The prefect Zhou Zhengan, the prefectural chancellor Shi Xiao, the Han family patriarch Han Yu and others came to the gate of the county government office, and brought many yamen runners with them. Everyone had a solemn expression and an imposing aura!
Zhou Zhengan was followed by a man who was holding a tray with an official seal on it. He came with authority!
At the gate of the county government office, County Magistrate Feng Yuan was in front, and Song Chi was behind him, the two facing the crowd.
"Feng Yuan, do you admit your guilt?"
Zhou Zhengan raised his finger and pointed and shouted angrily, with a strong official authority.
He was very angry. Such a big thing happened just after he had a good sleep. After receiving the news, he hurriedly got up from his comfortable life and returned to the government office to check the staff, which led to the delay until now.
"May I ask, Your Excellency, what crime have I committed?"
Feng Yuan straightened his back. Song Chi had done a perfect job, and now it was his turn. Could he withstand the pressure and make this matter public so that Song Chi's hard work would not be in vain?
"Today, Ji County is in chaos, with people clamoring and complaining. Those who are unaware of the situation may think there's been a civil uprising. As the magistrate of Ji County, you should bear the responsibility!"
Zhou Zhengan raised his official seal and shouted, "From now on, this government will remove you from your position as county magistrate!"
As a superior official, the prefect has the power to dismiss lower officials, but he cannot use this power at will. There must be a legitimate reason.
The magistrate was a seventh-rank official. Although his rank was not high, his position was important and his appointment and dismissal were decided by the Ministry of Personnel.
Only in special circumstances such as when there is an invasion by foreign enemies or when the magistrate fails to fulfill his duty of defending the territory can the superior officials appoint or dismiss him.
Usually, the superior official only has the responsibility of supervision. If the subordinate county magistrate fails to complete the performance evaluation or commits serious faults, the prefect can report it to the court.
This is how they manipulated food prices before.
But now Zhou Zhengan is using this power.
He was anxious! Song Chi raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a mocking smile.
Zhou Zhengan noticed it sensitively and was furious. This kid always looked like he had everything figured out.
"What are you laughing at?" He pointed at Song Chi.
"Your Excellency, I just thought of something funny."
Zhou Zhengan was extremely angry but he withdrew his gaze. After Feng Yuan was dismissed from his post, he would make this kid live a life worse than death.
He is a fifth-rank prefect, can't he handle a young boy?
"Feng Yuan, you have been dismissed from your official position. Take off your official uniform and hand over your official seal now!"
He was domineering and arrogant. If it were someone else, they would have been frightened and terrified by now, but Feng Yuan did not show any fear.
"Even if you are my superior, you cannot remove me from my position as county magistrate. You should report this to me first. What can you do if I refuse to take off my official uniform and hand over my seal?"
"How dare you disobey your superior!"
Zhou Zhengan shouted, "You used all the yamen runners without any prior notice to disrupt the county administration, causing widespread complaints from the people..."
"Complaints?"
Feng Yuan interrupted directly, "Your Excellency, are you deaf or simply unable to distinguish right from wrong? The people are obviously celebrating, so why are you complaining?"
Before Zhou Zhengan could say anything, Feng Yuan took another step forward and said, "You are all well aware of the evil deeds that the Yongsheng Gang has committed. I also know why you are here. You want to stop me from continuing my investigation, but I advise you to give up on that idea!"
He pointed it out directly, his words were firm and his voice was like a bell!
"Since I came to Ji County to take office, I have the determination to die. Unless you kill me, don't try to stop me!"
These words made Zhou Zhengan and others tremble in the face. They understood that Feng Yuan was determined to go all out and was completely unyielding.
Killing him would be easy, but would bring more trouble.
Feng Yuan was not an ordinary county magistrate. He had the Second Assistant Lu Taiyuan behind him. Being only the Second Assistant would not have been a big deal. He was under great pressure from the First Assistant.
The most important thing is that the second prince is now together with Lu Taiyuan, and the arrangement of Feng Yuan to Ji County is the result of the efforts of the second prince behind the scenes.
This involves the struggle for the throne, so we are so cautious.
Zhou Zhengan and others looked extremely ugly.
They could not touch Feng Yuan. If Feng Yuan died in Ji County, it would give the Second Assistant Lord more sufficient reasons and cause greater trouble.
But now it is a dead end. If what Feng Yuan has currently mastered is sent to the capital, and the big man behind him takes action, the consequences will be unimaginable!
What to do? The situation was at a stalemate.
Feng Yuan and Song Chi looked calm. Although there were only two of them, their momentum was not weak at all, because they were right!
Everyone knows about the evil deeds done by the Yongsheng Gang. They know best what they have done and will definitely be cautious.
As the county magistrate, Feng Yuan's actions were natural and could be justified anywhere.
This is what it means to occupy the righteousness.
Zhou Zhengan and Han Yu looked at each other. They both knew that it would be difficult to remove Feng Yuan from his post today. Feng Yuan only needed to get the evidence and send it to the capital. Even if he died tomorrow, he would die a worthy death. That was why he was so tough.
The most crucial evidence is the seizure of the Yongsheng Gang. It must have not been sorted out yet. The key figure is... Song Chi!
Han Yu and Zhou Zhengan looked at each other. They were both smart people and immediately thought that since they couldn't remove Feng Yuan from his post, they would kill Song Chi first!
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhengan pointed at Song Chi and said, "Hand him over!"
"Why?"
Feng Yuan moved a step to the left and blocked Song Chi behind him.
"He is my master's teacher. He has never done anything illegal. Why do you want to arrest him?" Feng Yuan said loudly without giving in. He knew that these people had been staring at Song Chi for a long time.
"He really didn't?"
Zhou Zhengan pointed at Zhang Wu standing at the gate of the county government office and asked, "How did he die?"
Since you said Song Chi didn't do anything, let's start with killing him.
Murder is a serious crime in the Great Zhou Dynasty. This alone is enough to arrest Song Chi, and Feng Yuan can't say anything.
"Zhang Wu only went to discuss something with Song Chi, but he died as a result. Song Chi is inextricably linked to Zhang Wu's death... He will be temporarily imprisoned!"
Zhou Zhengan said angrily, "Feng Yuan, you're not going to stop me from taking someone away, are you?"
"Your Excellency the Prefect can certainly arrest someone, but there must be a reason."
Feng Yuan said, "It was Zhang Wu who clearly wanted to assassinate Song Chi. Why did he capture Song Chi?"
"assassinate?"
"Who can prove it?"
Zhou Zhengan said coldly: "The one who died now is Zhang Wu. If he was guilty, the government would have judged him, but now he is dead!"
"If no one can prove it, then Song Chi is a suspect!"
"I can prove it!"
Before Song Chi could say anything, a female voice was heard. Everyone turned around and saw a pure-looking woman in a light green dress walking towards them. She was Luo Yurou!
"Who are you? It's your turn to prove it!" Zhou Zhengan shouted directly.
He really treats bean buns as dry food. How could he, a prefect, be interrupted by a passerby?
"etc!"
Han Yuanzheng frowned, as if remembering something. He asked, "Excuse me, are you the daughter of Duke Anguo?"
"Uncle Han remembers it clearly."
Luo Yurou said calmly, "Uncle Han came to your house when I was thirteen years old, right?"
“It’s really you!”
Han Yu asked again, "Why did you come to Ji County? Why was the Duke of An willing to let you go?"
"oh."
Luo Yurou glanced at Song Chi and said, "I came here to find him."
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