Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Li Fu glanced at the man.

This person seemed to have heard that he was taking office today and had specially waited here to show his goodwill in advance.

Such people, skilled at maneuvering and familiar with the personnel of government offices, are commonplace in officialdom.

Although Li Fu disliked flattery, he understood that having such a subordinate who took the initiative to get close to him and help him familiarize himself with the internal situation would save him a lot of trouble figuring things out.

"Then I'll have to trouble Officer Chen."

"You're too kind. Serving Officer Li is my duty!"

Chen Tao's smile widened, and he turned and nimbly went into the storeroom. A moment later, he came out carrying a thick stack of files and respectfully handed them to Li Fu.

"Officer Li, the case file is here."

Shall I take you to the jail?

He asked solicitously.

"Um."

The two passed through several courtyards and arrived at the guardhouse compound where the constables and head constables usually gathered and handled official business.

The row of spacious buildings in the courtyard is where the blue-clad and brown-clad constables and ordinary constables are on duty.

The courtyard was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was somewhat noisy.

Of course, one must wear official robes in the government office, especially now that a case is about to be investigated.

Li Fu did not go in directly, but went to the changing room first and changed into the blue uniform of a constable, which symbolized his seventh-rank official position.

His blue robe was composed and well-tailored, which further accentuated his tall and imposing figure, making him appear sharp and charismatic.

Li Fu, dressed in a blue official robe, stepped into the prison courtyard. The original noise immediately subsided, and countless eyes instantly converged on him.

Chen Deng strode into the most spacious main room in the center.

Inside, a dozen or so people were busy with their own tasks, some writing at their desks, others talking in hushed tones.

Upon seeing Li Fu enter, everyone instinctively stopped what they were doing.

Li Fu's gaze swept across the entire room, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying:

"Fellow colleagues, I am Li Fu, the newly appointed seventh-rank Qingyi constable."

Today I report to the prefectural government office for the first time. From now on, we will serve in the same prefectural government, working together to ensure the peace of the prefecture. I hope you will all give me your guidance and that we can work together wholeheartedly!

"I have met Officer Li."

"I dare not accept such praise."

"Officer Li, you're too kind..."

Most of the constables and their chiefs immediately stood up, clasped their hands in return, and responded with words of respect, their expressions filled with awe.

After all, this new boss was a ruthless character who personally killed the two former head constables.

A few people seemed somewhat perfunctory, their eyes flickering, and they merely cupped their hands in a perfunctory manner.

"I've seen it."

Among them, a burly, dark-skinned constable in blue stood out. He glanced at Li Fu slowly, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then said nothing more.

Upon seeing this, Chen Tao, who had been following Li Fu closely, quickly stepped closer and whispered.

"Lord Li, these people... uh, this man is called Zhou Wuheng."

They were all Han's men... former subordinates of Han Wenyuan.

Although Han Wenyuan was secretly a remnant of the demonic path, he was extremely good at putting on a show.

He is very loyal and generous in his dealings with others, especially towards his brothers who have risked their lives for him.

Therefore, many people in the government office, especially his faction, still feel grateful to him and once regarded him as a respected elder brother.

"These people have a strong bandit mentality, and since they used to be under Han Wenyuan's command, they are now in a difficult position in the government office and are often secretly ostracized... That's why..."

Chen Tao carefully explained the key points.

"I see."

Li Fu remained calm and nodded slightly.

When martial arts practitioners join the government, their rough-and-tumble habits and personal loyalty sometimes far outweigh the laws and regulations of the court.

Han Wenyuan has been able to maintain his position for many years because he has his own methods for winning people's hearts.

Furthermore, the fact that these people are now being subtly ostracized is also thanks to him.

This week, Wu Heng and the others naturally felt an instinctive aversion to him, even hostility, but there was no need for them to make a scene and establish their authority at this time.

There will be plenty of time and opportunities to reorganize the team.

"Everyone, please get back to your business."

Li Fu said something indifferently, ignoring the various gazes of the crowd, and walked straight to a separate cubicle on the inner side of the guardhouse, which was used by the head constable in blue to handle important cases.

Chen Tao, being very perceptive, immediately took a pot of freshly brewed hot tea and followed Li Fu inside. He placed the tea quietly on the table and then pulled out a chair for Li Fu.

Li Fu sat down, opened the thick stack of files, and began to study them carefully.

The details of the case are basically consistent with those given by Prefect Feng Shaoting.

He read quickly and with sharp eyes until he turned to the section recording the identities of those who were to be redeemed, where a line of text caught his attention.

"...demanding a ransom, targeting a flower thief named Cao Yu."

The following text, which should have continued with detailed information about Cao Yu and his imprisonment and treatment, was abruptly left blank, as if it had been deliberately erased or omitted.

Li Fu frowned slightly and tapped the blank space twice with his finger: "What is the meaning of this? Why is there a blank line?"

Chen Tao, who had been standing by, holding his breath, immediately looked around to make sure the curtain to the cubicle was closed and no one could hear what was being said.

He then spoke cautiously.

"Your Excellency is wise; I was just about to report this matter to you!"

This blank space... was intentionally created by the government.

The case files are left here in case... in case that audacious, thief who disregards the government office might sneak into the government office and peek at the files!

Some inside information that absolutely cannot be known to him for the time being was not written down here!

Li Fu's gaze sharpened: "What's the inside story?"

Chen Tao swallowed hard: "That...that womanizer Cao Yu...he...he's dead."

"Dead?"

Li Fu was startled and quickly pressed for an answer: "When did you die? How did you die?"

According to the law, Cao Yu committed the crime of attempted rape and theft. Although the nature of the crime was heinous, it did not warrant the death penalty, and it was impossible for him to be executed so quickly.

"Sir, this..."

Chen Tao's expression was both tense and somewhat enigmatic.

"Once Cao Yu was captured, he was not imprisoned in an ordinary jail as per the rules, but was directly sent to the deepest part of the state capital's iron prison."

This is the iron prison in Yanzhou, specifically for holding serious treasoners and notorious bandits, awaiting execution in the autumn.

He died suddenly just a few days after he went in!

The cause of death...the cause of death is said to be suicide by hitting his head against a wall, but..."

He gritted his teeth, his voice barely audible.

"I've vaguely heard that this matter... is probably related to Magistrate Hong... but as a lowly official, I really don't know the specifics."

Hong Tongpan?

Li Fu raised an eyebrow.

According to the rumors Chen Tao heard, the young lady was almost humiliated and her reputation was ruined. Hong Tongpan was furious and secretly ordered the flower thief to be killed in the iron prison.

This was originally nothing.

Unexpectedly, a master thief appeared later, highly skilled and having committed numerous crimes, who then threatened the government to ransom the people.

"So, when the notorious thief handed over the note to 'ran away' Cao Yu, Cao Yu was already dead, but he didn't know that."

That's right.

Li Fu's eyes flickered.

This notorious thief committed numerous bloody crimes, killing so many people without a care in the world. He plundered treasures only to negotiate with the government for ransom.

I wonder how he would react if he knew that the person he wanted to redeem was already dead?