The light of the sword is like the moon reflecting on Kyushu

Chapter 2009 That's not a good idea.
The Gaozhou Prefectural Government Office faces south, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and upturned eaves. A black plaque with gold characters hangs above it, bearing the three large characters "Gaozhou Prefecture" in powerful strokes. It was personally inscribed by a famous scholar of the Great Shu Dynasty.

A pair of stone lions stood in front of the gate, their eyes wide open in anger, their paws pressing down on an embroidered ball, exuding a majestic and solemn aura.

In the square in front of the government office, the bluestone pavement is covered with moss and blemishes accumulated over the years.

Passing around the screen wall and through the ceremonial gate, one arrives at the main hall. Several constables, holding fire and water sticks, stand on either side, their eyes scanning the gathering crowd like hawks.

A clerk sat at a desk on the east side, seemingly writing a petition, the pen scratching softly and the scent of ink filling the air.

In the center of the main hall, a plaque bearing the four characters "明镜高悬" (meaning "a clear mirror hangs high") hangs prominently. Below it is a large jury table, upon which are placed a gavel, a vermilion brush, and an official seal. Behind the table is a rosewood armchair, its back carved with a xiezhi (a mythical beast) pattern, symbolizing impartiality and strictness.

Meanwhile, the prefect, sitting upright in the hall, wearing a black gauze hat and a scarlet official robe, looked at the several Tibetans below with a shifty gaze.

I have been serving as the prefect for two years now. You could say I have been conscientious and diligent, or you could say I have been extremely cautious and careful at all times!

This place is completely different from the inland areas!
Poor and remote places breed unruly people! This place is not poor now, but the people are unruly! Because many different ethnic groups live here!

They were well aware of the imperial court's policies and knew that the court would "give special consideration" to local non-Han people. Therefore, some Tibetans and Qiang people would stop at nothing to exploit loopholes in the law, taking advantage of the imperial court and the local people!

The Han people had an inherent, deeply ingrained conflict with the Tibetans and Qiang people. Although large-scale conflicts were prevented by the high pressure from the imperial court, minor skirmishes were frequent. To avoid escalating the conflict, the government usually adopted a conciliatory approach, often leaving the Han people to suffer in silence. The government would then compensate the Han people afterward through tax reductions or other means to appease their anger.

Now the Song army has trampled across the entire Shu Kingdom, and Song soldiers are stationed in Gaozhou. Although he, the prefect, retains his original position, the Song officer looks at him with no warmth in his eyes. Therefore, Prefect Liu Zhiheng understands that his position will be replaced sooner or later, and there is simply no suitable candidate.

There was no way out for me!
A new emperor brings a new court! Following the normal course of events, the entire bureaucratic system of the Great Shu should be replaced, except for a few officials whose positions are special and not suitable for replacement in the short term!

This has absolutely nothing to do with whether you did a good or bad job before!
When a new ruler ascends the throne, he seeks to benefit his own people! Appointing officials and promoting nobles is basic practice! The prime minister and general are replaced by his own people, and the prime minister and general also have their own people to promote! This is like a giant net, with a central thread and all branches connected! A single move affects the whole situation!

There are countless people eyeing my position!

I heard that some local officials were not replaced because they had connections with General Wang Quanbin!
But he had no idea which way the general's gate faced! His patron had reportedly fled when Chengdu fell! Meanwhile, those high-ranking officials who stayed and surrendered saved many of his own people!
If I don't perform well now, it will give the Song army a reason to say that I am incompetent!
So I have no choice but to go down this path to the bitter end!
Among those pleading for justice in the courtroom were Langjie, the owner of the Holy Snow Mountain Restaurant, a young man with an air of nobility wearing a fur coat, and two elderly red-robed lamas!

Several Tibetans, who appeared to be attendants, carried several corpses and stood guard to one side.
Prefect Liu said, "Langjie, I will send people to thoroughly investigate the murderer. You all go back and wait for news!"

Langjie said, "Lord Liu, your attitude seems a bit perfunctory!"

Liu Zhiheng said, "You've already reported the case, and I've accepted it. All that's left is to proceed with the investigation. I told you to go back and wait for news because I didn't want to waste your time. How did that become me being perfunctory?"

"Lord Liu, the murderer is currently in this city. I want to see you send men to apprehend the suspect with my own eyes!"

"You—are you teaching me how to do things?" Liu Zhiheng sensed a hint of danger! This Lang Jie usually didn't treat him like this! Was he planning something?

Ever since Liu Zhiheng saw the two red-robed lamas following behind Langjie, he had a premonition that the whole matter was going to be tricky! Compared to Langjie's usual humility, today Langjie's face clearly showed a strong sense of ferocity and a chilling killing intent! Was he no longer pretending?
How could Liu Zhiheng not suspect Lang Jie, who could open such a large restaurant here?
However, all the previous leaders adhered to the principle of "it's better to do less than more" in governing, which made him dare not change his style rashly or try to find out the other party's background. If he were exposed, he would be in big trouble!

I thought I could just cower and wait for two years until I was transferred elsewhere, but I never expected Lang Jie to jump out today!

The tall, handsome young man beside him, though dressed as a Han Chinese, clearly had the features of a Tibetan and possessed an extraordinary demeanor. Langjie was obviously very respectful to him, so he must be a big shot behind Langjie!
It looks like this case won't end well!
Seeing that Prefect Liu's eyes were darting around, Lang Jie knew he must be up to something. He said in a deep voice, "How could I dare to tell you what to do, sir? It's just that my compatriots died so unjustly. All their relatives have come here after hearing about it. If you can't solve the case quickly, they will be so grief-stricken that I don't know what outrageous things they might do!"

Liu Zhiheng was somewhat displeased: "Lang Jie, are you threatening me?"

Langjie coldly replied, "I wouldn't dare!" Though he said he wouldn't dare, his expression clearly said: So what if I threatened you?

Liu Zhiheng thought to himself: This guy has me cornered! Who told me to be beholden to him? That guy is incredibly generous, giving me an average of ten thousand taels of silver every month as a "gift"! My monthly salary is only fifty strings of copper coins, with annual rewards of silk and other precious materials equivalent to two hundred strings of copper coins, and about thirty shi of rice and wheat, totaling less than three thousand strings of copper coins a year! Three thousand strings of copper coins is only three thousand taels of silver!
He glanced at the growing crowd below, all of whom were staring at him.

Although he didn't know what Langjie was up to this time, he was sure it wasn't anything good! Langjie's attitude towards him had also become much tougher, and he wondered if he was just putting on an act to impress his master!
But judging from the demeanor of that noble Tibetan youth, he wasn't going to give me time to smooth things over; he clearly wanted to use me to escalate the situation!

Liu Zhiheng also wanted to stand up for himself, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it!
I can't blame myself for being too weak and unable to hold my head high in front of them; it's just that their money is too heavy, making it impossible for me to stand up straight! If I were to publicly break ties with them, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to save face either! Because if they publicly expose my bribery, my future would be completely ruined!
Since the traditional practice of the scales of judgment has always been to favor the Tibetans and Qiang people, no one will care if I side with Langjie this time, right?

He deliberately put on airs and said in a serious tone, "Since everyone is quite concerned about the case, let's act swiftly this time! Where is Chief Constable Guan?"

Head constable Guan Shuya immediately replied, "Your subordinate is here!"

"You lead the men and hurry to apprehend the suspect!"

"Yes!"

Liu Zhiheng asked, "Langjie, do you know where the suspect is now?"

Langjie said, "It's at the Holy Snow Mountain Restaurant! I can send someone to help identify it as soon as possible!"

"Alright! Officer Guan, go right away!"

Then someone asked, "Where to?"

Everyone was shocked!
A figure in flowing white robes appeared outside the hall as if his feet were not touching the ground, hands behind his back, exuding an air of nonchalance! Before anyone could react, he had already entered the main hall!

Liu Zhiheng, Langjie, Jiacuo, Chiqin Lama, Danzeng Lama, several Tibetan attendants, clerks, and eight yamen runners were all startled!
Liu Zhiheng frowned: "Who is this person in the hall? How dare you trespass into the main hall!"

Feng Jiuxiao flashed the gold medal, and before Liu Zhiheng could even read the words on it, he put it away after only two breaths. "How can you be a prefect if you don't even recognize an imperial envoy?"

An imperial envoy? Everyone was immediately taken aback!
Yuan Zishan and the others then arrived at the back of the crowd watching outside the hall.

Liu Zhiheng vaguely recognized that it was the gold medal of the Song Dynasty, which was no small matter! He immediately got up and was about to come out from behind the desk to pay his respects!

Feng Jiuxiao immediately stopped him, "No need for formalities! I'd like to ask, Prefect, how do you handle such murder cases?"

Liu Zhiheng said, "First, we will go to the crime scene for the imperial court to conduct an investigation, then examine the body for injuries, and then search for the murderer and the murder weapon. During this process, we will find the suspect based on the plaintiff's statement and interrogate him!"

"These two bodies are here. Could this be a murder scene?"

"No, they're the ones who carried the two bodies here!"

"They carried it here?" Feng Jiuxiao asked calmly and without anger. "So, this isn't the primary crime scene?"

Liu Zhiheng's heart skipped a beat, and he had no choice but to answer truthfully: "Yes!"

Feng Jiuxiao asked, "May I ask, who brought these two corpses here?"

Lang Jie's gaze was sharp as a knife as he stared at Feng Jiuxiao. "I brought him!"

"That makes things difficult!"

Everyone was startled! Langjie frowned and asked, "What do you mean it's not going to work out?"

Feng Jiuxiao said, "You moved the body and destroyed the murder scene. How are others supposed to examine it? There are your footprints everywhere, and the body has been moved around. How are we supposed to find the real culprit? I suspect that your purpose in coming here was not to report the crime at all!"

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