Chapter Twenty-Three: Complete Takeover

  Chen Chu and Zhang Liao were waiting in the main hall, while a small official named Cai Jun stood beside them. The bailiffs outside the main hall had not dispersed because they had not received Chen Chu's order.

  While Wang Han was taking people to the cell, Chen Chu inquired about some of Wang Han's situation from Cai Jun.

  According to Cai Jun's words, combined with Wang Han's previous behavior, Chen Chu analyzed that this Wang Han should be trustworthy. Of course, Cai Jun may have lied, but Chen Chu didn't worry about it because these things are easy to verify.

  Before long, Wang Han returned to the main hall.

  "The adults, all of them have been locked up and are being taken care of."

  Chen Chu nodded and then gestured for Wang Han to sit down beside him.

  After a pause, Chen Chu asked Wang Handao: "Wang Handao, are there any of the original county magistrate's accomplices among these yamen runners outside the main hall?" Chen Chu's question was very skillful. He didn't ask if there were still loyalists to the original county magistrate, which would have given people the feeling that he was trying to eliminate dissenters rather than rectify the county officials.

  As expected, Wang Han showed a delighted and excited expression, and after some thought, replied: "Your Honor, among the yamen runners outside, there are three people who usually get along with the original county magistrate."

  "All right, Wang Han, you go and bring those three people up for me."

  "Yes, I belong below, so I'll go."

  Not long after Wang Hanci left the main hall, a commotion broke out outside. "Wang Han, what do you want to do? Do you want revenge on us?" a voice shouted excitedly and nervously.

  "Cut the nonsense! You three have been bullying the common people all along, and in the past, because of the protection of Qin County Magistrate, I couldn't do anything to you. Now that the new Magistrate Chen is going to rectify the county officials, I won't let you off!" Wang Han roared indignantly.

  Chen Chu smiled as he sat in the main hall. This conversation clearly revealed a lot of information, and Chen Chu was even more certain about Wang Han's character.

  "Wen Yuan, what do you think of Wang Han?"

  "Big brother, Wang Han is probably an honest man." Zhang Liao seemed to appreciate this Wang Han. Chen Chu nodded.

  A moment later, Wang Handang walked into the main hall, followed closely by a dozen or so constables escorting three people.

  "These three men are usually arrogant and bullying, and have often oppressed the common people and merchants in the city. Please, sir, make a decision." Wang Han reported with one knee on the ground.

  While Wang Han was speaking, the yamen runners forced those three people to kneel on the ground.

  "We're being framed! Wang Han is taking revenge!", the three men who were being dragged away shouted loudly.

  Wang Han on the side heard this and was so angry he almost died. These three guys usually didn't do anything good, now they actually have the face to yell injustice! And even turn things around!

  "Old man!", Wang Han was extremely excited. Chen Chu raised his hand to signal him to calm down.

  Chen Chu took a glance at the three men, who were indeed the ones he had noticed earlier outside the main hall with unusual expressions. Ignoring their cries of injustice, Chen Chu shifted his gaze to Cai Jun standing aside, his eyes inquiring.

  Cai Jun immediately nodded towards Chen Chu. Chen Chu's mind immediately had a plan.

  "Take these three down. As for how to deal with them, we'll talk about it after the interrogation." Chen Chu said to Wang Handao.

  "Yes." Wang Han immediately stood up and ordered his subordinates: "Take these three people into the large prison."

  With cries for mercy, the three were taken away. Then Chen Chu ordered the yamen runners outside the main hall to disperse and return to their respective duties.

  Chen Chu kept Wang Han and Cai Jun behind, saying to them: "There are still many things in the county that require your joint efforts."

  The two of them hastily knelt down on the ground together and said: "We will definitely assist you with all our might."

  Chen Chu nodded and then said to Cai Jun: "Cai Jun, you have done many wrong things while following Qin County Magistrate in the past, but I think you were also helpless, so I will not pursue any of these past matters. You will still be in charge of documents, accounts and other internal affairs. I hope you will behave yourself."

  Cai Jun was instantly moved to tears, and he saw him clenching his fists with a look of excitement, declaring: "Your subordinate thanks the great kindness of the adults, your subordinate will definitely repay it with death!"

  Then Chen Chu said to Wang Handao, "Wang Han, I see that you are an upright person. From now on, all matters of law and order in the county will be handed over to you. I hope you won't disappoint my expectations of you."

  "Yes. I will definitely live up to the trust placed in me by adults." Wang Han said with a loud and clear voice, his face showing a heroic expression of being willing to die for one's lord.

  Seeing the two people in front of him swearing allegiance to himself, Chen Chu felt a great sense of accomplishment. At this point, Chen Chu had already completely taken over Le Ping County.

  They sat on either side of him, and Chen Chu told them one thing: that they must follow the law in everything they did. This made them even more respectful of Chen Chu, and Zhang Liao, who was standing behind Chen Chu, became even more determined to follow him.

  Then Chen Chu ordered Wang Han to lead a group of people to raid the home of Qin County Magistrate, and also instructed Wang Han to send someone to keep an eye on the Qin family.

  After handling all the affairs, Chen Chu left the county government office. Zhang Liao was left in the county government office by him because he had just taken over Le Ping County and must have a trusted confidant to sit in the county government office. Zhang Liao's sitting in the county government office is only temporary, in Chen Chu's plan, Zhang Liao will be the commander of his first army.

  。