Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 487 Promoted to Sima? No, fake Sima.

Shang Lu once again secretly thought it was a pity.

If the Bronze Ant could record audio and video, based on the secret conversation between Li Hong and Gongcao Li, even if they couldn't prove that they "killed people to make elixirs" and "eat people to practice cultivation", it could still be used as strong evidence to allow the Discipline Department to intervene in the investigation.

"No, this case cannot be handed over to the Discipline Department yet." Shang Lu corrected himself in his heart.

From today's conversation between Li Hong and Xu Shan, Yan Tao and others, it is not difficult to see that he has quite a few connections in the Discipline Department. After all, the Li family behind Li Hong is a large practicing family in Baiyi County, and its tentacles of influence have long been spread everywhere.

If there is no conclusive evidence that would make everyone afraid to cry out for Li Hong, I am afraid that there are many people in the Discipline Department who secretly tipped off Li Hong so that he could clean up the mess in advance.

Just like when Zheng Quan was arrested before, an official in the Gongcao Yamen committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and even destroyed his soul.

Even if there is solid evidence, it cannot be handed over to the Discipline Department.

We have to let those who are not afraid of the Li family and the big cultivation families in Baiyi County come to investigate!
Shang Lu did have a goal in mind, but he didn't know where that person was now.

Is he still in Pingdu Mountain, or has he returned to Wushan? Or has he come to Baiyi County and is conducting an investigation on the incident of Zhongli the Great Witch worshipping the mountain ghost?
Shang Lu took out the jade token of the Witch Academy and glanced at the message that Rat Patrol had sent earlier.

"Most likely he came to Baiyi County."

After a brief pause, Shang Lu made a judgment.

But he was in no hurry to report his speculations and the news he had overheard to the Rat Patrol.

Again, there is no evidence.

Without evidence, how can we get the Rat Patrol to conduct an investigation?

Shang Lu sighed in his heart, and once again felt sorry that the Bronze Ant could not record audio or video.

How come such a good thing doesn't have these functions? What a waste!
Zhu Quan, who was carried on the butcher's back, had no idea what Shang Lu was thinking.

After Guijianchou's hemostatic treatment, his injuries improved greatly, and he even had the strength to bow to Shang Lu to express his gratitude.

"I am incompetent and need your help. I have offended the Gongcao Yamen this time, which may affect your future promotion..."

Shang Lu waved his hand to interrupt Zhu Quan and said in a deep voice: "Old Du, what are you talking about? You suffered for the sake of our brothers in the Thief Cao Office. Not only are you not incompetent, you are also a hero of our Thief Cao Office. As for offending the Gongcao Yamen, you don't need to blame yourself or worry too much."

Shentu, Du Feng and others who were helping nearby also echoed and praised Du Feng.

Shang Lu had something else in his mind that he hadn't said: Apart from anything else, the fact that Zhu Quan was tortured into this state but still refused to frame him was enough to offend the Gongcao Yamen.

Besides, even if he humbled himself and sold his butt, Li Hong was determined to kill him, so there was no question of whether he had offended him or not.

As for the impact on promotion?

If we kill Li Hong and his gang, we won't have to worry about being affected in our promotion.

Soon the group returned to the thieves' office.

Shang Lu sent Zhu Quan to the official residence in the yamen and drove away all the thieves who were asking about the situation, so that Zhu Quan could have a quiet environment to recuperate. Not only did he leave the Ghost-Seeing Sorrow behind, he also took some spiritual liquid awarded by the Witch Academy and asked Zhu Quan to take it to heal his internal injuries and prevent the root of the disease from remaining.

After doing all this, Shang Lu left the official residence and returned to his own yamen.

After driving away all the clerks here, he closed the door and called Sanniang softly.

Sanniang appeared in response, and Shang Lu asked hurriedly: "How is it? Has he been arrested?"

Sanniang didn't say anything, just raised her hand.

A tube-shaped banner appeared out of thin air, and several ghost shadows were entangled by the black hair of the hair demon and pulled out from the banner.

Shang Lu did not recognize others, but he recognized the clerk Huang Jin and the criminal officer Ma Quan at a glance.

The ghosts of these two people obviously retained their memories from their lifetime, and when they saw Shang Lu, they were frightened and wanted to run away.

But not only were they entangled by the hair of the hair demon, they were also tied up by the tube-shaped banners. Not to mention escaping, they couldn't even scream or shout like ghosts.

It turned out that Shang Lu had guessed that Li Hong would kill people to silence them when he ordered Li Hong to put Ma Quan and others in jail.

After all, Li Hong has a criminal record.

So Shang Lu secretly asked Sanniang to stay, hoping to see if he could take the opportunity to capture the souls of Ma Quan and others. Unexpectedly, Sanniang actually did it.

The only pity is that Gongcao Li was not killed.

With the identity of Gongcao Li, he must know more secrets.

Shang Lu first said "OK" repeatedly, and then asked: "You haven't been discovered?"

This time Sanniang finally spoke up: "No. In the eyes of Li Hong and others, these people have already lost their souls."

"My wife is amazing."

Shang Lu flattered his wife so smoothly and naturally, without any psychological burden at all.

After flattering him, Shang Lu asked Shang Lu to torture these ghosts in the hope of getting some important evidence from their mouths.

Sanniang nodded in agreement, and with a wave of her hand, the ghosts of Huang Jin, Ma Quan and others were collected into the tube banner.

Black energy surged on the banner, witch patterns flashed, and the process of soul refining and interrogation began.

Seeing that Sanniang was about to hide, Shang Lu hurriedly shouted "Wait".

"Ask Uncle Huai to help me find out how this Sima position was vacated."

Shang Lu's original plan was to let Du Feng find out.

But on second thought, who in Chengfeng County doesn’t know that Du Feng is his man?
If Du Feng were to inquire about this matter, it would probably soon reach Li Hong's ears. How could Li Hong not realize that there was a "ghost" hiding around him?
After Sanniang nodded in response, Shang Lu gave another instruction: "Tell Uncle Huai to be careful when he inquires, and don't let the news leak out."

"I know." Sanniang agreed, and then her figure flashed and disappeared.

Time passed quickly and it was already afternoon.

Just after the 3:00 pm, Du Feng brought a few people from the Gongcao Yamen to the Yamen and reported to Shang Lu:
"Thief, the people from Gongcao Yamen are here. They brought the compensation for the sacrificed brothers, as well as the reward for our meritorious service, and also brought a few heads."

Although Shang Lu knew about this long ago, he still pretended to be surprised and asked, "Whose head is it?"

The people from Gongcao Yamen were about to raise their hands to answer, but Shang Lu asked in surprise: "Did you kill Wang Sen? Oh, Gongcao Li is indeed impartial and just. I admire him."

Wang Sen is the name of the Gongcao official.

When the people in Gongcao Yamen heard Shang Lu's next words, their expressions froze instantly, and they looked as ugly as they could be.

You actually want the head of our Gongcao Li? You are too arrogant.

A senior official in the Gongcao Yamen took a deep breath, pretending not to hear Shang Lu's question, and spoke out the speech he had prepared in his mind in the future tense:
“Shang Zei Cao, my Lord Gong Cao took the slander and blackmail against you very seriously. After you left, he immediately began to torture the people involved.

After investigation, it was found that Wang Sen, a clerk in the Thief Cao Office, was deceived by his subordinates and blinded by gold and silver, and attempted to extort money from the Thief Cao Office. He has now been removed from office and imprisoned in the prison.

The masterminds of this incident, the clerk Huang Jin and the criminal officer Ma Quan, confessed to the crimes they committed and have now all been beheaded!
I'm following the orders from Gongcao and am sending their heads to you for review by Shangzeicao!

At the same time, I also brought pension silver and reward silver, and asked Shangze Cao to arrange people to count and hand over to us."

"You scared me. I thought Li Gongcao was really selfless and killed Wang Sen." Several people in the Gongcao Yamen looked at each other, all very skeptical. Was Shang Lu's words a shady one?

Shang Lu didn't say much. After expressing his anger, he turned around and instructed Du Feng to ask He Ying to come and count and hand over the pension silver and reward silver. He followed a few people from the Gongcao Yamen to examine the heads of Huang Jin, Ma Quan and others.

You have to act the whole part.

Although Shang Lu already knew all this, he still pretended to be surprised when he saw the heads of Huang Jin, Ma Quan and others.

It seemed that they really did not expect that the Gongcao Yamen would kill people to appease their anger.

It has to be said that Shang Lu's acting skills were quite exaggerated, but fortunately he had eloquence and sophistry, and he still fooled the people in Cao's yamen.

After examining the heads, Shang Lu pretended to test them casually: "Where are the souls of these people?"

"It has been sent to hell."

The chief official of the Gongcao Yamen said, "They have been sentenced to death, which can be regarded as a settlement for their sins in life. Their souls have asked our Chengfeng County witches to help them transcend to the underworld."

Shang Lu sneered in his heart and said, what the hell, if I hadn’t asked Sanniang to take them away in time, the souls of these people would have disappeared into thin air long ago!

You killed the man this morning, and only sent his head here now, just to destroy his soul.

Once their souls are destroyed, Shang Lu will not be able to capture their souls even if he wants to.

But Li Hong was able to use various excuses to get away with it.
No one can predict what will happen after the soul goes to the underworld, so it is normal that it cannot be called back.

By that time, even if Shang Lu pointed out that the Gongcao Yamen had tampered with the case, he would not be able to do anything to Li Hong if he could not produce evidence. He might even be used to turn the tables.

Li Hong had a great plan, but unfortunately he met Sanniang.

Sanniang and Shanglu were notorious thieves, a pair of thieves who would plunder even the gods. The souls of those people had long been stolen by Sanniang.

"Want to plot against me? That's not good enough!"

Shang Lu sneered in his heart.

After inspecting the heads, He Ying also counted the pension and reward silver, and came to Shang Lu and reported loudly:
"Sir, I have counted it. This time, both the pension and reward silver are in full amount. Not a cent has been deducted."

When the people from Gongcao Yamen heard what He Ying said, they couldn't help but complain in their hearts: Nonsense, you guys made such a big fuss, who would dare to deduct money? But wait until this storm is over, and see how we deal with you.

Shang Lu nodded and ordered: "You should immediately arrange for people to deliver the compensation silver to the families of the brothers who died. Take out 30% of the reward silver, add it to the compensation silver, and send it together. The rest of the reward silver will be distributed to everyone according to their previous meritorious performance."

"Yes!"

He Ying bowed and accepted the order.

Several people from the Gongcao Yamen looked at Shang Lu in surprise.

They were already surprised that the full amount of pension silver could be given to the families of the sacrificed victims, but Shang Lu still wanted to take out three parts of the reward silver to give to the families of the sacrificed victims.

It is no wonder that this method of winning people's hearts and minds allowed Zhu Quan to withstand the torture in the torture room of Gongcao Yamen and never betray him no matter what.

The people in Gongcao Yamen were just thinking about it when they heard Shang Lu say:
"It seems that Li Gongcao is a good man. It was his evil officials who deceived him and ruined the reputation of Gongcao Yamen. My dear friends, when you return to Gongcao Yamen, please tell all my colleagues in Shanglu Daizeicao Office to thank Li Gongcao's mother!"

"Huh?" Everyone in Gongcao Yamen was stunned upon hearing this.

The chief official was silent for a moment, then asked suspiciously, "Shang Zei Cao, are you... cursing your mother?"

"Nonsense, I was greeting Li Gongcao's mother, how can that be considered cursing? In the country of Ba, filial piety is the most important thing. I feel that just thanking Li Gongcao is not enough to express my gratitude. I have to thank his mother first."

Shang Lu used his eloquence and spoke with such a sincere tone that the people from the Gongcao Yamen couldn't help but doubt: Could it be that this guy really wanted to thank Gongcao Li's mother?

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Shang Lu frown and ask the official: "I meant well, why did you say that I was scolding Li Gongcao's mother? What, do you want to frame me too?"

"I'm not, I didn't."

The chief official was so frightened by Shang Lu's words that he trembled all over and almost knelt down in front of Shang Lu and begged him to spare his life.

Shang Lu didn't continue to torment him, and said: "If there is no, then there is no, why are you so nervous? I won't eat you. I am a very kind person."

The official thought to himself that you really don't eat people, but if anyone slanders you, you will catch him and scold him. If anyone is bitten by you, even if he doesn't lose his life like Huang Jin and Ma Quan, he will still suffer a great disaster.

The chief official regretted himself for asking one more question just now, and dared not stay in the thieves' office any longer. He said goodbye to Shang Lu immediately, and fled back to the Gongcao Yamen with the heads of Huang Jin, Ma Quan and others.

When Li Hong heard that they had returned, he immediately called them over and asked Shang Lu about his reaction in detail.

These people recounted everything they had seen and heard in the bandit Cao's office.

At the last moment, the official wanted to help convey Shang Lu's greetings to Li Hong's mother, but in the end reason overcame impulse and he swallowed the words and did not dare to speak them out loud.

Otherwise, he didn't know whether Shang Lu would suffer, but he would definitely be implicated and slapped.

"It will win people's hearts."

Like the people from the Gongcao Yamen, Li Hong could not help but sneer and comment after hearing that Shang Lu paid the full amount of pension silver to the families of the sacrificed thieves and also took out 30% of the reward silver to give to these people.

But in his heart, there was one sentence that he didn't say out loud: "It's a pity that all your efforts are in vain. It won't be long before you die!"

As for Shang Lu still having resentment, he didn't care.

If Shang Lu's attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees, he would become suspicious instead.

Li Hong snorted, picked up a freshly stamped appointment document from the table and handed it to these people.

"You go to the Thief Cao Office again and give this appointment document to Shang Lu. Ask him to hand over the work of the Thief Cao Office as soon as possible and report to the County Wei Mansion."

Judging from the time, the County Governor's Office should receive new orders soon.

Shang Lu must be brought over as soon as possible so that he can carry out this suicidal order!
These people in the Gongcao Yamen, especially the senior officials, did not want to deal with Shang Lu anymore.

Shanglu's mouth is so scary that you will be fooled into it if you are not careful.

But they did not dare to refuse Li Hong's order, so they could only make a bitter face and bow and say "yes".

After a while, the group rushed to the thief Cao's office again and handed the appointment document to Shang Lu.

This time, a few people learned their lesson. They didn't say a single word. They just handed over the appointment document, said congratulations, and left immediately. They didn't dare to ask for "congratulatory money" as before. If the money was too little, they would not give them the appointment document.

Shang Lu took the appointment document and thanked him, but he was slightly surprised in his heart.

Li Hong had just made a report to the county magistrate in the morning, and the magistrate approved the promotion document so quickly.

It seems that Li Hong has a very strong relationship with the county magistrate!
Without overwhelming evidence, we really can't act rashly.

Only after the people from Gongcao Yamen left did Shang Lu open the appointment document.

After taking a look, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and sneer: "Fake Sima? Well, even the officials who are sending themselves to die have to give me discounts!"

PS: There’s a Chinese national football match in the early morning. Does anyone want to watch it?

(End of this chapter)