The playboy county magistrate

Li Xuanzhi looked down at the kneeling constables, his expression indifferent and without the slightest ripple.

"Who ordered you to come and surround and drive them away?"

The squad leader trembled like a leaf, daring not to conceal anything, and replied in a trembling voice.

"Yes, it was Lord Gao who secretly gave the order... to have us patrol the river embankment, disperse those who were gathering and chatting, and forbid anyone from discussing the old river work case from two years ago..."

They openly shirked responsibility and destroyed case files, while secretly silencing the public.

Using both overt and covert methods, and laying down layers of defenses, all to cover up an old case of embezzlement.

The coldness in Li Xuanzhi's eyes deepened.

Gao Huai'an was far bolder than he had anticipated.

Openly defying the imperial decree and obstructing the imperial envoy's investigation, this is no longer a simple case of embezzlement and corruption; it is tantamount to deceiving the emperor.

"I ask you," Li Xuanzhi's voice was slightly cold, "two years ago, during the repairs of the Ling River, inferior materials were used. Wages were cut at every level, and the people along the river were repeatedly oppressed with no recourse. Is this true?"

At this point, the squad leader dared not hide anything anymore; he was only concerned with saving his life and kept kowtowing.

"It's true! It's all true! I wouldn't dare lie to you, sir! Lord Gao's relatives monopolize the procurement of materials, using inferior goods to pass off as superior ones. They pocket the difference in profits, and not only are the laborers' wages being siphoned off at every level, but we laborers have also had a lot deducted from our wages. Anyone who dares to complain will be sent by you, sir, to go and beat them up and drive them away!"

"We have no choice; we all need to have a job to eat, right?"

Now that an even more powerful official has arrived, they know in their hearts that if their superior falls, they might end up suffering the consequences as well.

In order to protect himself, he no longer cared about his superiors and blurted out everything he knew and had handled.

The two elderly river workers standing nearby had tears in their eyes as they listened.

Li Xuanzhi raised his hand to put away the official seal and gave the order in a deep voice.

"Detain this man, and the rest of the constables shall keep him under guard until I summon him."

"Yes!" Tang Zheng responded and stepped forward, swiftly subduing and restraining the squad leader.

The other laborers also realized what was happening and rushed forward to help.

After dealing with the group of yamen runners, Li Xuanzhi turned to look at the two old men.

"Gentlemen, there is no need to be afraid. With me here today, no one in Jinling will dare to cause you any more trouble."

The two elderly men, their eyes reddening, bowed deeply and said, "Thank you so much for upholding justice for the people!"

"Come with me back to the post station to give your statements," Li Xuanzhi said gently. "After you have given your statements, I will send someone to escort you home and ensure the safety of your families."

The two nodded solemnly, without the slightest hesitation.

The group turned and left the riverbank, walking slowly towards the inn in the city.

In the secluded courtyard of the official post station, two old river workers were settled in a side room. The door was ajar, and guards sent by the emperor after Li Xuanzhi's departure were on duty both inside and outside.

Li Xuanzhi sat upright at the desk in the main room, his fingertips holding the testimony he had just personally copied.

Significant progress has been made in understanding the foreman's testimony, the people's petitions, and the details of material deductions and wage embezzlement. Only the crucial element of a closed-loop accounting system remains to definitively convict Gao Huai'an.

Once Gao Huai'an is unable to intervene, the obstruction will be greatly reduced, making it easier to investigate the details.

Tang Zheng quickly walked in from outside, looking anxious.

"Young master, something's not right at the Grand Canal Transport Office. Gao Huai'an has been staying indoors for no more than two hours. Afterwards, he sent several trusted clerks to various parts of the city. Their movements are secretive, as if they're urgently coordinating something."

Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, showing no surprise, and gently stroked the corner of the offering book with his fingertips.

Gao Huai'an lost the initiative in river embankment control and also lost his close supervisor. Knowing that the truth could no longer be concealed, he would inevitably take a risk.

"He's going to collude with others to give a false testimony," Li Xuanzhi said calmly. "Not only that, he's going to silence them."

Today, news of the incident on the river embankment has spread, and the two old river workers have become the most direct witnesses at present, as well as the only important witnesses who can currently threaten Gao Huai'an.

Once these two men are dead, all civilian testimonies will become meaningless. The testimony of only one captured squad leader is insufficient to convict his superior of a serious crime.

Tang Zheng frowned. "Immediately send more men to guard the side courtyard and do not allow any outsiders to get close to the witnesses."

"It's useless to hold on to the death." Li Xuanzhi raised his hand to put down the offering book and slowly stood up.

"Gao Huai'an has been operating in Jinling for many years and has a wide network of connections. The official post station may seem quiet, but it has long been under his surveillance. A hard defense will only result in being passively attacked; it's better to go with the flow."

He knew all too well the thoughts of these corrupt local officials.

Once corruption is established, lies pile up layer upon layer. Once the loopholes are exposed, they will only use more underhanded means to cover up the killings, without ever showing the slightest remorse.

"Send the message down," Li Xuanzhi instructed in a low voice, his tone calm and methodical.

"Withdraw the visible guards from the side courtyard, leaving only two people to hide and lie in wait. Pretend to be lax in defenses and allow outsiders to spy on you."

Tang Zheng instantly understood, his eyes lighting up. "Young Master, are you trying to provoke him into making a move?"

"Hmm." Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly, looking out the window.

"He's so eager to silence us that he'll surely act tonight. Instead of searching everywhere for evidence against him, it's better to let him slip up on his own. The fact that he dared to break into the official post station in the dead of night and assassinate a witness is an even greater crime, and the evidence is irrefutable."

Meanwhile, in the secret room behind the Grand Canal Transport Office.

The flickering candlelight cast a shadow on Gao Huai'an's usually smooth and gentle face, revealing only a fierce expression on his features.

On the table lay a thin sheet of paper, on which were hastily written the names and addresses of two old river workers, as well as the approximate courtyard where they had stayed at the official post station.

He pressed his fingertips firmly against the paper, his knuckles turning white, the force almost crushing the letter.

Standing beside him was a trusted confidant, a bodyguard he had secretly kept for many years, who was responsible for handling all sorts of shady and clandestine matters.

"My lord, the foreman of the river embankment has been captured, and the witnesses have been taken to the official post station. If this drags on any longer, it will surely lead to disaster."

The confidant lowered his head and whispered urgently, "This must be settled tonight."

Gao Huai'an's throat bobbed, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by his ruthlessness.

He can't afford to gamble.

Once the testimonies of the two veteran river workers are submitted, along with the foreman's confession...

The crimes of embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, and corruption over the years will be gradually confirmed, and the connections behind them will be exposed.

At that time, not only will his official position and life be affected, but his entire family will likely be implicated.

"Go." Gao Huai'an raised his eyes, his voice hoarse and cold, completely devoid of his usual refined manner.

"After nightfall, sneak into the official post station and quietly take care of those two old bastards. Do it cleanly, leave no trace, and make it look like an accidental death."

The trusted confidant bowed and accepted the order: "Understood."

"Remember this," Gao Huai'an added through gritted teeth, "Apart from witnesses, do not touch Li Xuanzhi in the slightest. He is an imperial envoy; if he dies on the way, it will be a sensational case. Once we are involved, no one can protect us. As long as we cut off the testimonies and have no witnesses, he can only investigate the case based on hearsay and ultimately cannot do anything to me."

He's very shrewd.

Killing a witness is a way to cover up a secret and eliminate witnesses.

Injuring the imperial envoy would shake the court and lead to total defeat.

As long as you grasp this balance, you can survive even in danger.

The confidant in black said no more, turned and left, his movements swift and swift, disappearing without a trace in an instant.