Chapter 121 The Magistrate's Official Prestige Is About to Overflow
It was late at night.
Calmness returned to Di Gong Gate.
It was as if nothing had happened.
The craftsmen and scribes all returned to the distant camp to guard the perimeter.
Only a few torches swayed in the wind above the gate, and the occasional chirping of birds and insects from the distant mountains and forests.
Only when two figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the forest near Dragon Back Mountain, and then met up with the figure of a tall, thin man who had been lying in wait on the riverbank.
Fortunately, with his junior sister's light-footed movement ability, it was quite convenient to help Ouyang Rong bypass some sentry posts.
As for Liu Ashan, he had already been lurking inside the Di Gong Gate.
The three of them entered the gatehouse of the inner gate, which had been bustling with people not long ago, without anyone noticing.
"master."
Liu Ashan, dressed in the coarse clothes of an ordinary laborer and cook, with a dull expression, looked quite ordinary as he walked through the construction site camp near Digong Gate.
He wiped the wetness from his face and hair, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
Liu Ashan reported solemnly:
"The clerk named Yuan Tao that you asked me to keep an eye on is indeed in cahoots with the Liu family..."
Ouyang Rong patted the man on the shoulder and waved his hand: "My junior sister and I saw it from up there. Thank you for your hard work, Ashan."
Ouyang Rong went over to inspect the gate.
Behind her, Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but glance at her senior brother's back as he squatted down to examine the traces.
Last time, when the Liu family returned Aqing's indenture, the eldest brother, to show his sincerity, not only withdrew all the spies in the Liu family's sword shop, but also expelled all the spies in the county government that might be related to the Liu family.
However, the eldest brother was not sincere at all; he was clearly wicked. He left behind only the option of "keeping him," as if he had not noticed anything amiss.
And this "fish that slipped through the net" was none other than Yuan Sili, the clerk who had just met the outsider.
It was just a simple, casual game of chess played on a whim.
Not long ago, the county government organized a team to supervise the repair of the sluice gate, and my senior brother specially arranged for this person to be selected. However, he instructed Liu Ashan to keep an eye on his every move these days...
That's how this unexpected and serendipitous discovery came about tonight.
Xie Lingjiang walked over to her senior brother and squatted down together at the gate.
She glanced at the pungent liquid left on the ground, sniffed it, and understood what was going on, but couldn't help asking curiously:
"Did you already guess that the Liu family would target the Di Gong Sluice Gate? Did you guess that they were responsible for every previous sluice gate collapse?"
"I had some guesses before, but I wasn't quite sure. But after seeing it with my own eyes tonight, I finally understand. Oh, so that's how it is."
"First, they manipulated the previous Longcheng County government officials, pretending to be compassionate and benevolent to build a sluice gate. Then, they secretly planted mines to blow up the sluice gate, causing a flood and making a fortune."
"Then, under the pretext of building a sluice gate, they manipulated the newly arrived county magistrate, rotating every four years."
"Ah, no wonder the Longcheng County Annals say that before the Di Gong Sluice Gate was built, Longcheng was 'a minor flood every year and a major flood every three years,' but after the gate was built, it was 'a major flood every four years,' which coincides perfectly with the term of office of the local county magistrate in the Great Zhou Dynasty."
“Junior sister, the so-called soup kitchen and orphanage were just small businesses for the Liu family. Di Gongzha was the real scythe for harvesting leeks. We almost cooperated with the Liu family to do it.”
Ouyang Rong turned his head, pointing his index finger straight at the sluice gate beneath his feet, and sighed:
"It turns out that it was never Di Gongzha that was ineffective, but rather that it became a huge business. So it was not a natural disaster, but clearly a man-made one. No wonder it was called the Dragon King Liu Family. It's true that there are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names."
Xie Lingjiang frowned, her voice crisp:
"Senior Brother, so this is the real benefit that the Liu family values. If Senior Brother's Broken Wing Canal can cure the flood in Longcheng once and for all, then won't they be unable to do business with Di Gongzha in the future?"
"I see... Also, at the apology banquet at Yuanming Tower last time, the Liu family shamelessly offered to repair the sluice gate. Actually, we weren't the only ones in a hurry to repair the sluice gate; they were too."
"That's right. I thought it was a gesture of goodwill, but it turned out to be a trap that they could win no matter what."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and sighed:
"The Liu family's move was both reasonable and unexpected."
As he spoke, Ouyang Rong turned his head and pointed with his index finger to the liquid that had dripped onto the ground during the transport not long ago. He said with a serious expression:
"Unexpectedly, I didn't expect Liu Ziwen to be so ruthless and audacious. It seems he has a lot of guts. I wonder who gave them to him."
The young magistrate stared down at the floor, lost in thought.
"Besides... I have a feeling this is just an appetizer. Does Liu Ziwen have something even bolder to do?"
Xie Lingjiang gritted her teeth and said hatefully:
"What else is there? Isn't blowing up the sluice gate enough to incur divine retribution?"
Ouyang Rong nodded and suddenly said:
"Maybe they're going all in and want to take the opportunity to get rid of a few troublesome guys..."
"Hmm, no wonder Liu Ziwen was so easy to talk to at the apology banquet that day."
"Besides... that's true. Since even the benefits he's ceding are a trap, it goes without saying that the conditions and demands he's made of us are also shady."
"The request... Senior brother, are you referring to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Di Gong Gate on the fifteenth of this month? Is there something fishy about the request from the Liu family?"
Xie Lingjiang realized what was happening and instinctively clenched her fist:
"Senior brother means that they are going to go all the way and not only blow up the gate, but also take the opportunity to kill people, including senior brother or... the superior from Jiangzhou."
Looking at his junior sister's astonished face, Ouyang Rong remained silent, dipped his fingers in the thick, pungent black liquid, and rubbed them together.
He was deeply impressed by this object, not only by its smell, but also by the image of Old Cui in the flames… The young magistrate sighed and turned his head:
"Junior Sister, do you still remember this thing?"
"Of course I remember. Last time when the tents in the East Warehouse were burned, that sorcerer used this evil thing."
Xie Lingjiang looked up at the tightly sealed gate in front of her. Dozens of barrels of Heaven-Burning Demonic Thunder were now sealed inside, their power unimaginable. She frowned.
"Senior brother, this demon is indeed a member of the Liu family."
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes and stared at the gate, saying:
"Are they just sorcerers practicing crooked and evil arts... Hmm, they're probably hiding among the priests and shamans in those Dragon King temples at dusk."
Xie Lingjiang was taken aback, lowered her eyes and fell into her memories, as if trying to find a figure that matched her impression. However, when she thought that this demon seemed to know the art of shrinking bones, she shook her head and gave up for the time being.
She asked in a serious tone, "So what do we do now, Senior Brother?"
"what to do?"
Ouyang Rong patted the dust and stickiness off his hands, stood up, took the water pouch from Liu Ashan, washed his hands, and turned to Xie and Liu, saying:
"We already thought the evidence wasn't strong enough, but Liu Ziwen is like an old man who's tired of living, rushing to deliver this evidence to our doorstep. We might as well take it."
"Don't alert them these next few days. Ah Shan, continue to have people keep an eye on the gatehouse. If there are any other changes, let me know immediately."
"Let's go first. When Lord Shen and the others arrive on the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, all the elders, folks, gentry, and dignitaries of the county will be in place. Our old show will still be performed as usual, but before that, we'll add a new show."
"It's just a bit strange, why is the Liu family so arrogant?"
Ouyang Rong put his hands behind his back and turned to leave first.
However, compared to the excited expressions on the faces of Xie Lingjiang and Liu Ashan who followed him, Ouyang Rong remained calm, muttering something under his breath before leaving:
"I have a lingering feeling of unease. Why is that? Is it not safe enough, or is there something I've overlooked...?"
...
Half an hour ago.
On the lawn halfway up Longbei Mountain.
Not long after Ouyang Rong left with Xie Lingjiang.
County Magistrate Diao and several of his entourage stood on the lawn and looked down for a while.
Seeing that it was getting late, they prepared to descend the mountain and return as instructed by the young magistrate.
However, as soon as Magistrate Diao turned around, he was stunned.
"Prefect?"
Ouyang Rong slowly emerged from the shadow of a large tree, walked up to the group, and calmly looked them over.
He didn't reply, but walked past Magistrate Diao and the others to the cliff by the lawn. He looked down at the unobstructed view of Di Gong Gate, as if confirming something.
The young magistrate raised his hand and stroked his chin.
"Master Ming, you're back again? Oh, where's Miss Xie? Why isn't she with you?"
County Magistrate Diao looked at Shangguan's familiar back and asked curiously.
Ouyang Rong remained silent, seemingly not having heard.
County Magistrate Diao couldn't help but exchange glances with his entourage.
Diao County Magistrate's eyes betrayed a hint of panic at the official's calm and composed demeanor.
It seemed that he couldn't help but think of Ouyang Rong's heroic deeds in the past.
He acted decisively, flatteringly declaring his loyalty:
"Your Excellency, rest assured, you can be completely at ease. What we saw tonight will be addressed honestly and truthfully in court another day!"
"Mr. Chen and his craftsmen all belong to the Liu family's Guyue Sword Shop. The priests and shamans from the Dragon King Temple who brought the wooden barrels also have intricate connections with the Liu family. No one would believe that this incident was not instigated by the Liu family."
"The Liu family has committed heinous crimes, already causing widespread resentment among the people. Now they dare to tamper with the imperial court's water management projects. Their crimes are simply unforgivable."
Under a solitary moon, before a dark forest, Magistrate Diao, exuding righteousness, spoke with increasing fervor and passion, pounding his fist and palm as he spoke with righteous indignation:
"This time, I, Diao, will definitely stand up and will never stand idly by!"
The young magistrate, standing on the edge of the cliff, suddenly stopped stroking his chin, turned to look at the old county magistrate and his entourage, who were also swept over by his cold gaze.
County Magistrate Diao carefully observed Ouyang Rong's expression, then asked with an air of righteousness:
"What does Your Excellency think? Is there anything else you require? I will certainly investigate and fill any gaps."
The young magistrate's hands hung limply at his sides, hidden in his sleeves, unlike the usual practice of Magistrate Diao where he would put them behind his back.
He silently observed Magistrate Diao and the others for a while, nodded slightly, walked past them, and stepped back into the dark woods.
Ouyang Rong's figure disappeared.
He remained completely silent throughout.
County Magistrate Diao's back slumped, and he grabbed his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
He turned to his entourage who had come with him that day and gave them a few stern instructions, which they all bowed and acknowledged.
County Magistrate Diao turned his head, glanced again in the direction where the seemingly strange young magistrate had left, and shook his head.
The old county magistrate sighed, didn't think much of it, and turned to leave with his entourage.
Walking through the woods, at one point, he muttered to himself:
"That figure just now was too sinister. If I didn't know that the Prefect was kind-hearted, I would have thought that he was coming back to kill me and silence me."
"Hey, the magistrate's official airs are getting stronger and stronger, they're showing through... It's really tough being a deputy."
I overslept... Update at midnight
(End of this chapter)
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