Chapter 387 I Will Be My Lord, Cutting Through the Waves
County Magistrate's Mansion, Study.
Song Zhaolun knelt directly on the ground.
"The general is a man who truly serves his country and his people. I did not intend to deceive you before."
"I know. Get up and get to the point. I won't bother with such trivial matters."
"yes."
Song Zhaolun stood up and presented a booklet with both hands.
"I was indeed victimized and became mentally retarded, and only recovered in the past two years. This is what I have discovered over the past two years together with my classmate, Suiyang County Magistrate Peng Huai.
Inside is evidence of the filth and corruption that has plagued more than fifty Buddhist temples.
There are also more than 300 merchants who linger in these Buddhist temples.
This is not all, there are still many things that have not been found.”
There was anger in Song Zhaolun's eyes.
Then he looked at Huo Changan expectantly.
Huo Changan took the booklet and put it on the table without opening it.
"What are you and Peng Huai planning to do after investigating so many temples? With so many temples, it's clear the power behind them is enormous. You don't even have the ability to protect yourselves, so how are you going to fight them?"
Why do you need to check so much?"
Huo Changan just wanted to know why he did this thing that was harmful to him and had no benefit at all.
"Yes, there's nothing we can do..." Song Zhaolun's voice was slightly low.
He had previously secretly submitted evidence of crimes committed at one of the Buddhist temples to the local authorities.
But, he almost didn't escape from the city that time.
He then realized that those Buddhist temples, like Xihua City, were all in cahoots with the government.
Later, he thought of going to Beijing to stop the emperor, but Peng Huai told him that the capital was in chaos and it was not a good time.
“When I was awake, I wanted to stop watching and listening, but I couldn’t sleep every day.
My mother told me to do whatever I wanted to do. It was no different from being stupid back then. The worst that could happen was that I would die again.
What is the difference between a person who pretends to be deaf and dumb all his life and an unintelligent animal?
So, I did it.”
Although he didn't know whether these evidences would ever see the light of day, he couldn't stop. There was a voice in his heart driving him forward, forward.
Huo Changan's eyes were filled with shock.
What a wise mother!
"Excuse me, what is your mother's background?" Huo Changan was really curious.
"General, you misunderstood. My mother is just an ordinary peasant woman. She is probably influenced by my father.
My father was a scholar, but unfortunately he passed away early because…"
Song Zhaolun paused, then continued, "He and my mother were childhood sweethearts. After he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, he was spotted by a young lady from a wealthy family. My father rejected her and married my mother instead. However, the family held a grudge against him and sent someone to beat my father up at night.
Because of the serious injury, he missed the provincial examination. His mother went to the government office to seek justice, but was beaten by the county magistrate who took money. His father was depressed, and because of the serious injury and lack of money for treatment, he eventually succumbed to the disease.
He told his guilty mother that it was not her fault, but that the world was unfair and that evil spirits obscured the sun and the sky!
However, he believed that there would always be someone who could tear through the night, and there would always be a sunny day.
Song Zhaolun looked at Huo Changan and looked at him expectantly again.
"Now, I feel that you are the one who tore open the night."
"You too!" Huo Changan looked at Song Zhaolun steadily.
"But compared to me, you are more admirable!"
After all, he only exposed all this darkness when he had enough ability.
However, Song Zhaolun was walking alone in the darkness, not even knowing where the light was ahead.
But he still insisted on doing it.
Huo Changan admires me, really admires me!
Just like Ning'er said, not only those who stand in the light are heroes!
In this world, there are still many unsung heroes fighting in the darkness.
Huo Changan opened the booklet, which was filled with evidence of crimes committed by the Buddhist temple... shocking!
He patted the young man's thin shoulder heavily, "Song Zhaolun, the evidence you brought is just right. I just received news that all the merchants I sent people to look for have died suddenly...
I accept this evidence and list, and I promise you that after I take control of the capital, I will clear out all these Buddhist temples!"
A stream of tears welled up in Song Zhaolun's eyes, but it did not block the warm light.
He really waited for it!
"Thank you, General!" he cried.
Huo Changan continued to read a few pages with a sullen face.
Suddenly I discovered a problem. These Buddhist temples were first built five years ago!
What happened five years ago?
Such a great power is definitely not something that a small official can create.
Huo Changan searched for possible characters in his mind: the third prince is dead, the second prince is a waste, the other princes are still young, the prince is the crown prince and there is no need for him to rebel, the eldest princess is a royalist, Prince Huaishan, Prince Hongkang... Hongkang!
King Hongkang was banished to southern Xinjiang by the emperor five years ago!
And they are mortal enemies with the Huo family!
The reason for the enmity was because King Hongkang's distant nephew amassed wealth and framed his second uncle!
Using every possible means to make money seems to be King Hongkang's style!
Could it be that the one who harmed the Huo family was not the prince, but... Hongkang!
Thinking of this, Huo Changan couldn't help but start to wonder again, did King Hongkang go to Southern Xinjiang on his own, or was he driven away by the emperor?
If it was him...how much military force has he developed in recent years!
Huo Changan's eyes narrowed.
If it was Hong Kang, he would be hiding in Southern Xinjiang right now, surely waiting for an opportunity. Could it be that he was waiting for both him and the capital to suffer losses?!
"What did the general think of?" Song Zhaolun asked.
Huo Changan was not sure, so he asked Yan Meng to investigate the matter as he was more familiar with southern Xinjiang.
"Song Zhaolun, my primary goal right now is to take control of the capital and unify the country. I don't have time to stay here.
Now, I appoint you as the governor of Xihua City and leave you a group of people to assist you in governing Xihua City.
If you want peace and prosperity, then use all your courage.
Xihua City is not your end point, but your starting point.
Can you do that?
Song Zhaolun was stunned.
He thought about the purpose of Huo Changan looking for him at that time. There was no one available in Xihua City, so he could serve as the county magistrate again to comfort the people and maintain order.
But, County Magistrate?
"I've only been a county magistrate. According to common practice..."
"Don't worry about the conventions. According to the conventions, our Huo family should uphold the principle that if the ruler wants his subjects to die, the subjects must die. It's against the moral code and he will die unjustly!
Do you think it's fair? You were replaced as county magistrate. Do you think it's fair?
Do you think it is fair that you are loved by the people, but you are not promoted and instead are harmed by others?
Do you want to tear up this world? Do you not even have the ability to be a mere county governor? "
Song Zhaolun's eyes were already filled with tears, his face showing unwillingness and disobedience, as well as the long-hidden arrogance and sharpness.
Like lightning breaking through the dark clouds.
"I have the ability! I do!"
His voice was so loud and distorted, like a beast that had been trapped for a long time rushing out of its cage and roaring impatiently.
He knelt and bowed his head: "Your Majesty, I am willing to serve my lord, slashing through the waves and slicing through the waves. Even if I die nine times, I will not retreat!"
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