Chapter 323 Trial
A group of armored soldiers broke into the Fan family hall.
When the second son of the Fan family saw this, it was as if he had woken up from a dream. He was so frightened that he trembled all over and said, "Who are you? Why are you breaking into my Fan family?"
"Kill to pay for life, debt to pay for money, it's time to repay the blood debt owed by the Fan family."
The leader of the soldiers said with an expressionless face and a cold tone.
"What!?"
When the second son of the Fan family heard this, he almost jumped up and said angrily: "Stop talking nonsense!"
"Oh, do you know it in your heart?" the soldier leader said coldly.
Then, the ears cut off by the soldiers were thrown to the ground.
This scene caused Fan Wenlong, who was sitting silently on the Grand Master's chair, to have a drastic change in his face and his pupils to shrink. He never imagined that his servants and guards would be killed so easily without even a chance to resist.
This is the wealth accumulated by the Fan family over several generations, and it is also the basis for their dominance!
However, Fan Wenlong is the head of the family after all. He took a deep breath, tried to calm down the fear in his heart, and shouted: "Who on earth are you?"
The second child also said in a stern tone: "How dare you come to attack my Fan family? Aren't you afraid of retaliation by doing this?"
"Retaliation? Haha, no matter how powerful our Fan family is, they are still just a small country tycoon."
"Do you think that with your connections in the county, you can be protected?"
The soldier leader sneered: "Stop dreaming, the Fan family is destined to be razed to the ground."
As soon as he finished speaking, the leader of the soldiers waved his hand. Immediately, more than a dozen soldiers drew their swords in unison, and pairs of sharp eyes locked on Fan Wenlong, making the hair on his body stand up.
It was only at this moment that the last bit of luck in Fan Wenlong's heart completely dissipated.
But until now, he still doesn't know which god he has offended, and he can send out the army to deal with a country rich man like him. How can he be so virtuous and capable?
Fan Wenlong was completely panicked, and when his confidence was exhausted, he began to talk nonsense.
"W-what do you want to do!"
"You. You can't kill me."
"I'm the magistrate's guest. Even if you kill me, you won't be able to escape punishment."
What I want to say here is that Fan Wenlong repeatedly mentioned the county magistrate, not because he had little experience and had never met a senior official, but because in Changzhou Prefecture, the county magistrate of Wujin County was really famous.
Changzhou Prefecture has five counties under its jurisdiction. In addition to the well-known three counties of Wuxi, Jiangyin, and Yixing, there is also Jingjiang County with jurisdiction over Jiangxin Luzhou. In addition, Wujin County is where the capital of Changzhou Prefecture is located.
In other words, the magistrate of Wujin County is naturally half a level higher than other counties.
And where is Changzhou Prefecture?
Lu Youzhi clearly stated in "Changzhou Running Bull Gate": The Fang court in the old capital really relied on the wealth of the southeast, and Zhongwu was especially rooted in the southeast. The proverb goes, "Su Changshu is enough for the world."
The prefectures in the Jiangnan Taihu Circle account for 6% of the country's cultivated land and pay 23% of the food tax. They are so fat that they are drooling. How many of the officials here are simple?
However, coming back to the present, no matter how capable Wujin County Magistrate is, he cannot save the fire from a distance.
Fan Wenlong said in panic. Although he was not an ordinary person, he had never seen such a scene before.
At this moment, his legs and feet were weak, and without the support of the Taishi chair, he almost fell to the ground.
"Huh, kill you? We still have dirty hands."
The soldier leader glanced at him coldly, and then shouted loudly: "Tie him up! Take him out for public trial!"
"As you command!"
The soldiers responded loudly, and then stepped forward to restrain Fan Wenlong and the second son of the Fan family.
The second child of the Fan family was tied up like a rice dumpling. He struggled desperately and screamed: "Help, help, someone is coming."
However, the surroundings were quiet and there was no sound.
Obviously, the surviving family members and servants of the Fan family had already hid far away.
"take away!"
The soldier leader waved his hand, and immediately the two of them were carried down like pigs.
"Woah~ woah~"
Fan Laoer's mouth was gagged and he couldn't cry even if he wanted to.
Soon, the two of them were thrown onto a makeshift high platform at the entrance of the village. People were watching the excitement in all directions.
"Look, isn't that Master Fan?"
"Huh? It's true. How could he be in such a state of desolation? I heard he was very impressive before."
"Hey, let's take revenge in this world. Who made him do bad things?"
"Shh, keep your voice down and don't talk nonsense. It will be bad luck if he regains his prestige."
"What are you afraid of? Does the Fan family still dare to take revenge on us?"
The people talked a lot, and some people dispersed in fear even though they saw the Fan family destroyed.
However, more people gathered in place, waiting for the results.
Some people have been waiting for this result for many years.
Soon, the soldiers came with a man on horseback.
I saw this man in his forties, wearing a scarlet robe and riding a big white horse. He looked extraordinary and imposing.
It was none other than Feng Chu, Master Song Li.
Song Li walked onto the stage and spoke to everyone around him.
"Fellow fellow villagers! Please come out today. Your Majesty the Imperial Master, who is actually providing disaster relief, knows your grievances, so he is here to uphold justice and will never let a place like the Fan family dominate the fish and meat village!"
As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was excited.
"The old thief of the Fan family deserves to die! Sir, the National Preceptor will eliminate harm to the people!"
"The old dog of the Fan family deserves it! Thank you, Master Imperial Master!"
"Master National Master Qianqiu has achieved enlightenment!"
The people shouted excitedly.
"Okay! Quiet!"
Then, Song Li turned around and snorted coldly at the two people kneeling at the foot of the steps: "You still don't plead guilty? Is it possible that you want me to show you the evidence?"
Fan Laoer was already trembling with fear, and his legs were weak.
Fan Wenlong slumped to the ground, his face pale, but he held on and sneered.
"Haha~ What a great Imperial Master, how dare you confuse right and wrong and forcefully frame our Fan family."
"oh?"
Song Li raised his eyebrows, half-smiling but not smiling, and then winked at the soldiers in the audience.
"Come on, expose the Fan family's crimes to the public!"
The soldiers followed the instructions and immediately squeezed through the crowd with some witnesses.
"Fan Laoer, do you know me?"
An old man pointed at Fan Laoer excitedly and said.
Fan Laoer's eyes were empty and he looked at the old man in front of him blankly.
"You beast! Beast! You ruined my granddaughter, how old is she! Are you still a human being!"
The old man cursed angrily.
Beside him, another young woman cried: "It was the Fan family who forced my parents to sell me to him..."
"Yes, that's it!"
"I also remember that the second son of the Fan family once came to us to extort property!"
"At that time, he even threatened us!"
One witness after another stood up, tearfully accusing the Fan family of their evil deeds.
Fan Laoer on the high platform seemed to be stunned, standing there with blank eyes, as if he could not hear any sound at all.
"Hahaha, the Fan family is doomed."
"Tsk, tsk, this time, the Fan family is completely in trouble."
There were bursts of sighs and sighs from the crowd, and various voices were intertwined.
"Everyone, be quiet, be quiet!"
Song Li waved his hand to signal the people not to make any noise, then he pondered for a moment and said loudly: "Today, I am here to announce an important matter - the Fan family's sins are monstrous, their conscience is unconscionable, and the evil deeds they have done are too numerous to describe."
"Today, on behalf of the Imperial Master, I will publicly try Fan Wenlong!"
Song Li raised his riding whip and whipped it hard to the ground. In an instant, dust flew into the air.
"Crack!"
A clear voice sounded.
"Fan Laoer, I want to ask you, who instigated you to seek wealth and murder, and frame the blame on others?"
"Well"
Hearing this, Fan Laoer's expression changed and his eyes flickered.
"Um?"
The leader of the soldiers beside him raised his eyebrows and sneered: "It seems you want to delay time? Come on, chop off one of his fingers first!"
"Wait!"
Seeing this scene, Fan Laoer finally became anxious and hurriedly shouted: "I said, I said."
"Yes, it's my dad."
"Your father?" Song Li asked pretending to be surprised.
"You! Treason!"
Fan Wenlong looked at his son in disbelief and struck him repeatedly, completely destroying his mind.
At this moment, Fan Wenlong vomited out blood when he saw that the untouchables in the audience who were not worth mentioning in the past were able to judge him in public.
Song Li raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a mocking arc.
Immediately, he raised his head, looked at the turbulent people below the high platform, raised the Shangfang sword authorized by Jiang Xinghuo in his hand, and said loudly: "Now, I announce that the villain of the Fan family will be sentenced to death!"
Fan Wenlong wanted to say something else, but Wang Bin drew the knife cleanly.
"Wow!" Blood spurted out.
With the death of Fan Wenlong, the man who had caused harm to the local area for many years was finally brought to justice.
The whole audience suddenly burst into deafening cheers!
This time, I finally have an explanation for the word "justice".
When Fan Wenlong was about to die, he didn't even understand why the Imperial Master wanted to operate on such a small person like him.
The Imperial Master, who is so high above the world and talks about doctrines, is the one who weighs the world and plans the world. Is it worthy of such a high status to kill a small person like him in a big way?
Jiang Xinghuo did not see this scene. He had already embarked on a new journey non-stop, but no matter what, he always believed that what he was doing was meaningful.
If he knew Fan Wenlong's doubts, he would definitely answer him in the affirmative.
——That's right!
He was very qualified to give lectures in prison, but in Jiang Xinghuo's eyes, he had said thousands of things, but it was not as good as doing one practical thing for the people.
The meaning of coming to the countryside is not just to come here, but to conduct on-the-spot investigations, understand the needs of the people, and solve their difficulties.
Because it is a "little man" like Landlord Fan who is nothing, and he is the one who really causes difficulties for the people among the people, in the countryside, and at the grassroots level.
It was precisely the tens of thousands of "landlords" that caused the social process of the Ming Dynasty to stagnate, causing farmers to be tied to the farmland through violence, tenancy relationships and other means, and unable to become part of the manual workshops.
The significance of this matter is that only with the first knife slashed at "Fan Landlord" can there be countless subsequent knives. When a new road is paved with dripping blood, the reform will truly come true. Land, win the hearts and minds of the people, and make the people trust you and follow your plan.
Otherwise, if you are aloof and do not have the support and support of the people, you will always be rootless!
"Dear fellow villagers, the Fan family's matter has been settled. Next, let's talk about disaster relief."
"The Imperial Preceptor asked me to tell you that the imperial court has not forgotten you, and the relief food will be allocated immediately!"
Song Li looked around and announced loudly.
"good!"
Deafening shouts erupted from the audience.
Immediately afterwards, Song Li began to talk about how to deal with the aftermath.
He spoke very seriously, detailing everything, mostly trivial matters that the people were extremely concerned about, and then answered the people's questions.
The common people may not have such a high-level structure, nor do they understand many big principles, and they may even hide a lot of ridiculous thoughts that can be seen through at a glance. However, Song Li did not get bored, but patiently answered the people's questions.
Finally, Song Li made a concluding speech: "The reform presided over by the Imperial Master is for the common people of the world. Today, these local bullies, in the name of the imperial court, do things to hinder the reform, which is destined to be unpopular."
"The people's hearts are like water. No one can do anything against the people's hearts."
Song Li pointed at Fan Wenlong, whose head was in a different place, and said loudly.
"As Du Zimei said, both your body and your name will be destroyed, but the eternal flow of the river will not be destroyed!"
Looking at the people in the audience, there was a different look in his eyes.
Song Li knew that the reform had truly begun in the local area.
If you want to change the law, you must first correct your heart.
What is the human heart?
In front of you is the human heart.
——————
Wujin County Government.
The county magistrate Yao Gongzhi was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed and concentrating. Next to him stood Li Hu, the county's head catcher.
"Huzi, I heard that something happened in Fanjia Village?" Yao Gongzhi asked calmly.
"Yes, sir, the boss of the Fan family came personally to find his subordinate." Li Hu replied respectfully.
Yao Gongzhi opened his eyes, a meaningful arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, and said quietly: "Fan Wenlong has always been daring. Now the imperial advisor who oversees disaster relief in Chang, Su, Song, Jia, and Hu prefectures is about to pass by. I don’t want to hear any inappropriate sounds, not only I don’t want to hear it, but the prefect doesn’t want to hear it either, do you understand?”
Li Hu was startled and asked doubtfully: "Sir, what do you mean?"
"Tomorrow, you personally lead a team to check the situation near Qingpingbo. If the Fan family causes trouble and is wiped out, whether it is gangsters or civil unrest, suppress it and don't let this matter cause too much trouble. At present, everything is stable. Lord, wait until the Imperial Master passes by our Changzhou Mansion before we make any further calculations."
After saying that, Yao Gongzhi seemed to be still uneasy and gave another instruction.
"Don't cause trouble. Changzhou Mansion is the first stop for the imperial master. As long as there is no trouble, he will be there soon. His ultimate destination must be Songjiang Mansion where there is fierce civil unrest. I heard that there is really There are shadows of the White Lotus Sect.”
"Yes, I understand!"
Li Hu nodded heavily, but was shocked in his heart. The White Lotus Sect cannot take this lightly.
Yao Gongzhi was naturally satisfied to see that the other party was interested, and then ordered: "By the way, send someone to keep an eye on the people of the Fan family, especially the boss of the Fan family, to see which force he has been in close contact with recently. If it is found out If you have any clues, report the news to me."
"I obey my orders!"
Li Hu accepted the order, then turned and left.
Looking at Li Hu's leaving figure, Yao Gongzhi murmured:
"I hope the magistrate's affair will not be revealed. I heard from fellow officials in the capital that this Imperial Master is not easy to get along with."
And right now.
Jiang Xinghuo rode a little gray horse, disguised as merchants with Wang Bin and others, and entered Wujin County, where the Changzhou Prefecture is located.
From the beginning, Jiang Xinghuo noticed that Changzhou Mansion seemed to hide many secrets.
PS: [Important reminder (there is no charge for this content)] Chapters 316 to 356 are about the rectification of officialdom and the suppression of rebellions in Jiangnan. They do not contain any theoretical knowledge. They are all practical content. If you are not interested, you can jump directly to Chapter 366. "Class" will contain theoretical knowledge content from now on.