Prime Minister

Chapter 144, Section 143: [Military Force]

"Woooooooo..."

Luo Tong glared angrily but couldn't utter a complete sentence, because Xue Huai's men were tightly gripping his chin. Yang Mo, Mo Jingyu, Yan Lin, and others were in the same situation.

The county government's three shifts of constables suddenly lost their leader and were at a loss, not knowing how to deal with such a complicated situation.

Xue Huai naturally wouldn't give Luo Tong another chance to speak.

Since he first appeared, he had given Luo Tong too many opportunities to confess. Since the latter was determined to go down this dark path, how could he continue to tolerate him?

His immediate priority was to appease the surging public sentiment.

Jiang Sheng and others' decisive actions brought the situation under control. Apart from a very few people like Cheng Zixuan, who were planted by Luo Tong, the surrounding people did not think that the magistrate was a good official. On the contrary, they were well aware of Luo Tong's notorious misdeeds over the years. It was just that because they had heard too many rumors about Xue Huai, they could not help but think that Xue Huai and Luo Tong were in cahoots.

The saying goes, "To catch the thief, first catch the king." Since they've risked everything to rush here, they'll definitely target Xue Huai.

"Lord Xue, I am Chang Sheng, a kitchen worker from Dingxichang, and I have a few questions for you!"

A strong, resonant voice rang out from the crowd.

Xue Huai looked ahead, nodded and said, "Ask away."

Chang Sheng took a deep breath, raised his hand and pointed at Luo Tong, saying, "Magistrate Luo said that the idea of ​​controlling the flooding was Lord Xue's. Is that true?"

Xue Huai said solemnly, "Brother Chang and fellow villagers, let me make things clear to you now. I had considered the matter of controlling the flooding even before I arrived in Xinghua County, but this time it was Luo Tong who brought it up, and he has been the one arranging for the county officials to collect corvée labor these past few days. I specifically reminded him not to take this opportunity to exploit the people, and even more so, not to forcibly collect corvée labor fees!"

The people standing at the front naturally didn't quite believe Xue Huai's words. They had been deceived by the government too many times in the past. Who knew if this was a ruse by Xue Huai and Luo Tong?
They would first deceive them, and then settle accounts with them later; similar things have happened before.

Immediately, one of the cooks roared, "Brother Chang, don't believe his nonsense!"

"you shut up!"

Chang Sheng held immense prestige among the salt producers, and the man simply lowered his head dejectedly, ceasing his argument. Chang Sheng then turned his gaze to Xue Huai and said, “Lord Xue, I have heard from the Salt Commissioner of Dingxi Saltworks that this levy is extremely severe. Poor salt producers like myself are each required to pay twelve taels of silver. Moreover, I have seen the official documents from the county government, and the Salt Commissioner is not lying. Just now, Magistrate Luo said it was Lord Xue’s decision, but Lord Xue said that Magistrate Luo is deceiving his superiors. Whom should I believe?”

"That's right, it might have been your idea. Now you don't even dare to let Magistrate Luo speak!"

"You must give us justice!"

Normally, ordinary people would never have the courage to question the prefect, but now nearly seven or eight hundred people have surrounded this courtyard and the county government office. Do you think the government can arrest them all?

Moreover, the people of Xinghua County are known for their fierce and valiant nature; those who dare to storm the government offices today are all exceptionally courageous individuals.

Wang Gui and the others were extremely anxious, but they couldn't fly away even if they had wings. Moreover, these people could barely listen to Xue Huai's statement, and if they spoke rashly, it would only add fuel to the fire. Therefore, they could only stand behind Xue Huai and worry anxiously.

"justice?"

Xue Huai stepped forward again to the edge of the steps, looking at the people without fear and said, "Very well, I will now give you justice. Just now, Brother Chang said that the government was levying exorbitant taxes, which is probably why you besieged the government office today. You think I am in cahoots with Luo Tong, and now you are shifting the blame to each other. You can't tell who is telling the truth, so I will help you distinguish right from wrong now!"

Everyone stared at him with complicated expressions.

Up to this point, this young official has indeed shown great courage. Despite his youth, he has never flinched or retreated. Perhaps it is this composure, remaining calm even in the face of imminent collapse, that has prevented the people from further escalating the situation.

"Brother Chang."

Xue Huai looked at Chang Sheng and asked, "Now I'm asking you, is the salt tax commissioner of Dingxi Saltworks named Fang Yu?"

Chang Sheng replied, "Exactly!"

Xue Huai then looked past him into the distance, his clear voice echoing around: "Where is Fang Yu!"

"Fang Yu is here!"

A response came, and the people turned to look, only to see dozens of people appear at the other end of the long street.

"Brother Chang, it really is that scoundrel Fang Yu!"

"Hey, isn't that the village head of Xijiao Town?"

"Why is our township's grain chief here too?"

Similar surprised murmurs were heard everywhere. When dozens of people came closer, the people hesitated for a moment before finally making way for them.

Fang Yu and the others looked dejected; they had clearly not come here voluntarily.

Beside them, Shen Qingluan, dressed in men's clothing, looked at Xue Huai with a smile in her eyes.

Xue Huai nodded slightly to her, everything understood without words.

Upon witnessing this scene, Luo Tong and the other county officials couldn't help but show panic on their faces. Xue Huai watched the group approach and coldly stared at Fang Yu, saying, "Ambassador Fang, will you confess truthfully yourself, or will I hand you over to those salt-producing brothers?"

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate..."

Fang Yu's lips trembled involuntarily.

He followed orders from above to incite the salt producers to cause trouble in the county town. He thought he could just sit back and watch the show, but last night several mysterious experts suddenly appeared, kidnapped him without saying a word, and then dragged him to the vicinity of the county town overnight.

During the journey, he first revealed his official position and then promised them great benefits, but the people seemed to be deaf and did not react at all.

Earlier outside the city, he had met several other people, including some of his acquaintances, such as the village head of the western suburbs. They had all been brought here by mysterious people.

Fang Yu could not possibly misunderstand that those mysterious men were all Xue Huai's subordinates, and Xue Huai's purpose in doing so was self-evident—to have them expose the true colors of Luo Tong and the others in front of all the people.

Xue Huai approached Fang Yu and said coldly, "Ambassador Fang, do you think I have no other options? This is your last chance. Otherwise, if the charge of inciting a popular uprising falls on your shoulders, I wonder if the heads of your Fang family are enough to chop off?"

These words instantly shattered Fang Yu's psychological defenses.

If Xue Huai had approached him afterward, he might have made some excuses, but the fact that Xue Huai's subordinates attacked him last night shows that this young magistrate is very familiar with the situation in Xinghua County. No matter what happens, it will not escape his eyes. The trap set by Luo Tong and others was actually within his expectations.

Upon thinking of this, Fang Yu said in a trembling voice, "Your Excellency, I am willing to tell the truth."

"good."

Xue Huai turned away and stood still.

The next moment, Fang Yu stood up shakily, looked at Chang Sheng with bright eyes, and said sadly, "Brother Chang, the county government document is real, but... but this was Magistrate Luo's own decision, a deception by his superiors. Lord Xue is compassionate towards the people and specifically instructed Magistrate Luo to pay the laborers their wages and not to mistreat the saltworkers and canal workers, because Lord Xue knows how difficult your lives are."

After Fang Yu's words were heard, the room suddenly became very quiet.

Chang Sheng frowned and said, "Ambassador Fang, that's not what you said before."

"What I said before was what Magistrate Yang told me to say, because he gave me fifty taels of silver."

Fang Yu raised his hand and pointed to Yang Mo, the county magistrate who was being held down by Xue Huai's men not far away, and said with shame, "County Magistrate Yang asked me to incite everyone to cause trouble in the county town so that they could deal with Lord Xue. Otherwise... how could I not have noticed if you left the salt field and came to the county town so openly?"

Chang Sheng's expression became even more solemn, and the other cooks gradually realized what was happening.

As the salt field ambassador, Fang Yu's duty was to supervise and restrain these salt producers. Even if he was somewhat wary of Chang Sheng, he wouldn't just stand by and watch a group of people leave the salt field without taking any action.

At this point, Chang Sheng and most of the cooks believed Fang Yu's words, and their sharp gazes were directed at Luo Tong and the others.

With Fang Yu as their leader, the village elders from various places who had been kidnapped by the Shen family's guards realized that the situation was hopeless, and one by one they stepped forward to tell the people the inside story.

They placed all the blame on Luo Tong, who turned purple with embarrassment and struggled incessantly.

Xue Huai stood silently before the steps, observing the common people under the scorching sun.

After the last person finished confessing and was led away by the Shen family guards, the scene became deathly silent, with only the sound of cicadas chirping.

"So this was all a conspiracy by that corrupt official Luo Tong? He wanted to make us wish we were dead, but made us believe it was Lord Xue's idea? That corrupt official... you deserve to die a horrible death!"

Someone roared in anger, which instantly drew echoes from others, but most people no longer dared to stare at Xue Huai.

A sense of lingering fear arose in their hearts. Regardless of the truth, the fact remained that they had stormed the government office and the prefectural magistrate today. If the government were to investigate, those present would likely not be able to escape punishment.

Just as they were venting their anger on the county officials, a series of chilling footsteps rose up from behind them!

"Soldiers! Soldiers are here!"

Some people cried out in surprise, and more people turned around to look. They saw at least a hundred soldiers with weapons appear at the other end of the long street and then stride toward them.

"That corrupt official surnamed Xue is stalling for time! He's waiting for these soldiers to arrive so he can deal with us! Folks, we've been fooled! We've all been deceived by that corrupt official!"

Several tall, burly canal workers raised their arms and shouted, one of them yelling, "Everyone, follow me! Only by taking down that corrupt official surnamed Xue can we have a chance to leave the county alive! Charge with us, kill them!"

The appearance of the soldiers and officers suddenly threw the people's gradually calming mood into panic. The highly seductive words of the canal workers reached their ears, and many people rushed forward without even having time to distinguish the truth.

"Brother Huai, let's go!"

Shen Qingluan knew the terror of the rioters, and in her haste, she rushed to Xue Huai's side and grabbed his hand.

"Don't worry, it's alright."

Xue Huai squeezed Shen Qingluan's hand tightly, then broke free and turned to face forward.

(End of this chapter)