Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Page 493

I only got a clear look at the jailer.

And the sorghum beside him,

"Chief Gao, you've come here now, but Liangshan has already decided what to do with me."

Article 647 Wanli's Disposal

"Prefect Cheng, this is our Liangshan chieftain,"

Gao Liang introduced himself.

"Your affairs are all up to the chieftain's decision."

"The leader of Liangshan?"

Cheng Wanli was immediately taken aback.

He turned his head and carefully examined Zhao Yuan for a while.

He then exclaimed in surprise,

"Although I had heard that Chief Zhao was young, I never expected that he was actually quite young..."

"I'm just a bandit,"

Zhao Yuan shook his head.

"Outlaws and bandits?"

Cheng Wanli smiled helplessly.

“A true outlaw could not accomplish what a chieftain does.”

"By seeking justice for the people, acting on behalf of Heaven, and because of the previous plague,"

"These prefectures in Shandong have won the hearts of the people, and the chieftain has already taken over most of them."

"Ordinary bandits and outlaws would never do such a thing."

"The chieftain's scheme is clearly far-reaching!"

"Unfortunately, the officials in Bianliang are only concerned with vying for power and profit,"

"If Privy Councilor Tong had listened to what I said in my letter at the beginning of the year, and had sent troops to suppress Liangshan much earlier,"

“The various prefectures of Shandong would not have descended into such a state as Liangshan.”

It turns out that when Zhao Yuan infiltrated Liangshan,

After killing the white-robed scholar Wang Lun,

He then led his troops to attack Dongxi Village.

The village's wicked gentry were publicly tried in front of the villagers.

After that,

Not long after,

This news reached Cheng Wanli's ears.

Prefect Cheng was astonished.

They quickly realized that Zhao Yuan was different from the other bandits.

He then wrote a letter to Tokugawa Kane in Tokyo.

This statement clarified the potential future problems facing Zhao Yuan.

The imperial court should find a way to wipe out Liangshan as soon as possible.

But at that time,

Tong Guan would never take a small Liangshan Mountain seriously.

The matter was then dropped.

"It's rare that Prefect Cheng thinks highly of us outlaws,"

Zhao Yuan smiled slightly.

"Alright, that concludes our discussion of matters concerning Liangshan,"

"Now it's your turn, Prefect Cheng."

"I?"

Cheng Wanli gave a bitter laugh.

"Extorting bribes from wealthy and powerful families is a fact; what else is there to say?"

"Chief Zhao, you can do whatever you want with it."

"Doesn't Magistrate Cheng want to say a few words in his own defense?"

Zhao Yuan asked.

"That's the truth, what more can I say?"

Cheng Wanli sighed.

"I'm thinking now, if only I hadn't been blinded by ambition and hadn't gone to serve under Privy Councilor Tong..."

"But even without Prefect Cheng, Tong Guan would have sent others to Dongping Prefecture to amass wealth,"

Zhao Yuan offered a word of comfort.

"As for your matter, Prefect Cheng, I will leave it to the people of Dongping Prefecture to decide."

"Is this what they call the public trial at Liangshan?"

Cheng Wanli suddenly remembered what had happened earlier at the entrance of the prefect's office.

After the people heard that they had solicited bribes,

The reactions that are revealed.

Suddenly, I felt utterly hopeless.

Cheng Wanli was clearly aware of his own affairs.

I don't want to say anything more.

After shaking his head somewhat dejectedly,

He then turned and walked back into the depths of the prison.

They ignored Zhao Yuan and Gao Liang.

Even the old man surnamed Li called out to him.

They will no longer respond.

Zhao Yuan said no more.

He gave the jailer a few words of advice.

After he was put in charge of taking good care of Prefect Cheng,

He then turned and left the prison with the sorghum...

Chapter 648 Solution

Zhao Yuan brought sorghum,

Upon leaving the prison,

The latter, seeing that he had already left the prison cell,

I couldn't help but ask.

"Chief, what about the people..."

Seeing that Gaoliang seemed about to speak but then stopped,

Zhao Yuan finished the sentence for her.

"Are you worried that the people will also be detrimental to this Prefect Cheng?"

"Um,"

Gaoliang nodded.

"Chief, you are unaware of this,"

"This morning, when Prefect Cheng admitted to soliciting bribes at the government office, the people outside the office said some very unpleasant things,"

Gao Liang sighed.

“I’m afraid that ordinary people will only think about Magistrate Cheng’s extortion.”

"But they forgot the governor's past acts of kindness towards the people."

"It's alright, the people have their own sense of justice."

Zhao Yuan didn't take it to heart.

"Don't think the people are foolish; they have their own scales of justice in their hearts."

"It's clear who's good to them and who's bad to them."

Speaking of which,

Seeing that Gao Liang was still somewhat worried,

Zhao Yuan then comforted him,

"That morning, the people had only suddenly heard about Magistrate Cheng soliciting bribes,"

"This is completely contrary to his previous reputation for integrity,"

"The people are angry because they feel they have been deceived."

"Once they calm down, and think about Prefect Cheng's performance in governing Dongping Prefecture over the past year, I think they will know how to choose."

"hope so,"

Gao Liang sighed.

However, I still have some worries in my heart.

Zhao Yuan saw this,

He didn't say anything more.

Anyway, by tomorrow...

Everything will become clear in time.

...

Zhao Yuan was originally thinking,

We have to wait until the next day.

Only then could Gaoliang see the local people's attitude towards Cheng Wanli.

But unexpectedly, just as the two stepped out of the prefect's mansion,