Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

The next day at noon, the sun was blazing overhead.

A large open space was carved out of the square in front of the Longmen County Government Office, and two circles of bright red silk were laid out, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and filled with the sounds of gongs and drums.

In the center of the square, a three-foot-high platform rises from the ground.

On the stage, a dozen or so square tables were lined up, displaying roasted whole lamb, stewed pork knuckle, steamed carp, and jars of aged Fenjiu liquor with their mud seals broken, filling the air with their aroma.

All the prominent gentry and landlords of Longmen County were present, dressed in fine silks and satins, their faces glistening with oil, clinking glasses and enjoying themselves immensely.

On the high platform, the rich feast on meat and wine.

Below the high platform, however, lie the frozen bones of those who died.

Hundreds of yamen runners, armed with fire and water sticks, formed a human wall to keep the people outside the red silk banner.

The people were dressed in rags and were all skin and bones.

The aroma of meat wafted down from the platform, and the crowd immediately erupted in a chorus of sounds as people frantically swallowed their saliva.

Wang Renzhe specially changed into a brand-new official robe and sat in the main seat today.

His left side was empty, while his right side was occupied by several of the largest local grain merchants.

Li Chengqian, accompanied by Cheng Chumo, Fang Yi'ai, and Xue Rengui, slowly walked up to the high platform.

"Oh my! Young Master Li, what an honor to have you here! Please, take a seat!"

As soon as Wang Renze saw Li Chengqian, he immediately led him to the chief seat on the left with a fawning smile.

After Li Chengqian sat down, he ignored the delicacies on the table and looked at the emaciated starving people below the stage.

At this moment, Wang Renzhe held up his wine cup and boasted:

"Young Master Li, take a look. This is the banquet for all the people of Longmen County."

Which of the people of this city does not feel grateful for the kindness of the Wang family of Taiyuan?

He pointed at the shivering, starving people below the stage and continued speaking with a smug look on his face.

"In the three years I governed Longmen County, the people were well-fed and warmly clothed."

"So, having heard that our county is hosting a banquet for you, our distinguished guest from Chang'an, they've all come of their own accord, insisting on kowtowing and paying their respects to us and you, sir."

The wealthy gentleman next to him immediately chimed in with praise:

"Yes! Lord Wang loves the people like his own children; he is truly a paragon of justice reborn."

"Without the Wang family, how could Longmen County enjoy such a good life?"

Li Chengqian's eyes were cold, and he didn't say a word.

Below the stage, a head constable, seeing this, immediately turned around and roared fiercely at the crowd:

"Are you all deaf? The magistrate is giving you the privilege of standing here and smelling the meat. Aren't you going to thank him? Call him the magistrate, the upright official!"

Hundreds of people, too hungry to even stand, stared blankly, and no one spoke.

The head constable, losing face, swung his stick and struck the leg of the man at the front.

"Shout it out for me!"

The man knelt down with a thud, clutching his leg and trembling as he cried out:

"The magistrate...a just and upright official..."

Once the chanting started, under the threat of the sticks, the remaining people sparsely joined in.

Wang Renzhe listened to the pitiful cries, but a smile spread across his face.

He looked at Li Chengqian and smiled:

"Young Master Li, listen to this! This is the will of the people. As long as your big deal lands in Longmen County, I guarantee that the entire city will be your most obedient servants."

"oxen and horses?"

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked at Wang Renzhe.

Just then, a commotion broke out among the crowd below the stage.

An old man, so thin he was just skin and bones, could no longer withstand the scorching sun and hunger. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground.

"Damn it!"

Wang Renzhe stood up, pointed at the audience, and began to curse:

"Are you blind? Can't you see that the county is entertaining distinguished guests?"

"What kind of troublemaker is this, daring to feign death and spoil the young master's mood? Drag him away and throw him into the mass grave outside the city!"

Two constables immediately rushed over, grabbed the old man, and tried to drag him outside.

"Bang!"

Li Chengqian slammed his wine glass onto the table.

The chopsticks in the hands of the wealthy gentlemen froze in mid-air as they stared blankly at Li Chengqian.

"Young Master Li... what's wrong...?"

Wang Renzhe stared at Li Chengqian in astonishment.

Li Chengqian kicked over the table in front of him.

"Is this what you call peace and well-being for all people?"

Li Chengqian pointed at the unconscious old man below the stage and demanded an explanation.

Wang Renzhe's expression changed, and he forced back his anger as he explained:

"Young master, you've misunderstood! This old man is a notorious scoundrel, lazy and good-for-nothing, he doesn't even farm his own land. He's deliberately coming here to extort money from us."

"Extortion?"

Li Chengqian sneered and walked directly down from the platform.

Cheng Chumo and Fang Yi'ai followed closely behind.

Xue Rengui followed silently at the back.

"What are you doing? What do you want to do?"

When the yamen runner supporting the old man saw Li Chengqian approaching, he instinctively reached for his sword.

Cheng Chumo kicked one of them, sending him flying three zhang away.

The other was so frightened that his hand went limp and he collapsed to the ground.

Li Chengqian walked to the old man's side, squatted down, grabbed his tattered linen shirt, and ripped it off forcefully.

"Sizzle!"

The old man's back was exposed to everyone's view.

At that moment, even a ruthless general like Cheng Chumo, who had fought his way through piles of dead bodies, couldn't help but gasp.

The old man's back was covered with countless whip marks.

New wounds piled on top of old ones, some already festering, some so deep that bone was visible, not a single piece of healthy flesh remained.

Li Chengqian pointed to the shocking wound and stared intently at Wang Renzhe on the high platform.

"Lazy and good-for-nothing? Trying to extort money?"

He walked step by step up the platform, approaching Wang Renzhe.

"The wound on your back was clearly caused by the barbed leather whip from your county government."

Tell me, which article of the Tang Dynasty law permits you to abuse your power against ordinary people?

Wang Ren was forced to retreat repeatedly by Li Chengqian's imposing manner, and finally collapsed onto the armchair.

But he quickly realized that he was backed by the Wang family of Taiyuan, and in this area of ​​Hedong Road, it was not up to a merchant from out of town to act recklessly.

"Li Ming!"

Wang Ren slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, his obsequious expression vanishing, replaced by a ferocious look.

"I've given you the honor of being called 'Young Master,' and you really think you're something special?"

He pointed at Li Chengqian's nose and began to curse:

"This old man owes taxes on river repairs. The county is demanding payment according to the law. What's wrong with giving him a few lashes?"

In the area of ​​Hedong, the law of this county is absolute!

"You, a merchant reeking of money, dare to meddle in the affairs of this county?"

The surrounding gentry also stood up and criticized Li Chengqian for meddling in other people's business.

When the head constable below the stage saw that the magistrate had lost his temper, he immediately drew his sword and led dozens of men to surround him.

The atmosphere instantly exploded.

Just then, the old man on the ground suddenly moved.

He opened his eyes with difficulty, his cloudy gaze sweeping around before finally settling on Li Chengqian.

The old man used his last bit of strength to climb to the edge of the platform and grabbed Li Chengqian's boots.

He did not cry foul, nor did he file a complaint.

The old man pleaded:

"My lord... please spare me a bite to eat... this old man hasn't eaten a single grain of rice in three days... just one bite..."

This was a resounding slap in the face, landing hard on Wang Renzhe and the group of gentry.

Is everyone safe and well? This is the peace and prosperity they paint for themselves.

Li Chengqian looked down at the old man, his raging anger finally bursting forth.

He bent down, helped the old man up, and handed him to Fang Yi'ai:

"Take him to the back to eat, slowly, don't choke."

Fang Yi'ai nodded emphatically and helped the old man step aside.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Wang Renzhe and said:

"Magistrate Wang, your performance is over. Now it's my turn to take the stage."

Wang Ren completely abandoned all pretense and roared fiercely:

"Guards! These scoundrels are plotting a rebellion. Seize them!"

"Clang!"

Dozens of official swords were drawn simultaneously.

The constables pounced on them like wolves and tigers.

"Master, step back!"

Cheng Chumo shouted loudly and brandished his sword.

But before he could move, a mountain-like figure had already passed him and stood in front of Li Chengqian.

Xue Rengui took a step forward with his bare hands.

With just one step, that iron-blooded murderous aura erupted.

The constables at the front felt their breath catch in their throats, as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, and the knives in their hands froze in mid-air.

Xue Rengui grabbed a government knife that was coming down on his head.

"Snap!"

He forcefully broke the official knife into two pieces.

"Snapped!"

Xue Rengui slapped the constable across the face with his backhand.

The man didn't even have time to scream before he passed out from the slap.