Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

After Zhang San and Li Si were settled, they went out for a stroll and asked for directions along the way until they arrived at Huiming Tower.

The Huiming Tower was indeed quite large, not inferior to the Fanyang Tower in Xu Ning's city. But now that it was sealed off, people coming and going seemed to be afraid to get too close, making it seem desolate and cold.

The two men walked forward, found a small wonton stall and ordered two bowls of wontons.

"Boss, I heard that the most famous place in Pingle County is Huiming Tower. We just went to see it, but why is it closed?"

The stall owner looked at them in surprise and asked, "Are you from out of town?"

"Yeah, we're here to have fun."

"Hey, why do you come to play at this time? It will be difficult for you to leave once you come in now."

"How to say?"

"Didn't you notice when you entered the city? These days people are not allowed to enter or leave the city freely. There were bandits in the county before, and Pan Qing, the head of the yamen, was the leader of the bandits. Even the county magistrate and the county magistrate were arrested for colluding with the bandits. The owner of Huiminglou was also arrested because he was reported for colluding with the bandits."

"Hey, how can Huiminglou, such a big business, be in collusion with bandits?"

"Hey, they may not be in contact with bandits." The stall owner saw that there were no other customers at the moment, so he simply sat down aside.

"The owner of Huiminglou likes to deal with people in high positions, and usually likes to make friends with squad leaders and county magistrates. Who would have thought that the squad leader and county magistrate would do something like this? Anyway, he must have offended a few people in the past, and someone reported him."

"It's not necessarily that he was wronged. He had such a good relationship with the bandit leader, how could he not know that they were bandits?"

The stall owner disagreed: "Just because you have a good relationship with the team leader, you know they are bandits?

The current county magistrate has a pretty good relationship with the class leader and the former county magistrate. I've even seen the county magistrate, when he was a teacher, invite the county magistrate to have dinner at Huiming Tower.

Ordinary shops can’t curry favor with the county magistrate, and it’s the same even if they can. How can a business as big as Huiminglou not have to deal with officials? Let’s not talk about Huiminglou, let’s just talk about the shops in the county, all of them have to curry favor with the head of the group.”

This is all true.

Not to mention Pingle County, even the owner of Fanyang Tower, he couldn't say that he had dealings with all the officials of all ranks in the provincial capital, but he couldn't help but flatter them when he met them.

"The owner of Huiminglou is really unlucky. It seems that he doesn't do good deeds normally, otherwise why would someone report him?"

The stall owner seemed to be a gossipy person. He was extremely bored tending the stall on weekdays, and since Zhang San and Li Si were not locals, it was inevitable that he would start chatting with them from the bottom of his heart.

"It's not just the owner of Huiminglou who's unlucky. I don't know how many people have been arrested in the city these days. Could it be that the whole city is in cahoots with the bandits?"

Although there weren't many people on the street at this moment, the stall owner couldn't help but look around.

Zhang San and Li Si came forward with an interested look on their faces, lowering their voices and asking curiously, "The whole city is in cahoots with bandits? That can't be right, right? What's going on, old customer, tell me."

"The county magistrate offered a large reward, asking the people in the city to report the crime to each other. As long as they could tell the truth, they would be rewarded. If there was money to be made, people would not rush to report the crime."

Zhang San and Li Si looked at each other.

"If you give money to people who report something, it will be a mess."

"That's not true! Those who don't like me or have a problem with me will naturally not miss this opportunity. You report me today, and he reports you tomorrow.

Alas, the city has been in chaos these days. You came at a really bad time. I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave for a while.”

"Even if it is reported, the county magistrate will definitely not believe it just because it is reported. The truth will be revealed in the first trial in the future."

The stall owner didn't take it seriously and snorted, "Well, at least he can live to see the truth. Anyway, I heard a few days ago that a guy who delivered tofu to that team leader was beaten so badly when he was released that he died a few days after returning."

what? !

The person who delivered the tofu was mentioned by Yu Fang, who said that he just delivered tofu on a regular basis and had never spoken to Pan Qing.

He was beaten to death just like that.

This is too unfair.

Moreover, if the death occurred outside the prison, the county magistrate would not have to bear any responsibility even if the case was rehabilitated in the future, let alone provide any compensation.

"What about the owner of Huiming Tower? How is he doing now?"

"I don't know about that. But he is different from the tofu delivery man. He really has a relationship with Pan Qing. He needs to be interrogated more strictly. Who knows if he can survive this."

The stall owner shook his head and sighed, "It is said that three generations of his family were arrested. It's a pity to lose such a huge family business. This is the end of it."

"The county magistrate has made such a big fuss. Has he caught a few confirmed robbers?"

"We did catch a few, but the only ones we have confirmed are those whose portraits were released by the government. Some of them had indeed been hiding in the city. Who would have thought that the county magistrate would have people guard the city gates and conduct a strict investigation as soon as he took office? When the portraits arrived, they were able to catch a few of them."

Perhaps it was because the Pingle County Magistrate caught these people that he felt that his tactic was indeed effective, so he naturally became more strict in his defense and implemented more severe punishments.

Zhang San and Li Si looked at each other and seemed a little worried. Could the owner of Huiming Tower hold on until they returned to report?

In the county government office, Liu Dianshi looked at the nervous Pingle County Magistrate, hesitating on how to remind him to relax a little.

In theory, he has no right to say this.

But if he came here just to find out the truth and then go back to report, and if by that time he comes back the Hui Minglou family is dead, then his mission would be in vain.

"Mr. Magistrate, I wonder how your investigation of the remnants of these bandits is going?"

Upon hearing this, the magistrate said quickly, "Don't worry, sir. Please also don't worry, magistrate. Since Pan Qing and his gang were arrested, I have taken over the county affairs. I immediately ordered people to guard the city gates. I also issued a reward in the city, asking the people to report the bandits and their accomplices, and it has been quite effective now."

Liu Dianshi thought, is that considered an effect...

"A number of suspects have been arrested in recent days and are being interrogated and identified one by one. We have also confirmed that several of the bandits are accomplices."

"Your Excellency is wise..."

Liu Dianshi was confused and didn't know how to remind him, so he could only say: "Sir, I wonder if I can go to the prison to see those accomplices of the bandits? The judge has been paying attention to the bandit case. After all, I have come here, so I must see them and report to you when I return."

The Pingle County Magistrate suddenly looked a little embarrassed: "This... Sir Liu, it's not that I don't want you to go. The prison is really filthy..."

I don't know if it's despicable or not, but looking at the expression of the Pingle County Magistrate, Liu Dianshi knows that the situation in the prison is probably as Yu Fang said, in dire straits...