After Yang Zhi left, Wang Han fell silent again. Speaking of Ximen Qing, he naturally thought of Pan Jinlian. Actually, Pan Jinlian wasn't initially promiscuous. This is evident from the fact that even after being forced to marry Wu Dalang, a short, ugly man, she remained virtuous and devoted to her husband, even rarely leaving her home to avoid gossip. She was a virtuous and capable woman, and she and Wu Dalang supported each other through life.
It wasn't until more than a year after she married Wu Dalang, when Wu Song came and she recalled her own misery, and the seduction by Wang Po, that the problem arose. Wang Han could understand it. If it had been Yan Xijiao, the woman Song Jiang kept, even an eight-foot-tall man would have been shrunk by the cuckoldry within a year.
Another reason is Yun Ge. Wu Dalang's death was partly due to him. In reality, while Yun Ge wasn't a bad person, he wasn't exactly a good one either. Ximen Qing often tipped Yun Ge. One day, Yun Ge wanted to earn some money from Ximen Qing, but Ximen Qing wasn't home. That day, Ximen Qing was at Wang Po's house having an affair with Pan Jinlian. Following directions, Yun Ge went to find him, but Wang Po stopped him. Yun Ge had already sensed something was wrong and thought Wang Po wanted to keep everything for herself, so he forced his way into the house, only to be beaten and cursed by Wang Po and driven out. Therefore, to retaliate against Wang Po for keeping everything for herself, Yun Ge chose to tell Wu Dalang about Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian's affair. Yun Ge was clever; how could he not know that Wu Dalang was no match for Ximen Qing? After Wu Dalang was beaten, Wu Song would surely return and avenge his brother.
When Wu Dalang learned about Ximen Qing's affair with Pan Jinlian, he insisted on waiting for Wu Song to return. However, Yun Ge added fuel to the fire and rushed into Wang Po's shop first. Seeing this situation, Wu Dalang, the honest man, rushed into Wang Po's shop and was severely injured by Ximen Qing.
Wu Dalang was beaten to the point of being bedridden by Ximen Qing, but Yun Ge never went to visit him. Yun Ge was a very clever man. In fact, Yun Ge wanted to extort money from Wu Dalang. After being wronged, he discovered Ximen Qing's affair with Pan Jinlian and then went to tell Wu Dalang. Yun Ge knew Wu Dalang's temper, so he embellished the story.
When Wu Song killed Pan Jinlian, Yun Ge's expression was merely one of relief—relief at what? Naturally, it was the anger he felt from being beaten by Wang Po. Wu Dalang usually treated Yun Ge very well, but unfortunately, Yun Ge was ungrateful and instead schemed against Wu Dalang. Wang Han had Yun Ge brought in, not intending to kill him, but simply to give him a beating to vent his anger. As for why, Yun Ge would never know, and Wang Han would never tell him about the Water Margin.
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The night passed quickly, and the next day, just as dawn broke, a large number of officials were escorting people toward the county government office. Many of them were street bullies, and even Ximen Qing was being escorted there, attracting considerable attention. Remembering that General Shenwei had only arrived yesterday, and that such a commotion was happening today, many people rushed to the county government office, ready to see what was going on.
Why are you arresting me?
"What's going on?" In the morning, Wu Dalang had just pushed open his door when he saw Wang Po across the street shouting and being escorted by several constables toward the county government office. He grabbed a neighbor who was also heading to the county government office and asked.
"I don't know either, but it must be a big deal. They've already arrested quite a few people this morning. I heard that even that Master Ximen was taken to the county government, and Brother Yun, who sells pears, was also arrested. Even the county magistrate himself came out to arrest people. I heard it was General Shenwei's order." Upon hearing this, the neighbor quickly said.
"Thank you." Upon hearing this, Wu Dalang hurried home and said to Wu Song and Pan Jinlian, "A lot of people were arrested outside today, even Ximen Qing and Yun Ge were arrested. I heard it was the General's order."
"It's the General's order to arrest so many people. Something big must have happened at the county government office. Let's hurry over!" Hearing Wu Dalang say this, Wu Song immediately decided to go as soon as possible. He couldn't let his promising future be ruined by a small matter. So Wu Song, Wu Dalang, and Pan Jinlian packed their things, took the freshly made steamed buns, and left.
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Why are you arresting us?
"Why are you arresting us?"
Inside the county government office, the people who had been arrested were shouting and yelling, completely bewildered as to why they had been brought there.
"Why are we arresting you? Of course, we're here to question you. We already collected evidence against you last night," one of the escorting constables said.
"Give me a name!" Upon hearing this, many people's expressions changed.
"On what grounds are you questioning me? Have you arrested the wrong person? I demand to see the magistrate!" Ximen Qing shouted. He had connections in Tokyo and also had dealings with the magistrate; surely the magistrate would know what to do.
"Master Ximen, you should save your breath. It was General Shenwei who ordered your arrest, and he specifically named you. The county magistrate has also gone out to arrest people. Yesterday, the county magistrate and many people with connections confessed about you giving money." Upon hearing this, the constable whispered. In fact, he was also afraid of offending Ximen Qing. If Ximen Qing didn't die, he would definitely take revenge in the future.
"The Great General Shenwei ordered the arrest of someone, and he even named me." Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing's expression changed immediately, and he dared not shout anymore, waiting obediently. In his mind, he quickly thought of a solution. The Great General Shenwei—even his connections in Tokyo couldn't protect him, and he didn't even dare to protect him. Now, he could only rely on himself to find a way.
"General, Wu Song has come to report to you with his elder brother and sister-in-law." Wu Song led Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian into the yamen, glanced at all the people brought to the county government office, and quickly led the two into the main hall. Upon seeing Wang Han, he immediately reported.
"Wu Dalang (Wu Zhi) pays his respects to the General."
"The commoner Pan Jinlian pays her respects to the Great General."
Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian quickly paid their respects.
"Get up. From now on, you are my subordinates. There's no need for so much formality," Wang Han said, waving his hand as an invisible force lifted the two of them up.
"General, these are freshly made steamed buns." Wu Dalang took out a large package from his carrying pole and handed it to Wu Song, who quickly took it and gave it to Wang Han.
With a thought, Wang Han caused the package in Wu Song's hand to fly into the air and open automatically, releasing over a hundred steamed buns that flew towards Yang Zhi and the others. Wang Han took a bite and praised, "Not bad."
Then he added, "You all go and listen in from the sidelines first."
"General, everyone has been arrested and brought to justice." Before long, the magistrate led more than twenty people and hurriedly escorted about ten people into the county government office. The magistrate ran straight into the main hall and said to Wang Han.
“Bring them in one by one, along with all the collected evidence.” Wang Han instructed, “Magistrate, you preside over the trial, and I will sit in.”
"Yes, General." Upon hearing this, the magistrate said, and sat down next to Wang Han. He then called out to us, "Bring in the prisoners and the evidence one by one."
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