Ling Ku didn't emerge from the secret passage until the next day, when he came out covered in blood.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Ling Ku like this, Jiang He quickly stood up and helped him up.
“My lord, that tunnel is extremely deep, filled with all sorts of traps and hidden weapons. Although we have the blueprints you provided, the deeper we go, the easier it is to be hit by a hidden arrow.” Ling Ku endured the excruciating pain in his body. “I suspect that these tunnels can be connected, just like the underground tunnels of Da Ning back then.”
Upon hearing Ling Ku's words, Jiang He fell silent.
Back then, in order to deal with Gu Lin, the rebel King Jing Zhao spent decades building a tunnel underground in Daning, and chose the exit of the tunnel to be located in the Princess's mansion.
"The royal family of Da Ning has actually colluded with powerful clans!"
Jiang He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He realized that the aristocratic families had infiltrated to such an extent without their knowledge.
"Yes, I believe that these tunnels and the original tunnels under Daning are designed using the same method."
Ling Ku couldn't help but cough. "Back then, the rebel king used tunnels to raise his private army, so the aristocratic families... can do the same."
"This is a matter of great importance; send a letter to the capital immediately."
Who would have thought that, besides Da Ning, there were countless secret passages underground in Da Wei as well?
The aristocratic families' scheme is far too grand.
“If the retired emperor had lost back then, then Da Ning would have become a puppet of the powerful families, because they knew this tunnel like the back of their hand.” Jiang He said softly, “The same goes for Da Wei. If it hadn’t been Da Qing that conquered Da Wei, Da Wei would have become a puppet as well.”
In that way, powerful families could control the entire world.
No wonder Yun Zhi would rather die than reveal a single word.
At this moment, many mysteries were solved, but Jiang He felt no sense of relief, only that the road ahead was muddy.
"You should heal your wounds first. We'll discuss the matter of the secret passage after I've consulted with the capital."
Ling Ku nodded, and the next second he could no longer hold on and fell into a coma.
"My lord, the magistrate of Pi County has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Jiang He snorted coldly. He was already in a bad mood, and the arrival of Magistrate Lu was just in time.
......
"Who are you to dare to run wild in the territory under my jurisdiction?"
When Magistrate Lu saw Jiang He, a glint flashed in his eyes. Judging from his appearance, he didn't seem like a martial arts expert, but rather like an important official in the imperial court.
"Are you the magistrate of Pi County?"
Upon seeing the person in front of him nod, Jiang He crossed his arms without any politeness, saying, "If something like this happens in your jurisdiction, with only women and children in a village, and they are allowed to be abused and bullied, once this gets out, I'm afraid even Magistrate Lu won't be able to keep his official hat."
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Lu's face turned ruthless. "I took pity on the women and children in this village, which is why I didn't cut off their last source of income. If I were to issue an order to prohibit it, wouldn't they starve to death?"
"Utterly shameless!"
Jiang Heqi's chest heaved with anger. "As the county magistrate, you could have found them suitable jobs, or at the very least, moved these women to nearby villages to give them a chance to make a living."
"And yet you are here, hypocritically distorting the truth. It is a disgrace to Da Yu to have an official like you."
"How dare you! Guards, seize this traitor who disrespects me!"
The villagers couldn't bear to see this, and Jiaoyue tried to rush out but was held back by an old woman. Everyone's eyes were filled with tears.
"Your Honor, this chivalrous man was merely passing through and even brought us a great deal of grain. Please spare him."
The old man at the head of the group spoke slowly, but the next second he was kicked away by a yamen runner next to the magistrate.
Just as Jiang He's spear began to move, a gust of wind blew by.
The next instant, a bloody gash appeared on the magistrate's neck, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"who!"
The remaining people looked around, their hands holding swords trembling.
"There are such officials in the territory of Dayu. I cannot quell my hatred without killing them with my own hands."
As the familiar voice rang out, Jiang He's grip on the spear suddenly loosened.
"Your subject pays respects to the Emperor Emeritus."
Seeing Jiang He and his subordinates kneeling down, the others were still in shock at what was happening.
Gu Lin, his white hair flying in the wind, appeared beside the county magistrate and snapped his neck.
"It's...it's the Emperor Emeritus..."
The villagers trembled and knelt down. Seeing this, the yamen runners brought by Magistrate Lu also dropped their swords, crying, "Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us!"
"Ling Hai".
"Your subordinate is here."
"Kill them all."
Gu Lin's eyes were so striking that no one dared to look directly at them, and the smell of blood made some villagers gag.
"Distribute the grain."
After scanning the emaciated villagers, Gu Lin slowly uttered two words. Upon hearing this, Ling Shan immediately took out the grain he had brought.
"Cook the grain into a thick porridge and distribute it to everyone."
Gu Lin, fearing that everyone would be reluctant to eat the food and would save it, added another sentence.
"Are you the village chief of this village?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is indeed this old man."
"Good. Take good care of the villagers. I will find suitable jobs for you. You will no longer be bullied at will. As for your fathers, brothers, sons, and grandsons, I will give you an explanation."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Retired Emperor, thank you, Your Majesty the Retired Emperor..."
......
In the courtyard, Jiang He looked at Gu Lin, who remained silent, and said, "Isn't this commotion a bit too much? The aristocratic families will surely find out that the tunnel has been discovered."
"So what if I know?"
Gu Lin smirked, "The aristocratic families have gone too far in bullying my Great Yu!"
"By imperial decree, all local officials in Dayu shall, from this day forward, conduct a full-scale search of their jurisdictions for any underground tunnels. Those who neglect their duties in this matter shall have their entire families executed."
Gu Lin's icy expression sent a shiver down Jiang He's spine. He'd really bit off more than he could chew.
"Da Yu and the aristocratic families don't need a facade of peace anymore." Just thinking about the villagers he saw today, Gu Lin couldn't help but feel an urge to kill.
"Your Majesty, should we discuss this with the Empress Dowager?"
After hesitating for a long time, Jiang He finally spoke softly.
Gu Lin is like a sharp sword, and only A Yu can tame it; otherwise, there will be a scene of bloodshed.
“Ayu is pregnant, and I don’t want her hands to be tainted, so I will kill these people.”
If Ayu knew that these women were suffering like this here, she would probably personally take up her sword and come from the capital to kill them.
"Your subject understands."
Jiang He walked out of the house and let out a deep breath.
A powerful family, huh? Then let's officially begin the war.
It all started in this village of Fengshan, with all the men in the village who had vanished into thin air.
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