"Sir! We're innocent! We didn't do anything, we were just passing by when these people kidnapped us. You must do justice for us!"
"They even injured our brothers, it's utterly lawless!"
“We were destitute after the flood, and we didn’t have a penny to our name. How could we be bandits? They are the ones who are more like bandits!”
The constables weren't going to be idle; after only a glance, they asked Li Wen, "Where are your travel permits?"
Previously, travel permits were only required for long journeys, but after the floods, the number of disaster victims and displaced people increased. In order not to affect the people of Guangning Prefecture from entering and leaving the city, Magistrate Wu stipulated that they must carry travel permits.
This is something I always bring when I go to the city, so Li Wen quickly took it out and respectfully handed it over.
The bailiffs quickly scanned the man up and down, and after finding no problems, kicked him hard, yelling, "You've got some nerve framing people with your bare hands! Do you think I'm stupid or blind?!"
"Alright, you claim to be innocent, then produce your travel permit! If you don't have one, that's fine too. Just tell us where you live, your name, and who can vouch for you?"
Fan Xiaoliu, quick-witted, immediately presented the exquisite and luxurious purse that had been searched from them earlier, and said respectfully, "Sir, this is what they were carrying. It doesn't look like their stuff. There's only a little bit of silver left inside. They used that little bit of silver to buy medicine because they injured our men."
He pointed to the several men with obvious bandages and continued, "Look, that little bit of silver isn't enough; we need to add a few more coins! These people are too ruthless!"
The constables had hoped to skim some money, but upon hearing that the small amount of silver was for medicine, and especially since they didn't have enough money for the medicine, they had no choice but to give up.
He looked down at the exquisitely embroidered purse in his hand, and the more he looked at it, the happier he became!
The opportunity to make a contribution has arrived!
Several wealthy families in the city have been robbed in recent days, and Magistrate Wu is in a terrible predicament, worried about how to give an explanation. His yamen runners are not enough—even if they were, who would be willing to fight those vagrants to the death!
Those were a group of desperate people who barely had enough to eat or wear. They were living comfortably with good food and warm clothes, so why would they go out of their way to suffer?
This group of people was just right; they solved their immediate problem.
He looked down at the more than thirty people who were tied up tightly and laughed, "Well, a few days ago, several wealthy families in the prefectural city were robbed. So it turns out you were the culprits."
"It's like finding something you've been searching for everywhere without even looking for it!"
The person who had been protesting his innocence stood frozen in place, then realized what was happening and burst into tears, crying out, "Sir, we didn't do it!"
We only dare to jaywalk on the road; we've never entered the city, and we can't get in anyway.
“We’ve heard about what happened in the city. They outnumber us and are far more ruthless. They’re not one of us at all. Your Honor, please investigate!”
This time, he was truly wronged, and even the man behind him, whose mouth was stuffed with rags, made muffled, uneasy noises.
"Stop talking nonsense! We have witnesses and physical evidence. Come with us to the yamen and let's see if the yamen's torture instruments are tougher than your stubbornness!"
"take away!"
The constables rushed forward and took the tightly bound bandits away all at once.
After a long pause, Old Xu asked in a daze, "Why do I feel like this group isn't the same group the official was talking about?"
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