"You know Ximen Qing, Wang Po who sells tea, and Yun Ge who sells pears, right?" Wang Han asked, looking at the people gathered in the county government office.
“We recognize them,” the assembled officials and stewards quickly replied upon hearing this.
“Good that you recognize them.” Wang Han nodded and said, “Find all the evidence against these three men tonight. Don’t forget the bandits and bullies who colluded with Ximen Qing. Arrest them all first thing tomorrow morning. I know some of you have special relationships with Ximen Qing. If you can provide evidence voluntarily, that would be best. You’ll just get a beating. Otherwise, if I find out later, you will be punished the same way. Don’t take any chances. Once you’re arrested, I have my own magic to make you confess honestly.”
"Yes." Upon hearing this, the officials and constables immediately ran out of the county office. A few others hesitated.
"Speak, what is your relationship with Ximen Qing, and what evidence do you have against him?" Wang Han asked, looking at the few people who remained.
"Sir, I accepted money from Ximen Qing." Before Wang Han could finish speaking, a steward knelt on the ground. "Ximen Qing instructed his servants to give him preferential treatment in the future."
“You write it down, and make sure you write it down as well,” Wang Han said to the magistrate of Yanggu County.
"Your Excellency, I know I was wrong. I did accept money from Ximen Qing, but I did not favor him. I only made things easier for him in cases involving financial disputes. I know I was wrong." Upon hearing Wang Han name him, the magistrate of Yanggu County immediately knelt down.
"Hurry up and write it!" Wang Han glared at the magistrate of Yanggu County and said. The magistrate of Yanggu County didn't really deserve to die. In the original story, after Wu Song killed Ximen Qing and turned himself in, the magistrate was impartial and knew that he had even secretly helped Wu Song once. When Wu Song was taken to Dongping Prefecture for trial, he must have sent someone to say a good word for him. Otherwise, Wu Song would have died long ago, or at worst been exiled to the army. He wouldn't have been valued by the magistrate of Dongping Prefecture, and there wouldn't have been any of the events at the Mandarin Duck Tower.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yanggu County quickly got up, picked up his pen, and began to write with trembling hands.
........
Seeing that even the county magistrate had confessed honestly, the rest of the people quickly spilled the beans and sold out Ximen Qing.
“General, these Granny Wang and Brother Yun are just two insignificant people; I’m afraid there’s not much evidence to be found against them,” the magistrate of Yanggu County said cautiously to Wang Han after taking notes.
"No evidence to look for?" Upon hearing this, Wang Han sneered and said, "You think you can go home and rest after you've confessed to your crimes? Hurry up and look for evidence. If you can't find any, your punishment will be doubled tomorrow, and my men will be the ones to beat you."
"Yes, Your Excellency will take the men there immediately." Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Yanggu County quickly replied and immediately led the remaining dozen or so men out.
"Yang Zhi." After the magistrate of Yanggu and the others left, Wang Han called out to Yang Zhi.
"Your subordinate is here." Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi immediately stepped forward.
"Go and buy the necessary medicinal herbs first thing tomorrow morning, enough for two more people. Also, I have another batch of herbs here; go and get it tonight," Wang Han said, picking up a pen and quickly writing down the names of many herbs on a piece of paper. He then handed it to Yang Zhi.
"Yes." Yang Zhi took the list of medicinal herbs, immediately took out several dozen taels of silver, and hurriedly left the county government office.
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