Having said that, Zhao Hao actually didn't have much hope of catching Xu Bangning.

Because there are so many routes from Huating to Nanjing - you can go north to Taicang, you can go from Kunshan to Suzhou, or you can even cross the province and go directly from Huating to Huzhou via Jiaxing, completely bypassing Suzhou Prefecture, and then go north back to Nanjing.

You can also take a boat directly from Songjiang and go back along the Yangtze River.

It can be said that except for the route from Wusong River via Suzhou to Nanjing by boat, Zhao Hao has no ability to intercept the rest of the routes.

I don't think Xu Bangning would be so stubborn. If there is a road to heaven, he would not take it, and there is no door to hell, so he would go there himself, right?

So it's almost impossible to stop this guy halfway.

But a high-profile investigation cannot be avoided. Otherwise, the people will think that the county is afraid of the powerful. This will seriously damage the glorious image of my father in the hearts of the people of Kunshan.

But this does not mean that Master Zhao has no way to deal with Xu Bangning, so he ordered Secretary Ma in a deep voice:

"Draft two letters. One is to Lord Xu of Huating, explaining everything that happened today and making a solemn protest, strongly condemning Xu Ying for instigating Xu Bangning to commit the crime."

Xiong Dianshi was so shocked when he heard this that he couldn't close his mouth. He couldn't help but persuade him, "Sir, this is inappropriate, isn't it? Although Xu Ge Lao has retired, he was also the Prime Minister of two dynasties. We don't have any evidence of Xu Ying's involvement. It's not good to arbitrarily accuse him based on speculation, right?"

"If I had evidence, would I be so polite?" Zhao Hao rolled his eyes and said, "I would have asked Lord Xu to bring his third son over to keep Lord Xu company!"

"Uh..." Xiong Dianshi then remembered that the second master of the Xu family had been pouring night incense on Xishan Island for two months.

After a long time, people have forgotten his existence.

What’s even more magical is that the Xu family just accepted it and did not ask Kunshan County to release the person.

Thinking about it this way, it seems that it’s no big deal if Mr. Zhao is a little rude to the Xu family.

He had just accepted this magical reality, but who knew he would hear Master Zhao's even more outrageous instructions:

"The other one was written to Duke Wei of Nanjing, scolding him..."

Xiong Dianshi's jaw dropped to the ground.

Even Secretary Ma said helplessly: "Sir, I don't know how to curse."

Even if I know how to do it, I can't say it, let alone write it down, otherwise it will destroy the elegant image of this secretary in the young master's mind.

"Then I'll write it myself, and you just need to write the first one." Zhao Hao thought to himself that this was true. How could such a satisfying thing as humiliating a duke be left to someone else?

Then he said to Xiong Dianshi: "Go back and ask Mr. Wu to issue a ticket, and send two officials to Nanjing to arrest Xu Bangning, and deliver the letter to Duke Wei on the way."

"Uh..." Xiong Dianshi picked up his chin and put it back on, saying with a wry smile, "Who dares to go on this mission? You deserve to be beaten to death for humiliating Duke Wei like this."

"Then Uncle Xiong should go there in person." Zhao Hao patted his shoulder and said seriously, "After all, you are an official appointed by the court. I don't think they will beat you as well."

"Sir..." Xiong Dianshi wiped his sweat and said, "Did I ever offend you in the past? Can't I apologize to you?"

“Hahaha!” Zhao Hao couldn’t help but burst into laughter and said, “Uncle Xiong, you are exactly wrong. I’m giving you this opportunity to shine because I see that you are sincere in your work!”

As he spoke, he described an attractive prospect and said, "Just think about it. The big stone lion in front of Xufu Street has been squatting there for two hundred years. When was the last time an official came to arrest someone?"

"Never." Xiong Dianshi said uncertainly: "Back then, Emperor Chengzu only sent people to imprison Xu Huizu in his palace, and did not send the Jinyiwei to arrest him."

"Right." Zhao Hao thought to himself, I thought Emperor Chengzu had arrested him.

However, this does not affect Mr. Zhao's argument.

"You will be the first official to arrest someone at the Duke of Wei's mansion since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. For this reason alone, you must be recorded in the county and prefectural annals. In the future, when you become successful, you may even be recorded in the national history."

"It's quite tempting..." Xiong Dianshi was fascinated, and then rationality prevailed and said: "But if I get kicked out, not only will I not be able to become famous, but I will also become a laughing stock."

"No, how about you trust me this time?" Zhao Hao said sternly, "Then Duke Wei will definitely hand over the person."

"Are you serious, sir?" Xiong Dianshi asked suspiciously.

"really."

"really?"

"Sure enough." Zhao Hao nodded and stretched out his hand. "I lied to you that this is it..."

"Okay, I'll trust you this time." Xiong Dianshi was finally persuaded. "Let's go to Jinling!"

The main reason is that I don’t dare to offend the scary Yanei, so I have to go.

~~

The next day, in Huating County, in Afang Garden.

Xu Bangning opened his mouth wide as he listened to the report from the soldier who escaped back that the dam-breaking team that had been sent out had been completely wiped out.

"Then, the dam is too hard. We have been digging for two hours but still can't break it." The soldier was soaked all over, shivering as he knelt on the precious Persian carpet and said in a trembling voice:

"As time went on, it was naturally discovered by the people patrolling the dike."

"How could this happen?" Xu Ying asked the dumbfounded Xu Bangning. "Didn't you say that the levee was only built half a month ago and it would break if it was smashed?"

"Who knows what kind of magic they used?!" Xu Bangning came back to his senses in annoyance, glared at Xu Ying and said, "It's all your fault. What a bad idea! Now it's over, isn't it?"

"When did I give you any advice?" Xu Ying naturally pushed it aside and said, "I was just talking nonsense with you after drinking. Who would have thought that you would really do it?"

"Hmph!" Xu Bangning was speechless, as if he had eaten a handful of flies. He felt that this guy was very disgusting, and he actually dared to shirk responsibility like this young master.

But now was not the time to settle accounts with him. Xu Bangning paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, thinking about a solution with a sad face.

Seeing him wandering around like a headless fly, Xu Ying had to remind Xu Bangning.

"Will those captured soldiers betray you?"

"I'm not afraid of that. Their whole family is in my hands. Who would dare to sell me out? Aren't you afraid that my whole family will suffer?" Xu Bangning snorted.

"Then there's nothing to worry about." Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Just stay here for now. When the typhoon stops, we'll go back to Jinling and do what we need to do. Just pretend that this never happened."

"That's right. Even if that guy can guess that it's me, it's useless. I don't believe that he can come to Huating to arrest people without any evidence." Xu Bangning also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Even if he has evidence, he can't come to Huating to arrest people." Xu Ying sneered and said, "This is my Xu family's territory. Even if the king of heaven comes, it will be useless."

Xu Bangning felt that Xu Ying was more pleasing to his eyes again.

He was just about to speak when the steward of the Xu residence came in to report.

"Third Master, the old master wants you to go to Tuisi Garden immediately."

"Look, my father can't leave me for a moment now." Xu Ying boasted with a troubled look on his face, told Xu Bangning to do as he pleased, and then sat in a sedan chair through the city and came to Tuisi Garden in the east of the city.

He followed the housekeeper into Wanhe Songfeng Hall and saw his father with a dark face, leaning on his crutches with both hands, and shouting angrily:

"Get down on your knees, you beast!"

Hey, why does this scene look so familiar? Am I hallucinating?

ps. Fourth update, please give me your monthly vote.