Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 36 Gritting Teeth
After Feng Bangning beat someone that day, County Magistrate Zhao thought he was unlucky and returned to his duty room in the county government office with a depressed look on his face.

After sitting for less than a quarter of an hour, County Magistrate Lin Cheng walked in.

As soon as the two met, Lin Cheng looked embarrassed and sighed, "Brother Zhao, you are in big trouble now."

County Magistrate Zhao was furious and argued with County Magistrate Lin: "I obey the law, but Feng Bangning beat up the official, so how come I am the one who caused the disaster?"

"That's not what we're talking about." Lin Cheng shook his head, stepped forward and covered his mouth, "I'm afraid you can't hide the fact that you used a small bow to measure the land for the people."

County Magistrate Zhao was stunned for a moment, then he stamped his feet, pointed at Lin Cheng and said, "What do you mean I did it? Didn't you order me to do that? I was just following your orders, and for the people who were really in trouble, I would still use the bow you gave me."

"At this moment, do you still think that you and I can get away with it?" Lin Cheng smiled coldly, and then said, "If something happens, you and I will be dismissed from our positions at best, or our entire family will be exiled at worst."

"I have a clear conscience."

"What a clear conscience." Lin Cheng clapped his hands, paced back and forth in the duty room twice, and then said, "You have a clear conscience, but you are also a flesh and blood body. Can you withstand the torture of the East Factory?"

"They...they dare to abuse lynching?" County Magistrate Zhao's face trembled slightly.

"Oh, let alone us two minor officials of the seventh or eighth rank, even those prefects and the assistants of the hall, who would not be afraid of the East Factory? Brother advises you to take gifts and apologize to Feng Bangning as soon as possible, so that he won't hold on to this matter."

"I'm going to apologize to him?" County Magistrate Zhao's face was full of disbelief.

County Magistrate Lin glanced at County Magistrate Zhao and continued to persuade him, "Just listen to my advice, lower your head, and be submissive.

Who is Feng Bao? He is the internal minister of our Ming Dynasty. Even the Prime Minister dares not offend him easily. How dare you, an eighth-rank official, challenge him?"

"What's wrong with being an eighth-rank official?!" County Magistrate Zhao's face turned pale, he frowned, slammed the table and cursed, "No matter how low my position is, I got it step by step by myself through the exams.

Feng Bangning is a scoundrel who beat up officials and defied the imperial court. This is a heinous crime, but now I am the one who has to apologize."

"Is there any justice in this world?"

"Haha, fair?" Magistrate Lin looked at his pedantic assistant and laughed out loud. He couldn't help but sneered, "You are just an eighth-rank official, and you are qualified to talk about the word 'fair'? Feng Bao can crush your whole family to death with just one breath."

When County Magistrate Zhao heard this, it was as if he was kicked in the heart several times. He was so uncomfortable that he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother Zhao!" County Magistrate Lin exclaimed.

"I'm fine." Zhao Xiancheng waved his hand.

Compared to the physical injuries, his heart ached even more.

He had not expected that after studying for more than 20 years and finally getting a position as a county magistrate, he would end up being worse than the nephew of a eunuch.

After a long silence, he stumbled back home in a daze.

Mrs. Zhao had also heard about her husband's beating. She helped her husband sit down and blamed him, "That land is not ours. Can't you just raise your hand? Look at your position as county magistrate. You are worse than a beggar."

"I'd rather be a beggar than be associated with those people!"

"This is how the world is. If you don't join them, they will unite to deal with you." Mrs. Zhao said sarcastically.

"Cough cough."

"Look at your body. If you don't treat it properly, do you really want to abandon mother, Yue'er, and Yong'er and go away?"

County Magistrate Zhao shook his head, his face haggard, like a defeated rooster. He returned to the house and locked himself in with a bang.

He stayed in there feeling depressed for three days before finally coming out.

After I came out, my health got worse day by day.

In addition, thinking of Lin Zhixian's threats, he became more and more afraid. Although he had a clear conscience, he had done those things. If Lin Zhixian pushed everything on him, he would be completely ruined.

Instead of this, it would be better to die first.

Just fifteen days after he was beaten, County Magistrate Zhao took poison and committed suicide.

Zhang Yunxiu listened to Han San's story and sighed. He confirmed, "Is there any witness?"

"Yes," Han San nodded and said, "Wanping County Chief Li Neng and Coroner Ma Laosan can both prove that County Magistrate Zhao committed suicide by taking poison, and it should have nothing to do with Feng Bangning."

"I'm asking if County Magistrate Lin threatened County Magistrate Zhao."

"I heard this from Li Neng. He has a good relationship with County Magistrate Zhao. Moreover, the clerks under County Magistrate Zhao can also prove that after being beaten, County Magistrate Zhao only complained a few words, but after talking with County Magistrate Lin, he changed completely."

"What a jerk Lin Cheng!" Zhang Yunxiu gnashed his teeth and cursed, "This corrupt official, fawning on his superiors and intimidating his subordinates, is really a bad official."

Han San and Zhang Fu did not respond.

The matter of these three bows is of great importance and must not be involved.

Land surveying was a great achievement that the Prime Minister had spent a lot of effort to accomplish. This small flaw was not worth mentioning.

As for County Magistrate Zhao, his death was worthy.

Feng Bao's one thousand and two taels of silver, plus the posthumous honors, were enough to make him smile in his grave.

After a long silence, Han San and Zhang Fu looked at each other, stepped forward and clasped their hands, and said, "Sir, County Magistrate Lin is willing to come forward to prove that County Magistrate Zhao died of poisoning. Can this matter be left at that?"

Zhang Yunxiu clenched his fists and made crackling sounds when he heard the sound.

Instead of killing such a corrupt official, an honest official died.

Now, in order to protect Feng Bangning, he had to cooperate with that corrupt official. Zhang Yunxiu felt an itchy throat and almost vomited.

He took a few deep breaths, suppressed his nausea, and ordered, "Collect all the evidence and submit it to the Ministry of Justice. Let's close the case as soon as possible."

"Yes." The two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, how is County Magistrate Zhao's widow?" Zhang Yunxiu suddenly asked.

"Mrs. Zhao has returned to her hometown in Nanyang with her son and daughter."

"Send someone to take him up. It's not safe for a woman to be on the road."

"Yes, sir." Han Sanyi clasped his fists and walked away with Nuo.

"Wait." Zhang Fu shouted, pointing to the three longbows on the table.

Han San understood, wrapped up the three bows again, and walked out of the residence of Grand Secretary Zhang carrying the longbows on his back.

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu was still upset, Zhang Fu persuaded him, "Sir, one thousand taels of silver for a life, where else in the entire Ming Dynasty can you get this price? Sometimes, I even want to die myself, one thousand taels..."

"Uncle Fu, sometimes money really isn't everything."

"That's because County Magistrate Zhao is unlucky. Why should you shed tears for someone who has nothing to do with you? There are countless people in the Ming Dynasty who are more miserable and wronged than him. We can't take care of them even if we want to."

"Yeah, I can't control it." Zhang Yunxiu laughed at himself, and a cold light flashed in his eyes, "But once we see it, we can't ignore it. Feng Bangning is a damned playboy, but that County Magistrate Lin is even more damned."

"He is just a small county magistrate. After a year or two, when the storm has passed, it will be easy for you to crush him to death."

(End of this chapter)