Upon hearing this, Li Xue was overjoyed and said:
"That's easy. Let's go to the study now and see if this person is Zhang Debang."
This treacherous official who has brought disaster to the country and its people has been on the run for so long. If we can capture him this time, this case can be closed.
Next, Master Xiang led everyone into the house. After entering, they did not immediately go to the study, but first discussed the plan to capture Zhang Debang.
Zhang Debang was not just a simple criminal; he knew the consequences of being caught and must have made the worst-case scenario plan. Therefore, the capture of Zhang Debang must be handled with utmost care.
Master Xiang led everyone to the door of the study. He coughed once at the door before pushing it open and entering.
A man sat upright in the study, reading a book. He was over sixty years old with gray hair. It was Zhang Debang. Although his eyes were on the book, he didn't read a single word. Instead, he listened quietly to the sounds outside.
The Xiang residence is very lively today. Miss Xiang is throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband. This should be very interesting, but Zhang Debang dares not go to watch.
Safety is his top priority; he absolutely cannot show his face in public. If he is recognized, he will be doomed.
Since committing the crime, in order to avoid being caught by the authorities, he and a few confidants have been hiding in various places, like stray dogs, moving from place to place.
So much time has passed that people have gradually forgotten what happened back then, and Zhang Debang has gradually breathed a sigh of relief.
He planned to register as a refugee, obtain a household registration, and then live a quiet life as an ordinary citizen.
It's not complicated. With a little money to handle it, the household registration can be done quickly.
But he had been busy escaping for so long that he had already spent all his money.
Fortunately, he still had a priceless luminous pearl on him. Keeping it now wouldn't be of much use, so he should sell it as soon as possible and exchange it for silver.
For his future safety, Zhang Debang made meticulous arrangements. First, he exchanged the luminous pearl for silver in Pingyang County, then registered his household in Mengdu County, and finally found a place to stay in the countryside of Tianhe County.
In this way, they wouldn't have to worry about government investigations, and their later years would be worry-free.
Although they were ripped off at the pawnshop, ten thousand taels of silver was more than enough to ensure they would have no worries about food and clothing.
Master Xiang has already prepared the household registration book for him. Once he gets the book, everything will be fine.
However, things didn't go as planned. He only showed half his face at the entrance of the Xiang residence before Li Xue saw him.
If Li Xue hadn't been casually looking through the binoculars, she wouldn't have discovered Zhang Debang at all. It seems Zhang Debang was really unlucky.
Zhang Debang remained in his study, unhurried. Years of life on the run had honed his character.
A cough came from the doorway, and he knew it was Master Xiang. He put down his book, stood up, and Master Xiang pushed the door open and entered.
"Manager Zhong, I apologize for keeping you waiting. My daughter threw her embroidered ball to choose a husband today, and I was very busy. Please forgive me for neglecting you."
"Master Xiang, you are too kind. I am sorry to have bothered you today. Miss Xiang, have you thrown the embroidered ball yet? How is it going?"
"Thanks to Manager Zhong, my daughter's embroidered ball was caught by Young Master Li from the capital. I am in a good mood today and have prepared a small feast. I hope Manager Zhong will do me the honor of joining us."
Master Xiang's words clearly startled Zhang Debang. Who was this Young Master Li from the capital? He dared not think further and asked:
"Let's skip the meal. Mr. Zhong has some things to take care of at home and will return immediately after getting the household registration book. I won't disturb you any longer."
“In that case, I will not keep Manager Zhong any longer. The household registration book is with the steward. Manager Zhong, please come with me to retrieve it.”
Zhang Debang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Then I'll trouble you, Master Xiang. I'll go with you."
The conversation between the two could be heard clearly by those outside. Li Xue was overjoyed; she had already recognized that the person in the study was Zhang Debang.
Seeing Zhang Debang about to come out, the group immediately moved aside, knowing that Zhang Debang would have no chance of escape this time.
Soon the study door was pushed open, and Master Xiang walked out of the study, with Zhang Debang following behind.
Zhang Debang kept his head down and didn't notice the people around him.
After walking a few steps with Zhang Debang, Master Xiang encountered a man who was none other than Zhang Yang, the magistrate of Mengdu County.
"Greetings, Your Excellency."
Master Xiang stopped and bowed to Magistrate Zhang.
Zhang Debang was taken aback. He hadn't expected the magistrate of Mengdu County to appear at the Xiang residence. It seemed that Master Xiang had a good relationship with the government.
However, Zhang Debang was not worried. When he was in a high position of power, only officials at the level of governor could see him. Officials of the county magistrate level were not qualified to see him at all.
“Master Xiang, there’s no need for such formalities. Who is the person behind you? He looks so familiar, as if I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
Magistrate Zhang's words startled Zhang Debang. How could this magistrate possibly know him? If that were the case, then things would be terrible.
"This is Manager Zhong, a good friend of mine in business. I didn't expect the magistrate to know him as well."
Although Zhang Debang was a little flustered, he remained relatively calm. He knew that the county magistrate couldn't possibly recognize him; he must have mistaken him for someone else.
"Your Honor, my surname is Zhong, and I run a small business. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
Magistrate Zhang scrutinized him carefully for a moment before speaking, "I am not mistaken. Your surname is not Zhong, but it seems to be..."
Seeing that Magistrate Zhang was deep in thought, Li Xue stepped forward and said:
"Forget about Magistrate Zhang. Let me remind you, this man's surname is Zhang, given name Debang. He was the Right Chancellor of the Imperial Court before the invasion of the barbarian troops. He became a traitor when the barbarian troops invaded."
Later, the barbarian army suffered a crushing defeat, and this man became a homeless dog, hiding everywhere. Unexpectedly, he came to the Xiang family's house today and was discovered by Magistrate Zhang. This is a case of "the net of justice is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it."
Li Xue's words were like a thunderbolt, terrifying Zhang Debang to the point of utter shock.
Zhang Debang's first reaction was to run away, but this was a corridor, and there were only two paths to escape from: one in front and one behind.
However, the passageway was now blocked by numerous yamen runners, making it impossible for Zhang Debang to escape.
"Yes, Young Master Li is right, he is the fugitive Zhang Debang, arrest him."
The constables swarmed forward, pinned Zhang Debang down, and then tied him up tightly.
Zhang Debang had planned everything meticulously, but he hadn't anticipated this: he would be arrested at Xiang's residence.
"Bring the criminal back to the county office and keep him under strict guard. Don't let him escape," Magistrate Zhang said.
"Yes, sir."
A group of yamen runners escorted Zhang Debang away from the Xiang residence and headed to the county government office.
Magistrate Zhang did not leave immediately, as he did not know if Zhao Xian and the others had any further instructions.
Li Xue was overjoyed to have captured Zhang Debang. He looked at Master Xiang and said:
"Master Xiang deserves much credit for capturing Zhang Debang this time, but there is one more thing that may disappoint him."
Upon hearing this, Master Xiang was greatly surprised. He knew in his heart that the government had arrested Zhang Debang in the Xiang residence, and once the matter was investigated, he would certainly not be able to escape the consequences.
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