Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 53 Promotion
"Cao Boju, you are in charge of the transfer and division of labor of the county officials. You should protect your subordinates. How could you help the murderer to murder them?"

"County Lord! I really didn't know! Besides, how dare I disobey the orders of my superiors?!"

"Two of your officers died, and you were still unaware? Your superior gave the order, and you didn't know to report it to me?"

Gao Changgong asked.

Cao Boju lowered his head and dared not refute anymore.

"Now I sentence you to five years in prison. Do you plead guilty?"

"I plead guilty."

Gao Changgong looked at He Ananda again, "As for you, after knowing clearly that the county lieutenant wanted to kill people, you still sent two people to his mansion, resulting in the death of two casual officials."

"I sentence you to death by hanging."

"Can you plead guilty?"

He Anan nodded, "I plead guilty, but I have top-secret information. If I tell the county magistrate, I wonder if I can reduce my sentence?"

"Oh?"

"Speak now."

He Ananda looked around, then stood up and walked towards Gao Changgong. The two warriors behind Gao Changgong were about to step forward, but Gao Changgong shook his head to indicate that it was not necessary.

He Ananda walked up to Gao Changgong, put his head close to him, and whispered, "County Lord, the person who wants to assassinate you today..."

"It's me!!!"

He Ananda pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed it towards Gao Changgong's neck.

Gao Changgong leaned back, stretched out his hand and grabbed the opponent's wrist. He twisted it again, and He Ananda screamed, and the dagger fell from his hand.

Gao Changgong was still sitting in his seat, motionless. Two warriors stepped forward and pressed He Ananda to the ground.

Gao Changgong shook his head and said, "Take him away."

At this time, the masked knight stepped forward and saluted Gao Changgong, "County Lord, we are ordered to investigate Cheng'an's spies. We previously discovered that there were pigeons in the county government office. Now it seems that He Ananda may be one of the spies. I wonder if you can hand him over to us for disposal?"

Gao Changgong looked at him, his expression somewhat unfriendly, "Warrior Camp?"

The knight paused, and Gao Changgong said unhappily: "Wait until you get the imperial edict, then come back to ask me for the person."

"You can go."

The knight said hurriedly, "County Lord, in recent years, a large number of pseudo-Zhou spies have infiltrated the three counties of Ye, Cheng'an, and Linzhang. I'm afraid there is more than one spy in this county government office."

“It’s best to interrogate and identify them one by one.”

"I know your style, don't hide it from me."

"What do you mean by interrogating and identifying them one by one? No one who falls into your hands will survive. Do you want to massacre my officials?!"

Hearing Gao Changgong's question, the knight stopped talking, saluted, and turned away.

Gao Changgong watched them leave and then looked at the officials around him.

"Go and keep an eye on them, help them investigate the assassination case, and don't let them kill innocent people and take credit for their crimes."

"only."

The man took the order and left. Gao Changgong looked at the people in front of him with a solemn expression.

"From now on, I will stay here to work. I won't go anywhere else until this place is healed."

"Everyone should go all out and assist with all your heart."

"only!!!"

Gao Changgong finally looked at Taozi and said, "Go and call Lu Qubing in. The rest of you can go back first."

When Liu Taozi brought Lu Qubing in, there were only Gao Changgong and his personal guards in the hall.

Lu Qubing obviously knew the outcome of the treatment of Zhang Li.

At this moment, he was like a child who had made a mistake. He was at a loss, his face flushed, and he didn't dare to look Gao Changgong in the eye.

"Mr. Gao, I have spoken nonsense and have been rude to you. Please punish me."

Gao Changgong glanced at Lu Qubing, "Mr. Lu, did you feel comfortable with the scolding just now? If you didn't scold enough, you can scold a few more times while there is no one around."

"My subordinates dare not!!"

"Oh, I don't dare. If no one stopped me just now, I think Lu Jun would rush up and beat me."

Seeing Lu Qubing's head almost buried in the ground, Gao Changgong said seriously: "I know you are upright, but you are too impatient. If you can't correct it, I'm afraid it will bring you disaster."

"The subordinates will be taught!"

Gao Changgong then looked at Taozi, his eyes full of approval.

"Is this Lu Jun's subordinate? What a fierce warrior!"

"I don't know what it's called?"

Lu Qubing hurriedly introduced: "This is my good friend, his surname is Liu, his given name is Taozi, he has no given name yet, he used to study at the Law School, now he is a clerk in the county government."

Gao Changgong was stunned, and a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes.

He murmured in a low voice: "There are peaches in the garden, the fruits are delicious, my heart is worried, I will sing and chant."

"People who do not know me think that I am arrogant. Is that right? What do you think?"

Lu Qubing raised his head and continued to sing, "My heart is filled with worries, but who knows? Who knows? Don't even think about it." Gao Changgong came to his senses, and the sadness on his face quickly disappeared. He smiled and looked at Taozi, "Who said no one knows? Taozi knew what I was thinking just now, and she helped me a lot."

"Taozi, does your family have a teacher who wants to choose a name for you?"

"Nothing."

"Then I'll give you a name, how about that?"

"it is good."

"I'll give you a name called 'Zhizhi', what do you think?"

"it is good."

Gao Changgong laughed, "Okay, Zhizhi, you saved my life this time, I am very grateful, what kind of reward do you want?"

Lu Qubing looked at Taozi with a smile, waiting for her to refuse, but Taozi spoke instead.

"I want to get promoted."

Lu Qubing was stunned, his eyes widened. He cleared his throat and said quickly, "County Lord, Brother Taozi means that he wants to realize his ambition and serve His Majesty."

Gao Changgong laughed.

"No problem, no problem. What's wrong with wanting a promotion? I want a promotion, too, but I just don't dare to say it out loud like him."

Gao Changgong looked at Taozi.

"With your talent, you are more than qualified to be the county lieutenant. Unfortunately, both the county magistrate and the county lieutenant must be appointed by the imperial court. I cannot arrange it myself."

"I can recommend you, but I don't know if the government will accept your proposal."

He pondered for a moment, then looked at Lu Qubing, "Was the one who assassinated just now a county patrol officer?"

Lu Qubing nodded, "That's right."

"I can still arrange for you to be an official in the county. How about this? I will promote you to be a patrol officer first. If you can make contributions, I will go to Ye in person and find you a county lieutenant. How do you think?"

Liu Taozi bowed to Gao Changgong and said, "Thank you, Lord County."

Gao Changgong immediately wrote a letter of appointment for Liu Taozi and asked his attendants to escort him to the office and collect the corresponding clothes and badges.

Lu Qubing was left alone.

After Taozi left, Gao Changgong discussed the situation in the county with Lu Qubing alone.

"Mr. Zhang, how are you?"

"Mr. Zhang, we all heard about it. Thank you so much!"

Zhang Li lay weakly on his bed, and the scattered officials almost filled the entire room.

Their expressions were very complicated, some were surprised, some were in admiration, and some were moved.

When they learned that it was Zhang Li who killed the county lieutenant, everyone couldn't believe it.

The timid, honest and kind Mr. Zhang? ?
Can he kill the county lieutenant? ?

Why did he want to kill the county lieutenant?
When Zhang Li was brought in and informed of what had happened in the county, everyone finally understood.

It was in order to protect everyone that Zhang Li chose to go there in person and get rid of this harmful bastard!

Zhang Li wanted to say something, but he really didn't have the strength.

Tian Zili said, "Everyone, please stop bothering Mr. Zhang. Go out first and let him have a good rest."

Then everyone left together and walked into the yard. They still couldn't help talking about this matter.

"Mr. Zhang is such a brave warrior!"

"Yes, we treated him like that before."

Everyone was chatting when the door leading to the middle courtyard was suddenly pushed open and everyone's voices stopped abruptly.

They looked towards the door in fear.

A distinguished person opened the door and walked in.

This nobleman was wearing a black robe with sleeves and trouser legs that were tightly fastened, making it convenient for him to ride a horse and wield a sword. He also wore a large belt made of cowhide around his waist, which he could use to pull it out and strike someone at any time.

He wore a knife on his waist and an official badge on the other side.

He was tall and had a cold look in his eyes. Standing there in such clothes was really intimidating.

"Brother Taozi???"

Tian Zili was stunned.

"Brother Taozi! You got a promotion!"

Yao Xiong hurried to his side. The crowd, who had been silent before, exclaimed and walked to Liu Taozi's side.

Liu Taozi looked at the people in front of her.

"Where is Mr. Zhang?"

"He is resting in the inner room."

"Well, I'm the county patrol officer now. If anything happens in the hospital, you can come to me directly."

"Tian Zili, Yao Xiong, the two of you follow me."

(End of this chapter)