The evil forces roaming the heavens

Chapter 38: Abandon the dark and turn to the light!
Song Dynasty, Chenzhou,
Bao Zheng, who was late, finally arrived.

When Bao Zheng entered the city, he thought that there were starving people everywhere, but he found something shocking.
That means there are no so-called "refugees" at all!
Thinking of this, Bao Zheng immediately sent someone to look for Zhan Zhao.

But when I passed by a grain store, I found that the price of grain here was even cheaper than in Bianliang.
"Waiter, may I ask why the price of grain is so cheap when there is a famine in Chenzhou?"

Bao Zheng spoke in confusion. His face looked like an old man on the subway.
Because when he came here, he had already made plans to kill Pang Yu as an example to others.
But now it seems that there is clearly nothing wrong with Chen Zhou!
If there really is a problem, then the price of food shouldn't be so cheap!

"Sir, it's not that we don't want to lower the price, but some unscrupulous person spread the word that Chenzhou is short of grain and that one bushel of grain costs three taels of silver. As a result, grain merchants from nearby counties and prefectures all came!"

As he said that, the waiter sighed and said, "It's fine to come, but when you come, you're fine, but you can't go back!"

"why would you say so?"

Bao Zheng looked at the waiter blankly, surprised.
"Because Marquis Anle said that you can come to Chenzhou to sell grain, but when you leave Chenzhou, you will be charged 10 taels of silver as a toll for each cart of grain. Don't you think this is immoral?"

Thinking of this, Xiaoer's face was full of melancholy.
Chenzhou doesn't have much of anything now, except for these merchants selling grain.

With inflation, how can we sell food at a high price now?
Everyone now wants to finish the sale quickly and then run away, but who knows what tricks Marquis Anle will come up with!

After the waiter's explanation, Bao Zheng's eyes flickered, because it seemed that this Anle Hou Pang Yu was not a stupid man!

Using information to trick food into being sold is simply unethical!
Moreover, with the status of Marquis Anle, even if there is some power behind these grains, he can't do anything to the other party at all.
After all, the people in higher positions would not offend the current emperor's father-in-law, Grand Tutor Pang, for just a few tens of thousands of taels of silver. If they dare to do so, it means they are either greedy for money or they are out of their minds!

"Mr. Bao, Zhan Zhao is here!"

When Bao Zheng was inspecting outside the city gate, he saw Zhan Zhao also arrived late.
Looking at Zhan Zhao, Bao Zheng asked, "Why is Chenzhou different from what you said in the letter?"

"Zhang Xinzhi has come to Chenzhou! In just half a month, he has transformed this place! Zhan Zhao never expected this!"

After hearing what Bao Zheng said, Zhan Zhao explained with a face full of shame.

"Zhang Xinzhi? Isn't he in Jiangnan? Why is he in Chenzhou?"

Looking at Zhan Zhao in surprise, Bao Zheng frowned.

Many people knew that the son-in-law Zhang Xinzhi went south. It was said that he was doing business.

After all, in the Song Dynasty, the Prince Consort was just a mascot and could not be an official or lead troops.
Moreover, Zhang Cheng was a very smart person. He never participated in the government affairs or discussed any major events. Therefore, all the civil and military officials who had been to Tianshang Renjian would give him face.
"I think it should be the Chai family!"

After carefully saying these two words, Zhan Zhao's expression became serious.

"The Crown Prince of Xiao Shang?"

Thinking of Chai Wenyi, Bao Zheng couldn't help but frown.

Because Kaifeng Prefecture also has three evils, that is, the son-in-law Zhang Xinzhi, Anle Hou Pang Yu, and Xiaoshang Wang's son Chai Wenyi,

Why are these three people called the Three Evils? That's because the emergence of Tianshang Renjian caused conflicts in many officials' families, and Chai Wenyi and Pang Yu were even more dissolute young men.
The two of them often get together with the prince consort, so everyone subconsciously thinks that Zhang Cheng is not a good person either!

But only Bao Zheng knew that Zhang Cheng was extremely good at sophistry and "lack of martial ethics"!
“What are those people doing?”

Seeing a group of people digging in the distance with hoes and various tools, Bao Zheng asked,
"Are you widening the river? You want to bring in water so that you can irrigate the farmland in the future!"

After hearing what Bao Zheng said, Zhan Zhao began to explain.

Although the gangsters can get relief porridge, if they want to make money, they still need to go out and work. This is the rule of "An Le Hou"!

"You mean, these people digging the canal can get paid? Ten copper coins a day!"

Looking at Zhan Zhao in surprise, even Gongsun Ce beside him was dumbfounded.
"That's right, Mr. Gongsun, I never thought that this is something that Marquis Anle could do!"

Zhan Zhao couldn't help but cover his face with his hands as he spoke with a frustrated look on his face.
Because Anle Hou suddenly seemed to have his brain switched on. Although what he did was incredible, it was really hard to find any evidence against him! "So, Anle Hou did a lot of good things!"

With a meaningful smile, Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce beside him also laughed.

Because this kind of thing could never have been done by Pang Yu, but rather it was Zhang Cheng behind the scenes who was filling in the gaps.

"Oh, Mr. Bao, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not!"

Looking at Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce, Zhan Zhao hesitated for a moment and said, "Although Anle Hou sent all the women out, I saw three people were kidnapped!"

"What? There is such a thing!"

Bao Zheng looked at Zhan Zhao in astonishment, with a solemn expression on his face.

Because in Bao Zheng's eyes, such things as forcibly abducting women are absolutely not allowed to happen!

"Go back and change into your official uniform. I want to see it myself!"

Turning back to the city, Bao Zheng was really angry at this moment.

Looking at Zhan Zhao in bewilderment, Gongsun Ce couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

“I just discovered this too!”

After hearing what Gongsun Ce said, Zhan Zhao also looked helpless.

Because who would have known that Pang Yudu released dozens of people and finally lured three more people in!

Pang Yu: You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want. Did I kidnap you?
Zhang Cheng: If it’s not you, then could it be me?
Xiong Jizong:
An hour later, at the Imperial Envoy's residence,
When Bao Zheng arrived in his official uniform, Pang Yu and Zhang Cheng, who were eating hot pot, were dumbfounded.

Because Bao Zheng was holding the imperial sword in his hand, which meant he wanted to kill someone!
What does this mean? It's the infamous Jinyiwei of the Hongwu Dynasty, walking towards you with a knife in hand!

Jinyiwei: Jinyiwei slaughtered 90 million people, just to obey the order of Heaven!

Imperial Sword: Execute first and report later, special permission granted by the emperor!

"Mr. Bao, I haven't seen you for a long time. What are you doing? Are you out for a walk?"

He quickly pulled Pang Yu up. Although Zhang Cheng didn't know what this kid had done wrong, he couldn't let him die.
"Pang Yu, you secretly abducted three women. Do you know your crime?"

Looking at Pang Yu angrily, Bao Zheng shouted,

"Me? Kidnapping a woman?"

Pointing at himself, Pang Yu had a panic-stricken look on his face, because hadn't he released all the people he had captured?
Hearing Bao Zheng's words, Zhang Cheng was also surprised and said: "No, Mr. Bao, we have already sent those women back. It was just a little misunderstanding. I also gave them a hundred taels of silver!"

You know, if Pang Yu hadn't done anything wrong, those women wouldn't have reported it to the police!
Then why is Bao Zheng causing trouble?
"You still don't admit it even when you are about to die? Then explain to me who these three people are."

Just as Bao Zheng finished his roar, Zhao Pan'er and several others, who were tied up like a twist, appeared.
Pang Yu stared blankly, rubbing his head in confusion and said, "No, who are they? Why are they in my house?"

"they?"

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Song Yinzhang, and Sun Sanniang in front of him, Zhang Cheng immediately pointed at Pang Yu and shouted angrily: "Okay, Pang Yu, you actually did such a thing, Mr. Bao, I will give up the dark and join the light."

Having said that, Zhang Cheng hurriedly stood next to Bao Zheng, and his movement was so smooth that even everyone was dumbfounded.

(End of this chapter)