Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 51 Waiting
The Hu man said "oh".

He pointed at the clerks in front of him and said, "The clerks who assassinated the county lieutenant should be executed."

"Let's not talk about whether the scattered officials were really involved in this matter. Even if they really did it, what qualifications do you have to kill the county officials?"

"Is this how Gaoxian Fair teaches you to do things on a daily basis?"

The Hu man looked nonchalant, "I am only following orders to protect the county lord. There is a thief in the county government office right now, which may be harmful to the county lord, so I have to get rid of him."

Lu Qubing raised the book of appointment in his hand again and said, "I will be in charge of all matters in the county government. I have temporarily mobilized the county soldiers. There is no need for you to interfere in the affairs of the county!"

The Hu guard sneered. Just as he was about to say something, a soldier at the side suddenly stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.

The Hu man was stunned and looked at Lu Qubing again, and the disdain on his face disappeared immediately.

"Okay, since Lord Lu has given the order, I dare not disobey. Let's go."

He gave the order, and the soldiers followed him and quickly left the South Courtyard.

As they walked along the road, the Hu man turned his head to look at the soldier and asked, "Are you sure it was him?"

"It was him, absolutely. When the county lord promoted him, I was beside him. When he came back, the county lord praised him to the others and said that he could be used in the future."

The Hu guard rubbed his head and said, "Oh no! I hope this guy won't file a complaint with the county magistrate."

"Send people to strengthen the security along the road now, the county magistrate is coming back."

When many soldiers left, the scattered officials breathed a sigh of relief. They collapsed on the ground. A bad smell came from the crowd, and no one knew who had wet their pants.

Lu Qubing's face was very solemn as he looked at the people in front of him.

"Everyone, get up."

Everyone scrambled to their feet, some even falling down in the panic.

Everyone looked at Lu Qubing in front of them, their eyes full of fear.

County magistrate.

There are bigwigs in the county who are on par with the county lieutenant and officials of formal rank.

Although he and the county lieutenant were both only ninth-rank officials, the lowest level of officials, he was an official officially appointed by the imperial court. When there was no county magistrate, he was the ruler here.

No one would not be afraid when facing someone who can decide their life and death at will.

Even high-ranking officials were like dogs in front of him and could be removed or reassigned at will. What's more, the gap between them and the low-ranking officials was extremely huge.

"Brother Taozi, come with me."

When the new county magistrate spoke, everyone's eyes widened. Only the people in the law school were extremely excited at this moment.

People like Tian Zili and Yao Xiong were so excited that they couldn't speak.

New County Magistrate!!
We are going to be prosperous!

Liu Taozi was still very calm. He stood up and walked to Lu Qubing. Lu Qubing then looked at everyone.

"Don't be afraid, everyone. Rest in the mansion and don't go out."

He offered some words of consolation.

"only!!"

Everyone bowed and obeyed.

Only then did Lu Qubing take Taozi and leave.

As they walked along the road, Lu Qubing said, "I came here yesterday just to tell you about this."

"The imperial decree for the appointment was delivered to me, asking me to report to the county magistrate for my appointment. I still had a lot of things to do in the county school, so I was not in a hurry to take up the post."

"I didn't expect such a big thing to happen."

"I should have taken office earlier!!"

Lu Qubing looked quite guilty.

The two of them walked all the way to the backyard. The soldiers seemed to have received some orders and let them pass without even checking.

When I arrived at the backyard, I saw the pile of minced meat. Several servants were kneeling in front of the meat. When they saw the people coming, they started to cry loudly.

Lu Qubing's face turned pale and he tried hard to hold back vomiting.

"The county lieutenant was killed. I heard that it was done by a clerk."

"You can't get anything out of these people. You should know why."

Taozi's brows slowly frowned.

"In the past two days, Cao asked the head of the clerks to send people to patrol the border areas, and all those who went died."

Lu Qubing was stunned, as if he had thought of something, and said to the soldiers beside him: "Go and bring Cao Li, Cao Shi, and He Youjiao here."

These are county soldiers.

Normally, the county lieutenant is in charge, but now the county lieutenant is not in good health and there is no county magistrate, so the county magistrate can become their temporary commander.

The two waited for a while, and the soldier caught the man.

When they saw Lu Qubing standing in front of them, he looked a little confused. The soldiers shouted loudly: "Since you have met the Prime Minister, why don't you bow?!"

A county is like a country. The county magistrate is the king. The king has a general in charge of military affairs and a prime minister in charge of civil affairs.

Hearing these words, Cao Boju and He Ananda's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Cao Boju knelt on the ground and said, "Your subordinate greets Lord Lu!"

He Ananda followed closely behind.

Cao Boju burst into tears immediately, "Lord Lu, spare me! It is because of my poor governance that such a thing happened to me!"

"I am not an accomplice of the thieves!" Lu Qubing asked sternly, "Why did you send officials to the patrol area before? Why did they disappear?!"

Cao Boju was stunned, stopped crying and looked at He Ananda who was standing beside him.

"Lord Lu, I am a humble person, I am just following Lord He's orders, I really don't know anything."

Lu Qubing slowly looked at He Ananda.

There was almost no fear on He Ananda's face; he even looked a little relaxed.

"The county lieutenant wanted to find someone to compete with, so he asked me to send someone over. The first few people were all hacked to death by him."

"This time, he must have been killed in return."

"Competition???"

Lu Qubing's eyes widened. He had thought of many possibilities, but this was the only one he hadn't thought of. His lips trembled, and he really wanted to say something loudly at this moment.

But faced with something so absurd, so ridiculous, and so despicable, he found that nothing he said was possible.

Lu Qubing's expression kept changing, anger, pity, and sadness.

Finally, his face darkened.

"Then he died a good death. He deserved it."

Everyone lowered their heads and no one dared to respond to his words.

Liu Taozi spoke up, "Where is Zhang Lishou?"

Lu Qubing reacted and quickly looked at the soldier, "Where is the assassin?"

"He was locked in the inner room, and there were soldiers watching him."

"Take me there!"

Lu Qubing and Liu Taozi hurriedly walked to the inner room. Several guards were guarding there. When they saw Lu Qubing, they happily let him in.

This attitude is even friendlier than the one shown to the county lieutenant Gao Xun.

Previously, Gao Xun tried to get closer to these Gao Su's confidants, but was ignored.

When the two men walked into the inner room, Zhang Li was lying on the ground, tied up, and breathing weakly.

Taozi walked to Zhang Li, knelt on one knee, and felt his pulse.

At this moment, Zhang Li opened his eyes with difficulty.

He saw Liu Taozi standing aside.

"I told you to let me go, why are you going there yourself?"

“I’ve never hurt anyone”

“He wants to kill me.”

"I understand. You are a kind man who has never harmed anyone. You are also a brave man who got rid of evil for the county government."

"Please be patient for a moment and don't close your eyes. The county magistrate has pardoned your crime."

Liu Taozi said this and looked at Lu Qubing again.

"Is there a doctor in the county government?"

Lu Qubing finally reacted, "Go and call the county doctor! Untie him!"

Almost no one dared to question Lu Qubing, no matter what orders he gave.

Everyone was busy with their own things, and Taozi was whispering something to Zhang Li.

Lu Qubing stared at Taozi in a daze. He had never seen Taozi like this before. Ever since he met Taozi, Taozi had always been indifferent and cruel, treating everyone coldly.

But at this moment, he saw a Taozi who was not so cute. He saw that Taozi's face looked a little gentler and her eyes were no longer so sharp.

The doctor rushed over and did not dare to ask many questions. He began to treat Zhang Li who was lying on the ground.

Treat his wounds, stop the bleeding, and give him medicine.

His movements were very rough, and he looked exactly like a military doctor.

"Taozi, follow me and go to meet County Lord Gao. With such a big event happening in the county, he will definitely come in person."

Lu Qubing pursed his lips and said, "I will ask him to forgive this person."

"He was just passively fighting back. We cannot judge him as an unforgivable sin."

Taozi also spoke.

"He is not guilty."

Lu Qubing called him and ordered the doctor to find a way to save Zhang Li's life, and then hurried to the outside of the county government office.

After walking out of the county government gate, the road in the distance had already been under martial law.

There were soldiers guarding every alley entrance, and the road all the way to the city gate was even emptier, with no possibility of any pedestrians.

Lu Qubing gazed into the distance, thinking in his heart how to plead for Zhang Li.

Taozi stood behind him with a deep look in her eyes.

The Hu guards stood in front of the door, chatting with several soldiers.

On the roof opposite, Wang Fu was lying flat, holding a powerful crossbow in his hand, motionless.

Everyone is waiting.

(End of this chapter)