The prince is more stable

Chapter 506: The Butcher's Knife Shocks Evil
Mobilizing the army was a wise decision. Although the area of ​​hundreds of miles might seem small, it would actually take a lot of effort to search for it.

Zhao Xiaoqian decisively mobilized 20,000 soldiers from the Dragon Guard Camp and launched a dragnet search within a radius of hundreds of miles. The 20,000 soldiers searched almost every inch of land and finally captured all the officials from Bianliang without missing a single one.

Moreover, the army's efficiency is definitely much faster than that of local governments. Military orders are like mountains, and if they are not carried out, they will be beaten with military sticks without any discussion. This is especially true for the Dragon Guard Battalion under Zhao Xiaoqian's command. This is the most elite army of the Song Dynasty. Zhao Xiaoqian personally gave orders, and they were carried out without any hesitation.

Therefore, Han Wei and other officials were all captured by the Dragon Guard Camp within two days.

Officials originally measured the land in the newly occupied territories in batches, carefully and considerately selecting the best farmland for various powerful families, and planning which big boss this piece of land would belong to and which powerful person that piece of land would belong to.

However, the 20,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp moved out like a whirlwind and captured all the officials who were still planning to get promoted and make money in just two days.

Upon receiving the news, Zhao Xiaoqian immediately returned to Zhending City in a dusty state.

The first thing to do after entering the city was to order the government office to vacate the prison. Dozens of officials were about to be imprisoned, and Zhending Prefecture had to show its hospitality and entertain them well.

After returning to the Prince's Mansion, Zhao Xiaoqian faced Niao Niao's expectant eyes with a sad expression. He hesitated for a long time before he had to tell her the news of Ge Laozhang's death.

Niao Niao was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears. When she had temporarily lived in the village, she was treated very kindly by the villagers. Although Old Man Ge lived in poverty, with one meal a day and the next a day hungry, he would always send her some of the mountain products he collected when he went up the mountain.

In the chaotic times of the border town, the rare warmth is still unforgettable.

This is also the reason why Niao Niao could not let go of Ge Laozhang and the villagers after entering Zhending City.

Now that she heard that Mr. Ge had passed away, and that he had left the world in a tragic and decisive way, Niao Niao could no longer contain her grief and cried breathlessly.

She was an orphan since childhood and had seen too much sorrow and misery since she was little. However, the death of Mr. Ge finally broke her heart, which she thought was cold.

"Sir, in this world, are poor people really just able to accept their fate?" Niao Niao leaned in his arms, raised her little face and asked him, the light in her eyes having faded.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't know how to answer. In the era of imperial rule, injustice and disparity could not be eliminated.

Who can change it? Who can constrain it? Who can put power in a cage?

"Perhaps, time will give us the answer." Zhao Xiaoqian smiled bitterly.

"What will the answer be?"

"Power, humanity, law, and morality—these four elements can check and balance each other, thus achieving relative fairness. This is probably the ideal world."

Zhao Xiaoqian paused and said slowly, "The evil of human nature cannot be curbed by morality. Therefore, it can only be eliminated by law and the butcher's knife."

Zhao Xiaoqian gently patted Niao Niao's little face and smiled, but there was a cold light in his eyes.

"Be good, stay home quietly and watch me avenge Mr. Ge and the folks."

…………

Han Wei, Wang Yuan and dozens of other officials were escorted back to Zhending City.

The prison in the government office was opened to them and they were welcome to stay.

The officials were shocked and angry, and continued to curse as they were kicked into prison one by one by the imperial guards.

Even at this point they remained calm, as they were in officialdom and knew the procedures very well.

Going to jail was not a big deal, because the power to interrogate and judge cases was in Bian Jing, and Zhao Xiaoqian had no power to interrogate and judge.

Their imprisonment in the Zhending City Prison was only temporary. Sooner or later, Bianjing would send an official letter asking Zhao Xiaoqian to escort them back to Beijing, and the case would be judged by the Dali Temple in Bianjing.

As long as they returned to Bianliang, these officials would be like fish in water. They didn't need to say a word, as the powerful bosses behind them would use their power to help them get rid of the charges.

In the end, they will be reinstated, and Zhao Xiaoqian, who ordered their interrogation, will be held accountable. After all, Zhao Xiaoqian's unauthorized interrogation of court officials is a serious crime.

The world is so unfair. Because of this migration and confinement, hundreds of people in Zhending Prefecture died, but these officials who committed the crime would be fine as long as they returned to Bianliang.

As long as the monkey's golden cudgel did not smash down, there would be big men from heaven and the Western Paradise coming out to stop it, and then the evil monster would be scolded lightly and finally taken back to heaven unharmed.

Yes, without any punishment, a beast in heaven is much more valuable than thousands of human lives in the mortal world.

Isn't this the current situation?

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian was standing outside the prison, looking calmly at the closed door.

The prison in Zhending Prefecture was built a bit crudely. It was a deep underground project. After the excavation, the cells were laid out and planned, and finally the roof was covered.

Li Qingchen stood next to Zhao Xiaoqian.

Li Qingchen was sweating profusely at this time.

Ever since learning that Han Wei and other officials had been ordered by Zhao Xiaoqian to be questioned, Li Qingchen's forehead had been covered in cold sweat. As a member of the government, Li Qingchen was well aware of the implications of questioning officials without imperial orders, especially when dozens of them were being questioned at once, all dispatched from the Bianjing Government Affairs Hall.

Li Qingchen had to admit that the courage of this prince was simply unmatched. Ordinary people did not have such courage to do such a thing.

At this moment, Li Qingchen stood beside Zhao Xiaoqian. Looking at his calm expression, he said with difficulty, "Your Highness, questioning dozens of officials is no small matter. I'm afraid the matter will become a big deal. The officials in Bianjing will not let you go."

"How about... we release the men first and follow the normal procedures? I'm willing to persuade all officials in the Zhending prefecture and the nine counties under its jurisdiction to join Your Highness in submitting a joint petition impeaching Han Wei and his men, and ultimately handing the case over to the Dali Temple in Bianjing for trial. How do you think?"

Zhao Xiaoqian's expression remained unchanged. He simply said, "Old Li, you should see more of the world. Once you see more of it, you'll realize that if someone is determined to cause trouble, the extent of the trouble will be infinite..."

"It's nothing to question the officials. I haven't even started to do anything worse."

Li Qingchen was startled, his whole body hair stood on end, and he cried out in a hushed voice: "Your Highness, what else do you want to do?"

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at the prison door and said coldly, "Life for life, blood debt must be repaid with blood."

After saying that, Zhao Xiaoqian strode into the prison.

Li Qingchen was stunned and stood there for a long time. Then he shuddered and chased after him with a pale face.

"Your Highness, don't be impulsive! It will cause a big disaster!"

…………

Break the sky?
Not afraid.

If the way of heaven is unfair, it should have been exposed long ago.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood outside the prison, quietly watching Han Wei who was locked in the cell.

Li Qingchen was stopped outside by Chen Shou. Zhao Xiaoqian wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Han Wei and didn't want anyone to disturb him.

The prison in Zhending Prefecture treated these dozens of officials differently, which was instructed by Zhao Xiaoqian.

Among them, Han Wei and Wang Yuan were held in solitary confinement, which was a special treatment given to them by Zhao Xiaoqian.

In this conspiracy, the powerful leaders in Bianliang were the culprits, while Han Wei and Wang Yuan were the ones holding the knife.

At this moment, Han Wei's expression in the cell was very calm, as if he had known that Zhao Xiaoqian would come.

The smell in the prison was terrible, filled with a foul stench and a faint smell of blood.

When these smells mix together, a normal person will vomit after a short while, but after getting used to it, it will be nothing.

Han Wei had been locked up in the prison for most of the day and had obviously gotten used to the smell in the prison. However, he was still trying to adapt to the fleas, bedbugs, rats in the cell, and the bed made of smelly damp straw.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood outside the prison door, looking at him calmly, as if he didn’t know him, and looked at Han Wei carefully with a strange look.

After a long time, under Zhao Xiaoqian's calm but suppressed gaze, Han Wei finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Zhao Xiaoqian, you've caused a disaster, do you know that?" Han Wei said coldly: "When I say 'disaster', I don't mean that you put us in jail. For you, having the government's favoritism is not a disaster."

"The 'great disaster' I'm talking about is that you stopped the relocation of farmers and refugees, and stopped us from measuring and distributing land. The dignitaries in Bianjing have already heard the news. You should now think carefully about how to explain it to them."

"Also, I have to tell you that among these powerful people, the ministers of the Political Affairs Hall, the envoys of the Privy Council, the vice-chancellors, the vice-chancellors, the left and right chancellors, the ministers of the Secretariat, and the ministers of the Ministry of Personnel are all included. Even if you, Zhao Xiaoqian, gain the emperor's favor again, do you have the ability to face their attacks and retaliation?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "Well said, please continue."

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqian could still laugh, Han Wei also laughed, his smile full of malice.

"I know you have performed great service to the government and the imperial court. You have reversed the fate of the Song Dynasty. The elite soldiers under your command are invincible, and the Liao army has been defeated several times by you. At this moment, you are in the limelight and have great prestige in the Song Dynasty court."

"But you've affected the interests of so many people. Even if you've made great contributions, do you think you can act lawlessly? Zhao Xiaoqian, these achievements of yours will become grounds for them to attack you. The charge of 'arrogance due to your achievements' could be your death warrant!"

"The government alone can't protect you. You broke the rules, so you should bear the consequences."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said calmly, "You've said so much, what do you want to express?"

Han Wei said coldly: "Let us go now and let us finish what we haven't done. I can make the decision on this matter. Just pretend it never happened. If you turn a blind eye, there will naturally be benefits later. I guarantee that these benefits are beyond your imagination."

"And you can perfectly avoid a fatal storm and also gain enough benefits. Zhao Xiaoqian, this is your last chance."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly burst out laughing. Han Wei looked at him quietly, and heard the strong sarcasm in his laughter, and his face turned pale.

"At this time, you are still thinking of inciting rebellion and winning me over. Han Wei, you are a talent. Really, those powerful people in Bianjing did not choose the wrong person to ask you to do these things." Zhao Xiaoqian said from the bottom of his heart.

(End of this chapter)