Zhang Jun was startled and immediately blushed: "Magistrate Zhang, you can't just swallow my merits of fighting bandits to the death and protecting the people without giving me a word!"
Magistrate Zhang, with his square face and imposing manner, asked, "Squad Leader Zhang, are those sixteen men truly bandits? Did you try to stop them beforehand, and did you appease them afterwards?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you trying to frame me for killing innocent people and claiming credit for it?"
Zhang Juntou's face turned even redder. This was a serious crime. Once confirmed, he would be beheaded, let alone any merits he had made.
Jiang Zhi was also stunned by the sudden change and immediately thought about how she should answer if she was asked.
He couldn't afford to offend Commander Zhang, nor could he deceive Magistrate Zhang. These two Zhangs weren't from the same family, which was really putting him in a difficult position.
Seeing that Zhang Xing was still stubborn, Magistrate Zhang stopped going out and sat down behind his desk: "Zhang Xing, do you know how many towns, villages and people are under the jurisdiction of Pingchuan County?"
Zhang Juntou looked bewildered. What did this have to do with his banditry?
“Let me tell you, Pingchuan County has five towns and fifty-two villages under its jurisdiction, with a total population of 136,000…” Magistrate Zhang paused, sighed, “That population figure is no longer valid!”
After this war, nine out of ten houses were empty, and now the villages are deserted, the fields are barren, and the population has suffered heavy losses.
Zhang Jun's expression changed slightly; he was no longer as angry as before.
Magistrate Zhang continued, "I entered officialdom through the imperial examination and have been in the officialdom for over thirty years. I have seen far too many right and wrong, and many private and shady things."
If these sixteen people were real bandits, they would have left clues beforehand. Zhang, the squad leader, deserves a reward for the massacre. I just don't know where the evidence you found is.
Moreover, these bandits were gaunt, with dry hair, and their families had calloused hands and frostbitten feet; they were clearly farmers.
“If it is starving people who are looting, Zhang, the squad leader, should detain them and send them to prison, instead of killing them as bandits, so that they don’t even have a chance to regret it.”
Zhang Juntou was pale and unable to speak.
How could a lowly soldier like him possibly stand up to a fifth-rank official? He watched helplessly as he was transformed into a criminal who had killed innocent people and claimed credit for their crimes.
Moreover, he knew in his heart that these people were just misguided vagrants, not bandits who specialized in killing and robbing.
Jiang Zhi was equally uneasy. Although Magistrate Zhang did not blame her, she still felt she needed to explain the situation at the time.
While Zhang Juntou certainly had an intention to indulge others, those refugees did indeed have the heart to harm people.
“Magistrate Zhang, please allow me to explain what happened. This matter was caused by me, and Squad Leader Zhang was forced into it.”
"Oh? Then tell me from the beginning!" Magistrate Zhang's previous amiable demeanor vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
Jiang Zhi then recounted how the bearded man and his gang had first trespassed into their fields, wantonly ruining the fruits and vegetables, and had been accidentally injured in a trap used to catch wild boars, which their family had released the next day.
But the bearded man and his gang held a grudge and conspired with the four to rob and kill the man on the road. Fortunately, Zhang, the squad leader, saved their lives when they were in danger.
Jiang Zhi is absolutely certain of this, and you could even go to Xiao Man to verify what she said.
As for the dozen or so people who broke into the mountain, Jiang Zhi gave a different account.
At that time, there were only two elderly people, a paralyzed patient who could not move, two women and two young children in the family.
“At that time, my son was the only able-bodied man. In the moment of danger, Xiaoman’s grandparents risked their lives to protect their grandson, letting their granddaughter-in-law take the child and carry the patient away.”
In this situation, I simply cannot imagine what would have become of my family if those soldiers hadn't been there.
"Two groups of people, one on the mountain and one at the foot of the mountain, are attacking me at the same time. Even if Squad Leader Zhang wants the title of bandit suppressing, how can he control them when there are several miles of mountain road between them?"
If these bandits had even a shred of humanity, they wouldn't have stormed into my house, beaten the old people, and stolen my food.
When they're armed with knives and clubs, how are they any different from bandits?
After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, Zhang Juntou, who was standing next to her, was so grateful that he almost cried.
He was only thinking about getting credit, and almost ended up getting himself killed. This is the savior sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Magistrate Zhang remained silent; he had not expected that these starving people would attempt to rob in this way.
Bullying the weak is an outrage against humanity!
"Squad Leader Zhang, is this really the case?" Magistrate Zhang asked Commander Zhang.
At this moment, Zhang Juntou was filled with fear, but what remained was anger: "Magistrate Zhang can ask the families of those bandits what they were trying to do at the time. Why did they go deep into the mountaintop if they were just picking some wild fruit?"
Magistrate Zhang remained silent. He had already interrogated the families of those "bandits," and their accounts matched those of Commander Zhang, who said they had simply gone up the mountain to pick wild fruit and mistakenly entered someone else's home.
However, as a local official, he had to prioritize human life; a single word from him could mean the life or death of a dozen families, and the fate of dozens or even hundreds of people behind them.
The refugees have barely survived the chaos of the soldiers and the escape, only to die at the hands of the government... We really can't let any more people die.
"Squad Leader Zhang, I believe the name 'bandit' is misleading. They have already been punished for their actions, and their families are innocent. They should be released and allowed to return to their hometowns. Let this matter be closed. Do you have any objections?"
Magistrate Zhang softened his tone.
They were originally refugees, but they can start a new life as long as they return to their hometown.
Once they are identified as bandits, their property will be confiscated, and all their family members will be imprisoned and punished. These dozen or so families will be completely ruined.
If more than a dozen families were saved, then they would need to be refuted as bandits.
This means that Zhang Juntou's achievements in "suppressing bandits" are about to disappear, and Jiang Zhi, the victim, can no longer be pursued.
Of course, if Zhang Juntou and Jiang Zhi are dissatisfied, the case will have to be shelved again. After all, compared with the many more refugees who are injured or killed, these matters can be delayed.
Zhang Juntou was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I will follow Magistrate Zhang's decision."
He was originally a soldier, not under the jurisdiction of the county government, but the suppression of bandits was a civil matter, and he needed an official document from the county government to receive the credit.
Magistrate Zhang looked at Jiang Zhi, who nodded in agreement: "If one person does something, they should take responsibility for it; then the innocent won't be implicated."
Seeing that both of them were willing to let go, Zhang Zheng stood up and said, "That's very good. Let's go to the guest hall together and taste the Qinggang powder! If it can really be taken, I will personally inform the Prince of Zhou of this great achievement."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Juntou and Jiang Zhi's slight displeasure vanished instantly. Compared to the honor of being able to inform the King of Zhou, those dozen or so bandits were nothing!
A group of people had gathered in the county government's canteen. Xiaoman and the others had all arrived and were chatting with several yamen runners.
"You really survived for half a year on this?" An elderly constable asked with a suspicious look, pointing to the porridge and soft cakes on the table.
Xu Errui nodded: "Uncle, if you don't believe me, try it."
We left in a hurry, and didn't have much food. We survived on these oak trees.
The others marveled at the sight, but no one took a bite.
They were all veteran yamen runners who had been recalled, and they had seen many strange things in court. They wouldn't eat anything they weren't familiar with.
Xiang Dejin inquired about the situation during the chaos in the city. He learned that the magistrate of Pingchuan County had abandoned the city and fled. The chaos lasted for a few days at first, but there was no real fighting in the city.
The yamen runners were indignant when the matter was brought up, expressing their disgust for their former employer and their love for the new magistrate.
"As soon as Magistrate Zhang arrived in Pingchuan County, he personally investigated the people's conditions, expelled the vagrants from the city, and cracked down on criminals in the city. He is truly a good official..."
No sooner had the man finished speaking than Magistrate Zhang entered: "We hope for your strong support!"
Xu Errui looked at him and stammered, "Old man, are you the county magistrate?"
Zhang Zheng laughed loudly.
Everyone: ...?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com