Chapter 1715 Master Yang and the others understand the truth
Putting aside the question of whether the gifts were generous or not, Meng Yunzheng simply asked them with a serious expression, "Are you going back to Chenggu County?"
Mr. Yang and the others were taken aback, somewhat puzzled, and nodded hesitantly, "Of course we have to go back. We finally escaped danger and just want to go home and reunite with our families. They must be very worried about us."
Meng Yunzheng was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said, "But Chenggu County is not safe now, it can even be said to be very dangerous."
Master Yang was startled, then seemed to realize something and hurriedly asked, "You mean there are still quite a few bandits roaming around in the county town who haven't been caught yet?"
"A bandit?" Meng Yunzheng smiled, looked at Qin Kun not far away, called him over, and asked in front of everyone, "Tell everyone, are you a bandit?"
Qin Kun shrank back, a bad feeling creeping over him.
But now that he was on everyone's side, he couldn't hide it any longer, so he said in a low voice, "We're not bandits. There are no bandits in this black market. I was tricked into coming here by my fellow villagers two years ago. After arriving, I found that I either had to do hard labor, or go to the dueling arena like Lu Wu and the others, or join them as a thug in the black market. The first two were dead ends for me, and since I had a fellow villager's introduction, it was easy for me to become a thug in the black market. But believe me, although I'm a member of the black market, I've never harmed anyone."
Master Yang and the others grew increasingly grave as they listened. "So, you didn't become outlaws because you couldn't wait for the new emperor to grant a general amnesty? The ones who burned, killed, and looted in Chenggu County were your black market thugs, not some so-called mountain bandits?"
Qin Kun swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes."
Standing next to Master Yang, Young Master He immediately raised his voice, "Why? What have we done to offend your black market? Why are you so ruthless towards the people of the city? What are you trying to do?"
Qin Kun was on the verge of tears and silently took two steps back.
"I don't know. I'm just a low-level employee, doing what I'm told."
Mr. Yang took a deep breath. He had a feeling that the waters here might be very deep.
He asked Meng Yunzheng, "Does Young Master Meng know the reason?"
Meng Yunzheng then looked at Xia Yi. The reason for this was somewhat complicated. He didn't have deep connections with the capital and didn't know what he should or shouldn't say, so he simply let Xia Yi decide.
Xia Yi quickly stepped forward and said to everyone with a solemn expression, "Now that things have come to this, let me make some things clear to you. The people in the black market are indeed not bandits; they are rebels who intend to overthrow the government. The reason they targeted Chenggu County is because the magistrate of Chenggu County is someone who colluded with them."
"W-what?!" Everyone was shocked. "Lord Cheng is in cahoots with them?"
Xia Yi nodded. "Yes, there are two secret passages in this black market. One is the one you took when you were arrested, and the other leads to Magistrate Cheng's private residence. The rebels in the black market are targeting you because they are on a list provided by Magistrate Cheng, and they specifically arrested you."
Mr. Yang gasped sharply, "Then wouldn't our families be in great danger?"
Young Master He, "Magistrate Cheng is a traitor. Will the imperial court send someone to rescue Chenggu County?"
He Er: "So that's how it is. Now that I think about it, none of us who were arrested were from families that were on good terms with Magistrate Cheng."
(End of this chapter)
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