Ouchi Taming the Cat, starting with the Ten Tiger Forms!

Chapter 652 Dog bites dog

Li Xuan kept squinting all the way until the carriage stopped completely.

"Meow~"

He called out lazily, stretched his head out from deep in the softness, and barely opened one eye to look.

"Ah Xuan, you are really good at sleeping. We have already arrived."

Princess Ankang joked.

Li Xuan took a nap all day and didn't eat. He relied on Princess Ankang to feed him dried fish from time to time.

After what happened yesterday, he knew that he didn't have much to do during the day and would be busy at night, so he simply reversed his schedule.

Li Xuan climbed all the way onto Princess Ankang's shoulders, stretched his neck to look out of the car window, and couldn't help but yawning loudly.

Unlike the situation when they arrived in Jinghou County yesterday, there were much fewer people coming to greet them outside, only a few.

Emperor Yongyuan could easily punish local officials for acts of disrespect.

But Emperor Yongyuan and Li Xuan both knew that the chief monk was probably responsible.

Emperor Yongyuan had already got off the imperial carriage, and Prince Zheng and other officials followed suit.

Emperor Yongyuan had a serious expression on his face, and frowned slightly as he looked at such a simple welcoming team.

Although King Zheng and his officials were somewhat surprised, they soon smiled at each other.

They all believed that this was the reaction of the local officials after receiving the news.

I just don’t know who the magistrate here is. He is so cruel and ruthless. Just for self-protection, he torments the local officials and gentry to such an extent.

Although no one said it, everyone knew that it was inappropriate to kill so many people in one night, and they should all be detained.

As long as those who may pose a threat to them do not appear in front of Emperor Yongyuan, they can deal with whoever Emperor Yongyuan calls to testify.

It is impossible for Emperor Yongyuan to delay his southern tour just for this small county.

Since Emperor Yongyuan could not make a solid case, Prince Zheng and the civil officials would naturally come forward to interfere.

This is their specialty.

Moreover, such a deserted scene could also lose face for Emperor Yongyuan. Prince Zheng and the civil servants were laughing in their hearts at this time.

"Who is the magistrate here?"

Emperor Yongyuan asked coldly.

Immediately, a thin, lame middle-aged official stepped out from the welcoming team.

Seeing that this man was lame, even King Zheng and the civil officials couldn't help but frown.

This defect is fatal when selecting officials, and it will be a great obstacle when taking imperial examinations. It is like having a lame foot after becoming an official.

But doing so would basically cut off his future path to promotion, unless he could gain the favor of King Zheng.

They had originally had high expectations for the local magistrate, but at this point they had already given up and were only planning to give him a few words of encouragement and then leave it at that.

For such people, the road ahead is too difficult and they are not of much use, so it is not worth bothering with them.

"Zhang Chou, the magistrate of Caiyun County, greets His Majesty. Long live the emperor."

Zhang Chou came out and knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Yongyuan in a proper manner.

Emperor Yongyuan pretended to be confused and asked Zhang Chou:
"I called the county magistrate, what do you, a registrar, have to say?"

Prince Zheng and the civil servants were also bewildered, while the two dukes seemed to be indifferent and looked at Zhang Chou with a relaxed attitude, waiting to see how he would answer.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Some incredible things happened in Caiyun County last night. Therefore, we are the only ones in Caiyun County who can spare time to welcome you." Zhang Chou said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Unbelievable incident?"

Emperor Yongyuan's tone was full of doubt.

If Li Xuan had not heard the order given by Emperor Yongyuan to Chief Steward Shang with his own ears last night, he might have really been deceived by him now.

"Our county magistrate, Mr. Gao Yanang, fled last night out of fear of punishment, along with the county's chief clerk, county magistrate, post station magistrate, and other officials."

Zhang Chou basically named all the officials in charge in the county, and everyone present fell silent.

Several senior officials immediately looked at King Zheng.

Prince Zheng said yesterday that he would be responsible for conveying the news to the outside world.

But what kind of message did this convey that scared the officials of Caiyun County so much that almost all of them ran away, leaving only a lame registrar to welcome the emperor.

The civil servants couldn't help but wonder if King Zheng had delivered the wrong message.

But this mistake is too low-level.

Originally, even if they confronted each other in court, it might not be possible for Emperor Yongyuan to make a solid judgment, after all, they were assisting them.

But if he runs away now, doesn't that just confirm his suspicion?
Such a stupid move could not possibly have come from King Zheng, so it must have been a local official who acted on his own initiative.

"You said your last name is Zhang, and you're from the Zhang family?"

Emperor Yongyuan suddenly asked an irrelevant question.

In the Daxing officialdom, there is only one Zhang family, and that is Concubine Zhang's family.

The current head of the Zhang family is Zhang Zhixian, the father of Concubine Zhang. He serves as the Minister of the Court and is the leader of the civil service lineage, following closely in the footsteps of Prince Zheng.

However, Zhang Zhixian did not accompany the emperor on this southern tour. Instead, he was assigned to handle government affairs and maintain the operation of the court during the southern tour.

Although the head of the Zhang family is not here, there are still many members of the Zhang family among the civil servants.

When Emperor Yongyuan asked this, they became interested and looked at Zhang Chou.

"Your Majesty, Qiu is just an insignificant branch of the Zhang family."

Zhang Chou admitted it.

"Well, since you said that the magistrate and others are fleeing for fear of crime, then what crime did they commit?"

"You are the historian, so tell me everything."

Emperor Yongyuan said in a deep voice.

Zhang Chou took a look and found that the only people present were the people from the southern tour.

Emperor Yongyuan asked him to speak, so he had no taboos.

"Your Majesty, there was news last night that the magistrate of Jinghou County was beheaded after being questioned..."

"Oh, has the news from Jinghou County spread here?"

Although Emperor Yongyuan was asking Zhang Chou, his eyes were directed towards Prince Zheng and the civil officials.

Except for Prince Zheng who remained indifferent, other civil officials could not help but lower their eyes and dared not look at Emperor Yongyuan.

"This news arrived much faster than us."

The southern tour team has just arrived, but Caiyun County got wind of it last night.

"Okay, Zhang Chou, you don't have to say more."

"Lead the way ahead to the county government office!"

Zhang Chou dared not question Emperor Yongyuan's decision and immediately accepted the order.

"Zhao Feng, send people to hunt them down immediately. They can't get too far in one day. Don't let me down."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Feng immediately took the order and waved towards the woods in the distance. Then, a rustling sound came from inside.

Then, Zhao Feng returned to Emperor Yongyuan calmly, as if he had done something insignificant.

Emperor Yongyuan said no more and asked Zhang Chou to lead them to the county government office.

Zhao Feng didn't say anything, as if the matter had been resolved.

This situation made King Zheng and the civil officials feel uneasy.

Everyone in Daxing has heard about the power of the Imperial Household Department.

But the person escaped all the way last night, and you, Zhao Feng, expect to capture him just by waving your hand, without even any intention of doing it yourself. Isn't this a bit too much?

Yes, Emperor Yongyuan only asked Zhao Feng to bring the person back.

Anyway, the southern tour will last for a long time, and with the ability of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it will not be difficult to catch a few officials who have fled.

But at this moment, Emperor Yongyuan said casually:
"Zhao Feng, before I leave here tomorrow, I want to meet all the officials on the run from Caiyun County."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked, and some even thought that it was Zhao Feng’s previous attitude that angered Emperor Yongyuan.

As a result, Zhao Feng remained calm and stepped forward to answer calmly:
"Old slave understands."

Emperor Yongyuan stopped talking and went to the county government office to rest. The others were confused and thought that Emperor Yongyuan and Zhao Feng, the master and servant, had some conflict.

Only Li Xuan, who was standing on Princess Ankang's shoulder, had a strange look on his face.

"It's so realistic, two great actors!"

Li Xuan secretly criticized the two people for playing a double act.

The entire Caiyun County was deserted. Li Xuan sensed it and found that many mansions were indeed empty.

It seems that Manager Shang really released the news last night, scaring away many people.

As for those important officials, they should be in his hands, waiting to be arrested and brought to justice in a pretentious manner.

As expected, just as the county government had finished dinner, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had already received the news.

Everyone was supposed to rest after the meal, but Zhao Feng whispered something into Emperor Yongyuan's ear.

Then Emperor Yongyuan said to everyone: "Let's rest later today."

"The fugitive is on the way here."

Emperor Yongyuan and a group of officials waited in the county government office for half an hour.

During this period, many people were worried and anxious.

Emperor Yongyuan was drinking tea to help digestion, feeling very comfortable.

Half an hour later, there was some noise outside the county government office, and then eunuchs in flowery clothes brought in a few dishevelled men and made them kneel on the ground.

These people were in a state of panic and their eyes were wandering, which was consistent with the state of fugitives being captured and brought to justice.

But Li Xuan understood that their minds were probably no longer clear.

It can be said that Manager Shang’s methods make it easy to deal with ordinary people.

Especially this kind of task can often produce unexpected results.

Several fugitives looked at the people in the hall with dazed eyes.

When they saw King Zheng, their eyes suddenly lit up.

"Your Majesty!"

These people seemed to be unable to see Emperor Yongyuan sitting at the main desk in his dragon robe.

King Zheng immediately slammed the table and rebuked:
"Be bold!"

"How dare you be disrespectful in front of His Majesty? Do you know your crime?"

King Zheng also frowned and cursed these idiots in his heart.

"His Majesty?"

They turned to look at Emperor Yongyuan, but it seemed as if they didn't recognize him.

The other officials in the county government didn’t say anything, but the magistrate had definitely met the emperor before, but he was unable to react at this moment.

“Your Majesty!?”

"Your humble servant Gao Yanang greets His Majesty, long live His Majesty..."

Gao Yangang could not speak clearly and even shouted "Long live" haltingly.

"Gao Yan'ang, you fled for fear of crime and now you have been arrested and brought to justice. What else do you have to say?" Emperor Yongyuan did not bother to waste time with him.

"This this……"

Gao Yangang hesitated for a long time and looked to King Zheng and other civil servants for help.

But they just frowned and didn't respond to his plan, which made Gao Yanang even more frightened.

He was sleeping last night when he received a letter from King Zheng's spy who came to the county government office to deliver it.

After learning the news about Jinghou County and knowing that Emperor Yongyuan would target him next, Gao Yan'ang immediately listened to Prince Zheng's arrangements and fled with his men.

The spy sent by King Zheng personally led the way for them, and they rode fast horses for a day and a night.

But the damn Imperial Household Department actually sent out eunuchs in flowery clothes who came down from the sky like divine soldiers. They grabbed them by the collars and caught them all like chickens.

Only then did they realize the horror of the Imperial Household Department. Even the spies sent by King Zheng were powerless to fight back. They were shattered into pieces in an instant by a single blow.

That was not all. The eunuchs in flowery clothes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were like gods, carrying them on clouds and mist. They fled outside the city for a day and a night, but in the blink of an eye they were back at the county government office.

Emperor Yongyuan in the county government office looked down on everyone like the Jade Emperor, while other officials were like evil spirits. Only Prince Zheng's face made them feel a little bit familiar.

"Confess and I will give you leniency. If you admit your guilt voluntarily, I will give you a quick death," Emperor Yongyuan urged.

As a result, Gao Yanang was frightened by this sentence, and reacted as if he had received an electric shock, and shouted:
"Your Majesty is innocent, Your Majesty is innocent!"

"It was the prince who asked us to run away. We didn't want to do that!"

Before Gao Yangang finished speaking, a civil servant shouted, "Nonsense!"

"Gao Yanang, now that the evidence is solid, you still dare to make random accusations. You are really crazy."

"Your Majesty, I suggest that we follow the example of Jinghou County and kill this beast immediately to serve as a warning to others!"

"It also gives justice to the people of Caiyun County."

The Minister of Justice jumped out and spoke righteously.

“Is it too hasty and not in accordance with procedure?”

Emperor Yongyuan leaned back and asked indifferently.

"Your Majesty's southern tour is to monitor the country. Now that you have encountered such a villain, how can you let him go easily?"

"I propose that these villains be exterminated along with their entire clans and be executed by slow slicing!"

"Yes, Lingchi execution, otherwise it will be difficult to eliminate the resentment of the people of Caiyun County."

"The people have waited so long for Your Majesty to come. Your Majesty must not let them down!"

"Lingchi death, Lingchi death..."

The civil servants called out in unison, leaving Gao Yangang and others kneeling below stunned.

"what???"

They looked at each other, and some of them came to their senses and felt that something seemed to be wrong.

His brain, which had been in a daze just now, gradually became clear under the threat of extermination of the entire clan and slow execution, and then began to work rapidly.

Gao Yanang was the first to come to his senses.

King Zheng sent spies to ask them to run, but they chose to trust him unconditionally.

But now the civil officials have turned around and sold them out, and even want to exterminate their entire clan and execute them by slow slicing.

No matter how slow Gao Yangang and the others were, they finally reacted.

"Your Majesty, all of this was ordered by King Zheng. I have evidence of his crime in my hands!"

"It's them! They are the ones who are hurting me!"

Gao Yangang screamed as if he was slaughtering a pig, and the noisy county government office suddenly became quiet.

But this silence did not last for a moment before it became even more chaotic.

"Your Majesty, Gao Yangang is a lunatic. I beg you to kill him on the spot!"

"Your Majesty, you must be executed for slandering the royal family!"

"..."

Li Xuan was outside looking at Emperor Yongyuan with a deadpan face, and thought that he must be very happy at this moment.

"quiet!"

Zhao Feng understood the expression on Emperor Yongyuan's face and immediately spoke out to drown out everyone else's voice.

When the county government office quieted down, Emperor Yongyuan snorted coldly:
"Humph, Gao Yanang, you actually dare to slander King Zheng. You are so bold."

"Come here, take him away and call all the people in the city to have a public trial tomorrow."

"I'll see if you dare to bite me when the time comes!"

After saying this, Emperor Yongyuan waved his sleeves and said to the others:

"Okay, let's all disperse."

Emperor Yongyuan himself left first, and Gao Yangang and others who cried out for injustice were also taken away by eunuchs in flowery clothes.

In the court, only Prince Zheng and a group of civil servants were left, and each of them looked extremely unhappy.

(End of this chapter)