Chapter 654: Death of Zhao Minglou
Outside the county magistrate's office, the common people surrounded the office and were extremely angry. All this was because many people in Zhuozhou had lost their families and lives.
At this time, Zhao Song came back.
As soon as his carriage appeared, it was recognized by the people.
"Look, that's Zhao Song's carriage!"
Zhao Song is now famous, and everyone knows that he is the cousin of Zhao Minglou, the governor of Zhao County.
"Quick, stop him!"
"That's right, stop him. I don't believe that the Zhao Jun Shou won't come out!"
Zhao Song was in a bad mood after days of setbacks, and was forced to stop by the local people and could not go home.
He got out of the carriage with a dark face and shouted at the people around him, "What are you trying to do? Rebellion?"
The people around him were frightened by him.
Until someone in the crowd shouted at him, "We don't want to rebel, we just want you to give us, the people of Zhuozhou, an explanation!"
This sound made the common people come back to their senses, "Yes, give us an explanation."
Zhao Song snorted coldly, "What do I need to explain to you?"
His words and attitude made the people very angry.
"You've caused such great harm to the people of Zhuozhou, yet you don't even feel the slightest bit of guilt?"
"That's right, the price of donkeys in Zhuozhou has plummeted because of you guys. Shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
Zhao Song asked them, "Did our master tell you to raise donkeys? Since our master took office, he has always said not to raise donkeys and to focus on farming. Did you listen?"
"Now that I'm at a loss, who can I blame?"
His words made the people furious.
"Yes, we raise donkeys. We don't listen to advice and bear our own profits and losses. But if you guys hadn't broken the contract, would Pingzhou stop buying donkeys from Zhuozhou? All this is caused by you! You have ruined our entire Zhuozhou!"
"Didn't you invest 500,000 taels in the Cai family to raise donkeys? And you still have the nerve to scold us for being disobedient? I think you guys are the ones who are stupid and greedy!"
"That's right, the ones who really deserve to die are you greedy people like a snake swallowing an elephant!"
"Something that harms others and yourself!"
"The troublemaker! Bah!"
Being scolded by so many people, Zhao Song was so excited that he blurted out, "What kind of good people do you think Pingzhou is?"
The common people watched coldly, wondering how he could come up with an excuse!
In a state of panic, Zhao Song blurted out, "All of this is a conspiracy by Pingzhou!"
"The purpose of the trap set by Pingzhou is to reap the wealth of the entire Zhuozhou!"
"It's a pity that you fools are still speaking for Pingzhou, mistaking jackals for good people!"
When Zhao Song said this, the whole audience fell silent at first, and then burst into heated discussion.
"Impossible?"
"He's trying to shirk responsibility!"
…
In the yamen, everything Zhao Song said and did was reported to Xie Zhan and Zhao Minglou.
Hearing Zhao Song's words about exposing Pingzhou and trying to bring trouble upon Le Yin, Xie Zhan's face changed, "This idiot!"
He stood up and walked out of the yamen, and Zhao Minglou hurriedly followed.
Outside, the people were heatedly discussing the truth that Zhao Song had just revealed.
"So Pingzhou is so powerful?" someone exclaimed in a low voice.
"Do you feel that our court seems a little incompetent?"
"It's not just a little bit incompetent, it's really incompetent."
At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted at the top of their lungs, "So what if this is a Pingzhou conspiracy? If Zhao Minglou and the court weren't incompetent, unable to protect Zhuozhou and unable to make decisions for us, would we ordinary people have to suffer like this?"
It's obvious that what you just said is not something an ordinary person would say; it's extremely inflammatory.
"That's true. Pingzhou and the imperial court are on opposing sides. It's normal for rivals to scheme against each other. But when the gods fight, the little devils suffer. We in Zhuozhou are just unlucky to be the little devil."
"You are so stupid that you are used as a knife by others."
"Yes, after all, it's you people who have caused us ordinary people so much harm."
In a hidden corner of the yamen, Zhao Minglou quickly looked at the person who was speaking, but there were too many people and he could not see anything.
His brother-in-law had previously told him that Pingzhou had a group of powerful gossipers who were very good at stirring up public opinion. These people were originally raised by Lv Desheng in Chang'an, and later when he went to Pingzhou, he also brought them with him.
There must be quite a few of them mixed in with the people at this time.
Xie Zhan looked at Zhao Minglou with cold eyes.
Zhao Minglou knew very well what this look meant. If he couldn't live, Zhao Song must die even more.
"I know how to do it."
Xie Zhan nodded, turned and left.
"Brother-in-law, I'll leave my family, wife, and children in your care."
Xie Zhan paused slightly, "Yeah."
After Xie Zhan left, Zhao Minglou took a deep breath and walked forward.
As soon as he appeared, someone noticed him.
"Look, Zhao Minglou is coming out!"
"After being a coward for so long, I finally come out!"
Zhao Minglou raised his hand, "Everyone, be quiet."
"I know all your requests. You want an explanation, and I will give you one now."
The common people in front of the yamen all raised their heads and watched quietly, and more and more people flocked here.
"Come here, bring Zhao Song up here."
Zhao Song was still unaware of the approaching danger, and when his eldest nephew ordered him to be brought up, he was not afraid at all.
Zhao Minglou stated the charges against Zhao Song, who was kneeling on the ground, and then ordered, "Be caned and executed!"
Zhao Song's eyes widened when he heard this. He struggled to say something, but the officers and soldiers who were escorting him quickly stuffed his mouth shut and then pressed him to the ground. They beat him with sticks again and again until the ground beneath him was stained red with blood. Then his eyes rolled back and his head slowly drooped from high to the ground, and he gradually became silent.
The executioner squatted nearby and put his hand under Zhao Song's nose. Finding he was dead, he announced loudly, "Sir, the prefecture governor, Zhao Song has been executed."
"Is everyone satisfied with this explanation?" Zhao Minglou asked loudly.
"You've caused countless people in Zhuozhou to lose their homes and families. How can the death of Zhao Song alone be enough?!"
"Yes, this Zhao Song is just a scapegoat!"
"Don't even think about getting rid of us like this!"
Faced with the unyielding people, Zhao Minglou smiled bitterly.
"Fellow villagers of Zhuozhou, I admit that this time, the disaster in Zhuozhou was caused by me, Zhao Minglou, who failed to supervise and control my family. I failed to be a good official. Now, I, Zhao Minglou, am willing to die as an apology for my sins. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness."
As he spoke, Zhao Minglou grabbed the knife in his hand and slashed it hard across his neck.
It’s so sudden!
This scene made the people gasp and screams followed.
Wang Dong, who was hiding in the dark, frowned. Although he wanted to use public opinion to force Zhao Minglou to death, this was too smooth.
After two people died, the people were at a loss and didn't know what to do.
Just then, Xie Zhan appeared.
He came from the city gate to the yamen, with the guards he brought with him clearing the way.
"The Imperial Envoy, the Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Xie Zhan, has arrived!"
After Zhao Minglou's death, when Zhuozhou was leaderless, Xie Zhan, the commander-in-chief of the Dali army, appeared in a grand manner holding an imperial edict.
At this time, the people's resentment had been somewhat alleviated due to the successive deaths of Zhao Song and Zhao Minglou.
After Xie Zhan took over the Zhuozhou government office, he immediately ordered the arrest of officials who sold low-priced grain to the people of Zhuozhou and investigated corruption.
Then, the affordable grain was directly converted into disaster relief food and distributed free of charge to the people of Pingzhou.
The people of Zhuozhou were appeased again.
Finally, Xie Zhan announced that Zhuozhou would be tax-free for three years.
Xie Zhan's series of actions can be described as swift and decisive.
After Xie Zhan's three consecutive appeasements, the people of Zhuozhou had almost lost their resentment.
Chang'an
During this period, Zhao Yutan's life was not easy.
The donkey market in Zhuozhou has been seeing price drops because of the Zhao family. The latest news she received was that the price of a donkey had dropped to five taels per head.
This time, the Zhao family invested 500,000 taels of silver. It would be good if they could not lose money, but forget about making money.
In addition, if the situation in Zhuozhou continues to deteriorate, her elder brother Zhao Minglou will probably be to blame.
These bad news hit Zhao Yutan like a club. She only hoped that her husband Xie Zhan would show up soon and save the Zhao family from the dire situation.
The deaths of Zhao Minglou and Zhao Song, along with the news of Xie Zhan's appearance in Zhuozhou, were immediately reported back to Chang'an.
When Zhao Yutan received the news, he trembled all over.
Her husband survived, but her eldest brother died and her cousin also died!
What exactly happened here?
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