Chapter 63: The Official's Evil Intent
Wu Qi was a scholar-official, and usually gave people the impression of being quite weak. But now he was using all his might, almost choking the yamen runners to death.
The bailiff's breathing became difficult, but he didn't dare struggle. His face turned red and he gasped for air, saying: "The person outside the door said that he killed Wang Yonggui and brought his head with him. Master, can your hand be slightly loosened? I'm almost out of breath."
Wu Qisong loosened his grip, he still couldn't quite believe his ears, after all, he had tasted the bitter fruit brought by Wang Yonggui. He arranged for countless yamen runners to go and capture Wang Yonggui, even asking local hundred households to send troops to help surround him, resulting in several deaths, but not a single hair on Wang Yonggui's head was harmed.
How could Wang Yonggui have died? This fierce bandit who has been rampaging around the prefecture, killing people like flies, how could he be killed by someone? Who has such great ability?
"Master, would you like to see Li Wenjun? He and Sun Baicao are still waiting outside." the constable asked cautiously.
Eating someone's food makes your tongue shorter, taking someone's money makes your hands shorter. After receiving the five taels of silver from Li Wenjun, the yamen runner was diligent in handling matters and even dared to ask a question with a bold tone when the county magistrate's mood was unclear.
"Li Wenjun? Sun Baicao? How could it be them?" Wu Qi muttered in surprise.
"What? Magistrate Wu, do you know these two people?" Jiang Xuan had unknowingly left the flower pavilion and was standing beside Wu Qi.
Wu Qi nodded and said, "There are several generations of medicinal herb collectors in this county, and the Sun family is one of them. However, a few months ago, he announced that he would no longer collect herbs and instead opened a herbal medicine shop. I've met him a few times, he's an ordinary person, nothing special."
Another Li Wenjun, not a simple one. He is not a local, but an outsider who fled here after traveling hundreds of miles on foot and enduring hunger for dozens of days. This matter has even been made into a storytelling book by the storyteller, spreading it everywhere. Ah yes, didn't Zhou Wei, the head of Sanshan Academy, give away a set of Taizu's dictionary to someone? The recipient was this very Li Wenjun.
Wu Qi had never met Li Wenjun, but he was very clear about many things about Li Wenjun, and it was obvious that he had secretly investigated Li Wenjun before.
Jiang Shan smiled and said: "It turns out that he is a beggar who escaped from famine. This makes things easier. Third Master, your chance has come."
Not to mention San Gongzi, even Wu Qi was also confused and did not know what Jiang Xuan meant.
Jiang Shan pointed at the still waiting Yaxia and said: "You go and invite Li Wenjun and the others to come in."
The official looked at Wu Qi, who hastily said: "What Master Jiang says is what I say. What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go!"
The yamen runner saw that the county magistrate was getting anxious and didn't dare to delay any further, so he quickly turned around and ran towards the gate of the yamen.
Jiang Xuan watched the yamen runners leave, smiled and said: "Now that there are no outsiders, some things can be discussed openly. Magistrate Wu, please go see Li Wenjun first. If the head they brought is really Wang Yonggui's, don't rush to fulfill your promise. Try to delay it for three to five days. Also, remind them not to spread the word outside."
"Lord Jiang, why is this?" Wu Qi asked, "Wang Yonggui's notorious name has spread far and wide. In our county, three-year-old children dare not cry when they hear Wang Yonggui's name. Announcing Wang Yonggui's death as soon as possible can calm the people's hearts and allow them to live a peaceful life, also fulfilling my duty as an official with a sincere heart for the people."
Jiang Shan sneered repeatedly. As far as he knew, Wu Qi was not a good official or a clean official who could plead for the people. He had embezzled and accepted bribes, abused his power for personal gain, and extorted land from the people. Which of these things had he not done? If he still loved the people, then there would be no corrupt officials in the world.
Wu Qi was in a hurry to announce Wang Yonggui's death, no more than to gain popularity, on the one hand to calm down the resentment of the common people towards him, and on the other hand, he also wanted to have a brilliant achievement record, so that when the superior officials evaluated him, he could get a good evaluation, sit firmly in his position as county magistrate, and even hoped to take advantage of this east wind to climb higher.
Could Jiang Shan let Wu Qi have his way? He said, "County Magistrate Wu, have you seen the Third Master? He is the fiancé of your only daughter. Only if the Third Master is well can your daughter be well, and only if your daughter is well can you be well. If the Third Master is not well, even you will be dragged down."
Wu Qi's face changed, and he said with a straight face: "Lord Jiang, I don't understand what you're saying."
Jiang Xue smiled and said, "How can you not understand? The third young master is about to enter the capital to take the exam. With the third young master's talent and Lord Hou's favor towards him, topping the imperial examination is just a matter of time. However, after topping the imperial examination, the Ministry of Officials assigns tasks to the talented scholars who have passed with high honors, and there are many doors to this."
The Third Master, if he can carry a great reputation on his back, will only have benefits and no drawbacks for his future career. Think about it, if the Third Master is able to become a high-ranking official in the future, your father-in-law Old Tai Shan won't know how much glory he'll gain from it.
What Jiang Shan said was already clear enough, how could Wu Qi not understand? He had the heart to refuse, but couldn't open his mouth. One sentence, he didn't dare offend the third young master Shao Chuanjie, let alone that behind Shao Chuanjie stood Magistrate Shao Ke-Huan and General Pojun.
Wu Qi squeezed out a smile and said: "I know what I should do now."
Jiang Xue smiled and said, "This small matter, I believe that Wu County Magistrate will definitely be able to handle it well. This is also a good opportunity to prove your ability. If things can be done successfully, everyone will be happy. In the future, when I see Duke Hou, I will not hesitate to speak highly of you in front of him."
Wu Qi had Li Wenjun and others brought to the second hall, where cases that were not open to the public were usually tried. Outsiders were not allowed to enter and listen in.
Wu Qi put on his official uniform to show solemnity and formality, he sat upright behind the public case, instructing the bailiffs to let Li Wenjun and others come up.
As soon as they saw the county magistrate, Sun Baicao pulled his son Sun Jianing to kneel down in front of Wu Qi. Li Wenjun, on the other hand, bowed slightly towards Wu Qi, letting him know that he should kneel down, which was impossible unless it was the other way around and Wu Qi knelt down to him. Whether or not he would accept it depended on his mood.
Wu Qi's heart was unhappy, if it were in peacetime, he would have slapped the shock wood and let the yamen standing on both sides give Li Wenjun a beating. However, at this time, the big deal is urgent.
"Are you Li Wenjun? Are you here to see the county magistrate?" Wu Qi asked with an air of superiority.
"Not bad, County Magistrate, I was collecting herbs in the Five Peaks Mountain when I happened to encounter the wanted fugitive, the notorious bandit Wang Yonggui. I fought him and killed him, beheading him. His head is right here." Li Wenjun said as he lifted up a cloth bundle.
A yamen runner stepped forward and took the bundle from Li Wenqian's hands, holding it with both hands and placing it on the public desk.
