ask you, sir."
"At this hour, the master is still resting. How about you come back in an hour?"
The master in their family was notoriously bad-tempered. Disturbing his sweet dreams would surely annoy him, and then they, the servants, would inevitably be punished.
Squad leader Lin looked gloomy, "Something big has happened, hurry in and report it."
When the doorman saw Lin Bantou's expression, his heart skipped a beat. He did not dare to delay and hurriedly led the people into the mansion and reported to the steward in a hurry.
When the steward learned that Team Leader Lin was anxious to see the Lord, he knew that something big must have happened, which was why he came to disturb him at this hour.
He did not dare to delay, so he asked Lin Bantou to invite him to the front hall, and he hurried into the backyard and walked towards the courtyard of County Magistrate Zhang's twelfth concubine.
The steward stood at the door and knocked on it. After hearing the noise coming from inside the room, he respectfully reported to the people inside: "Sir, Squad Leader Lin wants to see you."
The house was silent.
The steward spoke again, "Sir, Squad Leader Lin looked very anxious and said something serious had happened."
The fat, middle-aged man, who was resting his head on the concubine's fair and tender body, impatiently lifted the quilt and shouted at the people outside: "What's the big deal? You have to come at this time."
The concubine hurriedly got up and put clothes on him.
Magistrate Zhang, wearing his coat, looked at the steward with a gloomy face and cursed, "It had better be a big deal. If it's just a trivial matter, I will definitely not let you off."
"Walk."
The steward lowered his head and followed Magistrate Zhang respectfully.
Team leader Lin was waiting anxiously. When Lord Zhang appeared, he quickly stood up and saluted.
"grown ups."
Magistrate Zhang waved his hand impatiently, "Come here so early in the morning. Tell me what happened. I'm sorry you disturbed my sweet dreams so early in the morning. If it's nothing serious, watch out for yourself."
Lin Bantou bowed his body slightly and lowered his head to report, "Sir, I took a group of brothers out of the city this morning to replace Jing Bantou, but when we arrived at the place, Jing Bantou and his men were all killed."
Magistrate Zhang, who had just looked impatient, suddenly changed his expression and asked, "Tell me again, how are Jing Ji and the others doing?"
Lin Bantou repeated with a look of sorrow: "Jing Bantou and his men were killed."
"Could it be that the untouchables killed them?" Magistrate Zhang stood up and paced back and forth, muttering to himself, "Impossible. Even if those untouchables were given a hundred guts, they wouldn't dare to kill the yamen runners. Not to mention that Jing Ji is a man of extraordinary martial arts, and those untouchables can't do that."
"The person who killed them must not be an ordinary person. Could it be some kind of force?"
What he was worried about was not the life or death of Jing Ji and the others, but the identity of the person who killed them. He was afraid that he would inadvertently provoke someone he shouldn't provoke.
Seeing that the county magistrate was mumbling to himself and his words were getting more and more outrageous, Lin Bantou hurriedly said, "Sir, the person who killed them has been found."
Magistrate Zhang frowned and glared at him, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Tell me who is so bold."
"According to the time when Jingtou and his men died, a group of more than 200 people left under cover of darkness last night. Whether from the time or the number of people, that group had a motive. They had more people, while Jingtou and his men only had 20."
"We were outnumbered, so Jingtou and his men were killed by that mob."
"Sir, should we gather a group of brothers to chase after that group of people and kill them to comfort the souls of our brothers in heaven?" Bantou Lin's eyes were red and his face was full of grief and anger.
Jing Ji was very popular in Linzhi County. Now that he had been killed by the untouchables, he naturally wanted to help him get revenge.
Magistrate Zhang, who was originally worried about accidentally provoking someone he shouldn't, instantly felt relieved when he learned that the murderers were just a group of insignificant low-class people.
They all went after that group of untouchables, who would make money for him.
Now the daily income is at least 700 to 800 taels, and sometimes even several thousand taels.
There is no business in the world that can make more money than this. He will not allow irrelevant people or things to prevent him from making money.
If Jing Ji's group of people die, they die. He can just recruit another group of thugs. As long as he pays them, there are plenty of people who will do things for him.
Magistrate Zhang looked at Lin Bantou and said, "That group of people killed someone, and I'm afraid they have already escaped. It's futile for you to chase them now. You take a group of brothers with you and give Jing Ji and the others a good burial. This matter is settled."
Captain Lin wanted to say something, but seeing that Magistrate Zhang didn't want to talk more, he could only swallow his words back.
"I'll take my leave."
He left angrily, and just as he stepped out of the door, the voice of County Magistrate Zhang came from the hall.
"Wait a moment."
Lin Bantou thought that he had changed his mind, and looked at Magistrate Zhang expectantly, "Sir, do you have any other instructions?"
"Tell the brothers below that in the future, if you see a large group of people or a wealthy person, let them enter the city first. Find out where they are staying and take action in secret. Don't let something like today happen again."
"I don't want my subordinates to have such a thing happen again. I am heartbroken."
Lin Bantou nodded and said, "Your Excellency is right. I will give the order right away. Such a thing will not happen again."
"Yes." County Magistrate Zhang nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.
Within half an incense stick of time, everyone in the Linzhi County government knew that Jing Ji and his group had been killed by the untouchables.
Even though they were angry, it was of no use as the murderer had already escaped.
Jing Ji was popular among people, and many of them were resentful, so they unknowingly took out their anger on other refugees.
The refugees, who were already living in misery, were targeted like this, making their lives even more difficult.
As the sun was setting, a group of cavalrymen dressed in navy blue clothes were rapidly approaching Nyingchi County.
"Boss, Nyingchi County is just ahead."
Before reaching Linzhi Pagoda, they were stopped on the official road.
When the intercepting yamen runners saw this group of people, their eyes narrowed unconsciously and they looked around at their attire.
Although this group of people were covered in dust and their clothes were wrinkled, the texture of their clothes and the boots on their feet were not something that ordinary people could wear.
They silently labeled this group of people as 'fat sheep'.
"Boss, we need money, five cents per person, before we'll let you through."
The leading man only said four words, "Just give it to me."
When they approached, the guards who stopped them did not take the money, but let them go with a smile, "You can tell at a glance that you are different from those unruly people. Our county magistrate tried to stop them to prevent them from causing trouble. You can tell at a glance that you are good people, so just let go."
The leading man glanced at the bailiff and sneered in his heart.
This guy still has some vision.
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