The post station soldiers delivered the message urgently.
The fastest way to deliver mail was by express delivery. Zhao Huan's imperial edict went straight to the Privy Council. The Privy Council sent the document to the post office in the capital, which was dispatched by a postman on a fast horse to Xiongzhou.
The soldiers wore gold medals on their waists and bells on their hands, and galloped on their horses along the post road.
Fifty miles out of Bian Jing, there is a post station next to the post road.
The soldier on duty at the post station was lying lazily at his duty station to rest.
Suddenly, a silver bell rang from the post road heading towards the capital, and a fast horse came galloping.
The soldier on duty was shocked and immediately jumped out of his post, grabbed the fast horse next to him and waited by the roadside.
The sound of silver bells mixed with the clatter of galloping horses drew closer, and the soldier on duty's palms sweated as he waited anxiously.
At a distance on the post road, another soldier coming from the capital was seen running towards him, holding the reins of his horse in his left hand and holding a golden badge in his right hand.
When the postman from the capital arrived at the post station, he saw the postman on duty already waiting by the roadside. He galloped over, reined in his horse, and quickly dismounted.
The soldier from the capital handed the gold medal and silver bell on his arm to the soldier on duty, and took out a gold scroll from his bosom.
The guard on duty was startled when he saw it, recognizing it as the emperor's edict. He hurriedly knelt down, took it, and put it in his arms. Then he took the gold medal from the guard in the capital's hand and hung it around his waist, then hung the silver bell on his own arm and quickly jumped on his horse.
The soldiers in the capital pointed to the north and said, "Hebei, Xiongzhou!"
The soldier on duty rode away without saying a word.
There were dozens of post stations from Bianjing to Xiongzhou, and wherever Yin Ling went, there were soldiers waiting at each station. They changed horses and rushed to the Xiongzhou County Government day and night.
Jijiao Di was the most urgent express delivery in the Song Dynasty, usually expedited military orders or imperial edicts.
…
Xiongzhou.
Transport envoys Jiao Zifu and Jiao Mang, along with their henchmen, were arrested. The Jin dynasty's Nanjing prefectural judge, Oleqi, and personnel from the Xiongzhou market office were also arrested and taken to the county government office, leaving the jail overcrowded.
The Inspector of Military Equipment, Mu Nanfeng, and many of his officials were also arrested.
The Jin Dynasty's Nanjing Prefecture sent representatives to negotiate and wanted to bring the officials from the Market Control Office back to Nanjing Prefecture for questioning, but Fang Rucheng sternly refused, knowing that if these Jin people were brought back for trial, they would most likely be acquitted.
Xiongzhou County Magistrate Zhan Yunpeng, who was in charge of criminal justice, and County Magistrate Fang Rucheng brought the main culprits Jiao Zifu, Jiao Mang, Wuleqi, and Mu Nanfeng to the hall for public trial.
Zhan Yunpeng and Fang Rucheng were tried in the same court, with Zhan Yunpeng sitting in the presiding judge's seat and Fang Rucheng sitting on his right.
"Bang!" Zhan Yunpeng swung the gavel. "Transport Envoys Jiao Zifu and Jiao Mang. Xiongzhou Administration Office Magistrate Wuleqi and Military Equipment Supervisor Mu Nanfeng, you have smuggled our Great Song military equipment, violating the Heavenly Law. What else do you have to say now?"
Jiao Mang shuddered with fear, while Wuleqi and the others hung their heads in silence. With all the evidence, what else was there to say?
Only Jiao Zifu snorted and ignored everything that happened.
"Alright! Since everyone has no objection, I sentence these four to immediate execution!"
Jiao Mang was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud. Wuleqi looked up at Zhan Yunpeng.
Mu Nanfeng was even more terrified. As a military equipment supervisor, he was responsible for overseeing military equipment and weapons. He was actually tricked by Jiao Zifu into smuggling military equipment.
Jiao Zifu said coldly, "Master Zhan, the case has not yet been heard. Why rush to sentence?"
Fang Rucheng was also a little puzzled as to why Zhan Yunpeng was in such a hurry to kill these three people.
Little did he know that Zhan Yunpeng was worried that someone would protect Jiao Zifu and others, so he wanted to strike first to avoid future troubles.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
Everyone was shocked and knelt down to greet him.
The soldiers at the garrison had no right to announce the imperial edict, so the postal envoy Li Xiuhua of Baigou Post Station came to announce the imperial edict in person.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:
Jiao Zifu and others have abused their power for personal gain and perverted the law, smuggling military equipment. According to the law, they should be executed. Considering they were misled by others, I, with a spirit of leniency, express my gratitude to Heaven. I pardon their death sentence and immediately bring them to the capital to be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for processing. This is my imperial decree! (The phrase "bye to heaven and acknowledging the destiny" didn't exist in the Song Dynasty; Zhao Huan merely copied it from television. He had no idea that the imperial edict was to be read separately.)
Zhan Yunpeng frowned secretly. It had only been a few days, and the news had spread so quickly, reaching the capital immediately. And this man was incredibly well-connected, able to persuade the Emperor to issue a pardon. If Jiao Zifu were allowed to return to Bianjing, not only would he be spared the death penalty, he might even get a promotion.
Jiao Zifu was secretly pleased with himself: "Hahahaha, Zhan Tixing. You want to deal with me? Humph, let's just wait and see!"
Jiao Mang had been so frightened that he had wet his pants, but now he was overjoyed. He looked at Jiao Zifu with a shy smile: "Uncle Zhong, we're fine. Haha, we're fine!"
Even Wuleqi was surprised that the two men would not have to die. If he was also taken to the capital, and the emperor sent an envoy to Bianjing to negotiate, he would most likely be able to save his life. So he was also overjoyed.
For a moment, all the yamen runners and Fang Rucheng and others were filled with righteous indignation, but they dared not disobey the emperor's order.
Jiao Zifu and others immediately became arrogant again, not taking anyone seriously.
Jiao Mang flattered him and said happily, "Zhongfu, it must be the current empress dowager. Your aunt has protected us. We can return to the capital now. I have heard that the capital is prosperous and I am eager to see it."
Jiao Zifu's mouth curled up, and he looked very proud. He didn't look like a prisoner being tried, but rather like an official going to take up his post.
With a "bang", Zhan Yunpeng banged the gavel and everyone came to their senses.
"Come on! Drag this traitor Jiao Zifu and his gang to the market and behead them!"
Everyone was shocked, wondering if Zhan Yunpeng had gone crazy.
Jiao Zifu stared at him blankly: "Zhan Yunpeng, are you crazy?"
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