Chapter 267 Shooting again!
Xiangyi Prefecture, Linyao City Posthouse.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Supervisory Office, and the Supreme Court who came from the capital all lived here. They came to Xiangyi Prefecture on the orders of Emperor Yongping to thoroughly investigate the case of Xu Yuanzun's disappearance.
That's right, missing.
Xu Yuanzun has completely disappeared from the face of the earth. No one sees him alive, and no one finds his body dead. Isn't that just missing!
After returning empty-handed day after day, the officials from the three offices finally became a little impatient, especially since they had to endure all kinds of rumors from the young master of the Xu Mansion every day.
"Mr. Dai, I still think we should go to Anshun County to investigate those eighteen horse thieves!"
The person who came to the Dali Temple this time was Liu Zhongda, the Dali Temple Secretary, who was well-known in the Dali Temple for his divine judgment.
However, this time the three yamen joined forces to investigate the case, led by Dai Duo, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Whatever Liu Zhongda wants to do, he needs Dai Duo's permission.
"No hurry, no rush!"
In response to Liu Zhongda's requests over the past few days, the old man Dai Duo has always maintained this attitude.
The head of the Inspectorate was Chief Censor Chen Zheng, known as a good guy within the Inspectorate. But if anyone underestimated Censor Chen because of this, they would be in for a lot of trouble.
Chen Zheng served as a censor in the Inspectorate for twelve years and only submitted eight impeachment memorials, but these eight impeachment memorials were all based on solid evidence and were conclusive.
Because of Chen Zheng's impeachment, Emperor Yongping executed thirteen officials and abolished the titles of two noble families.
Therefore, this Censor Chen is the type of person who does not act easily, but when he does act, he will do something big.
The three government offices were collaborating on the case, and Chen Zheng's arrival was specifically requested by the old lady of the Xu residence. She clearly believed that only he could reveal the truth.
Liu Zhongda admired Chen Zheng very much, but besides admiration, he also wanted to challenge Chen Zheng's reputation.
This is also the reason why he repeatedly proposed to go to Anshun County for investigation.
In his opinion, as long as the identity of the so-called horse thief in Anshun County was confirmed, there would be a breakthrough.
"Mr. Dai, we can't find anything in the capital city. What's the point of staying here?"
Liu Zhongda looked at Dai Duo and was really anxious.
Dai Duo laughed and said, "Zhongda, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry."
"Right now, Xiangyi Prefecture has finally experienced a downpour after a long drought. Both the common people and the local officials are busy rushing to plant crops. Do you think it makes sense for us to go to Anshun County at this time?"
"Being an official is not only about being considerate of the emperor's wishes, but also about understanding the people's sentiments."
"The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least important!"
"You, don't lose sight of the main point!"
Dai Duo knew very well that he would not gain anything in the provincial capital, but going to Anshun County now would only disturb the people.
In his opinion, there is no need to investigate this case.
The Xu family sent out their private army, claiming it was to clean up their house, but in fact they were trampling on the laws of the court.
That filial and righteous man Xu Huaiyi was a person canonized by the emperor.
I have already severed ties with the Xu family. Why should the Xu family clear out the family?
Nowadays, when people who do dirty things run into trouble, they think of the imperial court and the laws of the Tang Dynasty. It's simply a joke.
Liu Zhongda was criticized and educated by Dai Duo. He looked like he had learned a lesson, but he didn't care at all in his heart.
After hearing this, Chen Zheng stood up and bowed respectfully to Dai Duo, saying, "Listening to Dai Gong's words is better than reading for ten years. Chen Zheng thanks Dai Gong for his guidance!"
"Lingzheng, stop teasing me!"
Dai Duo laughed heartily, "Do you still need me to teach you these principles? You've been doing this all these years!"
"Dai Gong praised it!"
"What I did before was simply to see injustice."
"Now that this matter is over, I will write to His Majesty, urging him to do something practical as an official."
When Chen Zheng said this, Dai Duo was delighted and said, "This young man is teachable!"
Liu Zhongda, on the other hand, looked at Chen Zheng in surprise, as if he didn't understand why Chen Zheng did this. He had already experienced the hardships of being an official in a local government, and he had had enough of it and didn't want to experience it again.
"Mr. Dai, I will go back first!"
Chen Zheng smiled and said goodbye to Dai Duo.
"Go, go!"
Dai Duo waved his hand casually.
After Chen Zheng left, Liu Zhongda also took his leave.
However, Liu Zhongda did not return to his room in the inn, but left the clinic and went straight to a courtyard not far away. The person living there was the leader sent by the Xu family to Xiangyi Prefecture to investigate the case.
He is still the son of Duke Antai.
Well, he’s still a bastard!
Xu Yuanzi!
As Xu Yuanzun's third brother, his biological mother was just an ordinary maid in the Xu Mansion, so his presence in the Xu Mansion was very low.
Xu Yuanzi never dreamed that he would be sent to Xiangyi Prefecture by Xu Huairen, Duke of Antai.
Xu Yuanzi, a man who had been living a life of idleness and waiting for death, suddenly found that he could still do something. He was so excited.
However, when he arrived in Xiangyi Prefecture, he found that things were completely different from what he had imagined.
When Xiangyi Prefecture Prefect Shen Wansheng met him, he didn't take him seriously at all.
As for the court officials who were traveling with him, they all ignored him.
He was the son of a duke, yet he was despised like that. This made Xu Yuanzi feel extremely humiliated, but he had to endure it.
Then, when Xu Yuanzi found that there was no progress in the case, he began to show off.
Although he didn't dare to say anything in front of Dai Duo and others, the words he said behind their backs were loud enough to reach the ears of Dai Duo and others.
…
Since Liu Zhongda was unable to persuade Dai Duo to go to Anshun County, he had to find another way.
And this other method is Xu Yuanzi.
Liu Zhongda, who was eager to solve the case and make a contribution, and Xu Yuanzi, who was eager to show off, were like-minded. They reached a consensus after just one meeting.
Then, Xu Yuanzi took his men and, together with Liu Zhongda, left Linyao City and headed straight for Anshun County.
Not long after Liu Zhongda met up with Xu Yuanzi and left the city, the news reached Shen Wansheng's ears. Shen Wansheng simply waved his hand and didn't take it to heart.
Liu Zhongda may have some abilities, but he is too eager for quick success. If he hangs out with a loser like Xu Yuanzi, he will be finished sooner or later.
…
Dai Duo at the post station also made the same judgment.
After knowing that Liu Zhongda had instigated Xu Yuanzi to go to Anshun County, the old minister simply waved his hand and told his subordinates to be patient and let them do whatever they wanted.
However, what no one expected was that Liu Zhongda and Xu Yuanzi had only been out of the city for half an hour when Liu Zhongda fled back to Linyao City in a very embarrassed manner.
Xu Yuanzi, dead!
The guards from the Xu Mansion who came with Xu Yuanzi were also dead!
"Walk!"
Dai Duo, who received the news, immediately joined Shen Wansheng and led a large group of people out of the city.
Outside the city, at Qilipo, the official road outside a dense forest was littered with corpses.
The ownerless warhorse stood there neighing.
Xu Yuanzi was shot through the throat by an arrow.
The guards of Xu Mansion were also killed by arrows, and each of them was hit by only one arrow.
"Report it!"
After examining the arrows and wounds on everyone present, Dai Duo's face looked very ugly.
Shoot!
Shooting again!
The three servants of the Xu family who had the accident in Anshun County were all shot to death.
Now, Xu Yuanzi and his guards were also shot and killed.
"Dai Gong, there is only one murderer!"
After finding the location where the murderer was standing at the time, Chen Zheng conducted a careful observation and finally came to this conclusion.
With one man and one bow, he shot and killed more than ten skilled guards of the Xu Mansion, and none of these guards escaped. It seemed that they didn't even have a chance to dodge.
"But, this is impossible!"
"How can one person shoot an arrow so fast?"
Chen Zheng began to doubt his life.
Just now, he carefully counted them and found that there were thirteen people in total, including Xu Yuanzi.
What kind of sharpshooter could kill thirteen people in such a short time with just a bow!
Anyway, Chen Zheng couldn't figure it out.
"Are you sure it's just one person?"
Dai Duo pondered for a moment and looked up at Chen Zheng.
Chen Zheng nodded and said, "I indeed only saw the mark left by one person."
"Go and have a look again, especially at the tree!"
"Also, where is Liu Zhongda?"
One person, one bow, in just a short moment, all the arrows hit the target, killing twelve guards of Xu Mansion in a row. This method is incredible, like ghosts, gods, immortals and demons.
"Mr. Dai, I am here!"
Liu Zhongda walked out from the back. Compared to his high spirits not long ago, he now looked as wilted as an eggplant hit by frost.
"Tell me, what happened then?"
"Go back to Duke Dai!"
Liu Zhongda looked dazed, as if he was recalling the previous scene, but also seemed to be afraid.
"At that time, I was walking side by side with Master Yuanzi. Suddenly, an arrow flew towards us, and Master Yuanzi fell off his horse immediately."
"The next moment, arrows rained down."
"By the time I came to my senses, there was no one left alive!"
"I don't know why the other party spared me. I really don't know anything!"
Liu Zhongda really regrets his decision now.
He hated himself for being so eager for quick success and for going to find Xu Yuanzi. If he hadn't gone to find Xu Yuanzi, then none of this might have happened.
Xu Yuanzi died, all his guards died, but he was still alive.
How do you explain this?
Even if he is proven innocent, will the Antai Guild forgive him?
"Mr. Dai, your humble servant..."
"You go down first!"
Dai Duo glanced at Liu Zhongda and waved his hand gently.
"Dai Gong, Dai Gong is a divine man!"
As Liu Zhongda retreated dejectedly, Chen Zheng turned back and said, "I followed Dai Gong's advice and went to check the tree. There were slight traces of trampling on it."
"According to my preliminary assessment, there are six perpetrators!"
“They’re all sharpshooters!”
Chen Zheng looked at Dai Duo meaningfully. This sentence had too many meanings.
A sharpshooter, not uncommon.
However, it is very rare for six sharpshooters to get together.
In the Tang Dynasty, not just anyone could gather such a large number of sharpshooters.
"Lingzheng, be careful with your words!"
Dai Duo glanced at Chen Zheng and said, "As subjects, we should just do our duty."
(End of this chapter)
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