Chapter 382: Give Him a Trick in His Own Way
Bingzhou.
Inside the post house.
Li Nuo flipped through the booklet in his hand page by page.
This booklet records in detail many cases that occurred in various parts of Bingzhou. The cases involved officials from the Bingzhou provincial government and county governments, as well as some local dignitaries. Li Nuo had not seen these cases in the case files of the provincial government.
If the local government does not file a case, it will naturally not be found in the case database.
In Chang'an, no matter which government office it was, as long as the people filed a complaint, a record would be kept.
But in Bingzhou, this does not seem to be the case.
This booklet also contains an investigation report on Bingzhou written by Wang Duo.
The report wrote that the overall public security in Bingzhou was better than that in most counties and prefectures of Daxia, and even better than Chang'an. This was because Bingzhou was the sphere of influence of the Jinyang Wang family, and there was no one that the Wang family could not afford to offend.
Even if they were wealthy or powerful people who moved from Chang'an, they had to behave themselves when they arrived in Bingzhou. If they broke the law, they would still be taken to the government office and questioned.
The officials of various government offices in Bingzhou were either originally from the Wang family or were recruited and bribed by the Wang family. In other prefectures and counties, court officials might have to act according to the wishes of the local tyrants, but in Bingzhou, the Wang family was the biggest local tyrant.
This ensures excellent public security at the grassroots level. Village tyrants and troublemakers that are common in other places rarely appear in Bingzhou.
Anyone who dares to go against the local government can be easily dealt with by the Wang family without the intervention of the imperial court.
It has to be said that the dominance of aristocratic families has its advantages. One family dominating is always better than a chaotic situation. The reason why the order in Bingzhou is better than that in Chang'an is that the role of the Wang family cannot be ignored.
Of course, this is not always a good thing.
It is precisely because the entire Bingzhou is under the control of the Wang family that the people of the Wang family, as well as the officials of the Wang family and the forces that have close ties with the Wang family, can override all rules, even laws.
These second-generation officials and aristocratic families are even more arrogant than the Great Xia royal family in Chang'an.
The powerful and wealthy are still restricted by the imperial court, but in Bingzhou, these people are the real gods.
Soon, Li Nuo walked out of the inn.
When he arrived at a private house in Bingzhou, two people on the street not far away immediately changed their expressions.
"not good!"
"Why did he go there?"
"Who told him that, damn it?"
"I'll keep an eye on it here, go back and report!"
Li Nuo knocked on the gate of the house. After a while, the gate opened and an old woman stuck her head out. She looked at the stranger standing at the door and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Li Nuo smiled and said, "Old man, we are passing by here and would like to ask for a drink of water. Is that possible?"
The old woman looked at Li Nuo, then looked at an old man behind him. She seemed to think that he was not a bad person, nodded slightly, and said, "Come in."
Soon, the old couple brought two bowls of water, placed them on the table in the courtyard, and asked, "Young man, from what you say, you are not from Bingzhou, are you?"
Li Nuo said: "We are from Chang'an."
The old woman was stunned for a while after hearing this, and then she said to herself: "Chang'an, Chang'an is good, Chang'an is good. I heard that there is a Mr. Li in Chang'an who specializes in killing corrupt officials. I wonder when he can come to Bingzhou..."
Unexpectedly, the old couple had also heard of him. Li Nuo asked, "Are you talking about the Inspector General Li Nuo?"
The old woman shook her head and said, "His last name is Li, but not Li Nuo. As far as I remember, his name is Li Xuan or something..."
Li Nuo coughed lightly and said, "The man you are talking about, Li Xuan or something, is actually my father. I am the imperial inspector of the court. This time I came to Bingzhou to redress the grievances of the people. Old man, do you have any grievances to redress?"
As soon as these words came out, the old woman and her husband looked at him and immediately became alert.
The two men stood up and took a few steps back. The old woman said, "We have already said that we will not sue you, but you still won't let us go. We obeyed you and did not leave the house. Why don't you let us go?"
Seeing that the two looked very alert, Li Nuo sighed and said, "Old man, please believe me, I am really an inspector from Chang'an. I came here to kill corrupt officials..."
His voice contained a strange power. After hearing it, the two old men gradually let down their guard.
"Are you really here to help us?"
"Absolutely."
After Li Nuo calmed them down with his art of diplomacy, the two old men gradually spoke.
"We have grievances to redress, please, sir, make the decision for us!"
"That governor wanted to force my son to buy his music shop in order to expand his own. My son refused, so he had someone drive a car and hit him to death in the street..."
"We went to the government office, but they refused to file a case for us. They also threatened us not to tell anyone about this matter, or else we would die."
"Two days ago, they sent people to warn us not to go out, saying that we were not allowed to tell anyone about this matter if they asked, and they also forbade us to go to the government office to file a complaint. They also sent people to watch us outside..."
…
Li Nuo saw the people who were monitoring the old couple outside when he arrived just now.
He found it strange at first. Even if the public security in Bingzhou was good, there would be no one going to the government office to seek justice. Unexpectedly, it was because these people had already made preparations in advance before he came.
Presumably, the other victims listed in that booklet were also subjected to the same surveillance and warnings.
at this time.
Bingzhou Provincial Government.
When the Bingzhou governor heard that Li Nuo had gone to the old women's home, his eyebrows raised, but he did not show any panic. He had never underestimated this top scholar in six subjects and had already made sufficient preparations.
After a while, a yamen runner came in and said, "Sir Lu, Censor Li is waiting for you in the front yamen."
The governor of Bingzhou straightened his official uniform, walked slowly into the front hall, smiled, and said, "I wonder what orders Censor Li has?"
Li Nuo took a sip of tea and said, "Just now, I was walking on the street and heard people say that Governor Lu's son opened a music studio in Bingzhou..."
The Bingzhou governor showed a bewildered look on his face and said, "I only heard that the court forbids officials from opening brothels and gambling houses. Does that mean music houses are also not allowed? If the court forbids it, I will have my son shut it down immediately!"
Li Nuo shook his head and said, "That's not the case. The music hall is of course allowed to open. However, I heard that when the music hall was expanding, it was involved in a murder case. The owner of the shop next to the music hall was unwilling to sell the shop and was hit and killed in the street. I wonder if this is true?"
Governor Lu nodded and said, "It is true. After the case happened, I ordered the detectives to patrol the whole city to prevent horses and carriages from running on the streets..."
Li Nuo said slowly: "I heard that this case is related to Governor Lu's son. I don't know where he is now. I need to ask him some questions."
Governor Lu nodded and said cooperatively, "Human life is at stake. It is only right for Lord Li to question him. However, my son went out of town to play a few days ago and has not returned yet. I don't know where he went. When he comes back, I will notify Lord Li as soon as possible."
As he watched Li Nuo leave, Governor Lu's eyes flickered.
Li Nuo is worthy of being Li Nuo. Even though they have issued a gag order to everyone, they still couldn't hide it from him.
Fortunately, he was well prepared and sent his son away early.
If he could bring Lu Xiu out of that place, he could do whatever he wanted with him without any objection.
After leaving the government office, Li Nuo looked at Dongfang Xuan.
Dongfang Xuan counted with his fingers and said, "He is at the Wang family."
In the next few days, Li Nuo visited the victims of these cases one by one according to the list provided by Wang Duo.
Without exception, there were people monitoring their homes and all the victims' families were threatened.
There were some of them who refused to mention the case even if Li Nuo used his art of diplomacy to influence them. This showed that they were extremely afraid. Without their testimony, the culprit could not be punished through normal legal channels.
Even if some people were willing to testify, Li Nuo still didn't catch anyone.
All the officials sent their criminal sons to the Wang family. If Li Nuo wanted to deal with them, he had to go to the Wang family to ask for them.
Jinyang County.
When standing in front of the Wang family's gate, Li Nuo had the illusion that he was back in Chang'an and standing in front of the imperial palace.
Li Nuo only stood in front of the Wang family's gate for a short while before an old man who looked like a housekeeper came out and said with a kind smile, "Master Censor, please..."
The Wang family's house is extremely magnificent. Although it is not as magnificent as the imperial palace, it is more magnificent than ordinary royal palaces. There are courtyards nested within courtyards. If you are not familiar with this place, there is a high possibility of getting lost.
Li Nuo and the other man were brought into a spacious hall, where they were soon served fragrant tea by a pretty young maid.
Dongfang Xuan picked up the teacup and sniffed it. Before he even tasted it, he couldn't help but say, "Good tea!"
Li Nuo also smelled a special scent from the tea.
This tea is not ordinary tea, and the water is not ordinary water.
Li Nuo smelled a strong farm flavor from the fragrance of the tea. Li Nuo had also tasted tea grown by farmers, but the taste was still not comparable to that of the Wang family. This showed that the strong farmer who grew this tea was more powerful than the officials of the Sinong Temple.
Not only the tea, but even the maid who serves the tea is not an ordinary person.
To be exact, they are not human at all.
The maids standing behind Li Nuo and Dongfang Xuan were just two mechanical puppets, but the puppets were made with great craftsmanship, so lifelike and realistic that ordinary people would not be able to tell them apart if they didn't look carefully.
Li Nuo took a sip of tea, the fragrance filled his mouth, as if it penetrated into his soul. He said, "It is indeed good tea."
"It is such an honor to be praised as the top scorer in six subjects." A figure walked in slowly from outside, and the man in gorgeous clothes smiled and said, "This tea is carefully cultivated by farmers in the fifth realm. The water for boiling tea comes from a spring deep in the Tianshan Mountains. It is only when distinguished guests come that we serve it to them..."
He walked to the main seat and sat down, bowed to Li Nuo, and said, "Wang Yun of the Wang family..., I didn't know that Lord Li was coming, and I'm sorry for not coming to greet you."
The middle-aged man in front of him has the cultivation of a martial arts master.
From the name he gave, we can know that this person is the current head of the Wang family. Although in such a large family, the head of the family is not the real head of the family, but a pawn put forward to represent the family, his status in the Wang family is not low.
The head of the Wang family was very polite to Li Nuo and didn't seem to have any grudges against him at all.
But in fact, his son was beheaded by Li Nuo's father, and his brother, another martial arts genius of the Wang family, also died at the hands of his father. The Wang family's plans and arrangements in the court were hit back to decades ago overnight...
Even with such a great hatred, he could still make such good tea for Li Nuo and talk to him with a smile. No wonder he could become the head of the Wang family.
Li Nuo said politely, "Master Wang, you are too polite. To be honest, I am here today to investigate a case."
Wang Yun looked puzzled, and then said solemnly, "Oh, what case?"
Li Nuo briefly described to him the crimes committed by several members of the Wang family.
Wang Yun was disbelieving at first, then angry. He said, "These bastards are so shameless outside. It's my fault that my Wang family didn't discipline them. If Lord Li catches them outside, he must deal with them impartially. Don't give face to the Wang family!"
The words of the Wang family's patriarch were impeccable.
The Wang family is a prominent family. It is impossible for Li Nuo to search the Wang family inside and out. As long as the Wang family is willing, he will not be able to find anything.
After finishing a cup of tea, Li Nuo stood up and said goodbye.
The head of the Wang family wanted to give him a box of fine tea grown by the farmers, but Li Nuo politely declined.
As he watched the two figures go away, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
The hatred for killing his son and brother is irreconcilable. He wants to cut Li Xuanjing's son into pieces, but he is an imperial censor of the court and Li Xuanjing's son. If something happens within the Wang family's sphere of influence and Li Xuanjing goes crazy, it will not be good for anyone...
After all, many of the Wang family's children had just passed the imperial examinations, and this was also for their benefit...
"Who is this person?"
A voice suddenly appeared behind him. Wang Yun turned around and immediately bowed and said, "Ancestor!"
Then, he added: "This man is the son of Li Xuanjing, the Minister of the Dali Temple. He came to our Wang family to investigate a case. Those bastards caused trouble outside, and he got evidence..."
The old man said in a deep voice: "There is actually a Yin-Yang master from the sixth realm escorting him. This person himself is not a simple person. He has a great spirit and is only one step away from the fifth realm..."
The head of the Wang family was surprised and asked, "He, Li Xuanjing's son, is going to be a great scholar soon?"
Although it is hard to accept in my heart, the words of our ancestors should not be false.
Li Nuo's matter was not important. He looked back outside and said in a low voice, "Grandfather, those people have contacted us again. They have accurate information. Wei and Daxia will definitely go to war within this year. Opportunities are brewing in the chaos. Whether our Wang family can enter Chang'an depends on this time..."
The old man glanced at him and said in a cold voice: "Foolish, you can't trust a word of the strategists. The goal of Wei is to annex Daxia. If Daxia perishes, the six major families will also perish soon..."
At this time, in another courtyard of the Wang family.
A young man walked into the yard and laughed, "He's gone!"
As he finished speaking, the group of young people in the courtyard visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Only a young man with a lazy expression didn't even look at him, and said lightly: "I've already told you that no one can take you away from the Wang family. I don't know what you are so nervous about..."
"Haha, we are not as confident as you, Prince Wang."
"It seems that even Li Nuo can't do anything to the Wang family."
"Nonsense, this is Jinyang, it's useless no matter who comes..."
…
Three days later, the inspector Li Nuo left Bingzhou.
Unlike his previous trips to various states, where he would kill many people, he achieved almost nothing during this trip to Bingzhou. When he left, he was even a little embarrassed...
Everyone knew that the person he wanted to catch was hiding in the Wang family.
He also went to Wang's house.
But no one was taken away from the Wang family.
This incident once again proved that Bingzhou was the Wang family's Bingzhou. Even the most powerful inspector in history, holding the imperial sword, had to give in before the Wang family.
Jinyang, inside a restaurant.
A group of young people were having a great feast.
"What Li Nuo? Nothing more than that!"
"Hahaha, aren't you running away like a lost dog?"
"This time, he should know Bingzhou's last name, right?"
“Drink, drink, drink!”
…
A young man tilted his head back and took a gulp of strong liquor. The glass cup in his hand suddenly fell to the ground and broke into pieces.
He fell to the ground, holding his chest, his face extremely pale and sweat pouring down his forehead.
After a panic, the crowd immediately surrounded them.
"Prince Wang!"
"Brother Wang, what's wrong with you?"
"Quick, go get the doctor!"
Seeing this, a figure ran out of the restaurant quickly. There was a clinic not far away opposite. When he crossed the road and wanted to ask a doctor to treat Wang Shuo, he was suddenly hit by a speeding carriage and flew several feet away.
He fell heavily to the ground, feeling excruciating pain all over his body. Lu Xiu looked up at the sky, feeling dizzy.
At this moment, his mind was extremely clear, and he even knew that he was about to die.
His father was the governor of Bingzhou. He could do whatever he wanted in Bingzhou. He was unwilling to die like this...
But this was his last thought.
The carriage that caused the accident slowly stopped, and the driver jumped off the carriage, cursing: "You are looking for death, don't you know how to watch the road!"
The figure lying on the ground did not respond. He kicked him, but he remained motionless.
He leaned over, sniffed his breath, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
“Dead…”
A woman's voice came from the carriage: "Wang Fu, what's wrong?"
The driver immediately trotted back, stood in front of the carriage, and said, "Miss, someone suddenly crossed the road and was hit and killed..."
Another woman's voice came from inside the car: "Little sister, I told you not to drive in the city, but you didn't listen. Now someone is dead, right?"
Inside the carriage, the woman curled her lips and said, "What's wrong?"
At this time, the driver seemed to have discovered something and murmured, "Ladies, the person who was just hit and killed seems to be the son of Governor Lu."
The woman still didn't care and said calmly: "So what if he is his son? If he has the guts, he can come to the Wang family to arrest me..."
She didn't even look at the corpse on the roadside, and urged: "Go back quickly, my sister-in-law and I have an appointment to appreciate the flowers, don't be late..."
(End of this chapter)
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